PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

MINUTES

An Open meeting of the Public Safety Committee was held in the Council Chamber, City Hall, 4949 Canada Way, Burnaby, B.C. on Tuesday, 2019 March 05 at 6:00 p.m.

1.

CALL TO ORDER

PRESENT:

ABSENT:

STAFF:

Councillor Dan Johnston, Chair

Councillor James Wang, Vice Chair

Councillor Joe Keithley, Member

Mr. Stephen Baron, Citizens’ Representative

Ms. Emily Li, Citizens’ Representative

Mr. Lloyd Paul, Citizens’ Representative

Mr. Dave Reid, Citizens’ Representative

Ms. Tazul Nisha Ali, Chair District #3 – Southeast 

Ms. Mary Gates, Chair District #4 – Southwest

Councillor Nick Volkow, Member (due to illness)

Trustee Larry Hayes, Burnaby Board of Education

Mr. Cory Redekop, Burnaby Board of Trade

Ms. Donna Dawson, Burnaby Crime Prevention Society

Ms. Lisa Bruschetta, Vice Chair District #1 – Hastings/Brentwood

Mr. Aki Ediriweera, Chair District #2 – Burnaby Mountain

Chief Superintendent Deanne Burleigh, Officer in Charge, RCMP

Sergeant Lorena Rostie, Strategic Planning NCO, RCMP

Ms. Lauren Cichon, Administrative Officer

The Chair called the Open meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

The Chair acknowledged the unceded, traditional, and ancestral lands of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and sḵwx̱wú7mesh speaking people, and extended appreciation for the opportunity to hold a meeting on this shared Coast Salish territory.

2.

MINUTES

a)

Minutes of the Open meeting of the Public Safety Committee held on 2019 January 16                                                                      

MOVED BY MR. PAUL

SECONDED BY MR. REID

THAT the minutes of the Open meeting of the Public Safety Committee held on 2019 January 16 be adopted.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

3.

PRESENTATIONS

MOVED BY MR. PAUL

SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR WANG

THAT the presentations be heard.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

a)

Community Safety Plan

Presenter: Dan Layng, Chief Licence Inspector

Mr. Dan Layng, Chief Licence Inspector, provided a PowerPoint presentation on the development of the Burnaby Community Safety Plan (CSP). The presenter noted the key topics for CSP address the “Safe Community” goal from the City’s Corporate Strategic Plan, along with its sub-goals.

Mr. Layng noted the following on why the City needs the CSP:

·         assessing current and future needs and trends;

·         assessing strength and gaps in current services and infrastructure;

·         providing coordinated framework for community safety;

·         enhancing existing efforts towards community safety;

·         tracking and monitoring progress; and

·         implementing the Corporate Strategic Plan.

The presenter noted the City would achieve the CSP by:

·         building on the City’s existing plans, policies, initiatives and strategies;

·         assessing the current level of community satisfaction with initiatives and programs;

·         engaging a diverse range of stakeholders exploring opportunities and challenges with key project topics;

·         examining current and changing demographics, population growth and trends;

·         assessing current infrastructure and services;

·         integrating industries’ best practices and research; and

·         developing prioritized and clear actions enhancing community safety.

The presenter advised the project will be in three phases, and will take about six months to complete. The first phase is preparation and research, the second phase is analysis and engagement, and the third phase is drafting and finalizing the CSP.

In conclusion, Mr. Layng advised there will be six methods how to get the community engaged with the CSP:

1.    communications (project website, newsletter, broad communications, promotion to raise awareness of the project and opportunities to be involved);

2.    interviews (early interviews with City departments, Mayor and Council and stakeholders to inform about the project and engagement plan);

3.    meetings and updates (with the project team, Council and Public Safety Committee – including a visioning workshop);

4.    community workshops (series of four workshops in the City’s Town Centres and will be open to the public);

5.    questionnaire (a public questionnaire will be available online and promoted in person in the community and at events). The questionnaire will assess community satisfaction with current infrastructure and services to collect input on future opportunities to improve community safety; and

6.    kitchen table workbooks (will be developed for community groups to host their own conversations and submit their input back to the City).

b)

The Burnaby Mobilization & Resiliency Table (BMART) Initiative

Presenters: Corporal Abby Yep, Crime Prevention/ Victim Services                              NCO i/c and Shannon Tucker, Director for Office of                        Crime Reduction and Gang Outreach

Corporal Abby Yep, Crime Prevention/Victim Services NCO i/c and Ms. Shannon Tucker, Director for Office of Crime Reduction and Gang Outreach, provided a PowerPoint presentation on the Burnaby Mobilization and Resiliency Table (BMART) Initiative. Corporal Yep advised BMART will reduce risk of harm, mount to short-term and immediate interventions, address high risk situations, and prevent future calls for service. The speaker noted BMART aligns with the City’s Corporate Strategic Plan and the RCMP’s Strategic Plan being a safe community, a connected community, a healthy community, improving public safety, and enhancing community engagement.

