January 13, 2026 - Minutes

Date:

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Place:

Anderson Room
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

Councillor Michael Wolfe (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 December 9, 2025, be adopted.

CARRIED

AGENDA ADDITIONS

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Homeless Encampment at Jacombs Road be added as Item No. 5A;

(2)

That Hit and Run Incident at Cambie Road and No. 3 Road be added as Item No. 5B;

(3)

That Business License Removal at Lansdowne Centre be added as Item No. 5C; and

(4)

That Overgrown Hedges be added as Item No. 5D.

CARRIED

LAW AND COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

1.

COMMUNITY BYLAWS MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORT – NOVEMBER 2025

(File Ref. No. 12-8375-02) (REDMS No. 8254149)

In response to queries from Committee, staff noted (i) the increase in parking enforcement revenue can be attributed to a combination of factors including a full staffing compliment, initiatives to identify hot spots and hot times for parking enforcement and the introduction of license plate recognition and other new technologies, enabling a fast response to time violations, (ii) the addition of a second full time Soil Bylaw Enforcement Officer has increased capacity to deal with many of the calls for service, staff will follow-up further with Committee regarding soil related issues, (iii) staff work with School District No.38 to issue reminders to parents regarding the dangers of parking/double parking in hot spot areas close to schools and concerns related to student safety and pedestrian visibility when navigating parked vehicles, and (iv) with respect to speed related complaints within school zones, it was noted the minutes of the City’s Traffic Safety Advisory Committee provides a source of information on traffic safety concerns in the City.

It was moved and seconded

That the report titled “Community Bylaws Monthly Activity Report – November 2025”, dated December 17, 2025, from the Director, Community Bylaws & Licensing, be received for information.

CARRIED

2.

RICHMOND FIRE-RESCUE MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORT – November 2025

(File Ref. No. 09-5140-01) (REDMS No. 8248517)

In response to queries from Committee, Chief Wishlove reported (i) it was a collaborative team effort between RFR emergency staff, Canadian Red Cross community volunteers and onsite Richmond RCMP, to transport the evacuees of the December 2025 multi-unit residential building fire on Seventh Avenue, to the community centre for registration, and (ii) it is believed that every evacuee had tenant insurance, which was key for them to receive expedited support as early as possible and, given the very late night, RFR staff, through the provincial program, were able to direct those affected to short-term accommodations.

It was moved and seconded

That the report titled “Richmond Fire-Rescue Monthly Activity Report – November 2025”, dated December 17, 2025, from the Fire Chief, be received for information.

CARRIED

3.

FIRE CHIEF BRIEFING
(Verbal Report)

None.

The following referral motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That a letter be sent to the Provincial Health Officer and Vancouver Coastal Health requesting information, on a monthly basis, on the overdoses and deaths from overdoses in Richmond.

CARRIED

4.

RCMP MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORT – November 2025

(File Ref. No. 09-5030-01) (REDMS No. 8236455)

In response to queries from Committee, Chief Supt. Chauhan noted (i) the increase in commercial break and enters can mostly be attributed to the increase in construction resulting from the surge of development in the city, and with that comes tools and equipment and other items that are stored just behind a fence and easily visible to those who take advantage of the opportunity; it is critical to ensure that equipment is stored properly, (ii) persistent enforcement efforts have seen a decrease in shoplifting offences over the same reporting period last year; enforcement through the “boost and bust” operations will continue to address retail theft in the city, and (iii) there is ongoing engagement with Vancouver Coastal Health to find solutions to continue to reduce the average hospital wait times with respect to police apprehensions.

It was moved and seconded

That the report titled “RCMP Monthly Activity Report – November 2025”, dated December 11, 2025, from the Officer in Charge, be received for information.

CARRIED

5.

RCMP/OIC BRIEFING
(Verbal Report)

None.

COUNCILLOR KASH HEED

5A.

HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT AT JACOMBS ROAD
(File Ref. No.) (REDMS No.)

Concern was expressed with respect to a homeless encampment identified at Highway 99 east to Jacombs Road and Westminster Highway north, a location that is on Ministry of Transportation and Transit (MOTT) land.

In response to queries from Committee, staff reported (i) together with RFR counterparts, there have been extensive discussions with MOTT to take urgent action, given the serious threat to health and safety and critical infrastructure (jet fuel pipeline) located in the vicinity, (ii) staff have been working extensively to plan operations on some of the unsheltered sites on MOTT land, the outcome of which should be available to Council prior to the next Committee meeting, (iii) staff are in communication with the Province on the matter, (iv) staff is proceeding with a proactive effort (and will contest if challenged) as this matter is being taken very seriously by the City, recognizing safety is paramount and that MOTT are not fulfilling their responsibility, and (v) MOTT enforcement branch has conducted only two patrols in the better part of a year; there has not been a proactive coordination of patrols at an operational level.

Staff further advised they will do a more fulsome analysis to see if there are any environmental impacts as a result of the location of the unsheltered site, and report back to Committee in the form of a memorandum with more detailed graphics and maps that delineate some of the distinction where the City property is along with MOTT land.

5B.

HIT AND RUN INCIDENT AT CAMBIE ROAD AND NO. 3 ROAD
(File Ref. No.) (REDMS No.)

Staff provided an overview of the information known with respect to the recent hit and run incident at Cambie Road and No. 3 Road, and other activities in the area at the time, including what appears to have been an event that occurred at 4211 No. 3 Road (Lipont Place) that did not have a business license for event hosting. Staff are investigating the incident for any bylaw violations.

5C.

BUSINESS LICENSE REMOVAL AT LANSDOWNE CENTRE
(File Ref. No.) (REDMS No.)

Staff reported (i) the Consumer Protection BC advised the City they rescinded the license for Vegas Vacation, located in Lansdowne Mall, and that notification is on the Consumer Protection BC website, including the violations, (ii) staff are still in the process of collecting evidence following which a report to Council to either suspend or cancel the Vegas Vacation business license is anticipated, noting that bylaws require that a business must be in good standing with provincial and federal statutes, and (iii) this is an active investigation and the City is not the only agency investigating.

Staff noted the establishment of a joint inspections task force with RCMP counterparts, to investigate instances of illegal gaming in Richmond.  It was reported that the first operation of the task force took place recently, leading to 30 locations inspected and the issuance of 24 combined bylaw violations with municipal ticket violations totalling $9,400.  Two major illegal gambling operations were disrupted, and several minor operations were disrupted as well.

COUNCILLOR alexa loo

5D.

OVERGROWN HEDGES
(File Ref. No.) (REDMS No.)

The City’s process with respect to overgrown hedges on sidewalks, especially when affecting sightlines for traffic, was discussed.  In response to queries from Committee, staff noted (i) if the shrub is on a boulevard fronting a private property it is the responsibility of the private property owner to maintain, particularly when it impacts the sightlines for the roadway, and (ii) staff will contact the property owner when complaints/calls for service are received, and (iii) generally the property owners comply and take care of the matter, but in instances where they do not, further action can be used for compliance and the City can seek compensation for that cost.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:25 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 13, 2026.

_________________________________

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Councillor Alexa Loo
Chair

Lorraine Anderson
Legislative Services Associate