February 15, 2022 - Minutes
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Community Safety Committee
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Date: |
Tuesday, February 15, 2022 |
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Place: |
Council Chambers |
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Present: |
Councillor Linda McPhail, Chair |
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Also Present: |
Councillor Chak Au (by teleconference) |
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Call to Order: |
The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. |
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MINUTES |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the minutes of the meeting of the Community Safety Committee held on January 11, 2022, be adopted. |
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CARRIED |
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DELEGATIONS |
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1. |
Vedanshi Vala, Co-founder and Executive Director, and Shreyanshi Vala, Operations Director, BOLT Safety Society (BOLT), were in attendance to present on the youth-led non-profit, that aims to foster safer, equitable and more inclusive communities through various community-focused initiatives, and to propose avenues for working in partnership with the City. A PowerPoint presentation was given (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 1), providing an overview of BOLT’s strategic programming that focuses on education on pertinent topics, accessibility to resources and tangible help and support. |
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The delegation discussed the various BOLT initiatives and ideas for a Richmond-focussed approach, with the goal to making the programs easily available on a city-wide scale. |
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As a result of the discussion, the following referral motion was introduced: |
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It was moved and seconded |
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(1) |
That the presentation be received for information; and |
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(2) |
That staff analyze the presentation of the BOLT Safety Society and investigate potential partnership opportunities, and report back. |
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CARRIED |
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It was suggested that the presentation by BOLT Safety Society be forwarded to the Richmond RCMP community engagement team. |
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COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION |
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2. |
Business License Activity Report – 2021 Year in Review |
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A brief discussion ensued regarding the decrease in Business Licenses, noting that a general analysis of the decrease, including types of business, would be informative. |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the staff report titled “Business Licence Activity Report – 2021 Year in Review ”, dated January 24, 2022, from the General Manager, Community Safety, be received for information. |
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CARRIED |
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3. |
Property Use Activity Report – 2021 Year in Review |
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Staff noted an amendment to the tables numbered “Table 1”, “Table 2” and “Table 3” on pages CS55 and CS56, to be amended to “Table 3”, “Table 4” and “Table 5”. |
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With respect to the significant fines applied to illegal ride hailing operators noted in the report on page CS54, staff noted that typically the fines range in the thousands of dollars, usually under $4,000, and compounded between the fines that can be issued at the City level as well as the Passenger Transportation Branch fines that are issued under provincial statute. Staff will provide further information on the total value of the fines applied to date. Staff further noted the enforcement lead agency is the Passenger Transportation Branch, and will reach out to them to see how many cases they have taken before the court. |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the staff report titled “Property Use Activity Report – 2021 Year in Review”, dated January 24, 2022, from the General Manager, Community Safety, be received for information. |
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CARRIED |
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4. |
Community Bylaws Parking Enforcement and Animal Services Monthly Activity Report – 2021 in Review |
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Staff noted the 125 calls for service by the BC SPCA Officers outlined in the report, range from a barking dog to a dog at large or a bite. The result of those calls can range anywhere from providing information to ticketing; repeat offenders curtail fairly quickly once ticketed. It was further noted that the barking dog process is handled under the noise bylaw, wherein the noise must affect more than just the complainant, and a log is required to be kept by the complainant for so many days and hours, stating the times and days the dog is barking. SPCA Officers will then visit the home and advise there has been a complaint and provide tips on how to curtail the barking. However, a guard dog does not fall under those circumstances unless it was disrupting the enjoyment of multiple individuals within the area. |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the staff report titled “Community Bylaws Parking Enforcement and Animal Services Monthly Activity Report – 2021 in Review”, dated January 10, 2022, from the General Manager, Community Safety, be received for information. |
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CARRIED |
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5. |
Richmond Fire-Rescue Monthly Activity Report – December 2021 And Year in Review |
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With respect to the estimated commercial/industrial content value losses set out in the report, Acting Fire Chief Jim Wishlove noted he will follow up with a further analysis to determine the value breakdown for each of the six reported commercial loss incidents. |
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A brief discussion ensued with respect to fires caused by discarded cigarettes. Acting Fire Chief Jim Wishlove noted that typically the majority of discarded cigarettes cause fires in roadway medians and on the side of roads where there is bark mulch or dried grass, and sometimes in small garbage containers. |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the staff report titled “Richmond Fire-Rescue Monthly Activity Report – December 2021 and 2021 in Review”, dated January 10, 2022, from the Acting Fire Chief, be received for information. |
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CARRIED |
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6. |
FIRE CHIEF BRIEFING |
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Items for discussion: |
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None |
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7. |
RCMP monthly Activity report – december 2021 |
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Acting OIC Supt. Julie Drotar noted that in 2021 property crime numbers were the lowest they have been in a decade and that for the month, Richmond remains in the top for the lowest most violent crime, as well as the second lowest property crime, in all major lower mainland cities. |
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Acting OIC Supt. Julie Drotar further noted that Richmond RCMP has been assisting Surrey RCMP with the protest at 176 Street and 8 Avenue (near Pacific Highway border crossing), maintaining two people per shift (two day/two night shift) in order to support them, which has not affected any of the Richmond operations and priorities to the service of the community. More information and directives from the Commanding Officer is anticipated with respect to the Prime Minister recently invoking the Emergencies Act. |
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Councillor Day left the meeting (4:55 p.m.). |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the staff report titled "RCMP Monthly Activity Report - December 2021", dated January 12, 2022, from the Acting Officer in Charge, Richmond RCMP Detachment, be received for information |
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CARRIED |
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8. |
RCMP/OIC BRIEFING |
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Items for discussion: |
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None |
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9. |
MANAGER’S REPORT |
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(i) |
Policing Partnership Survey |
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Staff noted that proposed responses to the RCMP Stakeholder Survey 2021-2022 have been drafted for submission. |
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A brief discussion ensued regarding the consideration of a voluntary participation program for residents to share video footage from their home security system as a way of assisting the police with any criminal behaviour in their area. Staff noted they will follow up with the RCMP. |
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ADJOURNMENT |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the meeting adjourn (5:01p.m.). |
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CARRIED |
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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, February 15, 2022. |
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_________________________________ |
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Councillor Linda McPhail |
Lorraine Anderson |