February 11, 2015 - Minutes

Date:

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Bill McNulty, Chair
Councillor Derek Dang
Councillor Ken Johnston
Councillor Alexa Loo
Councillor Linda McPhail

Mayor Malcolm Brodie

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, January 13, 2015, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

Tuesday, March 10, 2015, (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room

LAW AND COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT

1.

Community Bylaws Monthly Activity Report – December 2014
(File Ref. No.) (REDMS No. 4477661)

Discussion ensued with regard to the increased Community Bylaws activities.

In reply to queries from Committee, Edward Warzel, Manager, Community Bylaws, noted that residents do report abandoned properties, however most cases are reported by the Richmond RCMP and other City departments.

Mr. Warzel spoke of the reduction in the number of abandoned homes in the city, noting that staff have been collaborating with Richmond Fire-Rescue (RFR) and the Richmond RCMP on the matter. He added that the categories of abandoned properties include homes that are occupied but are scheduled to be demolished and properties that have had utility services discontinued. The City has communicated with owners to secure abandoned properties or proceed with demolition.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled Community Bylaws Monthly Activity Report – December 2015, dated January 21, 2015, from the General Manager, Law & Community Safety, be received for information.

CARRIED

2.

RCMP's Monthly Report - December Activities
(File Ref. No. 09-5000-01) (REDMS No. 4473814)

Superintendent Renny Nesset, Officer in Charge (OIC), Richmond RCMP, spoke on the methodology of gathering crime data and the reporting of statistics. Supt. Nesset noted that there is a delay between the time when offenders are charged and when statistics reflect a change in the figures. He added that the number of break and enter incidents are significantly lower compared to incidents reported in 2013 and that the Richmond RCMP is collaborating with other police departments in the Lower Mainland to apprehend offenders.

Supt. Nesset briefed Committee on significant incidents in the city including break and enter and carjacking incidents, noting that suspected offenders have been apprehended and thus future statistics will reflect said apprehensions.

Discussion ensued with regard to community awareness of property crime and future forums on the matter. In reply to queries, Supt. Nesset noted that the Richmond RCMP is examining options to broaden the effect of the Block Watch program.

Discussion took place regarding the most current crime statistics available. As a result of the discussion, Richmond RCMP was directed to distribute a memorandum of crime statistics from January 2015.

Discussions then ensued regarding an increase in break and enter incidents and sexual offenses in 2014. In reply to queries, Supt. Nesset noted that the increase in break and enter incidents were attributed to a group in the Lower Mainland and, that one suspect has been linked to several sexual offenses.

Discussion then ensued with regard to using CompStat when compiling statistics.

It was moved and seconded

That the report titled RCMP’s Monthly Report – December Activities, dated January 6, 2015, from the Officer in Charge, Richmond RCMP be received for information.

CARRIED

3.

2015-2016 RCMP Annual Performance Plan – Community Priorities
(File Ref. No. 09-5000-01) (REDMS No. 4485198)

Supt. Nesset highlighted aspects of the Richmond RCMP Annual Performance Plan, noting that issues related to pedestrian safety, property crime, and policing and mental health are identified as key community priorities for the Richmond RCMP.

In reply to queries from Committee, Supt. Nesset noted that the Richmond RCMP is working with staff to enhance pedestrian safety through street improvements to increase pedestrian visibility.

Discussion ensued with regard to (i) the relationship between mental health matters and crime in the city, (ii) the severity of mental health matters in the city, (iii) statistics available related to mental health, and (iv) downloading of mental health services from higher levels of government to the municipal level.

Phyllis Carlyle, General Manager, Law and Community Safety, advised that during a recent Lower Mainland Mayor’s RCMP Workshop, a letter regarding the collection of information related to crime and mental health was issued to all local municipalities. She anticipates that the data from the municipalities can be compiled and presented to Council by March 2015.

Ms. Carlyle commented on the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program from Vancouver Coastal Health, which supports patients with severe addiction and mental illness, noting that approximately 15 program spaces are available.

Discussion ensued with regard to public concern surrounding property crime and creative options to address the issue.

In reply to queries from Committee, Supt. Nesset noted that the Richmond RCMP is responding to property crime by (i) identifying offenders, (ii) catching offenders at the time of the incident, (iii) collaborating with different jurisdictions in the surveillance of suspected offenders outside the city, and (iv) utilizing youth outreach programs.

In reply to queries from Committee regarding the Block Watch program, Supt. Nesset noted that there are translators available through Community Policing.

Discussion ensued regarding the Block Watch program with respect to (i) current statistics on active participants, (ii) using a coordinator, and (iii) evaluating the program.

