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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013_0701 KFC Open Min APPROVEDCOUNTY OF KAUAI Minutes of Meeting OPEN SESSION Auproved as Circulated 8/5/2013 Board/Committee: I FIRE COMMISSION Meeting Date July 1, 2013 Location Mo`ikeha Building, Meeting Room 2A /213 Start of Meeting: 2:12 p.m. End of Meeting: 3:07 p.m. Present Vice Chair Jesse Fukushima; Members: Eugene Jimenez; Dan Brown; Savita Agarwal Also: Fire Chief Robert Westerman; Deputy County Attorney Mauna Kea Trask; Boards & Commissions Office Staff: Support Clerk Cherisse Zaima; Administrative Aide Teresa Tamura Excused Heidy Huddy- Yamamoto; Jimmy Miranda Absent SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Call To Order Vice Chair Fukushima called the meeting to order at 2:12 p.m. with 4 members present, constituting a quorum. Approval of Regular Open Session Minutes of June 3, 2013 Minutes Mr. Jimenez moved to approve the minutes as Vice Chair Fukushima called for a motion to approve the minutes. circulated. Ms. Agarwal seconded the motion. Motion carried 4:0 Chiefs Monthly ■ Overview for the month of May 2013 and pertinent updates Report ■ Budget Report as of May 31, 2013 Chief Westerman reported on the survey being done by the University of Hawaii on the new tsunami evacuation zones which will be used to determine road closures during evacuation periods; they are working with Kauai Police Department (KPD) and Civil Defense (CD) on those. Operations statistics are still running high which correlates to the increase in visitor population. Chief Westerman noted that the few increases in structural fires are not being viewed as a trend. The seconds are engine has been taken comnpletely out of service; there is Kauai Fire Commission Open Session July 1, 2013 Page 2 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION only one spare left. There will be a new engine replacement in approximately 6 — 8 months which will bring them back to two spares; they will try to do the same the following year to ensure that spare engines are not over 12 years old. Hanalei station has been working with Hanalei school to provide a place to sleep and access to the cafeteria for fire personnel during bridge closures. The Training Bureau currently has a recruit class in session which accounts for a lot of the training hours and includes Hazmat Tech courses, USLA and bomb awareness training. Gear from the Rescue Systems 1 and 2 trainings, a state - implemented program, will be turned over to KFD which will save them some funding. The Prevention Bureau is starting to have annual meetings with large land- owners and major lessees to instruct them on how to maintain those properties and avoid complaints; the major land- owners were enthusiastic about having more of their lessees attend future meetings. Prior to Chief Westerman presenting the KFD budget report, Mr. Jimenez commented on the editorial in the Garden Island on the near - drowning that occurred at the Waiohai. Being that there is no lifeguard at Waiohai or at Brenneckes, he asked should the hotel be advising people to swim there, especially since immediate assistance cannot be expected by the County lifeguards in areas that are not visible to them. Deputy County Attorney Trask noted that several years back, the hotel voluntarily put up two hotel signs warning of the various dangers of the waters in that area. Additionally, the Kauai Lifeguard Association worked with the hotel to add a large, colorful, illustrative sign that is much more visible and explanatory depicting a satellite picture of Waiohai and Po`i u Kauai Fire Commission Open Session July 1, 2013 Page 3 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION with colored arrows showing where the currents go. There was brief discussion on high -water demarcation and who is legally responsible, whether State or private land- owner, for each area. Mr. Fukushima referenced the near - drowning at a recent JPO (Junior Police Officer) picnic, asking whether it was a County- sponsored program and requested clarification on what occurred. Chief Westerman stated that based on the information he was provided, it was more than likely due to a large number of kids heading for the water and not realizing someone had gone under. However, as soon as they realized that, they pulled her out of the water and resuscitated her. Extra lifeguards and an engine company were present for the event but situations are unpredictable with such a large group of people in a small area. Mr. Fukushima asked about chaperoning of those picnics to which Chief Westerman replied that KFD is just there to provide support. Mr. Fukushima expressed his concern that being it is a County sponsored activity, it would not look good if something really bad should happen. Ms. Agarwal asked that whenever there is a County sponsored activity, could we have participants sign a waiver. Mr. Fukushima noted that the County already does that, but in a situation where something really bad happens, the County is still ultimately responsible. Deputy County Attorney Trask further stated for clarification that whether or not someone signs a waiver, if we are providing the services of Water Safety Officers we have to abide by a certain professional standard; failure to do so would result in our being liable. Chief Westerman provided an overview of the Budget. Ms. Agarwal moved to accept the report. Mr. Jimenez seconded the motion. Motion carried 4:0. Kauai Fire Commission Open Session July 1, 2013 Page 4 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Executive Pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes § §92 -4 and 92 -5 (a) (4), 92 -9 (a) (1 -4) Deputy County Attorney Mauna Kea Trask read Session (b), the purpose of this executive session is to receive and approve the Hawaii Revised Statues as described on the Executive Session minutes and to consult with the Commission's legal agenda that would take the Commission into counsel on issues pertaining to the Commission's and the County's powers, Executive Session for item ES -006 and ES -007. duties, privileges, immunities, and/or liabilities as they may relate to this item, deliberate and take such action as appropriate. • ES -006 Executive Session Minutes of June 3, 2013 • ES -007 Discussion regarding Recovery of Rescue Expenses Related by the County of Kauai for rescues performed by the Fire Department Mr. Brown moved to convene into executive Mr. Fukushima called for a motion to enter into executive session. session at 2:45 p.m. Mr. Jimenez seconded the motion. Motion carried 4:0. Return to Open Ratify Commission actions taken in the Executive Session for item: The meeting reconvened in open session at 3:05 Session ES -006 p.m. ES -007 Mr. Jimenez moved to ratify the Commission's actions taken in executive session. Mr. Brown seconded the motion. Motion carried 4:0. Announcements Next Meeting: Monday, August 5, 2013 — 2:00 p.m., Mo`ikeha Building, Meeting Room 2A/B The Office of Boards and Commissions will no longer be providing bottled water to our members starting July 1, 2013. This is one of our sustainability goals. Staff will provide cold water using a filtered system (i.e. Brita), so please bring in your water bottle that was provided to you. Adjournment Mr. Jimenez moved to adjourn the meeting. Ms. Agarwal seconded the motion. Motion carried 4:0. The meeting was adjourned at 3:07 p.m. Kauai Fire Commission Open Session July 1, 2013 Submitted by: Cherisse Zaima, Support Clerk O Approved as is. O Approved with amendments. See minutes of PagL 5 Reviewed and Approved by: meeting. Jesse Fukushima, Vice Chair