2018 Annual Report

Annual Report 2018 44 OBJECTIVE STRATEGY MEASURE PROGRESS 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 2018 implementation of the Homelessness Action Plan included: - expedited zoning for 92 "Housing First" units with high supports and a 20 bed youth treatment centre. Capital and operational funding for the 92 units is provided through the Province's Rapid Response to Homelessness Initiative. Contributed $700,000 plus fee waivers (approximately $1 million in fees). The 20 bed youth treatment centre will be operated by PCRS with funding from Fraser Health. These projects open in 2018. - establishment of an Integrated Case Management (ICM) Team to support Housing First, funded by the Province and operated by Fraser Health in conjunction with Rain City Housing. - $109,400 in development fee waivers for Chilliwack Society for Community Living and the Salvation Army Modular Shelter, providing affordable housing for adults with developmental disabilities and increasing the number of year round emergency shelter beds from 11 to 68. - $30,000 contribution to the Housing Hub pilot project, to help people acquire and retain affordable rental housing. - expedited zoning for the Paramount Project proposed by Chilliwack Community Services. The City and CEPCO have committed contribution of two sites in the downtown, contingent on provincial funding. - continued work with local service providers to develop second stage housing for youth. - ongoing support of Chilliwack Healthier Community has resulted in increased coordination of outreach services, continued landlord engagement, development of a mental wellness guide, work towards a poverty reduction action plan, a seniors services expo, increased collaboration with First Nations service providers. 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. Bylaw Enforcement, private security and RCMP conduct proactive daily foot patrols to promote a visible presence in the downtown business areas and parks. Maintain an adequate number of police officers, consistent with provincial averages. Police to population. Funded 5 new members for 2018. 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 5 additional members for 2018 and 19 members over the past 4 years. Improve traffic education. Fund and support the Safer City initiative working in cooperation with RCMP and ICBC. Public Safety Specialist created and managed initiatives with Safer City partners focusing on motorists, pedestrians and cyclists in an effort to reduce local crash statistics and broaden road safety knowledge.