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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-07-14 Fire Commission MinutesHAWAI`I FIRE COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION MINUTES JULY 14, 2021 OFFICE OF AGING 1055 KINOOLE ST., HILO, HAWAI`I CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Vice Chair Agdeppa called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. Present: Benjamin Agdeppa, Vice Chair Gregory Henkel, Commissioner Kyle Keamo, Commissioner Shon Magsalin, Commissioner Wesley Mattos, Commissioner Gene Nakashima, Commissioner Daniel Paleka, Commissioner A quorum was present. Absent: Corey Luke, Chair Gerald Kosaki, Commissioner Also present: Kazuo Todd, Fire Chief Eric Moller, Deputy Chief J Yoshimoto, Deputy Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary PUBLIC STATEMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS (None.) APPROVAL OF MINUTES • June 9, 2021, regular session: Commissioner Henkel motioned to approve the minutes. Commissioner Keamo seconded, and it carried unanimously. • June 9, 2021, executive session: Commissioner Henkel motioned to approve the minutes. Commissioner Paleka seconded, and it carried unanimously. FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT Chief Todd reported on a brushfire in the area of the Ouli Gulch between Kohala Mountain Road and Kawaihae Road. The road was shut down last night. The fire is now contained, and the road is open. No structures were lost. Fire Chief Todd highlighted items from his written report and answered questions: • Budget ✓ FY 2020-2021 (County Budget): Total spending through June 30t" was at 86.06% with 100% of the fiscal year completed. S & W for Fire closed at 89.89% and EMS at 83.46%. This was due to funds from the Cares Act. Unspent S & W monies cannot be used for anything else, and will be returned Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes July 14, 2021 Page 2 to the County. They used all their monies for OCE. His goal is to use all monies by the end of the fiscal year. ✓ State Funded Budget Items: State funding for lifeguards has been approved for both Kua Bay and Hapuna. The budget lacks OCE funding but covers full salaries and wages. EMS reimbursements for FY 2019-2020 were completed. FY 2020-2021 reimbursements are current to January. Alternative Funding and Grants: The Safer Grant was submitted for six captain positions and three fire fighters. The FEMA AFG for Covid-19 grant was extended another year. State of Hawaii, Department of Health grant will be used for training. Human Resources ✓ Internal Recruitment within the Department: Fire Captain (Emergency Operations, Fire Equipment Operator, Fire Prevention Inspector, Fire Rescue Specialist, Fire/Hazardous Materials Specialist, Fire Radio Dispatcher III, HR Assistant. ✓ Internal Recruitment within the County: Accountant 1 (2 positions) ✓ Open -Competitive Recruitment: Eric Moller selected as Deputy Fire Chief effective July 1, 2021. Emergency Operations Division: Year-to-date, they received 12,785 calls. ✓ Battalion 1, East Hawaii: The Rosenbauer (BT-17) final inspection was completed; arrival expected July 14. They are working with Council Member Kierkiewicz and the Planning Department to purchase a new SCBA filling compressor, tow vehicle, and spare tanks with PGV funds. A fire in Pa`auilo burned approximately 2,000 acres. No structures or lives were lost. ✓ Ocean Safety: iPad and web -based survey familiarization continues. Street LG program for Ocean Safety incident reporting continues. ✓ Rescue: Parts order for Rescue Boat 7 (Radon) impeller repairs. Grant approved for repair of Rescue Boat 7 (Force). Training for SEALEGS vessel donated by Sayre Foundation completed, and vessel is now in service. Support Services Division ✓ Emergency Medical Services Bureau: Seven paramedic students started internship training. This requires them to ride on busier ambulance units in the 1 st and 2nd battalion. They will be evaluated over a 4-month period. The EMS Bureau helped support the Honu Triathlon of 2,000 athletes. They had 4 patient transports. They are 9 paramedic positions short. They are looking for HR to amend the MOU. Employees like the direction they are going; it's more money. His goal moving forward is to be able to staff the ambulances. Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes July 14, 2021 Page 3 ✓ Training Bureau: Interviewed 55 applicants for Firefighter Recruit. Conditional offers were made for 18 positions. Built training props at Pohakuloa for upcoming recruit class training. Currently processing 5-6 pallets of used equipment donated by the Honolulu Fire Department. ✓ Volunteer Training Department: Printed Personnel Accountability System (PAS) cards for volunteers. Newly promoted Fire Captain Brysen Heidenfeldt will be taking over the West -Side Volunteer Training Captain position. Volunteer Company 8-A is processing 3 new volunteer firefighters. ✓ Fire Prevention Bureau: Completed preparation for 4th of July events which had to be postponed to July 5 due to technical difficulties. ✓ Fire Communications Control Center: Assessment scheduled for 19 Fire Radio Dispatcher I candidates. Candidates who pass will move to the interview process. Two candidates applied for Fire Radio Dispatcher III. They have two vacancies. ✓ Fire Auxiliary Service Bureau: Acting BC K. Minami started on June 28 and will stay on until the position is permanently filled. Ordered protective equipment for the 