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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-03-13 Fire Commission Regular MinutesHAWAII FIRE COMMISSION MINUTES OF MARCH 13, 2019 AUPUNI CENTER CONFERENCE ROOM 101 PAUAHI ST., H I LO, HAWAII CALL TO ORDER Chair Henkel called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Gregory Henkel, Chair Ralph Yawata, Vice Chair Robert Becker, Commissioner Kyle Keamo, Commissioner Donna Payesko, Commissioner Robert Yamada, Commissioner Absent: Bobbye St. Ambrogio, Commissioner Scott Susman, Commissioner Also present: Darren Rosario, Fire Chief Melanio Lorenzo, Accountant Renee Schoen, Assistant Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS (None.) APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 13, 2019 Commissioner Payesko motioned to approve the minutes. Commissioner Becker seconded, and it carried unanimously. FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT Chief Rosario thanked Commissioner Becker for his work and service as a commissioner. His term ended with this meeting. Chief Rosario welcomed new Commissioner Yamada and invited him to visit him at his office anytime. Items from the Chief's written report were highlighted: • Budget and Finance: Accountant Lorenzo reported that the financial report is preliminary because they have not yet posted to the ledger. They are still finalizing impact costs of the lava event. Their last claim was approved by FEMA who will reimburse 75% of costs, but they don't know when they will get the funds. He is requesting 100% reimbursement. They don't budget for retiree payouts, cash in lieu of payments, which was $300,000. Last week they received their budget packet from Finance which they will discuss with the County Council next month. It's about Hawaii Fire Commission Minutes of March 13, 2019 Page 2 $48,000,000 and is a status quo budget. No new positions or purchases were added, but Chief Rosario added supplementals which they hope they will be added to the budget. Chief Rosario stated that Finance's direction is to have all departments live within their budget. They added supplemental budgets for equipment, staffing positions, and continuance of the apparatus replacement program. It is a very successful program through a lease -purchase, and they have gotten 15 new apparatus through this program. They need Council's support for this replacement program. He will fight hard to keep this program and for additional personnel. In response to Commissioner Becker's inquiry, Chief stated that funding for the new Puna ambulance only goes to June 30. For that unit, they will need 6 new positions which the State will fund. • Alternative Funding and Grants • 2019 CDBG: The Paradise Park Ambulance Unit Project was not approved. • 2018 CDBG: The Paradise Park Wildland Brush Truck is expected to be delivered in June. > Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation will provide funding for out-of-state training. • Human Resources Division: Deputy Chief Uchida is in charge of all promotions. Seven employees were promoted to Fire/EMS Specialist!! on March 1. A realistic job orientation was held in February for Fire Radio Dispatcher!. Eighteen candidates for Water Safety Officer I went through a physical assessment exercise. Firefighter Recruits are going through pre-employment screening, and another recruitment closed in February. Employees participated in Development and Training in February. • Emergency Operations Division Operations ✓ East Hawaii had multiple brushfires due to dry fuel. People with cellphones helped with notifications of the fires. They do not suspect arson in the recent wildfires. A lot of the equipment they received were ordered years ago. West Hawaii had a rescue incident at Anna's Ranch where four people were trapped due to a fast moving river with flash flooding conditions. ✓ Training: AC Okinaka started an inaugural training class for newly promoted captains. He also started an Employee Recognition Program. Special Operations ✓ Hazmat: They are working with the LEPC to replace personal radiological meters. ✓ Rescue: They worked with the Daniel R. Sayre Foundation for two new Billy Pugh nets. Hawaii Fire Commission Minutes of March 13, 2019 Page 3 ✓ Ocean Safety: Hapuna's three towers are now fully staffed with WSOs. They are working with the Hawaii Tourism Authority on a MOA for a $125,000 grant to expand their Rescue Water Craft Program. They are working with HTA and Hawaii Lifeguard Association to receive $25,000 for their Jr. Lifeguard Program. They are also working with Council members to receive $4,000 for Jr. Lifeguards. • Support Services Division • Training: Captain Kalena Honda will be the lead for the Firefighter Recruit Class. • Volunteer Training: Captain Nathan Wilson was assigned to the Volunteer Training West Battalion in February. > EMS Bureau: They prepared for the new Puna Ambulance blessing which they hope will become permanent. All MICTs have been trained on the LP 15 monitors and all medic stations received their new LP 15s. All AEDs have been distributed to the stations. • Prevention Bureau: Two personnel attended an active shooter presentation. Arson Canine Kaimi responded and assisted with two structure fires with possible incendiary activity. The Bureau continues with its 24-hour schedule, and they are now able to review 80-100 plans in a month. > Auxiliary Services ✓ Active 911: The project is working out well for the volunteers. ✓ First Watch Project: They continue to work on this dispatch system. ✓ Warehouse Re -Organization: They are 70% complete and expect to be done in March. The racking project is 95% complete. They are moving forward with getting all inventory barcoded. ✓ Warehouse SPOS Project: They continue to work on their computerized order tracking. ✓ Mobile Data Terminals Project: They continue to work on getting computers for the fire trucks. • New Projects/Business • Fire/Police Collated Dispatch Center: They continue to work with DPW and expect completion in a couple of years. • Fire Department Website Development: A company is working on design. • Public Relations: Chief Rosario was a guest speaker at the Rotary Club of Hilo Bay and the Kona Crime Prevention Committee. • 2019 Program of Work Update: No discussion. CHAIR'S REPORT ON MATTERS OF INTEREST TO THE COMMISSION Including: • Status of Kua Bay Legislation: Chief Rosario reported that Kua Bay does not have lifeguard service, and they strongly support having a lifeguard there. The bill is to Hawaii Fire Commission Minutes of March 13, 2019 Page 4 fund DLNR for the lifeguard which they will contract out to the County. If they get the contract, they will order a tower first. The tower takes about half a year to procure. They will then have to do recruitment for ocean safety personnel. If it is approved, they will be able to get personnel there before the tower is erected. They started Punalu`u with a pickup truck and a lifeguard on it. The easiest route is for DLNR to give it to the County. It goes to the Ways and Means Committee next. He will need to be there to answer questions. It took about a decade for the legislature to approve the Puna ambulance. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Henkel announced that the commission's next monthly meeting is scheduled for April 10, 2019, 9:00 a.m., West Hawaii Civic Center, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 a.m. SUBMITTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APPROVED BY: GREGORY HENKEL, CHAIR