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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013_1007 KFC Open Min DRAFT finalRRIFTT�� B�e�Agiyroue COUNTY OF KAUAI Minutes of Meeting OPEN SESSION Board/Committee: I FIRE COMMISSION Meeting Date October 7, 2013 Location Mo`ikeha Building, Meeting Room 2A /213 Start of Meeting: 2:07 p.m. I End of Meeting: 3:16 p.m. Present Chair Jimmy Miranda; Vice Chair Jesse Fukushima (entered 2:10 p.m); Members: Eugene Jimenez; Dan Brown; Savita Agarwal; Heidy Huddy- Yamamoto Also: Fire Chief Robert Westerman; Deputy County Attorney Mauna Kea Trask; Boards & Commissions Office Staff. Support Clerk Cherisse Zaima; Administrative Aide Teresa Tamura Excused Absent SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Call To Order Chair Miranda called the meeting to order at 2:07 p.m. with 5 members present, constituting a quorum. Approval of ■ Regular Open Session Minutes of September 3, 2013 Mr. Jimenez moved to approve the minutes as Minutes circulated. Ms. Agarwal seconded the motion. Motion carried 5:0. Chiefs Monthly ■ Overview for the month of August 2013 and pertinent updates Report ■ Budget Report as of August 31, 2013 Chief Westerman gave an overview of his report highlighting the talk -story session they had with the Kapa`a Rotary Club who is a big supporter of the Ocean Safety Program. Their organization was responsible for implementing the ocean safety video kiosks at the Lihu`e airport, and are now offering to work on a photovoltaic system for the lifeguard towers to provide them with power. Chief Westerman also noted that he attended the Waimea police substation dedication, which is significant as the police have now moved out of the Waimea fire station allowing KFD the use of their entire space. Part of the CIP plan for the next year will be to redesign and Kauai Fire Commission Open Session October 7, 2013 Page 2 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION reconstruct the station as a single -use facility for the Fire Department instead of a shared -use with the Police Department. Chief Westerman pointed out the commendations received for the month, highlighting the commendation of Fire Captain Kurt Leong, who is also a part of K.O.R.E.(Kaua`i Ocean Recreation Experience), for the Wounded Mr. Fukushima entered the meeting. Warrior program in which they provided an ocean experience for a soldier wounded in Afghanistan. Prevention Bureau Chief Westerman noted that KFD submitted a WUI (Wildland Urban Interface) grant to purchase a shredder to offer local communities a day where they could clean up around their community; the shredder would be used to shred small trees and branches. Mr. Fukushima asked who would be monitoring the shredder, and if there will be someone certified to operate it to which Chief Westerman stated KFD will monitor it, and will get their staff certified to operate it. Training Bureau At the request of Mr. Fukushima, Chief Westerman provided an explanation and breakdown of the training sessions held. Mr. Fukushima asked what training classes would be mandatory to help a firefighter move up the ranks. Chief Westerman listed the following classes: • Company Burn Trailer Training • CPR instructor Training • Rescue Dive Training (applicable to rescue divers) • First Responder recertification • Driver's Training recertification (applicable to drivers) Kauai Fire Commission Open Session October 7, 2013 Page 3 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Chief Westerman noted that the following training is not mandatory, but very important: • NFA Courtroom Training (not mandatory, but preferred) • PPV Attack/Thermal Imager Training • RMS Training Mr. Fukushima asked if the County Attorney has been made aware of the NFA Courtroom Training as he feels that ties in to one of the major discussions they have been having about preparing firefighters to testify in court. Deputy County Attorney Trask stated that he has not looked at training of our County officers by other bodies, but noted that when an issue comes up, or there is litigation involving KFD staff, the County Attorney's office will prepare them the best they can. Mr. Fukushima stated that from time to time, firefighters will need to testify in court due to potential litigation. Because the NFA classes pertain to legal aspects, he asked if there was any communication about it between the County Attorney and the Department. Mr. Jimenez stated that he thinks these particular classes are generalized, and that for specific issues, KFD would consult with the County Attorney, which Chief Westerman concurred with; this class simply gives them an idea of how to handle themselves in a courtroom. Mr. Fukushima stated that he is in understanding of what the classes are about, and asked if it could be a complement between the two agencies to which Attorney Trask stated that if materials from the classes are brought back, he would like to see them. Kauai Fire Commission Open Session October 7, 2013 Page 4 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Ocean Safety Bureau Chief Westerman reported that the Junior Lifeguard Program won the State Championships that were held on Maui, and then went on to the Manhattan Beach National Competition in California, bringing home numerous awards, including Gold and Silver awards. The Junior Lifeguards toured the USC campus, and had the opportunity to speak with some of the campus doctors on Sports Medicine. Chief Westerman provided an overview of the budget report, noting there was a significant transfer of funds out of the Training Bureau account into the Administration account in the amount of $10,000. This was to cover the increased cost of the annual physical examinations for KFD officers. Ocean Safety is having issues with the truck at Ke'e tower where KFD is providing lifeguard services under a State contract. They asked the State to allow them to replace it, but were denied. They obtained an estimate to repair the truck which would cost over $16,000; the cost to replace the truck