HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-14-04COUNTY OF HAWAII FIRE COMMISSION
FIRE CHIEF’S REPORT
January 14, 2004
• Correction on December 10, 2003 Minutes, Page 2: re: Budget.
$2.3 million is supplemental budget for Fiscal Year 2003-04.
Upcoming FY 2004/05 budget includes positions for Kalaoa and
takeover of KMC fire station.
Budget
• Our first budget review for our FY 2004-05 program budget and
supplemental budget is with the Finance Department is on
January 16, 2004.
Alternative Funding and Grants
• Will be monitoring progress of Staffing for Adequate Fire and
Emergency Response Firefighters (SAFER) Act, which will
authorize funds for a competitive grant program for localities to hire
more fire fighters. Act passed by U. S. Congress as part of FY 2004
National Defense Authorization Act. Legislation now goes to
White House, where President Bush is expected to sign it into law.
Authorization establishes the particulars of the program, but
Congress still must provide funding through an appropriation.
Program will not be eligible to receive funding until FY 2005.
SAFER Act authorizes U.S. Fire Administration to award $7.6
billion in grants over seven years to career, volunteer and
combination departments for the purpose of hiring additional fire
fighters. Grants will be awarded on the basis of need through a
competitive, peer-reviewed process modeled after the highly
successful Assistance to Firefighters grant program (FIRE Act).
Grants are for 4-year period and must not exceed $100,000 per fire
fighter. Requires an overall non-federal match minimum of 37.5%
(10, 20, 50 and 70% in years 1 through 4 of grant, to phase down
local government dependence on federal government), and
recipients are required to retain new hires for at least one year
following conclusion of federal funding.
Capital Improvement Projects
• Update on Fire Administration project, re: site visits.
• Puna Public Safety Complex: Keaau Shipman property meeting
scheduled for January 15.
Promotions and Hiring
• Promotion of Curtis Matsui, Battalion Chief, Fire Auxiliary
Services Division, effective January 1, 2004. Share assessment
center format.
• FEO written examinations held in Hilo and Kona on January 6,
2004.
• Fire Captain written examinations to be held in Hilo and Kona on
January 15, 2004.
• Interviews of 60 Fire Fighter Recruit applicants between January 8
to 15, 2004.
• Fire Rescue Specialist physical abilities and performance tests on
January 13, 2004, followed by interviews today, January 14, 2004.
(Note: Kaoiwi attended 1-13-04)
• Tentative dates of Fire Dispatcher interviews on January 22 to 24,
2004.
• Tentative dates of Fire Mechanic interviews on January 29-30,
2004.
Operations Division
• RMS Update: Additional committee members. Inclusion of daily
roster module. First export of data (October to December 2003) to
NFIRS on January 15, 2004.
Prevention Division
• Richard Kihara contract ended 12-31-03.
• HPP fire with fatality on 1-14-04.
Training Division
• Driver competency training program.
• 30th Recruit Class targeted to begin in March 2004.
Volunteer Division
• Volunteer Chiefs meeting on January 10, 2004.
EMS Division
• 29th Recruit Class begins their EMT training on January 20, 2004.
Fire Auxiliary Services
• Data Systems working with Fire Dispatch on CADs link to drop
information into our RMS.
New Projects/Business
• Possible item to agendize at next meeting: Character First
Presentation by Councilman Elarionoff. Awaiting confirmation
from Elarionoff.
• Chief will be attending the National Fire Academy from February
2-13, 2004, re: executive planning session class geared towards
chief management strategic planning and program development for
organizations dealing in crisis management.
Public Relations
• American Heart Walk and Health Fair on February 7, 2004
beginning at 0700 at Edith Kanakaole Tennis Stadium.