March 10, 2015 - Minutes

Date:

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Derek Dang, Vice-Chair
Councillor Ken Johnston
Councillor Alexa Loo
Councillor Linda McPhail

Absent:

Councillor Bill McNulty, Chair

Also Present:

Councillor Chak Au (entered at 4:10 p.m.)

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, February 11, 2015, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

Tuesday, April 14, 2015, (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room

PRESENTATION

Inspector Bart Blachford, Richmond RCMP, introduced Brayden Alexander, Richmond RCMP Youth Squad participant, and winner of a Dr. Pepper contest for his video on enriching his education.

After watching a segment of the winning video, Committee congratulated Mr. Alexander on winning the Dr. Pepper Educational grant and wished him every success with his criminology studies.

LAW AND COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

1.

COmmunity Bylaws Monthly Activity Report – January 2015
(File Ref. No.) (REDMS No. 4500768)

Ed Warzel, Manager, Community Bylaws, noted that January 2015 was a challenging month due to the vandalism and thief of City parking meters; he remarked that the new parking meters began arriving in mid-February, with the balance arriving over the next several weeks.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled Community Bylaws Monthly Activity Report – January 2015, dated February 16, 2015, from the General Manager, Law and Community Safety, be received for information.

CARRIED

2.

Touchstone Family Services 2014 Restorative Justice Performance Outcome and Evaluation Report
(File Ref. No.) (REDMS No. 4504617 v.9)

Anne Stevens, Senior Manager, Community Safety Policy and Programs, commented on the positive relationship between the Richmond RCMP and Touchstone Family Services with the operation of both the Youth Intervention and Restorative Justice programs, highlighting that the number of referrals increased in 2014.

In response to queries from Committee, Judy Valsonis, Executive Director, Touchstone Family Services, advised that, while big box stores are slowly beginning to participate in the Restorative Justice program in relation to shoplifting, retailers do not consider funding of said program as part of their scope.  She further advised that Touchstone Family Services has a solid long-term volunteer base, highlighting that a recruitment drive and training process will be launched in the spring of 2015.

Councillor Au entered the meeting at 4:10 p.m.

In reply to a query from Committee regarding the Blue Ribbon Report on Crime Reduction, Ms. Valsonis commented that Touchstone Family Services wishes to see more communities and groups embrace the Restorative Justice program as a result of the Panel’s recommendations.

Discussion ensued with regard to improved collaboration between the City and Richmond School District as it relates to issues of joint concern.  It was suggested that staff, along with representatives from Touchstone Family Services, present at a future Council/School Board Liaison Committee meeting.

It was moved and seconded

That the report titled Touchstone Family Services 2014 Restorative Justice Performance Outcome and Evaluation Report, dated February 14, 2015, from the General Manager, Law and Community Safety, be received for information.

CARRIED

3.

Richmond Fire-Rescue – January 2015 Activity Report
(File Ref. No. 09-5000-01) (REDMS No. 4505591)

John McGowan, Fire Chief, Richmond Fire-Rescue (RFR), commented on RFR’s activities in January 2015, noting that there were no definitive causes for the ten percent rise in the overall call volume for medical incidents.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled Richmond Fire-Rescue – January 2015 Activity Report, dated February 16, 2015, from the Fire Chief, Richmond Fire-Rescue be received for information.

CARRIED

4.

Fire Protection and Life Safety Bylaw Update
(File Ref. No. 99-Fire Rescue) (REDMS No. 4485448 v. 7)

Fire Chief McGowan advised that the proposed bylaw amendment to Fire Protection and Life Safety Bylaw No. 8306 will enhance and streamline the City and RFR’s cost recovery process, and address risk and safety issues regarding vacant and/or abandoned properties.

In response to queries from Committee, Fire Chief McGowan commented on current statistics related to vacant and/or abandoned properties, noting the frequency of inspections has increased for each property in an effort to ensure compliance with Orders to Comply.  Also, he noted that vacant and/or abandoned property inspections are initiated either on a complaint basis or as a result of an incident or neighbourhood inspections by Community Bylaws.

Fire Chief McGowan commented that 24-hours is a reasonable period of time for a property owner to secure the vacant and/or abandoned premises as the materials to do so are readily available.  He further commented on the recovery costs per incident.

In reply to a query from Committee, Phyllis Carlyle, General Manager, Law and Community Safety, advised that RFR costs associated with vacant and/or abandoned properties, regardless of efforts made by the property owners, will be pursued by the City.  She further advised that the proposed bylaw amendment facilitates recovery for RFR costs only. Ms. Carlyle commented that the City’s objective is to engage and encourage property owners to either occupy or demolish said vacant and/or abandoned premises.

