REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF NIAGARA
POLICE SERVICE BOARD
PUBLIC AGENDA

Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 9:30 A.m. - 10:30 A.m.

Niagara Regional Police Service - Headquarters

Community Room 1st Floor, 5700 Valley Way, Niagara Falls

To view the live-stream meeting proceedings, please visit

https://calendar.niagarapolice.ca/meetings 

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

2.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT

3.

DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICT/PECUNIARY INTEREST

4.

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

4.1

Minutes of the Public Board Meeting held Thursday, November 28, 2024

• That the Minutes of the Public Board Meeting held Thursday, November 28, 2024 be adopted as circulated.

5.

REPORTS FROM BOARD CHAIR

6.

REPORTS FROM THE CHIEF OF POLICE

7.

PRESENTATIONS

7.1

NRPS Member Support Unit

The Service provided a presentation on the Member Support Unit, which offers a variety of support programs to all members of the Niagara Regional Police Service that are designed to assist police personnel in their overall wellness both personally and professionally. 

• That the presentation be received.

8.

CONSENT AGENDA

8.1

OAPSB and OACP - Letter to Solicitor General - Funding Announcement for Municipalities Policed by OPP

Joint correspondence dated December 7, 2024 addressed to The Honourable Michael Kernzer, Solicitor General of Ontario, from President Roger Wilkie, Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, and Chair Patrick Weaver, Ontario Association of Police Service Boards, addressing concerns relating to the Ontario Government's recent $77 Million funding announcement for municipalities policed by the Ontario Provincial Police, and requesting that a governmental strategy be developed that will modernize the grant funding process, secure equitable funding for Community Safety and Policing Act (CSPA) implementation and develop sustainable funding solutions to support effective policing services under the Act by small and mid-sized Municipal Police Services.

8.2

Regional Council Approval of Budget Review Committee Recommendation - 2025 NRPS-PSB Proposed Operating Budget

Correspondence dated December 17, 2024 from Ann-Marie Norio, Regional Clerk, Niagara Region, advising of the Budget Review Committee of the Whole (BRCOTW) recommendation that was passed by Regional Council at their meeting held December 12, 2024 regarding the Niagara Regional Police Service and Police Service Board 2025 Proposed Operating Budget, and including a copy of the letter sent by Regional Chair Bradley to the Premier of Ontario and Solicitor General requesting provincial funding to offset increased policing costs as a result of the implementation of the Community Safety and Policing Act. 

8.3

RMON - Motion and Recommendation - 2025 NRPS-PSB Proposed Operating Budget

Correspondence dated December 13, 2024 from Ann-Marie Norio, Regional Clerk, Niagara Region, advising of a motion passed by the Region's Budget Review Committee of the Whole (BRCOTW) at its meeting held December 12, 2024 regarding a reduction to the 2025 Proposed Operating Budget for the Niagara Regional Police Service and the Board; and further advising of the recommendation passed by Regional Council at its meeting held that same evening when considering the 2025 Consolidated General Levy Budget, specific to the Region's Agencies, Boards and Commissions.

• That the information be recieved.

8.4

Employee and Family Assistance Program - Optional Renewal

Service report dated December 3, 2024 advising that the Service has joined the Region in exercising its option to extend the contract with TELUS Health for the provision of an Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) at a cost of $30,858.72 for the period January 1 to December 31, 2025.

8.5

Special Funds Specified Auditing Procedures

Service report dated November 26, 2024 providing the Board with the audit results of two Special Fund Accounts, specifically the General Operating Account and the Special Operating Account, that were conducted by Grant Thornton LLP on August 16, 2024 in accordance with By-Law 403-2024 paragraph 11.2., and including a draft report detailing the specified auditing procedures for the year ending December 31, 2023. 

• That Items 8.1, 8.2, 8.4 and 8.5 be received for information. 

9.

NEW BUSINESS

9.1

Police Service Board By-Law - Collision Reconstruction User Fees - Fee Update

Service report dated November 21, 2024 advising that in accordance with Section 391 of the Municipal Act and section 69 of the Planning Act, the Service underwent a review of NRPS service fees resulting with a request that the Board approve an increase to the current fee structure set out in Schedule “A” of the Board’s Collision Reconstruction User Fees By-law, and that each year these user fees be indexed to maintain alignment with inflationary labour/supply cost increases.