In reply to queries, Supt. Nesset noted that the Richmond RCMP is reviewing the Block Watch program and will present the results of the review to Council.

Discussion ensued regarding (i) public education and awareness of pedestrian safety, (ii) reduction of pedestrian fatalities in 2014, and (iii) pedestrians outside of crosswalks yielding to traffic.

It was moved and seconded

That Council identifies the priorities as listed in the report titled 2015-2016 RCMP Annual Performance Plan – Community Priorities, dated January 19, 2015, from the Officer in Charge, Richmond RCMP, to be considered for inclusion in the Richmond Detachment 2015/2016 Annual Performance Plan.

CARRIED

4.

Richmond Fire-Rescue – December 2014 Activity Report
(File Ref. No. 09-5000-01) (REDMS No. 4482109)

Tim Wilkinson, Deputy Fire Chief, commented on RFR’s activities in December 2014, noting that (i) Power and Privilege training courses were delivered to all crew members, (ii) all recruits successfully passed their 12-month exams, (iii) an increase of Response Cancelled incidents was observed compared to the number of incidents in December 2013, and (iv) a decrease in Response Cancelled incidents to Vancouver International Airport is anticipated as RFR responds to landside emergencies.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled Richmond Fire-Rescue – December 2014 Activity Report, dated January 23, 2015, from the Fire Chief, Richmond Fire-Rescue be received for information.

CARRIED

5.

Request for Proposal 4989P – Supply and Delivery of Self Contained Breathing Apparatus
(File Ref. No. 09-5140-01) (REDMS No. 4461007)

Deputy Fire Chief Wilkinson briefed Committee on the proposed Self Contained Breathing Apparatus, noting that (i) existing equipment is 15 years old and can no longer be upgraded, (ii) the new cylinders are smaller and ergonomically designed, (iii) the new system contains more emergency air, and (iv) the new system has a telemetry feature that can be used to track the user.

Discussion ensued with regard to the request for proposal process and consideration of other apparatus systems. In reply to queries, Deputy Fire Chief Wilkinson noted that other systems were examined however, the alternative systems would require additional training. Also, he advised that 62 air packs will ordered initially and more will be added in the future.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Contract 4989P, for the supply and delivery of Self Contained Breathing Apparatus, be awarded to Guillevin International Co., at a total cost of $590,986.01, including taxes; and

(2)

That the Chief Administrative Officer and General Manager of Law and Community Safety be authorized to execute the contract with Guillevin International Co. for the purchase and delivery of the Self Contained Breathing Apparatus identified within RFP 4989P.

CARRIED

6.

FIRE CHIEF BRIEFING
(Verbal Report)

Items for discussion:

(i)

Burn Awareness Week

Deputy Fire Chief Wilkinson advised that Burn Awareness Week occurred on February 1 to 7, 2015 and was a successful event.

(ii)

CN Rail

Deputy Fire Chief Wilkinson spoke of the on-going concerns with the wood pile storage at the CN Rail works yard. He noted that the size of the wood pile violates fire code regulations and that CN Rail has not filed a fire safety plan. He added that if CN Rail does not address concerns, RFR would further pursue the matter.

(iii)

Fire Safety Review of Resident Care Facilities

In January 2015, the Ministry of Health released a Fire Safety Review of Resident Care Facilities. Deputy Chief Wilkinson noted that RFR is taking steps to increase safety at resident care facilities; although there are recommendations that cannot be enforced by RFR, RFR will continue collaborative efforts with the Ministry of Health.

7.

RCMP/OIC BRIEFING
(Verbal Report)

Item for discussion:

None.

8.

MANAGER’S REPORT

(i)

Shut Down Canada Demonstrations

Ms. Carlyle spoke of upcoming Shut Down Canada demonstrations, noting that the Richmond RCMP is monitoring the situation.

(ii)

Ebola Preparedness

Ms. Carlyle spoke of the Ebola Preparedness Plan, noting that the City is coordinating with the Vancouver International Airport on the matter.

(iii)

Mayor’s Workshop Overview

Ms. Carlyle briefed Committee on the topics discussed at the Lower Mainland Mayor’s RCMP Workshop, noting that (i) the RCMP has partially deployed the use of personal body cameras and is examining full deployment, (ii) the RCMP is deploying the non-lethal bean bag system, and (iii) the Lower Mainland mayors have sent letters to senior minsters in support of the Auxiliary RCMP program.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:53 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, February 11, 2015.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Bill McNulty
Chair

Evangel Biason
Auxiliary Committee Clerk