ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: June 8, 1995
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM: Directors, Risk and Emergency Management Division for
Emergency Management Committee (General Managers of
Engineering Services, Fire & Rescue Services, Parks and
Recreation, Chief Constable and City Manager)
SUBJECT: Emergency Planning Coordination
RECOMMENDATION
THAT the Director of Legal Services be authorized to execute
the agreement with the GVRD for the delivery of an emergency
planning coordination service to member municipalities, at a
cost of $23,182 to Vancouver for 1995.
CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The City Manager notes that the program recommended in this
report was recommended to the GVRD Board by the Regional
Administrative Advisory Committee, and received strong
support from the Board. Most municipalities have now
approved the program.
The City Manager RECOMMENDS approval of the foregoing.
COUNCIL POLICY
In 1990, Council identified Emergency Preparedness as one of the
City's seven corporate priorities and supported the continuation
of an expanded work program in this area.
PURPOSE OF REPORT
This report provides information on the proposed regional
emergency planning coordination program, and recommends its
approval.
BACKGROUND
Over a number of years, the municipalities, through the GVRD,
have requested that the Province take on additional
responsibilities related to emergency response in the region.
Recently, after discussions between a RAAC subcommittee and the
Deputy Attorney General, the Province has agreed to participate
in a provincial-regional liaison committee to set priorities for
emergency planningactivities involving both the Province and the
municipalities. With this assurance, and advice from the GVRD on
required staff resources at the region, RAAC reported to the GVRD
Board recommending approval of the temporary appointment of a
support person for the municipal representatives on the liaison
committee. This individual would help to set the agenda; work
with the municipalities to develop municipal input; and
coordinate working groups responding to the agreed priorities.
The GVRD Board approved the following resolution:
"That the emergency planning program outlined in the report
of the Regional Administrative Advisory Committee (RAAC) and
the resource requirements identified in the Regional
Manager's report be approved, and:
- that staff be directed to take the steps necessary to
enter into agreement to provide an emergency planning
coordination service to member municipalities under
Section 816.1 of the Municipal Act;
- that expenditures of up to $65,000 be approved for
emergency planning in 1995."
The GVRD has now written the City Clerk attaching a proposed
agreement, and requesting that the matter be brought before
Council.
DISCUSSION
The report submitted by RAAC to the GVRD Board indicated a number
of areas where emergency preparedness in the region could be
significantly improved. In particular, the report noted that the
Province would be a major responder in a disaster, yet the
mechanisms to coordinate the provincial and municipal emergency
response were largely undeveloped. In addition, coordination
between municipalities themselves on such issues as maintaining
transportation routes, public communications in an emergency, and
public education would benefit from coordinated planning.
Provincial emergency program officials were generally in
agreement with the concerns raised. In discussions between the
RAAC subcommittee and provincial staff, including the Deputy
Minister, Ministry of the Attorney-General, the Province agreed
to support a liaison committee with senior regional staff. In
general, the role of the Committee would be to identify priority
intergovernmental emergency issues, establish a work program, and
set up intergovernmental work groups to establish suitable plans
and linkages which could be activated in an emergency.
Mr. Ben Marr, the Manager of the GVRD, was a member of the RAAC
subcommittee. Mr. Marr identified the resources -- one person,
with part time support staff -- which the region would require to
support the liaison committee. RAAC prepared a report
recommending the program for a two year period, which the GVRD
Board approved, leading to this recommendation to Council. A
more extensive description of the service to be provided by the
GVRD to the municipalities is attached as an Appendix to this
report.
The contract is for 1995 only, though renewal for 1996 and at
least part of 1997 will be requested. The cost to Vancouver for
1995 will be $23,182, and approximately double that amount for
the full year in 1996. An assessment of the program will be
conducted in late 1996. The contract itself is similar in form
to those which the City has entered into previously for regional
services under Section 816 of the Municipal Act.
CONCLUSION
Coordinated planning with the Province is essential for effective
emergency planning and preparedness in the region. The City's
Emergency Management Committee strongly supports approval of this
contract.
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