June 10, 2025 - Minutes

Date:

Tuesday, June 10, 2025

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

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 May 13, 2025, be adopted.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That No Smoking Regulations at Bus Exchanges be added to the agenda as Item No. 5A.

CARRIED

LAW AND COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

1.

Community Bylaws Monthly Activity Report – April 2025

(File Ref. No. 12-8375-02) (REDMS No. 8050640)

In response to queries from Committee, staff advised that (i) the most common unsightly premises calls are for overgrown vegetation, illegal dumping of garbage, and homeless encampments, (ii) compliance guides resource deployment, analytics and integrated software help staff identify peak hours and hotspots around parking meters enabling targeted enforcement, (iii) by next year a new software platform will be piloted to enhance analytics, (iv) if a derelict vehicle poses safety or pollution risks, it could be addressed under another bylaw or a different provision of the unsightly premises bylaw, (v), parking enforcement calls have increased by 14 percent, staff will report back to Committee on how many of those calls are related to commercial truck parking, (vi) enforcement of commercial truck parking infractions is under the jurisdiction of the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) and City of Richmond, and (vii) compliance is achieved through a combination of education and warnings.

Discussion then took place on Tree Island and staff advised that a detailed cost of the removal of the unpermitted dock on the foreshore will be provided to Committee.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled “Community Bylaws Monthly Activity Report – April 2025”, dated May 12, 2025, from the Director, Community Bylaws & Licencing, be received for information.

CARRIED

2.

RICHMOND FIRE-RESCUE MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORT – april 2025

(File Ref. No. 09-5140-01) (REDMS No. 8049337)

In response to queries from Committee, Deputy Fire Chief McGrath advised that (i) the all other overdose/poisoning incident category breakdown encompasses anything that can’t be clearly confirmed on the scene of the incident, (ii) Richmond Fire Rescue’s Critical Incident Stress Management team recruits are provided mental health training and screening to cope with traumatic events that they face, and (iii) Richmond Fire-Rescue (RFR) staff have equipment and have received training to fight wildland fires.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled “Richmond Fire-Rescue Monthly Activity Report – April 2025”, dated May 23, 2025, from the Fire Chief, be received for information.

CARRIED

3.

FIRE CHIEF BRIEFING
(Verbal Report)

(i)

Richmond Heat plan

Deputy Fire Chief McGrath updated Committee on the Richmond Heat plan and the switch to a 24 hour shift pattern for RFR staff.   

(ii)

RFR Recruitment Process

Deputy Fire Chief McGrath advised that the recruitment process is well underway and new fire recruits are expected in September.

4.

RCMP MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORT – april 2025

(File Ref. No. 09-5350-01) (REDMS No. 8035658)

In response to queries from Committee, Chief Supt. Chauhan advised that (i) a media advisory was released regarding a recent kidnapping attempt, (ii) some individuals generate over one call per month, often due to severe mental illness, while many can't be apprehended, 48 individuals were taken to mental health facilities for posing a threat to themselves or others, (iii) such situations impact staff operationally because officers are exposed to trauma on a regular basis and it takes officers away from core duties, (v) most social disorder calls involve a combination of mental health and drug related factors, and (vi) Richmond RCMP will report back to the Committee on the feasibility of a drug related social disorder and mental health call map.

It was moved and seconded

That the report titled “RCMP Monthly Activity Report – April 2025”, dated May 14, 2025, from the Officer in Charge, be received for information.

CARRIED

5.

RCMP/OIC BRIEFING
(Verbal Report)

(i)

Doors Open Richmond

Chief Supt. Chauhan spoke to the success of the Doors Open Richmond event highlighting it was a well planned event.

(ii)

E-Scooters and E-Bikes

Chief Supt. Chauhan noted that ongoing public education on e-scooter and e-bike safety, along with twice-monthly enforcement efforts are bring made.

5A.

No Smoking Regulations at Bus Exchanges
(File Ref. No.) (REDMS No.)

Staff advised that they have had conversations with Transit Police and Translink and there is a willingness from them to explore more operations to patrol for smoking at bus shelters. Staff can partner with Translink to improve education by strategically placing signage and combining educational messaging with enforcement efforts alongside Transit Police.

6.

MANAGER’S REPORT

(i)

Public Safety Camera System

Staff advised that the City of Richmond will meet the deadline to provide submissions and evidence to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner with respect to their investigation of Richmond’s Public Safety Camera system.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:55 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, June 10, 2025.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Alexa Loo
Chair

Raman Grewal
Legislative Services Associate