MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Community Safety Committee held on Wednesday, October 10, 2007, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007  (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room.

LAW AND COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT

3.

Review of Bylaw Dispute Adjudication Program

(Report:  October 18, 2007, File No.:  12-8080-15-01/2007-Vol 01) (REDMS No. 2292665)

Wayne Mercer, Manager, Community Bylaws, spoke about positive aspects of the Bylaw Adjudication Program, including the convenience it presents to people wishing to take their issue to dispute.

In answer to questions, Mr. Mercer provided the following advice:

§         

approximately eight municipalities have elected to set up systems similar to the Bylaw Dispute Adjudication Program, but the City of Vancouver is not one of them;

§         

individuals who receive a ticket also receive a pamphlet explaining the Bylaw Dispute Adjudication Program;

§         

the program basically replaces the process of disputing tickets in provincial court; and

§         

the program deals with uncomplicated “black and white” infractions, however, consideration could be given to expanding it to include other infractions.

It was moved and seconded

That the report regarding the success of the City’s new Bylaw Dispute Adjudication Program (dated October 18, 2007, from the General Manager, Law and Community Safety, and the Manager, Community Bylaws) be received by Council for information.

CARRIED

4.

Fireworks Regulation Changes

(Report:  October 26, 2007, File No.: 12-8060-20-8305, xr 11-7400-00 ) (REDMS No. 2273784, 2291323, 2298598, 114273)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Bylaw No. 8305, which amends Fireworks Regulation No. 7917 by simplifying the enforcement process and enhancing the compliance with regulations, be introduced and given first, second and third readings.

(2)

That Council Policy No. 8600, adopted on November 13, 1973, be rescinded, and that the proposed Policy - Fireworks Displays in Parks, as attached to this report, be adopted.

The question on the motion was not called as Geoff Lake, Deputy Fire Chief, responded to a question and advised that the Fireworks Regulation Changes resulted in a decrease in fireworks related incidents and callouts on Halloween night, 2007.

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

5.

RCMP Five Year Resourcing Plan

(Report:  October 12, 2007, File No.:  ) (REDMS No. 2289728)

(At this point Councillors Sue Halsey Brandt and Rob Howard entered the meeting)

Accompanied by a number of RCMP staff members, Ward Clapham, Officer in Charge (OIC), made a brief presentation on the RCMP Five Year Resourcing Plan, during which he spoke about several components, including the following:

§         

proactive policing and the significance of taking initiative, forecasting, and preventing future crime, as well as sustaining the momentum throughout 2012;

§         

Richmond’s decrease in crime rates, and successful reputation as one of the safest cities in the country;

§         

crime prevention and intervention as the basis of the RCMP Five Year Resourcing Plan;  

§         

civilianization of positions with functions that could be performed by municipal employees, but are currently held by regular RCMP members; and

§         

the five year resourcing forecast requiring a higher number of officers at the beginning of the plan than at the end.

Discussion ensued, and the following was noted:

§         

six police officers currently in place are funded through “gap-funding”, eight additional officers are required, and a total of 13 officers have been authorized; 

§         

the 2008 Additional Levels will be brought to the Senior Management Team for review and reports will be submitted for consideration at the November 29, 2007 Finance Committee meeting;  

§         

civilianization of positions on the Mental Health Response and Support Team and the Emergency Planning and Continuity of Operations Support Unit is proposed;

§         

the Quick Response Team, Metal Theft Section, S.T.A.R.T. (Station Targeted Area Response Team – Canada Line), and Historical Crime Team are all new and additional; 

§         

as Richmond is very culturally diverse, it is important to have cultural and gender diversity on the police force;

§         

the importance of visibility of officers, and working closer with civilians  is being addressed by the Bike Patrol Squad;

§         

the issue of lengthy periods of time passing between visits to elementary schools by staff liaison police officers needs to be addressed;

§         

federal resources related to security, immigration, and drug trade have been increased at YVR; and

§         

S.T.A.R.T will work in collaboration with the Greater Vancouver Transit Authority Police, the Bike Patrol Squad, and the Quick Response Team.

Staff Sergeant Eric Hall provided information about the Historical Crime Team. He advised that the different types of investigations into historical unsolved crimes require specialized teams who process an understanding of the criminal code requirements when the crime occurred, as well as an understanding of current evidence collection techniques.                                    

Forty-nine unsolved homicides occurred in Richmond between 1972 – 2003; approximately thirty missing persons cases that have not yet been determined as suspicious, or otherwise are unsolved; and there are approximately 200 unsolved robberies.

At this point, Mayor Brodie left the meeting and did not return (4:57 p.m.).

In answer to a query, Phyllis Carlyle, General Manager, Law & Community Safety advised that the six police officers currently funded through gap-funding are sufficient, however continuation of gap-funding is not recommended. Preference is given to analyzing gap-funding requirements and  reporting the results back to Committee next year. She concluded by advising that all gap funding requests must receive approval from the Lower Mainland District.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the RCMP Five Year Resourcing Plan be updated annually and presented to Committee in July of each year, and

(2)

That the request for $971,584 be considered as an additional level in the 2008 budget.

CARRIED

6.

FIRE Chief Briefing

(Oral Report) 

(1)

Halloween Activities De-briefing

Deputy Chief Geoff Lake reported that Halloween 2007 was much quieter than 2006, concluding that the fireworks bylaw is deemed a success as no fireworks related property damages, or injuries were reported.

(2)

Announcement of new staff

Deputy Lake made the following two staff announcements, noting that both positions will be effective on Monday, November 19th:

§         

Maria Salzl will be responsible for Richmond Fire Rescue’s outreach program in her new role as Manager, Program Administration at Fire Hall No. 1; and

§         

Kim Howell will join Richmond Fire Rescue as the new Deputy Chief of Administration. Ms. Howell is expected to attend the December 11, 2007 Community Safety meeting.

7.

RCMP/OIC Briefing

(Oral Report) 

(1)

Halloween 2007

Inspector Rendall Nesset reported that the RCMP was pleased that minimal negative activity took place on Halloween 2007.

(2)

Violence Suppression Team

Inspector Nesset reported that Richmond RCMP will be committing two members to the Violence Suppression Team for a period of two months, at which time a re-assessment will take place. This team addresses the use of guns, and gang related violence, including drive-by shootings.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:12 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 14, 2007.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Evelina Halsey-Brandt
Chair

Shanan Dhaliwal
Committee Clerk