MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Community Safety Committee held on Tuesday, February 10, 2009, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009, (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room.

LAW & COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT

3.

RCMP Reporting Schedule to the City of Richmond

(Report:  February 23, 2009, File No.: 09-5375-02/2009-Vol 01) (REDMS No. 2579548)

In reply to queries and comments from Committee, Renny Nesset, Officer In Charge (OIC), Richmond RCMP, advised that the reporting schedule could include quarterly updates concerning budgets, and the reporting style could be more detailed.

It was moved and seconded

That the matrix outlining the RCMP reporting schedule to the City of Richmond, as included in the report entitled ‘RCMP Reporting Schedule to the City of Richmond’, dated February 23, 2009 from the Officer in Charge, be received for information.

CARRIED

4.

RCMP’s Monthly Activity Report for February 2009

(Report:  February 23, 2009, File No.: 09-5375-02/2009-Vol 01) (REDMS No. 2579550)

Discussion ensued regarding (i) speeding tickets and the officers who issue them; (ii) traffic concerns on arterial roads; (iii) community police stations; (iv) the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program; and (v) changes in crime activity in relation to offenders being in or out of jail.

It was moved and seconded

That the ‘RCMP’s Monthly Activity Report for February 2009’ report, dated February 23, 2009 from the Officer in Charge, be received for information.

CARRIED

5.

The Province of British Columbia’s Gang Violence Initiative

(Report:  February 23, 2009, File No.:  09-5350-02/2009-Vol 01) (REDMS No. 2579903)

In reply to queries from Committee, OIC Nesset provided the following information related to British Columbia’s gang violence initiative:

§         

under the Motor Vehicle Act, modified armoured vehicles will be outlawed for personal use;

§         

‘prop masers’ are firearms altered to no longer have firing capabilities and are utilized as props by the film industry; however, prop masers can be re-altered to their original firing capabilities;

§         

it takes approximately 82 days for a potential RCMP member to go from applying to training at the depot.

Discussion ensued and it was noted that many details of British Columbia’s gang violence initiative remain unclear, such as what members will compose the proposed integrated forces, and sources of funding for the additional members and services after three years.

It was moved and seconded

That ‘the Provincial Government’s Gang Violence Initiative’ report, dated February 23, 2009 from the Officer in Charge, be received for information.

CARRIED

6.

Law & Community Safety 2008 Achievements & 2009 Priorities

(Report:  February 23, 2009, File No.: 09-5350-02/2009-Vol 01) (REDMS No. 2579467, 2553340)

The Law & Community Safety Department’s senior staff highlighted each division’s past year’s achievements, and spoke of upcoming priorities.

Discussion ensued and Committee commented on the following:

§         

the statistical information provided in the report did not include comparisons of statistics from previous years;

§         

goals from the previous year were not provided and therefore, made it difficult to assess whether or not they were accomplished;

§         

the Fire Protection and Life Safety – Bylaw 8306 should be reviewed with particular attention to the program and its process;

§         

Richmond Fire Rescue’s (RFR) operational statistics should be more detailed to illustrate the number of fire calls related to residential/commercial properties, primary/accessory buildings etc.; and

§         

RFR, BC Ambulance, and E-Comm relations should be enhanced and coding practices aligned.

Discussion further took place regarding BC Ambulance and E-Comm, and Phyllis L. Carlyle, General Manager, Law & Community Safety advised that Ken Shymanski, President and CEO of E-Comm would be updating Committee on E-Comm activities and services in Spring 2009. 

As a result of the discussion, staff was directed to bring forward a report that provides Committee with an overview on combined events protocols between BC Ambulance and E-Comm Fire Services prior to Mr. Shymanski’s update.

Councillor E. Halsey-Brandt left the meeting (5:17 p.m.) and did not return.

It was moved and seconded

That the ‘Law & Community Safety 2008 Achievements & 2009 Priorities’ report, dated February 23, 2009 from the General Manager, Law & Community Safety, be received for information.

CARRIED

7.

FIRE Chief Briefing

(Oral Report) 

Item for discussion:

Abandoned Buildings – Gilbert and Blundell

Kim Howell, Deputy Chief – Administration, spoke of a fire that occurred at an abandoned building located at the corner of Gilbert Road and Blundell Road, and noted that due to the extensive fire damage, the building was demolished.  The fire was recognized as an opportunity to educate the owner of the surrounding abandoned buildings about the disadvantages of keeping such buildings, and the owner voluntarily applied for demolition permits on the other abandoned buildings.

Councillor McNulty left the meeting (5:22 p.m.) and did not return.

8.

RCMP/OIC Briefing

(Oral Report) 

Items for discussion:

(i)

Kidnapping

OIC Nesset provided background information about a recent kidnapping, and advised that a motive is unknown, however, an individual has been arrested.

(ii)

Grow Operation Fire

OIC Nesset spoke of a small fire that occurred due to a grow operation.

(iii)

Sexual Assaults

OIC Nesset noted that young women have been the target of several recent attempted sexual assaults, and composite drawings indicate that there may be more that one assailant.

(iv)

Methamphetamine Lab

OIC Nesset advised of a small methamphetamine lab, and mentioned that an arrest had been made.

9.

OTHER ITEM

Marine Safety

Committee discussed required boat safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers and flares, and it was noted that most boat owners do not have the adequate training to properly and safely utilize these pieces of equipment in an emergency.

As a result of the discussion, Shawn Issel, Manager, Community Safety Policy and Programs, advised that the subject of marine safety would be brought before a Law & Community Safety interdepartmental team to discuss potential educational measures.

10.

MANAGER’S REPORT

None.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:38 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, March 10, 2009.

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Councillor Derek Dang

Chair

Hanieh Floujeh

Committee Clerk