March 14, 2017 - Minutes

Date:

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

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

Absent:

Councillor Derek Dang

Also Present:

Councillor Carol Day

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 February 15, 2017, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

April 11, 2017, (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room

LAW AND COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

1.

Community Bylaws Monthly Activity Report – January 2017
(File Ref. No. 12-8060-01) (REDMS No. 5317722)

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled “Community Bylaws Monthly Activity Report – January 2017”, dated February 15, 2017, from the Acting General Manager, Law and Community Safety, be received for information.

CARRIED

2.

Proposed Amendment to Traffic Bylaw No. 5870
(File Ref. No. 12-8060-20-005870) (REDMS No. 5327697 v. 3)

Discussion ensued with regard to (i) difficulty of clearing ice, (ii) informing residents and developers of the snow clearing bylaws and ticketing process, (ii) informing senior residents of volunteer programs that can help with snow clearing.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Traffic Bylaw No. 5870, Amendment Bylaw No. 9689 be introduced and given first, second and third readings; and

(2)

That Notice of Bylaw Violation Dispute Adjudication Bylaw No. 8122, Amendment Bylaw No. 9690 be introduced and given first, second and third readings.

CARRIED

3.

Emergency Programs Status Update
(File Ref. No. 09-5126-01) (REDMS No. 5327793)

Lainie Goddard, Manager, Emergency Programs, reviewed Emergency Programs’ activities noting that (i) the City hosted a group training course on group lodging for the Sea Island Community Association, (ii) additional training workshops are scheduled in May 2017 and will be open to all community associations, (iii) the Quake Cottage will be present during the Burkeville Days event in April 2017, pending confirmation from the Sea Island Community Association, (iv) the draft of the City’s evacuation plan is being reviewed, and (v) Emergency Programs staff are planning to provide staff training on emergency preparedness.

In reply to queries from Committee, Ms. Goddard noted that (i) the City’s emergency plans include a staffing list and is periodically updated, (ii) the City’s emergency plans are posted on the City’s intranet page, and (iii) the City coordinates with the Richmond RCMP, senior levels of government and other external organizations on emergency planning.

Committee suggested that emergency plans should be reviewed annually rather than every four years.

Discussion ensued with regard to the City’s evacuation plans and distributing paper copies of the emergency plan to Council members.

In reply to queries from Committee, Ms. Goddard noted that completion of the Neighbourhood Emergency Program Plan for Sea Island is anticipated in the second quarter of 2017 and that Council members will be invited to attend upcoming training workshops for community associations.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled, “Emergency Programs Status Update”, dated February 26, 2017, from the Acting General Manager, Law and Community Safety, be received for information.

CARRIED

4.

Richmond Fire-Rescue Monthly Activity Report – January 2017
(File Ref. No. 09-5000-01) (REDMS No. 5300490 v. 2)

Tim Wilkinson, Acting Fire Chief, Richmond Fire-Rescue, reviewed Richmond Fire-Rescue (RFR) January 2017 activities, noting that fire crews minimized losses from a large industrial fire on Mitchell Island.

Discussion ensued with regard to the increasing number of medical-related incidents.

In reply to queries from Committee, Acting Fire Chief Wilkinson noted that RFR staff can review increasing the level of medical training for RFR members. He added that Delta Fire and Emergency Services members have received a higher level of medical certification compared to RFR members.

Discussion ensued with regard to the benefits of raising the level of medical certification for RFR members.

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

It was moved and seconded

That staff consider a higher level of medical training for Richmond Fire-Rescue members and examine the potential costs and report back within a month.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued with regard to (i) RFR dispatch procedures to prioritize incidents, (ii) RFR communication protocols with the British Columbia Ambulance Service (BCAS), and (iii) Delta Fire and Emergency Services’ response procedures for medical incidents.

In reply to queries from Committee, John McGowan, Acting General Manager, Law and Community Safety, noted that Provincial regulation restricts the transportation of patients by RFR.

Discussion then ensued with regard to organizing anti-bullying events at the Fire Halls. Acting Fire Chief Wilkinson noted that RFR staff can consider planning events to recognize anti-bullying day.

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

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled “Richmond Fire-Rescue Monthly Activity Report – January 2017”, dated February 20, 2017 from the Acting Fire Chief, Richmond Fire-Rescue, be received for information.

CARRIED

5.

