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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-11-12 Fire Commission Minutes HAWAII COUNTY FIRE COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION - MINUTES - AMENDED November 12, 2003 Liquor Control Conference Room Hilo Lagoon Centre Hilo, Hawaii CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Neil Brazier at 10:00 am. A moment of silence was observed for the California firefighters. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Stephen Bowles Neil Brazier Rudolph Hart Louis Kaoiwi Karen Maedo Terry Wallace Laura Ward A quorum was present. Excused: Dale Fergerstrom ALSO PRESENT: Lincoln Ashida Martha Rodillas Darryl Oliveira Laurie Kaneta Noni Sanford Desmond Wery Joe Whitney STATEMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS None APPROVAL OF MEETING PROCEEDINGS Fire Chief Oliveira made a correction to the minutes of the October 8, 2003 regular session. The following corrections will be made: in the ChiefÓs report, Training Division, Firefighter Recruit Agility Test: 66 candidates passed the test out of the 109 who were scheduled to appear. There were 17 no shows. 11 failed at the swim; 11 failed at the weight drag; 1 failed on the hose bundle carry; and 3 failed on the endurance run. Commissioner Maedo moved to accept the October 8, 2003, regular & executive session minutes as corrected. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hart and unanimously carried. APPROVAL OF WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS Commissioner Kaoiwi moved to accept communication numbers 03-83 The motion was seconded by Commissioner Maedo and unanimously ca CHIEFÓS REPORT included: Budget: Have not yet received notification on funding of any items. Supplemental budget increased to $5.6 million. A copy will be provided to the HFC. Included are: Kalaua Fire Station positions; KMC fire station positions and additional costs for HOVE start-up costs. A vehicle replacement package included an aerial platform; three 4-wheel drive vehicles; 55 uniformed positions and 6 civilian staff positions. Commissioner Bowles asked where is the HFD with respect to the strategic plan. Chief Oliveira stated that the HFD is consistently aware of the strategic plan with respect to staffing. The Kalaua Fire Station positions would meet the National requirements. Even if all the positions are received, we will still be behind in our plans. Letters of support is appreciated by HFC. The NFPA 1710 used. Commissioner Kaoiwi asked about the prevention area of the HFD. Specifically the position of the inspector was a concern to Commissioner Kaoiwi. Chief Oliveira stated that there is a minimum of 2 years in a captainÓs position to qualify for that position. There has been recruitment of other candidates; interest was received, but no committal. Inspector Kihara is on a contract. Commissioner Kaoiwi is encouraging Chief Oliveira to find someone else instead of the current inspector. Commissioner Kaoiwi is concerned about his production level. Chief Oliveira stated that he would get figures for the HFC. He advised that no one else at the HFD is able to sign off on the plans. Chief Oliveira stated that he would explore other options as well as continue looking to train new candidates for this 2 specialized area. If a partnership is established with a community college, a training class may be considered. Commissioner Wallace stated that a fire protection engineer might be a possibility. Commissioner Kaoiwi is concerned about the costs to HFD to bring back a retiree to work full-time. Chief Oliveira expressed that he has considered a temporary promotion to this position; however this person would have to be trained the same way the 2 permanent employees are being trained. Alternative Funding & Grants: United Stated Fire Administration - no grant announcements for HawaiÒi yet. Round 20 for $367 million announ (10/31/03) to 5,200 fire departments. Total of $750 million will be awarded. Capital Improvement Projects (CIP): Puna Public Safety Complex: Mayor authorized HPD & HFD to proceed with the acquisition of 20 acres in Keaau from Shipman. Site is located on the mauka side of Route 11 at intersection with Route 139, just north of Shipman Ballpark. Thank you to Commissioner Brazier who made contact with the prop Pahoa Fire Station: Met with Mayor and received his support for proposed site. Met with Finance Department on 11/6/03, and agreed to begin discussion with the owner on site acquisition. The proposed site has a good res Fire Administration: Looking at several different sites in the Hilo area. Public Works will soon begin renovations of new temporary office in the County Building. HFDÓs accountant is back to work in the office. HFD Administration is experiencing an office space ÐcrunchÑ. Promotions & hiring: Firefighter Recruitment: deadline for background check packets was 11/4/03. In the process of conducting background checks (64 submittals; 1 withdrawal; 1 no response). Dispatchers & Mechanic RecruitmentÓs - scheduling interviews. Fire Auxiliary Services Officer position Î reviewing (4) applicants. Will do an assessment of the applicants. Will inform HFC of the upcoming interviews. Operations Division: Working on getting Engine 20 out to HOVE. The truck is ready to go. Capt.