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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-12-09 Fire Commission Regular MinutesHAWAII FIRE COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION MINUTES DECEMBER 9, 2020 WEST HAWAII CIVIC CENTER, BLDG. G CONFERENCE RM. 74-5044 ANE KEOHOKALOLE HIGHWAY, KAILUA-KONA, HAWAII CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chair Yamada called the meeting to order at 9:03 a.m. Present: Robert Yamada, Chair Kyle Keamo, Vice Chair Benjamin Agdeppa, Member Gregory Henkel, Member Corey Luke, Member Shon Magsalin, Member Merrick Nishimoto, Member Daniel Paleka, Member Donna Payesko, Member A quorum was present. Also present: Robert Perreira, Acting Fire Chief Darwin Okinaka, Assistant Chief Ian Smith, Assistant Chief Kyle Vares, Captain Craig Masuda, Deputy Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary PUBLIC STATEMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS (None.) APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 6, 2020 • Regular Session Minutes: Commissioner Paleka motioned to approve the minutes. Commissioner Henkel seconded. Comments: Ms. Pelayo pointed out a correction on page 4, under Work on the Selection of the New Fire Chief, (add: Commissioner Nishimoto seconded the motion.) The motioned carried with the correction. • Executive Session Minutes: Commissioner Paleka motioned to approve the minutes. Commissioner Henkel seconded, and it carried unanimously. FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT Acting Fire Chief Robert Perreira highlighted items from his written report: Budget ✓ FY 20/21: y County Budget: Chief Perreira reported that the budget is on track with a 1.37% unspent balance. Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Minutes December 9, 2020 Page 2 ➢ State Funded Budget Items: They are looking at a 2.5% reduction in the EMS budget which amounts to $565,000. They are covering this shortfall with CARES Act Funding. Mayor Kim gave approval to continue providing services for Hapuna without funding from the State. They spent $1.3 million for services at Hapuna and Kua Bay using Cares Act funding. ✓ FY 21/22 ➢ County Funded Budget: They submitted a status quo budget. They submitted supplemental budgets which included a Business Manager who will oversee the administrative staff and report directly to the Chief and Deputy. The Finance Director suggested this and supports it. Right now, the Chief and Deputy do all the duties of the Business Manager. Chair Yamada asked for their proposal for the position. ➢ State Funded Budget: The EMS budget has been set at $17,177,792 which includes funding for Medic 18, Paradise Park. The legislature needs to approve DLNR funding for Water Safety Officers at Hapuna and Kua Bay. Currently, Hapuna is being funded by the County, and the Kua Bay contract funding will end on June 2021.They will have to work hard with the legislature and DLNR for funding. Commissioner Paleka stated that it's bad for the County not having the State provide funding for Hapuna and Kua Bay (State beach parks). Chief Perreira stated that they see the need for Water Safety Officers at those very dangerous beaches and asked the commissioners for their help in reaching out to the legislatures to push for funding. • Alternative Funding and Grants: Chief Perreira reported that the department has a few members who are good at writing grants. He used to head the grant committee and will be turning it over to AC Smith. AC Smith works with grants and AC Okinaka works with the Sayre Foundation on their grants. ✓ Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation Funding Assistance: They are awaiting two new off-road tankers which expects to be completed in January 2021. Laura Mallery-Sayre informed them that they received enough donations to purchase their highest priority items. ✓ USFA FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant for Covid-19: They received an award of $380,000 for Covid-19 PPE and disinfecting equipment. ✓ USDA Grant: They are working on grant funding for PPE for rural areas. • Human Resources Division: For recruitments, they have openings for Fire/HazMat Specialist and 3 BC openings due to retirement. They received the referred list for Fire Fighter Recruits. Officer development training is scheduled for December 14-18. Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Minutes December 9, 2020 Page 3 Emergency Operations Division: Apparatus E-7, E-17, and E20 were received, inspected, and registered. The department's Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) team met and discussed revisions for the COOP and Pandemic Annex. Four FUR thermal imaging cameras were received. East Hawaii had a structure fire with a civilian fatality. West Hawaii had a solar panel structure fire at the Queen's Marketplace. ✓ Hazmat: Gas monitors in-service training was completed and new units were placed in service. Replacement of Tyvek suits and gloves was approved and are being received. ✓ Ocean Safety: The storage container for Ha -puna was installed. Ocean Safety personnel volunteered their time to build ramps for the ATV/UTV to access the container. This will provide for better operation and theft prevention. iPads for all towers and officers were approved and sent out for bids. WSO staffing is full, aside for the WSO III at Hapuna. AC Okinaka has been working with the Ocean Safety captains and Rescue Watercraft operators to spec out new Waverunners and rescue sleds to replace the aging units. • Support Services Division: Chief reported that they are working on a training center at Hilo Airport. They have a burn trailer there but want to expand the area. They don't have the funding, and so will look for alternative funding and grants. They have a vision for the place, and are working on it. ✓ Training: Captain Nagamine attended the Pohakuloa Training Area live burn training, and is now a "Live Burn Instructor" for their freight container burn room prop. They worked on the logistics for a two-week long Hazmat technician class at Hilo ARFF (airport). ✓ Volunteer Training: Commander Bertsch reported that they host a quarterly captain's meetings, but due to Covid, their meetings are being done virtually. On his bucket list is recruitment and retention of volunteers and continuing to perfect their training. A big goal for 2021 is acquiring surplus vehicles from other departments on the mainland. Oftentimes, the vehicles are in very good condition, and they can get them for almost free. However, the shipping and logistics of getting them to Hawaii has to be worked on. The current weather pattern has created a ripe environment for wildland fires. In the last 30 days, they have had large fires on the Akonepule Highway, Waikoloa Highway 190, and Ka'u. They want to enhance their community engagement with their volunteer captains. It is important that they inform communities about cutting trees and vegetation away from houses which could be fuel for fires. Commissioner Magsalin stated that they are no longer allowed to take green waste to the recycling centers. Commissioner Agdeppa thanked Commander Bertsch and their volunteers for helping the frontline guys, especially on the Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Minutes December 9, 2020 Page 4 west side and Waikoloa. Chief Perreira stated that West Hawaii Today did a good article on the Volunteer Program. ✓ EMS Bureau: They are coordinating and assisting the next MICT class for which they have approximately 10 personnel interested in attending. ✓ Prevention Bureau: Captain Kyle Vares gave an overview of the bureau. He stated that they do inspections from complaints to annual inspections such as for preschools, state facilities that require it, and new building occupancy. They also do hotels. They do plan reviews. They do fire investigations for the whole county. They also do public education for schools, businesses, and their own employees. About two years ago they moved over to a 24-hour program. The key was to grow and move forward. The county works a 7:45-4:30 schedule, but the rest of the island doesn't work like that. Working 24 hours, they are now able to work and go out to businesses after the usual work hours. The Prevention Bureau is also does evening inspections for businesses with Covid concerns. With this 24-hour schedule, they are now able to do more work and service the community better. They are still super busy due to manpower. When they were on an 8 -hour schedule, nobody wanted to work in Prevention. They now have more people interested in working in Prevention. They have a calendar of appointments for the entire day. However, when there is a fire, they have to go to the fire. Previously, when they were on 8 hours, they had to pay someone to standby after the 8 hours of work when no one was working. Their program is an efficient way to work, and he wouldn't be surprised if the other counties follow. Commissioner Magsalin asked if it was normal for firefighters to have other jobs because of their 24-hour schedule. Chief Perreira stated that they cannot control what firefighters do on their days off. When they come to work they can control and make sure they perform, and if they are not performing, the