January 15, 2013 - Minutes

Date:

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Derek Dang, Chair
Councillor Linda McPhail
Councillor Ken Johnston
Councillor Evelina Halsey-Brandt
Councillor Bill McNulty

Mayor Malcolm Brodie

Also Present:

Councillor Chak Au

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 Wednesday, November 14, 2012, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

Wednesday, February 13, 2013, (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room

LAW AND COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT

1.

Community Bylaws – October 2012 Activity Report

(File Ref. No. 12-8060-01) (REDMS No. 3705969)

Community Bylaws – NOVEMBER 2012 Activity Report

(File Ref. No. 12-8060-01) (REDMS No. 3722383)

Edward Warzel, Manager, Community Bylaws, reviewed the October and November 2012 Community Bylaws activities, and noted that future staff report statistics will be further detailed in an effort to better reflect enforcement activity.

In reply to queries from Committee, Mr. Warzel advised that out-dated parking metres are being replaced with new parking metres; staff anticipate that the new parking meters will decrease the number of parking meters vandalized.  Also, Mr. Warzel spoke of recent restrictions in relation to communication protocols, noting that staff are closely monitoring the situation.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the staff report titled Community Bylaws – October 2012 Activity Report (dated November 14, 2012 from the General Manager, Law & Community Safety), be received for information; and

(2)

That the staff report titled Community Bylaws – November 2012 Activity Report (dated December 10, 2012 from the General Manager, Law & Community Safety), be received for information.

CARRIED

2.

Richmond Fire-Rescue – October 2012 Activity Report

(File Ref. No. 09-5000-01) (REDMS No. 3704592)

Richmond Fire-Rescue – November 2012 Activity Report

(File Ref. No. 09-5000-01) (REDMS No. 3723541 v.2)

Discussion ensued regarding the number of medical calls Richmond Fire-Rescue (RFR) responds to and the nature of these calls.

John McGowan, Fire Chief, advised that RFR can explore partnering with Vancouver Coastal Health in an effort to provide more detailed statistics related to the cause of these types of calls. 

In reply to query from Committee, Fire Chief McGowan stated that staff are finalizing the licence agreement with Lafarge Canada Inc. for a fire fighter training facility.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the staff report titled Richmond Fire-Rescue – October 2012 Activity Report (dated November 12, 2012, from the Fire Chief, Richmond Fire-Rescue) be received for information; and

(2)

That the staff report titled Richmond Fire-Rescue – November 2012 Activity Report (dated December 17, 2012, from the Fire Chief, Richmond Fire-Rescue) be received for information.

CARRIED

3.

RCMP's Monthly Report – October 2012 Activities

(File Ref. No. 09-5000-01) (REDMS No. 3699882)

RCMP's Monthly Report – NOVEMBER 2012 Activities

(File Ref. No. 09-5000-01) (REDMS No. 3717275)

Renny Nesset, Officer in Charge (OIC), Richmond RCMP, spoke on the number of business break and enters and stated that staff recently performed a five-year crime analysis of such crimes.  The crime analysis indicates that statistics for October and November 2012 are comparable to statistics from previous years.  He stated that often a rash of break and enters are attributed to a particular group and once this group is apprehended, the statistics drop significantly.

In reply to a query regarding the success of the pedestrian safety campaigns, OIC Nesset advised that pedestrian safety has been identified as a key initiative for the Richmond RCMP.

In reply to queries from Committee, OIC Nesset commented on the RCMP’s investigation related to the recent break and enters at herbal medicine retailers.  Also, OIC Nesset spoke of Project Link, a daytime foot patrol initiative created in an effort to curb crime along the No. 3 Road corridor.  He spoke of a working group that includes representatives from Richmond Centre and Lansdowne Centre, and noted that efforts are currently underway to include representatives from Parker Place, Aberdeen Centre, and Yaohan Centre.

Discussion took place regarding the manner in which RCMP statistics are presented to Committee, and OIC Nesset advised that the RCMP is bound by policies set by Statistics Canada.  Also, OIC Nesset advised that he would provide Committee with figures related to case clearance rates.

Discussion further took place regarding the manner in which RCMP statistics are presented to Committee and it was noted that including the value of goods stolen may have adverse affects.

