PERIOD REPORT
DATE: January 27, 2025 Report No. CSS-25-001
TO: Dan Horan, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Joel Clary, Director of Engineering & Public Works
SUBJECT:TITLECommunity Safety Services Department - 2024 Third Period Report
Body
The following is a report on the activities pertaining to the Community Safety Services Department from September 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024. The Director of Community Safety Services position remains vacant due to the unplanned extended absence and subsequent retirement of the incumbent. The responsibilities of this role remain shared between the Director of Engineering and Public Works (bylaw and building inspections), the Manager of Economic Development (business licencing), Fire Chief (emergency management), and the Chief Administrative Officer (Public Safety Building, policing and emergency management).
I. DIVISION ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACTIVITIES
1. Bylaw Enforcement
• Bylaw Offence Notice Disputes
In this period, 17 BONs were referred to the screening officer level. Of those, 13 were cancelled and 4 were upheld for payment. No matters were referred for adjudication.
Bylaw Contraventions and Complaints, BONs and Animal Management Report [Attachment #1]
• Dog Licensing
During the third period, 56 licenses were sold:14 from Municipal Hall, 31 from vendors and 11 online. In 2024, 1651 tags were sold: 652 from Municipal Hall, 420 from vendors and 579 online.
Renewals were sent out on November 29th, with the option to renew dog licenses online through MyEsquimalt. Dog licenses can be renewed in several ways:
o Purchase at the Municipal Hall in person
o By mail
o Online through MyEsquimalt
o Purchase through Victoria Animal Control Services
o Purchase at Castle Building Centre in Victoria West and Shoppers Drug Mart in Esquimalt
• Deer Study
The cameras continue to sample deer relative abundance and fawn occurrence across the Township and DND lands. The project team is currently tagging the camera data for this period. There were no new boosters for Fall 2024 as the project team allowed the previously administered time-release IC to do its job.
The grant funding previously received is funding one post-doctoral researcher, one master’s student, a few technicians, and Dr. Fisher to continue working on the project. The project team is analyzing 2023 data and expect to add 2024 data in early Spring 2025. The team is working on completing a full analysis of the data for Fall 2025. Dr. Fisher recommends a presentation to Council at that time to present the results and discuss what they mean.
2. Building Inspections/Permits
• The third period of 2024 resulted in a significant decrease in demand for permits compared with the third period of 2023. The total value of construction in the third period of 2024 was $4.6 million compared with $39.7 million in the third period of 2023. Similar to construction values, the permit fees are showing a decrease, with $55,000 in the third period of 2024 compared to $363,000 for the third period of 2023.
• Attachments
Building Permits Chart [Attachment #2]
3. Policing
• Invitations to engage with potential partner police agencies (RCMP, Saanich PD, VicPD) were sent in fall 2024. Awaiting confirmation of potential exploration of shared services models that could support a new policing model in Esquimalt.
4. Public Safety Building
• The construction phase of the Public Safety Building began in June 2024. As of mid-January 2025, the construction phase is proceeding on schedule and on-budget. No further issues or concerns to report.
II. COMMITTEES
• No Community Safety Services Staff currently sit on any Council appointed committees.