ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: July 8, 2002
Author/Local: Ron Martin/7291

RTS No. 02857

CC File No. 3601

Council: July 30, 2002

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	Director of Risk and Emergency Management
SUBJECT:	Use of Closed Circuit Television for Emergency Management

RECOMMENDATION

That Council approve the expansion of the existing portable closed circuit television system for emergency management purposes in the City of Vancouver at a cost of approximately $100,000; source of funding to be achieved through asset disposal and reallocation of resources.

GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

The General Manager of Corporate Services RECOMMENDS approval of the foregoing.

COUNCIL POLICY

There is no applicable Council policy.

PURPOSE

The Director of Risk and Emergency Management is seeking approval for the expansion of use of portable closed circuit televisions for event/incident management.

BACKGROUND

A portable closed circuit television camera system has been used in the City for the last four years. The City currently owns and operates a portable camera system that can transmit a video signal to the Emergency Operations Centre and is used for event/incident management. The primary anticipated uses are crowd control and traffic management.
The inaugural use of the system occurred during the Prime Minister's visit to the Hyatt Regency Hotel in the fall of 1999. The portable camera system is currently used during major events for crowd/traffic control and to enhance public safety. The camera can also be deployed to the scene of major incidents to allow senior departmental staff and technical experts to monitor the situation for planning and response purposes.

During the Celebration of Light fireworks display the camera system was instrumental in saving the lives of two citizens who suffered critical stab wounds. BC Ambulance Service personnel confirmed that the stabbing victims would have died without the assistance afforded by camera directed access to the scene.

DISCUSSION

Risk and Emergency Management proposes expansion of the current single camera system by up to four additional portable camera units. The proposal would include upgrading of the existing transmission system to facilitate additional cameras and transmission of video signal to the Vancouver Emergency Operations Centre as required.

While the principal purposes of the camera system are crowd control and traffic management during major events or at critical incident sites, the system would also be available City-wide for special projects such as traffic flow surveys.

The camera units are portable and can be moved as specific needs arise.

SOCIAL IMPACT

The proposed use of the camera system will enhance public safety and maximize the City's ability to respond in the event of a major incident.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The cost of expanding the portable camera system will be approximately $100,000.00.

The initiative will be funded through the disposal of redundant Emergency Management material assets and reallocation of existing resources.

Annual operating and deployment costs will be borne departmentally or through the special events process when the equipment is required for these purposes.

CONCLUSION

This proposal was referred to the Emergency Management Committee for concurrence prior to bringing it to Council for consideration. For public safety and enhanced emergency management reasons, we are requesting that Council approve the expansion of the existing portable closed circuit television camera system.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver