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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-06-13 Fire Commission Minutes HAWAI‘I COUNTY FIRE COMMISSION MINUTES OF JUNE 13, 2012 WEST HAWAI‘I CIVIC CENTER BUILDING G CONFERENCE ROOM 74-5044 ANE KEOHOKALOLE HIGHWAY, KAILUA-KONA CALL TO ORDER Chair Toby Taniguchi called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Toby Taniguchi, Chair Kaloa Robinson, Vice Chair Gregory Henkel, Commissioner Kimo Lee, Commissioner Byron Moku, Commissioner Luahiwa Namahoe, Commissioner Excused: Laurie Bass, Commissioner Carol Kitaoka, Commissioner A quorum was present. Also Present: Darren Rosario, Fire Chief Wayne Krug, Volunteer Fire Captain Lincoln S. T. Ashida, Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Henkel moved to approve the agenda. Commissioner Moku seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS None APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MAY 9, 2012 Commissioner Moku moved to approve the minutes with a correction that the meeting started at 10:00 a.m. instead of 9:00 a.m. Commissioner Henkel seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. FIRE CHIEF’S REPORT Fire Chief Darren Rosario highlighted items on his written report. HawaiÒi County Fire Commission Minutes of June 13, 2012 Page 2 BUDGET Update on Budget Status Chief Rosario reported that in their current budget, they met their salaries and wages and came under their requirements for the rest of their operating budget. They had to move some funds for helicopter maintenance. Moving common occurrence. For their new budget, they are splitting county funds from state funds. There was a significant cost increase for a new ambulance, and shipping contributed to the increase. They donÓt have a line item for fleet replacement, but the Mayor gave them funding for leases. They received a budget increase for five brand new Class A pumpers. ALTERNATIVE FUNDING AND GRANTS FY 2011 CDBG Grant for Pahoa Apparatus: Production is expected to start in late July or early August, and delivery to be made in early October. FY 2012 CDBG Grant for Pahoa Tanker: Funding was awarded for a 3,000 gallon tanker for the Pahoa district. Bids will be ready upon approval from Housing and Urban Development. FY 2011 SAFER Grant: Awards were expected in early June, but they were notified it will be in the latter part of June or early July. They will be able to hire 30 fire fighters with 100% funding for three years. After the three years, the county has to take over funding. They are allowed lay-offs after three years if they do not have the funding, but they do not expect that to happen. From what he saw in the peer review, their applications stood up well. They start with the highest scoring applications, and it works its way down. In this budget, they have funding to hire 18 firefighters. They usually get about 10 retirements a year. the 2011 Safer Grant, they will apply for the 2012 grant. Capital Improvement Projects Makalei Fire Station: They are nearing completion. They are waiting for settlement of legal issues between Helco and the Makalei Association. KaÒu Public Safety Package: There was no update for the Naalehu and Pahala volunteer garages. Another letter was sent to Warren Lee of Public Works to get the project going. PunaluÒu Life Lifeguard Tower: The tower is completed and is being packaged for shipping with a projected arrival later this month. Hpuna Tower: They are trying to tie up loose ends and supplemental agreement with the property owner. HawaiÒi County Fire Commission Minutes of June 13, 2012 Page 3 HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION Hiring and Promotions The Fire Apparatus Trainer position had no qualified applicants. ItÓs a 40 hr. position, which would be a pay cut for 24 hour workers. They are working with Human Resources to reallocate the position to a Fire Lieutenant position. Background checks and interviews were conducted for the Water Safety Officer I position. Six people will be hired. A lot of promotions are ongoing. Labor Relations: They continue to work with HGEA on fiscal reorganization and an arbitration case. The HawaiÒi Fire Fighters Association has been without a contract for a year. EMERGENCY OPERATIONS DIVISION Operations Baseline blood screens have been completed and will also be done for new hires. It was a high cost item. A social media class was conducted by Corporation Counsel Lincoln Ashida. As a department, they need to have protocols for social media. Policies will be drafted and reviewed by HGEA. Standard Operating Procedures for Water Safety Officers have been updated and will be distributed to all WSOs. Hazmat: Funding sources have been secured for their Multi Rae equipment with the wireless link. They will get 50% funding from the LEPC and from the Sayre Foundation. Rescue: Jet skies funded by the Sayre Foundation are being purchased. Ocean Safety The WSO IV position was filled and is working well. The new Standard Operating Procedures Manual and Discipline Proc been finalized and will be distributed soon. Act 190 signage was assessed and ordered. These are for beaches not protected by lifeguards. They are working with Parks and Recreation to identify what