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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021 FC 8-17 Draft Open Session Min.pdf COUNTY OF KAUAI OPEN SESSION MEETING MINUTES Board/Commission Kauai Fire Commission Meeting Date August 17, 2021 Location Regular Teleconference Meeting Start of Meeting: 2:00 p.m. 3:09 p.m. Present Chair Jen Chahanovich; Vice Chair Michael Martinez; Commissioners: Linda Kaauwai-Iwamoto, Alfred Levinthol and Chad Pacheco. Also present: Board & Commissions Office Staff: Support Clerk Mercedes Omo; Administrator Ellen Ching; Office of the County Attorney: Deputy County Attorney Jenna Tatsey: Kauai Fire Department: Fire Chief Steven Goble; Chief’s Secretary Soncy Tamashi ro; and Deputy Fire Chief Michael Gibson. Excused Commissioner Alfredo Garces Jr. Absent Commissioner Thomas Nizo SUBJECT ACTION Call To Order Chair Chahanovich called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. Roll Call to ascertain quorum A roll call ensued with five (5) members present to conduct business. Chair’s Announcement’s Next Regular Scheduled Teleconference Meeting - 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 21, 2021. Public Testimony None. Approval of Meeting Minutes  Open Session Minutes of July 12, 2021 Meeting  Open Session Minutes of September 20, 2020 Meeting Mr. Pacheco moved to approve the open session minutes of July 12, 2021 and September 14, 2020 meetings. Mr. Levinthol seconded. The motion carried 5:0. KFC Open Session Minutes Of August 17, 2021 Meeting Page 2 SUBJECT ACTION Chief’s Monthly Reports for June & July 2021 a) Kaua‘i Fire and Ocean Safety b) Administrative Bureau c) Fire Operations Bureau d) Fire Prevention Bureau e) Fire Training Bureau f) Ocean Safety Bureau Fire Chief Goble expressed his appreciation for the commission for changing their monthly meeting schedule from the first Monday of each month to the third Monday of each month. He noted that it will give his office more time to gather the reports from the different bureaus for the prior month. Fire Chief Goble highlighted items from his written report: Administrative Bureau:  Budget The end of year procurements completed. Some of monies left over were used to purchase new mattresses to replace the old and worn out mattresses at the fire stations, conduct station repairs, purchase much needed fire equipment, a temporary structure to protect the Department’s fire rescue boat from the elements at Station 6. Majority of monies unspent (a little over one million dollars) has been allocated to cover the excess pension account.  Kauai Fire and Ocean Safety The Department is continuing its partnership with the labor unions, the HFFA (Hawai‘i Fire Fighters Association). KFD is also working on building a partnership with the new HGEA bargaining Unit 15 for KFC Open Session Minutes Of August 17, 2021 Meeting Page 3 SUBJECT ACTION ocean safety personnel. As time permits, they will continue to make to visit personnel stationed at various fire stations and lifeguard towers to hear their concerns.  External Partnerships Met with the Hawaiian Trades Academy to do a presentation to educate students who are interested in a career in firefighting. The presentation reflected information on the Fire Department’s application process, skills development and critical thinking tools to help them prepare for the written exam. Other external partnerships include the American Red Cross Advisory Board, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Department of Land and Natural Resources, DoFAW and DPW to address brush fire mitigation primarily in the Anahola area. Fire Captain Makepa and his Fire Prevention Team met with the houseless community in Anahola to offer resources and alternatives that are less hazardous. They also conducted brushfire hazardous waste clean-up and with the assistance of DLNR removed all of the abandoned vehicles in the area for recycling (a task that continues today). Once the area is cleared of debris KFD will know where the fire breaks should located to give the fire crews better access to the area.  Alternative Funding Grants The Safer Grant was submitted for twelve (12) vacant positions. The Assistance Firefighters Grant was also submitted to purchase new fire equipment and a new fire brush truck to replace an older model. To date, no word on the approval of grant monies. KFC Open Session Minutes Of August 17, 2021 Meeting Page 4 SUBJECT ACTION  Retirement Four potential retirements within the next 60 days involving 1 Assistant Fire Chief, 1 Battalion Chief, 1 Fire Captain and 1 Firefighter III.  Reserve Engine for Waimea Engine 7 has arrived – installation of lights, siren and radios and are being done to get the engine ready for service.  Overtime Overtime cost was reduced by almost 8% this last year. The Department does not have control over the rank for rank regular overtime which includes holidays because it’s contractual. Overtime cost increased slightly at .62%. Scheduled overtime is driven by FLSA. Firefighters are on a 56 hour a week work schedule of which 3 hours are considered overtime by FLSA which showed an increase of .63%.  Training Training overtime costs for FY 2020 totaled $300,000. But since then, the training costs was reduced 59% due to the changing of the Department’s training cadre from off- duty training to on-duty training.  