MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Community Safety Committee held on Wednesday, October 11, 2006, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2.

Tuesday, December 12, 2006  (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room.

CARRIED

POLICIES / STRATEGIES (1 ITEM)

LAW & COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT

3.

ELECTRICAL SAFETY INSPECTION PROGRAM – AN ALTERNATE APPROACH TO COMBATING GROW OPERATIONS

(Report:  Nov. 2/06, File No.:  09-5000-03) (REDMS No. 1796540)

Discussion took place among Committee members and Sandra Pearson, Manager, Richmond Fire-Rescue accompanied by Geoff Lake, Deputy Chief. Ms. Pearson advised that staff would suggest that for the proposed pilot program, the program expenses of $560,100 be funded through the 2007 budget process, during additional level budget considerations. She stated that revenues received offset the program expenses, as outlined in the report. Another funding source has not been identified for the expenses because other pilot projects in other communities have run their course, and there is no longer funding available for communities like Richmond that are now considering such a program.

If, after the Finance Committee has discussed additional level budget considerations, and if the proposed Electrical Safety Inspection Program is adopted, staff can be identified and the program can be implemented immediately. Ward Clapham, Officer In Charge (OIC) advised that the two officers are available immediately, and Geoff Lake, Deputy Chief advised that the department is able to deploy the necessary human resources

Ms. Pearson reported that the City of Surrey would be very supportive and would offer Richmond help in training and other areas in order to implement the program.

There was discussion around whether the proposed program would improve neighbourhoods or would push grow operators into other locations, such as industrial and warehouse districts. OIC  Clapham advised that in order to deal with this likelihood the RCMP would use the best intelligence they have to determine which grow ops were likely to be linked to warehouse grow ops.

Ms. Pearson advised that municipalities can request electrical consumption records from BC, but these requests are limited to residential use and BC Hydro does not disclose electrical consumption records for non-residential addresses.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the creation of an Electrical Safety Inspection Program for Richmond be endorsed on a one-year trial basis.

(2)

That:

(a)

A temporary 2007 funding source of $560,100 for a pilot Electrical Safety Inspection program be identified through the 2007 budget process and that inspection revenues be used to offset the program expenses;

(b)

The BC Safety Authority provide cost-effective electrical inspection services for a one-year period, and that the Fire Chief be authorized to execute all necessary documents;

(c)

A one-year temporary clerical position, a fire inspector, and two police officers be funded to run the new Electrical Safety Inspection program for the trial period;

(d)

The appropriate bylaw changes required for the new Electrical Safety Inspection program be presented to Council;

(e)

Richmond’s unusual electrical consumption records be requested from BC Hydro; and

(f)

Program status reports be provided after the first 6 months and 12 months of the program.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That upon request, BC Hydro provide records for apartments, condominiums, warehouses and commercial properties in Richmond that exhibit unusual levels of electrical consumption.

CARRIED

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DECISIONS / ACTIONS (4 ITEMS)

BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

4.

Amendment Bylaw No. 8155, Scrap Metal Dealer, Second-Hand Dealer and Pawnbroker Bylaw

(Report:  October 24, 2006, File No.:  12-8060-20-8155/8163/8162) (REDMS No. 2032417, 2032680, 2038027, 2038058)

Discussion took place and Amarjeet Rattan, Manager, Business Liaison advised the Committee on the following points:

·            

the Canadian Association of Recycling Industries (CARI) was consulted and based on discussions with CARI, when drafting the bylaw staff took into consideration the Association’s concerns with regard to the impact of any regulations on the membership of CARI;

·            

an effective way to deal with the increase of thefts of metal products in the City is the inclusion in the proposed Amendment Bylaw of the term “scrap metal dealers”, in addition to “pawn brokers” and “second-hand dealer”;

·            

staff included research with the report regarding similar bylaws that exist in Vancouver, Chilliwack and Kelowna;

·            

it is reasonable to expect that the Amendment Bylaw would come into effect in late January, 2007.

