MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Community Safety Committee held on Tuesday, March 13, 2007, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007  (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room.

LAW AND COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT

3.

SITE CLEAN UP OF AN UNSIGHTLY PROPERTY, CIVIC ADDRESS: 10791 BIRD ROAD, LEGAL DESCRIPTION: LOT 2, SECTION 26-5-6, PLAN NWS2830

(Report:  March 27, 2007, File No.:  12-8080-05) (REDMS No. 2115500, 2034297, 2080674, 2099444, 2099448)

Wayne Mercer, Manager, Community Bylaws, and Jodie Shebib, Supervisor, Community Bylaws, circulated a letter submitted by Robert Harlos of 10791 Bird Road, received on April 2, 2007 (on file in the City Clerk’s Office).

Mr. Mercer advised that the residents at 10791 Bird Road have not complied with the City’s directives, and that no progress on site clean up has been made by the residents, despite three extensions to the deadline being offered.

It was moved and seconded

That John’s Custom Tractor and Disposal Service be authorized to remove all of the discarded materials at 10791 Bird Road, Richmond, in accordance with the “Order to Comply” of March 16, 2007 issued under the Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 7162 and section 17(1) of the Community Charter.

CARRIED

4.

SITE CLEAN UP OF AN UNSIGHTLY PROPERTY, CIVIC ADDRESS: 8080 ALANMORE PLACE, LEGAL DESCRIPTION: LOT 18, SECTION 22-4-7, PLAN 18098

(Report:  March 27, 2007, File No.:  12-8080-05) (REDMS No. 2082769, 2099965, 2100068, 2114196, 2131746)

Mr. Mercer stated that the most recent complaint the City has received about the property’s appearance is the fifth such complaint since 2003, and that the most recent forced cleaning of the property took place in 2005.

It was moved and seconded

That John’s Custom Tractor and Disposal Service be authorized to remove all of the discarded materials at 8080 Alanmore Place, Richmond, in accordance with the “Order to Comply” of March 16, 2007 issued under the Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 7162 and section 17(1) of the Community Charter.

CARRIED

5.

AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS (AEDs)
(Report:  March 13, 2007, File No.: 02-0650-01) (REDMS No. 2050617)

Geoff Lake, Deputy Fire Chief, advised that Richmond Fire-Rescue supports the idea of public Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) but that at present there is no standardization of AED equipment and training. As standardization is expected before the end of 2007, he indicated he would report back with regard to implementation of this initiative at a future date.

Discussion ensued among Committee members and staff on the following aspects of the recommendation contained in the staff report:

·      

without industry-accepted standardized regulations or protocols throughout the province and the country for public AED systems, administrators of public buildings would purchase equipment, acquire information about the equipment, set protocols, and would include a medical director for oversight for training and implementation programs;

·      

manufacturers and suppliers of AED equipment do have training programs for new operators, but suppliers make equipment that varies from company to company and also have different standards of AED training;

·      

in terms of training its staff, the City has coordinated training programs for all required training for personnel at City facilities ;

·      

City staff at recreational facilities have achieved required certification, such as CPR Level C training and first aid, and AED training would be another certification required, should equipment be installed at public facilities;

·      

all Richmond Fire-Rescue personnel have AED training; it takes 8 hours of training for CPR certification and it would take an equal number of hours to train on AED equipment;

·      

if staff reported further on the initiative, reporting would include information on the purchase and budgeting of equipment and training costs.

Resident Howard Janpolsky, 5531 Cantrell Road, addressed the Committee and spoke in favour of AEDs in the City’s arenas and other civic public facilities. He stressed that the devices utilize electrical shock to restore a normal heartbeat to someone experiencing a heart attack, and he cited some examples of lives that could have been saved if an AED was on site and if personnel was trained in their use.

Mr. Janpolsky submitted a printed copy of an on-line petition (on file in the City Clerk’s Office) that he initiated, and stated that 262 on-line signatures had been received, urging Richmond City Council to support the installation of AEDs in the City’s arenas, and to further investigate installing, AEDs in additional public buildings and places.

It was moved and seconded

That as Richmond’s City-owned facilities are not currently suitable for Automated External Defibrillators (AED) use, and as there are no industry accepted standards governing AED regulation, equipment, certification and training, that Richmond Fire-Rescue report back to Council in September on the updated standards of AED use.

CARRIED

A brief discussion ensued and the following referral motion was also introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That staff design and implement, as soon as possible, a pilot project for installation of, and training for, Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) at the Richmond Ice Centre and at the Richmond Arena.

CARRIED

6.

