Bill MacKay, Gloucester Towing thanked the Board for allowing him to speak. He felt the biggest problem with the towing contract was the lack of input from the industry. He did not blame the police as they wouldn’t have known who to contact. Mr. MacKay indicated that by the time the next contract is tendered, there will be an association in place to represent approximately 90% of the towing companies in Ottawa-Carleton. He re-iterated that the towing industry wants to be involved in the preparation of the next contract. He feared there would be abuses under the newly awarded contract. Mr. MacKay asked for the Board’s support in starting the dialogue with Police, adding the industry is prepared to have a committee in place to meet with the Police at their convenience. He noted that under the current contract, all three towing companies are within the greenbelt and that this will also affect the dealerships, bodyshops and mechanics in outlying areas.

Dan Dion, Dan’s Towing also thanked the Board for allowing him to speak. He indicated that though the contract stipulates it can be terminated at any time, he is not asking the Board to cancel it. He asked that the contract be modified to exclude rural areas until the next contract is tendered when the towing industry could be involved. He noted the contracts in urban areas had been extended twice and asked for the same consideration.

Chair Vice supported the idea of the towing industry establishing an association to represent them in the future. He stressed the Board has not had any discussions or made any decisions regarding future contracts.

1. National Capital Alliance on Race Relations presentation

Ruben Friedman, President, stated NCARR is a non-profit, community based umbrella organization whose mandate is to improve understanding, respect and communication between ethnic groups, institutions and the public. NCARR’s primary strengths are the promotion of equality and the combating of racism. Mr. Friedman indicated one of the best examples of community partnership is the Police Minority Youth Program. The Program is closely monitored by an NCARR Co-ordinator who acts as a liaison between the students, their supervisors and the police employment co-ordinator. In the summer of 1995, NCARR introduced a series of workshops as part of the training for participating students. The workshops focused on alternative dispute resolution, anger and stress management, understanding the work of the bias crimes unit, race and the justice system and the changing culture of policing. Mr. Friedman believed everyone benefits from this program because it helps break down barriers between ethno-racial youths and the police. Approximately 10% of the program’s youth participants have chosen careers in policing. NCARR’s goal is to continue the partnership with the police; they are therefore requesting that the Board consider including a budget line item to finance the salaries of future participants.

Councillor Holmes agreed the Police Minority Youth Program has been a great success. She wondered if NCARR considered it its mandate to monitor how well the Police Service reflects the community in terms of employment equity.

Henry Pau, Employment Equity Chair, indicated NCARR has concentrated its employment equity efforts on the federal public service because of limited resources and the fact that the federal government is the single largest employer in the National Capital area.

Vice Chair Bouwers moved the Board receive the report and direct staff to review the financial cost and feasibility of NCARR’s request.

Chair Vice wished to confirm the amount of money being requested. Mr. Friedman indicated the cost would be $3,000 to $4,000 per student for a total of approximately $12,000.

That the Ottawa-Carleton Police Services Board receive this report for information.

RECEIVED

3. Award of Tender for Police Vehicles

- Chief’s report dated 21 Oct 97

Member Baskerville noted the report indicates that only the Chevrolet Lumina was considered in this tender and he wondered why other models had not been considered. He also requested clarification on the lease versus buy option and how the purchase would be financed. Deputy Chief Mackie explained that because Ford is discontinuing the LTD it was felt this could cause problems for replacement in the future. The Lumina is being offered as a new police package.

D. Frazer, Director of Financial Services, re-iterated the market is shrinking in terms of police packages. The department felt this was a perfect opportunity to test other package options. She stated the Lumina was tested and meets the provincial guidelines for a medium size police vehicle. It has been upgraded to a V6, 3.8L engine, and meets all the power requirements for a police vehicle. With respect to the lease versus buy financing, she assumed the Region would finance the purchase on the Police Services’ behalf and the debt would be repaid over a three-year period. She explained the differences between the two options, noting the purchase option provides a salvage value in that it allows the possibility of selling the vehicles after three years.

Councillor Kreling questioned the benefits of buying versus leasing in terms of warranties. D. Frazer indicated the warranties are comparable however, buying has an advantage in case of vehicle damage.

4. AWARD OF CONTRACT: FORENSIC IDENTIFICATION LAB

- Chief’s report dated 22 Oct 97

Regional Chair Clark thought that the Regional Police had taken over policing from the RCMP in some areas in exchange for the use of their forensic lab and wondered why staff are now proposing to build a facility at 474 Elgin Street. Deputy Chief Mackie explained the laboratory at the Canadian Police College performs a different function than the existing one at 474 Elgin Street. The laboratory at 474 Elgin is used for day-to-day operations such as finger-printing, forensic investigations of motor scenes, vehicle recoveries and break and enters. There are presently health and safety concerns with respect to some of the chemicals used. Only specialized identification requests such as DNA and firearms testing are sent to the RCMP forensic lab. Chair Vice clarified the two laboratories perform different functions.

Member Baskerville inquired about the funds being transferred from another account to pay for this project. He wanted reassurance this was not being done at the expense of other functions. D. Frazer assured the Board the funds from the other account were true savings.

5. uniform complement increase

- OPP Inspector L. Beechey’s report dated 20 Oct 97

Inspector Beechey stated his report was prepared in response to the Board’s earlier request for a workload assessment. The assessment was done in accordance with OPP Contract Policing guidelines, and the figures are those that would have been included in any regular policing contract at this time. The assessment concludes that six officers should be added to the Kanata staffing complement and one to Goulbourn Township.

If the request is supported by the Board, Inspector Beechey stated he will proceed to ask the OPP Contract Policing to attach a monetary figure to the complement increase.

Chair Vice noted all members of the Board had received a copy of a memorandum from Regional Councillor A. Munter requesting the Board’s support for the additional officers.

In response to a question from Member Baskerville, Inspector Beechey estimated the new positions would have a financial impact of approximately $530,000 on the 1998 budget.

Regional Chair Clark noted that prior to amalgamation, Kanata had a fairly high vacancy rate yet the City did not increase the complement during its five year contract with the OPP, probably due to limited resources. Since the Region assumed responsibility for policing, staffing levels have improved. He referenced the high level of new activity in the area with the Corel Centre, the expanding high tech industry, and a steadily increasing population, and believed the demands of new growth must be met.

While he acknowledged the 1998 budget deliberations would not be easy, he felt the Inspector’s request was supportable and believed there must be adequate resources to handle the problems. At the same time, he recognized the need to balance demand for police services with available dollars. He moved that the report be approved.

Moved by P. Clark

6. ENDORSEMENT OF CAPB RESOLUTIONS ON CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND PROSTITUTION

- Board Secretary’s report dated 20 Oct 97

7. CAPB Response to National Police Services Consultation Document

- Board Secretary’s report dated 22 Oct 97

8. REGULAR REPORT FROM THE CHIEF AND OPP INSPECTOR

- verbal update from Chief B. Ford and Inspector L. Beechey

Inspector L. Beechey reported that on 26 September, 53 OPP Officers had their heads shaved at the Corel Centre to raise money for Cancer. They were successful in raising $35,000. Approximately 40 of the officers were from the Ottawa-Carleton Region.

Deputy Chief Mackie reported on the following:

That the Ottawa-Carleton Police Services Board receive this report for information.

IN CAMERA

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT