October 15, 2014 - Minutes

Date:

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

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

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, September 9, 2014, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

Wednesday, November 12, 2014, (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room

DELEGATIONS

1.

(1)

Josh Henshaw, Regional Vice President of Ambulance Paramedics of BC, to delegate on ambulance wait times and emergency medical services funding.

Josh Henshaw, Regional Vice President of Ambulance Paramedics of BC, accompanied by James Towle, Regional Vice President of Ambulance Paramedics of BC, advised that Richmond is inadequately staffed with regard to the number of ambulance staff and ambulances.

Mr. Towle referenced a Union of British Columbia Municipalities’ (UBCM) resolution regarding the matter, and was of the opinion that adequate staffing can ensure that ambulance response times are reduced, thereby improving patient safety.

Mr. Towle then requested Council’s support in lobbying the provincial government to increase the number of ambulance staff and ambulances in Richmond. 

In reply to queries from Committee, Mr. Towle and Mr. Henshaw provided the following information:

§   

Richmond has two ambulance stations; one is equipped with two ambulances and the other with three;

§   

due to the proximity of the Vancouver International Airport, ambulances in Richmond are regularly utilized for medical evacuation transfers;

§   

optimum ambulance response time is eight minutes and 59 seconds;

§   

ambulance response time depends on the number of ambulances in Richmond at any given time;

§   

there have been occasions where no ambulances have been available in Richmond, thus requiring an ambulance stationed in another municipality to drive into Richmond;

§   

Phase I of the BC Ambulance Service’s (BCAS) Resource Allocation Plan was implemented, and as a result, ambulances are now dispatched to the most critical calls first; therefore, this increases ambulance wait times for less critical calls; and

§   

the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS) has a series of questions that must be answered, which then determines the priority of the call.

Discussion ensued and Committee requested that detailed information, including figures, with regard to BCAS’s staffing model be provided to Council.

Discussion further ensued and the last clause of the aforementioned UBCM resolution was read:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of BC develop an effective, well integrated, patient centered emergency response service for our citizens provided by fire and rescue services and BC Ambulance Service working together.

In reply to further queries from Committee, Mr. Towle and Mr. Henshaw advised that it is difficult to summarize the effects of the Resource Allocation Plan as ambulance services are dynamic and carry over across multiple municipalities.

Committee emphasized the need for detailed information, including figures, with regard to BCAS’s staffing model and response times.

Also, Mr. Towle and Mr. Henshaw commented on the MPDS, noting that it utilizes an algorithm, which prioritizes calls based on a series of mandatory questions; the answers to these questions determines the type of response, including whether lights and sirens are utilized, and what other resources respond, for instance police, fire, and so forth.

In reply to queries from the Chair, Mr. Towle and Mr. Henshaw advised that (i) they represent the Ambulance Paramedics of BC union, and (ii) call priority is determined by the MPDS, not by a dispatcher.

(2)

Cory Parker, President of the Richmond Firefighters Association (IAFF Local 1286), to delegate on emergency first response protocols for Firefighters and actions First Responders perform in the City.

Cory Parker, President of the Richmond Firefighters Association (IAFF Local 1286), accompanied by Michael Hurley, President of the BC Professional Fire Fighters Association, commented on recent media coverage related to the costs of firefighters attending medical calls.  Mr. Parker stated that the media coverage incorrectly deems the costs of firefighters and the use of the apparatuses for medical calls as additional costs; however, he noted that these are costs already incurred as a result of regular fire-rescue activities.

Mr. Parker requested that Council lobby on behalf of Richmond firefighters to include firefighters in any new first response protocols, including how they are utilized currently and in additional ways.  He spoke on fire-rescue’s response time, and noted that firefighters are on shift, ready to serve the community; therefore, firefighters should continue to attend medical calls.  Moreover, Mr. Parker stated that firefighters’ attendance at medical calls is a value added service as they are trained, and there is little cost incurred by their attendance at medical calls.  He spoke of firefighters’ role at medical calls, noting that they provide essential patient care prior to the arrival and departure of an ambulance.

In reply to queries from Committee, Mr. Parker and Mr. Hurley advised that (i) as a result of new dispatch protocols, Richmond Fire-Rescue (RFR) does not respond to low acuity calls, such as an older adult that has fallen and requires assistance, and (ii) RFR hopes to enhance their level of training to that of paramedics or higher than the status quo.

Discussion ensued and Committee noted that fire-rescue’s attendance at medical calls does not incur additional costs to the City as firefighters are on shift, trained, and available to respond.  The cost of fuel to attend these calls is marginal in light of the value provided to the community.