It was moved and seconded

That the following bylaws each be introduced and given first, second and third readings:

(1)

Business Regulation Amendment Bylaw No. 8155, which:

(a)

repeals and replaces Part 19, Second-Hand Dealer/Pawnbroker Regulations of the Business Regulation Bylaw No 7538; and

(b)

establishes new regulations to include Scrap Metal Dealers;

(2)

Business Licence Amendment Bylaw No. 8163, which:

(a)

repeals section 2.1.22 of the Business Licence Bylaw No. 7360; and

(b)

deletes definition of Second-Hand Dealer/Pawnbroker of section 3.6 of the Business Licence Bylaw No 7360 and substitutes the same definition introduced in Bylaw No. 8155 for consequential amendments; and

(3)

Municipal Ticket Authorization Amendment Bylaw No. 8162, which establishes fines and introduces new ticketable offences for the Municipal Ticket Authorization Bylaw.

CARRIED

LAW & COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT

5.

REVIEW OF ALTERNATIVE MODELS OF DELIVERY OF POLICING SERVICES UPDATE

(Report:  Oct. 31/06, File No.:  09-5350-08-01-01/Vol 01) (REDMS No. 2009465)

Shawn Issel, Manager Community Safety Policy and Programs, on the question of who has final authority on the provision of Policing Services to the City advised the Provincial Police Act states that policing is a provincial responsibility. The proposed Committee would have opportunities, including a workshop, during the upcoming months to read draft reports on the progress of the Review, and the final report to Council would go forward sometime toward the end of June, 2007. Based on criteria identified as important during the review process, it would be up to Council to advise if it wanted to pursue the Review further. At that point, the City would pursue the process with Police Services.

In response to a query from the Committee, Ms. Issel advised that the public would be able to participate in the process after the City had identified consultants.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the report (dated October 31^st, 2006, from the General Manager, Law & Community Safety), regarding the Review of Alternative Models of Delivery of Policing Services, be received for information.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

(2)

That a Council representative be designated to the Police Review Steering Committee.

The question on the motion was not called, as comments were made about the value of having more than one Council representative designated to the Police Review Steering Committee, and as a result the following amendment was introduced:

That Part (2) of the motion be amended to state: That the Chair of the Community Safety Committee, plus one additional Councillor, being Councillor Dang, be designated to the Police Review Steering Committee.

The question on the motion as amended was called, and it was CARRIED.

6.

RENTAL PREMISES STANDARDS OF MAINTENANCE BYLAW NO. 8159

(Report:  Nov. 2/06, File No.:  12-8060-20-8159) (REDMS No. 2037890, 2039551)

Phyllis Carlyle, General Manager, Law & Community Safety advised that after Bylaw No. 8159 is adopted by Council, the City’s Communications Department would devise a communications plan to use the media to notify the public, including landlords and tenants, of the bylaw.

It was moved and seconded

That Rental Premises Standards of Maintenance Bylaw No. 8159 be introduced and given first, second and third readings.

CARRIED

Councillor McNulty left the meeting at 5:26 p.m. and did not return.

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INFORMATION / AWARENESS (3 ITEMS)

LAW & COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT

7.

Lower Mainland District Integration Initiatives - Forensic Identification Services, Police Dog Services, Collision Reconstruction and Analysis Services

(Report:  Oct. 23/06, File No.:  09-5350-01/Vol 01) (REDMS No. 2034398)

It was moved and seconded

That the report (dated October 23^rd, 2006, from the Manager, Community Safety Policy & Programs), regarding the proposed Lower Mainland District integration initiatives - Forensic Identification Services, Police Dog Services, and Collision Reconstruction and Analysis Services, be received for information.

CARRIED

8.

Police Chief Briefing

(Oral Report) 

Supt. Ward Clapham introduced S/Sgt. Doug Wright who used a power point presentation to discuss security issues as they pertain to the Canada Line. He advised that crime prevention through environmental design should be applied to all areas of the Canada Line. He stated concern regarding the limited time frame to make changes to the Canada Line stations that would help alleviate security problems.

