Date:

Tuesday, February 12^th, 2008

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Evelina Halsey-Brandt, Chair
Councillor Cynthia Chen, Vice-Chair
Councillor Derek Dang

Councillor Sue Halsey-Brandt

Councillor Rob Howard

Mayor Malcolm Brodie

Call to Order:

The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:01 p.m.

It was agreed to add the Property Maintenance and Repair (Grow-Op) Bylaw No. 7897 under: Item 7. OTHER ITEMS for discussion of issues related to rental properties and fire and electrical safety.

MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Community Safety Committee held on Tuesday, January 15^th, 2008, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008  (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room.

CARRIED

LAW AND COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT

3.

Appointment of Bylaw Enforcement Officers - JAMES ROBERT ANDERSON AND JACKIE RANDOLPH NISHIKAWA 
(Report:  Jan. 17/08, File No.:  01-0172-03) (REDMS No. 2330373)

It was moved and seconded

That James Robert Anderson, and Jackie Randolph Nishikawa be appointed as Bylaw Enforcement Officers, in accordance with Section 36 of the Police Act, and that such appointments be for the term of their employment as Bylaw Enforcement Officers with the City of Richmond.

CARRIED

4.

FINES FOR GRAFFITI AND UNSIGHTLY PREMISES – AMENDMENT TO MUNICIPAL TICKET INFORMATION aUTHORIZATION bYLAW nO. 7321

(Report:  Jan. 25/08, File No.:  12-8060-20-8320) (REDMS No. 2224460)

In answer to questions related to graffiti, Wayne Mercer, Manager, Community Bylaws, advised that the definition of graffiti could be found in the Unsightly Premises Regulation Bylaw No. 7162. He also advised that it was difficult to penalize and fine for graffiti related infractions, as most offenders do not get caught, and that removal of graffiti would be the property owner’s responsibility.

During the discussion, staff was requested to arrange for removal of graffiti located on the support columns of the No. 2 Road Bridge, as well the pump-house in the same area.

It was moved and seconded

That Municipal Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 7321, Amendment Bylaw No. 8320 be introduced and given first, second and third readings.

CARRIED

5.

FIRE Chief Briefing

(Oral Report) 

Item for discussion:

Richmond Centre Mall Defibrillator Program

Deputy Chief Ron Beaman advised the Committee that the Richmond Centre Mall Defibrillator Program would be launched on March 1^st, 2008. The program would start with one defibrillator, with the possibility of adding more in the future. Training on how to operate a defibrillator was provided to mall security staff by an outside agency.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That a letter be written to the Richmond Centre Mall, on behalf of the City, commending the mall for starting the Richmond Centre Mall Defibrillator Program; and

(2)

That a letter be sent to other Richmond malls: (i) advising them of the Richmond Centre Mall Defibrillator Program, and of the City’s endorsement of such a life saving program in its places of congregation, (ii) encouraging participation in the Defibrillator  Program for their mall, and (iii) providing the Fire Department’s contact information for those interested in participating in the program.

CARRIED

6.

RCMP/OIC Briefing

(Oral Report) 

Items for discussion:

(1)

Operations Officer Replacement Announcement

Superintendent Ward Clapham introduced the new Inspector, Operations, Deanne Burleigh, and provided a brief overview of her experience, which includes commercial crime, political investigation, and fraud. Inspector Burleigh will be assuming her new role on February 25^th, 2008.

Supt. Clapham also announced that the current Inspector, Operations, Rendell Nesset, has accepted the position of Inspector, Operations Support.

(2)

Hamilton Community Policing

Inspector Nesset reported that the two officers currently working in the Hamilton Community are actively pursuing a permanent location for a Community Police Station, and options for establishing a cost sharing partnership with another organization are being explored.

(3)

Fatal Crash at No. 6 Road and Cambie Road

Supt. Clapham reported that the female driver who died after colliding with an RCMP cruiser at No. 6 Road and Cambie Road in December 2007 had a blood alcohol level that exceeded the legal limit. He further reported that the officer involved in the crash was expected to return to duties shortly.

(4)

Update on WinterFest

Supt. Clapham reported that from a policing perspective, WinterFest 2008 was a complete success. A brief discussion then took place among Committee members and staff on how well the event functioned without any beer gardens, during which several concerns associated with setting up beer gardens at family events were raised.

7.

OTHER ITEMS

(1)

Property Maintenance and Repair (Grow-Op) Bylaw No. 7897 – Fire and Electrical Safety

Discussion took place between Committee members and Deputy Chief, Kim Howell about electrical safety inspections, and the following was noted: 

§  

the purpose of the Property Maintenance and Repair (Grow-Op) Bylaw is to ensure electrical safety, and reduce hazards to citizens. It is not a criminal enforcement bylaw designed to stop grow ops, it is strictly used as a safety inspection bylaw;

§  

an electrical safety inspection is based on a high consumption of electricity. Consideration is given to factors such as the size of the property, and consumption of electricity compared to similar properties;

§  

an electrical safety inspection includes detection of potential hazards that are beyond electrical safety, such as curtains hanging over a heater, and insufficient smoke detectors;

§  

Inspectors notify individuals requiring a safety inspection in person, or by posting a notice requesting the individual to schedule a safety inspection appointment within 48 hours;

§  

if an individual does not schedule the appointment, their electricity can be cut off; and

§  

in order to ensure safety of the Fire and Electrical Safety Inspectors, RCMP Officers would accompany them to a safety inspection. The RCMP Officers could not issue warrants as a result of any evidence seen at a site undergoing an electrical safety inspection, unless there has been evidence of a serious offence such as a homicide;

(2)

Property Maintenance and Repair (Grow-Op) Bylaw No. 7897 – Rental Properties

A discussion took place about the feasibility of increasing rental property inspections from every three months to every month. Comments were made about privacy of the tenants, and reasonable expectations from landlords, realtors, and tenants. Further discussion took place about the difference in time required in assembling and dismantling grow-ops in comparison to chemical labs. In conclusion, it was generally agreed that property inspections at a frequency of every three months were reasonable.

8.

MANAGERS REPORTS

The Chair made reference to the upcoming retirement of Deputy Fire Chief Geoff Lake. The Chair, accompanied by Mayor Brodie on behalf of the Community Safety Committee presented Deputy Fire Chief, Lake with a token of appreciation for his years of service.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:43 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 Tuesday, February 12^th, 2008.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Evelina Halsey-Brandt
Chair

Shanan Dhaliwal
Executive Assistant, City Clerk’s Office