CAO Update
A report from the Chief Administrative Officer providing operational updates on town landscaping, new parks equipment, GIS data collection initiatives, and Fire Department staffing and vaccinations.
Report to Committee of the Whole
Re: CAO Update Meeting Date: June 8, 2021
As part of the Town’s vehicle and equipment replacement program, Parks has taken delivery of a new 2021 John Deere tractor to replace the 2007 John Deere tractor. In staying with the John Deere brand, the Town is able to use its existing John Deere attachments; the weight box, pallet forks, snow thrower and sweeper wheel. Just like all new vehicles, the changes in fifteen years have provided the Town with a nice upgrade to its fleet.
This month, GIS was used to support a few different data collection efforts. Using the Collector app, staff were able to collect inspection data in the field, which is automatically uploaded to the Town’s servers. Collecting this information using the Collector app is faster and easier than using paper inspection forms and the information is instantly available for digital viewing and analysis. This is particularly useful for staff (student work processes) who use these tools to collect large amounts of information. Among the things inspected were:
- streetlights and service boxes;
- CMP culverts;
- sidewalks; and
- sewer/drain features.
New this month is a feature to help with mail-out notifications. In the new Admin/Finance viewer there is a tool that allows staff to create buffers of different sizes around properties and identify surrounding properties that fall within the radius. The tool will then generate mail-out labels with the names and addresses of the owners of these properties. This tool makes it easier for staff to get this information on-demand without needing to ask for help from someone who is trained in GIS.
Protective Services:
The Fire Department remains busy as restrictions are beginning to lift province wide. A comprehensive restart plan has been presented to the membership in conjunction with the Province’s guidelines. The Fire Department restart will see the resumption of public access to the Public Safety Building, fire inspections, station tours and full departmental meetings and drills.
The Fire Department is in the process of hiring two firefighters. It is anticipated that the positions will commence in mid-July.
The Fire Chief has met extensively with CRD regarding Thetis Lake and the proposed Thetis Lake Park Emergency Response Services Cost Recovery Bylaw. As a result of these meetings, the Town has agreed to suspend the bylaw due to the CRD committing to full-time Park Ranger and Bylaw Enforcement in the Park for summer months. As well, Westshore RCMP and the Fire Department will have dedicated patrols and a marine presence on scheduled days in the summer.
As of May 1, 2021, the Department achieved 100% vaccination for COVID-19 and members are being scheduled for and receiving their second doses.
July 4, 2021 will be the official start of the new stipend overnight shift schedules. This new program, modelled after the COVID-19 staffing model, will result in a minimum of four firefighters on duty in the station twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. We have already seen a significant reduction in response times to fires, increase in drill hours, and overall improvement in departmental operations. Under this model, on-duty firefighters will be in the community performing company fire inspections and pre-planning duties.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT the report dated June 2, 2021 from the Chief Administrative Officer titled “CAO Update” be received for information.
SUBMITTED BY: K. Anema, Chief Administrative Officer