ELECTRICAL SAFETY INSPECTION PROGRAM – PROPERTY MAINTENANCE & REPAIR (GROW-OP) BYLAW NO. 7898 AMENDMENT BYLAW NO. 8231

(Report:  March 28, 2007, File No.:  12-8060-20-8231) (REDMS No. 2131760, 2133541)

It was moved and seconded

That Bylaw No. 8231, which amends Property Maintenance & Repair (Grow-Op) Bylaw No. 7898 be introduced and given first, second and third readings.

CARRIED

7.

EMERGENCY INFORMATION PLAN

(Report:  March 22, 2007, File No.:  09-5125-03-05) (REDMS No. 2127621)

Tara Simpson, Emergency Management Coordinator, and Ted Townsend, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications addressed the Committee and advised that the Emergency Information Plan outlines the key role Council would play in the event of a disaster. Ms. Simpson stated that Richmond City Hall would function as the Emergency Call Centre and the Media Centre, and  the Plan was prepared to meet all regulations and requirements laid out in the Provincial Emergency Program Act as well as the associated Local Authority Emergency Management Regulation. It is necessary to constantly update the  Plan due to on going contact information changes.

In response to a query, Mr. Townsend stated that if a major disaster prevented  the operation of local communication technology, the City has arranged for use of an emergency website server based in Europe. This idea came about from the aftermath of the Hurricane Katrina event in Louisiana.

Ms. Simpson advised that Richmond has a core group of volunteers in its Emergency Social Services program, many of whom are multi-lingual, who are available to deliver presentations on emergency preparedness.

Mr. Townsend noted that the City’s website also includes a section with important information for residents on emergency preparedness.

It was moved and seconded

That the Emergency Information Plan, as required under the British Columbia Emergency Program Act, be approved.

CARRIED

Mr. Townsend advised the Committee that the City has received telephone calls and emails from residents with regard to stories in the media about the threat of flooding as a result of the spring runoff from near record snow pack levels.

He stated that staff has developed a strategy to communicate with residents to highlight that:

·            

Richmond’s dikes were designed and constructed to the height of the highest flood level ever recorded (in 1894) plus an additional 0.6 metre, and the dikes are well above historic high water levels;

·            

the water level is considerably lower in Richmond, than it is in the eastern areas of the Fraser Valley, due to the widening of the river, which gives the water a larger distribution area and reduces the likelihood that Richmond’s dikes might be breached;

·            

Richmond constantly works to upgrade its dike height and stability, the dikes are inspected on a weekly basis, and river levels at key sites around Richmond are measured through 24-hour electronic monitoring.

This, as well as more detailed information, will be communicated to the public. In addition, the City will arrange a media event during the week of April 16, 2007, when construction is expected to begin on the City’s dike improvements between No. 7 and No. 8 Roads.

8.

FIRE CHIEF BRIEFING

Sandra Pearson, Program/Project Manager, Richmond Fire-Rescue (RFR), provided a demonstration of the newly activated Fire-Rescue Intranet site, which RFR launched this month. This internal website provides RFR personnel with information on key initiatives in the department, and grew out of the Paish report and its recommendation that RFR improve communication.

The RFR Intranet site features: the RFR 12-part manual, interactive surveys and polls, staffing announcements, key messages, and information of inter-personal training programs, among many other items.

Fire Chief Jim Hancock advised the Committee that:

·      

the Hamilton Fire Hall opening on March 31, 2007 was a great success and that attendance at the event exceeded all expectations;

·      

the Sea Island Fire Hall, 3911 Russ Baker Way will have a Grand Opening on Saturday, April 21, 2007 between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.;

·      

the Fire Fighter Recruitment Information Session held on April 10, 2007 attracted over 100 interested people including women and minorities; those who attended demonstrated enthusiasm and asked many questions; the second Session, was scheduled for April 11, 2007.

In response to a query, Chief Hancock reported that the last intake of recruits for RFR took place in August, 2005. He stated that he would keep the Committee informed as RFR proceeded through the recruitment process.

9.

RCMP/OIC BRIEFING

Officer in Charge Ward Clapham gave a demonstration of the section of the City’s website that features up to the minute information on crime in the community, and advised that in the past month, that part of the website had received 11,000 hits. Residents can go online to determine what type of crime has taken place on their street or in their general neighbourhood, as well as gain information about safety and crime prevention tips.

10.

OTHER ITEMS

None.

11.

MANAGER’S REPORT

No reports were given.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:35 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, April 11, 2007.

_________________________________

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Councillor Cynthia Chen
Acting Chair

Sheila Johnston
Committee Clerk