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Home My WebLink About2018-12-19 Fire Commission Regular Minutes HAWAIʻI FIRE COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION MINUTES DECEMBER 19, 2018 WEST HAWAIʻI CIVIC CENTER 74-5044 ANE KEOHOKALOLE HWY, KAILUA-KONA, HI CALL TO ORDER Chair Becker called the meeting to order at 9:07 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Robert Becker, Chair Scott Susman, Vice Chair Gregory Henkel, Commissioner Kyle Keamo, Commissioner Donna Payesko, Commissioner Bobbye St. Ambrogio, Commissioner Ralph Yawata, Commissioner Absent: Denise Laitinen, Commissioner A quorum was present. Also Present: Darren Rosario, Fire Chief John Bertsch, Volunteer Commander Renee Schoen, Assistant Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Henkel motioned to approve the agenda with a correction that today is Wednesday, not Friday. Vice Chair Susman seconded, and it carried unanimously. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS (None.) APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 14, 2018 Commissioner Henkel motioned to approve the regular session minutes with a non- substantive change. Commissioner St. Ambrogio seconded, and it carried unanimously. Discussion on the executive session minutes was done in executive session. FIRE CHIEF’S REPORT Chief Rosario highlighted items from his written report:  Budget and Finance  FY 2017/18: The year ended on a positive note. Through grants, they have been able to provide some unfunded items. They continue to monitor their non-emergency overtime and advocate for additional administrative staff.  FY 2019/20: They were tasked with a 3% budget cut, but they were only able to get 1% cut without cutting services. Their proposed budget was returned unchanged. They will meet with the Finance Director on January 2 and then Hawaiʻi Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes December 19, 2018 Page 2 the County Council on April 16 at 1:30 p.m. Last year they were awarded $1.5 million for a Puna Medic. It was ordered, but they are still waiting for the funds.  Alternative Funding and Grants  2019 CDBG Paradise Park Ambulance Unit Project application submitted.  2018 CDBG Paradise Park Brush Truck Project ETA is this summer.  Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation assisted with funding for training for out-of-state travel, new bucket for Chopper 2, and volunteer equipment.  Human Resources Division  Internal recruitment continues for Prevention Bureau BC, Fire Captain, and Fire Rescue Specialist. Garret Kim was promoted to BC of Special Operations.  Open-competitive recruitment held for Radio Dispatcher I and Account Clerk.  Emergency Operations Division: Chief reported on the Anna’s Pond rescue. Three people attended the Annual HFCA Conference and Training.  Special Operations  Hazmat: AC Okinaka and BC Kim are working on additional funding.  Ocean Safety: They have been doing a lot of work towards opening up Isaac Hale Beach Park. They need a water source for the restrooms. The Department of Health is doing water checks. They have introduced a 10- hour work day because of the long distance to get there. Two guard towers were installed.  Support Services Division  Training: Captain Lindsey attended a “Nozzle Forward” training in Arizona and funded his own trip.  Volunteer Training: Commander Bertsch reported that the Volunteer Fire Department has made great progress thanks to Chief Rosario and his personnel. Captains’ shirts were distributed, and they are waiting for badges. Volunteer trainers completed driver’s training. Fourteen people completed the program. They will have two additional FEOs to drive apparatus. He met with Chief Todd on the Active 911 Program. The Spillman Program works in concert with the Police Department. When the call comes to dispatch, the Spillman system pings the volunteers’ cellphones. Once it comes through on the cellphone, it takes the metadata and puts it right on their screen. On their screen, they can respond, yes, no, or when they will respond. Chief can see it on his laptop to see how many people are responding and when. He can see on a map where all their assets are. From a firefighter’s standpoint, they can map it on Google and get the fastest route. They can use all this data to coach and analyze situations. An email is sent from Spillman that goes to the phone. They got this through grants. The end user application is designed very well, is almost bullet proof, training is minimal, and they hope to learn as they go. Hawaiʻi Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes December 19, 2018 Page 3 Chief Rosario stated that Commander Bertsch has worked on this for two years. Commander Bertsch further reported that they are seeing an uptick of volunteers. He wants to see if there is a way to entice volunteers into the program to help in the process of getting hired in the career side or even see if the service is for them. The next captain’s meeting will be in January in Kona. Chief Rosario thanked the Sayre Foundation and Ironman for their support.  EMS Bureau: Bureau participated in SDOH child death quarterly meeting. They continue with their Car Seat Program. Purchasing of Physio Control EKG and AED went before the County Council. Hands Only CPR and AED training for Kalanianaʻole Elementary School faculty was completed.  Prevention Bureau: The bureau conducted safety talks at 18 elementary schools across the Big Island. They continue the 24-hour schedule and have been able to do over 100 plan reviews in a month.  Auxiliary Services: Installation of warehouse racking is expected in December. The mechanic shop is fully staffed. They are trying to get additional covered space. The Dispatch Spillman Project still has major issues which are being worked on by the IT Department. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Review of Fire Commission’s Program of Work for 2019: Chair Becker stated that the new Chair and Vice Chair can make changes. NEW BUSINESS  Proposed Charter Changes to Fire Chief Minimum Qualifications: Chair Becker explained the recommended changes, some of which reflected the Chief’s suggestions. Chair Becker motioned to forward this to the Charter Commission. Vice Chair Susman seconded, and it carried unanimously.  Fire Commission’s Annual Report for 2018: Chair Becker reported that he is still working on the annual report and is willing to continue to work on it until he is replaced or his three months are up.  Election of Chair and Vice Chair for 2019: Commissioner Yawata nominated Commissioner Henkel as Chair. Vice Chair Susman seconded, and it carried unanimously. Commissioner Henkel commended Chair Becker for the work he has done. He has seen a lot of growth since he was last on the commission. He does want Chair Becker to finish up the annual report. The Program of Work is a beautiful templates to use in the future. Hawaiʻi Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes December 19, 2018 Page 4 Vice Chair Susman nominated Commissioner Yawata as Vice Chair. Commissioner St. Ambrogio seconded, and it carried unanimously. CHAIR’S REPORT ON MATTERS OF INTEREST TO THE COMMISSION Chair Becker stated that he will be emailing them information on wild fires in Hawaiʻi. EXECUTIVE SESSION (Closed session.) Commissioner Keamo motioned to meet in executive session to work on the Fire Chief’s annual evaluation and may consult with Corporation Counsel on questions and issues pertaining to the commission’s powers, duties, privileges, immunities, and liabilities and also to discuss the executive session minutes pursuant to HRS §92-5 (a) (2), (4), (6) and the Hawaiʻi County Charter Section 13-20 (b). Commissioner Yawata seconded, and it carried unanimously. Executive session convened at 11:07 a.m. (Chief Rosario exited.) Open session reconvened at 11:35 a.m.  Fire Chief Darren Rosario’s Annual Performance Evaluation: Commissioner St. Ambrogio motioned to approve the Chief’s evaluation with today’s date. Commissioner Keamo seconded, and it carried unanimously.  Executive Session Minutes of November 14, 2018: Commissioner Keamo motioned to approve the minutes. Commissioner Henkel seconded, and it carried unanimously. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Becker announced that the commission’s next monthly meeting is scheduled for January 16, 2019, 9:00 a.m., in the Hawaiʻi County Building, Puna Conference Room, Suite 1501, 25 Aupuni St., Hilo, Hawaiʻi. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 11:45 a.m. SUBMITTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APPROVED BY: ROBERT BECKER, CHAIR