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Home My WebLink About2019-02-13 Fire Commission Regular MinutesHAWAII FIRE COMMISSION MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 13, 2019 WEST HAWAII CIVIC CENTER, BUILDING G CONFERENCE ROOM 74-5044 ANE KEOHOKALOLE HIGHWAY, KAILUA-KONA, HAWAII CALL TO ORDER Chair Henkel called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Gregory Henkel, Chair Ralph Yawata, Vice Chair Robert Becker, Commissioner Kyle Keamo, Commissioner Donna Payesko, Commissioner Scott Susman, Commissioner Absent: Marcella St. Ambrogio, Commissioner A quorum was present. Also present: Darren Rosario, Fire Chief Lance Uchida, Deputy Fire Chief Chris Honda, Battalion Chief Garrett Kim, Battalion Chief John Bertsch, Volunteer Commander Renee Schoen, Assistant Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS (None.) APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JANUARY 10, 2019 Vice Chair Yawata motioned to approve the minutes. Commissioner Becker seconded, and it carried unanimously. FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT Chief Rosario introduced Chris Honda, newly promoted Battalion Chief of the EMS Bureau. BC Honda stated that he has been working in the EMS field for the past 24 years. He started in the Fire Department in 2000 and was Captain in EMS for 5 years. Chief stated that Chris has been a long-time youth coach Chief Rosario introduced Garrett Kim, newly promoted Battalion Chief of Special Operations. BC Kim reported that he was born and raised on the Big Island. His background has been primarily in Rescue. Chief Rosario highlighted items on his written report: Hawaii Fire Commission Minutes of February 13, 2019 Page 2 • Budget and Finance > FY 2018/2019: They are in line with their budget. In response to questions, Chief stated that the Department of Health does water testing at Isaac Hale Beach Park. The Fire Department does preventative education. It's a nice place to go to, but the water is not really safe for families. Eight port -a -potties are there. Chief will look into the possibility of having water catchment. > FY 2019/2020: The County is still very far from a balanced budget. They are still waiting for reimbursements for the natural disasters. They do not anticipated having their supplemental budgets approved. They cannot cut anymore without cutting back on services. Their apparatus replacement program is a 5 -year revolving program, and they will continue to advocate for it. They should have more information regarding the budget next month. • Alternative Funding and Grants ➢ 2019 CDBG Paradise Park Ambulance Unit Project: The Governor approved the Paradise Park Ambulance until June 30. They will start the unit out of the Pahoa Fire Station because funding is only for 3 months. Once the unit gets going, and they see where the calls are coming from, they can then make adjustments. ➢ 2018 CDBG: The Paradise Park Wildland Brush Truck is being built, and completion is expected June -July. ➢ Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation Funding: The foundation is providing funds for out-of-state training. They will have a gifting ceremony this Friday for a Billy Pugh net donation. • Human Resources Division ➢ Internal recruitment within Department: Fire/EMS Specialist II, Fire/Hazardous Materials Specialist, Fire Prevention Inspector. ➢ Internal recruitment within County: HR Assistant. ➢ Open competitive recruitment: Fire Radio Dispatcher I, Water Safety Officer I, and Fire Fighter Recruit. • Emergency Operations Division: AC Okinaka and Captain Wong have been working on finalizing a new Officer Development Training Pilot Program for all newly promoted captains. This program was created to help provide a consistent manner of instruction and direction for company officers to be successful in their positions. Professional Online Training Program/Target Solutions is being used for web -based training of personnel. It will also be used for sending out critical department communications that require acknowledgements. Hawaii Fire Commission Minutes of February 13, 2019 Page 3 ➢ Operations: Chief reported on the brush fire on the Mauna Kea Access Road. They had to battle extreme cold, and their primary role was to lookout for more fires. They battled several brush fires on the west side. In one incident, the ground became energized. ➢ Special Operations ✓ Hazmat: They purchased two gas ammonia monitors as a pilot project to potentially remove the ammonia sensors from their Hazmat 4 gas monitors. BC Kim conducted two waste manifest training sessions with the LEPC and HMC. ✓ Ocean Safety: BC Kim has been working with Olu Kai to receive a donation of footwear for all Ocean Safety personnel. The estimated