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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-02-15 Fire Commission minutes approvedCOUNTY OF KAUAI Minutes of Meeting OPEN SESSION Board /Committee: Fire Commission Meeting Date February 2, 2015 Location Mo'ikeha Building, Meeting Room 2A/213 Start of Meeting: 2:00 p.m. I End of Meeting: 3:31 p.m. Present Chair Eugene Jimenez; Vice Chair Bradley Maruyama (arrived at 2:12 p.m.); Members: Savita Agarwal, Dan Brown, Heidy Huddy- Yamamoto, Jimmy Miranda (arrived at 2:12 p.m.) Also First Deputy County Attorney Stephen Hall; Boards & Commissions Office Staff: Support Clerk Mercedes Youn; Administrator Paula Morikami; Fire Department Fire Chief Robert Westerman Excused Jesse Fukushima Absent SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Call To Order Chair Jimenez called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. with four (4) present members constituting a quorum. Approval of Regular Open Session Minutes of January 5, 2015. Commissioner Brown moved to approve the Minutes meeting minutes of January 5, 2015. Commissioner Huddy- Yamamoto seconded. Motion carried 4:0 Chief's Monthly 1. Fire Commission monthly reports for the month of December Reports and pertinent updates. Chair Jimenez said he would like to suspend the rules to allow Chief Westerman to provide the Commission with an overview the monthly reports. Chief Westerman provided the Commissioners with an overview of the monthly and budget reports. Training Bureau Chair Jimenez asked if the 640 hours for the training for the month was equivalent to 1 hour per person to which Chief Westerman replied yes. Fire Commission Regular Open Session February 2, 2015 Page 2 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION High Performance CPR Training Commissioner Brown asked if the training was done in -house to which Chief Westerman replied normally the Fire Department does all of its training in- house. But in this particular training a local Doctor was called in to assist with the training which is part of the Department's performance standards. Commissioner Agarwal asked if the CPR training involves other CPR equipment or mouth -to- mouth to which Fire Chief Westerman replied every year the Department has to recertify all of its personnel with the AUD. The training involves the use of a CPR rescue mask as well as a bag valve mask in case the fire recuse personnel have to work with paramedics. Chief Westerman noted relative to the High Performance CPR Training which consists mostly of continuous chest compressions and hardly any recuse breathing at all. *At 2:12 p.m. Commissioners Miranda and Maruyama entered the meeting. Prevention Bureau Commissioner Huddy- Yamamoto asked what a Witness Acceptance Test entails. Chief Westerman explained that the acceptance testing is a test conducted to determine if the equipment, i.e. new alarm systems and sprinklers are in proper working order. The testing generally involves running a suite of tests on the completed system. Each individual test, known as a case, exercises a particular opening condition of the equipment which will result in a pass or fail outcome. He stated once it is determined by the Fire Inspectors that the equipment is sound a Certificate of Occupancy is issued. Fire Commission Regular Open Session February 2, 2015 Page 3 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Commissioner Brown asked if the ordinance that included a failure fee has been implemented to which Chief Westerman replied no, and explained that the Fire Department is still working on it. 2. KFD Fiscal Report as of December 31, 2014. The Budget Status Report for December 2014 shows the department's budget for FY 2015 is currently at 50 %. The actual expenditures through December 2014 is at 50.99 %, and the Administration expenditures is at 51.11 %. Commissioner Huddy- Yamamoto asked how often the Department has open recruitment to which Chief Westerman replied in the past ten (10) years the Department had a total of eight (8) new fire recruits and being such a young Department he does not see any openings anytime soon. Chair Jimenez called for two separate motions to receive the Fire Commission's monthly reports for the month of December and the KFD Commissioner Miranda moved to receive the Fiscal Report as of December 31, 2014. Fire Commission's monthly reports. Commissioner Huddy- Yamamoto seconded. The motion carried 6:0 Commissioner Brown moved to receive the Kauai Fire Department's Fiscal Report as of December 31, 2014. Commissioner Miranda seconded. The motion carried 6:0 Business KFC 2015 -03, Communication dated December 30, 2104, from Fire Chief Fire