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HomeMy WebLinkAboutKFC Minutes 7-6-15 ApprovedCOUNTY OF KAUAI Minutes of Meeting OPEN SESSION Board /Committee: Kauai Fire Commission Meeting Date July 6, 2015 Location Mo'ikeha Building — Meeting Room 2A/B Start of Meeting: 2:02 p.m. End of Meeting: 2:59 p.m. Present Chair Eugene K. Jimenez; Vice -Chair Bradley Maruyama; Members: Michael Martinez and Thomas Nizo Also present: First Deputy County Attorney Stephen Hall; Board & Commissions Office Staff: Support Clerk Mercedes Omo; Administrator Jay Furfaro; Fire Department: Fire Chief Robert Westerman Excused Commissioners Dan Brown and Clifton Jimmy Miranda Absent Commissioner Mari Yokoi SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Call To Order Prior to the start of the meeting, Eddie Topenio Administrative Assistant to Chair Jimenez called the meeting to order at 2:02 the County Clerk, officiated the Oath of Office for new Commissioners p.m., with four (4) members constituting a Michael Martinez and Thomas Nizo. quorum. Chair Jimenez stated before he begins to conduct business, he would like Commissioners Martinez and Nizo to share a little bit of background history about themselves. Commissioner Martinez shared that he is originally from Colorado and has served in the military for 20 years. His wife is from the Big Island of Hawaii and together they have three (3) children and five (5) grandchildren. He is an insurance agent for State Farm Insurance in Kapa`a. And as a new member on the Fire Commission, he would like to bring different perspectives to the table to help the community and the Fire Department. Commissioner Nizo shared that he was born and raised on Kauai and went to Waimea High School. After graduation, he attended the Kauai Community College where he earned a degree. Shortly after graduating from KCC, he enrolled at the University of Hawaii on West Oahu. For 21 years, he worked as an Operations Specialist for the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands, and is currently the Manager at the Waimea Theater for the Kauai Fire Commission Regular Meeting - Open Session July 6, 2015 Page 2 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION past 8 years. He is also an active member of the West Kauai Business & Professional Association. Approval of • Regular Open Session Minutes of June 1, 2015. Minutes Chair Jimenez stated he would appreciate if the members would take the Vice Chair Maruyama moved to approve the time to review the meeting minutes and if they had any corrections he regular open session meeting minutes of June 1, would like them to be known before he calls for the approval the minutes. 2105. Commissioner Nizo seconded the motion. Motion carried 4:0 Chief's Monthly 1. Fire Commission monthly reports and pertinent updates for the Reports month of May 2015. Chief Westerman provided an overview of his monthly reports. Operations Bureau Chair Jimenez asked Chief Westerman what is the Department's disposition regarding the investigation that was conducted on the five (5) brush fires to which Chair Westerman explained after completing the investigation, it was determined by the Firefighters on the scene that no act of arson had occurred; however, if there was evidence to support that an act of arson did occur, a call would have been made immediately to the Kauai Police Department, as well as the Department's Fire Investigator. But because there was no evidence of arson in this case, as well as other cases, the Fire Investigator would normally obtain the information off of the report on the following day. Ocean Safety Bureau Chair Jimenez stated according to his knowledge the new Ocean Safety Brochures are being circulated asking, how many brochures are in circulation to which Chief Westerman replied there are two- hundred fifty Kauai Fire Commission Regular Meeting - Open Session July 6, 2015 Page 3 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION thousand brochures in circulation that was paid for by the Fire Department. Chair Jimenez asked Chief Westerman if the Commission could get a copy of the brochure to which Chief Westerman replied absolutely. Chair Jimenez shared that there is an existing relationship between the resort industry and the Kauai Lifeguard Association, and they both play a key role in promoting positive measures that are taken by the Fire Department and the Ocean Safety Bureau. With no further discussion, Chair Jimenez called for a motion to receive Commissioner Martinez move to receive the Fire the report. Commission's monthly reports for the month of May. Vice Chair Maruyama seconded the motion. Motion carried 4:0 2. KFD monthly fiscal reports for