February 13, 2024 - Minutes
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Community Safety Committee
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Date: |
Tuesday, February 13, 2024 |
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Place: |
Council Chambers |
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Present: |
Councillor Alexa Loo, Chair |
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Also Present: |
Councillor Michael Wolfe (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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The Chair recessed the meeting at 4:01 p.m. for the Closed Community Safety Committee meeting. |
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*********************** |
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The meeting reconvened at 4:23 p.m. following the Closed Community Safety Committee Meeting with all members of Committee present, including Councillor Wolfe (by teleconference). |
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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 16, 2024, be adopted. |
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CARRIED |
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COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION |
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1. |
ANIMAL PROTECTION SERVICES ACTIVITY REPORT – 2023 YEAR IN REVIEW (File Ref. No. 12-8060-01) (REDMS No. 7543918) |
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In response to queries from the Committee, staff noted that Animal Control Officers use the Doctor Ian Dunbar Dog Bite Scale to determine the severity of dog bites and that dog license renewals contributed to the net revenue in 2023. |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the staff report titled “Animal Protection Services Activity Report – 2023 Year in Review”, dated January 19, 2023 from the General Manager, Community Safety, be received for information. |
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CARRIED |
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2. |
PROPERTY USE AND PARKING ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY REPORT – 2023 YEAR IN REVIEW (File Ref. No. 12-8060-01) (REDMS No. 7532847) |
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Staff provided an update on (i) the enforcement of short term rental investigations noting that multiple non-compliance tickets can be issued to a single property at one time, (ii) there was an increase in service calls and tickets issued during last month’s snowfall, and (iii) that staff investigated and action taken for container activity in driveways. |
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In response to queries from Committee, staff noted that short term rental enforcement has resulted in an increase of licences and compliance and staff would report back on the increase in licenses from 2022 to 2023. |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the staff report titled “Property Use and Parking Enforcement Activity Report – 2023 Year in Review”, dated January 19, 2024, from the Director, Community Bylaws & Licencing, be received for information. |
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CARRIED |
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3. |
BUSINESS LICENCE ACTIVITY REPORT – 2023 YEAR IN REVIEW (File Ref. No. 12-8060-01) (REDMS No. 7537194) |
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In response to queries from Committee, staff advised that they will report back on what types of businesses are included in the list of inactive business licenses and provide an update on business license violations. |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the staff report titled “Business Licence Activity Report – 2023 Year in Review”, dated January 19, 2024, from the Director, Community Bylaws & Licencing, be received for information. |
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CARRIED |
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4. |
OPTIONS FOR ENFORCEMENT OF ESCORT SERVICES AND BODY RUBS (File Ref. No. 12-8275-11) (REDMS No. 7529119) |
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Angela Wu, SWANN Vancouver, expressed concerns with the rights and safety of women working in licensed body rub studios and stating that the proposed increase in bylaw inspections and fines may put women at greater risk. Ms. Wu suggested a review of the City’s existing bylaws and the consideration of implementing sex work safety response guidelines on how bylaw inspections can be respectfully enforced. Ms. Wu also suggested that consultation be done with body rub studio employees to understand what is required to ensure their safety. |
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Bronwyn McBride, provided a summary on how enforcement of massage parlours impacts women’s safety and their ability to trust and access police protections. Ms. McBride expressed that licensed workplaces are the safest spaces for women in this work environment. The motions put forward will undermine the safety of women as the increase in enforcement will displace women to unlicensed workplaces putting them at greater risk of violence. |
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Dr. Jessica Taylor, Richmond resident, spoke on the problems regarding enforcement of sex workers and the decrease in their health and safety when extreme measures are enforced. Dr. Taylor expressed that the joint Business Licence/RCMP operations leads to an increase in fear and a distrust in municipal institutions. Dr. Taylor suggested that Richmond is already regulated, and increasing fines may be counter intuitive. She encouraged the City to develop supports for this vulnerable population. |
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In reply to queries from Committee, staff stated that the bylaw recommendations put forward are geared towards business owners and not the workers and bylaw officers act professionally when conducting inspections. |
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It was moved and seconded |
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(1) |
That Option 2 as described in the staff report titled "Options for Enforcement of Escort Services and Body Rub Studios" dated January 16, 2024 from the General Manager, Community Safety be endorsed; |
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(2) |
That staff amend the Business Licence Bylaw 7360, the Business Regulation Bylaw No. 7538, the Municipal Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 7321, and the Notice of Bylaw Violation Dispute Adjudication Bylaw No. 8122. |
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The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued with regard to the safety of the workers during enforcement activity and alignment of the existing City bylaws with guidelines and principles set out by the British Columbia Association of Chiefs of Police (BCACP). |
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The question on the motion was then called and it was CARRIED with Cllr. Gillanders opposed. |
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5. |
RICHMOND FIRE-RESCUE MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORT – DECEMBER 2023 AND YEAR IN REVIEW (File Ref. No. 09-5140-01) (REDMS No. 7525426) |
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In reply to queries to Committee, Fire Chief Jim Wishlove noted that |
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Chief Wishlove then provided an overview of the 2023 Mobile Outdoor Food Service Unit (MOFSU) inspection program for food trucks, highlighting the introduction of a joint municipal program across the Lower Mainland. |
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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 2023 and Year In Review”, dated January 11, 2024, from the Fire Chief, be received for information. |
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CARRIED |
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6. |
FIRE CHIEF BRIEFING |
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Chief Wishlove updated Committee on the Super Grocer fire noting that the building will be fully removed in the next 2 weeks. |
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7. |
RCMP MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORT – DECEMBER 2023 AND YEAR IN REVIEW (File Ref. No. 09-5000-01) (REDMS No. 7491265) |
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In reply to queries to Committee, Chief Supt. Chauhan gave an overview on (i) the Boost and Bust operation stating that Richmond RCMP have doubled the operation for 2024, (ii) the Richmond RCMP response to 2023 metal health incidences, and (iii) robbery incidences occurred outdoors with one stranger related investigation still ongoing. |
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Discussion then ensued with regard to the Fox 80 program operations, and as a result, staff were directed to provide a memorandum on the hours of operation and expansion of the program. |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the report titled “RCMP Monthly Activity Report – December 2023 and Year in Review”, dated January 16, 2024, from the 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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None. |
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9. |
MANAGER’S REPORT |
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None. |
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ADJOURNMENT |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the meeting adjourn (5:53 p.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 13, 2024. |
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Councillor Alexa Loo |
Mizuguchi,Andrea |