Commission Regular Open Session February 2, 2015 Page 4 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Robert Westerman to Chair Jesse Fukushima, regarding a draft of the Kauai Fire Department's goals for FY 2015 -2016. Goal # 2 — Update on MOU's and MOA's Chair Jimenez asked how many memos of understanding (MOU) and memos of acceptance (MOA) are there total and if the updates could specify the date the memos were updated including the title to help the Commission measure whether or not the goals are being accomplished. Goal #3 — Ocean Safety Permanent sign program Chair Jimenez asked about the amount of signs that needs replacement and the locations to which Chief Westerman replied Ocean Safety Supervisor Kalani Vierra has a list of the locations. Chair Jimenez asked if the goal could also include a list of the locations where the signs are being replaced to which Chief Westerman replied yes. Chief Westerman stated part of the Department's strategic plan is to realign its goals and objectives and as the Department continues to move forward with its strategic plan process he would like to suggest that the Commission not refer to these as goals because he would like to give the Commission the option to review and discuss the goals that will be recommended in the strategic plan. Chair Jimenez stated he wants to be assured that the Department's goals fall in line with the strategic plan and although he realizes it will be six (6) months into the year before the strategic plan is finally completed he wants the goals and objectives to be incorporated into the Department's operating goals and placed within each bureau. He stated this would allow the Commission to measure the success of the department and the success of the Chief. Fire Commission Regular Open Session February 2, 2015 Page 5 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Commissioner Huddy- Yamamoto asked if what he is saying is every bureau will have these goals listed to which Chair Jimenez replied yes and noted that the Chief's responsibility is to see that each specific goal within each bureau is reached. Commissioner Agarwal asked if the Department's succession plan will be part of the strategic plan or separate to which Chief Westerman replied he would like it to be. It is challenging for the consulting firm hired to do the strategic plan to make sure that they give input from the entire Department on what they think is most important for the different divisions. Chair Jimenez commented he believes Commissioner Agarwal's concern is about finding a qualified person to fill the Deputy Fire Chief's position. Chief Westerman stated he has not given up on the succession plan and although they did put in a lot of time and energy into the Deputy there is one Battalion Chief who has taken advantage of the same opportunities who might be a viable candidate. Commissioner Agarwal stated her question is why no one in the Fire Department wants to become a Chief or Deputy Chief. Commissioner Huddy- Yamamoto stated she believes it is a financial matter. First Deputy County attorney Hall stated the matter is slanted for discussion in Executive Session. Goal #6 Staff all engine companies with 4 Firefighters at least 70% of the time. Commissioner Brown stated his concerns has to do with liability issues especially if a line person is moved to another station leaving the 3 remaining firefighters to carry the workload. Chief Westerman stated the Department is in good shape and is running at 88 %. To address his concerns about the limited amount of line personnel, Chief Westerman explained that the rank for rank program helps a lot because it allows the Fire Commission Regular Open Session February 2, 2015 Page 6 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Department to bring in more people to cover the shift. With further Commissioner Huddy- Yamamoto moved to discussion, Chair Jimenez called for a motion to receive item KPC 2015- receive item KFC 2015 -03. Vice Chair 03. Maruyama seconded. Discussion Ms. Morikami suggested that perhaps the Commissioners might want to With no objections, Commissioner Huddy- approve the proposed goals rather than receive it. First Deputy County Yamamoto moved to withdraw her first motion. Hall stated the Commission can either receive or approve the Chief's Vice Chair Maruyama withdrew the second. proposed goals or amend the original motion. Chair Jimenez stated if there are no objections he would like to ask Commissioner Huddy- Yamamoto to withdraw her motion. Commissioner Miranda moved to approve the Chief's proposed 2015 goals for the Fire Department. Commissioner Huddy- Yamamoto seconded. The motion carried 6:0 Chair