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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2-4-2013 KFC Open Min APPROVEDCOUNTY OF KAUAI Minutes of Meeting OPEN SESSION Approved as Circulated 3/4/13 Board/Committee: I FIRE COMMISSION Meeting Date I February 4, 2013 Location Mo`ikeha Building, Meeting Room 2A /213 Start of Meeting: 2:07 p.m. End of Meeting: 2:43 p.m. Present Vice -Chair Jimmy Miranda; Members: Dan Brown; Basilio Fuertes, Jr.; Jesse Fukushima; Linda Ka'auwai- Iwamoto; Eugene Jimenez Also: Deputy County Attorney Mauna Kea Trask; Boards & Commissions Office Staff: Support Clerk Cherisse Zaima; Administrative Specialist I Lani Agoot; Administrative Aide Teresa Tamura; Administrator Paula Morikami Excused Guy Croydon Absent SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Call To Order Vice -Chair Miranda called the meeting to order at 2:07 p.m. with 6 members present which constituted a quorum. Approval of ■ Regular Open Session Minutes of January 7, 2013 Mr. Fukushima moved to approve the minutes as Minutes circulated. Mr. Fuertes seconded the motion. Motion carried 6:0. Chiefs Monthly ■ Overview for the month of December 2012 and pertinent updates Report ■ Budget Report as of December 31, 2012 Chief Westerman reported a few highlights for the month: Orientation held for the new power plant that will be located in Puhi; National Fire Chief's Round Table training session; After Action Review of Hanama'ulu Fire; participated in County sustainability operations plan; met with airport manager and got a long -term lease signed for hangar space. Operations Bureau: Chief Westerman reported a busy year, with 13 structural fires and 203 vehicle accidents for the year -to -date. However, the brush fire count is still relatively low and rescues were below average. Kauai Fire Commission Open Session February 4, 2013 Page 2 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Apparatus Update: Almost all apparatus is in service except for the 2nd backup engine, which is used for training. It is down and will not be put back into service as it is too costly to do so. A new engine has been put into the budget as a replacement for this year, but availability may be problematic. With the starting of a new recruit class in March, this backup structural engine will have to be shared, with Operations having priority. Operations Bureau: Chief Westerman stated that there are not a lot of entries from the stations on the report, which does not accurately reflect the amount of work they are doing. The lack of staff has made it difficult to compile the data for the report. Training Bureau: Chief Westerman went over the total training hours for the month, highlighting the Diver Recertification, Driver Simulator training and Peer Fitness Recertification. He noted that having the Driver Simulator go station to station during on -duty hours has reduced the amount of hours spent doing hands -on training at Vidinha Stadium, and has allowed for overtime savings. The 9 Peer Fitness Trainers that have been recertified are responsible for working with firefighters at the station to keep up their physical agility and help with their annual health appraisals. Prevention Bureau: Chief Westerman reported one (1) fire investigation for the month, which was the structure fire at the Hanama'ulu Trading Company building. Permits for fireworks displays were greater in number due to the time of year and Fire Extinguisher Training was administered to two (2) companies; one in Hanalei and one on the West side. Prevention has also been working on t in to resolve a couple of complaints. Mr. Fukushima asked for Kauai Fire Commission Open Session February 4, 2013 Page 3 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION clarification on what the second complaint was about, to which Chief Westerman responded that anyone from the public, feeling that something is a fire hazard or an unsafe condition, can make a report to the office. In some cases, the complaint can only be documented as the Fire Department may not be able to do anything about it. In other cases, such as the complaint referenced, the Prevention bureau will take action. Ocean Safety Bureau: Chief Westerman reported that the Rescue Craft Operator training was completed in December and is in the process of doing another class during these first two weeks of February. He noted that the drowning statistics for 2012 show only 2 drownings for the year, stating the significance of never having numbers that low since the department began accounting for drownings. He further mentioned that so far this year, we are already up to 4, most of the victims being tourists that fell into older age categories. Because people are still very active at a later age in life, long trail hikes and bad