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Home My WebLink About2019-01-16 Fire Commission Regular MinutesHAWAII FIRE COMMISSION MINUTES OF JANUARY 16, 2019 PUNA CONFERENCE ROOM, SUITE 1501 HAWAII COUNTY BUILDING, 25 AUPUNI ST., HILO, HAWAII CALL TO ORDER Chair Henkel called the meeting to order at 9:02 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Gregory Henkel, Chair Robert Becker, Commissioner Kyle Keamo, Commissioner Denise Laitinen, Commissioner Marcella St. Ambrogio, Commissioner Scott Susman, Commissioner Absent: Ralph Yawata, Vice Chair Donna Payesko, Commissioner A quorum was present. Also Present: Darren Rosario, Fire Chief John Bertsch, Volunteer Commander Renee Schoen, Assistant Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS (None.) APPROVAL OF MINUTES December 19, 2018, regular session and executive sessions: Commission Susman motioned to approve the regular session minutes. Commissioner Laitinen seconded, and it carried unanimously. Commissioner St. Ambrogio motioned to approve the executive session minutes. Commissioner Susman seconded, and it carried unanimously. FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT Chief highlighted items from his written report: • Budget and Finance ➢ 2018/19: They anticipate finishing the year in the black. Overtime is over budget due to significant buts by the administration and the lava event. ➢ 2019/20: They had a meeting with the Finance Department in January. They were told that the county's overall budget is in a significant deficit. Currently, all supplemental budget requests will not be approved. They were asked to do a 3% budget reduction. They only did 1 % in order not to cut services. They will have their budget hearing with the County Council in April. It is beneficial to Hawaii Fire Commission Minutes of January 16, 2019 Page 2 have commissioners at the hearing to support the Fire Department's budget. He will give them the date and time of the hearing. It will be a very difficult fiscal year for the county. • Alternative Funding and Grants ➢ 2019 CDBG Paradise Park Ambulance: They were approved for $1.5M, but the governor has not yet signed off. ➢ 2018 CDBG Paradise Park Wildland Brush Truck: This is in production and is similar to the apparatus they purchased for Pahoa and Pahala. ➢ Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation: They will pay to send personal to the mainland for training in Nevada and Arizona and purchase replacement parts for the Bambi bucket for Chopper 2. Human Resources Division: They conducted internal recruitment within the department for Fire/EMS Specialist II in December. They conducted internal recruitment within the County for HR Assistant. Open -competitive recruitment is ongoing for Fire Radio Dispatcher I and Fire Fighter Recruit. In response to Commissioner Susman's inquiry, Chief stated that their recruitment process has not changed. Firefighters on probation do not have union representation. Emergency Operations Division ➢ Operations ✓ East Hawaii: They have not seen an increase in calls since Pohoiki opened. He informed the Mayor's office that the area is more for experienced swimmers. Health concerns about the hot water ponds are directed to other agencies. They have gotten calls about people entering the lava area. He wouldn't recommend anyone entering the area because it's illegal. Chair Henkel stated that he wants to have more discussion about opening up Highway 132 and wants it added to the next meeting agenda. Incidents include a cliff rescue of opihi pickers in Hamakua, possible carbon monoxide release at Walgreens where six employees were transported to the hospital, structure fires in Hilo and Puna. They participated in Christmas parades, training drills, and demonstrations. ✓ West Hawaii: Incidents included Chopper 1 rescue of two stranded hikers on the shoreline between Pololu and Honokane Nui Valleys. Chopper 1 assisted with water drops on 30 acres of brush fire near the Ulu Wini Apartment complex. ➢ Special Operations: Garrett Kim was promoted to BC of Special Operations. ✓ Hazmat: BC Kim conducted cost/benefit analysis on purchasing new air monitors. He also coordinated two waste manifest training sessions with the LEPOC and HMC. Hawaii Fire Commission Minutes of January 16, 2019 Page 3 ✓ Rescue: They are working on a Council resolution to accept all 2018 Sayre donations. They are working to improve their Public Safety Diver Program. Rescue captains are working to improve accountability of rescue equipment. ✓ Ocean Safety: They received a Polaris UTV donated by the Sayre Foundation for use at Isaac Hale Beach Park. The County held a blessing and reopening of IHBP, and they have assigned a full staff of WSOs. A Polaris UTV at Punalu`u was stolen last week, and they do not have the funds to purchase another one. They are trying to convert the temp positions at Hapuna to permanent status. BC Kim is working with the Hawaii Tourism Authority for a $125,000 grant to expand the Rescue Water Craft Program. • Support Services Division ➢ Training: The 46t" Recruit Class completed their wildland training. All 19 recruits completed the Fire Essentials Coursework. Four recruits have their EMT license. ➢ Volunteer Training: Commander Bertsch reported that the next captains' meeting will be next Saturday at 9:00 a.m. at 7 Bravo (Kona Palisades) with training by Chief Todd. The captain's meeting will start at 10:00. They will have joint training in Waimea with career people tonight. As the Volunteer Commander, he is elected by his peers. His position is up for election. He has been a volunteer with the department for 23 years. ➢ EMS Bureau: Attended the EMS Cabinet meeting in Honolulu where the HIDTA Task Force and State Department of Health did opioid presentations. The Physio EKG/AED contract is being finalized. They are hoping to go live in early February. They did Hands on CPR for approximately 80 students at Waiakea High School. ➢ Prevention Bureau: The bureau continues with its 24-hour schedule and continue to see many benefits such as plan reviews being on track. ➢ Auxiliary Services: The MiFi Units arrived and will be distributed this month. The installation of the vertical racking for the warehouse is 90% complete. The MOU for dispatcher vacation is complete. The maintenance shop is fully staffed. New Projects/Business: The Fire/Police Collated Dispatcher Center was approved by the County Council and will now need CIP approval. Public Relations: They participated in Christmas Parades. Chief did a presentation at the Hilo and Kona Mauka Rotary Clubs. Other Departmental Activities: Regarding enforcement of aerial fireworks, the State would have to develop a whole new department to inspect every ship that comes Hawaii Fire Commission Minutes of January 16, 2019 Page 4 through the port. Hawaii Island allows the most fireworks, but had the least number of incidents, only four. Oahu has a total ban, but they had a lot of more incidents. The law changed where the police doesn't have to see the violation. • 2018 Program of Work Update: This was emailed to Ms. Pelayo for distribution. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Review of Fire Commission's Annual Report for 2018. Chair Henkel stated that Commissioner Becker is still working on the report. They hope to have it approved at the February meeting. CHAIR'S REPORT ON MATTERS OF INTEREST TO THE COMMISSION Chair Henkel stated that he will draft a letter to the County Council to support the opening of Highway 132. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Henkel announced that the commission's next monthly meeting is scheduled for February 13, 2019, 9:00 a.m., in the West Hawaii Civic Center, Building G Conference Room, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner St. Ambrogio motioned to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Becker seconded, and it carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m. SUMBITTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APPROVED BY: GREGORY HENKEL, CHAIR