Jimenez called for a new motion to approve the Chief's proposed 2015 goals for the Fire Department. KFC 2015 -05 Discussion on the proposed amendments to Rule 5 -3, Election of Chair, and Vice Chair, and Rule 5 -6, Commission meetings of the Kauai Fire Commission Rules of Administrative Practices and Procedure. Chair Jimenez stated he would accept the amendments with the understanding that the Commission keep all lines of communications open with the Fire Department in case an issue comes up that needs to be addressed by the Commission immediately. With no further discussion, Chair Jimenez called for a motion to approve the amendments as submitted. Fire Commission Regular Open Session February 2, 2015 Page 7 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Ms. Morikami noted that the Public Hearing is set for Monday, April 6, 2015. Commissioner Huddy- Yamamoto asked who determines when the Commission will meet. In response to her question, Ms. Morikami explained the meetings will be based on the Commission's agenda. For example, if all that is on the agenda is the Chief's monthly reports and nothing else, the Commission could probably forego that meeting. Commissioner Miranda stated that he prefer that the Commission not meet in July and December. Commissioner Brown stated that probably is a good idea but if something was to come up the Commission could still meet because it has the flexibility to do so. With no further discussion, Chair Jimenez called for a motion to approve the proposed amendments as submitted. Commissioner Huddy- Yamamoto moved to approve the proposed amendments to Rule 5 -3, and Rule 5 -6, as submitted. Commissioner A arwal seconded. Motion carried 6:0 KFC 2015 -06, General discussion on the Fire Department's budget for FY 2016. Chair Jimenez stated the reason he asked Staff to place the item on the agenda was to give the Commission the opportunity to hear from the Chief himself about the trials and tribulations he is going through right now. He stated that although no decisions have been made he believes that the Commission should be apprised as to how fiscal year 2016 budget will impact the Fire Department. Chief Westerman stated the Fire Department has been working on finding ways to comply with the Administration's recommendation that the Department reduce its current budget by 6.99 %. Chair Jimenez asked what the deadline is for submitting its recommendations to the Administration to which Chief Westerman replied the Fire Department has a budget review session with the Mayor set for Friday, February 27, 2015. Chair Jimenez stated he would like to keep the Fire Commission Regular Open Session February 2, 2015 Page 8 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION matter on the agenda until the final budget is submitted. KFC 2015 -07, Discussion on tentative timetable for Phase II of the Kauai Fire Department. Chair Jimenez explained the reason this item is on the agenda is because he felt it was important and something for the Commission to hang its hat on to say these are the goals and objectives it wants to see the Fire Department accomplish. In addition, he also wanted to open a discussion relating to a Marketing Plan that was done by the two student interns which he thought was really well done. Chief Westerman reported that the Fire Department has signed the contract and will be meeting with Diane Zachary sometime this week to go over the terms of the contract. He invited two or three Commissioners to accompany him to the executive meetings if their schedules permit. In addition, the Chief will also be working with BC Ornellas to coordinate all of the meetings with the various committees. Announcements Next meeting — Monday, March 2, 2015, 2015, at 2:00 p.m., Mo'ikeha Building, Meeting Room 2A /2B. Executive At 3:11 p.m. Vice Chair Maruyama cited the Hawaii Revised Statutes Commissioner Huddy- Yamamoto moved to Session §92 -4 and §92 -5 (a) (4), to bring the meeting into Executive Session. enter into Executive Session. Commissioner Brown seconded. Motion carried 6:0 Chair Jimenez called for a motion to enter into Executive Session. At 3:11 p.m. the Commission entered into Executive Session. Return to Open At 3:30 p.m. reconvened in open session. Session Adjournment At 3:31 p.m. Commissioner Miranda moved to Fire Commission Regular Open Session February 2, 2015 Page 9 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION adjourn. Commissioner Huddy- Yamamoto seconded. Motion carried 6:0 Submitted by: Mercedes Omo, Staff Support Clerk (x) Approved as circulated on April 6, 2015 ( ) Approved as amended. See minutes of meeting. Reviewed and Approved by: Eugene Jimenez, Chair