50th Recruit Class. New recruits will start August 2. ✓ Capital Improvement Projects: Preparations being made for submittal of building permit for the Waiakea Fire Station electrical upgrade. The contract for the design was approved and funding allotted. • Chief's Briefing ✓ Transitioning Fire Commission Meetings to Council Chambers: Chief Todd reported that he wants the commission's meetings to be held in the County Council Room so they can be viewed live in the stations. The Council has a technician on contract for this, and he is looking into cost sharing. He will report back when he gets more information. ✓ EMS Downgrade/Paramedic Shortage: Propay is being reviewed by DHR. ✓ Fire Prevention Statistics: Chief Todd gave a presentation of charts and graphs on services rendered by the bureau from 2014-2020. They ran 4-5 inspectors throughout the years. They have 8 positions but not all are filled. He wanted to see if there was a correlation with the 24-hour shift. He had some issues with the data because it is reviewed by other people in other departments. AC Smith is working to get them into the Emergency Reporting Program which has a lot of capabilities. County plan reviews are being moved online. The Prevention Bureau is moving to digital. Their goal is to Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes July 14, 2021 Page 4 have faster plan reviews. They reorganized their office and the Prevention Bureau is now front and center in order to serve the public better. ✓ Deputy Chief Selection Process: An interview panel recommended Chief Eric Moller. He was selected at Deputy Chief effective July 1. ✓ Fiscal Year 2022-23 analysis and planning has started. Chief wants to be able to look out 5 years. He wants their policies and procedures updated and easily accessible. ✓ Dispatch Staff: They have 15 positions and a supervisor, but have only 9 dispatchers. They have 19% retention of new hires. It is critical to him to change their dispatch system. Dispatch is key to life savings. They have a 13% survival rate for cardiac arrests. He discussed this with the Mayor. ✓ Deputy Chief Moller reported that he looked at Central Station and was alarmed with the cracks in the inside and outside of the tower. Rebars were rusted through. He met with Finance Director Deanna Sako about getting personnel out of the station within a month. Property Management is looking for a new location. Commissioner Nakashima asked what happened to the ladder truck. Chief Todd stated that the truck had to be repaired. However, it took so long for the parts, that it got damaged even more after being left outside. Their trucks have gotten bigger over the years, but the stations have not. Equipment needs to be parked in the shade. Commissioner Mattos stated that at the last meeting they talked about having to do water rescues, but they didn't have a workable boat. His personal view is that instead of repairing the boat, they should sell it, and put the money into a Raton. Chief Todd stated that he is looking at fixing the Raton and buying a new boat. He is looking at a Port Security Grant. He is also looking at repairing the Force. Commissioner Mattos reiterated that he thought fixing it was a waste of money. Chief Todd stated that if they sell the boat, the money would have to go back into the general fund. Commissioner Nakashima motioned to accept the Chief's written report and file it. Commissioner Keamo seconded, and it carried unanimously. UNFINISHED BUSINESSS • Discussion regarding having online access/participation in Fire Commission meeting: Chief Todd reported on this during the Chief's Report. • Robert Perreira's appeal to Merit Appeals Board concerning the selection of the fire chief. (Referred to executive session.) Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes July 14, 2021 Page 5 EXECUTIVE SESSION Commissioner Nakashima motioned to meet in executive session regarding Robert Perreira's appeal to the Merit Appeals Board, pursuant to Hawai'i Revised Statutes Sections 92-4, 92-5 (a) (2) and 92-5 (a) (4), where the consideration of matters affecting privacy would be involved and for the purpose of consulting with the commission's attorney on questions and issues pertaining to the commission's powers, duties, privileges, immunities, and liabilities. Commissioner Keamo seconded, and it carried unanimously. Executive session convened at 10:40 a.m. Regular session reconvened at 10:44 a.m. NEW BUSINESS • Fire Commission's annual report: Mr. Yoshimoto stated that the County Charter requires that the commission provide an annual report of the commission's activities for the past year. It could include citizen complaints, review of the Fire Department's budget, and recommendations to the Chief. He will send them the last report for their review. They could have an ad hoc committee of two people or have the chair prepare the report. AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING Items for the next meeting are: Annual report, merit appeals board, online meetings. ANNOUNCEMENTS • Vice Chair Agdeppa announced that the next meeting is scheduled for August 11, 2021, at 9:00 a.m., in the West Hawai'i Civic Center, Building G Conference Room, Kailua-Kona. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Henkel motioned to adjourn. Commissioner Paleka seconded, and it carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 10:54 a.m. SUBMITTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APPROVED BY: BENJAMIN ADDEPPA, VICE CHAIR