ocean currents on Kauai may be a little more of a struggle and may be more than they can handle. KFD is being proactive in continuing and improving their education programs the best they can. Mr. Jimenez requested clarification on items listed in the report, asking whether the data provided was based on a calendar or fiscal year, and what the term "Mission Capable" signified on the Apparatus Status. Chief Westerman explained that data was provided based on the calendar year; and "Mission Capable" means that the apparatus is in good working condition. Mr. Fuertes asked for more information on a fire that occurred in Kekaha, near the mill. Chief Westerman explained it was a container that some businesses there were using as storage and the fire is currently under investi ation by the Prevention bureau. Kauai Fire Commission Open Session February 4, 2013 Page 4 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Mr. Fukushima requested further information on Item 44. NFPA CFI Exam Prep listed in the Prevention Bureau's Miscellaneous Activities section. Chief Westerman explained that it is a National Fire Protection Association Certified Fire Inspector program for Fire Inspectors. Mr. Fukushima asked for clarification on what, aside from this exam, are the required credentials for a Fire Inspector, to which Chief Westerman stated that they try to certify them as Arson Investigators, Fire Investigators, and Fire Inspectors I and II. There are both levels of Fire Inspectors currently in the bureau. Mr. Fukushima further asked what amount of class hours or credits are required to become an Investigator or Inspector. Chief Westerman explained that there are no college credits, but rather, a series of training and exams which help them to be more skilled at their jobs, such as the recent 40 -hr training held on Oahu to learn how to testify. Mr. Fukushima asked if the Chief would be able to come up with some sort of criteria, to which Chief Westerman responded affirmatively. Budget Chief Westerman provided an explanation of the budget worksheet for new Commissioner Jimenez, highlighting significant line items in each bureau. The Operations Bureau is 50.15% expended, with $445,000 of anticipated funds left at the end of the year. It's estimated that there will be a shortfall in the retirement portion, but there will be overages in other post - employment benefits. Mr. Jimenez asked whether or not the Fire Department falls under the same policy as the Administration regarding off - island travel and what guidance was given by the Administration. Chief Westerman responded that yes, Fire falls under the same policy and they were advised to reduce the amount of off - island travel unless it's for certification requirements or grant funded. In Kauai Fire Commission Open Session February 4, 2013 Page 5 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION response to Mr. Jimenez's question, Chief Westerman responded that it would not affect operations at this point. However, there will be some discussion later on how it will impact KFD's training initiatives. Prevention is at 48% expended. Chief Westerman noted that the Prevention's biggest cost is overtime, which will continue to grow significantly through the end of the year as the Fire Safety Trailer is brought to all the schools. Being that the trailer is new and funds are available for it, Prevention is trying to hit all the schools at all grades, which creates extra overtime to bring in additional firefighters to work the trailer. The goal is to get back to their regular cycle of school visits during Fire Prevention Week in the upcoming budget years. Mr. Fukushima asked for clarification in regards to overtime, and whether that meant calling off -duty firefighters back to work to assist with the trailer. Chief Westerman replied affirmatively and explained that 8 of the firefighters have been trained to assist the Prevention bureau and that it takes 5 firefighters, 2 of which would be from the Prevention bureau, to operate the trailer and run the classes through it. In response to Mr. Fukushima's question, Chief Westerman stated that the rank of staff called back to assist is usually a Firefighter I. Training bureau is 45% expended. Chief Westerman reported that there is some overtime and some training dollars, but once a new recruit class comes in, those funds will start to dwindle since those monies are used for the Captains that come in off -duty to do all the various types of training for the recruits. Ocean Safety is 43% expended, and Fire Commission is 48% expended. Looking at the consolidation of all the department's expenditures, there Kauai Fire Commission Open Session February 4, 2013 Page 6 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION looks to be about 1.47% of the