Date:

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

Place:

Council Chambers
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Alexa Loo, Chair
Councillor Andy Hobbs
Councillor Laura Gillanders
Councillor Kash Heed
Councillor Bill McNulty

Also Present:

Councillor Michael Wolfe (by teleconference)
Councillor Chak Au

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 March 14, 2023, be adopted.

CARRIED

COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

1.

Animal Protection Services Monthly Activity Report – February 2023
(File Ref. No. 09-5375-09) (REDMS No. 7141790)

In response to queries from Committee, staff noted that (i) staff responded to a resident’s concern regarding off-leash dogs on a boardwalk and (ii) there are educational materials available for new immigrants regarding the importance of leashing dogs.

Discussion ensued regarding regulations related to the purchase or adoption of  rabbits in Richmond, and as a result, the following referral motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That staff examine:

(1)

The creation of a bylaw that states that you cannot adopt, sell, give away or donate any rabbit in the City of Richmond as a pet unless it is spayed or neutered; and

(2)

The administration and enforcement of such a bylaw;

and report back to General Purposes Committee.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled “Animal Protection Services Monthly Activity Report – February 2023”, dated March 10, 2023, from the General Manager, Community Safety, be received for information.

CARRIED

2.

Property Use and Parking Enforcement Monthly Activity Report – February 2023
(File Ref. No. 12-8375-02) (REDMS No. 7167993)

In response to queries from Committee, staff noted that (i) there is no known specific concentration of unsightly premises calls for service, (ii) there is no known increase in parking related offences associated specifically with construction in the Spires Road area and staff can provide a memorandum providing statistics specifically associated with parking violations attributed to construction in the area of Spires Road, (iii) unsightly premises enforcement is primarily complaint-driven, (iv) the increase in calls reporting short-term rental violations is not attributed to a specific property, and
(v) short-term rental violations are issued tickets.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled “Property Use and Parking Enforcement Monthly Activity Report – February 2023”, dated March 17, 2023, from the Director, Community Bylaws & Licencing, be received for information.

CARRIED

3.

Richmond Fire-Rescue Monthly Activity Report- February 2023
(File Ref. No. 09-5140-01) (REDMS No. 7153788)

In response to queries from Committee, Fire Chief Jim Wishlove noted that
(i) the increase in medical calls can be attributed to the increasing population and changes in how BC Ambulance Service (BCAS) assesses calls, (ii) Richmond Fire-Rescue (RFR) has a healthy working relationship with BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) and Chief Wishlove meets with BCEHS operational and administrative leadership staff every 2-3 months, (iii) the statistics for medical calls for overdose/poisoning include calls related to fentanyl-linked overdoses, (iv) BCAS also attends a majority of the medical calls that RFR responds to, (v) RFR stations are distributed strategically throughout the city and has the capacity to arrive on scene within 4-6 minutes typically, (vi) the statistics for medical calls do not include specific ages, and (vii) a web-based Emergency Operations Centre application and software would provide a number of increased efficiencies and allow staff to reprioritize quickly and share data immediately.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled “Richmond Fire-Rescue Monthly Activity Report – February 2023”, dated March 13, 2023, from the Fire Chief, be received for information.

CARRIED

4.

FIRE CHIEF BRIEFING
(Verbal Report)

(i)

Dry Weather and Wildfires  

Chief Wishlove shared that with the upcoming warmer weather and high winds allowing brush to dry out quickly, Richmond Fire-Rescue will be practicing wildland firefighting deployment and conducting on-site hazard risk assessments.

5.

RCMP Monthly Activity Report – February 2023
(File Ref. No. 09-5000-01) (REDMS No. 7153900)

In response to queries from Committee, Chief Supt. Dave Chauhan noted
(i) the issue of catalytic converter thefts is not limited to Richmond and Richmond RCMP are working proactively to target thieves, investigate scrap metal recycling facilities and partner with other organizations such as ICBC, (ii) common assault has been included in the violent crime statistics, (iii) all mental health calls are referred to the Fox 80 Mental Health Car, (iv) pedestrian safety is a Richmond RCMP road safety initiative that is continuously promoted, (v) there are no identified patterns or trends associated with the increase in shoplifting thefts and serious assaults, (vi) the number of assaults at schools is minimal, (vii) the decrease in residential break and enters can be associated with proactively targeting prolific offenders, and (viii) Richmond RCMP continuously engage with local businesses to support them in protection from shoplifting.

