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HomeMy WebLinkAbout071206COUNTY OF HAWAII FIRE COMMISSION FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT July 12, 2006 • Introduction of 34t" FF Recruit Class Budget • FY 2006/07: Budget approved to include the following new positions: 1 —Account Clerk — Information Systems Analyst IV (Data Systems budget) — Fire Captain (Volunteer Training) — FEO (Driver Trainer) — Battalion Chief (Special Operations) — Part Time Projects Manager Will be working with our Personnel section on class specifications and Position Descriptions. Also received $79,308 for Maintenance Section equipment purchases. Maintenance Shop working on specs. Alternative Funding and Grants FEMA FY 2005 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant: Mandatory station walk-throughs to be conducted on July 10-11 by vendors and contractors. FF Neil Yoshioka accompanying them. Purpose for vendors to see what they need to do to bid on project. Bids will open on August 4. FEMA FY 2004 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant: FF Mike Hayashida obtained information from Draeger that burn trailer is scheduled to be completed by end of September 2006 with delivery during October. Contested case affected Draeger's ability to deliver as stated. Our biggest concern was losing funding from FEMA; however, matter resolved as they will accept delay for extension as it was not our doing. • FEMA FY 2006 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant: No word on our grant application, re: purchase of wildland fire safety shoes for all fire fighters. Approximately $63,000 plus $12,000 County match. • Department of Transportation -Safe Highways Grant: Submitted application for road safety system (generators, lights, banners). Total grant application $30,000. Capital Improvement Projects Makalei Fire Station: Architects Hawaii fee proposal received and accepted at $347,425. Proposal will identify stages for pre -construction phase of project. Work will begin once contract is finalized by Public Works. • Pahoa Fire Station: Low bid was Isemoto Contracting at $4.8 million. Came in $500,000 under budget. Additional $1 million appropriated and approved by Department of Finance. Public Works will notify Isemoto of award by July 10, 2006. Fire Administration & Support Facility: Public Works reviewing submitted project requirements and putting together selection committee for design consultant. F-1 asked Nick to "think big" in all aspects of facility, i.e., co -location of dispatch with police; training area large enough for activities such as C-PAT and disaster preparedness (multi -use concept). Central Fire Station: Housing and Community Development Corp of Hawaii board approved transfer of land to County. Are now awaiting Federal HUD approval of "change of site use" from housing to public facility. Central Fire Station Retrofit Project: Contractor assembling/purchasing material prior to actual start of repair work. We have been reassured that it will not impact operations at the station. F-1 asked Nick to reconfirm this. Promotions and Hiring • Internal Recruitments: Active recruits include: Fire Prevention Inspector: Assessments held June 14 & 19. F-1 has been notifying candidates; will be filling all 4 existing positions. Shooting for July 16 promotions. Fire Equipment Operator: Assessments held June 7. F-1 trying to tender candidates formal offer of promotion; however without yet identifying promotion date and assignments. Fire Captain: Assessment to be held July 12. Hope to identify ID promotees and move on promotions as well. • Open Recruitments: Firefighter Recruit: 34t" class began on July 3. Fire Radio Dispatchers: New dispatchers to begin July 17. (3 permanent and one temp. Emergency Operations Division (Nothing to report) Support Services Division Auxiliary Services: • We have begun the training, fit -testing and distribution of new MSA SCBA units in East Hawai'i. The training, fit -testing and distribution of the West Hawai'i units were completed in June. Two of our fire mechanics have completed Mako Compressor service training in Florida. The training was organized through a partnership with L. N. Curtis and Sons, Ltd. We are now able to service our Mako compressors (used to fill our SCBA and SCUBA tanks) without the use of outside contractors. Glen Maesato and Captain Honda are presently in Wisconsin doing the final inspection of fire engines for Volcano and Kalaoa Fire Stations. EMS Bureau: We have not yet received the 15 laptops we ordered. The winning bid was approved in June. These laptops will support Patient Care Reporting (PCR) software that will replace our paper ambulance report forms. Members of the RMS committee are slated to go to Oahu to see how the City and County of Honolulu uses their PCR. Per James Gray: All MICT's should be trained in the updated ACLS protocols by 7/21/06. Written changes to standing orders to follow. Training Bureau: • The 33rd recruit class will begin the clinical phase of their EMT training on July 14tn They will complete their EMT training on August 17t" and will graduate from recruit training on Aug. 18, 2006. Prevention Bureau: Nichols: F-1 briefed all on contested case filed by Nichols, who appealed Liquor Commission proposed non -renewal of license. Our Prevention Bureau was receiving calls on the establishment exceeding occupancy load. Community also filed petition against Nichols —vagrancy, noise, littering, health issues. We got involved in that the Department of Liquor Control asked for our thoughts and opinion on license renewal. Right now we do not have citation powers. Trying to build partnership with Liquor — submitted letter to Liquor Commission and voiced our support of Liquor taking action against business who was not following laws. In future, we hope to get citation powers in order to cite them. Liquor Commission able to get Nichols to compromise by limiting hours of serving alcohol and hours of operation. If continued violations, Commission will revoke license. Other Support Division Activities: • Began discussion with the Hawai'i Volcano National Park on joint Avian Influenza response training. • Working with Charmaine Kamaka on a County wide Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure protocol. The draft is to be completed in mid — august. New Projects/Business Project Lifesaver: Week long training held June 26 to 30. Five of our personnel certified as instructors. Project Lifesaver is a non-profit organization from Virginia; program provides radio transmission devices for persons with Alzheimers and dementia. They have a 100% success rate. We got involved through contact by the East Hawaii Disabilities Council; Dr. Holschuh provided funding for training and equipment. Rescue companies equipped with equipment and will be training personnel at their stations. Program will be slowly evolving. • Fire Science (Rural Development Program): Four classes planned for fall semester fire science. Right now more or less confirmed on two wildland (red card) classes. Will try to open to public. Emergency Response Academy: Program began July 3rd in Pahala; Captain Gahan picked up as their lead instructor. If they call for assistance, please help. Is requesting C-2 for July 14 for short flight for students. Program success and credit goes to our staff who get involved. MICT Preceptor Premium: Per F-1, learned lesson through Supervisory Premium that better communication is needed. F-1 hopes to get going on MICT preceptor premium. He has met with the Mayor, Civil Service and Fiscal to iron out details. Awaiting final approval from Mike Ben. This is something we have been trying to do for several years but did not having funding available to us. Hopefully, this premium will be ironed out next week before students come back. Employee/Public Relations • 4t" of July Pool Splash: Thanks to Captain Ted VanGelder and personnel at Station 2 for a fun day at the pool. Everyone had a good time.