A7
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: October 11, 1995
File No. APCO.txt
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM: General Manager of Fire & Rescue Services and
Chief Constable
SUBJECT: Grant Request - Association of Public-Safety
Communications Officials (APCO) Conference
RECOMMENDATION
THAT Council approve a grant of $1,500 to the 1995 Association of
Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) Regional Conference
co-hosted by the Vancouver Fire & Rescue and Police Services;
source of funds to be from Contingency Reserve.
COUNCIL POLICY
On December 16, 1993, Council approved the following recommendations
previously approved by the Standing Committee on City Services &
Budgets:
A. THAT Council adopt the following policy guide-lines
governing financial support to local conference in the
form of a City grant:
- that the topic of the conference must be particularly
relevant to the business of the City as a corporation;
- that senior staff, serving in their professional
capacity, are directly involved in the hosting and
organizing of the conference;
- that the financial support be limited to a maximum
contribution of $4.50 per paid delegate, and a maximum
contribution of $5,000;
- that the conference organizers demonstrate that the
conference budget includes a significant level of
financial support from other government or private
sector organizations; and
- that appropriate recognition of the City's financial
and other support be provided in the conference
program.
B. THAT the maximums for paid delegate support ($4.50) and total
support ($5,000) be adjusted annually, commencing in 1994, by
the inflation factor which is used to adjust ceilings on the
City's Other Grants Budgets.
Grant approvals require eight (8) affirmative votes.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this report is to request a grant of $1,500 to assist
Vancouver Police and Fire & Rescue Services with the hosting of the
1995 APCO 25 regional conference in Vancouver on November 21-24, 1995.
BACKGROUND
APCO was founded in the United States more than sixty years ago.
Today the association has more than 12,000 members worldwide and
represents every facet of the public safety communications industry,
including 9-1-1 call takers and dispatchers and the people who design
the hardware and software for emergency systems. Uniform and civilian
members from the Police, Fire & Rescue Services, and the B.C.
Ambulance Service, including many of each department's senior staff,
will be attending the conference.
DISCUSSION
The Canadian Chapter of APCO - International will be holding the
Regional Conference and Trade Show at the Pan Pacific Hotel from
November 21-24, 1995. Participation from both civilian and uniform
members from police, emergency health services and fire departments
from Canada and the Pacific Northwest is expected.
The conference will attract more than three hundred (300) full
registration attendees. An additional 200 to 300 attendees on day
passes and over 45 vendors are also expected. If approved, the grant
provided will be used to offset the program development and event
schedule costs associated with the conference.
A colour program will be produced containing a welcome message from
the Mayor, as well as a full colour picture of the Vancouver skyline.
City attraction, visitor information and acknowledgement of the grant
provided by the City of Vancouver for the conference will also be
included.
Police and Fire senior staff are executive members of APCO involved in
organizing the conference and are participating on a number of event
committees. Many volunteers from the Police, Fire & Rescue Services,
B.C. Ambulance Service and the Greater Vancouver Regional District are
also helping to organize and host the event. The conference is funded
through member registration and vendor fees.
PERSONNEL IMPLICATIONS
The regional APCO conference provides an opportunity for City senior
staff to network with staff from all areas of public-safety service
delivery and communication. The conference also provides and
opportunity to receive up-to-date information from vendors on the
latest advancements in technology used in the industry. Enhancing the
knowledge and understanding of related changes in technology through
workshops, vendor displays and demonstrations is also a primary goal
and an expected benefit to staff participating in the conference.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
There are no financial implications for the City, its employees or
citizens other than the provision of the grant from Contingency
Reserve.
CONCLUSION
Provision of the grant will assist the co-hosts of this annual
conference; allowing them to provide the attendees with a more
comprehensive conference program that will include City of Vancouver
and visitor information; enhancing both the image of the City and the
conference for all participants.
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