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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-08-11 Fire Commission MinutesHAWAI`I FIRE COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION MEETING AUGUST 11, 2021 WEST HAWAI`I CIVIC CENTER 74-5044 ANE KEOHOKALOLE HIGHWAY, KAILUA-KONA, HI NOTE: Chair Corey Luke and Vice Chair Benjamin Agdeppa were not able to attend this meeting. Therefore, the commission voted on an acting chair. Commissioner Paleka motioned to make Greg Henkel Acting Chair for this meeting. Commissioner Nakashima seconded, and it carried unanimously. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Acting Chair Henkel called the meeting to order at 9:22 a.m. Present: Gregory Henkel, Acting Chair Gerald Kosaki, Commissioner Wesley Mattos, Commissioner Gene Nakashima, Commissioner Daniel Paleka, Commissioner Absent: Corey Luke, Chair Benjamin Agdeppa, Vice Chair Kyle Keamo, Commissioner Shon Magsalin, Commissioner A quorum as present. Also present: Kazuo Todd, Fire Chief Eric Moller, Deputy Chief Dalilah Schlueter, Deputy Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary PUBLIC STATEMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS (None.) APPROVAL OF MINUTES • July 14, 2021, regular session: Commissioner Paleka motioned to approve the minutes. Commissioner Nakashima seconded, and it carried unanimously. July 14, 2021, executive session: Commissioner Paleka motioned to approve the minutes. Commissioner Nakashima seconded, and it carried unanimously. FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT Fire Chief Todd highlighted items from his written report: Highlights: Companies 20 and 7, Battalion Chief 2, and the Coast Guard responded to a call of missing swimmers at Humuhumu Point. The Coast Guard located two bodies, and Company 7 personnel covered them. They responded to wildland fires Hawaii Fire Commission Meeting Agenda August 11, 2021 Page 2 in Kamuela View Subdivision, Daniel K. Inouye Highway, and Mana Road. The Mana Road fire spread quickly through the Pu`u Kapu Farm lots due to high winds and dry fuel. Three structures were lost and over 4,000 acres burned. This was the largest fire in County history. The new, donated Big Dog wildland engine was blessed on the July 31 at Station 15. It was immediately dispatched to the fire. Budget: FY 2021-2022 County Budget total spending through July 31 st is at 13.61 % with 8.33% of the fiscal year completed. Salaries and Wages closed at 13.48% for Fire and 12.17% for EMS. OCE expenditures closed at 21.28% in Fire and 7.59% in EMS. The State reimbursed EMS for FY 20-21 current to January. The remainder of the year is in progress. Alternative Funding and Grants: They submitted the SAFER Grant for six captain positions and three fire fighter positions, but have not received an update. Training from the State of Hawaii Department of Health, Alcohol and Drug Ab use Division training grant has started. Human Resources: Internal recruitments within the department for Fire Captain of Emergency Operations, Fire Equipment Operator, and Fire Prevention Inspector are pending interview/assessment center. Two promotions were made for Fire/Hazardous Materials Specialist. Two promotions were made for Fire Radio Dispatchers III. An Account Clerk was promoted to Human Resources Assistant. Emergency Operations Division ➢ Calls received in July for Fire was 109 and Rescue and EMS was 1,824. Total calls received in July was 2,193 and YTD 15,321. ➢ Battalion 1, East Hawaii: They are still waiting for the Rosenbauer, BT-17. They have been working with Council Member Kierkiewicz and the Planning Department to purchase new SCBA filling compressor, tow vehicle, and spare tanks with PGV funds. The recently donated Big Dogs, Wildland Firefighting Apparatuses have made a massive difference in their firefighting. Personnel form Maui assisted with their firefighting. ➢ Hazardous Materials Response: Confined Space Training is scheduled for all HazMat personnel in October. ➢ Ocean Safety: They are still waiting for sleds and mounting hardware for their rescue watercraft. They anticipate delivery of the seconded SKI in August. They purchased a replacement ATV for Punalu`u. Support Services Division ➢ Volunteer Bureau: Commander Bertsch reported that they had their captains' meeting on August 7. The Chief and Deputy attended along with 16 of their captains. Executive leadership training was done before the meeting. The chief and Deputy held a talk story session which was well -received by all. He encouraged the commissioners to attend future meetings. Top discussion was the 40,000 acre fire. Every volunteer apparatus in Battalion 2 was assigned to Hawaii Fire Commission Meeting Agenda August 11, 2021 Page 3 that ground. His crew of volunteers spent 68 hours over 3 days. They had significant community support, which he had never seen before in his 24 years of volunteer service. Restaurants and families brought food and supplies. Contractures also helped by providing equipment and water tankers. ➢ Fire Prevention Bureau: Fourth of July events were successful without any major events, although four fires were caused by fireworks. The bureau elected to go back to the 40-hour schedule. ➢ Auxiliary Services Bureau: Two Fire Dispatchers were promoted to Dispatcher III. Assessments and interviews were completed for Fire Dispatchers I. ➢ Capital Improvement Projects: Funding for the design phase of the Central Fire Station Rehabilitation Project has been approved and allotted. Chief's Briefing: Chief reported that in the recent Mana fires, there was an enormous amount of vehicles, both government and private. He wants to keep track of all personnel, vehicles, and equipment. He wants them all to have a tracking app on their phones. He wants to transition Fire Commission meetings to the Council Chambers. Fire Prevention will be transitioning to 8-hour schedules on August 16. They are moving to electronic plan reviews, and the office is being re -organized. Deputy Chief Moller reported that he is working on filling paramedic recalls and explained what they are doing. He wants to empower the BCs to make the decisions at their level. Recess was called at 10:37 a.m. The meeting reconvened at 10:48 a.m. UNFINISHED BUSINESS • Discussion regarding having online access/participation in Fire Commission meetings: Continue to next meeting. • Fire Commission's annual report: Continue to next meeting. Robert Perreira's appeal to Merit Appeals Board concerning the selection of the fire chief: Continue to next meeting. No executive session meeting was held. AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING Unfinished business will carry over to the next meeting. ANNOUNCEMENTS Acting Chair Henkel announced that the commission's next monthly meeting is scheduled for September 8, 2021, at 9:00 a.m., in the Office of Aging Conference Room, 1055 Kino`ole St., Hilo, Hawaii. Hawaii Fire Commission Meeting Agenda August 11, 2021 Page 4 ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Nakashima motioned to adjourn. Commissioner Paleka seconded, and it carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 10:51 a.m. SUBMITTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APPROVED BY: GREGORY HENKEL, ACTING CHAIR