January 12, 2021 - Minutes

Date:

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Place:

Council Chambers
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Bill McNulty, Chair
Councillor Carol Day (by teleconference)
Councillor Alexa Loo (by teleconference)
Councillor Michael Wolfe (by teleconference) 
Councillor Harold Steves (entered at 4:20 p.m. by teleconference)

Also Present:

Councillor Chak Au (by teleconference) 
Councillor Linda McPhail (by teleconference)

Call to Order:

The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.

AGENDA ADDITION

It was moved and seconded

That Pedestrian Safety be added to the agenda as Item No. 6A, Richmond Fire-Rescue Personnel Certification be added to the agenda as Item 6B, and COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution be added to the agenda as Item 6C.

CARRIED

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Community Safety Committee held on March 10, 2020, be adopted.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

February 9, 2021 (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in Council Chambers.

COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

1.

Community Bylaws Monthly Activity Report – November 2020 
(File Ref. No. 12-8060-01) (REDMS No. 6570938)

Discussion ensued with regard to (i) reviewing the regulations related to the discharging of firearms and amending the areas where such activity is permitted, (ii) providing notice of parking enforcement and installing no parking signs along Gilley Road in the Hamilton area, and (iii) incidences of birth tourism in the city.

In reply to queries from Committee, staff noted the following:

§   

transportation staff can provide an update on concerns related to bright lights on a golf driving range facility along No. 6 Road;

§   

(i) the firearm discharge incident that occurred in the city was not permitted under the City’s bylaws and that the Richmond RCMP is pursuing criminal charges, (ii) there are areas where discharging a firearm is permitted, such as in agricultural land, and (iii) the Richmond Rod and Gun Club has not expressed concerns regarding the City’s regulations related to discharging of a firearm; and

§   

(i) farmers in the Hamilton area have expressed concern with regard to parked vehicles along Gilley Road restricting the transportation of farming equipment, (ii) there are currently construction projects occurring in the area around Gilley Road, and (iii) signs restricting parking will be installed along Gilley Road.

As a result of discussion on firearms discharging regulations, the following referral motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That staff revisit the City’s firearms discharge bylaws for potential modification and editing of the firearms discharge map.

CARRIED

As a result of discussion on parking enforcement along Gilley Road, the following referral motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That the process of enforcing bylaws violations, such as parking tickets, be looked at to provide warnings or signage before fines.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled “Community Bylaws Monthly Activity Report – November 2020”, dated December 7, 2020, from the General Manager, Community Safety, be received for information.

CARRIED

2.

Richmond Fire-Rescue Monthly Activity Report – November 2020 
(File Ref. No.) (REDMS No. 6573725)

The Chair acknowledged Richmond Fire-Rescue’s service for events during the first few weeks of January 2021.

Cllr. Steves entered the meeting by teleconference (4:20 p.m.).

In reply to queries from Committee, Fire Chief Wilkinson, Richmond Fire-Rescue, noted that no issues are expected to arise from building height regulations as part of the City’s Industrial Lands Intensification Initiative.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled “Richmond Fire-Rescue Monthly Activity Report – November 2020”, dated December 15, 2020, from the Fire Chief, be received for information.

CARRIED

3.

FIRE CHIEF BRIEFING
(Verbal Report)

Fire Chief Wilkinson noted that Richmond Fire-Rescue will be moving forward to assist the Emergency Programs department in strategic direction and management.

4.

RCMP Monthly Activity Report – November 2020 
(File Ref. No. 09-5000-01) (REDMS No. 6567745 v. 3)

Will Ng, Superintendent, Officer in Charge, reviewed statistics from the staff report, noting that (i) there have been an increase in incidents of arson and the Richmond RCMP has a task force to address the matter, (ii) there has been an increase in assault incidents, (iii) mental health calls have decreased, (iv) the Richmond RCMP has issued more that 30 COVID-19 public health order violation tickets, and (v) the Richmond RCMP has coordinated with Transport Canada on increased visibility in Vancouver International Airport.

In reply to queries from Committee, Supt. Ng noted that enhancements to the Richmond RCMP Mental Health Car can be examined and Richmond RCMP is working with Vancouver Coastal Health to reduce officer wait times during the transfer of patients to Richmond Hospital.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled “RCMP Monthly Activity Report – November 2020”, dated December 8, 2020, from the Officer in Charge, Richmond RCMP Detachment, be received for information.

CARRIED

5.

RCMP/OIC BRIEFING
(Verbal Report)

(i)

Launch of the Diversity Unit

Supt. Ng briefed Committee on the Diversity Unit to provide anti-hate awareness and outreach to underrepresented groups and training to officers.

6.

MANAGER’S REPORT

(i)

Community Ambassador Program

Cecilia Achiam, General Manager, Community Safety, provided a summary of Community Ambassador Program as part of the City’s COVID-19 response, noting that the program works closely with community partners and provides community awareness of public health regulations and COVID-19 prevention.

(ii)

Emergency Programs – Reporting Structure

Community Safety and Richmond Fire-Rescue staff spoke on the City’s Emergency Programs, noting that the department will be reporting to Richmond Fire-Rescue and would align with the Canadian Red Cross.

6A.

Pedestrian Safety 
(File Ref. No.)

In reply to queries from Committee regarding recent pedestrian incidents, Supt. Ng, noted that the Richmond RCMP is engaging in pedestrian safety awareness that includes communication through social media, distribution of reflectors to pedestrians, and enforcement of traffic violations. He added that Richmond RCMP is working with transportation staff to enhance road safety features.

6B.

Richmond Fire-Rescue Personnel Certification 
(File Ref. No.)

It was moved and seconded

That staff investigate:

(1)

the City of Delta’s Fire and Emergency Services and the qualifications provided to their Fire personnel for a status upgrade;  and

(2)

the City of Delta’s Fire and Emergency Services’ relationship with the British Columbia Ambulance Service, especially in the area of mental health response;

and report back.

The question on the referral motion was not called as discussion ensued with regard to (i) advocating the Province for additional paramedics and improvements to paramedic services, and (ii) options for supplemental medical transportation services.

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

6C.

COVID-19 VACCINE DISTRBUTION 
(File Ref. No.)

The Chair spoke on COVID-19 potential vaccine and testing sites in the city and introduced the following referral motion:

It was moved and seconded

That staff discuss the potential for utilizing City sites for COVID-19 vaccinations, including options for a drive-thru vaccination program in Richmond, in coordination with Vancouver Coastal Health, and report back.

CARRIED

The Chair noted that an update on Shooting Activity in Richmond be added to agenda as 6D.

6C.

SHOOTING ACTIVITY IN RICHMOND 
(File Ref. No.)

Discussion ensued with regard to recent shooting activity in the city and options to support Richmond RCMP’s investigation and prevention of future shooting incidents.

In reply to queries from Committee, Supt. Ng updated Committee on the recent shooting activity noting that the Richmond RCMP (i) is engaging with youth and promoting gang prevention awareness in Richmond schools, (ii) has deployed gang suppression teams and utilized road blocks, curfew checks and special gang patrols to curtail gang activity, and (iii) has coordinated with regional policing partners.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:56 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, January 12, 2021.

_________________________________

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Councillor Bill McNulty
Chair

Evangel Biason
Legislative Services Associate