The Chair summarized OIC Nesset’s comments in relation to business break and enters, noting that a five-year crime analysis indicates that statistics for October and November 2012 are comparable to statistics from previous years.  Typically, a rash of break and enters are attributed to a particular group and once this group is apprehended, the number of break and enters will decrease.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the report titled RCMP’s Monthly Report – October 2012 Activities (dated November 1, 2012, from the OIC RCMP) be received for information; and

(2)

That the report titled RCMP’s Monthly Report – November 2012 Activities (dated December 3, 2012, from the OIC RCMP) be received for information.

CARRIED

4.

Forsaken: The Report of the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry

(File Ref. No.) (REDMS No. 3736901 v.4)

Barbara Sage, Staff Solicitor, provided background information and stated that staff have received correspondence from the Honourable Shirley Bond, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, in response to Mayor Brodie’s letter dated November 28, 2012.

In reply to a query, Phyllis Carlyle, General Manager, Law and Community Safety, advised that the purpose of the staff report is to supplement the staff report titled Police Services Models considered at the November 14, 2012 Community Safety Committee meeting.

Discussion ensued regarding the staff referral made at the November 14, 2012 Community Safety Committee meeting and the Chair requested that in addition to those identified in Part (4) of the staff referral, that Committee ask the City of Abbotsford for their assistance in Richmond’s analysis of police services model and request to meet with MLA Kash Heed.

Discussion further ensued and Committee requested that staff report back on the Province’s progress in relation to regional policing and that this request was to supplement the staff referral made at the November 14, 2012 Community Safety Committee meeting.

Mayor Brodie stated that in addition to hearing from the various police departments as identified in the staff referral made at the November 14, 2012 Community Safety Committee meeting, it is important to hear from the Chairs of the various police boards.

It was moved and seconded

That:

(1)

the City work collaboratively and constructively with the Honourable Steven Point’s advisory committee (the “Advisory Committee”) on the safety and security of vulnerable women tasked with providing community-based guidance on the recommendations and two additional proposals contained in the report entitled, Forsaken: The Report of the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry (the “Report”);

(2)

if the Advisory Committee is not working on regional policing, that the Province be requested to act on Recommendation 9.2 of the Report by establishing an independent expert committee to develop a proposed model and implementation plan for a Greater Vancouver police force;

(3)

staff report back to the Community Safety Committee on the Province’s progress in acting on Recommendation 9.2 of the Report (establishing an independent expert committee to develop a proposed model and implementation plan for a Greater Vancouver police force); and

(4)

in addition to the referral made at the November 14, 2012 Community Safety Committee meeting, staff be asked to arrange meetings with representatives of regional policing, including Chairs of police boards and representatives of police, from parties interested in regional policing, including Abbotsford and MLA Kash Heed.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued regarding hearing from the Vancouver Police Department.

Councillor Au left the meeting (5:01 p.m.) and did not return.

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

5.

FIRE CHIEF BRIEFING

(Verbal Report) 

Items for discussion:

(i)

Results of Movember Challenge between Richmond Fire-Rescue & Richmond RCMP

Fire Chief McGowan commented on the results of the Movember Challenge between RFR and Richmond RCMP, highlighting that the Great Canadian Firefighter Challenge raised approximately $453,000, and Canada had the top worldwide total, raising approximately $39 million.

(ii)

Open Houses for Christmas Lighting Events

Fire Chief McGowan spoke of the Fire Hall Christmas Lighting Events, noting that they were well attended.

(iii)

Christmas Tree Chipping

Fire Chief McGowan stated that the 31^st Annual Richmond Firefighters Charitable Society Drive-Through Tree Chipping event was successful and raised approximately $8,000.

(iv)

New Battalion Chief

Fire Chief McGowan advised that RFR member Trevor Johnson has been promoted to Battalion Chief.

6.

RCMP/OIC BRIEFING

(Verbal Report)

Item for discussion:

(i)

Update on New Years

OIC Nesset commented on New Year’s Eve activities, noting that most incidents were alcohol related, however no major issues were reported.

7.

MANAGER’S REPORT

(i)

Pacific Region Training Centre and Depot Division

Ms. Carlyle extended an invitation to all members of Council who wish to visit the RCMP Pacific Region Training Centre in Chilliwack or the Depot Division in Regina.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:19 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, January 15, 2013.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Derek Dang
Chair

Hanieh Berg
Committee Clerk