MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Community Safety Committee held on Tuesday, July 14, 2009, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009, (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room.

PRESENTATION

3.

Dr. James Lu – Update on the pandemic from Vancouver Coastal Health

With the aid of a PowerPoint presentation, Dr. James Lu, Medical Health Officer, Richmond Health Services, Vancouver Coastal Health, advised that (i) H1N1 viruses are not spread by food; (ii) currently, there have been 44 hospitalizations and four deaths caused by the nH1N1 in British Columbia; (iii) symptoms of H1N1 and seasonal influenza are the same; (iv) the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) does not recommend wearing masks in non-health care settings such as schools and offices; and (v) in order to prevent getting ill, it is recommended that people wash their hands often, cough and sneeze into their sleeves, stay at home if sick, and get immunized when the vaccine becomes available.

In reply to queries from Committee, Dr. Lu advised the following:

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the City’s website could provide links to Vancouver Coastal Health’s information pages regarding H1N1 viruses as well as other materials such as brochures;

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immunization is free to the public;

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the vaccine will be available in batches in Fall 2009; 

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the PHAC does not recommend wearing masks in non-health care settings such as schools and offices because masks can do greater harm than good as the virus can easily be transferred onto a mask; also, a mask often gives people a false sense of security;

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the vaccine takes approximately three weeks to take effect and side effects are similar to the seasonal influenza vaccine; and

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vaccination is not mandatory for essential services personnel.

LAW & COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT

4.

PANDEMIC PLAN

(File Ref. No.:  09-5125-13-01) (REDMS No. 2711238, 2706611)

Deborah Procter, Manager, Emergency Programs, provided background information and in reply to queries from Committee, advised that the City’s proposed Pandemic Plan is flexible and can be adapted to a particular situation.  She also noted that staff will work with Vancouver Coastal Health to ensure the vaccine is available for City staff.

It was moved and seconded

That:

(1)

the Pandemic Plan dated August 28, 2009, be approved; and

(2)

the planning and response strategy specified in the Pandemic Plan be endorsed.

CARRIED

5.

RCMP’s Monthly Activity Report for August 2009

(File Ref. No.:  09-5375-03) (REDMS No. 2699675)

Renny Nesset, OIC, Richmond RCMP, reviewed the RCMP’s August 2009 statistics and noted that they were standard.  In reply to a query from the Committee, OIC Nesset noted that the Canada Line’s Station Targeted Area Response (STAR) Team is pleased with the low number of destructive behaviour.

It was moved and seconded

That the RCMP’s Monthly Activity Report be received for information.

CARRIED

6.

2009 Second quarter Report – Fire-Rescue

(File Ref. No.:  09-5140-01) (REDMS No. 2657720)

In reply to a query from Committee, Fire Chief John McGowan advised that identified vacant buildings are secured for safety reasons and that owners of such properties have been cooperative.

It was moved and seconded

That the report on Fire-Rescue’s Operations for the 2^nd Quarter ending June 30, 2009 be received for information.

CARRIED

7.

Review of Police Services

(File Ref. No.:  09-5350-08-01) (REDMS No. 2536075, 2448846)

Phyllis Carlyle, General Manager, Law & Community Safety, provided background information and advised that the full report is available to the public on the City website.

Ms. Carlyle spoke of an upcoming Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) workshop focused on gathering information on what municipalities wish to see in the future police services contract.  She also commented on the recent growth of regional teams and noted that although these teams are effective, municipalities contractually have no control over costs associated to them.

In reply to queries from Committee, Ms. Carlyle advised the following:

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to further explore a regional police force, the City would have to investigate other local municipalities’ willingness to consider an alternate model for police services and other factors such as Human Resources, pensions, equipment, facilities etc.;

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input from the City to the provincial government regarding the contract negotiations is at the staff level and based on UBCM meetings;  however, the municipalities’ agent does not participate in the meetings;

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the province is anticipating establishing a contract for twenty years, however, municipalities are advocating for checks and balances; and

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the filling of vacant positions may be covered in the upcoming contract under a service level.

Discussion ensued regarding other municipalities’ enthusiasm for a regional police force and it was noted that the notion was not very supported.

Keith Taylor, Principal, Perivale and Taylor Consulting Inc., advised that the intent of the report is to inform Council about the policing process and not to recommend a specific direction.

It was moved and seconded

That:

(1)

the  recommendations contained within the Review of Alternative Models for the Delivery of Police Services  form the fundamental principles for negotiating any future contract with the Province for the provision of police services and that the Solicitor General be directly advised of Richmond’s position;

(2)

the recommendations contained within the Review of Alternative Models for the Delivery of Police Services, which the City has the sole discretion to implement, will be dealt with through the usual Council process;

(3)

the UBCM’s RCMP Contract Negotiation framework be utilized as the vehicle for the renegotiation of the City’s municipal policing agreement; and

(4)

the Solicitor General be advised that the funding and civilian oversight for the existing integrated policing services, such as the integrated policing teams and the lower mainland district services, should be at the provincial level.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued regarding the possibility of a regional police force and the potential lack of influence the City would have on such a police force.

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

8.

General Manager briefing

(Oral Report)

Item for discussion:

2009 World Police & Fire Games

Ms. Carlyle spoke of the 2009 World Police & Fire Games held July 31 –August 9, 2009 and highlighted that Richmond Fire-Rescue won two gold, four silver, and two bronze medals and Richmond RCMP won five gold, four silver, and two bronze medals.

9.

FIRE Chief Briefing

(Oral Report) 

Items for discussion:

(i)

Award for Global Villages Project

Chief McGowan highlighted that Richmond Fire-Rescue (RFR) won a community service award from the Universal Peace Federation of Western Canada (the Federation) for its work in South East Asia and Central America.  He spoke of the Federation’s goals and also noted that Kirby Graeme, Community Relations Officer, RFR, was appointed as an Ambassador for Peace.

A discussion took place and Committee requested that a brief visual presentation of RFR’s missions and the awards ceremony be presented at a future Council meeting.

(ii)

Invitation to Fire Hall No. 6 Opening

Chief McGowan invited all members of Council to attend the grand opening of Fire Hall No. 6 on Saturday, October 3, 2009.  The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m..

10.

RCMP/OIC Briefing

(Oral Report) 

Item for discussion:

Homicide

OIC Nesset spoke of a recent homicide and advised that the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has charged an individual. 

11.

OTHER ITEMS

None.

12.

MANAGER’S REPORT

None.

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 Tuesday, September 15, 2009.

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Councillor Ken Johnston

Vice-Chair

Hanieh Floujeh

Acting Executive Assistant

City Clerk’s Office