Emergency Preparedness and protective services committee

Minutes

Meeting #:

09

Date:

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Time:

9:30 A.m. - 4:30 P.m.

Location:

Champlain Room, 110 Laurier Avenue West, and by electronic participation

Present:

• Councillor Riley Brockington, 
• Councillor David Hill, 
• Councillor Jessica Bradley, 
• Councillor Steve Desroches, 
• Councillor Laura Dudas, 
• Councillor Sean Devine, 
• Councillor Allan Hubley, 
• Councillor Laine Johnson, 
• Councillor Clarke Kelly, 
• Councillor Matt Luloff, 
• and Councillor Stéphanie Plante 

Christopher Zwierzchowski, Committee Coordinator [phone], ext. 21359

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1.

Notices and meeting information for meeting participants and the public

Notices and meeting information are attached to the agenda and minutes, including: availability of simultaneous interpretation and accessibility accommodations; in camera meeting procedures; information items not subject to discussion; personal information disclaimer for correspondents and public speakers; notices regarding minutes; and remote participation details.

Accessible formats and communication supports are available, upon request.

Except where otherwise indicated, reports requiring Council consideration will be presented to Council on February 21, 2024 in Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committee Report 9.

The deadline to register by phone to speak, or submit written comments or visual presentations is 4 pm on February 14, 2024, and the deadline to register to speak by email is 8:30 am on February 15, 2024.

These “Summary Minutes” indicate the disposition of items and actions taken at the meeting. This document does not include all of the text that will be included in the full Minutes, such as the record of written and oral submissions. Recorded votes and dissents contained in the Summary Minutes are draft until the full Minutes of the meeting are confirmed by the Committee. The draft of the full Minutes (for confirmation) will be published with the agenda for the next regular Committee meeting and, once confirmed, will replace this document.

2.

Declarations of Interest

3.

Confirmation of Minutes

3.1

EPPSC Minutes 8 – Thursday 1 December 2023

  

• Carried

4.

Responses to Inquiries

4.1

Bylaw Training Standards

• Received

4.2

Cost of Overdose Response

• Received

5.

Presentations

5.1

Emergency Management Program Update

The presentation was postponed to the March 21st meeting of the Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committee. 

6.

Emergency and Protective Services Department

6.1

Employee Status of Rural Firefighters

File No. ACS2024-EPS-OFS-0002 - City Wide

• Report Recommendations:

  That the Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committee recommend that Council:

  1. Approve the conversion of Ottawa rural firefighters to casual employees with the City of Ottawa, and
  2. Direct staff to take the necessary internal administrative measures, in accordance with HR policies.

  For (10)

  M. Luloff, L. Dudas, R. Brockington, A. Hubley, C. Kelly, L. Johnson, S. Devine, J. Bradley, S. Plante, and S. Desroches

  Carried (10 to 0)

6.2

Enhanced False Fire Alarm Strategy

File No. ACS2024-EPS-OFS-0001 - City Wide

• Report Recommendations:

  That the Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committee recommend that Council:

  1. Approve the proposed amendments to the Fees and Charges for Ottawa Fire Services By-law (No. 2020-195) to include fees for false fire alarms, in the general form set out in Document 1, and as described in this report;
  2. Approve the addition of two full-time equivalents in Ottawa Fire Services to administer and enforce the new false alarm strategy, to be funded on a cost-recovery basis from the proposed fees, as further described in this report; and
  3. Direct staff to evaluate and report back to the Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committee and Council on the effectiveness of the False Fire Alarm Strategy at the end of a 3-year period.
  Carried

6.3

Status Update on Towing and Storage Regulations and Provincial Regime

File No. ACS2024-EPS-PPD-0001 - City Wide

• Report Recommendations:

  That the Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committee recommend that Council approve the following amendments to the Licensing By-law (By-law 2002-189, as amended) in light of the implementation of the Towing and Storage Safety Enforcement Act, 2021 by the Province of Ontario:

  1. Repeal relevant definitions, subsections 9 (35), (36), and (37), and Schedule No. 35 (relating to Tow Service Operators, Tow Truck Drivers, and Vehicle Storage Operators), as described in this report;
  2. Repeal Section 21 of Schedule No.3, relating to Public Garages, with respect to the storage of stored vehicles, as described in this report; and
  3. Amend Schedule No.30 to continue to prohibit licensed Private Parking Enforcement Agencies from providing towing services, as described in this report.
  Carried

7.

Office of the City Clerk

7.1

Status Update – Emergency Preparedness and Protective ServicesCommittee Inquiries and Motions for the period ending 6 February 2024

File No. ACS2024-OCC-CCS-0014 - City Wide

• Report Recommendation

  That the Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committee receive this report for information.

  Received

8.

In Camera Items

There were no In-Camera items.

9.

Notices of Motions (For Consideration at Subsequent Meeting)

9.1

Motion - Councillor S. Plante - Problematic Properties Webpage

• Moved by S. Plante

  WHEREAS there has been an increase in the number of problematic occupied and unoccupied properties in Ottawa; and

  WHEREAS these properties generate frequent complaints and safety concerns which negatively impact the surrounding communities such as vacant properties, property standards and property maintenance violations, waste and debris, pests, and other nuisances; and

  WHEREAS the City of Edmonton developed a Problematic Properties webpage to help residents navigate these types of complaints or concerns and Ottawa residents could also benefit from access to similar information;

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT staff explore the feasibility of creating a Problematic Property page on the City of Ottawa website which includes the definition of what is and what isn’t a problematic property, a link to 311 and other resources, a flowchart to assist communities, and a list of departments involved in a problematic property. 

10.

Inquiries

There were no inquiries.

11.

Other Business

There was no Other Business.

12.

Adjournment

Next Meeting 

21 March 2024

The meeting adjourned at 11:23 am.