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Home My WebLink About2010-01-13 Fire Commission Minutes William P. Kenoi John M. Bertsch Mayor Chairman Bill Rosehill 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 AS AMENDED January 13, 2010 Aupuni Center Conference Room Hilo, Hawai‘i CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chair Bertsch at 10:00 a.m. ROLL CALL PRESENT: John Bertsch, Chair Stephen Bowles Louis Kaoiwi Kaloa Robinson Bill Rosehill, Vice Chair Excused: James Browne Henry Pomroy, Jr. Scott Stabo A quorum was present. ALSO PRESENT: Tom Brandt, Volunteer Fire Chief Bill Brilhante, Deputy Corporation Counsel Paulette Cainglit Kaycie Carter Glen Honda, Deputy Fire Chief Laurie Kaneta Darren Rosario, Assistant Chief Noni Sanford Ralph Yawata, Assistant Chief Hawai‘i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Commissioners: John Bertsch, Stephen Bowles, James Browne, Louis Kaoiwi Henry Pomroy, Jr., Kaloa Robinson, Bill Rosehill, Scott Stabo STATEMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS (Open to the Public) None On behalf of Mayor Billy Kenoi, Commissioner Rosehill presented a Certificate of Appreciation to outgoing Chairman John Bertsch for his service to the Hawai'i Fire Commission. APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was moved by Commissioner Bowles that the minutes of the November 4, 2009, regular session be approved. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Kaoiwi and unanimously carried. CHIEF’S REPORT Assistant Chiefs Ralph Yawata and Darren Rosario introduced themselves and stated that they would be presenting the Fire Chief’s report in the Chief’s absence. Assistant Chief Darren Rosario began his report with the following: Budget FY 2010/11 Budget: Met with the Department of Finance on January 8, 2010. The County still faces a tight financial situation. The status of the Fire Department’s budget will be determined after the Mayor’s review. An update will be provided at the next Fire Commission meeting. Alternative Funding and Grants FEMA FY 2007 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant: (VTC Equipment) Audio Visual will conduct a technical training with the Department of Data Systems staff in February. The system is being utilized with a good success rate and proven benefits. The County Council is also utilizing the equipment. FEMA FY 2008 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant: (Health/wellness program): Continues to move forward. The bulk of the Fire Department’s employees have been screened. State Department of Transportation Safe Highways: (25 EZIO units and 20 digital cameras for medic units). Did not receive funding. FEMA FY 2009 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant: (254 turn out coats and 251 pants. Total grant is $379,672) No new updates. This grant will provide a second set of Personal Property Equipment (PPE) to personnel. FY 2009 Assistance to Fire Fighters Fire Station Construction: ($4,113,686 award). The Department of Public Works is preparing documents for bid proposal. Targeted for Kalaoa Fire Station in North Kona. 2 FY 2010 Community Development Block Grant Program: Submitted on January 7, 2010, for a replacement fire apparatus for Pahoa (Puna) ($600,000) and fire tanker/tender for Pahala (Ka’u) ($250,000). Commissioner Bowles inquired on the County Council’s use of the Fire Department’s VTC equipment. Deputy Fire Chief Honda replied that the County Council’s equipment is presently not operational. Capital Improvement Projects Makalei Fire Station: No new updates. Pahoa Fire Station: A formal blessing was held on Saturday, December 12, 2009. Appreciation was offered to Commissioners Kaoiwi and Bowles who attended the event. Administration and Support Facility: No new updates. Central Fire Station: No new updates. Pohoiki Radio Relocation: No new updates. Promotions and Hiring Open-Competitive Recruitment Firefighter Recruitment: Pre-employment medical screening was conducted January 6 through January 14, 2010, for 19 applicants/candidates. Targeting hire date for March 16, 2010. Internal Recruitments Fire Captain (Emergency Operations & Training Bureau): Internal recruitment closed at the end of December 2009. Currently in application screening phase.Promotion target date for April 4, 2010. Fire Equipment Operator (Operations Division): Internal recruitment closed at the end of December 2009. Currently in application screening phase. Promotion target date is set for April 16, 2010. Emergency Operations Hokukano and Kealakekua Ranch Fires: Fires began toward the end of December 2009. Initial efforts were made to establish breaks around perimeter of both fires. Extinguishing efforts are still being made. Although the Hokukano Fire was terminated, ranch personnel are keeping an eye on hot spots and Fire personnel is inspecting the site daily. The Kealakekua Ranch Fire continues and a break was placed surrounding the fire. Presently there are a few hot spots that are being extinguished. Appreciation was offered to Commissioner Rosehill for his letter sent to the West Hawai'i Today. His letter offered many people a better understanding of the situation. As a follow up, the Fire Department invited a West Hawai'i Today reporter to the site in order to report on the present conditions. 