October 11, 2023 - Minutes

Date:

Wednesday, October 11, 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 Carol Day (left the meeting at 5:10 p.m.)
Councillor Michael Wolfe (by teleconference)

Call to Order:

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

The Chair provided a statement offering condolences to fallen Constable Rick O’Brien’s family and spoke about the risks first responders take every day keeping the public safe.

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Community Safety Committee held on September 12, 2023, be adopted.

CARRIED

COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

1.

ANIMAL PROTECTION SERVICES MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORT – AUGUST 2023

(File Ref. No. 12-8375-01) (REDMS No. 7372375)

In response to queries from Committee, staff advised that (i) the reduction in bylaw violation notices issued by the SPCA in 2023 compared to 2022 can be attributed to staff focusing on outstanding dog licencing accounts that were delinquent in 2022, and (ii) SPCA and animal protection staff have worked to reduce the number of outstanding dog licencing accounts from 444 in 2022 to 151 as of August 2023.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled “Animal Protection Services Monthly Activity Report – August 2023”, dated September 15, 2023, from the General Manager, Community Safety, be received for information.

CARRIED

2.

PROPERTY USE AND PARKING ENFORCEMENT MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORT – AUGUST 2023

(File Ref. No. 12-8375-01) (REDMS No. 7372437)

In response to queries from Committee, staff advised that (i) further enforcement action will take place should voluntary compliance fail to remove non-compliant short term rental listings on online platforms (ii) there is an increase in activity of bylaw violation notifications, (iii) some ways that staff become aware of short term rental violations are public complaints, and proactive scanning of various platforms for rentals, (iv) two temporary fulltime staff are monitoring short term rentals, (v) approximately 50 percent or more of parking violations involve parking in no stopping areas, parking without payment and parking without permit, (vi) compliance for payment of parking tickets when they are first issued is approximately 50 percent, with the remainder going to collection agencies where approximately 20-25 percent is recovered, (vii) staff issue multiple tickets bundled together for a number of violations for short term rental violations, (viii) there are restrictions in Provincial government legislation capping a bylaw violation notification at $500 and a municipal ticket information capped at $1000 and repeat offenders may be prosecuted in Provincial court, and (ix) business licencing fees are not capped and can be amended through a consolidated fees bylaw amendment.

Discussion ensued with respect to (i) enforcement of non-compliant short term rentals, (ii) list of fines across Metro Vancouver for short term rentals, and (iii) significantly increasing business licence fees and violation fines for short term rentals.

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

It was moved and seconded

That staff consider options for increasing the short term rental business licensing fees and violation fines, and report back.

CARRIED

In response to further queries from Committee, staff advised that (i) calls for service represent one of many investigative tools to enforce short term rental violations, (ii) staff conducted 70 site inspections related to soil activity in the month of August, (iii) staff will be working on public awareness on watering restrictions, and (iv) the City works in conjunction with Agricultural Land Commission staff when dealing with many of the soil activity files.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled “Property Use and Parking Enforcement Monthly Activity Report – August 2023”, dated September 15, 2023, from the Director, Community Bylaws & Licencing, be received for information.

CARRIED

3.

RICHMOND FIRE-RESCUE MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORT – AUGUST 2023

(File Ref. No. 09-5140-01) (REDMS No. 7376415)

In response to queries from Committee, Fire Chief Wishlove advised that (i) ambulance services respond in partnership with Fire-Rescue on medical calls, (ii) the boat fire near River Road did not cause any noticeable environmental damage, and (iii) separate data can be provided to Committee on drug overdose calls in the area near the low barrier housing on Alderbridge Road.

It was moved and seconded

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

CARRIED

4.

FIRE CHIEF BRIEFING

(Verbal Report)

(i)

National Fire Prevention Week

In recognition of National Fire Prevention Week (October 8-14), Richmond Fire Rescue outreach staff have created a series of informational videos focusing on preventing fire accidents in the kitchen. These videos will be released over the course of this week. 

(ii)

BC Shake Out Day

BC Shake Out day is Thursday, October 19.  Emergency programs will work with outreach staff to educate the public on preparing for disasters.  A memorandum will be provided to Council with more information. 

(iii)

Halloween Fireworks

Fire-Rescue staff will release educational information on fireworks once fire prevention week ends.

5.

RICHMOND RCMP MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORT – AUGUST 2023

(File Ref. No. 09-5000-01/2023) (REDMS No. 7339267)

In response to queries from Committee, Chief Supt. Chauhan noted (i) that the Richmond RCMP are not aware of any increase in calls for service for illicit drug usage in public spaces, (ii) average hospital wait times fluctuate, and some clients take longer then others, (iii) the Provincial government’s proposal of changes to restrict drug usage in public places has been tabled but not passed, (iv) the RCMP’s role if these changes are approved will not be for enforcement, rather more for providing public safety and offering individuals information regarding support services, (v) due to public safety concerns when dealing with mental health apprehensions, custody must be maintained by the RCMP until a physician has certified the individual, (vi) continued efforts are being made to enhance the Block Watch program, (vii) there has been an increase in offences such a shoplifting, mischief, theft, and other lower level crime, (viii)  most shoplifting offences are committed by individuals residing outside of Richmond, and (ix) property crime such as commercial and residential break and enter offences are steadily declining.

Councillor Day left the meeting (5:10 p.m.) and did not return.

It was moved and seconded

That the report titled “RCMP Monthly Activity Report – August 2023”, dated September 14, 2023, from the Officer in Charge, Richmond RCMP Detachment, be received for information.

CARRIED

6.

RCMP/OIC BRIEFING
(Verbal Report)

(i)

Update on Deployment for BC Fires

As the Provincial State of Emergency has been lifted, Richmond RCMP are no longer deploying officers to wildfires or any other major emergencies.

(ii)

Recruiting Drive

In the past, the City of Richmond has benefitted by recruiting locally for the police force as many individuals return back to serve their home community. On September 16, a recruiting session was held in Richmond with a high turnout and many interested candidates.  The next recruiting session is planned for October 12.

(iii)

RCMP 150 Anniversary-Acts of Giving

In May the RCMP celebrated 150 years of serving the Canadian public.  In the spirit of celebrating the 150^th Anniversary, Sergeant Katherine Chong created an initiative to give back to the City of Richmond.  During the past seven months, Richmond RCMP has raised funds and gathered donations to support various local organizations, profiling a different organization monthly.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:28 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, October 11, 2023.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Alexa Loo
Chair

Raman Grewal
Legislative Services Associate