He suggested several actions that could be taken to prevent an increase in criminal activity, and these included: Canada Line attendants and police officers present on platforms at all times and not on an intermittent basis, increase expectations of the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority Police Service (GVTAPS), proper placement of retail kiosks and gathering areas, and sufficient lighting.

In conclusion S/Sgt. Wright advised that: the City should be included in Canada Line committees and their planning sessions, the City should participate in plan reviews, there should be ongoing and meaningful dialogue, there should be cooperation with Canada Line partners and finally, there should be full support from all levels of government.

In response to questions from the Committee, S/Sgt. Wright stated that E-COMM has been very effective in assisting law enforcement agencies throughout the Lower Mainland in coordinating response to criminal activity along the Skytrain and Millenium lines. He also stated that surveillance cameras could act as deterrents to criminal behaviour, but in most cases they are used by police more as an investigative tool than as a deterrent.

Councillor Dang departed the meeting at 6:03 p.m.

General discussion ensued and the following referral was made:

It was moved and seconded

That staff prepare a letter to Canada Line Rapid Transit Inc. (CLCO) for the Mayor's signature, requesting that the City of Richmond's Safety Operations Steering (SOS) Team be re-engaged immediately.

CARRIED

Ms. Carlyle suggested that Greg Scott, Director, Major Projects, meet with Sgt. Wright to discuss the means by which the City does communicate security issues with CLCO. She reminded Committee that Mr. Scott had provided an update on the proposed security for the Richmond Canada Line stations at the September 12, 2006 Committee meeting.

9.

FIRE Chief Briefing

(Oral Report) 

Fire Chief Jim Hancock reported that an initial review of Halloween, 2006 statistics indicates that this year’s event was much safer than previous years. Property damage was down. A more comprehensive report will be forthcoming after Fire Rescue, the RCMP and other community agencies have had an opportunity to meet and share the results from the October 31 events. He further stated that he anticipates savings next year because Fire Rescue does not foresee the need to have two trucks in use.

Six members of Richmond Fire Rescue recently travelled to Alberta for initial training to become Hazardous Material instructors, with another seven members of Fire Rescue earmarked to take the same training in the near future. The second part of the training will take place in Ottawa. The training was sponsored by the Federal Government, and it would prepare the Fire Rescue personnel to train other members so that the response to such things as terrorism is at the highest level.

Chief Hancock read from an email from Dave MacDonald of Norampac, a local business that suffered a warehouse fire earlier this year. The email advised that despite the fire, the business recovered quickly and was open for business the next day. Mr. MacDonald praised Richmond Fire Rescue for its work, and thanked them for their assistance.

With reference to the Paish Review and the Ready Report, Chief Hancock reported that by early January Fire Rescue would have an  ombudsman service. A contract had been prepared and a brochure designed for distribution to staff, advising them of the ombudsman service. 

Ron Beaman, Deputy Chief  and Brenda Bartley-Smith, Manager, Administration attended a workshop in Calgary in October 2006 where the recruitment and retention of staff was discussed. While the workshop pertained to Alberta, it was apparent that other provinces, such as B.C. would soon be facing a shortage of experienced people for positions in fire Departments.

Ms. Bartley-Smith and Ms. Pearson attended a course in November 2006 entitled “Effective Handling of Harassment Complaints for Managers”. The course stressed the importance of establishing a supportive work environment where respect, equality and fairness were key elements.

Mr. Beaman had attended a two day course at the Justice Institute entitled “Applying Conflict Theory: From Awareness to Analysis”.

10.

MANAGER’S REPORT

No reports were given.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (6:20 p.m.).

CARRIED

Certified a true and correct copy of the Minutes of the meeting of the Community Safety Committee of the Council of the City of Richmond held on Wednesday, November 15, 2006.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Rob Howard
Chair

Sheila Johnston

Committee Clerk