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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-05-12 Fire Commission MinutesHAWAII FIRE COMMISSION MINUTES OF MAY 12, 2021 AUPUNI CENTER CONFERENCE ROOM 101 PAUAHI ST., HILO, HAWAII CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chair Luke called the meeting to order at 9:04 a.m. Present: Corey Luke, Chair Benjamin Agdeppa, Member Gregory Henkel, Member Gerald Kosaki, Member Shon Magsalin, Member Wesley Mattos, Member Gene Nakashima, Member Daniel Paleka, Member Absent: Kyle Keamo A quorum was present. Chair Luke asked the commissioners to introduce themselves, which they did. Also present: Kazuo Todd, Fire Chief Darwin Okinaka, Assistant Chief Chris Honda, Battalion Chief J Yoshimoto, Deputy Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary PUBLIC STATEMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS (None.) APPROVAL OF MINUTES • March 10, 2021, regular and executive sessions: Commissioner Henkel motioned to approve the regular session minutes. Commissioner Paleka seconded, and it carried unanimously. Commissioner Henkel motioned to approve the executive session minutes. Commissioner Kosaki seconded, and it carried unanimously. April 14, 2021, regular and executive sessions: Commissioner Henkel motioned to approve the regular session minutes. Commissioner Paleka seconded, and it carried unanimously. Commissioner Henkel motioned to approve the executive session minutes. Commissioner Kosaki seconded, and it carried unanimously. NEW BUSINESS • Election of Vice Chair of the Fire Commission for 2021: Chair Luke nominated Benjamin Agdeppa as Vice Chair. Commissioner Henkel seconded. Commissioner Mattos nominated Gerald Kosaki as Vice Chair. Commissioner Henkel seconded. Hawaii Fire Commission Minutes of May 12, 2021 Page 2 Roll call vote for Benjamin Agdeppa as Vice Chair: Agdeppa, Henkel, Luke, Magsalin, Paleka. The 5 votes carried. • Discussion regarding having online access/participation in Fire Commission meetings: Chief Todd suggested having the Fire Commission meetings in the Council chambers in order for fire personnel to watch the meeting. He will do research and get back to the commission at the next meeting. Deputy Corporation Counsel Yoshimoto stated that meetings in Kona and Hilo could be held in the Council chambers. They could also have Zoom meetings as long as the governor's proclamation still stands. There needs to be protocols for executive session meetings. Commissioner Nakashima stated that with Zoom, there has been connectivity issues. Chair Luke stated that they will continue this at the next meeting. FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT Chief Todd stated that he would like to do his report similar to what they do at Police Commission meetings where staff gives a report in their respective area. Chief highlighted items from his detailed written report and questions were answered. Budget: FY 2020/21: Their County budget has spending through April 30th at 76.52% with 83.28/% of the fiscal year completed. OCE purchases have been halted except for critical needs. Spending has been forecasted to go into the red by $35,000. CARES funding has been used for some purchases. The written report is separated by County and State because EMS funds come from the State. The State also funds Kua Bay and Hapuna, but they cut 50%, and the County will have to fund the rest. The Sayre Foundation provides a lot of their equipment. AC Okinaka stated that Kua Bay always has a minimum of two staff. Commissioner Henkel stated that Hapuna Beach and Kua Bay are the most dangerous beaches in the State. • Alternative Funding and Grants: The Daniel R. Sayre Foundation did a blessing for the new off-road tanker for the South Kohala Station. They got a State grant for $60,998 for training in mental health first aid for EMS and Ocean Safety. Human Resources Division: For internal recruitment within the Fire Department, written exams are scheduled for Fire Captain and Fire Equipment Operator. For open -competitive recruitment, they have 60 Fire Fighter Recruit candidates for the agility exam. They are awaiting a referred list from Human Resources for Fire Radio Dispatch I. They received 7 eligible candidates from HR for Accountant IV. Prevention Bureau reorganization and reclassification is still in process. Chief Todd stated that his long-term goal is to be a training department. • Emergency Operations Division (Reported by AC Okinaka.) ✓ Battalion 1 & 2: Numerous incidents were detailed in the written report. ✓ Training: All personnel had CPR training. Hawaii Fire Commission Minutes of May 12, 2021 Page 3 ✓ Hazmat: There were no significant incidents. They are scheduling confined space training this fall for all Rescue and Hazmat personnel. ✓ Ocean Safety: iPads are being distributed. They are working towards electronic documentation. Robin Fasciano was promoted to WSO III. Water Safety Officer I conditional offers were sent out. They conducted two administrative training sessions for Street LG program for Ocean Safety incident reporting. USLA recertification has been approved. Pohoiki has another UTA again. The previous one was stolen. ✓ Rescue: Replacement rescue boat bid was awarded. Their goal is to have one in east and west. They Sayre Foundation has shown interest in assisting with this. They are planning for Dive Rescue recertification and Confined Space training for Rescue personnel. ✓ Sayre Foundation: The Big Dog Tanker and radio installation was completed. A blessing and donation ceremony was held on May 1. Support Services Division ✓ Training Bureau: Six HFD personnel attended