It was moved and seconded

That the report titled "RCMP Monthly Activity Report - February 2023", dated March 16, 2023, from the Officer in Charge, Richmond RCMP Detachment, be received for information.

CARRIED

6.

2022-2023 Richmond RCMP Detachment Annual Performance Plan Third Quarter Update (October 1 to December 31, 2022)
(File Ref. No. 09-5000-01) (REDMS No. 7168534)

In response to queries from Committee, Chief Supt. Dave Chauhan noted
(i) there have been changes in policy at a provincial level regarding repeat violent offenders and those identified as repeat violent offenders are prioritized, (ii) the Richmond RCMP organized crime and drug units will continue to target high-level offenders, and (iii) Richmond RCMP priorities are developed at the local level.

It was moved and seconded

That the report titled “2022-2023 Richmond RCMP Detachment Annual Performance Plan Third Quarter Update (October 1 to December 31, 2022)”, dated March 9, 2023, from the Officer in Charge, Richmond RCMP Detachment, be received for information.

CARRIED

7.

2023-2024 Richmond RCMP Detachment Annual Performance Plan Community Priorities
(File Ref. No. 09-5000-01) (REDMS No. 7163452)

In response to queries from Committee, Chief Supt. Dave Chauhan noted
(i) the limited number of priorities included in the Annual Performance Plan are selected in order to be consistent with issues that impact other communities at a divisional level, (ii) Richmond RCMP continues to have a strong relationship with ICBC, (iii) the decrease in mental health-related files can be associated with the successful collaboration with the Assertive Community Treatment team as well as enhanced client support services,
(iv) education is a key tool in deterring drug use and drug-testing kits would likely be a resource implemented by the provincial government or health authorities, (v) responding to hate crime is a top priority, particularly through the Richmond RCMP Diversity and Inclusion unit, community engagement, front line response, education, and enforcement measures, and (vi) the Richmond RCMP and the City of Richmond have taken a strong stance against hate crime through the “Hate Has No Place” campaign, which has been communicated through news releases, public awareness, and action by the RCMP in prosecuting individuals involved in hate crime-related incidents.

It was moved and seconded

That the priorities, Property Crime, Organized Crime, Road Safety and Vulnerable Persons, listed in the report titled “2023-2024 Richmond RCMP Detachment Annual Performance Plan - Community Priorities”, dated March 20, 2023 from the Officer in Charge, Richmond RCMP, be endorsed for inclusion in the Richmond RCMP Detachment’s fiscal year 2023-2024 (April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024) Annual Performance Plan.

CARRIED

8.

RCMP/OIC BRIEFING
(Verbal Report)

None.

Discussion ensued regarding vulnerable populations and modular housing.

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

It was moved and seconded

That staff:

(1)

investigate the range of housing continuum that would “better facilitate” individuals who entered low barrier housing to graduate to other types of housing and leaving the neighbourhood;

(2)

request providers of supportive housing review their drug use policies in the rooms;

(3)

investigate the efficacy of the operator at the Alderbridge Way modular housing, length of time left on that lease, statistics on the recovery/housing journey of past residents;

(4)

investigate statistics on calls for services from various departments including severity of crime in the area and comparison over time and with other similar communities with similar modular housing installed;

(5)

investigate whether other health care service/enforcement can be provided to discourage these issues from escalating; and

(6)

invite Vancouver Coastal Health Medical Health Officer to present an update on overdose deaths and how the province is implementing the “health care first” approach after decriminalization of illicit drugs, and how many overdoses are occurring in residential homes compared to on the street or in modular housing;

and report back to General Purposes Committee.

CARRIED

9.

MANAGER’S REPORT

Retroactive Payment for Richmond RCMP Collective Agreement

Staff advised that the City will be providing payment for the Richmond RCMP’s previous collective agreement and will have a timeline of two years interest-free to make such payment.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:26 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 Wednesday, April 12, 2023.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Alexa Loo
Chair

Shannon Unrau
Legislative Services Associate