March 9, 2021 - Minutes

Date:

Tuesday, March 9, 2021

Place:

Council Chambers
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Bill McNulty, Chair
Councillor Carol Day (by teleconference)
Councillor Alexa Loo (by teleconference)
Councillor Harold Steves (by teleconference)
Councillor Michael Wolfe (by teleconference)

Also Present:

Councillor Chak Au (by teleconference)

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 9, 2021, be adopted.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

April 13, 2021, (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers

COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

1.

Business Licences Quarterly Report - 2020 Year in Review 
(File Ref. No. 12-8375-03) (REDMS No. 6616469)

In response to queries from Committee, staff advised that (i) the decrease in 2016 revenues compared to current years were due to a changeover in staffing, and (ii) the decrease in permits for short-term boarding and lodging are due to the pandemic and travel restrictions. 

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled “Business Licences Quarterly Report – 2020 Year in Review”, dated February 9, 2021, from the General Manager Community Safety be received for information.

CARRIED

2.

Property Use Monthly Activity Report – January 2021 
(File Ref. No. 12-806 0-01) (REDMS No. 6616973 v. 2)

In reply to queries from Committee, staff advised that (i) the properties listed in the staff report were found to be in non-compliance and resolved within the same month, (ii) the soil bylaw does not permit impact to neighbouring properties, (iii) further discussion would need to take place to determine whether light pollution would fall under Community Bylaws, (iv) there is no specific trend with regard to short-term rental revenue changes, and (v) once COVID-19 travel restrictions are lifted, two inspectors dedicated to short-term rentals will be hired.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled “Property Use Monthly Activity Report – January 2021”, dated February 10, 2021, from the General Manager, Community Safety, be received for information.

CARRIED

3.

COMMUNITY BYLAWS PARKING ENFORCEMENT AND ANIMAL CONTROL MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORT – JANUARY 2021 
(File Ref. No. 12-8060-01) (REDMS No. 6614733)

In reply to queries from Committee, staff noted that (i) letters were sent out to all residents of Gilley Road notifying them about new parking regulations; however, no signage will be installed, and (ii) increase in revenue was due to monthly parking permits, ticketing, and dog license renewals.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled “Community Bylaws Parking Enforcement and Animal Control Monthly Activity Report – January 2021”, dated February 12, 2021, from the General Manager, Community Safety, be received for information.

CARRIED

4.

Richmond Fire-Rescue Monthly Activity Report – January 2021 
(File Ref. No.) (REDMS No. 6616265)

In reply to queries from Committee, Fire Chief Tim Wilkinson noted that
(i) the Provincial Health Orders have reduced the number of events that firefighters are responding to and that allowing firefighters to act as a transport in case of ambulance shortage would require a change to the legislation, (ii) Richmond Fire-Rescue worked with the Department of National Defence to help safeguard their property from future fires while following BC Fire Code and BC Services Act, and (iii) Richmond Fire-Rescue would be willing to work with the Parks Department to help install bat houses to ensure the City can continue with its Bat Friendly Community designation.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled “Richmond Fire-Rescue Monthly Activity Report – January 2021”, dated February 9, 2021, from the Fire Chief, be received for information.

CARRIED

5.

FIRE CHIEF BRIEFING
(Verbal Report)

Items for discussion:

None.

6.

RCMP MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORT -– JANUARY 2021 
(File Ref. No. 09-5000-01) (REDMS No. 6608584)

In reply to queries from Committee, Chief Superintendent Will Ng noted that (i) calls related to social gatherings and failure to wear a mask can be directed to the non-emergency line or to Community Bylaws, (ii) infrastructure needs for the Community Police Office in Hamilton  will need to be discussed,
(iii) the RCMP is liaising with the provincial government with regard to the provincial auxiliary officer program, (iv) the Crime Prevention newsletter is circulated to all community centres, Block Watch captains, and is available on the RCMP app, and (v) the RCMP officer capacity ensures that there is enough coverage for the youth programs.

Discussion ensued with regard to the request for a provincial auxiliary police program.

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

It was moved and seconded

That a letter be drafted for the Mayor’s signature and sent to the Province of BC, outlining Richmond’s auxiliary police program, including additional needs and successes of the program.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled “RCMP Monthly Activity Report – January 2021”, dated February 8, 2021, from the Officer in Charge, Richmond RCMP Detachment, be received for information.

CARRIED

7.

RCMP/OIC BRIEFING
(Verbal Report)

Items for discussion:

None.

8.

MANAGER’S REPORT

(i)

Migration to MyRichmond Emergency Notification System

Staff provided an update on the Emergency Notification System, noting that the City is transferring to a new emergency notification system that will work with MyRichmond and will have a much larger reach than the old system.

(ii)

Traffic Camera Project

Staff provided an update on the traffic camera project, noting that they are aiming for a go-live date at the beginning of Q2 of 2021, and the project includes an extensive online system through MyRichmond thus increasing efficiency.  

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:52 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 9, 2021.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Bill McNulty
Chair

Shannon Unrau
Legislative Services Associate