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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-13-05COUNTY OF HAWAII FIRE COMMISSION FIRE CHIEF’S REPORT April 13, 2005 Welcome of new Fire Commissioners on board. (James Browne, Karen Kudlo, Wil Okabe) Budget • FY 2005/06: Heard before the Finance Committee on March 29. Thanks to Commissioners Bowles and Maedo for their support. No real opposition to our budget as submitted with the amendments: o Increase in Equipment Parts Account $ 55,000 o 2 Battalion Chiefs $133,294 o 1 Account Clerk $ 23,700 o Fire Pumper Apparatus (S. Kona) $490,000 o Fire Ladder/Aerial Platform $850,000 o Fire Brush Truck (S. Kona) $150,000 Total: $1,701,994 7 Fire Fighter positions also obtained for Ocean View (State funds). On May 18, the Council will hold their first reading of the budget. They have until June 1, 2005 to pass the budget on their second reading. Alternative Funding and Grants • USFA Grant: Continuing to obtain bid specification for our modular live fire training unit (burn trailer). Will allow us to take live fire training around the island as well as recruit training. Federal portion is $301,000; County match is $129,000. • FY 2005 Assistance to Firefighters Grant: Submitted our grant application on April 8, 2005 under the Operations and Safety program category. Our application seeks to acquire vehicle exhaust extrication systems for all of our fire stations. Total budget is $406,016 (Federal) and $101,504 (County 20% match), total $507,520. • DOT Safe Highways Grant: As reported last month, radio translucent spineboards bid awarded and recently went out to vendor for beginning of purchasing process. Ordered 67 spineboards with straps. Will improve patient care, as well as establish board replacement/sharing program with Aquatics section. Researching airbag replacements for next DOT submittal. Capital Improvement Projects • Puna Public Safety Complex: No new updates. • Pahoa Fire Station: The publication of the Environmental Assessment has been delayed due to an issue with the State Historical Society. Expect setback of several weeks. • Fire Administration & Support Facility: Our request to acquire five acres of land off of Mohouli extension was approved by the DLNR Board on March 11, 2005. Facility will include Administration, Communications, training, and other support divisions. Hopefully, we will move to the design/plan phase by end of the year. Targeting about three years to completion date. Will meet with divisions to ensure needs are met for the future. • Kalaoa Fire Station: Continuing to address “line of sight” problem that has arisen at the planned entrance point into the highway. Additional cost issues are being worked on as well. • Central Fire Station: No new updates since last month. Seeking Federal Housing and Urban Development review and approval to revise Master Plan in order to proceed with project. • Re-Roofing at Central Fire Station: $40,000 appropriated from bond float to hire design consultant to replace/repair Central roof. • Naalehu Fire Station: (Lease agreement?) Promotions and Hiring • Fire Fighter Recruit Hiring: Held a family orientation on April 8th. 32nd Fire Fighter Recruit class will start on April 18 with a class of 20. Will be introduced to Commissioners at next month’s meeting. • 30th Fire Fighter Recruit Class: Promoted to Fire Fighters effective March 16; received their station assignments. • Fire Radio Dispatcher I: Six new dispatchers in orientation. Presently in First Responder class. Will be introduced to Commissioners at next month’s meeting. • Fire Radio Dispatcher III (Supervisors): Internal recruitment to promote 3 new dispatcher supervisors. Closing date of recruitment is April 18. Operations Division • Ocean View Fire Station: Received contract for State funding of fire fighter positions at Ocean View. • Military Fire Fighters: FRS David Minor returned to duty on April 2nd. FF Recruit Garrett Kim returned to Big Island; still on active military duty but plans to return to duty in early May. FF Alan AhHeong, FRS Michael Kamau, and FRS Todd Vincent presently on Oahu. FF Mark Mangibin, FF Recruit Kilipaki Kanae, and FRS James Wilson deployed. • Weapons of Mass Destruction Rad/Nuc Awareness/Responder Training: FF Arnold Ferreira and Captain Tracy Yanagi attended 4-day training during March in Bechtel, Nevada. Captains Ralph Yawata and Jason Gushiken just returned from training. • Suicide Bomber: Prevention & Interdiction: Being held today (April 13) on Oahu: Deputy Chief Desmond Wery, Captains Clint Coloma & Tracy Yanagi, FF Chris Honda. Prevention Division • FEST Seminar: Inspector continuing to coordinate Fireworks Education & Safety Training (FEST) scheduled for May 2 to 6, 2005 on this island. Training Division • 31st Recruit Class Update: Presently in their fourth week of EMT Training. Volunteer Training Division EMS Division • MICT Class Update: Students presently on Oahu for six months. • Medical Director Contracts: Dr. Lee Fineberg (Hilo Medical Center) on board as our medical director. Finalizing contract for Dr. McDowell (Kona Hospital). Fire Auxiliary Services New Projects/Business • Fire Science 151 & 152 Classes: 61 of our personnel presently attending Fire Science 152 classes. • Media Relations Classes: Informal group interviews held with Dr. Miura, head of Communications at the University of Hawaii to assess the needs of our personnel as they see them. Next phase will include public right to know and HIPAA issues. • Hawaii Fire Chief’s Association Conference: Will be having our first committee planning meeting for conference on April 21. Conference to be held November 17 to 20, 2005. • Ocean Safety: Initial discussions with Parks and Recreation into incorporating Ocean Safety Division into the Fire Department. Employee survey disseminated on March 31 to obtain perspectives and views of personnel. • Employee/Public Relations • 3rd Annual Employee Awards & Recognition Dinner: Held on April 9, 2005 at the Crown Room. Thanks to Commissioners Fergerstrom, Maedo, Bowles and Varney for their attendance. • Mother’s Day Rose Project: “Fighting for a Cure” to benefit American Cancer Society. Rose orders being accepted; delivery on May 6th for Mother’s Day. This is our 3rd year. Past 2 years raised $6,000. Spearheaded by FF Chris Honda and FEO Lance Uchida. • EMS Week: To be held May 22, 2005 at Liliuokalani Gardens in Hilo. Celebrating 30 years of EMS on the County of Hawaii. Invitations will be sent out to Fire Commissioners soon.