October 9, 2018 - Minutes

Date:

Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Bill McNulty, Chair
Councillor Derek Dang, Vice-Chair
Councillor Ken Johnston
Councillor Alexa Loo
Councillor Linda McPhail
Mayor Malcolm Brodie

Also Present:

Councillor Chak Au
Councillor Carol Day
Councillor Harold Steves

Call to Order:

The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:13 p.m.

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Community Safety Committee held on September 11, 2018, be adopted.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

November 14, 2018, (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room

COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

1.

Community Bylaws Monthly Activity Report - August 2018
(File Ref. No. 12-8060-01) (REDMS No. 5968425)

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled “Community Bylaws Monthly Activity Report - August 2018”, dated September 19, 2018, from the General Manager, Community Safety, be received for information.

CARRIED

2.

Richmond Fire-Rescue Monthly Activity Report – August 2018
(File Ref. No. 09-5000-01) (REDMS No. 5972396)

Committee commended Richmond Fire-Rescue (RFR) and staff on their recognition at the 39^th Service Battalion open house held on September 29, 2018 for the outstanding coordination of working together to combat the bog fire.

Tim Wilkinson, Fire Chief, commented that during the bog fire incident, RFR was visited by high-ranking Canadian military personnel who awarded Deputy Chief Jim Wishlove a commemorative medal as a special award.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled “Richmond Fire-Rescue Monthly Activity Report – August 2018”, dated September 17, 2018 from the Fire Chief, Richmond Fire-Rescue, be received for information.

CARRIED

3.

FIRE CHIEF BRIEFING
(Verbal Report)

Item for discussion:

(i)

Fire Prevention Week

Chief Wilkinson advised that Fire Prevention Week runs from October 7 to 13, 2018 and this year’s theme is “look, listen, and learn”, to promote awareness of electrical safety and the correct use of smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. He further advised that signs have been posted at fire halls regarding the event.

(ii)

“The World is Not Your Ashtray” Campaign

Chief Wilkinson noted that from June 21 to September 21, 2018 there were 231 reported fires, 136 of which were caused by cigarettes. He further remarked that staff aim to improve this number and average fires per day have reduced from three last year to 1.5.

4.

RCMP Monthly Activity Report – August 2018
(File Ref. No. 09-5000-01) (REDMS No. 5951777 v. 2)

Will Ng, Superintendent, Officer in Charge, highlighted that there has been an increase in the number of break and enter instances over the summer months. He further remarked that officers have been successful in recent weeks arresting five suspects in active break and enters in progress, four of which are prolific offenders.

In response to questions from Committee, Superintendent Ng advised that (i) there have been three confirmed homicides in the City this year, down from eight last year, which have not been associated with organized crime and IHIT is fully engaged in the investigations, (ii) Richmond RCMP have put out a news release following the arrest of one of the five suspects in the active break and enters and another media release regarding the other arrests is forthcoming, (ii) Richmond RCMP released the initial safety advisory regarding break and enters to notify residents, and (iii) prolific offenders are usually targeted because of the number of incidents they are involved with and RCMP increase enforcement accordingly.

Discussion further took place and it was suggested that a media release be issued as this would be valuable information for residents.

In further response to questions from Committee, Superintendent Ng noted that RCMP are exploring the use of new technology with regard to video registry for cameras in personal residences and a progress report could be provided.

In response to further queries from Committee in regards to compromised dwellings following clandestine drug laboratory activities, Carli Williams, Manager, Community Bylaws and Licencing, clarified that staff recommend to property owners or landlords that the home be completely remediated and air quality sampling be completed. She further noted that re-occupation is typically not granted until the home has passed inspection.

In further response to questions, Superintendent Ng commented that RCMP investigate the criminal aspect of the activity and put forward appropriate charges. Ms. Williams remarked that (i) the City steps in following the RCMP investigation, (ii)  inspection of the property is required by the landlord at least once every three months under the Property Maintenance and Report Bylaw No. 7897, and (iii) vacant properties must remain secure but there are no time limits in the bylaw.

Superintendent Ng, in response to further questions from Committee in regards to the Lower Mainland Integrated Police Dog Services (IPDS), noted that Richmond RCMP share the unit with Delta and that response time depends on where they are deployed from or when they are able to response following another incident they may already be attending.

It was moved and seconded

That the report titled “RCMP Monthly Activity Report – August 2018”, dated September 12, 2018, from the Officer in Charge, Richmond RCMP Detachment, be received for information.

CARRIED

5.

RCMP/OIC BRIEFING
(Verbal Report)

Items for discussion:

(i)

Cops for Cancer

Superintendent Ng commented that one officer completed a ride of over 900 km as a part of the event and that a total of $17,600 had been raised. He further remarked that in the last 12 years, over $180,000 had been raised by Richmond for the event.

(ii)

Introduction of Inspector Kori Powers, Operations Support Officer

Superintendent Ng noted that Inspector Powers was unable to attend and would be introduced at the next Community Safety meeting.

(iii)

Proactive Policing

Superintendent Ng advised that RCMP have initiated enhanced patrols including an in-house patrol in the evenings. He further noted that the patrols include four additional officers to target break and entering. In response to queries from Committee, Superintendent Ng advised that the additional four officers are overtime hours and that RCMP are monitoring their hours.

6.

Committee Standing Item

E-Comm

The Chair advised that the Strategic Plan is in final draft and that the report most likely will be finalized in January or February following a consultative process.

7.

MANAGER’S REPORT

None.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:39 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, October 9, 2018.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Bill McNulty
Chair

Amanda Welby
Legislative Services Coordinator