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Home My WebLink About2004-08-11 Fire Commission Minutes HAWAII COUNTY FIRE COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION - MINUTES August 11, 2004 Liquor Control Conference Room Hilo Lagoon Centre CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Neil Brazier at 10:00 am. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Neil Brazier Dale Fergerstrom (10:07 a.m.) Rudolph Hart Karen Maedo Glen Matsuda Laura Ward Clifford (Joe) Whitney A quorum was present. Excused: Stephen Bowles ALSO PRESENT: Aaron ArblesJerry Lum KaycieCarterDianeNoda,DeputyCorporationCounsel Jesse EbersoleDarryl Oliveira, Fire Chief LisaHadwayMarthaRodillas Glen HondaRon Sanford LaurieKanetaDr.FrankSayre Robert KendrickLaura Sayre MayorHarryKimLanceUchida Matthias W. KuschDesmond Wery, Deputy Fire Chief STATEMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS None Hawai'i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer APPROVAL OF MEETING PROCEEDINGS It was moved by Commissioner Maedo that the minutes of the July 14, 2004 regular session be approved. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hart and unanimously carried. APPROVAL OF WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS Commissioner Maedo moved to accept communication numbers 04-033 through 04-039. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Ward and unanimously carried. NEW BUSINESS: st Introduction of 31 Recruit class Jesse K. I. AloyRyan M. Lopossa Gilbert L. Andrade (Jr.)Van M. Medeiros John W. BarcoThomas D. Moore Jon W. BoteilhoMichael J. Murray Alexander K. BumatayJohn E. Requelman Troy D. GibsonTravis J. Santiago Isaiah K HalemanuIan C. Smith Shane K. KauhaneKazuo S.K.L. Todd Daniel J. LeiteKaipo W. Tsark All recruits introduced themselves. TheHFCwelcomedtherecruits. SayreFoundationAwardPresentation MayorKimcommendedChiefOliveiraandtheHFDfortheircommitmentand outstanding performance with the most recent incident in Kona regarding the flooding.TherewasnocomplaintfromKonaresidentsinregardstothe Government not doing their job. Also, he was impressed with the HFD's response toafueltankeronfireatHiloHarbor.HealsogavecredittoHFCfortheir selection of Fire Chief Oliveira. Mayor Kim commended Fire Rescue Specialist Matthias W. Kusch forhis outstanding performance, not only for the specific incident for which he received an award, but also for his dedication and service to the HFD. Commissioner Brazier agreed with Mayor Kim's statements. 2 Commissioner Ward introduced the Sayre foundation founders, Dr. Frank Sayre and Laura Sayre. Dr. Sayre stated that several years ago his son Danny Sayre died tragically due to a hiking accident on the trail to Kapaloa Falls. The HFD's search and rescue crew was called in. Dr. Sayre and his wife Laura, who had been present throughout the entire search and rescue process, witnessed the bravery of these "everyday heroes." They then created the Sayre Foundation in Danny's honor. Mrs. Sayre invited HFC to their annual Sayre Foundation recognition dinner on September 11, 2004 at the Four Seasons Resort. Mrs. Sayre presented the Sayre Foundation Award for courage and merit service to Fire Rescue Specialist Kusch. Fire Rescue Specialist Kusch stated that he is unable to attend the annual recognitiondinner.HegavecredittotheSayreFoundationfortheequipmentand support given, and also thanked them for this great honor. Lisa Hadway emotionally thanked the Sayre Foundation for their commitment to the HFD and also the award given to her husband, Matthias Kusch. Chief Oliveira introduced fire fighters Lance Uchida and Jesse Ebersole who modeled the proposed duty uniform. Chief Oliveira stated that the proposed navy blue uniform would be more practical than the current uniform. Also, the back print highlights the "Hawaii Fire Department". He stated that Mayor Kim is supportive of the more practical uniform. CHIEFS REPORT Budget: No new updates Alternative Funding & Grants: Automated External Defibrillator Access Program Grant: Presently before · the Council for formal authorization to enter into an agreement with the State Department of Health. The plans are in progress and moving along. Capital Improvement Projects Puna Public Safety Complex: No new updates · Pahoa Fire Station: Captain Ahyo has worked in conjunction with · 3 Department of Public Works. They have completed the consolidation process for the property. Planning Director Chris Yuen approved consolidation on August 3, 2004. Fire Administration: Captain Ahyo is working on the property