Hamilton Police Services Board
May 16, 2005
4 p.m. at Hamilton Central Station

PRESENT

• Bernie Morelli  -   Chairman
• Mark Nimigan  -   Vice-Chair                                                
• Karen Cimba                                                                      
• Murray Ferguson                      
• Sheila Jaggard                                          
• Jane Mulkewich             

Also PRESENT

• Chief Brian Mullan
• Deputy Chief Tom Marlor
• Deputy Chief Ken Leendertse

Absent with regrets

• Larry Di Ianni

Declarations of Interest & Approval of Minutes of April 18th meeting without concern.

Presentation of Chief's P.R.I.D.E. AWARD - for extraordinary service outside the usual parameters of Police employee duty - was on the Agenda but postponed since the Recipient had to be out of town.

Report following fully covers all items on Agenda.  Information Items abbreviated - may be expanded later.

While the Fortification By-Law was last on basic agenda - it will be dealt with first, due to it`s importance.

FORTIFICATION OF LAND BY-LAW ..... INFORMATION...PROPOSAL: Carried

There is a need for a City by-law, as developed and in use by other municipalities - notably London - to prevent "bunker-style" fortification of buildings such as the Hell`s Angels Clubhouse here in Hamilton.

In 2002, Ontario amended the Municipal Act to give municipalities the power to prohibit excessive fortification of lands within the municipality; soon after other municipalities did just that. The Hamilton Police Service has been working with the Planning and Development Dept in respect to such a by-law. However - the  BY-LAW WAS NEVER ENACTED or EVEN PRESENTED TO COUNCIL !

This legislation was deemed necessary by the Province for the protection and safety of municipalities and Hamilton's Emergency Services believe such a by-law is needed for the safety, efficiency and law enforcement of the City's Fire, Ambulance & Police Services. Property Standards and Health standards by-laws also involved.

In an emergency situation excessive fortification may interfere with emergency services entering abutting property.

The proposed by-law would naturally exempt financial institutions, detention centres, lands owned &/or operated by Police Service, R.C.M.P., National Defence OR  property owned by the City. (This last "CITY" EXEMPTION is interesting and when the by-law actually reaches the Planning Committee it must be examined.)

Proposed by-law also takes into account commercial/institutional/industrial businesses needing excessive fortification or protection (eg. jewellery store or data centre.)

Following unsuccessful efforts with the Planning & Development Department - the Police Service has been working closely with John Lelane, Manager, Building and Construction, for the City of Hamilton.  It has been concluded that a by-law similar to or as that enacted successfully by the City of London should be put in place.

The Board accepted this Information and supported Chief Brian Mullan "proposing that this matter be moved forward to City Council, so such a By-Law can be enacted to promote public safety and to support the safety of law enforcement officials."

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM - Renewal - RECOMMENDATION:  Carried

For the info of those who know about these plans - and for the enlightenment of those not stressed enough in work to need such a plan - a bit of information:

Board required to pay (round figures): $4200/month or $50,000/year for the 1 year extension of this now into 3rd year with Family Guidance Group Inc.

Cost based on monthly fee of $3.34 per employee and an 8% Utilization Rate. Service provided to approx 1200 families, including retirees.

Cost for workshops, seminars & critical incident training charged at hrly rate. Critical incident responses included with the basic rate.  Option of a 4th year to April `07

More Legal & Background info available.

CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP - EXTENSION OF SAFETY BEETLE PROGRAM  -       RECOMMENDATION : Carried

VW Canada & Hamilton VW provides Police Service with a (painted&with lights) 2001 VW Beetle for use at events, school education sessions etc.

Annual Lease - now $3180 per year/ $265 per month,  when this would usuallylease for $400/month - has been covered by the Ancaster Lions Club since 2001.

Vehicle maintenance responsibility of Police Service.  Probable that it will be purchased outright by Police Service next year. More Legal & Background info available.

PURCHASE of AUTOMATIC VEHICLE LOCATOR (AVL) / GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS)  -      RECOMMENDATION : Carried

An excellent/needed method of monitoring position of Police Cars via an icon superimposed on mapping of City to postion car requesting aid and simultaneously

find and alert other available cars/officers closest to those in need. Certainly both a matter of greater safety and efficiency.

Sole-source purchase of a NICHE/Bell AVL / GPS Solution at cost of $170,000 when originally they had budgeted $270,000 for system meeting city needs .         Hamilton Police Service currently using Bell 1X  Network on their laptops in cruisers, providing excellent coverage within community. Service also uses the

Intergraph Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) System. Bell & Intergraph partnered to provide this cost effective AVL / GPS service.

No Operating Costs, no matter what the usage as Service has unlimited use of the Bell Network.

Installation of system to 120 marked Uniform Patrol Units will be done primarily by Police Service Radio Technician with minor  installation by Intergraph .          Questions asked of Deputy Chief Marlor, who steered this search & purchase, revealed that -

1. the union membership is fully onside with this tracking system, not concerned this will be used as Big Brother Watching You
2. GPS has been considered for Hamilton`s 2 Police Boats but as yet not able to blend the icons on street maps with the marine latitude & longtitude elements.

Marlor when meeting with other City Departments that Hamilton Emergency Services - (Ambulance) & Emergency Medical Services (EMS) plan to implement

AVL / GPS within the next 24 months. Thus the Police Service will give updates to Ambulance on this System with hopes it meets their needs

INFORMATION ITEMS -

1.  Quarterly (Jan-Mar) Police Communications` Activity Report - summary of service level for phone calls received into Communications (Avg Ans Time 8-10 secs)  - response time for dispatched calls for Priority 1, life threatening or a death (Avg on Site Time 8.6 mins)
2. Mediation Pilot Project  - more later       
3. Police Auction Sale - more later
4. E-Mail from Councillor Merulla (Ward 4) commending Hamilton Police Service for the noticeable increased vigilance throughout the City
5. plus E-mails e) to r)    -  of thanks & commendation from individuals, service clubs and associations noting particular Officers, the Chief or a Deputy Chief or from another police service with thanks for aid in an investigation, or from Cdn Assoc of Police Boards re upcoming Conference.

More details available in some cases.  

Report prepared by John Hawker.