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Home My WebLink About2016-03-01 Fire Commission Regular MinutesHAWAII FIRE COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION MINUTES MARCH 1, 2016 AUPUNI CENTER CONFERENCE ROOM 101 PAUAHI ST., HILO, HAWAII CALL TO ORDER Chair De Luz called the meeting to order at 9:02 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: David De Luz, Jr., Chair Robert Becker, Vice Chair Kimo Lee, Commissioner Marcella St. Ambrogio, Commissioner Scott Susman, Commissioner Mapuana Waipa, Commissioner Ralph Yawata, Commissioner Absent: Carol Kitaoka, Commissioner A quorum was present. Also present: Darren Rosario, Fire Chief Renwick Victorino, Deputy Fire Chief Glenn Honda, Assistant Chief Gantry Andrade, Assistant Chief Kazuo Todd, Battalion Chief Melanio Lorenzo, Accountant Jennifer Ng, Deputy Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary New commissioners, Marcella St. Ambrogio, Scott Susman, and Ralph Yawata introduced themselves, as did the other commissioners. Commissioner Lee arrived at 9:10 a.m. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Waipa motioned to approve the agenda. Commissioner Yawata seconded, and it carried unanimously. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS (None.) APPROVAL OF MINUTES • February 10, 2016, regular session. Commissioner St. Ambrogio pointed out grammatical corrections on page 4, second paragraph. Commissioner Waipa motioned to approve the minutes with the correction. Commissioner St. Ambrogio seconded, and it carried unanimously. February 10, 2016, executive session. Commissioner Yawata motioned to approve the minutes. Vice Chair Becker seconded, and it carried unanimously. Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes March 1, 2016 Page 2 DISCUSSION ON FIRE CHIEF'S WRITTEN REPORT Fire Chief Rosario and his staff Deputy Chief Renwick Victorino, Assistant Chief Glenn Honda, Assistant Chief Gantry Andrade, Battalion Chief Kazuo Todd, and Accountant Melanio Lorenzo introduced themselves. Chief Rosario highlighted items on his written report: • Budget and Finance: At the last meeting, he reported on equipment that was cut from the budget and requested the commission's assistance in reinstating the equipment. Since the last meeting, he discussed this with the Mayor and now withdraws his request for assistance to have the items reinstated. He explained the lease/purchase procedure and the remount program for EMS vehicles. Accountant Lorenzo explained the budget summary. They expect a shortfall in salaries and wages. The County has a provision for unexpected expenses. They are projecting a balance at the end of the fiscal year. However, any disaster could affect this. Vice Chair Becker asked how they could spend remaining money with about two more weeks in the fiscal year. Mr. Lorenzo stated that purchases have to go out to bid and it would not work in two weeks. Chief Rosario stated that they could start early on a bid for equipment, get it approved, but then Finance could cancel it, like it did recently. The County works on a system where they all work together. An example is when Parks & Recreation had to do ADA retrofits, money was used for that. Spending is for critical needs. They do not spend on "nice to have" items. Chief Rosario further reported that all their supplemental budget requests for FY 2016-17 were denied at the first meeting. They will have another review in May. They were told that the things look bleak. It's unlikely that they will get the SAFER Grants. Alternative Funding and Grants ✓ 2014 AFG Operations Grant: Training for the driver simulator continues. ✓ 2015 CDBG Grant: The Pahoa brush truck apparatus will be delivered in July. ✓ 2016 CDBG Grant: An application was submitted for a wildland pumper apparatus for the Pahala station. • Human Resources Division: An Account Clerk was selected. The Water Safety Officer I performance assessment is scheduled for April. Promotions for Battalion Chiefs were made. Assessments will be conducted for Prevention Specialist I and Rescue Specialist. Grievance filed by a Fire Rescue Specialist for overtime loss is currently at Step 2. • Emergency Operations Division ✓ Operations: They continue to support incident action plans for the Dengue outbreak. Numerous brush fires occurred in East and West Hawaii. Evidence from fires on Highway 190 was turned over to the police. Four fire companies responded to a structure fire at Domino's in Hilo. There were many neighboring businesses, and the estimated save was $2 million. Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes March 1, 2016 Page 3 ✓ Special Operations ➢ Hazmat: Will be conducting a weapons of mass destruction drill in conjunction with Merry Monarch. ➢ Rescue: The confined space rescue class will be held in April at the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut facility. ➢ Ocean Safety: Replacement lifeguard tower for the south end of Kahalu`u beach has gone out for bid. They will be installing a new PA system on the tower at Kahalu`u which is being funded by the Sayre Foundation. Rescue watercraft crewperson classes have started. Support Services Division ✓ Training: Captain Wilson and FEO Akau started in the Training Bureau in February. ✓ Volunteer Training: They continue to train once a month. Driver audits were conducted. Volunteers responded to brush fires in Discovery Harbor and South Point. ✓ EMS Bureau: MICT students are finishing clinical training on Oahu and Hawaii. They will undergo four months of internship with the City and County of Honolulu. They requested a new EMS for Puna and Makalei but were asked to choose one. Puna has the highest numbers at 35% of all EMS costs. Last week he lobbied the Legislature for a new EMS for Puna. They continue to support the "Fight the Bite" campaign in Miloli`i, HOVE, Waipi`o Valley, and Kapoho with outreach, handing out repellents, and screenings. ✓ Prevention Bureau: Inspections continue. • New Projects: AC Honda reported that groundbreaking for the Haihai station will be in April. Chief Rosario reported that this project will cost approximately $11 million, and they want it completed by December. They met with the new State EMS Director to discuss an EMS community based supervisor for West Hawaii and Basic Life Support Units. Public Relations: The Exchange Club's Hilo Annual Firefighter of the Year Award Ceremony will be on March 24. The Merit Appeals Board made an official ruling regarding the Battalion Chiefs' complaint. He will update them at another meeting. Recess was called at 10:36 a.m. The meeting reconvened at 10:50. COMMITTEE REPORTS • Budget and Finance: No report • Office Management and Staffing (De Luz): No report • Rules and Policies (Kitaoka): No report. • Public Relations (Lee): No report. • Training and Education (Waipa): There will be a Sunshine Law training in Hilo on March 4 and one in Kona on March 10. • Rules and Regulations Review Committee (Kitaoka): Chair De Luz stated that they will cover the rules in the future. NEW BUSINESS 0 Review draft of 2016 Fire Chief's performance evaluation elements. Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes March 1, 2016 Page 4 • Review draft of 2016 Fire Commission's goals and objectives. • Review draft of Fire Chief's position description. • Work on Fire Commission's 2015 annual report: Ms. Ng stated that she made revisions to the Annual Report. There were concerns about discussing the drafts in public and wanting advice from Corporation Counsel. Ms. Ng explained the reasons for an executive session which also included consulting with her. EXECUTIVE SESSION Commissioner Waipa motioned to meet in executive session to consult with Corporation Counsel on questions and issues pertaining to the commission's powers, duties, privileges, immunities, and liabilities; and to consider sensitive matters relating to public safety pursuant to HRS 92-5 (a) (2) (4) (6) and the Hawaii County Charter Section 13-20 (b). Commissioner Yawata seconded, and it carried unanimously. Executive session convened at 10:55 a.m. Regular session reconvened at 12:55 p.m. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair De Luz announced that the next meeting is scheduled for April 5, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. in the West Hawaii Civic Center, Building G Conference Room, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Susman motioned to adjourn. Commissioner St. Ambrogio seconded, and it carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 12:57 p.m. SUBMITTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APPROVED BY: DAVID DE LUZ, JR., CHAIR