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Home My WebLink About2011-02-09 Fire Commission Minutes William P. Kenoi Toby Taniguchi Mayor Chairman Scott Stabo Vice-Chairman HAWAI‘I COUNTY FIRE COMMISSION C/O 25 Aupuni Street #2602, Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 Phone: 961-8317 ; Fax: 933-1521 Email: Firecomm-agenda@co.hawaii.hi.us REGULAR SESSION -MINUTES February 9, 2011 Department of Liquor Control Conference Room, 101 Aupuni Street, Suite 230, Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chair Bowles at 10:00a.m. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Chair Stephen Bowles Commissioner Greg Henkel Commissioner Kimo Lee (arrived at 10:03a.m.) Commissioner Toby Taniguchi Commissioner Luahiwa Namahoe Commissioner Byron Moku Commissioner Scott Stabo ABSENT: Vice Chair Kaloa Robinson Commissioner Bill Rosehill A quorum was present. ALSO PRESENT: Deputy Corporation Counsel Bill Brilhante Jennifer Kualii, Fire Commission secretary Laurie Kaneta, Secretary to Fire Chief Glen Honda,Deputy Fire Chief Hawai‘i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Commissioners: Stephen Bowles, Greg Henkel, Kimo Lee, Byron Moku, Luahiwa Namahoe, Kaloa Robinson, Bill Rosehill, Scott Stabo and Toby Taniguchi STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Taniguchi moved to approve the Regular Session Minutes of January 12, 2011. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Henkel and carried unanimously by voice vote. APPROVAL OF WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS Commissioner Taniguchi moved to accept Communication Numbers 11-01 and 11-02.The motion was seconded by Commissioner Stabo and unanimously carried by voice vote. ELECTION OF 2011 COMMISSION OFFICERS Deputy Corporation Counsel Brilhante requested that Nomination/Election of Officers for 2011under New Business be taken out of order. Nomination/election of Officers – Commissioner Lee nominated Commissioner Taniguchi as Chair and nomination seconded by Commissioner Stabo. There being no further discussion, Commissioner Taniguchi accepted the position as the new Chair. Commissioner Namahoe moved to approve Commissioner Taniguchi as Chair. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Henkel and carried unanimously by voice vote. Chair Bowles stated that Commissioner Taniguchi may now take over the Chair position and Commissioner Taniguchi ran the meeting as the new Chair. Commissioner Henkel thanked Chair Bowles for his years of service. Chair Taniguchi thanked Chair Bowles for his guidance. Commissioner Lee nominated Commissioner Namahoe as Vice Chair. Commissioner Moku nominated Commissioner Stabo as Vice Chair. Commissioner Namahoe thanked for the nomination but declined. Commissioner Stabo accepted the nomionation as the new Vice Chair. Commissioner Bowles moved to accept Commissioner Stabo as the new Vice Chair. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Namahoe and carried unanimously by voice vote. Commissioner Moku provided comments as to his nomination of Commissioner Stabo as Vice Chair. 2 Commissioner Bowles thanked everyone for volunteering and being a part of this commission, to him, this is the most important commission in this community. Chair Taniguchi stated that the commission will move on to the Chief’s Report. CHIEF’S REPORT The Chief’s Report was presented by Deputy Fire Chief Glen Honda as Chief Oliveira is off-island. Deputy Chief Honda congratulated the newly elected officers. Budget : FY 2011/12 Budget -Met with Finance on January 10, 2011. -County will be facing a $50 million deficit. -Asked to resubmit an additional 10% from budget. The department was able to come up with a 6.9% cut. Maintained unfunded positions, and reduced other budget items with minimal anticipated impact toservice delivery. Will continue to ask staff to reduce overtime and encourage more use of utility vehicles to reduce mileage claims. st -March 1is deadline for Mayor to submit his budget to Council. -Department meeting with Council tentatively scheduled for March 28 at 1330. Alternative Funding and Grants : FEMA FY 2008 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant: (Health/wellness program). Program continues. Peer fitness instructor refresher held February 1 and 2. FEMA FY 2009 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant: (254 turn out coats and 251 pants). Received 138 (Vol. FF) sets & 103 (Ops.) sets on January 6, 2011 th Began distribution of Ops. sets the week of January 10–less than 5% returned due to wrong sizing st Volunteer FF distribution began on the week of January 31 Order for the remaining sets (13 jackets & 10 pants) will be completed by th the week of February 14 Extra sets (5 pants & 3 jackets) will be ordered after approval of expenditure of excess funds -$5,000 Working with the Fire Prevention Bureau on expenditure of excess funds - $22,000 FY 2009 Assistance to Fire Fighters Fire Station Construction (Makalei). Bid advertisement on 12/23/10 with bid opening postponed for about two weeks (should have been 2-3-11) As soon as we are at groundbreaking stage, will inform all Commissioners. 3 FY 2010 Assistance to Fire Fighters SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response). In communication with SAFER office as got typical favorable initial review e-mail. Working with County Administration to ensure they will take over funding in Year 3. Successful award will result in 20 positions. FY 2010 CDBG –Tanker/Tender –Pahala Fire. Bid for Ka’u District 2000 Gallon Tanker Apparatus awarded to Freedom Fire Equipment from Marietta, GA. AC Rosario and Maesato are presently there for pre-construction meeting. FY 2011 CDBG –Fire Apparatus –Pahoa Fire. Submitted proposal packet for fire protection apparatus on January 6, 2011. Should receive notification sometime in April 2011. Per Housing, they are supporting project but will not be able to confirm until they get word on HUD funding in Mar/April. Grant application is for $600,000. Capital Improvement Projects : Makalei Fire Station: Bid for construction phase. Administration & Support Facility : Looking for alternative sites for dispatch. If cannot get Mohouli site, need to push to look for alternatives. Central Fire Station: Mayor’s office still supporting project. Continue to with HUD on this project. Kawailani Fire Station: Looking at alternative sites and property owned by the State. Ka’u Public Safety Package: Public Works finalizing bids to erect buildings for two volunteer garages. Thanks to Commissioner Stabo for reviewing the Pahala garage project with Chief and Ron Eber of Pahala Volunteers on 2/1. Funding from this public safety package will also include a lifeguard tower at Punaluu. Paauilo: No new updates. DPW ADA Compliance, HazMat Abatement: Laupahoehoe –No changes, awaiting delivery & installation of “missile” impact windows –est. date of completion April 2011 Honokaa –completed Waimea –75% completed. Waiting on delivery & installation of “missile” impact windows –est. date of completion March 2011. Two (2) interior doors (change order) need to be approved and installed –unknown date of completion. Photovoltaic system not completed. North Kohala –ADA ramp completed, earthquake repairs on engine apparatus floor completed. Work in progress on ADA restroom –fixtures being installed. Ambulance bay header raised to accommodate “new” medic height clearance. Estimated completion February 2011 4 Pohoiki Radio Re-Location : No new updates; still awaiting results of second wind load analysis based on resubmitted antenna specifications. Promotions and Hiring: Open-Competitive Recruitments: Fire Fighter Recruits: Medical screenings are continuing for candidates. Internal Recruitments: No active recruitments at this time. Emergency Operations Bureau: Received three 3 hand held GPS units, which were donated to the Kailua, Keauhou and Captain Cook stations. Hazmat Company 21 (N. Kona) performed a Plume Modeling Drill for a simulated Anhydrous Ammonia Leak at the Makai Ocean Engineering NELHA Facility. Completed training of Pahoa Firefighter personnel in the operation of the Departments 3000 gallon fire apparatus water tanker currently assigned to st Station-1, Central. Effective February 1, the apparatus will be relocated to Station-10, Pahoa. This will accomplish better response to the Puna area and Ka’u area which have known water supply problems. EMS Bureau: Battalion Chief Uchida reported: January 6 –received three brand new ambulances to serve South Kohala, North Kohala and Naalehu Waiting installation of EMS radios January 7 –one MICT completed program at KCC January 10 –sent two