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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-11-13 Fire Commission Regular MinutesHAWAII FIRE COMMISSION MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 13, 2019 AUPUNI CENTER CONFERENCE ROOM 101 PAUAHI ST., HILO, HAWAII CALL TO ORDER Chair Henkel called the meeting to order at 9:03 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Gregory Henkel, Chair Ralph Yawata, Vice Chair Kyle Keamo, Commissioner Marcella St. Ambrogio, Commissioner Scott Susman, Commissioner Robert Yamada, Commissioner Absent: Donna Payesko, Commissioner A quorum was present Also present: Lance Uchida, Deputy Fire Chief Melanio Lorenzo, Accountant John Bertsch, Volunteer Commander Renee Schoen, Assistant Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS (None.) APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF OCTOBER 16, 2019 Ms. Pelayo stated that the adjourned time of 9:50 a.m. has to be added to the end of the minutes. Commissioner Susman moved to approve the minutes with the change. Commissioner Yamada seconded, and it carried unanimously. FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT Deputy Fire Chief Uchida came before the commission in Chief Rosario's absence. He highlighted items on the written report. Budget and Finance: Accountant Melanio Lorenzo came before the commission. He explained the budget balance report. Overtime is not reflected in the financial report. The West Hawaii Ocean Safety budget now includes Kua Bay. ➢ FY 2019/2020: Deputy Chief Uchida reported that the Finance Committee approved 25% total allocated overtime to be transferred back to the departments. Hawaii Fire Commission Minutes of November 13, 2019 Page 2 ➢ FY 2020/2021: They were instructed to submit three budget proposals: status quo, 5% reduction, and 8% reduction. They only submitted a status quo budget because a reduction would be a cut in services which they cannot do. • Human Resources Division: They have been aggressively filling all vacancies. Two recruit classes are going on. Emergency Operations Division ➢ Battalion I, East Hawaii: Two kayakers were rescued about a quarter mile off shore fronting the break wall. In another case, a lost mountain biker was rescued from the slope of Mauna Kea. A PTA Medivac Blackhawk assisted with extricating the victim before nightfall. They conducted various school fire inspections. ➢ Battalion II, West Hawaii: A swimmer in distress was rescued at Mahukona. Another swimmer in distress was rescued via chopper out of Pololu Valley. Commissioner St. Ambrogio commended the Fire Department on their amazing rescues. Support Services Division ➢ Volunteer Training: Volunteer Commander Bertsch reported that the Captain's meeting will be held on December 21 at 10:00 a.m. in Waimea. They will be doing wildland fire training. He will send Ms. Pelayo a map and directions. Their volunteer numbers are increasing. Usually, when the economy is robust, they don't usually have volunteers. Recent demographics have been female and younger. In talking with this group, they all have an aspiration to be career fire fighters. They want an introduction and experience. The Fire Department wants the best of the best in the career department. They can flush out people on the volunteer side. Apparatus vehicles are in good working condition, but they are seeing end of life of some vehicles. He has worked with Matson to ship volunteer vehicles for free. The Active 911 system is working. They have not had any significant events. • New Projects/Business Deputy Chief Uchida reported that they are working on permits to do renovations on the Paradise Park Station. • Public Relations ➢ Downtown Ho`olaule`a: They assisted with the Downtown Ho`olaule`a. Council Chair Aaron Chung used his contingency funds for their overtime costs. ➢ Ironman: The Council told them to request funds from Ironman for overtime costs. However, Chief Rosario decided not to ask for the funds because Ironman had already donated $50,000 to the Fire Department. They did set up stations in downtown Kailua. Hawaii Fire Commission Minutes of November 13, 2019 Page 3 Volunteer Commander John Bertsch, also Ironman Safety Director, reported that Ironman brings in an excess of 25,000 people. The Ironman Organization is self-sufficient. They set up 8 first aid vans. They are dispatched out of the dispatch system and work in concert with the Fire Department because they have to determine if that individual is associated with the race or a member of the general public. If it is a member of the public, HFD takes over. Ironman brings in well-qualified physicians and provide training for HFD. They imbed volunteers of paramedics and firemen to drive the vans for Ironman. When they look at Ironman, they look at it as a disaster waiting to happen. Ironman reaches out to other agencies in the State and offer their expertise. With regards to payment for special duty, Ironman did not ask for those services. Ironman is self-sufficient. The Police Department also contributed. Commander Bertsch further reported that back in 2006, Ironman put out an economic impact statement. It was worth over $30 million dollars to the State of Hawaii. This year they had commissioned another economic impact statement and look forward to seeing it. It's a year round venture that brings in a significant amount of income for the State. As an example, there are people who come from Germany for 10 days and stay at the Hilton. Deputy Chief Uchida stated that a week before Ironman, they do a mass casualty exercise. Commander Bertsch reported that they have a 200 bed triage tent that they put up on the beach. They do continuing educate credits for working in the tent. Their participants are the top athletes in the world. Their goal is to do triage in place, and only if they need advance service that they are sent to the hospital. They have the operations center in the King Kamehameha Hotel. Ironman donates to 501 (c) (3) organizations who volunteer for Ironman during their Honu and Ironman events. • 2019 Program of Work Update (No report.) CHAIR'S REPORT ON MATTERS OF INTEREST TO THE COMMISSION Chair Henkel reported that he will be moving from District 5 to District 4 but has not officially moved yet. When he does, he will resign from District 5 and would like to apply to District 4. EXECUTIVE SESSION (Closed to the public.) Vice Chair Yawata moved to meet in executive session to work on the Fire Chief's annual evaluation, and that they may consult with Corporation Counsel on questions and issues pertaining to the commission's powers, duties, privileges, immunities, and liabilities pursuant to HRS 92-5 (a) (2), (4), 6 and the Hawaii County Charter Section 13-20 (b). Commissioner St. Ambrogio seconded, and it carried unanimously. Executive session convened at 10:18 a.m. Hawaii Fire Commission Minutes of November 13, 2019 Page 4 Regular session reconvened at 10:30 a.m. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Henkel announced that the commission's next monthly meeting is scheduled for December 11, at 9:00 a.m., in the West Hawaii Civic Center, Building G Conference Room, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 10:32 a.m. SUBMITTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APPROVED BY: GREGORY HENKEL, CHAIR