Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021_0503_KFC_Minutes_Open_Approved_Redacted.pdf COUNTY OF KAUAI Minutes of Meeting OPEN SESSION Board/Commission: FIRE COMMISSION Meeting Date: May 3, 2021 Location Teleconference via Microsoft Teams Start of Meeting: 2:00 p.m. End of Meeting: 3:10 p.m. Present Chair Jennie Chahanovich. Vice Chair Michael Martinez. Commissioners: Alfredo Garces, Linda Kaauwai-Iwamoto, Alfred Levinthol, Thomas Nizo and Chad Pacheco. Deputy County Attorney Jenna Tatsey. Fire Department: Chief Steven Goble (left at 2:57pm) and Secretary Soncy Tamashiro (left at 2:57pm). Office of Boards and Commissions Staff: Administrator Ellen Ching and Commission Support Clerk Sandra Muragin. Excused Deputy Chief Michael Gibson Absent SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Chair Chahanovich, Commissioner Garces, Commissioner Kaauwai-Iwamoto, Commissioner Nizo, Commissioner Pacheco, Deputy County Attorney Tatsey, Fire Chief Goble, Secretary Tamashiro, Administrator Ching and Commission Support Clerk Muragin were logged onto Microsoft Teams by video. Vice Chair Martinez, Commissioner Levinthol and Public Person (left at 2:57pm) and Public Person (left at 2:57pm) called into Microsoft Teams and entered the meeting by audio. Call To Order In Open Session /Roll Call Chair Chahanovich called the Open Session meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. and requested a roll call. Commission support clerk Sandra Muragin verified attendance by roll call and requested a verbal response of present or here; Commissioner Garces replied present. Commissioner Kaauwai-Iwamoto replied present. Commissioner Levinthol replied here. Commissioner Nizo replied here. Commissioner Pacheco replied here. Vice Chair Martinez replied here. Chair Chahanovich replied here. Deputy County Attorney Tatsey replied present. Fire Chief Goble replied present. Fire Commission Open Session May 3 , 2021 Page 2 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Deputy Chief Gibson was excused. Secretary Tamashiro replied here. Administrator Ching replied present. Commission Support Clerk Muragin replied here. Quorum was established with seven commissioners present. Chair’s Announcements Next Scheduled Meeting: Monday, June 7, 2021 – 2:00 p.m., Teleconference by Microsoft Teams Chair Chahanovich reminded the commission that next month’s meeting was changed to Monday, June 21, and for those who have not confirmed their attendance, she requested they contact Ms. Muragin so quorum can be established. Public Comments and Testimony Chair Chahanovich announced if anyone from the public wanted to present a testimony. Hearing no response Chair moved to the next agenda item. Approval of Meeting Minutes a) Open Session Minutes of April 5, 2021 Mr. Levinthol moved to approve the Open Session minutes of April 5, 2021, as circulated. Mr. Pacheco seconded the motion. Motion carried 7:0. Fire Chief Report March 2021, dated April 23, 2021. a) Chief of the Department b) Fire Operations c) Training Bureau d) Prevention Bureau e) Ocean Safety Bureau f) Lifeguard Tower/Roving Patrol Updates Kaua‘i Fire Department Appropriation Balance – FY 2020-2021 as of March 31, 2021. Fire Chief Steven Goble reviewed the April 23, 2021 report and appropriation balance Fire Commission Open Session May 3 , 2021 Page 3 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION report as of March 31, 2021 with the Commission (on file). Attended an introductory meeting with the Kaua‘i Fire Working Group. The group consist of public stakeholders and large landowners that work together with the Fire Department to plan fire suppression, conduct prevention and work together to mitigate wildfires that threatens the safety of the public and firefighters. Thanked Chair Chahanovich and Fire Commissioners for the endorsement letters of support for the department’s application to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant. The department critiqued their methods and response practices and came up with a plan to the recent March 11 flood rains that caused a landslide in Hanalei and temporarily closed the highway and bridge. They applied for a state grant to procure a quick response vehicle and land craft. The quick response vehicle was similar to a brush truck that suppressed fires and was staged with medical response equipment and inventory and would be permanently stored by the Wainiha Community Resilience Center. The landing craft was a boat that could be used to shuttle people and supplies across the river. It could easily land at several locations and came with a ramp that allowed a convenient way to embark and disembark off the craft. A house bill was moving through the Legislature that would allow non-ambulance first responders the opportunity to be certified under the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT). Currently