Protective Services Report - PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT FOR NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2023
Operational update from the Director of Protective Services covering fire prevention, training, emergency programs, and bylaw enforcement activities for late 2023.
Protective Services Report
TO: Committee of the Whole DATE: January 2, 2024 FROM: Paul Hurst, Director of Protective Services MEETING: January 9, 2024
PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT FOR NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2023
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT the Committee receive this report for information.
ACTING CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S COMMENTS:
I concur with the recommendation
PURPOSE OF REPORT:
To update the Committee on the operations of the Public Safety Department.
DISCUSSION:
Fire Prevention Inspection & Public Education:
- 100% completion of Fire Inspections
- Extinguisher Training and Safety Preparedness sessions: Dec. 5 Surrounded by Cedar Child & Family Services (20 adults) and Dec. 6 Emcon Services Inc. (18 adults)
- Santa Drive Around Food Drive Dec. 16
- Dec. 18 Burnside Road and TransCanada Highway Overpass – Encampment Fire
- Dec 23 Burnside Road and TransCanada Highway Overpass – Encampment Fire
- Dec. 27 Helmcken Road off-ramp – Encampment Fire
Geoff Pitre, Fire Prevention Officer
Training Division:
- One Member completed Fire Officer Administration
- Two Members completed Class 3 Driver License Endorsement
- One Member completed Air Brake Endorsement
- Two Members completed 1002 program, Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator
- One Member completed ICS200
- One Member completed First Responder Certificate
- Twelve Members attended additional training, Heavy Lifting with High Pressure Air Bags. Thank you to Emcon Services Inc. who provided a large snowplow for training scenarios
- Two Members attended Capital Regional District (CRD) Regional Hazardous Materials Training
- Eleven Members attended Esquimalt Cenotaph for Remembrance Day event
- Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team utilized training ground for scenario training
- Six Members hosted annual pumpkin smash raising over $1000 for Movember
- Eight Members attended annual Truck Light Parade, collecting over $200 and a truck of food
- Twenty-four Members attended annual Santa Drive Around, collecting over $5000 and a trailer full of food. Truck Light Parade and Santa Drive Around donations went to Shoreline Middle School and Westshore Food Bank
- 1001 Training continues on Saturdays
- Annual training requirements being completed by Members on night shifts
- Two 1001 written exams completed
- One 1001 practical evaluation completed
- 2024 recruitment process underway at this time
- Training numbers impacted in December due to community events and family commitments
Heath Bevan, Training Officer
Emergency Program: The following are the most noteworthy activities and events for the Emergency Program this reporting period:
- EM Leadership meeting w/ ESSD, ERC and Colwood Emergency Program representative
- Earthquake Early Warning System project meeting
- Local Government Emergency Advisory Commission meeting
- Public Education Planning Meeting
- FireSmart Coordinator Meeting
- EP Fair meeting w/ Peninsula Emergency Management Organization
- CRD’s post disaster water demonstration at Victoria General Hospital
- Winter Preparedness/Emergency Kits Workshop – 8 community members
- EMBC Seasonal Readiness meeting
- REMP Forum – Emergency Management and Disaster Act
- Heat Risk Mapping Engagement – Fraser Basin Institute
- Nuclear Emergency Response exercise w/ CFB Esquimalt – online
- ESS meeting in Colwood – presented service pins
- 2022 UBCM CEPF Extreme Heat Grant project (Community Heat Resilience) final report submitted
Emergency Management Training:
- Preparing Emergency Management Plans: 1 Volunteer
- EOC tabletop – 3 staff 4 volunteers
- CRD Regional Emergency Exercise – EM Officer
- 2 EOC Training sessions cancelled due to low registration
Emergency Support Services: Two ESS Team meetings were held and were well attended. Additional activities were as follows:
Current number of volunteers on our active list are 35 with approximately 12-14 volunteers that show up regularly.
Three of the ESS volunteers continue to work at EMCR in the Provincial ESS Call Centre answering calls from evacuees, ESS responders, and suppliers throughout the province.
The Deputy ESSD has stepped into a level one ESS responder role and the Deputy ESSD role has now been filled by another person.