above Komohana Street intersection with the Mohouli extension and the Sunrise Ridge subdivision selected as a priority site. Plans include cutting out five acres and identifying what the cost for bringing in sewer systems, as well as roadway access to that property would be. Once those issues are identified, the package would be taken to the Mayor with a request to do an executive order to try to acquire a piece of that property. (The states owns 17acres at this location.) HFD would only require five acres. Promotion & Hiring st 31 Fire Fighter Recruit Class: Recruits started on August 2, 2004. A · Physical agility test will be done on Saturday, August 14, 2004. HFC was invited to observe events at the Kawamoto Swim Stadium and Wong Stadium. The start of the next recruit class is tentative for March 2005. Commissioner Brazier asked if these are men from the original pool and also how often it is advertised. Chief Oliveira stated that the recruitment announcement was announced in June and advertised in July. Announcements and testing are expected to be made every summer allowing the HFD the opportunity to select at least 40 candidates per year, 20 students per class, with 2 classes per year. Commissioner Brazier asked what happens to the previous list of applicants not chosen. Chief Oliveira stated that the list would expire after one year. CommissionerMaedoaskedforclarificationonthetwoclassesperyear. ChiefOliveirastatedthattheexpectationwithtwoclassesperyearuntil 2006 would make it so HFD can fulfill its division filling requirements. HFD hasexpressedcontinueddesiretotheCounciloftheneedtofillthe one-man stations. EMT training is the only concern because that holds HFDbackduetotheschedulingandavailabilitywiththeCommunity College. HFD has considered teaching its own program if the school cannotkeepupwiththedemandsofthisprogram.FirefightersLance Uchida and Jesse Ebersole are part time instructors with the Community Collegeallowingthistobeamajorpossibility. CommissionerBrazieraskedhowmanymembersareinthedepartment and what is the target. 4 Chief Oliveira stated that if HFD fills every station with the proper staffing level the ideal number would be at least 400. Retirement: Lloyd Narimatsu, Assistant Fire Chief, effective · August 1, 2004 Dispatcher: Lillian Sarsfield hired on August 9, 2004 to fill vacancy left by · resignation. Former police radio supervising dispatcher. Operations Division Hawaii Community Correctional Center fire: On July 24, 2004 at · 3:15 p.m., HFD responded to a call at the HCCC. Mattress/pillow intentionally set on fire by an inmate. The crews arrived immediately on the scene and quickly managed to control the situation even with what could be determined as a hostile situation. Flash Flooding: EOC activated on August 3, 2004. They helped coordinate · a satellite command post. Prevention Division: No new updates Training Division thth Status of 30 Recruit Class: In their 6 week of EMT B training, covering · extrication, burn and OB treatments. th Status of 29 Recruit Class: Assigned to stations. · Driver Competency Training Program Update: All 271 drivers have been · audited (100%). Agility Test: Fire Fighter Recruit Agility test on August 14, 2004. · Volunteer Division Volunteer Chiefs meeting scheduled on August 14, 2004 at Pahala Fire · Station at 10:00 a.m. EMS Division Ocean View Ambulance Service: Scheduled for implementation on · November 1, 2005. Working with State Department of Health, Carrus Foundation, and Ocean View Community Association. Operating budget requirement was submitted. The scheduled date will give HFD time to get personnel, equipment and station in order. The State will have time to generate the funds to support the program. MICT Class: Tentative start date of September 27, 2004. The mentoring · program continues to maintain consistently 100% participation. Fire Auxiliary Services FederalEPAContaminatedSoilClean-UpProject:ChiefMatsuihelped · coordinate the support needed for clean up. The fire personnel, under 5 direction of EPA personnel, applied foam to maintain the vapor control at Hilo Bayfront as they removed some of the contaminated soil. EPA is pleased with the support provided by the County. HELCO donated trucks: Two refurbished trucks to brush fire trucks are now · in completion. Records Retention Project: Chief Matsui working with volunteers in · converting prior incident reports into electronic files. Training: Working on completing the training for the last two dispatchers · hired, also completed selection of the recent hired dispatcher. Auxiliary