3 Commissioner Bowles asked whether a cause was determined. Assistant Chief Rosario stated that the official cause was not determined. It is possible that lightning may have been a factor. Lifeguard Tower Replacement: Building permits were required to replace towers. The last tower replacement is scheduled to be completed this week at Pohoiki. Ocean Safety Division is currently working on providing the Ka’u community with training to meet minimum specifications for the Water Safety Officer I level. Punalu’u Water Safety Officer II positions were approved. The goal is to have interested Ka’u residents eventually work toward the Water Safety Officer II level and be available to work in their own community. Assistant Chief Darren Rosario met with US Coast Guard (USCG) Sector Commander Captain Barry Compagnoni to discuss the Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) for services between the Hawai‘i Fire Department and the USCG. Commissioner Kaoiwi inquired on the timeline involved in grant awards. Assistant Chief Rosario replied that grants are reviewed throughout the year by sections of the United States. The Hawai'i Fire Department is included in Section 9 of FEMA’s grant review process. The review begins in Washington D.C. and moves westward. Section 9 is reviewed and processed during December and the beginning of January. Also, FEMA invites peer personnel throughout the country to review the grant applications. Support Services Division – report provided by Assistant Chief Ralph Yawata Emergency Medical Services Bureau Motor Vehicle Crash Reduction Group (MVCRG) meeting: Assistant Chief Yawata attended the quarterly meeting on December 1, 2009, in Waimea. The group is headed by Sharon Vitousek in Kohala. A progress report will be provided at the February meeting. Quality Assurance meeting: Conducted quarterly meeting at Kohala Hospital on December 2, 2009, representatives present were HFD, AMR, Kohala Hospital Administrative Staff members and the State Medical Director Dr. Terrence Jones. MICT Training: Five candidates began training on January 11, 2010, in Hilo, at EMS Training Center. Voluntary vaccination: Began administering the annual Influenza vaccine to Fire Department personnel on December 28, 2009 (civilian staff and volunteers). H1N1 vaccine is now available to the general public. 4 Fire Auxiliary Services Communication FASO attended meeting at Civil Defense with Dr. Jenifer Headry to review Hawai‘i County’s TIC Plan. The participants at the meeting were last year’s table top exercise attendees Assistant Chief Ralph Yawata, Battalion Chief Michael Gahan, and Captain Paulino Austria. Distribution Center OSHA Safety Vests: Due to OSHA regulations, the Fire Department distributed safety vests to paid and volunteer fire fighters who operate near roadways. Maintenance Shop New Vehicles: Kailua & Waiakea HFD 499 –Heavy Rescue Truck – Station 7 HFD 504 – Heavy Rescue Truck – Station 2 The department’s goal is to afford rescue companies the ability to have all equipment available on scene for rescue incidents. Training Bureau: th 38 Firefighter Recruit class: All recruits met their requirements and were reallocated to the Firefighter SR-17. Other Training Confined Space Rescue class: Four personnel attended the class at the Puna Geothermal Venture facility. Personnel from the Pahoa and Waiakea stations participated. Rescue Basic Training program: The lead instructors have been identified and a course curriculum is currently being developed. Class schedules for the lead instructors are being organized. Volunteer Section – Report provided by Volunteer Fire Chief Tom Brandt Dedication for new tanker scheduled for Saturday, February 13, 2010, at noon, at Kohala Ranch. Volunteer Fire Chief’s meeting: Scheduled for January 30, 2010, in Ocean View, at 10:00 a.m. Water Safety tank at Station 19A were filled this week. Appreciation to Company 20A volunteers for their efforts with the Kealakekua brushfire. Commissioner Bowles inquired on the progress of the volunteers Fire Essentials training. Chief Brandt replied that their goal is to complete training by the end of the year. 5 Fire Prevention Bureau – Report continued by Assistant