and completed the National Fire Academy. ✓ Volunteer Training: Volunteer Commander Bertsch reported that he is working with Chief Todd on goals and objectives for the volunteers. Last year, commissioners asked him to make a presentation on the Volunteer Program but it was tabled, and he is waiting for the commission to tell him when they want it done. Due to Covid-19, their personnel dropped by 35%. They have had retirements due to age, and Covid-19 helped. Pre-Covid, they had volunteer captains' meetings around the island where they had executive leadership training. The captains would bring back the information to their volunteers. He encouraged the commissioners to attend their meetings. He stands ready to support the new administration and the Chief's goals. In response to Commissioner Magsalin's questions, he told her he would be glad to have more discussion with her after the meeting. AC Okinaka stated that the when the long-time Laupahoehoe volunteer captain moved back to the mainland, no one was interested in continuing that station, so they reassigned the equipment. ✓ EMS Bureau: BC Honda reported that they are in the process of recertifying the department in CPR which is done every two years. Seven paramedic students are training at Kapiolani Hospital and are expected to graduate in January 2022. The EMS Bureau is assisting with their firefighter rehabilitation program. They participated in a virtual trauma site review for Hilo Medical Center which is essential for HMC to be recognized as a level III trauma center. AC Okinaka stated that due to Covid, some in EMS want to be promoted to driver. Hawaii Fire Commission Minutes of May 12, 2021 Page 4 Recruitment and retention is a high priority, and they always face a shortage. It costs about $100,000 to train an MICT. ✓ Fire Prevention Bureau: Chief Todd reported that the 24-hour schedule continues, and they have seen many benefits, one of which has been the ability to keep up with construction plan reviews. Last month the bureau reviewed over 60 plans. This 24-hour schedule is still a pilot program, and he will be evaluating it. They are working on code amendments. ✓ Maintenance Shop: Nothing new to report. ✓ Fire Communications Control Center: Fire Radio Dispatcher III, Leanne Kapahu was appointed to be his private secretary. Retention of dispatchers is an issue, and he has discussed this with HR, the Mayor, and Finance. They have considered bringing back retirees on an 89 -day contract. Helco pays dispatchers $25/hr. ✓ Fire Auxiliary Services: The warehouse sent out $11,839 worth of personal protective equipment and station supplies in April. Just this year, they purchased $60,000 of foam. Total spent this fiscal year was $159,951 which does not include bunker gear. All non-essential purchases are currently on hold at the advice of the Department of Finance. ✓ Repairs/Purchases/Maintenance: A lot of repairs are now on hold. New Projects/Business: Chief Todd stated that he will look into using the County Council Chambers for Fire Commission meetings. He will be discussing issues with EMS downgrade and paramedic shortage with the Mayor and Finance Director. They will be having a meeting with battalion chiefs to talk about issues within the department. Other Departmental Activities: Chief Todd reported that in the past month, he started visiting the stations and talking to County Council members about the needs of each station. They are missing an Accountant 4, and this has delayed paying their bills. They had interviews and hope to have a new accountant on June 1. He would like to meet with each commissioner to hear of their concerns. They should call his secretary Leanne to schedule an appointment. He wants to put out a notice for Deputy Chief with Neogov. Robert Perreira was Deputy Chief under Chief Rosario, and he kept him on as Deputy until he decided what to do. He could have returned to Assistant Chief but chose to retire. BC Hayashida has been helping out, but his long- term plan is to retire as BC. He asked if the Fire Appeals Board is something the Fire Commission could handle. Chair Luke stated that they could add it to the next agenda, but Deputy Corporation Council Yoshimoto stated that they should hold off until the Chief gets more information on it. Right now, their arson canine, will not be replaced. Commissioner Kosaki asked about adding a line item for Hazmat. Hawaii Fire Commission Minutes of May 12, 2021 Page 5 Lunch recess was called at 11:10 a.m. The meeting reconvened at 11:36 a.m. FIRE COMMISSION TRAINING The Office of the Corporation Council will provide the commission training on the Sunshine Law, UIPA, parliamentary procedures, ethics, duties, and functions of the Fire Commission. Deputy Corporation Counsel J Yoshimoto distributed copies of his PowerPoint presentation. He went through each item outlined in the handout. Mr. Yoshimoto stated that an affirmative vote of the majority of the entire membership is needed in order for an action to carry. Chair Luke summarized that in order to take action, they must have five votes to carry. CHAIR'S REPORT ON MATTERS OF INTEREST TO THE COMMISSION (None.) AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING • Discussion regarding having online access/participation will be continued. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Luke announced that the commission's next monthly meeting is scheduled for June 9, 2021, in the West Hawaii Civic Center, Building G Conference Room, 74- 5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 12:51 p.m. SUBMITTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APPROVED BY: COREY LUKE, CHAIR