the month of May Chief Westerman provided an overview of the budget reports. Chair Jimenez stated this is the most comprehensive financial report he has ever seen; not only does it provide a point in time on how the Fire Department is doing, the report also provides a line by line financial update for each of the bureaus within the Fire Department. He encouraged his fellow Commissioners to review the report and if they have any questions for Fire Chief Westerman to bring their questions to the meeting. Ocean Safety Bureau Chief Westerman stated there was an unspent portion in the budget that was allocated specifically for overtime, but because of the shortage of personnel, the monies had to be transferred from the regular time account into the overtime account to pay for the overtime expenses. Chair Jimenez Kauai Fire Commission Regular Meeting - Open Session July 6, 2015 Page 4 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION commented for the Commissioners edification when a transfer of funds from one division to another happens, it usually requires Council's approval which is submit to an audit. Chief Westerman stated overall the Fire Department will have to return 3% ($677,604.94) of its unexpended funds back to the County's General Fund account. Mr. Furfaro shared that the Fire Department represents 24% of the County's General Fund and the Police Department represents 25% and between the two, the County is spending about 49% of the County's General Fund income. Chair Jimenez commented that it looks good for core services because half of the revenues that are coming in goes to public service. With no further discussion, Chair Jimenez called for a motion to approve Vice Chair Maruyama moved to receive the the Fire Department's financial report for the month of May. Kauai Fire Department's Fiscal Report for the month of May. Commissioner Nizo seconded the motion. Motion carried 4:0 3. Daily Flight Hours and Alarm Data for the month of May Chief Westerman gave an overview of the report, noting that the Department is still trying to decide if they are going to live with the report which may change over time, but for right now, the report does provide all of the basic information needed to report. Chair Jimenez thanked Fire Chief Westerman, and hearing no other Vice Chair Maruyama moved to receive the questions, he called for a motion to receive the report. Daily Flight Hours and Alarm Data Report for the month of May. Commissioner Nizo seconded the motion. Motion carried 4:0 Kauai Fire Commission Regular Meeting - Open Session July 6, 2015 Page 5 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Business General discussion on the Fire Department's budget for FY 2015 -2016. (On-going KFC 2015 -06 Chair Jimenez asked Chief Westerman when the Commission would get a copy of the approved budget to check if there were any new developments to the 2016 Budget. Chief Westerman stated he would provide them with a copy, noting that the final budget could also be found on the County's website at www.kauai.gov Chair Jimenez asked Chief Westerman what was the Department's final budgeted amount that was approved for Fiscal Year 2016 to which Chief Westerman replied $26,810,810.00, explaining the only two things that are significant, other than some of the reductions for the different funding lines items, was the dollar funding of the Deputy Fire Chief and Fire Training Fire Fighter III positions. Chair Jimenez commented after watching some of the budget deliberations on Hoike Television, what bothered him was Council's portrayal on how simple it is to get funding for a position that has been dollar funded when in reality it can take up to six (6) months before the funds are released. Chief Westerman stated the Fire Department did well this fiscal year and will continue to do well in FY 2016 despite of expenditures. He stated a decision was made to take two of the leases on the fire engines and convert them into two smaller engines so they could house one of newer and smaller fire engines in Hanalei. Kauai Fire Commission Regular Meeting - Open Session July 6, 2015 Page 6 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION He explained because of the Hanalei bridge issue, the Department had to house a smaller fire engine in Hanalei than what they usually have at each of the other Fire Stations, but by doing so, there was no back -up engine so the idea was to purchase two smaller fire engines; one in Hanalei and the other at the Kaikea Fire Station. KFC 2015 -07 Discussion on tentative timetable for Phase II of the Kauai Fire Department's Strategic Plan. (On-going) Chief Westerman handed out copies of a working document regarding the