May 12, 2015 - Minutes

Date:

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

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

Also Present:

Councillor Carol Day (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 Tuesday, April 14, 2015, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

Tuesday, June 9, 2015, (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room

LAW AND COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

1.

COMMUNITY BYLAWS MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORT – MARCH 2015
(File Ref. No.) (REDMS No. 4556252)

Ed Warzel, Manager, Community Bylaws, noted that vandalism and meter failure resulted in decreased parking revenue in March 2015; however, the installation and design of new parking meters should result in decreased vandalism.  He further noted that to ameliorate current bylaw enforcement activities an Animal Control Officer has been hired to patrol specific areas with respect to dog licensing and off-leash dog violations.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled Community Bylaws Monthly Activity Report – March 2015, dated April 22, 2015, from the General Manager, Law and Community Safety, be received for information.

CARRIED

2.

RCMP's Monthly Report - March 2015 Activities
(File Ref. No. 09-5000-01) (REDMS No. 4544502 v. 2)

Superintendent Renny Nesset, Officer in Charge (OIC), Richmond RCMP, provided background information and commented on the rise of pickpocket thefts throughout the Lower Mainland, and that thefts from motor vehicles, while decreasing, exceeded the five year average.

In response to a query from Committee, Supt. Nesset advised that the Aston Martin vehicular accident has not been resolved as the investigative analysis is ongoing.

It was moved and seconded

That the report titled RCMP’s Monthly Report - March 2015 Activities, dated May 4, 2015 from the Officer in Charge, Richmond RCMP, be received for information.

CARRIED

3.

Richmond Fire-Rescue Monthly Activity Report – March 2015
(File Ref. No. 09-5000-01) (REDMS No. 4559289)

In reply to a query from Committee, Kim Howell, Deputy Fire Chief, Richmond Fire-Rescue (RFR), commented that, in preparation for the demolition of Fire Hall No. 1, hazard abatement will take place over the next three weeks.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled Richmond Fire-Rescue Monthly Activity Report - March 2015, dated April 20, 2015 from the Fire Chief, Richmond Fire-Rescue, be received for information.

CARRIED

Councillor Day entered the meeting (4:10 p.m.).

4.

British Columbia Earthquake Preparedness Consultation Report
(File Ref. No. 09-5126-20-01) (REDMS No. 4559378 v. 3)

In response to queries from Committee, Deborah Procter, Manager, Emergency Programs, accompanied by Lloyd Bie, Manager, Engineering Planning, provided the following information:

§   

construction in Richmond is based on current industry standards including improved soil conditions;

§   

whether built on bedrock or soft soil, infrastructure damage would occur during a major seismic event;

§   

100% of eligible response costs and 80% of recovery costs for non-insurable eligible costs are reimbursed by the Province; the Municipal Insurance Association of British Columbia is looking to develop a plan that would cover the additional 20%; and

§   

staff are working with the University of British Columbia regarding a seismic study that will provide information related to anticipated damages per Richter Scale magnitude earthquake.

Councillor Day spoke to information presented at a Local Government Management Association meeting that compared Lower Mainland municipalities’ earthquake preparedness.  The Chair requested that a copy of the said information be provided to Council.

It was moved and seconded

That a letter be sent to the Members of Parliament and Members of the Legislative Assembly for the City of Richmond, requesting that the recommendations and key actions contained in the British Columbia Earthquake Preparedness Consultation Report, dated December 2014, be acted upon.

CARRIED

5.

Emergency Communications Service Delivery in British Columbia - Strategic Vision and Discussion Paper from the Ministry of Justice
(File Ref. No. 09-5130-01) (REDMS No. 4570329 v. 2)

John McGowan, Fire Chief, RFR, provided background information on the Ministry of Justice’s Emergency Communications Service Delivery - Strategic Vision Discussion Paper.

In reply to a query from Committee, Fire Chief McGowan stated that E-Comm dispatches to approximately 80% of the population of British Columbia and options to provide 100% 911 coverage are being explored.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the staff report titled Emergency Communications Service Delivery in British Columbia – Strategic Vision and Discussion Paper from the Ministry of Justice be forwarded to the Ministry of Justice, in response to their request for written feedback by May 15, 2015 and Metro Vancouver and UBCM for information; and

(2)

That the Ministry of Justice be advised that the City of Richmond would be pleased to participate in further consultation and stakeholder meetings.

CARRIED

6.

FIRE CHIEF BRIEFING
(Verbal Report)

(i)

Summer Safety

Fire Chief McGowan advised that upcoming safety messaging will focus on water and boat safety, such as reminding boaters to use personal flotation devices and to obtain a valid operator’s certificate.  He further advised that additional messaging will provide information on barbeque safety.

(ii)

Doors Open Richmond

Fire Chief McGowan stated that RFR will be participating in the Doors Open Richmond event scheduled for June 6 to 7, 2015, at Fire Hall No. 2 - Steveston. 

(iii)

Tim Horton Camp Day

Fire Chief McGowan advised that an update on the Tim Horton Camp Day will be provided in the near future.

(iv)

Engineering and Public Works Open House

Fire Chief McGowan spoke of the City’s Engineering and Public Works Open House to be held on Saturday, May 23, 2015 and noted that RFR’s Public Safety trailer will be on site and that a new obstacle course will be unveiled at the event.

In response to a query from Committee, Fire Chief McGowan commented that limited resources and on-going training and inspection schedules resulted in off-duty RFR personnel attending the McHappy Day event held on Wednesday, May 6, 2015.

7.

RCMP/OIC BRIEFING
(Verbal Report)

(i)

Police Week

Supt. Nesset advised that, as part of National Police Week from May 11 to 15, 2015, Richmond RCMP will be holding several events including (i) a food hamper drive in Steveston on Tuesday, May 12, 2015, (ii) a carwash at Ironwood Mall between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, 2015, and (iii) participation in random acts of kindness at Lansdowne Centre Mall on Friday, May 15, 2015.

8.

MANAGER’S REPORT

Councillor Day spoke to the fuel spill at the Shelter Island Marina and Boatyard.   She raised concerns regarding the containment efforts of the Harbour Authority, the Canadian Coast Guard and the environmental agency on site and requested that staff report back to Committee on actions taken by the City.

Phyllis Carlyle, General Manager, Law and Community Safety, stated that staff could comment on the agencies’ response efforts to said fuel spill; noting that the City’s Public Works and Environmental Departments’ efforts on the matter were focused on ensuring that the City’s water supply was not impacted.

Committee requested that staff prepare a memorandum updating Council on the efforts of the various agencies.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:37 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, May 12, 2015.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Bill McNulty
Chair

Heather Howey
Committee Clerk