fire fighters to the MICT program at KCC January 14 –met with the Dean of KCC re the MICT program January 16 & 17 –completed EMT class Did six-month interview with American Medical Response (AMR) and they are functioning as designated Training Bureau: th 39Recruit Class completed the classroom portion, written exams, pre-trip inspection, and closed course portion of driver training. They received their driving permits and will begin on the road driving in February. th January 16, the 39Recruit Class flew to Oahu for their EMT-I skills testing. Volunteer Program: Volunteer Chief Tom Brandt reported: Thanked out-going Chair Bowles for his years of service as well as Congratulated Commissioner Taniguchi as the new in-coming chair 5 Volunteer Fire Chief’s meeting moved to February 19, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at Pu‘uanahulu AEtraining completed in January Received information on a program put out by Duracell where they supply batteries for the volunteer pagers. Prevention Bureau : In process of developing and updating some forms, which are being used as a model across the state. Training continues for three new Inspectors. Kona Fire Prevention Bureau office will be moving to the West Hawaii Civic Center on February 14-15. Auxiliary Services : Communication Section Now in process of installing new upgraded technology equipment. Going to touch screen voice over IP. Operational on one console now. Welcomes Fire Commissioners to tour dispatch. Distribution Center : On January 6, PPE from Honeywell delivered. 136 sets for the Volunteers, 83 sets for the Paid Firefighters. Distribution of new PPE for staff. Maintenance Shop : Received three new ambulances -awaiting EMS radio installation, opticom programming and final detailing before going in service. New Projects/Business : Helicopter Contract: new contract on Feb 1—two new vendors. Rotor Wing no longer service provider. Seamless transition as far as operations 2011 Legislature: With the start of the 2011 legislature, monitoring various fireworks bills, government operations, and fire related bills. th 39Fighter Recruit Class Commencement: Friday, February 25, 1100, Sandalwood Room, Naniloa Resort. Invitations were mailed to all Commissioners. Employee/Public Relations: Hilo Start! Heart Walk and Health Fair: Saturday, February 26, 0800, Liliuokalani Gardens All Commissioners invited to participate. Contact Laurie for more information or pledge packet. EMS Week: Planning is already underway for 2011 EMS Week, to be held Sunday, May 29, at Liliuokalani Gardens. 6 Chair Taniguchi asked Deputy Chief Honda if the department received any results from UH regarding the luminary lanterns. Deputy Chief Honda replied that they have not. NEW BUSINESS Response to Cost of Government Commission’s letter –Commissioner Moku moved to accept and submit the response to the Cost of Government Commission with the amendment that Chair Taniguchi’s name replace out- going Chair Bowles’ name. Commissioner Namahoe seconded the motion and carried unanimously by voice vote. MOTION TO MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION At 10:44 a.m., Chair Taniguchi made a motion to move into executive session, to consider the results of the Fire Chief’s evaluation where consideration of matter affecting privacy will be involved and a closed session is requested, and to consult with Corporation Counsel on questions and issues pertaining to the commission’s powers, duties, privileges, immunities, and liabilities.Commissioner Namahoe seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously by voice vote. COMMITTEE REPORTS Deputy Corporation Counsel Brilhante stated that not all the committees have chairpersons. Recommended the Commissioners take a look at the committees and see if they would like to serve on any committee. ANNOUNCEMENTS The next meeting is to be held on Wednesday, March 9, 2011, at the Kona Department of Liquor Control Conference Room, West Hawai‘i Civic Center, nd 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Building B, 2Floor, Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i Set agenda for April 13, 2011 meeting. ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 11:29a.m. Note: There has been no audio recording kept for this meeting. SUBMITTED BY: JENNIFER M. KUALII Secretary 7