supervisor has to talk to that person. Commissioner Paleka asked Captain Vares if he was satisfied with the amount of plans being reviewed and processed. Captain Vares stated that in the last 4 months he has been there, he has been very happy. They have been prioritizing their work. In Covid, construction has not stopped. They are still reviewing plans to make sure it is safe. He is very happy. The guys have been working hard. Commissioner Nishimoto asked about getting feedback from people they are servicing. Captain Vares stated that he will reach out to the community and companies, engineers, etc. Their goal is to address their concerns and make things better. Chair Yamada stated that communication helps. Chief Perreira stated that the Prevention Bureau is continually making adjustments and moving forward. Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Minutes December 9, 2020 Page 5 ✓ Dispatch: Chief Perreira reported that they have 15 positions, but only 9 are filled. Dispatchers have to deal with shift work, pressure of people calling for help, and all this in a small, tight space. DPW is still working on the new dispatch center. New Projects and Business: They continue to work with DPW, Council, and Finance to replace the roof at the Pahala fire station. Bids came in for the new Fire and Police joint dispatch center. • Employees, Public Relations, and Commendations: Chief Perreira reported that his secretary is now working for the Managing Director, and his new secretary is Cathy Ferreira from Corporation Counsel. NEW BUSINESS • Selection of Chair of the Fire Commission for 2021 Commissioner Henkel nominated Robert Yamada for Chair. Commissioner Keamo seconded. Commissioner Luke nominated Commissioner Paleka for Chair. Commissioner Agdeppa seconded. Commissioner Henkel moved to close the nominations. Commissioner Payesko seconded, and it carried unanimously. Roll call votes: Robert Yamada: Magsalin, Keamo, Henkel, Payesko, Yamada Daniel Paleka: Agdeppa, Nishimoto, Luke, Paleka Motion for Robert Yamada for Chair carried. Selection of Vice Chair of the Fire Commission for 2021 Chair Yamada nominated Greg Henkel for Vice Chair. Commissioner Paleka seconded. Commissioner Nishimoto nominated Corey Luke for Vice Chair. Commissioner Agdeppa seconded. Commissioner Paleka motioned to close the nominations. Commissioner Henkel seconded, and it carried unanimously. Roll call votes: Greg Henkel: Magsalin, Keamo, Payesko, Yamada Corey Luke: Agdeppa, Nishimoto, Paleka, Henkel, Luke Motion for Corey Luke for Vice Chair carried. CHAIR'S REPORT ON MATTERS OF INTEREST TO THE COMMISSION (None.) (CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC) EXECUTIVE SESSION Commissioner Henkel motioned to meet in executive session to investigate a complaint against an employee of the fire department where matters affecting privacy will be involved, to work on the selection of a new Fire Chief, and 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) and (4) and the Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Minutes December 9, 2020 Page 6 Hawai'i County Charter Section 13-20 (b). Commissioner Paleka seconded, and it carried unanimously. Executive session convened at 10:50 a.m. Regular session reconvened at 12:42 a.m. ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS Work on the selection process of the new Fire Chief: Commissioner Payesko motioned to send a letter to the HR Director and ask him to look at the list of Fire Chief candidates referred to the Fire Commission as certified and qualified and confirm that they all meet the minimum qualifications in light of the new charter amendments regarding the hiring of the Fire Chief. Commissioner Henkel seconded, and it carried unanimously. Commissioner Henkel motioned to accept the questions agreed upon in executive session and close acceptance of more questions. Commissioner Keamo seconded, and it carried unanimously. Consideration and Investigation of Complaint HCFC 20-01: Complainant alleged that a paramedic who responded to their call was rude and didn't want to help them. Vice Chair Keamo motioned to defer the complaint to the next meeting in order to hear from the paramedic. Commissioner Agdeppa seconded, and it carried unanimously ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Yamada announced that the commission's next monthly meeting is scheduled for January 13, 2021, in the Hawai'i County Office of Aging, 1055 Kino'ole St., Hilo, Hawai'i. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 12:51 p.m. SUBMITTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APPROVED BY: ROBERT M. YAMADA, II, CHAIR