Ós Enriques & Kendricks will give training to the driverÓs. HFD was lacking proper training. The training program must mirror the CDL program. Current professional staff has been trained. Full-sized companies that have full-sized apparatus are trained. A certified driver instructor will train all volunteers. The Standardization Committee approved purchases of Scubapro Air regulators. Funding was through the Sayre Foundation. 3 Met with Mayor re on-going drought around the island. Concentra high-risk areas. Resources may be moved on the weekends to cent locations to be mobilized as needed. There was a nomination of two outstanding employees (Glen Honda & Lance Uchida) for the County employee of the year. Prevention Division: Maebo Noodle Factory update: electrical forensic ruled out electrical. Fire inspectors believe the fire started in the area by the deep fat fryer, however, they are unable to determine a cause as there was too much items and stored in the building. Training division: thth 28 & 29 Fire Fighter Recruit Class now attending EMT classes. Classes are 4- 6 weeks longer than what it was. Will invite HFC to the graduation. 24 personnel attended Arson Detection for the First Responder tr (sponsored by State Fire Council and National Fire Academy) on October 29 & 30. Police officers also attended the training. 15 personnel attended Command and Control of Wildland/Urban Interface Operations for Structural Chief Officer training on October 14 & 6 personnel attended NFPA 1041 Fire Instructor Training Class on November 4- 6, made possible through USFA grant. Volunteer division: would like to get HOVE truck out as soon as possible. Captain Enriques is putting together a rules & regulations for the volunteers. Fire Auxiliary Services Division: working on filling Battalion Chief position. New projects: Attended cruise ship meeting on October 22. There will be an expected increase in the amount of EMS calls. If there is a shipboard fire, the HFD will need to work with the Coast Guard. Reviewing the MOU with the Coast Guard & other agencies. Attended Big Island Visitor Security AssociationÓs ÐVisitor Security in Post 9-11 EnvironmentÑ on November 4, 2003. Attended a Waikoloa town meeting on October 16, 2003. Conducted neighborhood walk-thru with the neighborhood. Encouraging a door-to-door ÐwatchÑ scenario. Waikoloa community has been aggressive. Expr interests received from the Puako community also. Accountant Gerald Makino is back in the office as of October 16, 2003. Attended MayorÓs meeting on real property tax exemptions on October 16, 2003. Requested review/feedback on Fire ChiefÓs reporting format and o information that the HFC would like to be included in the report 4 Commissioner Bowles stated that there was an event last week at WaikiÓI. Volunteer firefighters were called out & they saved a major fire. The volunteers had difficulty hearing. Commissioner Bowles was impressed at the response time the ChiefÓs stand on drug testing and mirroring the CDL program for the volunteers. Chief Oliveira stated that the dispatchers try their best to get the calls out quickly. Communications with the current microwave projects will improve the sites but not in the field. Saddle Road, S. KaÓu, & S. Kona may have some problems. Commissioner Kaoiwi stated that it is important for the volunteer firefighters to receive the proper training and certification to drive the HFD trucks. Liability belongs to the HFD. Public Relations: th The 29 recruit class assisted the Downtown Improvement Association with a clean-up project on October 26, 2003. They pressure washed the downtown Hilo. Sign waiving for Ðhugs not drugsÑ was held on October 28, 2003. Fire Prevention Week festivities were held on October 11, 2003. Thank you to HFC members (Neil Brazier, Karen Maedo, Terry Wallace & Louis Ka attended the festivities. UNFINISHED BUSINESS COMMITTEE REPORTS Budget & Finance (Bowles/Hart) none Office Management and Staffing (Fergerstrom/Wallace) none Rules and Policies (Kaoiwi) none Public Relations (Ward) none Corporation Counsel Ashida advised that the Mayor shall accept N resignation. This term would have expired in 2007. If anyone knows anyone in district 2 thatÓs interested, please have them apply. If they take Ms. FlattesÓ position, they would only serve the remainder of the term left (3 years). Chairman Brazier called for a recess of 10 minutes at 10:51 am. Meeting called to order by Chairman Brazier at 11:00 a.m. NEW BUSINESS 5 None. MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION It was moved by Commissioner Maedo at 11:00 a.m. that the Fire Commission go into executive session pursuant to Section 92-5(2), HawaiÒi Revised Statutes and Section 13-20(b), HawaiÒi County Charter. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hart and unanimously carried. The regular session ended at 11:00 a.m. and went into executive session. Regular session resumed at 11:32 a.m. ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTER None PUBLIC STATEMENTS None. ANNOUNCEMENTS The next meeting is to be held on Wednesday, December 10, 2003, at 10:00 a.m. at the Resolution Room at the Royal Kona Resort, 75-5852 Alii Drive, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Set agenda for December 10, 2003 meeting Elections Recruitment for Fire Commissioners Chief Evaluation Status of Inspector KiharaÓs position ADJOURNMENT Chairman Neil Brazier adjourned meeting at 11:35 a.m.. SUBMITTED BY: __________________________ MARTHA A. RODILLAS Secretary B&C:Fire Commission:Regular Session Minutes 11-12-03 LSA/mr 6 7