• That the Niagara Police Service Board approve the draft by-law and amended fee schedule as appended to this report, effective January 1, 2025;

  And further, that an inflationary index be applied to maintain alignment with the cost of labour and supplies.

9.2

Police Service Board By-Law - User Fee Charges for Police Service - Fee Update

Service report dated November 25, 2024 advising that in accordance with Section 391 of the Municipal Act and section 69 of the Planning Act, the Service underwent a review of NRPS service fees resulting with a request that the Board approve an increase to the current fee structure set out in Schedule “A” of the Board’s Imposition of Charges for Police Services By-law, and that each year these user fees be indexed to maintain alignment with inflationary labour/supply cost increases.

• That the Niagara Police Service Board approve the draft by-law and amended fee schedule as appended to this report, effective January 1, 2025;

  And further, that an inflationary index be applied to maintain alignment with the cost of labour and supplies.

9.3

Next Generation 911 - Vesta 911 Call Handling System Equipment Expansion and Capital Adjustment

Service report dated December 2, 2024 requesting the Board approve additional NG 911 expenditures and a gross capital budget adjustment for costs associated with the purchase of three (3) Vesta 911 Call Handling System (CHS) workstations for St. Catharines Fire Services, which is a committed partner with the Niagara Region on the NG 911 project. 

• That the Niagara Police Service Board approve:

  1. The project change order from Motorola Solutions Canada Inc. for NG 911 related workstations for St. Catharines Fire Services in the amount of $294,354.81 net of HST rebates; and
  2. Subject to approval of the Regional Treasurer, a gross capital budget adjustment totaling $57,500.00 and net $0.00 to the NG 911 Equipment Replacement project 20000999, fully funded through third-party cost sharing recoveries from St. Catharines Fire Services.

9.4

Special Fund Policy Review

Service report dated November 25, 2024 requesting the Board approve the recommended set of guidelines specific to special fund donations that were developed to ensure transparency and accountability of all special fund requests made to the Niagara Regional Police Service and the Board.  The recommendations are being brought forward at the direction of a Board motion passed at its May 9, 2024 Finance Committee meeting and the Board's consideration of By-law 403-2024 respecting the Administration, Limitations, and Guidelines of the Special Fund. 

• That the Niagara Police Service Board approve the recommendations outlined in the report. 

9.5

Special Fund Request - Holiday Hero Campaign

Service report dated December 6, 2024 requesting the Board approve a donation in support of the Service's Holiday Hero Campaign for the purchasing of gift cards that will be distributed to families that are supported through Niagara's Community Care program.

• That the Niagara Police Service Board approve a Special Fund donation in the amount of $5,000.00 in support of the Service's Holiday Hero Campaign.

10.

OTHER NEW BUSINESS

10.1

Domestic Violence Unit - 2025 NRPS-PSB Proposed Operating Budget

• That funds in the 2025 Operating Budget be reallocated to move immediately on the hiring of the Staff Sergeant and Detective Sergeant for the Domestic Violence Unit and other adjustments be made to the budget to offset this move. 

11.

IN CAMERA REPORTS

11.1

Special Investigations Unit – Case Number 23-OCI-086 – Incident of February 25, 2024

Service report dated October 31, 2024 advising that the SIU concluded their investigation in this matter and found no grounds for criminal charges against any police officer, and also advising that in compliance with S.32 of Ontario Regulation 268/10 made under the Police Services Act, the Service completed its review and investigation into this matter and concluded that there are no identified policy/service/officer conduct issues.

• That, in accordance with Board direction, the in camera report be made available to the public. 

12.

MOTION FOR CLOSED SESSION

• That the Board move into Closed Session for consideration of confidential matters pursuant to Section 44 of the Community Safety and Policing Act, namely for subject-matter related to potential litigation, human resources matters, information supplied in confidence by the Ministry of the Solicitor General and from vendors for contract awards, as well as legal matters that are subject to solicitor-client privilege.

13.

ADJOURNMENT