December 10, 2013 - Minutes

Date:

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Linda McPhail, Vice-Chair
Councillor Ken Johnston
Councillor Evelina Halsey-Brandt
Councillor Bill McNulty
Mayor Malcolm Brodie

Absent:

Councillor Derek Dang

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 Wednesday, November 13, 2013, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

Tuesday, January 14, 2014, (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room

LAW AND COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT

1.

Community Bylaws – October 2013 Activity Report
(File Ref. No.) (REDMS No. 4035635 v.4)

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled Community Bylaws – October 2013 Activity Report dated November 12, 2013, from the General Manager, Law & Community Safety be received for information.

CARRIED

2.

Richmond Fire-Rescue – October 2013 Activity Report
(File Ref. No. 09-5000-01) (REDMS No. 4024379)

Fire Chief John McGowan, Richmond Fire-Rescue (RFR), noted that the safety systems put in place over Halloween worked well with fire incidents being kept to normal rates throughout the evening.

In response to a query regarding the unusual increase in vehicular fires, Fire Chief McGowan advised that the majority of the fires were mechanical in nature and the cause for the semi-trailer fire was under investigation.

In reply to a query regarding the vehicle fire at the River Rock Casino parkade, Deputy Fire Chief Tim Wilkinson stated that the fire crew identified the risk of smoke propagation towards the casino through an enclosed pedestrian overpass and created a ventilation plan that worked with the casino’s ventilation system to mitigate any smoke inhalation.

Fire Chief McGowan noted that traffic is a difficult issue for RFR, particularly during peak travel times; however, motorists do clear the roadway once an emergency has been identified.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled Richmond Fire-Rescue – October 2013 Activity Report, dated November 18, 2013, from the Fire Chief, Richmond Fire-Rescue, be received for information.

CARRIED

The Vice-Chair expressed gratitude to RFR noting that she was treated with the utmost respect, care and concern, during a recent fire incident at her residence.

3.

RCMP's Monthly Report – October 2013 Activities
(File Ref. No. 09-5000-01) (REDMS No. 4036229)

Superintendent Renny Nesset, Officer in Charge, Richmond RCMP, noted that the increase in residential break and entries is higher than desired and officers continue to track prolific offenders.

Committee expressed appreciation for the RCMP’s successful investigation and exposure of the “dial a dope” operation.

It was moved and seconded

That the report titled RCMP’s Monthly Report – October 2013 Activities (dated November 8, 2013, from the Officer in Charge, RCMP) be received for information.

CARRIED

4.

Province-wide 911 Levy in British Columbia
(File Ref. No. 09-5000-01) (REDMS No. 4042842 v.6)

Anne Stevens, Senior Manager, Community Safety Policy and Programs, accompanied by Fire Chief McGowan, advised that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) requested comments on the proposed Province-wide 911 “Call Answer Levy (CAL)”.  The 911 fee collected through landline billing is used to support the telephone provider infrastructure but does not provide funding for local 911 service delivery or infrastructure.  911 fees are collected through the municipal tax billing and forwarded to Emergency Communications for Southwest British Columbia Incorporated (E-COMM) by Metro Vancouver.  Under this proposal, the collection of the 911 CAL would be the responsibility of the telecommunication service provider with the provider having the ability to claim $0.07 per line per month for the administration of the program.

In response to a query regarding the decline in landline 911 calls, Ms. Stevens stated that a component of the proposal included upgrades to the infrastructure to accept technological advances (i.e. video, pictures, text, etc.).

Fire Chief McGowan noted that there is a wireless initiative that allows the 911 Centre to receive GPS locations directly from the wireless device.  Phase Two of the initiative would allow the 911 Centre to track the GPS location of a moving wireless device.  The trend within the 911 system indicates that 65 percent of 911 calls are currently made from wireless devices and the transition to the Next Generation 911 (NG911) would involve significant capital and training.

Committee emphasised the importance of the 911 system and the need for adequate funding to support the infrastructure needs.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the staff report titled Province-wide 911 Levy in British Columbia” be forwarded to UBCM;

(2)

That UBCM be advised that should the Province establish a province-wide CAL, the City of Richmond would request the following:

(a)

municipalities would continue to be included in the discussion, development, implementation and funding allocation of a province-wide 911 CAL;

(b)

the province-wide levy would be cost neutral for municipalities and any new additional revenue sources (such as from mobile phones) would be used to fund system improvements and integration; and

(c)

the scope for the province-wide 911 CAL levy be strictly for the provision of 911 services, and administrative overhead from the telephone companies would be limited to a minimal amount.

CARRIED

5.

FIRE CHIEF BRIEFING
(Verbal Report)

(i)

Movember

Fire Chief McGowan provided a brief update on the Movember Shave-Off held on Friday, November 29, 2013 at Richmond City Hall where donations were received to shave the moustaches of participants including RFR, RCMP members along with guests from the Richmond Review, Lansdowne Mall, Chamber of Commerce and Richmond Hospital.  2013 has been the best year ever with approximately $6,750 being raised.

(ii)

Christmas Tree Chipping Event

Fire Chief McGowan advised that the 32^nd Annual Richmond Firefighters Charitable Society Drive-Thru Tree chipping event is scheduled to be held on Saturday, January 4, 2014 and Sunday, January 5, 2014 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Garry Point Park.  Tree chipping will be by donation and will raise funds to benefit charities; such as, the BC Professional Firefighters Burn Fund, MD Canada, Vancouver Children’s Hospital, Make-A-Wish and the Richmond Food Bank.  The event will also be joined by radio stations JRfm on Saturday, January 4, 2014 and Sonic Nation on Sunday, January 5, 2014.

(iii)

New Recruit Update

Fire Chief McGowan noted that the RFR are currently in the final stages of the new recruit selection process.  Of the 507 applicants, 311 met all the basic qualifications, 220 were tested, 76 were interviewed, 24 were short listed for a final interview, and fourteen applicants have been selected to be the RFR new recruit class with an anticipated commencement of January 6, 2014.

6.

RCMP/OIC BRIEFING
(Verbal Report)

None.

The Vice-Chair expressed appreciation for the weekly Richmond RCMP – Media Updates released by Corporal Stephanie Ashton, Media Relations Officer (on file City Clerk’s Office).

6A.

Correspondendce regarding the blue ribbon Panel invitation
(File Ref. No.) (REDMS No.)

Committee discussed correspondence extending an invitation for feedback from Mayor and Council and to attend a stakeholder opportunity in January with regard to the Blue Ribbon Panel for Crime Reduction (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 1).

At the conclusion of the discussion the following referral was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That the correspondence received from the Ministry of Justice regarding the “Blue Ribbon Panel for Crime Reduction Invite Feedback” be referred to staff for input.

CARRIED

7.

MANAGER’S REPORT

None.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:20 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, December 10, 2013.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Linda McPhail
Vice-Chair

Heather Howey
Committee Clerk