budget remaining at the end of the budget year. Mr. Fukushima asked for clarification on the line item in the Ocean Safety budget Hazard Jetski Premium, to which Chief Westerman explained that it's a premium of a $1.50 /hr extra pay for Water Safety Officers at Level II and above, that are certified and assigned jet -ski duty. Three (3) out of the ten (10) towers have jet -skis, and of the four (4) people assigned to each of the three (3) towers, two (2) operators will get jet -ski premium pay, similar to a firefighter's operator's pay. In response to Vice Chair Miranda's question, Chief Westerman further explained that this premium pay is received whether or not they use the jet -ski because part of the duty is getting it to the tower, checking and maintaining functionality, cleaning and securing it at the end of their shift. Vice Chair Miranda called for a motion to accept the Chief's Monthly Report. Mr. Fukushima moved to accept the Chief's monthly report for the month of December. Mr. Jimenez seconded the motion. Motion carried 6:0 Communications ■ KFC 2013 -05 Memorandum dated 01/24/2013 from Chair Guy Croydon to Fire Chief Robert Westerman a request for a copy of Training Programs and Standard Operating Procedures ■ KFC 2013 -06 Email dated 01/24/2013 from Chair Guy Croydon to the Fire Commission announcing his resignation Deputy County Attorney Mauna Kea Trask recommended a motion to receive both items unless anyone has any questions. Kauai Fire Commission Open Session February 4, 2013 Page 7 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Mr. Fukushima asked for clarification on Parliamentary Procedures regarding item KFC 2013 -06, questioning whether it had to be approved by the Commission, to which Mr. Trask responded that it is not an item that requires Commission approval because it serves only as a notification and a person cannot be forced to stay on. Mr. Trask further stated that it will be up to the Boards and Commissions administrator to fill the former Chair's slot. Pertaining to item KFC 2013 -05, Mr. Fukushima asked Chief Westerman if he was able to gather the requested information, to which Chief Westerman replied that he had provided a packet of information that he would like to go over. Deputy County Attorney Trask advised that the information can be received, but any discussion will have to take place at the next meeting and be posted on the agenda accordingly. Mr. Fukushima wished to resume discussion on item KFC 2013 -06, recalling that at the last meeting, Mr. Miranda was selected as the Vice - Chair. He asked, at what point in time would election of a new Chair and Vice -Chair take place. Deputy County Attorney Trask explained that given Mr. Miranda's appointment as Vice - Chair, he would carry on as Chair, and then there would be an agenda posting for nomination and selection of Vice - Chair. Mr. Fukushima moved to receive both items. Ms. Ka'auwai- Iwamoto seconded the motion. Motion carried 6:0 Executive Pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes § §92 -4 and 92 -5 (a) (2) (4), 92 -9 Deputy County Attorney Mauna Kea Trask read Session (a)(1 -4) (b), the purpose of this executive session is to receive and approve the Hawaii Revised Statues as described on the Executive Session minutes, to consider the evaluation of an officer or agenda that would take the Commission into employee where consideration of matters affecting privacy may be Executive Session for item ES -3. involved, provided that if the individual concerned requests an open Kauai Fire Commission Open Session February 4, 2013 Page 8 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION meeting, an open meeting shall be held, and to consult with the Commission's legal counsel on issues pertaining to the Commission's and the County's powers, duties, privileges, immunities, and/or liabilities as Mr. Fukushima moved to convene into they may relate to this item, deliberate and take such action as appropriate. Executive Session at 2:38 p.m. Ms. Ka'auwai- Iwamoto seconded the motion. ■ ES -3 Executive Session Minutes of January 7, 2012 Motion carried 6:0 Return to Open Ratify Commission actions taken in the Executive Session for item: The meeting reconvened in open session at 2:40 Session ES -3 p.m. Mr. Fukushima moved to ratify the Commission's actions taken in the Executive Session. Mr. Fuertes seconded the motion. Motion carried 6:0 Announcements Next Meeting: Monday, March 4, 2013 — 2:00 p.m., Mo`ikeha Building, Meeting Room 2A/B Adjournment Ms. Ka'auwai- Iwamoto moved to adjourn the meeting at 2:43 p.m. Mr. Jimenez seconded the motion. Motion carried 6:0. Submitted by: Cherisse Zaima, Support Clerk () Approved as is. () Approved with amendments. See minutes of Reviewed and Approved by: meeting. Jimmy Miranda, Vice Chair