2017 Annual Report

40 City of Chilliwack 2017 Annual Report Objectives Measures for 2018/2019 and Progress from 2017 OBJECTIVE STRATEGY MEASURE PROGRESS Increase the number of on‐duty  firefighters to reduce response times  and provide safe and effective  firefighting operations. Increase staffing levels to 4 firefighters on  both Engines 1 and 4 on a 24/7/365 basis. One "flex" firefighter was hired in January 2017. The staff increase provided  an "in‐service" time for Engine 4 of 97% and will provide for a safer, effective  and faster response to incidents south of the freeway.  Increase the quality and quantity of  firefighter training, education and  preparedness. Expand training programs to include  leadership and health and wellness  education for all career and paid‐on‐call  firefighters. Continue to work on the fire  training centre site. Meet or exceed the  competency requirements outlined in the BC  Fire Service Minimum Training Standards  Playbook. Continue to develop more career staff as instructors and increased the use  of contract trainers. On‐site work continues on the fire training centre,  located west of Townsend Park, with 2 new structures and various  firefighting props constructed on the site. Continue to adopt and implement  best practices and industry standards for firefighter training. Continue to  implement competency requirements outlined in the BC Fire Service  Minimum Training Standards Playbook.   Support RCMP initiatives regarding  drugs and drug‐related crime. Health & Safety Team (Fire, Bylaw and  RCMP) work together to close and clean up  residential properties.  Bylaw tickets issued.  In 2016, the Health and Safety Inspection Team (RMCP, Bylaw, Fire  Department & BC Safety Authority) were involved in shutting down 8  controlled substance and marijuana grow operations, conducted 7 medicinal  grow operation inspections and conducted 67 health and safety inspections.  2017 to‐date, the Team were involved in shutting down 4 controlled  substance and marijuana grow operations, conducted 6 inspections of  medicinal grow operations and conducted 70 health and safety insepctions. Increase the health, life and fire safety  in buildings that have been used for  the purpose of marijuana grow  operations. Health & Safety Team (Fire, Bylaw and  RCMP) provide enforcement of Regulatory  Bylaws, including remediation, in buildings  that may have or have had either licenced or  unlicenced marijuana grow operations. Implemented enforcement strategies including the issuance of fines,  building permits and notices on title. Address homeless issues. Develop a Homelessness Action Plan. In 2017, the City provided a total of $1.6 million in development fee waivers  for MQHS and Ruth & Naomi's to increase the number of affordable rental  units for low income households in Chilliwack.  The City also advocated for  increased federal and provincial funding for community partners to provide  homelessness outreach, shelter and housing, and saw increased funding for  outreach, affordable housing retention and shelter bed expansion.  Additional support through Chilliwack Healthier Community has resulted in  increased coordination of outreach services and a landlord strategy.  Support RCMP activities in the  downtown area. Co‐ordinate efforts with the RCMP and the  downtown RCMP station.   Have worked co‐operatively on trouble buildings and hotspots. Addressing  homeless issues. Maintain an adequate number of  police officers, consistent with  provincial averages. Police to population. Funded 10 new members for 2017. Increased funding towards the RCMP  Integrated Teams, and maintained a population to member ratio of under  800.   Support RCMP initiatives regarding  prolific offenders. Crime trends. Chilliwack does have higher case loads per member and has funded 10  additional members for 2017 to address this issue. Improve traffic education. Fund and support the Safer City initiative  working in cooperation with RCMP and ICBC. Public Safety Specialist worked with RCMP and ICBC on programs and  projects to educate motorists, pedestrians and cyclists to reduce accidents  and speed awareness to motorists.  Improve the safety of parks and  public places. Crime Prevention through Environmental  Design (CPTED) principles are applied in park  and public space upgrades. Mobile security patrols continue ‐ 3 patrol vehicles working overnight and 1  additional patrol working during daytime hours to provide 24hr coverage.  Patrols concentrate on downtown core ‐ Central Park, Salish Park, Library.  Night patrols ensure any temporary shelters in parks are removed at the  prescribed time. Patrols prevent the set up of shelters in prohibited  locations. High visibility patrols were conducted throughout the year with  RMCP, Bylaw and contracted security firms to ensure the downtown and  various commercial areas. Support improved coordination  between social agencies in the  community. Support the Chilliwack Healthier Community  partnership. The City continued to provide funding, meeting space and in‐kind staff  support for the Chilliwack Healthier Community Partnership. Active  initiatives include Housing First project development, community awareness  and landlord strategies, mental health in the workplace, First Nations  Cultural Awareness training. Monthly partner events support increased  awareness of programs and networking and coordination amongst agencies. Page 6 of 6 Objectives, Measures & Progress