Jan
27
Safety and Policing
Community Resource Office, Constable Mike Russell, presented 2009 statistics for policing in Victoria at the January 2011 meeting of the James Bay Neighbourhood Association (JBNA). He reported that criminal activity in the downtown core has decreased since the 2007 report of the Mayor's Task Force on Breaking the Cycle of Mental Illness, Addictions and Homelessness. He also reported that, overall, BC is experiencing the lowest crime rate in 30 years.
VicPD has about 100 members to deal with issues in Esquimalt (pop 17,500) and Victoria (pop. 79,000 residents). That is 14-20 police workers on patrol at any one time to handle calls for assistance. Approximately 1/3 of all liquor licences in the CRD are in the downtown core. VicPD responded to over 1000 calls in a 10 month period in 2009 between 11pm and 4am. 2/3 of those calls were after 1am.
How can You Help? There are several ways that we can assist one of the busiest police forces in the province.
Report suspicious activities! Sometimes just the appearance of a police car in a neighbourhood can prevent problems.
Lock your car! Auto-related theft is still high in James Bay, although bait cars have reduced these crimes of opportunity by 60% since 2004.
Perhaps the most unexpected way that we can help? Do not abandon 911 calls. An abandoned call occurs when 911 is called in error and the caller hangs up. VicPD must respond in person to that abandoned call if they cannot be assured that the call was made in error. Please answer those follow-up calls from the police and avoid an unnecessary call-out. In 2009 police responded to 260 abandoned calls from James Bay to the 911 emergency service.
Earthquake/Emergency Preparedness
At the December 2010 JBNA meeting Judith Taylor discussed creation of an emergency preparedness network to improve the resiliency of the James Bay neighbourhood to disasters, such as earthquakes.
Watch for more information on this topic soon.
GVHA
The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) has announced the next phase of the cruise ship terminal expansion at Ogden Point. Drilling and blasting of the seabed rock and sediment dredging is scheduled to occur Monday through Saturday from 7am to 7pm, between January 14 and February 28, 2011. The project, which is designed to allow larger cruise ships to berth, has been timed, at the request of Fisheries and Oceans, to occur between fish spawning runs in the area. Marine life will be temporarily moved to the breakwater and then returned to the dredged area at project completion.
Shoal Point
Designer JC Scott presented a proposed change of land use for the commercial areas at Shoal Point. The zoning change would permit offices currently on the 2nd floor to make use of the ground floor.
Parks
The play-sculpture commissioned for Holland Point Park should be installed near the Harrison Yacht pond by the end of February 2011.
City Parks is reconvening the Fisherman's Wharf Park Advisory Committee to review options and alternatives for the Stream Concept".
Air Quality Monitoring (MoE)
The air monitoring project recommended by the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) is moving ahead. The BC Environment Ministry (MoE) intends to initiate an on-going air quality monitoring program, with emphasis on sulphur dioxide emissions from cruise ships.
The City has appointed Dwayne Kalynchuk, Engineering, as City liaison to the process.
Next Month
Join us on February 9th for a presentation on BC Transit in James Bay.
The JBNA Board asked BC Transit to re-consider transit services within James Bay in response to comments submitted by James Bay residents as part of the 2009 JBNA James Bay Residents Survey. Residents reported that transit within James Bay was limited and did not fill day-to-day living needs.
BC Transit is eager to receive input on transit needs within and beyond James Bay. BC Transit will hold an information and consultation meeting at the February JBNA Meeting. To enable as many residents as possible to detail their transportation needs, BC Transit will also be hosting two Open House events on Saturday, February 19, from 10 am to 4 pm and on Wednesday, February 23 from 2 pm to 7 pm. The three meetings will take place at New Horizons, 234 Menzies St.
Residents are also invited to respond to an online survey at:
http://www.transitbc.com/transitfuture/jamesbay_future.cfm
JBNA Meeting Recording Secretary and other Board positions
Consider volunteering to be recording secretary for JBNA monthly general meetings. Duties would be confined to the general meeting minutes. You need NOT be a voting member to volunteer for this role.
The JBNA AGM is held in April. Board positions will be available. If you are interested in joining the Board, or just curious and want to know about Board work, please contact any member of the Board.