ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: April 24, 2002
Author/Local: R. Pomeroy

604-922-6677

RTS NO. 02672

CC File No. 3153

Council: April 30, 2002

TO:	City Council
FROM:	General Manager/Fire Chief VFRS
SUBJECT:	Annual Report From Citizens' Advisory Committee To Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services

INFORMATION

The General Manager of Fire & Rescue Services submits this report for INFORMATION.

POLICY

June 22, 1993, approved the recommendation of the City Manager to form a Fire Department Advisory Committee. The Committee would consist of ten people from the community and a representative from Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services.

SUMMARY

The Citizens' Advisory Committee (CAC) was formed by City Council Resolution on June 22, 1993. The first meeting was held on February 9, 1994. In the year that followed, the Committee elected Dr. Tom Ward, Chairperson, developed and adopted terms of reference, met with interested parties, and reviewed important documents relating to the operation of the Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to ensure Council is informed as to the activities and progress of the Citizens' Advisory Committee to the General Manager, Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services over the year 2001.

BACKGROUND

The Citizens' Advisory Committee to Vancouver Fire & Rescue was formed in 1994 and has held monthly meetings from September to June every year since. During the year 2001 the Committee was given a new structure comprising 5 working groups and the meeting format was adapted to incorporate reports from each group. The changes continued through this year and have became a template for the future. The five working groups comprise:

1. Fire Prevention. Working with VF&R to adopt and publicize a clear policy regarding cost effective minimum standards of fire warning and protection.

2. E-Comm. Monitoring progress in completing the facility and putting it into service, maintaining the vision of integrated dispatching and area-wide radio coverage.

3. Budget. Understanding the budget and the budgeting process and the key issues which are associated with each annual budget preparation.

4. Emergency Preparedness. Become familiar with the state of emergency preparedness in the community and its potential impact on the emergency response activities of VF&R.

5. Strategic Planning. Monitor the progress of VF&R in achieving the objectives of the strategic plan and assist where appropriate.

About 1/3 of the meetings in a year are at Number 1 Firehall, with the remainder held at different locations. On a long-term basis the Committee aims to meet at each hall in turn over a period of about three years. An important part of the meetings at the different halls is a presentation, by an officer at the hall, on local facts and special duties performed.

Topics of Interest

A number of issues and topics arise during the course of meetings over a year. During 2001 there were five topics which generated sustained interest and toward which significant efforts were made toward investigation and understanding. Each is summarized below:

Emergency Preparedness. The existence of a working group under this title indicates existing interest, which was sharpened by an article in the Vancouver Sun in early January claiming our preparedness is not being sufficiently exercised with public participation. A minor earthquake in February reinforced this opinion,as many citizens called 911 seeking information. The degree of public confusion around the March tremor led to investigation of two questions: is there a simple slogan (such as stop, look and listen approaching railroad tracks) which should be put forward , and how can the means of disseminating information to the public in times of emergency be improved? The first question proved a difficult one and was put on the back burner. The second has led to contacts with local radio stations and the City's Office of Risk Management, and is ongoing.

E-Comm. The Committee has been dismayed, as have many others in VF&R, at the immense difficulties encountered trying to bring the E-Comm Centre into operation. It was with pleasure the committee followed the introduction of the CAD and its immensely positive impact on those who witnessed its capabilities in action - particularly the sceptics. With a management change and the resolution of some of the labour issues, the news from E-Comm finally began to sound positive. The committee is fully supportive of the move by VF&R dispatch to the E-Comm.

Goals of the Strategic Plan. A number of elements of the Strategic Plan were studied with a view to assessing progress toward accomplishing each goal, and determining how the Committee might assist VF&R in achieving each goal. The goals which received special attention are improved community relations and improved internal communications. Current work is focussed on developing measures of progress toward each goal.

Fire Prevention. Fire Prevention reports to each meeting on issues impacting the community and citizens of Vancouver. Some of the issues of particular interest to the Committee are:
· lock box security problems,
· fire inspector certification by National Fire Protection Association,
· smoke alarms and their proven vital role providing early warning,
· hard wired smoke alarm compliance enforcement in rental suites,
· omega sprinkler head recall concerns,
· sprinkler effectiveness in reducing damage and deaths in rooming houses and hotels,
· upgrade of fire protection equipment in high rise buildings built prior to 1976,
· the schools program,
· the conflict between home security and the need for rapid egress in case of fire.
The cost effective issues around fire prevention by-laws and regulations are well suited to involvement from this committee. Due to a mid-year change in membership some continuity was lost. The Committee considers Fire Prevention to be a major contributor to the effectiveness of VF&R, and places a high priority on continuing and improving its close liaison with Fire Prevention.

.

USAR Team. Failure of the federal government to deploy the highly skilled and motivated Vancouver USAR team to an international disaster site continues to be an immense frustration not only to Team members but also the Committee. The Committee desires to take some constructive action on this issue. Due to time constraints this will be taken up next year.

The committee lost three members over the year. Rob Wood, a new member, took up a new job in Victoria after barely six months, Bruce Busby took up a position in the USA, and Bob Spence unfortunately passed away. A long-serving member, George Desbrisay, retired from the Committee at the end of the year. Four new members, Chris Baisley, Larry Campbell, Jean-Francois Landry and Echo Wang joined in mid December, bringing the Committee back to its full strength of ten members.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND THANKS FROM CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

1. To VF&R for hosting the meetings, making personnel available to support the committee, and working with the Committee to introduce the new Working Groups.

2. To Committee members for stepping forward to take an active role in researching issues and preparing reports for the meetings.

* * * * *

(c) 1998 City of Vancouver