Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012_0402_Minutes Open_APPROVED COUNTY OF KAUAI Minutes of Meeting OPEN SESSION Approved as circulated 5/7/12 Board/Committee: FIRE COMMISSION Meeting Date I April 2, 2012 Location Mo'ikeha Building, Meeting Room 2A/213 Start of Meeting: 2:00 p.m. End of Meeting: 3:15 p.m. Present Chair Linda Kaauwai-Iwamoto; Vice-Chair Darnney Proudfoot; Members: Basilio Fuertes, Jr.; Jesse Fukushima; Also Fire Chief Robert Westerman; Deputy County Attorney Mauna Kea Trask(2:39 p.m.); Boards & Commissions Office Staff: Support Clerk Barbara Davis; Administrative Aide Teresa Tamura Excused Members: Jan Rudinoff; Guy Croydon Absent SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Call To Order Chair Kaauwai-Iwamoto called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. with 4 members present which constituted a quorum. Approval of ■ Regular pen Session Minutes of March 5, 2012 Ms. Proudfoot moved to approve the minutes as Minutes circulated. Mr. Fukushima seconded the motion. Motion carried 4:0 Chief s ■ Overview for the month of February 2012 and pertinent updates Monthly Report Highlights: The Chief inspected the 4 new Ford F-550 trucks in Honolulu which have since arrived on Kaua'i * Continued to work on the storage tent move with Public Works *Continued meetings on the MOU and new parking permits at airport *Attended quarterly meeting in Hilo for the State Fire Council and Fire Prevention Committee * Met with Chair Furfaro regarding a complaint that has been resolved and on communications protocol between the Department and Council * The MDT (Mobile Data Terminals) did not work without Netmotion but this has since been resolved through IT * A commendation was received from Rev. Kube to the Kalaheo Red crew for the rescue of her cat and another commendation from the Hanalei Green Fire Captain commending the Ke'e Beach lifeguards for their life-saving actions. Kauai Fire Commission Open Session April 2, 2012 Page 2 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION The Chief explained to Mr. Fukushima that the Department does have a vehicle replacement plan and this year they are replacing 4 of the smaller trucks. The big engines last about 12-14 years and then get moved to a backup vehicle for another 4-6 years. None of the front line vehicles are near the 12 year life-cycle but 2 will be coming up in the next two years. The lighter trucks average 8-10 years because they get a lot of abuse. The Ocean Safety trucks have the shortest lifespan averaging 2-4 years because of their proximity to the salt water. Hanalei assisted in the rescue of multiple victims in the 'Anini Channel and with a swimmer swept out to sea at Secret Beach. Lihu'e Rescue extricated an injured hiker above loop road and assisted with the rescue of the multiple victims stranded by the flash flood. In addition to the cat rescue mentioned earlier, Kalaheo assisted with the shooting victim on Punee Road. All the stations participate in as many community efforts as they can whether it be reading to the keiki or helping with the book sale at the library. Some of the training included the Confined Space Rescue recertification on Maui sponsored by the State Civil Defense and the Extrication training at the Puhi Recycling Center. Prevention Bureau fielded a couple of complaints about the fireworks display at the Grand Hyatt. OSHA has a requirement that certain size offices have to have CPR training so 34 County employees recently received CPR/AED training from our Prevention staff. Ocean Safety trained with the Coast Guard Auxiliary and a couple of the ocean safety staff completed the USLA recertification. Recruitment for the 4 openings for lifeguards closed and all phases of the testing are complete with final selections still to be made. Ocean Safety staff assisted with a Kauai Fire Commission Open Session April 2, 2012 Page 3 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION CPR/AED save on the trail above Ke'e Beach and with the rescue of the 5 swimmers at 'Anini Beach. The roving jet-ski patrol started in February traveling the North Shore one day a week practicing preventative actions with the people on the beach. They are researching the best places to put the jet ski in the water