Discussion further took place regarding the need for a referral to staff to examine BCAS statistics and how RFR integrates with BCAS on medical calls and with regard to calls where RFR is not notified due to dispatch protocols.  Also, it was suggested that, in light of the inaccurate information in the media, the matter be clarified to the public and that Council is proactively examining the situation.

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

It was moved and seconded

That staff examine BC Ambulance Service’s (BCAS) statistics with regard to how Richmond Fire-Rescue (RFR) integrates with BCAS on medical calls, and with regard to calls where RFR is not notified due to dispatch protocols.

The question on the referral was not called as discussion ensued regarding the intent of the proposed referral, and it was noted that background information will allow the City to form a position specific to Richmond.

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

LAW AND COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT

2.

Update on the Transportation of Dangerous Goods by Railways
(File Ref. No. 09-5125-01/2014) (REDMS No. 4341175)

It was moved and seconded

That the proposed Council Resolution titled Reporting on the Transportation of Dangerous Goods by Railway be submitted to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities requesting that the Federal government issue an amendment to Protective Direction 32 requiring rail companies to provide to municipalities the nature, exact volume and frequency of dangerous goods being transported.

CARRIED

3.

Richmond Fire-Rescue – August 2014 Activity Report
(File Ref. No. 09-5000-01) (REDMS No. 4359422 v. 2)

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled Richmond Fire-Rescue – August 2014 Activity Report dated September 25, 2014 from the Fire Chief, Richmond Fire-Rescue, be received for information.

CARRIED

4.

Community Bylaws Monthly Activity Report – August 2014
(File Ref. No.) (REDMS No. 4343541 v. 3)

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled Community Bylaws Monthly Activity Report –August 2014, dated September 25, 2014, from the General Manager, Law & Community Safety, be received for information.

CARRIED

5.

RCMP's Monthly Report - August Activities
(File Ref. No. 09-5000-01) (REDMS No. 4336178 v. 3)

Superintendant Renny Nesset, Officer in Charge, Richmond RCMP, commented on the number of sexual assaults, noting that he cannot discuss the matter due to ongoing investigations; however, Supt. Nesset stated that the a proactive approach from investigators has significantly affected the figures.

It was moved and seconded

That the report titled RCMP’s Monthly Report – August Activities dated September 25, 2014, from the Officer in Charge, Richmond RCMP, be received for information.

CARRIED

6.

Police Presence in the Downtown Core
(File Ref. No. 09-5000-01) (REDMS No. 4280550 v. 14)

Supt. Nesset provided background information.  Also, he advised that a review of community police stations is underway, and noted that there is potential to provide enhanced services at these stations.

In reply to a query from Committee, Supt. Nesset commented on auxiliary constable and RCMP volunteer uniforms.

It was moved and seconded

That the City Centre Community Police Station located at 5671 No. 3 Road, be approved as the temporary location in the downtown core until another location is determined during the redevelopment of the downtown core.

CARRIED

7.

FIRE CHIEF BRIEFING
(Verbal Report)

(i)

Fire Prevention Week Update

Fire Chief McGowan highlighted that Fire Prevention Week was successful, noting that RFR hosted five open houses that were all well attended.

(ii)

Movember

Fire Chief McGowan spoke on Movember and stated that IAFF Local 1286 raised over $6,500 last year in support of men’s health programs.

(iii)

Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs)

Fire Chief McGowan advised that RFR is now equipped with pediatric cables and pads for its AEDs.

(iv)

Canada Line

Fire Chief McGowan noted that RFR is working with the Canada Line on secondary repression training to ensure the safety of all commuters.

8.

JOINT BRIEFING – FIRE CHIEF &  RCMP OIC
(Verbal Report)

(i)

Halloween

Supt. Nesset and Fire Chief McGowan commented on their respective operations plans, noting that additional crews and members will be on duty.

9.

RCMP/OIC BRIEFING
(Verbal Report)

(i)

Update on Sexual Assault Statistics

Please see Page 5 for discussion on this matter.

(ii)

Distracted Driving

Supt. Nesset spoke of the distracted driving campaign that took place from October 10 to October 13, 2014, and noted that statistics would be presented at a future Committee meeting. 

Councillor Johnston left the meeting (5:12 p.m.) and did not return.

Councillor McNulty left the meeting (5:13p.m.) and did not return.

10.

MANAGER’S REPORT

None.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:14 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 Wednesday, October 15, 2014.

_________________________________

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Councillor Derek Dang
Chair

Hanieh Berg
Committee Clerk