PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT FOR NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2016

Protective Services & Community Services Report

TO: Committee of the Whole DATE: January 4, 2017 FROM: Paul Hurst, Director of Protective Services MEETING: January 10, 2017

PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT FOR NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2016

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.
• The department is currently reviewing plans and attending meetings with municipal staff and developers on several projects.
• The department delivered 4 presentations to preschool groups totaling 48 children and 22 adults.
• During this period no fire investigations were performed.
• During this period the department held the following Fire Prevention Activities:
  1. BST Course, Camosun College The department was asked to developed and present fire safety information as part of the curriculum for Camosun College’s Basic Security Training (BST) course. This course is required for persons in the security field to gain provincial licensing. The department was asked to do this because of our history and work in helping develop VGH Fire Security. The course was well received.
  2. PARTY Program, November 17th On November 17th the department participated in its second 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.

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

Robert G. Marshall, Fire Prevention Officer

Training Division:

• 6 Members completed initial Red Cross First Responder Training
• 12 Members attended one day course on Auto Extrication and New Car Technology
• 1 Member completed Fire Service Instructor Level 1
• 10 Members completed a two day Pumps and Pumping course through the JIBC
• 7 Members attended a one night and two day Nozzles Forward course with Esquimalt Fire on advanced hose handling tactics
• Additional 1001 training continues on Monday evenings, two written and three practical exams were completed this training period
• 33 Members attended annual Santa Drive Around collecting over $3500 in cash and approximately 2000 LBS. of food.

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:
  • Neighbourhood Damage Assessment Program (Working Group)
  • LGEPAC (x2)
  • Evacuation Planning WG
  • VIR Seasonal Readiness (November Storms)
  • First Nations Emergency Management (Songhees) (X2)
  • EP Fair Meeting
  • CRD Water Vulnerability Assessment Workshop
• Emergency Preparedness Workshop – 13 members of public attended
• Cindy Heslop (DEPC) remains on LOA for medical reasons. An interim replacement is currently being put in place.
• Participated in online campaign “Get Your Kit Together”.
• 1 grants submissions from ESS to CREAN accepted. Total $200. 1 grant submission denied ($500 from RCMP Community Safety)
• Reviewed emergency container with Shoreline School Administration
• Inventory update and cleanup of Eagle View Emergency Container
• Finalized driving policy for EP Volunteers
• Water Main Break TCH – managed at ICP level including internal and external Info

Emergency Program Training:

• Information Officer: 4 Staff
• HRVA: 1 Staff
• Emergency Preparedness Conference Vancouver – 3 ESS
• Resource Acquisition – 1 ESS

Emergency Support Services:

The ESS team had no callouts this reporting period. Two monthly meetings were held and were well attended. Two new volunteers were recruited. Additional activities are as follows:

• ESS Annual Dinner. Seven members received their 5 year Public Safety Lifeline Volunteers pins from the Province
• Work parties to assemble and organize ESS Bins
• ESS Planning meeting held (ESSD’s)
• Regional ESSD Meeting in Langford
• ESSD”s attended Colwood EP Meeting

Emergency Communications Team:

• Net controller, Inter-municipal net
• 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

Pre-fire Planning/ Mapping/Fire Dispatch Services/ Hydrants:

Two new pre-fire plans were completed and several existing pre-fire plans were updated in the last two months.

The department has initiated a project to install signage on all buildings with fire department connections (FDCs). These signs will assist the fire department in quickly locating FDCs in an emergency, determining the water-based protection systems they supply (e.g. sprinklers and standpipes) as well as the required water pressure to supply to the FDC. To date, signs have been installed on 40% of all buildings with fire department connections, including the Eagle Creek and Admirals Walk shopping centres. It is anticipated that signs will be installed on the remaining buidings by June 2017.

The fire department has not made any changes to its map books and digital maps because its maps are currently up to date and accurate. New map books will need to be produced in 2017 when the Town issues official address notices for several new subdivision developments that are currently under way.

View Royal Fire continues to work with Saanich Fire Dispatch to manage any issues with dispatch services.

David Brown, Pre-planner

Building Department:

The months of November and December saw typical numbers for inspections and plan checks during this time of year. The work load is steady and leaves room to undertake other projects as well as follow up on issued and expiring permits.

Special projects for November included scheduling, arranging estimates and meeting contractors for the upcoming Town Hall Renovation.

During the month of November the Building Official attended a Luncheon Conference locally to gain further knowledge and insight for use of cross laminated timber construction and other green initiative building practices that we will likely see in the not so distant future.

Special projects for December included the Town Hall renovation and working on implementing the new inspection program City Reporter.

In the month of December the Building Official attended an inaugural local Chief Building Officials meeting. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss how the local authorities can better serve the Victoria area with consistencies among the Municipalities. Though there is historically a zone meeting that all Building Officials attend, it was thought that only the senior members would meet to discuss larger issues. It was decided that 3 to 4 meetings annually would best suit everyone. The Building Department looks forward to participating and having an opportunity to represent View Royal.

November Permit Summary

December Permit Summary

Permit Revenue Comparison Chart