Date:

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Place:

Anderson Room

Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Derek Dang, Chair

Councillor Ken Johnston, Vice-Chair

Councillor Evelina Halsey-Brandt

Councillor Greg Halsey-Brandt

Councillor Bill McNulty

Also Present:

Councillor Sue Halsey-Brandt

Call to Order:

The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Community Safety Committee held on Tuesday, May 10, 2011, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

Tuesday, July 12, 2011, (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room

PRESENTATION

Fire Chief John McGowan, Richmond Fire-Rescue (RFR), and Pascal Rodier, Superintendent – Officer In Charge, District 2/South Fraser at the British Columbia Ambulance Service, presented stork pins to Richmond Fire-Rescue members who assisted in the delivery of a baby on April 30, 2011.

Fire Captain Doug Scott thanked firefighters Dan Penney, Michael Frampton, and Mark Timmons for their efforts.

The Chair advised that ‘Community Safety Public Consultation’ as discussed at the annual Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference, be added to the agenda as Item 6A.

LAW AND COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT

1.

Community Bylaws – April 2011 Activity Report

(File Ref. No. 10-8060-01) (REDMS No. 3228005)

In reply to a query from Committee, Wayne Mercer, Manager, Community Bylaws, advised that staff are presently documenting the use of Social Planning and Research Council of BC (SPARC) permits in pay parking zones in an effort to stop the abuse of privileges related to disability parking permits.

It was moved and seconded

That the Community Bylaws Monthly Activity Report, dated June 1, 2011, from the General Manager, Law & Community Safety, be received for information.

CARRIED

2.

RCMP’s Monthly Report – April 2011 Activities

(File Ref. No. 09-5000-01) (REDMS No. 3213270)

Deanne Burleigh, Operations Officer, Richmond RCMP, commented on the spike in robberies and residential break and enters.  She noted that several arrests have been made in both areas, and it is anticipated that the statistics decrease and reflect these arrests.

In reply to queries from Committee, Ms. Burleigh advised that (i) the RCMP imposed the maximum penalty to each of the street racers apprehended on February 18, 2011; and (ii) victim services assists the RCMP with calls related to sudden deaths.

It was moved and seconded

That the OIC’s report, dated May 25, 2011, entitled “RCMP’s Monthly Report – April 2011 Activities”, be received for information.

CARRIED

3.

2012 Fire Chiefs Association of BC Annual Conference

(File Ref. No. 09-5140-01) (REDMS No. 3199017)

It was moved and seconded

That the financial support and in-kind contributions  for the Fire Chiefs Association of British Columbia (FCABC), the Emergency Vehicle Technicians Association of British Columbia (EVTABC) and the British Columbia Fire Training Officers Associations (BCFTOA) conferences, to be held jointly in Richmond from June 1^st to June 7^th in 2012 be authorized.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued regarding the City’s protocol on financial support and in-kind contributions to both internally and externally hosted conferences. 

Fire Chief McGowan advised that the Fire Chiefs Association of British Columbia (FCABC) conference organizers have limited expectations from the host fire department.  He noted that other fire departments in the lower mainland have strategically increased their level of involvement and invested financially.

The question on the motion was then called and it was CARRIED with Councillor G. Halsey-Brandt opposed.

As a result of the discussion, the following referral was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That the Chief Administrative Officer clarify whether there is an existing policy and if not, bring forward a policy regarding the costs involved with a City department hosting a conference, being held in Richmond or another municipality, relating to a particular profession.

The question on the referral was not called as discussion further ensued regarding the City’s protocol on financial support and in-kind contributions to both internally and externally hosted conferences. 

Committee requested that the Chief Administrative Officer advise Council whether or not such a policy exists by the next Regular Council meeting scheduled for Monday, June 27, 2011.

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

4.

RCMP COMMUNITY SAFETY BUILDING: 2012 VIDEO SURVEILLANCE REQUIREMENTS IN POLICE BUILDINGS

(File Ref. No. 06-2052-25-CSB) (REDMS No. 3225387)

In reply to a query from Committee, Greg Scott, Director, Project Development, spoke to the financial impact to the RCMP Community Safety building budget in relation to the Video Equipment Program.  He noted that the proposed change in project scope would increase the budget by $199,000.  Mr. Scott mentioned that $179,000 would be funded by the operating surplus of the contract between the City and the RCMP, resulting in the City receiving a 10% savings and the remaining $20,000 funded by the City’s Capital Building and Infrastructure Reserve.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That an increase to the project scope of for a video surveillance upgrade required for the RCMP Community Safety Building (CSB) project to meet the new 2012 proposed standards for police buildings valued at $179,000, be approved as part of the RCMP CSB project;

(2)

That an increase to the project scope for a secure room required for the RCMP’s Live Scan system valued at $20,000, be approved as part of the RCMP CSB project, and be funded from the Capital Building and Infrastructure Reserve; and

(3)

That the 5 Year Financial Plan (2011-2015) be amended accordingly. 

CARRIED

5.

FIRE Chief Briefing

(Oral Report)

Fire Chief McGowan advised that Richmond Fire-Rescue will no longer utilize A and B class foam but instead Cold Fire.  Cold Fire is an environmentally friendly product that rapidly extinguishes and cools down fires.

6.

RCMP/OIC Briefing

(Oral Report)

Ms. Burleigh advised that the Richmond RCMP recently held a crime reduction strategies meeting with partner agencies.  She noted that the meeting focused on how each partner could participate in achieving the targeted crime reduction strategies.

Also, Ms. Burleigh spoke of a recent hostage situation.

6A.

COMMUNITY SAFETY AND PUBLIC CONSULTATION

Discussion ensued regarding a workshop held during the annual Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference.  The ‘Safe Streets and Affordable Taxes: Building a Policing Strategy that Contains Municipal Costs’ workshop focused on the challenge of finding ways to keep communities as safe as possible without crowding out other priorities or shifting too big a burden on taxpayers.

As a result of the discussion, the following referral was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That staff examine the information provided from the ‘Safe Streets and Affordable Taxes: Building a Policing Strategy that Contains Municipal Costs’ workshop and in consultation with the Richmond RCMP,  investigate whether or not such a model could interlock with the RCMP’s crime reduction strategies.

CARRIED

7.

MANAGER’S REPORT

None.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:51 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, June 14, 2011.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Derek Dang

Chair

Hanieh Floujeh

Committee Clerk