the Fire Department operates as a first responder for medical emergency calls under the direction of a medical director. The County Council recently approved a request from the Fire Department to accept a donation of five (5) Custom Surf Rescue Boards from the Kaua‘i Lifeguard Association (KLA). KLA received the donation from friends and family of the late Zachary Rose. Mr. Rose died from a hiking accident on the Kalalau trail. The value of the donation was Fire Commission Open Session May 3 , 2021 Page 4 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION $10,000. Department updates; 1. Safer Grant would announce awardees from May 24 and make further announcements through summer. The department was hopeful of its chance to be awarded this grant that would assist funding the new recruitment firefighter’s class. 2. Ocean Safety was moving through the selection process to fill existing vacancies. 3. Budget was in a good position with 72% of the total budget spent and 75% through the year. They would identify any left-over funds and use it before the fiscal year ends. 4. Facilities project for the helicopter hangar and training facility were ongoing. 5. Exhaust filtration system was being installed on an apparatus at the Kekaha fire station and they anticipate 2-3 days to complete setup. They would test, monitor and evaluate once installation was completed. 6. A brand new F550 brush truck for Kapa‘a fire station #2 arrived last week. They are working through the evaluation and once setup it would be placed into service. 7. Waimea fire station #7 replacement apparatus was in its final building stage and set for inspection May 18-20. It was scheduled to be transported over to Kaua‘i in June. KEMA (Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency) updates; 1. Dramatic increase in positive COVID cases in the last few days. 2. Due to increase in positive cases that droved people to get vaccinated. 3. The Department of Health (DOH) was giving only second dose vaccinations. 4. Hospitals and pharmacies are vaccinating individuals. 5. DOH testing demands increased to 350-450 per day due to increase in COVID cases. Ocean safety bureau team was going a great job in keeping the public safe now that the beaches are becoming more crowded. To accommodate the road closure access schedule the north shore ocean safety team shifted to a 4/10 schedule. They have to wait in line to enter and exit Hanalei. Fire Commission Open Session May 3 , 2021 Page 5 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Queens Bath could open on May 15; however conditions were being monitored and they want to be careful in the timing of the opening. A Life Guard Kiosk that identified safe swimming areas and life guard tower locations have been placed at north shore beaches and they hope to place one in the Queens Bath area. Overall budget was within budget parameters and on track. They would monitor and apply leftover funds to purchase higher priority needs. Chair Chahanovich asked if they were able to find a replacement medical director. Chief replied there were no qualified respondents and they were working with procurement on alternatives. Mr. Pacheco said he knew that Laird Hamilton’s boat ramp was being used to shuttle people and goods during the aftermath of the landslide and inquired if there were any agreements in place. Chief replied that it was a cooperative partnership and handshake agreement. Mr. Hamilton was generous in allowing the use of his property to help the community in need but agreed that that should not be the solution. The purchase of the landing craft would be the permanent remedy for this. Ms. Kaauwai Iwamoto inquired if the ocean safety team could check with the state to allow preferential access into Hanalei, instead of waiting in line with everyone else and if the Life Guard Kiosk was available throughout the island. Chief replied that should emergency services require immediate access, the state would stop operations and allow access and the kiosk were placed in several locations around the island Ms. Kaauwai Iwamoto moved to receive and accept the Fire Chief Report dated April 23, 2021 and the Kauai Fire Department Appropriation Balance-FY 2020-2021 as of March 31, 2021, as reported. Mr. Pacheco seconded the motion. Motion carried 7:0. Fire Commission Open Session May 3 , 2021 Page 6 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Business KFC 2021-05 Review and possible adoption of the revised format to the monthly Fire Chief Report a) Report from the Commission members present at the April 5, 2021 Fire Commission Meeting on the testimony and/or presentations they received on this agenda item. b) Discussion and possible decision-making on other related matters. Ms. Ching said at the last meeting Chief presented an alternative format to the monthly report and a copy was included in the packets. It