The speaker noted BMART clients can be individuals, families, groups or places that have a high risk of some form of crime, disorder or victimization. The four conditions must be present for BMART:

·         significant interest at stake;

·         clear possibility of harm;

·         severe intensity of harm is predicted; and

·         multi-disciplinary nature to the elevated risk factors.

Corporal Yep advised once a BMART agency determines a person(s) is at risk, a referral form is completed and forwarded to the agency that determines the intervention(s). The appropriate agency will decide the needs of the client, provide information on the client’s risk factors, which agency to contact, and discuss the next steps. The speaker advised there would be no cost for BMART as it is a collaboration of existing agencies.

In conclusion, Corporal Yep advised the next steps towards implementing BMART:

·         identifying and liaising with primary stakeholders introducing BMART;

·         applying for the grant through the Office of Crime Reduction and Gang Outreach;

·         bringing together stakeholders for information sessions for community safety;

·         organizing a 3 day workshop for members; and

·         inaugurating BMART to take place around May 2019.

c)

RCMP Youth Team

Presenter: Constable Laura Hirst, Youth Investigative Team

Constable Laura Hirst, Youth Investigative Team, provided a PowerPoint presentation regarding the Burnaby RCMP Youth Investigative Team (YIT). YIT is comprised of 1 Sergeant, 1 Non-Commissioned Officer and 8 Constables. YIT works throughout different areas of Burnaby and in all 4 districts of the City. The presenter noted schools get 100% coverage from Monday to Friday during the school year and work evening shifts to monitor youth on probation, and conduct patrols of youth crime “hot spots”. Constable Hirst advised the following Burnaby school demographics:

·         24,500 students in Burnaby (10,000 are secondary school students);

·         8 secondary schools;

·         41 elementary schools;

·         4 alternate school programs;

·         3 youth centres; and

·         1 youth detention centre.

The presenter advised YIT conducts probation compliance and curfew checks, school based youth intervention and youth services, and restorative justice and counselling. Constable Hirst noted YIT has many programs, events and involvement with education and prevention initiatives.

Constable Hirst advised the most common investigations among youth:

·         drug offences;

·         bullying/assaults;

·         weapon offences;

·         self-exploitation;

·         extortion;

·         robbery;

·         missing youth;

·         threats (online, in person or school shooting);

·         cybercrime (social media); and

·         breach of youth probation order.

4.

CORRESPONDENCE

MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KEITHLEY

SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR WANG

THAT the correspondence be received.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

a)

Memorandum from the Officer in Charge, RCMP

Re: District #1 - Alpha Secondary School Concerns

A memorandum was received from the Officer in Charge, RCMP, providing an update to the District #1 CPAC’s report from the 2018 November 06 Public Safety Committee regarding high school students from Alpha Secondary School video recording fights and posting the videos online. The School Liaison Officer attended the school multiple times leading up the winter break without any issues being reported. The school has not been advised of any recent activities, and could only recall one incident in the summer outside of school hours. As of February 2019, there have been no reports of this issue.

b)

Memorandum from the Officer in Charge, RCMP

Re: District #2 - Creekside Youth Centre Concerns

A memorandum was received from the Officer in Charge, RCMP, providing an update to the District #2 CPAC’s report from the 2018 September 18 Public Safety Committee regarding teenagers bringing alcohol and drugs to the park by the Creekside Youth Centre, raising concerns among families and parents in the area.

It has been noted there have been less issues in the area since RCMP have conducted more patrols.

5.

MONTHLY REPORTS

MOVED BY COUNCILLOR WANG

SECONDED BY MR. REID

THAT the monthly reports be received.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

a)

District #1 - January 2019

Ms. Bruschetta, Vice Chair, provided a report of activities that took place in District #1 during January 2019.

b)

District #2 - January/February 2019

Ms. Orazietti, Secretary, on behalf of the Chair, provided a report of activities that took place in District #2 during January and February 2019:

·         community members expressed their appreciation for warming centres throughout the City;

·         the Annual General Meeting of the North Road BIA was a huge success and provided a space for community members to connect with police officers working in the community. This year’s community pillar award was given to retired Sergeant Wendy Hawthorne and Constable Jenny Chung of the Transit Police.

