Date:

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Place:

Anderson Room

Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Linda McPhail, Vice-Chair

Councillor Evelina Halsey-Brandt

Councillor Bill McNulty

Mayor Malcolm Brodie (entered at 4:02 p.m.)

Absent:

Councillor Derek Dang

Councillor Ken Johnston

Call to Order:

The Vice-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, July 10, 2012, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

Wednesday, October 10, 2012, (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room

Mayor Brodie entered the meeting (4:02 p.m.).

DELEGATION

1.

With the aid of a PowerPoint presentation (copy on file, City Clerk’s Office), Marlene Keefe and Jan Olson, representing Ban Resident Dogs, requested that a bylaw be considered to ban the chaining, tethering and cruel confinement of dogs in Richmond.  Ms. Keefe and Ms. Olson read from their submission, attached to and forming part of these Minutes as Schedule 1.

In reply to queries from Committee, Ms. Olson provided the following information:

§   

Ban Resident Dogs has contacted the Province, but has yet to receive a response;

§   

the BC Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has limited authority to remove dogs that are tethered;

§   

under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (PCA Act), the BC SPCA may only cease a dog under critical distress;

§   

the PCA Act, defines critical distress as distress in an animal of such nature that (a) immediate veterinary treatment cannot prolong the animal’s life or (b) prolonging the animal’s life would result in the animal suffering unduly; and

§   

it is challenging to lobby the Provincial government to amend the PCA Act.

In reply to queries from Committee, Wayne Mercer, Manager, Community Bylaws, advised that over the past year, Community Bylaws has received eight complaints related to the tethering of dogs.  Mr. Mercer stated that the City, along with the City’s animal control contractor, the Richmond Animal Protection Society (RAPS), has adequate staffing to monitor such complaints.

Mr. Mercer stated that the City’s Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 7932 includes a clause on the tethering of animals.  Also, he indicated that staff are currently reviewing the Bylaw and anticipate bringing amendments forward in the Fall.

Discussion ensued and Committee commented that while reviewing the Bylaw, staff ensure that there is a clause that addresses the tethering of unattended animals.

Discussing further ensued and it was noted that a specific issue needs to be identified and subsequently, options for what can be done.  Also, it was noted that more general information is required, as is what is occurring at the provincial level.

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

It was moved and seconded

That staff bring forward an unattended anti-tethering amendment as part of the Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 7932 review that is underway.

The question on the referral was not called, as Mayor Brodie called Point of Order, stating that direction to staff to draft an amendment bylaw should be brought forward for Council consideration and not be considered a referral.

Discussion ensued and there was agreement that the motion read as follows:

That Council direct staff to include an unattended, anti-tethering clause in the Animal Control Regulation Bylaw No. 7932 and ask that an amendment bylaw be drafted accordingly.

The question on the motion as revised was not called as Committee gave further direction to staff to examine what the Province is doing and analyse staffing implications of such an amendment.  Also, the Vice-Chair indicated that anecdotal information from other lower mainland municipalities that have enacted such a bylaw would be valuable.

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

LAW AND COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT

2.

City Centre Community Police Station Update

(File Ref. No. 09-5350-00) (REDMS No. 3610729 v.2)

In reply to queries from Committee, Inspector Bart Blachford advised that (i) the City Centre community police station has limited visibility from No. 3 Road; (ii) two of the five full-time General Duty uniformed members from Zone 3 have been assigned to the station; and (iii) the remaining Zone 3 members have been encouraged to work out of the station as much as possible.

Discussion ensued and Committee expressed that it is imperative that adequate signage identifying the new community police station be installed in an effort to improve visibility from No. 3 Road. 

In reply queries made by Committee, Lainie Goddard, Manager, RCMP Administration, advised that (i) staff are tracking the number of visitors to the new station and recording the types of services requested; and (ii) volunteer recruitment is going well.

Discussion further took place regarding signage for the new station and Phyllis Carlyle, General Manager, Law & Community Safety, stated that staff have encountered budgetary limitations, however would further examine the issue.

It was moved and seconded

That the report titled City Centre Community Police Station Update (dated August 15, 2012 from the Officer in Charge, Richmond RCMP) be received for information.

CARRIED

3.

RCMP's Monthly Report – June/July 2012 Activities

(File Ref. No. 09-5000-01) (REDMS No. 3576758 v.3)

Inspector Blachford commented on the detachment’s School Sports Program.

It was moved and seconded

That the report titled RCMP’s Monthly Report – June/July 2012 Activities (dated August 15, 2012, from the OIC, Richmond RCMP) be received for information.

CARRIED

4.

Richmond Fire-Rescue – June 2012 Activity Report

(File Ref. No. 09-5000-01) (REDMS No. 3577368)

RICHMOND FIRE-RESCUE – JULY 2012 ACTIVITY REPORT

(File Ref. No. 09-5000-01) (REDMS No. 3611811)

Tim Wilkinson, Deputy Fire Chief, commented on notable fire rescue activities during July 2012. 

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the staff report titled Richmond Fire-Rescue – June 2012 Activity Report (dated August 29, 2012, from the Fire Chief, Richmond Fire-Rescue) be received for information; and

(2)

That the staff report titled Richmond Fire-Rescue – July 2012 Activity Report (dated August 29, 2012, from the Fire Chief, Richmond Fire-Rescue) be received for information.

CARRIED

5.

Community Bylaws - June 2012 Activity Report

(File Ref. No. 12-8060-01) (REDMS No. 3581375 v.3)

6.

Community Bylaws - JULY 2012 Activity Report

(File Ref. No. 12-8060-01) (REDMS No. 3614854 v.3)

In reply to a query from Committee, Mr. Mercer stated that it is not uncommon to see a high number of Notice of Bylaw Violations issued in areas dense with restaurants.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the staff report titled Community Bylaws – June 2012 Activity Report (dated July 27, 2012 from the General Manager, Law & Community Safety), be received for information; and

(2)

That the staff report titled Community Bylaws – July 2012 Activity Report (dated August 13, 2012 from the General Manager, Law & Community Safety), be received for information.

CARRIED