Discussion ensued regarding the need to ensure that property owners are aware of their legal obligations despite their efforts to comply with Fire Protection and Life Safety Bylaw No. 8306.

In response to a query from Committee, Tim Wilkinson, Deputy Fire Chief, commented that all secured exterior openings are to be painted flat black in order to (i) assist RFR with marking the vacant and/or abandoned premise with an “all-clear” sign after a search during an emergency, and (ii) deter vandalism.

In reply to a query from Committee, Ms. Carlyle commented on the City’s practice with regard to working with property owners, Richmond RCMP, and other agencies in relocating squatters from vacant and/or abandoned premises.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Fire Protection and Life Safety Bylaw No. 8306, Amendment Bylaw No. 9221, be introduced and given first, second, and third readings; and

(2)

That Consolidated Fees Bylaw No. 8636, Amendment Bylaw No. 9222, be introduced and given first, second, and third readings.

CARRIED

5.

RCMP's Monthly Report – January Activities
(File Ref. No. 09-5000-01) (REDMS No. 4496485)

Insp. Blachford stated that a policy decision regarding the Auxiliary Constable program is anticipated for a future Committee meeting.

In response to queries from Committee, Insp. Blachford provided the following information:

§   

Richmond RCMP Auxiliary Constables remain hopeful that they will soon return to their community policing activities;

§   

the spike in Auxiliary Constable volunteer hours in the fall of 2013 was due to the deployment of 26 new recruits;

§   

Auxiliary Constables are trained through the Richmond RCMP detachment; and

§   

if possible, the RCMP accommodates the location request of graduates from the RCMP’s Training Academy.

In reply to a query from Committee, Ms. Carlyle advised that the City has not received a formal response from Commissioner Paulson with regard to the Auxiliary Constable policy changes; however, a policy regarding Auxiliary Constables’ weapons knowledge and uniform is being examined.

It was moved and seconded

That the report titled RCMP’s Monthly Report – November Activities, dated February 2, 2015, from the Officer in Charge, Richmond RCMP be received for information.

CARRIED

6.

Report from the Blue Ribbon Panel on Crime Reduction
(File Ref. No. 09-5350-20-01) (REDMS No. 4465559)

In response to a query from Committee, Ms. Carlyle commented that the Lower Mainland District Regional Police Service will be preparing a Strategic Plan in 2015 that will incorporate the Blue Ribbon Panel on Crime Reduction’s recommendations and the recommendations from the MacNeil Review dealing with the June 2014 incident that occurred in Moncton. She further commented that the City will continue to advocate for the Restorative Justice program and for innovated funding for service providers.

It was moved and seconded

That the report titled Report from the Blue Ribbon Panel on Crime Reduction, dated February 23, 2015, from the Officer in Charge, Richmond RCMP be received for information.

CARRIED

7.

FIRE CHIEF BRIEFING
(Verbal Report)

(i)

Richmond Fire-Rescue Recruitment

Fire Chief McGowan advised that RFR’s recruitment process commenced on March 2, 2015 with approximately 220 applications received in eight days.  He spoke of the recruitment process, noting that he anticipates hiring approximately eight new recruits by September 2015.

(ii)

Spring Cleaning / Clocks Changing / Smoke Alarm Safety Messages

Fire Chief McGowan noted that RFR’s messaging in conjunction with spring cleaning included a reminder to homeowners to replace the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when changing the clocks for Daylight Savings Time.

(iii)

911 Awards Event

Fire Chief McGowan advised that the Richmond Chamber of Commerce will host their 13^th Annual 9-1-1 Awards Ceremony and Dinner at the River Rock Casino on Wednesday, April 29, 2015.

In reply to queries from Committee, Fire Chief McGowan commented that RFR has a Hazardous Material (HazMat) crew that is trained and equipped to respond to events such as the recent incident on the Vancouver waterfront.

8.

RCMP/OIC BRIEFING
(Verbal Report)

Online Crime Reporting

Insp. Bart Blachford advised that the Online Crime Reporting statistics indicate that the Richmond RCMP received a total of 45 online reports in 2014 and 18 online reports as of January 1, 2015.

9.

MANAGER’S REPORT

None.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:44 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, March 10, 2015.

_________________________________

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Councillor Derek Dang
Vice-Chair

Heather Howey
Committee Clerk