beaches to put the signs on. Other signage will be purchased when more money becomes available. HawaiÒi County Fire Commission Minutes of June 13, 2012 Page 4 SUPPORT SERVICES DIVISION EMS Bureau FMS Honda worked with personnel from Pahala and Naalehu fire stations to conduct pre-hospital EMS training for KaÓu Hospital staff. Skills such as rapid trauma assessment, spinal precautions, and patient extrication out of a vehicle were done. Feedback from the hospital staff was very positive, and they were very appreciative of the training. Ten MICT students were scheduled to continue their clinical and internship phase of their training on Oahu in June. The interns will return to the Big Island in October. They are projected to graduate in January. Fire Administration and staff met with Kapiolani Community CollegeÓs EMS Program Director, State EMS personnel, and State EMS providers to discuss concerns over the lack of EMS instructors. There was agreement that a collaborative effort is needed to address the issues of EMS training. st Training Bureau: They are starting to plan and schedule for the 41 fire fighter recruit class. They are targeting for 18 recruits in September. Volunteer Training Bureau They continue to meet with the Four Seasons Resort. Management is not allowing staff to leave the property. It is one company for the whole area. The Four Seasons have already been put on notice that their apparatus would be taken away if they do not allow volunteers on the property or their staff off the property. They donÓt want to remove the apparatus, but they also want them to cooperate. They need to service the community. Their volunteer company is made up of their employees, mostly security. This issue has been going on for ye dealing with three properties and have not been able to meet face to face with all those involved. They need to be proactive and make it work. Commissioner Moku will work with the Chief and the Four Seasons Management staff. County Council members have asked for additional volunteer stations. However, requests need to be backed up with funding. Commissioner Moku stated that it is incumbent of the council member to take a leadership role with funding. Prevention Bureau Their arson canine, Kaimi, and Captain Perreira conducted an interview and demonstration for the news media on Oahu. They also traveled to Kansas for canine recertification and passed with high scores. Dispatch: All three Dispatch Supervisors received their EMDQA cards. All three met the qualifications to apply for the Fire Communications Supervisor position. HawaiÒi County Fire Commission Minutes of June 13, 2012 Page 5 Auxiliary Services/Warehouse: They are working on inventory. They are coordinating station requests for repairs with the Department of Public Works and all parties will be notified of the status of the repairs. Maintenance Shop: The newly hired mechanic started on May 16. Staff amount is the same as 20 years ago. A notice of auction for vehicles w Sunday. NEW PROJECTS/BUSINESS Chief Rosario gave a Power Point presentation on the building of a Class A Fire Pumper at Pierce Manufacturing Plant. EMPLOYEE/PUBLIC RELATIONS The EMS Fun Run will be on July 29. Chief Rosario reported that there was a prayer celebration and scattering of ashes for employee Greg Cameron who recently passed away from cancer. A lot of fire personnel, community members, and police officers were in attendance. His family has started a Greg Cameron scholarship fund for children of fire personnel. VOLUNTEER FIRE FIGHTERS ACTIVITIES Volunteer Captain Wayne Krug reported that Chief Brandt will be and former Fire Commissioner John Bertsch have applied for the position. Voting will be by confidential ballots by the captains. If the captain cannot attend the meeting, he may send a representative. It is a minimum two-year term. At the end of the two years, the sitting chief can be elected for an additional one year. They do not have bylaws. Captain Krug further reported that they usually pass on their concerns to training personnel, and things have improved. He encouraged the commissioners to attend their next quarterly meeting on August 18, 10:00, at the Kaiminani station. COMMITTEE REPORTS Budget and Finance (Committee Chair Taniguchi): No report. Office Management and Staffing (Committee Chair Taniguchi): No report. Rules and Policies (Committee Chair Lee): No report. Public Relations (Committee Chair Henkel): No report. HawaiÒi County Fire Commission Minutes of June 13, 2012 Page 6 Training and Education (Committee Chair Namahoe): A revised commissionerÓs orientation guide was distributed. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Taniguchi announced that the next meeting is scheduled fo 11, 2012, at 10:00 a.m., in the Hilo Lagoon Centre, 101 Aupuni St., Suite 145, Hilo, HawaiÒi. Chair Taniguchi announced that items for the next meeting should be given to Ms. Pelayo. Collection of files and documents. Î Done ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Namahoe moved to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Moku seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned a SUBMITTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APPROVED BY: TOBY TANIGUCHI, CHAIR