Level 1 Call Outs and Mutual Aid Assistance:
| Date: | Description | # Volunteers | # Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5th | Colwood - on Jadel – 5 evacuees - 3 rooms, and meals | 2 | 6 |
| Dec 31st | Colwood – on Wellsmith - 2 adult evacuees, 1 room and meals | 2 | 3 |
During the months of November and December, fourteen meetings of various types were held involving fifty-eight volunteers and 135 hours. There were two activities/training events held in November involving four volunteers and twenty hours. The Team is working on several on-going projects including updating contact information in “Quick Start Bins”, outreach to suppliers to update agreements, and a recreation centre exercise.
Emergency Radio Communications Team: 2023 has been a productive year with some advancements and upgrades, but there is always room for improvement. This year, the Team is switching to a three-person shift on the regular meeting nights to make it possible to accomplish more on each shift. Projects will be made easier with the extra hands available.
The following are activities this reporting period:
- portable Packet Radio Station (UHF and VHF);
- portable Pactor Station (HF);
- update and amend SOP documents for each Radio Station;
- test equipment weekly;
- prepare scheduling system for 2024;
- build 220 MHz antenna for Colwood;
- prepare the second antenna for Colwood firehall tower;
- software implementation and updates; and
- combined team meeting, training, and debriefing.
Volunteer hours for the VRCC Team:
- Combined Team hours for year to date are 645 hours and
- Volunteer hours for Nov. – Dec. to date are 99 hours.
Troy Mollin, Emergency Program Officer Pam Rivers, Emergency Social Services Director Ed McCarthy, Emergency Radio Coordinator
Bylaw Division: 2023 was transformative for the Town of View Royal, with substantial advancements in community problem-solving and internal collaboration within the Bylaw division. The primary focus areas included navigating intricate public interactions, managing sensitive files, and cultivating partnerships. These efforts were all geared towards achieving Bylaw’s core objective of enhancing public service and internal relationships. In 2023, Bylaw received 557 files, and only ten of these investigations will remain open into 2024. Bylaw also issued 32 MTIs.
The 32 MTIs issued totaled $3050 and of that, Bylaw did not pursue eleven MTIs (totaling $700) for varying reasons including out-of-town plates, vehicle destruction upon impound, and tickets under $50. $1650 has been paid with $700 outstanding. Payment hearings are not being considered for any outstanding MTIs as most are under $100.
| Nov/Dec Activity | Number of Warnings Nov | Number of Warnings Dec | Number of Tickets Issued Nov | Number of Tickets Issued Dec | Tickets Paid Nov | Tickets Paid Dec | Total Nov/Dec | Prev. YDT | 2023 Total | 2022 Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admin* | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 12 | ||||
| Animal Control | 1 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 27 | ||||
| Assist Other Agencies/Dept* | 21 | 21 | 23 | |||||||
| Building | 8 | 8 | 5 | |||||||
| Burning | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| Business License - Inspected | 1 | 1 | 16 | 17 | 16 | |||||
| Dumping | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Election Signs | 1 | |||||||||
| Fire Bylaw | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||
| Fireworks | 1 | |||||||||
| Garbage | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Graffiti | 39 | |||||||||
| Noise | 2 | 5 | 7 | 24 | 31 | 36 | ||||
| Parks & Public | 13 | 1 | 14 | 18 | 32 | 73 | ||||
| Recommendation* | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Referred to Other Agencies* | 3 | 3 | 41 | 44 | 78 | |||||
| Referred to Other Dept* | 2 | 2 | 36 | 38 | 71 | |||||
| Secondary Suite | 6 | 6 | 5 | |||||||
| Signs | 1 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 50 | |||||
| Soil | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| Storm Drain | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| Streets | 24 | 24 | 1 | 3 | 52 | 242 | 294 | 408 | ||
| Tree Prevention | 8 | 8 | 18 | |||||||
| Truck Route | 3 | |||||||||
| Unsightly Premise | 1 | 1 | 25 | 26 | 13 | |||||
| Vacation Rental | 4 | 4 | 1 | |||||||
| Zoning | 5 | 6 | 11 | 52 | 63 | 73 | ||||
| Freedom of Information Requests | 2 | 2 | 1 | |||||||
| Total | 95 | 461 | 557 | 800 |
*not included in total file count
Zones Below is a map of the bylaw zones and the number of calls for service in those areas for 2023. This map represents in which areas the Bylaw Officer attended calls. In 2023, the View Royal, Watkiss and Six Mile zones were the most attended.