c)

District #3 - January/February 2019

Ms. Tazul Ali, Chair, provided a report of activities that took place in District #3 during January and February 2019:

·         two student volunteers will be joining next month;

·         concerns of scam calls targeting computer users to reveal confidential information about their system by posing as Microsoft representatives;

·         traffic is flowing slowly at Cariboo Road where the previous accident happened. The measures taken by the City have been working and noted

drivers are paying attention to the traffic light and the crossing; and

·         some District 3 members received five year and two ten year awards for volunteering on February 2.

d)

District #4 - January/February 2019

Ms. Mary Gates, Chair, provided a report of activities that took place in District #4 during January and February 2019:

·         the Bonsor Security Manager reported the actions of City staff saving a young patron who went into cardic arrest. Staff thanked the City for providing the high standard of training to their employees who responded immediately to save a life; and

·         Bonsor staff are recruiting riders for their big-bike event in June supporting the Heart and Stroke Foundation. The Fire Department and RCMP were recognized for their support and more seats are available.

e)

RCMP – December 2018/January 2019

Chief Superintendent Burleigh submitted a report providing an overview of activities that took place during December 2018 and January 2019. The Chief Superintendent highlighted the following items:

·         theft from auto and break and enters have increased from previous years;

·         mail theft has increased;

·         Traffic Services investigated a pedestrian fatality in January;

·         Strike Force identified an youth suspect in series of residential break ins and personal robberies that occurred in October and November around the Edmonds Skytrain area;

·         On 2018 September 26, two males stole a cellphone from a cellular phone kiosk in the Lougheed Mall area. At the same time, two other males attended a cellular phone store located nearby and stole two cellphones. A report has been submitted to Crown Counsel to request charges for three males;

·         on 2019 January 24, a drug trafficker was arrested after a two month investigation. Twenty thousand dollars cash, 215 grams of cocaine, 1141 capsules of cannabis extract, machete, spiked baseball bat and a vehicle were seized;

·         on 2018 December 19, Youth Investigative Team and Community Response Team (CRT) hosted a Coffee with a Cop event at the Tim Hortons at Northgate Mall on North Road. Another Coffee with a Cop event will be held on 2019 March 06 at SFU;

·         on 2018 December 17, CRT observed an electric scooter being driven away from a residence in the area of 6^th Street and 16^th Avenue. The scooter was found to be stolen from Vancouver, the registered owner was notified and the scooter was later returned;

·         CRT held a movie night at the District #3 Community Police Office on 2018 December 27. 15 children attended enjoying the opportunity interacting with police;

·         in January, the Youth Investigative Team delivered a presentation on the usage of social media to grade 6/7 students at Nelson Elementary School;

·         counselling continued to operate without a waitlist, despite being down an Auxiliary Counsellor and Youth Services Supervisor;

·         in January, the Crime Prevention Unit conducted several site assessments for different properties in the City as part of the Block Watch and Crime-Free Multi-Housing Program mandates;

·         Community Police Office volunteers worked 126 hours in December and January and checked 13,114 vehicles;

·         on December 12^th, the Mayor, Chief Superintendent Burleigh, Burnaby RCMP Bike Unit attended the Metrotown area to hold a media stand-up and ensure all citizens were aware of the newly formed permanent Bike Unit;

·         On December 6^th, the Bike Unit was notified a male with an outstanding warrant was located in the Bob Prittie Library area.  Security at the library observed a male that matched the description of the male with the warrant. RCMP members took the wanted male into custody, was processed for his warrant, and charged for the being in possession of Fentanyl;

·         auxiliary members Teresa Cha, Garth Collyer, Erin McElroy, Chad Hey and Maggie Koeberling were recognized at the Volunteer Appreciation Dinner.

The Committee inquired about the two RCMP officers that were struck by a hit and run vehicle in the area in the 5000 block of North Fraser Way near Glenlyon Parkway at about 11:30 a.m. on Monday, March 4^th.

Staff advised the car has been recovered, the Burnaby RCMP officer will have a long recovery, and the Abbotsford RCMP officer had minor injuries.

6.

NEW BUSINESS

There was no New Business brought before the Committee at this time.

7.

INQUIRIES

There were no new inquiries brought before the Committee at this time.

8.

ADJOURNMENT

MOVED BY councillor keithley

SECONDED BY mr. paul

THAT this Open Committee meeting do now adjourn.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Open meeting adjourned at 7:14 p.m.

________________________

________________________

Lauren Cichon

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER                  

Councillor Dan Johnston

CHAIR