FIRE CHIEF BRIEFING
(Verbal Report)

(i)

2017 Recruitment Campaign Update

Acting Fire Chief Wilkinson updated Committee on RFR’s 2017 recruitment campaign, noting that RFR applicants will go through an extensive application process. He added that RFR will be looking to hire six to ten new members.

(ii)

New Fleet for Fire Prevention Vehicles

Kim Howell, Deputy Fire Chief, briefed Committee on the new Fire Prevention Vehicles, noting that six vehicles have been replaced and that the vehicles will feature the RFR logo, social media contacts, and fire safety messages.

(iii)

International Students

Acting Fire Chief Wilkinson noted that two international students from Saudi Arabia have been shadowing RFR members.

6.

Touchstone Family Association Restorative Justice Annual Performance Outcome Evaluation Report
(File Ref. No. 09-5355-01) (REDMS No. 5318279 v. 3)

Daniel McKenna, Senior Manager, Community Safety Policy and Programs, reviewed the Touchstone Family Association Restorative Justice Annual Performance Outcome Evaluation Report, noting that the City’s three year contract with Touchstone Family Association will end in December 2019 and that there is a low recidivism rate for program participants.

Discussion ensued with regard to the program’s budget. In reply to queries from Committee, Judy Valsonis, Executive Director, Touchstone Family Association, noted that it is difficult to fully quantify the costs of offenders participating in the program compared to offenders proceeding through the criminal justice system.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled “Touchstone Family Association Restorative Justice Annual Performance Outcome Evaluation Report” dated February 15, 2017 from the Acting Senior Manager, Community Safety Policy and Programs, be received for information.

CARRIED

7.

2016-2017 Richmond RCMP Detachment Annual Performance Plan Third Quarter Results (October 1 to December 31, 2016)
(File Ref. No. 01-0340-35-LCSA1) (REDMS No. 5316445)

In reply to queries from Committee, Konrad Golbeck, Inspector, Richmond RCMP, noted that Council will be informed of upcoming graduation ceremonies for participants of the D.A.R.E. program.

It was moved and seconded

That the report titled “2016-2017 Richmond RCMP Detachment Annual Performance Plan Third Quarter Results (October 1 to December 31, 2016)”, dated February 21, 2017 from the Acting Officer in Charge, Richmond RCMP, be received for information.

CARRIED

8.

RCMP's Monthly Activity Report - January 2017         
(File Ref. No. 09-5000-01) (REDMS No. 5302618)

In reply to queries from Committee, Insp. Golbeck noted that the Richmond RCMP is involved in many volunteer crime prevention programs such as Block Watch and partners with other organizations such as Canada Post to reduce crime in the city.

It was moved and seconded

That the report titled “RCMP’s Monthly Activity Report – January 2017” dated February 8, 2017 from the Officer in Charge, Richmond RCMP, be received for information.

CARRIED

9.

RCMP/OIC BRIEFING
(Verbal Report)

(i)

Cooperation with Canada Post

Insp. Golbeck advised that there has been a reduction of thefts in Canada Post mail boxes; however thefts have increased in private mailboxes used in multi-residential units. Insp. Golbeck provided photographic examples of the mailbox thefts (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 1). He added that the Richmond RCMP is working with Canada Post, strata associations and Block Watch to address the issue.

In reply to queries from Committee, Insp. Golbeck noted that the process to hire new officers is on-going and an approval letter from the Province has been sent to the Federal government.

(ii)

Crime Reduction

Insp. Golbeck briefed Committee on Richmond RCMP’s crime reduction strategy, noting that the strategy is reviewed every 28 days to adapt to emerging crime trends. He added that representatives from Bylaws, RFR, Transit Police, the City’s Community Safety Division and members of Council are invited to attend the monthly strategy review.

(iii)

Community Response

Insp. Golbeck briefed Committee on positive feedback received regarding the Richmond RCMP’s response to an incident of laptop theft.

(iv)

Fraser River Rescue

Insp. Golbeck presented a short video clip (copy on file, City Clerk’s Office) of a Richmond RCMP member rescuing an individual who had fallen in the Fraser River.

10.

Committee Standing item

(i)

E-Comm

The Chair advised that the E-Comm board has appointed a search committee to find a Chief Administrative Officer.

11.

MANAGER’S REPORT

None.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:12 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 14, 2017.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Bill McNulty
Chair

Evangel Biason
Legislative Services Coordinator