Public Engagement Challenges Engaging with the public presented diverse challenges, demanding careful attention. The Bylaw Division proactively worked towards refining communication strategies, placing emphasis on transparent and inclusive dialogue. Addressing concerns and fostering community understanding played a pivotal role in navigating the complexities of public sentiment across a spectrum of issues.
Interdepartmental Collaboration on Sensitive Files Effective collaboration with various Town departments was pivotal, particularly in managing sensitive files related to encampment remediation and resolving charged disputes between neighbours. Recognizing the necessity for a unified approach, Town departments shared vital information. This collaborative effort bolstered the responsiveness to evolving challenges and provided a holistic perspective on pertinent issues.
Relationship Development with External Entities Strategically fostering relationships with external stakeholders such as the Island Railway Corridor, the Ministry of Transportation and Highways, and the Capital Regional District, marked a significant achievement. These partnerships were instrumental in creating a comprehensive approach to encampment remediation, with shared goals and collective resources contributing to a more effective response.
Brad Cameron, Bylaw Enforcement Officer
Director of Protective Services’ Comments: 2023 was a busy year for all Divisions within Protective Services. Recognizing that this past May, we realized our 75th Anniversary as an organized Fire Department. Much has changed in 75 years, and with that saw the organization of our career staff into the International Association of Firefighters union. Our volunteer component also realized another year of change and growth as we continue to transition to 24/7 coverage and keep up with increasing response and training demands.
Working with our partners in Colwood and Langford we are launching a new integrated fire protection model in January 2024. Firstly, alignment of response logics which will realize the deployment of up to sixteen on duty firefighters to all reported structural fires in the Westshore, followed by logics that will justify adequate staffing resources to high-risk emergencies and specialty calls. These adjustments have been in the planning and refinement since 2020 and we are excited to see it go live in early 2024. Additional initiatives that will share paid on call staff between the communities, deployment, and scheduling of Westshore Chief Officers, followed by aligning fleet and equipment resources to better represent the needs of the Westshore and offer financial savings to all three municipalities.
Retention of paid on call members continues to stress the overall dynamic of the department. Several career departments on the Island and mainland have had unprecedented hirings in 2022-23, with several of our paid-on call staff leaving the organization. In 2024, we will begin a process where applications for paid on call will be accepted from Sooke to Sidney and north to Duncan for fully trained and qualified applicants. By expanding our recruitment options, we can attract trained personnel, limiting both time and the financial burden on the Town, as well allowing full roster and personnel who can staff night shifts within a month or two from hire.
The Town, although small geographically and in population, is not immune to the issues of the downtown core or other metro areas. 2023 continued to see an upward trend in overdose calls, homeless camp and transient population influxes, and deaths associated with toxic drugs. We continue to pivot and adjust our service delivery models to tackle these ongoing challenges, as well as provide staff with the equipment and training they need to fulfill their duties safely.
Our relationships with both Songhees Nation and Esquimalt Nation remain strong and respectful. Our service contracts were each renewed for 5-year terms and we look forward to many more years of providing parallel service to these communities.
As always, progression as an organization is attained through the support of Mayor and Council. January 2024 marks my 40th year at View Royal Fire and my 19th as your Fire Chief. My success and this departments growth is directly related to your support and trust in my office. Much has changed over those years; however, you have allowed me to perform my duties and give best advice so the residents are well protected. Im looking forward to 2024, with many new initiatives coming forward I see a very bright future its Fire department and the Protective Services Division as a whole.
SUBMITTED BY: Paul Hurst, Fire Chief/Director of Protective Services
REVIEWED BY: Sarah Jones, Acting Chief Administrative Officer
Document Images
(2)