Services Supervisor Vivian Akine completed Intergraph Public-Safety Conference/Training and is presently attending Association of Public-safety Communications Officials Conference/Training in Montreal, Canada. Laptop: Chief Matsui and Vivian Akine put into service a laptop computer · for Dispatch Center with information (forms, tracking data, and mapping information) for utilization when Dispatch center emergency relocates to Civil Defense Emergency Operation Center. West Hawaii Sub-Storage Container: Stock of emergency supplies and · equipment completed. New Projects/Business Attendance Record Card Program: Clerk Judy Kaeo computerized a · program to track vacation and sick leave usage and balances implemented at all networked fire stations and divisions. This will eliminate paperwork and redundancy. Implementing telephone directory network database, memorandumdatabase,andproceduresmanual. Big Island County Drought Planning Workshop: Attended on · July 20, 2004; follow-up on August 17, 2004. Working with different agencies that are affected with the impact of a drought. nd 2 Annual Transportation Conference - "Getting From Here to There": · Attended on July 21, 2004 in Kona. The conference was sponsored by the County Mass Transit Agency issues identified were how mass transit plays role in the growing community. Providing activities for the Big Island's youth is a problem due to the lack of having transportation for them. State Fire Council: July 28/29 in Maui. · ID Card Program: Recently received an ID machine through Office of · DomesticPreparednessfunds.Id'swillbeprovidedforallfirepersonnel, including HFC. It will give HFD the capability to provide cards for a fire groundpersonnelaccountabilityprogram.Machineisalsocapableforbar- coding. This will help monitor equipment inventory. Public Relations Puainako Express: Held on August 7, 2004, coordinated by the East Hawaii · CoalitionfortheHomeless,andsupportedbyCountydepartments.There was a 10K run and 5K walk. 284 participants enjoyed a view of Hilo. WorldSprints(August11to15):Personnelprovidedmedicsupportforthe · event. 6 American Cancer Society Relay for Life: Personnel participated in Hilo's · event at Wong Stadium on July 17 and 18. Partnered with Police, Corporation Counsel and Prosecuting Attorney's Office. rd 3 Annual KTA-HIUW Bag Brigade: Begins August 21 at KTA-Kailua. · Schedule will be given to HFC. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None COMMITTEE REPORTS Budget & Finance (Bowles/Hart) None · Office Management and Staffing (Fergerstrom) None · Rules and Policies (Maedo) · Commissioner Maedo raised the issue regarding term limits. Deputy Corporation Counsel Diane Noda stated that there was issues regarding Fire Commissioners status update: 1. HFC District 4 Vacancy - Waiting for a response from the Mayor's Assistant Wendell Hatada regarding the status of the HFC vacancy. 2. Term limits - (See Attachment "A", Section 13-4, paragraph C). 3. District - Commissioner must live in their district. 4. Adjournment - HFC may adjourn either by motion to adjourn by a member and a vote, or the chair can adjourn if there is no other business. 5. Absences - If Commissioners are absent, notification to the Chair or Secretary is necessary. Kaycie Carter stated that she can be reachedat 961-8316 at the County ofHawaiiClericalServiceCenter. DeputyCorporationCounselDianeNodastatedthatCommissioner Matsuda appeared to be absent at a previous meeting in June. This shouldbenotedasanexcusedabsence.DeputyCorporationCounsel Noda attended a County Council meeting that day and was unable to informtheHFCofthis. CommissionerBrazieraskedwhataretheproceduresinhavingaposition vacated. Commissioner Fergerstrom questioned if this would be the act of the County Council to remove a position. 7 Deputy Corporation Counsel Noda stated that the rules state that a vacancy occurs after three consecutive absences. She will look further into that issue. Public Relations (Ward) None · PUBLIC STATEMENTS None ANNOUNCEMENTS The next meeting is to be held on Wednesday, September 8, 2004, at · 10:00 a.m. at the Resolution Room, Royal Kona Resort, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Set agenda for September 8, 2004, meeting. · Commissioner Hart thanked Martha for attending the meeting even though she was on vacation. All HFC members agreed with him. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Brazier adjourned at 11:22 a.m. SUBMITTED BY: __________________________ KAYCIE A. I. CARTER Secretary B&C:Fire Commission:Regular Session Minutes 8-11-04 8