at different times of the year rather than trying to make that determination when there is an emergency. There were 2 resignations in the Ocean Safety Bureau. The reimbursement rate on the SAFER grant changes in April which means the Department will be picking up more of the costs. The Chief highlighted some of the travel and training which included the certification of FF III Francisco Garcia as the Department's Dive Rescue Instructor Trainer. The Chief said that all of the rescue members are divers plus another 8 in other positions throughout the Department. The rescue team cannot dive then fly in the same day so the diving recertification is usually done on an overtime day. The Chief further explained why someone could fly then dive but not dive then fly on a given day. ■ Budget Report as of February 29, 2012 Chief Westerman reminded the Commission that he had not received an evaluation for a year. Although there is no budget to do a pay raise, he personally felt he should be evaluated using the old process if DPS has not put the new process in place. Ms. Proudfoot moved to schedule the evaluation of Chief Westerman for calendar year 2011. Mr. Fukushima seconded the motion. Motion carried 4:0 The Chief said he felt it was important to grow members of the Department who want to step up so there has to be a salary commensurate with that and asked the Commission to give consideration of a pay raise for Deputy Blalock. Kauai Fire Commission Open Session April 2, 2012 Page 4 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION The budget is at 66.67% of the year with Administration at 64.17%, Operations at 63.89%, Prevention at 60.82%, Training is slightly up at 68.74%, Ocean Safety is at 63.20%, and the Commission is at 41.52%. The Chief explained why there are variances in different Bureaus throughout the year and noted that overall the Department is running at 63.84%. Chair Kaauwai-Iwamoto asked if there would be funds in the upcoming budget to send another Commissioner to the FRI Conference in August. Chief Westerman confirmed that the budget request was made to allow 2 Commissioners to attend but the Department goes for budget review before the County Council on April 9 with final submissions made in May. Update on Budget Meetings for Fire Department's Proposed Budget for 2012 (ongoing) Chief Westerman reconfirmed that the Department would be going before the County Council on April 9 at 1:30 p.m. The Chief said he did refuse to take the Boston Whaler or rigid hull inflatable for Waimea because the Department does not have the right level of Administration with the Assistant Chiefs to manage another program. It creates too much risk for the Chief and the Deputy to manage that many more programs. The Chief also advised the Commission that with the move of the Department back to the Civic Center complex, the new address is 4444 Rice Street, Suite 315. Mr.Fuertes moved to receive the Chief's monthly reports. Mr. Fukushima seconded the motion. Motion carried 4:0 Communication KFC 2012-06 Water Safety Task Force Minutes of October 18, 2011 Mr. Fukushima moved to accept the Task Force Minutes. Mr. Fuertes seconded the motion. Kauai Fire Commission Open Session April 2, 2012 Page 5 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Motion carried 4:0 Executive Mr. Fukushima moved to go into Executive Session Session at 3:00 p.m. Mr. Fuertes seconded the motion. Motion carried 4:0 Deputy County Attorney Mauna Kea Trask read the Hawai'i Revised Statutes as described on the agenda that would take the Board into Executive Session for item ES-1: KFC 2012-07 Return to Open Ratify Commission actions taken in Executive Session for item: The meeting resumed in Open Session at 3:14 p.m. Session ES-1 Ms.Proudfoot moved to ratify the actions taken in Executive Session for ES-1. Mr. Fukushima seconded the motion. Motion carried 4:0 Announcements Next Meeting: Monday, May 7, 2012—2:00 p.m., Mo'ikeha Building, Meeting Room 2AB Adjournment Mr. Fukushima moved to adjourn the meeting at 3:15 p.m. Mr. Fuertes seconded the motion. Motion carried 4:0 Submitted by: Reviewed and Approved by: Barbara Davis, Staff Support Clerk Linda Kaauwai-Iwamoto, Chair ( ) Approved as is. O Approved with amendments. See minutes of meeting.