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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-06-14 Fire Commission Regular MinutesHAWAII FIRE COMMISSION MINUTES OF JUNE 14, 2017 WEST HAWAII CIVIC CENTER CALL TO ORDER Chair Becker called the meeting to order at 9:03 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Robert Becker, Chair Scott Susman, Vice Chair Denise Payesko, Commissioner Marcella St. Ambrogio, Commissioner Mapuana Waipa, Commissioner Ralph Yawata, Commissioner Absent: David De Luz, Jr., Commissioner Denise Laitinen, Commissioner A quorum was present. Also present: Renwick Victorino, Deputy Fire Chief John Bertsch, Volunteer Commander Jessica Yeh, Deputy Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Yawata motioned to approve the agenda. Commissioner Payesko seconded, and it carried unanimously. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS (None.) APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MAY 10, 2017 Commissioner Waipa motioned to approve the minutes. Vice Chair Susman seconded, and it carried unanimously. FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT Deputy Fire Chief Renwick Victorino highlighted items on the Chief's written report: • Budget and Finance ➢ 2016/2017: They are expected to end the fiscal year in the black. ➢ 2017/2018: The Mayor signed the final budget. Alternative Funding and Grants ➢ 2016 CDBG: The Pahala Wildland Pumper Project should be completed in October. ➢ 15 AFG Grant: They received 211 self-contained breathing apparatuses which were distributed to the stations. Training is being conducted. Hawaii Fire Commission Minutes of June 14, 2017 Page 2 Human Resources Division: The temporary promotion for the Community Paramedic position was extended. They have an open recruitment for their account clerk who retired after 30 years of service. Emergency Operations Division ➢ Operations: They hope to fill the two Battalion Chief positions in August. IT is updating their RMS. They responded to a large propane leak from a municipal line near Hilo Harbor. They responded to numerous incidents in East and West Hawaii. They participated in a wildfire lookout event at Old A's and DARE Day at Kekuaokalani Gym. ➢ Special Operations: ✓ Hazmat: HB 976 HD 1 which provides preparedness resources to Local Area Planning Committees passed and now goes to the Governor. ✓ Rescue: SOGs are being reviewed. A grant from the Karakin Foundation allowed them to purchase rappelling equipment. A successful rescue at Punalu`u involved Fire, Rescue, and Ocean Safety. ✓ Ocean Safety: Registration for the summer Junior Lifeguard Program started, and the Hawaii Tourism Authority is funding it. HB 14 that would provide lifeguards at Kua Bay did not pass. SB 562 to provide immunity to lifeguards was amended to require the Attorney General to defend county lifeguards at State beaches passed. It now goes to the governor. Two temporary summer lifeguards were hired for Hilo. • Support Services Division ➢ Training: 17 new Fire Fighter Recruits began on May 1. ➢ EMS Bureau: They hosted the first Resuscitation Academy (RA) Conference for EMS and hospital personnel to learn and train on improving cardiac arrest survival rates. The Chief of the State EMS requested a proposal to continue funding for their pilot Community Paramedic Program; it was submitted. EMS personnel attended FDNY Medical Special Operations and Fire Rescue Medical Conferences in May. ➢ Prevention Bureau: They have been busy with inspections, reviewing construction plans, investigations, and installing smoke alarms. Fire canine Kaimi demonstrated her scent abilities in the Annual Bark for Life event. ➢ Auxiliary Services: The Safety Data Sheet Project will be rolled out in July. Two summer interns from Hawaii Community College will be working on digitalizing records and on a warehouse project. The maintenance shop installed radios for the new ambulances for Pahoa and Keauhou. The dispatch radio system continues to be tweaked and monitored for issues. Additional Hawaii Fire Commission Minutes of June 14, 2017 Page 3 racking for the warehouse went out to bid. Re -flooring of the North Kohala station has been delayed due to scheduling of termite treatment. ➢ Volunteer Training: Volunteer Commander John Bertsch briefly went over his written report. Their captains' meeting was hosted in Ainaloa. As part of their Commanders' Executive Leadership Training Program, Chair Becker gave a presentation on the NIMS-Incident Command System. AC Honda offered to hold two driver's training courses for the east and west sides. Their SOGs are being reviewed. They are not conducting wet drills on the west side due to water restrictions. Radio operations following the change -over, is improving. They are pushing for a software program that interfaces with the dispatch CAD system. It sends a text message to volunteers. He talked about Active 911. Chair Becker stated that a person from the National Weather Service suggested that a meteorologist give them a presentation on weather and fire. New Projects/Business: DPW put the Central Fire Station Renovation Project on hold. Planning has started for the Hawaii Fire Chiefs Association Conference. 2017 Program of Work Update: Deputy Chief Victorino went through items on the written report. Chair Becker suggested that they have a process for employees to formally make suggestions. He suggested that they look at UH Hilo for additional intern assistance. He suggested that they look into fire shelters for wildland fires if they receive a USDA wildland grant. He also suggested that they look into "suitcase firefighters" versus having people come in on overtime. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Review draft of changes to the commission's rules and regulations: The commissioners reviewed another draft of revisions. Commissioner Payesko and Ms. Yeh will continue working on this. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Becker announced that the next meeting is scheduled for July 10, 2017, 9:00 a.m., Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Hilo, Hawaii. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 1:22 p.m. SUBMITTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APPROVED BY: ROBERT BECKER, CHAIR