Kauai Fire Department Modified Strategic Plan/Schedule of Planning Review Meetings to the Commissioners. Chief Westerman explained that a total of nine (9) meetings are completed to date. The next Steering Committee Review meeting is scheduled for July 13'' and 24th. The final project completion date is set for August 31, 2015. Chair Jimenez stated for the edification of new Commissioners Martinez and Nizo, the information relates to Phase H of the Strategic Plan. He shared that he attended several of these meetings in the data gathering phase and there was a lot of input from the community, as well as other agencies. He stated for the Fire Commission, he thinks it is important because it will give the Commission some direction in terms of benchmarks for the Commission to follow. He stated the Fire Commission is responsible for evaluating, assessing the Chief's performance, as well as hiring and firing. With this as guide, it would be a good tool for the Commission to use to see where it's at and where it's going. Kauai Fire Commission Regular Meeting - Open Session July 6, 2015 Page 7 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION KFC 2015 -10 General discussion on the Kauai Fire Department's stance relating to o Bill No. 2589 — Recovery of Recuse Expenses. Chair Jimenez stated as far as he knows, there has not been any reimbursement for any recuses statewide, and would like to hear KFD's stance relative to Bill No. 2589. Chief Westerman stated the first step that needs to be taken is changing the wording "Gross Negligence ", which he believes should mirror the State law. The Council has created a Sub - Committee to investigate and gather information on the positives and negatives; what the County can and cannot do and then present its findings to the Committee of the Whole. Chief Westerman stated he is meeting with Councilmember Mason Chock and members of the Council tomorrow to discuss the issue and although he does not have a position on the matter per se, as the Council moves forward with their investigation, they will find an entire gamut of what the bill proposes (just as he has); one of which is what to charge and if to charge. Chief Westerman shared one of the issues he has is the way the Bill is written; he does want anyone to get the wrong impression that the bill is a helicopter bill. He stated in the Ordinance, the term "rescue" is used, but as far as he is concerned, the Fire Department has rescues with more than just the helicopter, and applying the new Ordinance may be a problem for the Fire Department. He stated at this point, he needs to get Council's interpretation as to what they think the law should be so that he can figure out how to apply the new Ordinance when it comes into effect. Kauai Fire Commission Regular Meeting - Open Session July 6, 2015 Page 8 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Chair Jimenez stated his one request is that the Department keep the Commission apprised as to what is happening to which Chief Westerman replied yes. Chair Jimenez added if the Department needs any assistance b the wa of testifying to let the Commission know beforehand. KFC 2015 -11 Discussion and decision - making on selecting two Commissioners to attend the International Association of Fire Chiefs Conference scheduled for August 26 -29, 2015, in Atlanta, Georgia. Chair Jimenez asked if the Commission's budget allows for two of its members to attend the conference to which Chief Westerman replied yes. Chair Jimenez then asked if any of the Commissioners might be interested in attending the conference. Commissioner Martinez stated he is interested, but would have to check his work calendar first before he makes a commitment. Chair Jimenez asked Staff what is the deadline to register to which Staff replied today. Commissioner Nizo stated he is free to attend the conference. Announcements Next meeting — Monday, August 3, 2015, 2:00 p.m., Mo'ikeha Building, Meeting Room 2A/2B. Chair Jimenez stressed the importance of being a Commissioner in respect to what the appointment means, as well as arriving on time to the meeting so that the Commission can conduct business in a timely manner. Adjournment With no further business to conduct, Chair Jimenez called for a motion to Commissioner Nizo moved to adjourn the adjourn the meeting. meeting. Commissioner Martinez seconded the motion. The motion carried 4:0 At 2:59 p.m. the meeting adjourned. Kauai Fire Commission Regular Meeting - Open Session July 6, 2015 Submitted by: Mercedes Omo, Staff Support Clerk (x) Approved as circulated on August 3, 2015. ( ) Approved as amended. See minutes of meeting. Page 9 Reviewed and Approved by: Bradley Maruyama, Vice Chair