would be $29,000. They are going back to the State to ask them to replace it. They are also working on finding some facilities to put out there for on- site storage as opposed to having the lifeguards bring everything down to the tower every day. Considering the long drive from Princeville to the end of the road, Mr. Fukushima asked if the Chief has looked into the possibility of having a substation on the North Shore in an area outside the tsunami zone such as on Wainiha Power Plant road. Chief Westerman stated that they have not looked at that; however, in November, there will be a Kauai Water Safety Task Force Conference to go over all of the issues related to the increased number of drownings. Anyone is invited to attend to offer ideas on ways KFD can improve the Kauai Fire Commission Open Session October 7, 2013 Page 5 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION way they do business to reduce drowning counts. Mr. Fukushima moved to accept the Fire Chief's monthly report. Mr. Brown seconded the motion. Motion carried 6:0. Communications KFC 2013 -16 County of Kauai Capital Project Management Auditor's Report on Kaiakea Fire Station Chief Westerman stated for the record that he is in disagreement with the auditor's report. He felt there were some inaccuracies that were stated, noting the following: A lot of focus had been put upon how much money had been spent on a commercial grade stove. With 18 adult males cooking 2 — 2 '/a meals per day for 7 days a week, a residential stove is not going to last. The comparison per square foot was very off base. The station was built on 13 acres, 8 of those acres had to be modified or improved based upon a State mandate, which was not taken into account. The $5 million reported expenditures include those improvements; however, the cost of just the fire station is approximately $2.2 million, which would actually make Kaiakea station cheaper than other stations it was compared with. Additionally, the bid on Kaiakea station was done at the height of the building market. Chief Westerman's responses are included in the Auditor's report. Ms. Huddy- Yamamoto asked if the $700 /square foot amount included the modifications to the 8 acres to which Chief Westerman replied yes. He further explained that the required modifications were to have three 25 foot long, 15 feet deep water catch basins to keep water from running onto the highway. In res onse to Mr. Fukushima's comment that a lot of questions and Kauai Fire Commission Open Session October 7, 2013 Page 6 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION concerns were raised regarding Kaiakea fire station back then, Ms. Huddy- Yamamoto asked for clarification on why that was. Mr. Fukushima stated that the location of the station and where the population predominates in the Kawaihau district prompted questions on the purpose of putting the fire station at the bottom when the population base is above Mahelona hospital. Strategically, he feels it would have been better to put in a full -blown station up near Kapa`a Middle School because there are routes leading from there into different parts of Kawaihau, as well as Mr. Jimenez moved to receive the Auditor's being out of the tsunami zone. report. Mr. Fukushima seconded the motion. Motion carried 6:0. Business KFC 2013 -17 Resolution in recognition of Damien Victorino, former Fire Chief Mr. Brown noted that in Section 4 of the resolution, it seems like he was only Fire Chief for one year, but he was actually Chief for much longer. Mr. Fukushima asked how the resolution would be presented and suggested that Mrs. Victorino and her family be invited to the next Commission Mr. Jimenez moved to accept the resolution with meeting to be presented with the resolution. the correction to Section 4. Mr. Fukushima seconded the motion. 6:0. Staff will prepare and frame the resolution, and contact the Garden Island for a photo -op; the Commission will purchase a lei for Mrs. Victorino. Mr. Fukushima moved to invite Mrs. Elizabeth Victorino and her immediate family to the November 4, 2013 Fire Commission meeting. Mr. Brown seconded the motion. Motion carried 6:0. Kauai Fire Commission Open Session October 7, 2013 Page 7 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 -010 and ES -007. duties, privileges, immunities, and/or liabilities as they may relate to this item, deliberate and take such action as appropriate. • ES -010 Executive Session minutes of September 3, 2013 Mr. Brown moved to invite Chief Westerman to be present for the executive session. Mr. • ES -007 Discussion regarding Recovery of Rescue Expenses Related Fukushima seconded the motion. Motion carried by the County of Kauai for rescues performed by the Fire 6:0. Department Mr. Jimenez moved to convene into executive session at 3:02 p.m. Mr. Brown seconded the motion. Motion carried 6:0. Return to Open Ratify Commission actions taken in the Executive Session for item: The meeting reconvened in open session at 3:12 Session ES -010 p.m. ES -007 Mr. Fukushima moved to ratify the Commission's actions taken in executive session. Mr. Jimenez seconded the motion. Motion carried 6:0. Chief Westerman reminded the Commission that his evaluation is due on December 31. There was discussion on the past concerns related to the annual evaluation process. Attorney Trask noted that this discussion should take place in executive Kauai Fire Commission Open Session October 7, 2013 Page 8 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION session at the next meeting. Staff will place an executive session item relating to the evaluation on the next meeting agenda. Announcements Next Meeting: Monday, November 4, 2013 — 2:00 p.m., Mo`ikeha Building, Meeting Room 2A/B Adjournment Mr. Jimenez moved to adjourn the meeting. Ms. Huddy- Yamamoto seconded the motion. Motion carried 6:0. The meeting was adjourned at 3:16 p.m. Submitted by: Cherisse Zaima, Support Clerk O Approved as is. () Approved with amendments. See minutes of Reviewed and Approved by: meeting. Jimmy Miranda, Chair