Chief Ralph Yawata New Years Fireworks statistics: Issued 20 display permits and 1,496 firecracker permits. Fireworks related incidents: 27 (14 East Hawai‘i, 13 West Hawai'i). No dollar loss or deaths reported. New Projects/Business Hawai‘i Fire Chiefs Association Conference: A donation of $5,000 was made to the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation. Appreciation was offered to the Fire Commissioners who attended. Employee/Public Relations Hawaii Island United Way: Winners of HIUW campaign are: #1 - Fire Admin (86% participation). #2 - Dispatch (60% participation). #3 - Captain Cook (56% participation). Total donations from 100 employees were $10,514. Station Decorating Contest: Winners are: 1. East Hawai‘i: 1-Kaumana; 2- Central; 3-Honokaa 2. West Hawai‘i: 1-Keauhou; 2-Kailua; 3-Captain Cook Appreciation was expressed to Commissioners Bowles and Robinson for participating in the judging. American Heart Association’s 13 Annual Heart Walk: Event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 20, 2010, at Liliuokalani Gardens. Health Fair starts at 7:00 a.m. and the 1.2 mile and 3.5 mile walk will begin at 8:00 a.m. Commissioners are welcome to participate. This year’s Co-chairs are Dr. Lim & Warren Lee. Commissioner Kaoiwi inquired on the number of vacancies due to retirement. Deputy Fire Chief Honda replied that there were two vacancies due to retirement. Commissioner Kaoiwi inquired on whether access into gated communities is a problem in West Hawai'i. Chair Bertsch stated that each unit is supposed to have a Knox key. However, he does not believe that is the case. Assistant Chief Rosario replied that the Fire Department utilizes the Knox box system to get into gated communities or the property’s security staff will allow them entry. 6 The Prevention Bureau provides the stations with the Knox box keys received by gated communities. Assistant Chief Rosario commented that the Fire Department encourages gated communities to install the Knox box system. Also, requiring this system as part of the development process may be a consideration. Chair Bertsch requested that a report on this matter be provided at the next Fire Commission meeting. Assistant Chief Rosario will provide a report. APPROVAL OF WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS Commissioner Bowles moved to accept communication number 10-01. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Kaoiwi and unanimously carried. Commissioner Rosehill explained that his correspondence to the newspaper was prompted due to the community’s dissatisfaction towards the Fire Department. As a public citizen he felt the need to defend the Fire Department’s actions and purposely wrote the letter as an individual and not a commissioner. NEW BUSINESS Election of Officers for 2010. Commissioner Rosehill moved to nominate Commissioner Bowles as the Chairman for 2010. Commissioner Kaoiwi seconded the motion and it was unanimously carried. Commissioner Kaoiwi moved to nominate Commissioner Robinson as the Vice-Chairman for 2010. Commissioner Rosehill seconded the motion and it was unanimously carried. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Recap on Fire Chief’s Conference. (Earlier discussed.) Chief’s Evaluation. According to Commissioner Bertsch, to date, he has not received evaluation forms from the commission. He will complete his responsibility as Chair by compiling the evaluation forms. At that time, he will forward them to the new chairman to present to both the Fire Chief and the Mayor. Chief Oliveira arrived at 10:55 a.m. He expressed his appreciation to Commissioners Bertsch and Browne for their support to the Fire Department. 7 He thanked Commissioner Rosehill for his encouragement to personnel fighting the brushfire in Kona. His letter helped to educate the public on the efforts of the Fire Department. COMMITTEE REPORTS Budget & Finance (Bowles) Chairman Bowles stated that he and Chief Oliveira will meet in order to discuss budget concerns. Office Management and Staffing (Bertsch) No report. Rules and Policies (Rosehill) No report. Public Relations (Pomroy/Bertsch) No report. Training and Education (Bertsch) No report. ANNOUNCEMENTS NEW LOCATION: The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 10, 2010, at 10:00 a.m., in the County Building Hamakua Conference Room, 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 1002, Hilo, Hawai'i. (LOCATION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.) Set agenda for February 10, 2010, meeting. Commissioner Bertsch introduced Paulette Cainglit as the new Secretary to the Fire Commission. The Fire Commission welcomed her. ADJOURNMENT The meeting ended at 11:10 a.m. SUBMITTED BY: __________________________ KAYCIE A. I. CARTER Secretary 8