Staff Report: PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT FOR MAY – JUNE 2017

Protective Services & Community Services Report

TO: Committee of the Whole DATE: July 4, 2017 FROM: Paul Hurst, Director of Protective Services MEETING: July 11, 2017

PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT FOR MAY – JUNE 2017

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the Committee receives this report for information.

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER COMMENTS

I concur with the recommendation

PURPOSE OF REPORT:

To update the Committee on the operations of the Fire Department.

DISCUSSION:

Fire Prevention, Inspection & Public Education:

• Regular fire inspections are being conducted as per our frequency of inspection guideline but are behind for the month of May and June due to the vacant inspector position.
• The department is currently reviewing plans and attending meetings with municipal staff and developers on several projects.
• The department delivered 3 presentations to preschool/Kindergarten groups totaling 54 children and 11 adults.
• During this period public education activities were as follows:
  • PARTY Program On May 11th the department participated in its third presentation this year at the PARTY Program at Victoria General Hospital. Members presented at the “Car Crash” station explaining what we do and see at vehicle accidents, why we do it as well as how it can affect members and their families.
  • PARTY Program On May 18th the department participated in its fourth and final presentation this year at the PARTY Program at Victoria General Hospital.
  • VRFD Annual Open House June 10th was our 11th Annual Open House and 3rd in the new facility. This year’s focus was our Jr. Firefighter Program again but this year it was changed to add a Firefighter Combat Challenge. Approximately 500+ people attended this year’s event with rave reviews of the program. The department’s goal is to add an actual Firefighter Combat Challenge demonstration for next year’s event.

The division continues to work with our website and social media feeds to keep the public informed and up to date on department activities and programs.

Robert G. Marshall, Fire Prevention Officer

Training Division:

• 1 Member completed NFPA 1001 Level II – Luke Amaral
• 2 Members completed Class III Drivers Licence
• 1 Member completed Confined Space Operations
• 1 Member completed Organizational & Community Leadership portion of Fire Officer III
• 5 Members completed Ground Ladder portion of NFPA 1001 FF II
• 4 Members completed Search portion of NFPA 1001 FF II
• 21 Members attended MD Boot Drive raising $2700
• 9 Members attended View Royal Elementary yearend Fun Fair
• 27 Members attended Annual View Royal Fire Open House
• View Royal Fire and Colwood Fire participated in joint forestry training exercises at Thetis Lake Park
• Additional weekend training has being well attended
• 1001 Training continues on Monday evenings
• Attended Greater Victoria’s Training Officers Bi-Monthly meeting

Heath Bevan, Training Officer

Emergency Program:

The following are the most noteworthy activities and events for the Emergency Program this reporting period:

• EM Officer attended following Meetings:
  • LGEPAC X 2
  • Regional Disaster Route Committee
  • EM - ESSD Meeting
• Organized and held 10th Annual Emergency Preparedness Fair and Display at Westshore Parks and Rec. Very high public attendance and media coverage. A successful day.
• 1 EP Workshops held for the public at VR PSB with 11 attendees.
• As the DEPC remains on leave, Matt Thompson, Acting DEPC, is currently training as an interim replacement. He will be officially appointed as of July 1st.
• All 9 EP generators received maintenance and fuel replacement/conditioning.
• Inventory of View Royal Elementary emergency container completed.
• Town of View Royal registered for 2017 Great BC Shakeout.

Emergency Program Training:

• Mass Care – 3 ESS
• Registration and Referral – 3 ESS
• Defensive Driving Course – 8 ESS
• Resource Acquisition – 4 ESS
• Reception Centre – 1 ESS
• Emergency Evacuation Training – 5 staff, 5 ESS
• ESS Mini Training Conference at UVic – 12 ESS

Emergency Support Services:

The ESS team had one callout this reporting period to Colwood Crescent. Three residents were placed in accommodations. Two monthly meetings were held and were well attended. The ESS team committed over 830 hours to ESS this period and has contributed over 1720 hours the first half of 2017. Two volunteers, John and Seona Stevens resigned for personal reasons and will be greatly missed. We thank them for their commitment and service. Additional activities are as follows:

• Group Lodging Exercise in Langford
• Work parties to assemble and organize for open houses and ESS Office
• Participated in EP Fair at JDF
• Pub Ed booth set up at VRFD Open House and Colwood Open House
• Regional ESSD meeting
• DESSD Pam Rivers co-coordinated mini-conference training weekend at UVic. Around 75 participants took advantage of this successful training weekend. Kudos to Pam for her efforts.

Emergency Communications Team:

• Participated in EP Fair at JDF
• Participated in the World Amateur Radio Association Day event at Heritage Acres
• Net controller, Inter-municipal net
• Attended CRECC meeting
• Weekly nets on View Royal frequencies
• Weekly check in with inter-municipal net

Troy Mollin, Emergency Management Officer Ruth Reynolds, Emergency Support Services Director Ed McCarthy, Emergency Radio Coordinator

Building Department:

The months of May and June have seen activity increase, which is normal for this time of the year. Several stop work orders were issued, but quickly and easily remedied through good communication with the residents and builders. In May we went live with our new inspection reporting system. It has been successful thus far, but like any new program, has areas that need adjusting. All current data and permits should be fully included in the program within the next few weeks. From an inspection and liability point of view, this system is delivering as expected and the usefulness of including photographs directly to the digital inspection report is very helpful.

May Permit Summary

June Permit Summary

Permit Revenue Comparison Chart

Gary Faykes, Building Inspector

Bylaw Division:

With the warm weather and school out it will prompt more users of Thetis Lake Regional Park, which will impact traffic and parking in the Chilco Road/Atkins Road area. The Bylaw division will be working with Westshore RCMP Traffic section in the coming months.

The Capital Regional District is establishing a working group to discuss the rise in abandoned boats. More information regarding this working group will be sent to Mayor and Council via Capital Regional District on the groups intended purpose and council support. Of note for this reporting period, 4 complaints were received and investigated. In 2 cases Municipal Ticket Information (MTI) were issued.

Complaints regarding noise will continue though out the summer and depending on the time of day will be investigated by Bylaw Enforcement or RCMP. Finally the Bylaw Officer and Building Inspector continue to work together on numerous files in relation to building/bylaw infractions and un-registered secondary suites.

2017 Bylaw Report - May

2017 Bylaw Report - June

Enzo Calla, Bylaw Enforcement Officer

SUBMITTED BY: Paul Hurst, Fire Chief/Director of Protective Services

REVIEWED BY: Kim Anema, Chief Administrative Officer