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HomeMy WebLinkAbout030806COUNTY OF HAWAII FIRE COMMISSION FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT March 8, 2006 Budget Presentation and Review of Progress and Accomplishments: To provide Commissioners with budget information, current challenges, trends and issues. Review of some of the major projects that have been initiated, as well as review of accomplishments, in the past four years. Budget • FY 2006/07: NOTE: Correction on department budget review by Council —should be MARCH 29 AT 1330. Mayor's budget to Council includes: Systems Analyst (position to be included in Data Systems budget for Fire); Account Clerk; and $79,308 for Maintenance Shop equipment. Alternative Funding and Grants • FEMA FY 2005 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant: Bid award proposal completed and recently submitted to Finance Department. • FEMA FY 2004 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant: FEO Mike Hayashida in contact with Draeger Safety to discuss details of grant award. • CDBG FY 2006 Grant Proposal: Our Community Development Block Grant proposal for FY 2006 for $850,000 to purchase a replacement Pahoa fire engine and Pahala fire tanker was not approved for submittal as part of County's grant package. Capital Improvement Projects Copy of Pahoa Fire Station and Kalaoa Fire Station floor plans to Fire Commissioners for side -by -side comparison. (Report to be provided by CIP Manager Nicholas AhYo) Pahoa Fire Station: State DOT will not allow the planned access to Highway 130; we will need to rotate the station 90 degrees and develop a "canalized" intersection. We are hopeful that construction contracts will be in place by end of the fiscal year. Fire Administration & Support Facility: Work on the Training building progressing — drafts of floor plans submitted to AC Mento to comments. Data 100% complete on Administration and Dispatch building. Central Fire Station: Mayor's Office has requested survey data and an estimated value of the site. Public Works is seeking guidance from them on our requirements for the survey. Central Fire Station -Retrofit Project: Notified by Public Works to NO bids were received from this project and that they must re -advertise for bids. • Kalaoa Fire Station: We have moved from Bolton site to Makalei. Right of entry signed by owner on Monday (March 6, 2006). Promotions and Hiring • Internal Recruitments: Fire Mechanic interviews to be held on March 10. Continuing to work on FRD (3 vacancies) recruitment. • Captain. FEO. and Prevention Inspector Recruitments: Assessment Center held for Captain candidates. Attended by Commissioner Matsuda. Will follow with FEO recruitment. Will be doing new recruitment for Prevention Inspector vacancies. • Firefighter Recruit: Will be scheduling interviews for about 100 candidates from both agility tests to select for 34t" and 35t" recruit classes. Emergency Operations Division Bon Fire & Outdoor Rubbish Fires: (Cards passed out to FC). In an effort to education public, we are distributing excerpts from County Code relating to bon fires and outdoor rubbish fires to provide a basic understanding of regulations authorizing or prohibiting open burning and to promote and assure compliance. Support Services Division Prevention Bureau: Continuing to track various fireworks related bills and submitting testimony. Captain Jack Pacleb recently provided verbal testimony for HB 1833 that will authorize County to designate vendors to sell fireworks permits, as Judiciary Committee added language that negates intent of bill (authorized designees cannot issue fireworks permit and sell fireworks from the same location). Finance Committee understands that a one -stop -stop concept may be a more convenient means of obtaining a fireworks permit, especially for rural communities. They found that this concept deserves further discussion. The bill was aooroved with no amendments. Trainina Bureau: • 32"d FF Recruit Class: Graduation held on February 17. Thanks to Commissioner Maedo for inspiring speech to recruits. • 33rd FF Recruit Class: Class will begin EMT class on March 15. • Volunteer Training Section Auxiliary Services Bureau EMS Bureau • Medical Director: Dr. Judith FitzGerald will be officially on board as of March 16, 2006. She will be responsible for oversight in East Hawaii. • EMS Provider Meeting: Scheduled for March 16 on Oahu. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss key issues being faced as service delivery agencies. New Projects/Business 2006 Legislature: Submitted proposal to increase our EMS budget by $512,931 to provide dedicated staffing of our air medical helicopter. Heard in Committees on Health and Intergovernmental Affairs. Committee found that appropriating dedicated funds for this unit will maximize operational effectivensss and operational safety. However, they noted that other aeromedical helicopter units do not have dedicated personnel and the cost for such units are apportioned equally between the State and the county where the service is provided. Media Relations: Continuing to pursue media relations training with Dr. Steven Miura. Plan to host two hour news media -fire department relations meeting with media, Corporation Counsel, and Fire Department personnel in April. The objective is to create a face-to-face working relationship and understanding as well as to present to the media the legal policies/issues concerning the release of information to the public. Employee/Public Relations • Waikoloa Fire Station Open House: Through request and assistance of Commissioner Browne, community open house will be held on Saturday, March 25, from 1000 to 1400. The goal is to educate the community of what the fire department does and highlight our fire fighting equipment. • 4t" Annual Employee Awards and Recognition Dinner: Event scheduled for March 18 at the King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel. • American Red Cross "Hats Off" Campaign: Participated in campaign to raise awareness of and funds for American Red Cross. Held on March 4 at KTA Puainako and Kailua. Representatives from Fire, Police and Civil Defense. • EMS Week: Plans underway for EMS Week on Sunday, May 28, at Liliuokalani Gardens.