value is $350 per person. BC Kim has been working with the Hawaii Tourism Association and Hawaii Lifeguard Association to receive a $25,000 for their Jr. Lifeguard Program. He is also working with the HTA for $125,000 towards a rescue water craft. • Support Services Division ➢ Training: 15 FFR started EMT training. Interviews for the 47th recruit class were completed. ➢ Volunteer Training: Volunteer Commander Bertsch thanked the commissioners who attended their Captains' meeting at 7 Bravo. Their Active 911 went live on Monday. So far, it's meeting their expectations. They anticipate a complete roll out on April 15. His name is being submitted for approval to remain as Volunteer Commander. ➢ EMS Bureau: $1.5 million was secured for startup cost for the Puna ambulance. The new Lifepack 15 EKG service started. The American Heart Association's Training Center recertification was completed. Specs for two diesel ambulances for Waimea and Puna went out for bid. ➢ Prevention Bureau: The bureau has been very successful with its 24-hour schedule. Overtime has been reduced, and they have been able to keep up with their construction plan reviews. Their Smoke Alarm Program is doing installations in North Kohala and Hilo. ➢ Auxiliary Services ✓ Active 911 Project: Accounts are being set up and testing being done. This is a great program for volunteer notifications via cell phones. ✓ Warehouse Wracking Project: This project is 95% complete. ✓ Warehouse SPOS Project: A computer for order tracking has been sent to IT for programming. Hawaii Fire Commission Minutes of February 13, 2019 Page 4 ✓ Mobile Data Terminals Project: A spare medic laptop has Spillman mobile installed and trial will be conducted. Funding for equipment will have to come from grants. ✓ Spillman Interface Issues: They are focusing on getting the dispatch program running. An outside consultant and someone from the Kauai Fire was brought in to help solve existing problems. ✓ Maintenance Shop: The shop continues to be very busy. They are reviewing the feasibility of a West Hawaii maintenance shop. • New Projects/Business ➢ Fire/Police Collated Dispatcher Center: Planning continues. ➢ Promotion Recognition Program: Two events were conducted. ➢ Fire Department Website Development: They are working with a developer to have the entire website redone and hope for a rollout in May. • Public Relations: Chief continues to make presentations at community meetings and events, the most recent was at the Rotary Club of Kona Mauka. • Other Departmental Activities: In response to Commissioner Becker's inquiry about employee suggestions, Chief Rosario stated that they would have to establish an employee suggestion committee. Commissioner Susman entered the meeting at 10:30 a.m. NEW BUSINESS Discussion on opening up Highway 132 in Pahoa and review of draft letter to the Council: Chair Henkel stated that this is in his district, and service is limited due to the distance. The County is already working on this, so he doesn't need to send out the letter. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Review of Fire Commission's Annual Report for 2018: Commissioner Becker stated that this was sent to everyone for review. Only a few words were changed, and this is very close to the original draft. Chair Henkel stated that he doesn't' want to micro manage the department. He commended Commissioner Becker for putting together a fine report. Commissioner Becker motioned to approve the Annual Report for 2018. Commissioner Keamo seconded, and it carried unanimously. CHAIR'S REPORT ON MATTERS OF INTEREST TO THE COMMISSION Chair Henkel stated that he has observed Water Safety Officers to be very professional in their duties. Commissioner Payesko stated that she would like to submit support for Water Safety Officers at Kua Bay. Chief Rosario stated that there is a bill going through the legislature to provide lifeguard services to Kua Bay. Generally, this would be to contract services with the County. Ms. Schoen stated that they could make a motion to support emergency services at Kua Bay. Commissioner Payesko motioned that the commission support the bill for emergency services at Kua Bay and that the commission Hawaii Fire Commission Minutes of February 13, 2019 Page 5 submit testimony to the legislature. Vice Chair Yawata seconded, and it carried unanimously. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Henkel announced that the commission's next monthly meeting is scheduled for March 13, 2019, at 9:00 a.m., in the Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi St., Hilo, Hawaii. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:53 a.m. SUBMITTED BY: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY APPROVED BY: GREGORY HENKEL, CHAIR