was now open to any discussion and decision-making. Chair Chahanovich stated that she recommends the new report, it was concise, to the point and easy to read. Ms. Kaauwai Iwamoto liked the brief report. She asked that an expenditure column be included to the budget report listed on page 4, under Readiness/Resource Status. Mr. Levinthol thanked the Chief for the new report. He found it easy to follow and he’s in favor of the changes. Vice Chair Martinez said the report was good but asked that a overtime column be added to all the departments in the budget report listed on page 4, under Readiness/Resource Status. Mr. Levinthol moved to accept and adopt the new Fire Chief Report to the Fire Commission, with the additional input from Commissioner Kaauwai Iwamoto to add an expenditure column and Vice Chair Martinez to add an overtime column to the budget report listed on page 4, under Readiness/resource Status. Ms. Fire Commission Open Session May 3 , 2021 Page 7 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Chair Chahanovich said approval of the new format was unanimous and to use the new report beginning next month. Chief Goble commented that the report was a work in progress and changes to identify current needs could be added later to the report. Kaauwai Iwamoto. Motion carried 7:0. KFC 2021-01 The Kaua‘i Fire Department’s Utilization Study a) Deputy Chief Gibson to share any updates b) Discussion and possible decision-making on other related matters. Chief Goble reported that the study was progressing nicely and gave a brief background. Mr. Bill Boyd and Mr. Rodney Mascho arrived today to audit and conduct interviews scheduled with department heads and review ocean safety statistics for the next four days. They plan to produce a written draft report mid-June and a final product by the end of June. Executive Session Administrator Ellen Ching read the Hawaii Revised Statutes to move the meeting into Executive Session. Pursuant to Hawai‘i Revised Statutes §§92-4, 92-5 (a) (2) (4), 92-9 (a) (1-4) and (b), 76-47 (e) the purpose of this Executive Session is to receive and approve Executive Session minutes, to consider the hire, evaluation, dismissal or discipline of an employee or officer of the County where consideration of matters affecting privacy will be involved; and to consult with the Commission’s legal counsel on questions and issues pertaining to the Commission’s and the County’s powers, duties, privileges, immunities, and/or liabilities as they may relate to this agenda item and take such appropriate action. Mr. Pacheco moved to enter into Executive Session. Ms. Kaauwai Iwamoto seconded the motion. Motioned carried 7:0. The commission and staff, disconnected from open session at 2:57 p.m. and connected into executive session. Fire Commission Open Session May 3 , 2021 Page 8 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Return to Open Session Chair Chahanovich, Commissioner Garces, Commissioner Kaauwai-Iwamoto, Commissioner Pacheco, Deputy County Attorney Tatsey, Fire Chief Goble, Secretary Tamashiro, Administrator Ching and Commission Support Clerk Muragin were logged onto Microsoft Teams by video. Vice Chair Martinez and Commissioner Levinthol called into Microsoft Teams and entered the meeting by audio. Call To Order In Open Session /Roll Call Chair Chahanovich called the Open Session meeting to order at 3:07 p.m. and requested a roll call. Commission support clerk Muragin verified attendance by roll call and requested a verbal response of present or here; Commissioner Garces replied present. Commissioner Kaauwai-Iwamoto replied present. Commissioner Levinthol replied here. Commissioner Nizo replied here. Commissioner Pacheco replied present. Vice Chair Martinez replied here. Chair Chahanovich replied present. Deputy County Attorney Tatsey replied present. Administrator Ching replied present. Support Clerk Muragin replied here. Quorum was established with seven commissioners present. Ratify Actions Ratify actions taken by the Fire Commission in executive session for agenda items: ES KFC 2021-05. Mr. Pacheco moved to ratify actions taken in Executive Session for ES KFC 2021-05. Mr. Levinthol seconded the motion. Motion carried 7:0. Adjournment With no further business to conduct, Chair Chahanovich called for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Pacheco moved to adjourn the meeting. Ms. Kaauwai Iwamoto seconded the motion. Motion carried 7:0 Fire Commission Open Session May 3 , 2021 Page 9 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Chair Chahanovich adjourned the meeting at 3:10 p.m. Submitted by: ____________________________ Reviewed and Approved by: _________________________________________ Sandra Muragin, Commission Support Clerk Jennie Chahanovich, Chair ( X ) Approved as circulated. 06/21/21 ( ) Approved with amendments. See minutes of ___________ meeting.