Vacancies Administration Accountant I – 1 Operations – 12 Firefighter Trainees Prevention Bureau – 1 Fire Inspector III KFC Open Session Minutes Of August 17, 2021 Meeting Page 5 SUBJECT ACTION  Air One Priority is to find adequate protection for the helicopter. The current building is lease from the State is falling apart. Meetings were held to discuss alternative sites and how KFD could expedite the process for an ultimate solution for the hanger.  Lifeguard Towers at Hanalei, South pond and Hā‘ena Floors kits to repair the floors have been ordered and is arriving sometime this week. Fire Operations Bureau:  Year-to-date, they received 3533 calls for service up 23%.  Rescue calls on land and water up significantly that involved search for a missing diver, one response call for a hiker who had fallen on the Sleeping Giant trail in Wailua; 2 response calls for water rescue @ Marine Camp where a Good Samaritan lost his life while attempting to save two others; and one response call to Waiohai for an unresponsive surfer. Fire Prevention Bureau highlights:  Photovoltaic plans review. Staff reported a lack of inconsistencies in enforcement and installation of the system not being in a safe setting for first responders. They are working with a contractor to address their concerns.  Working on an online payment system for fire plan review fee collection  Met Target Store representatives in Līhu‘e multiple times to address any non-compliance of sprinkler and alarm issues. Training their staff on fire prevention measures. KFC Open Session Minutes Of August 17, 2021 Meeting Page 6 SUBJECT ACTION Fire Training Bureau  3rd Quarter Keystone evolution training drills on offensive fire attack; ground survival planning and training delivery; and Pittsburgh drill practice. A total of 2505 hours of training was completed in the months of June/July. Year to date: 9312.39 training hours Ocean Safety Bureau highlights:  Over 300 participants signed up to take part of the Keiki & Jr. Lifeguard Program at Salt Pond in Hanapēpē, Hanalei, Wanini and Kalapakī Beach. The Kauai Life Guard Association is a major sponsor of the program  Rescue craft operator staff meeting  Held a training class for KPD’s Recruit Class on water safety  Presentation on Water Safety/Prevention was made to the Waipa Youth Program Covid Update:  The Department is continuing to support KEMA. KFD is continuing to implement prevention measures for folks out in the fire stations to limit the spread of Covid and continues to reinforcing response protocols. The initial vaccination rate is at 68%. State wide is at 61%. With the resurgence of the Delta virus more people are getting vaccinated. The County of Kauai is still at Tier 5. Governor Ige has put forth more restrictions on group size and has issued a proclamation for all state and county employees’ to be vaccinated. Those who are not vaccinated must do a weekly test. KFC Open Session Minutes Of August 17, 2021 Meeting Page 7 SUBJECT ACTION Questions from Commissioners Commissioner Pacheco wanted to know how many people in the Fire Department have already been vaccinated. Chief Goble replied that primary numbers on the returns on the fire side shows 75% are vaccinated and on the ocean safety side 30% are vaccinated. People are slowly trickling in to get vaccinated. They made to known to their people that although they are not making it mandatory, the Department is obligated to make the work environment as safe as they can by offering weekly testing for those who opt not to be vaccinated. Additionally, Commissioner Pacheco asked relative to the Safer Grant if the notifications have been sent to candidates up for consideration to be hired as firefighters, and if not, what notification process is in place if a candidate goes on vacation when the grant is approved? Chief Goble replied that they initiated a notification process, however, they hit some snags and are now working on addressing those snags. For all intent and purposes, it is their intent to contact the people to keep them in the loop and as a way to be sensitive to the candidate’s needs for time, they will notify the person 30 days before the recruit class starts. Commissioner Kaauwai-Iwamoto stated that she attended a Department of Hawaiian Homeland meeting and was very impressed with Fire Captain Jason Makepa’s presentation. It brought to light the how many people are actually living in the brush in Anahola. She commended Captain Makepa and his team and for taking the time come out to educate the community about the hazardous conditions of living in the brush. She is also grateful for all of the agencies who came out to help separate the abandoned vehicles for recycling for removing all of the hazardous materials from the area. KFC Open Session Minutes Of August 17, 2021 Meeting Page 8 SUBJECT ACTION Additionally, Commissioner Kaauwai-Iwamoto wanted to know if plans to build a fire station in Anahola is still being considered. Chief Goble replied that the question is whether Anahola is the right site. He recognizes there is a significant gap between the existing Kaikea Fire Station and the Hanalei Fire Station 1 in Princeville and is one of the focuses of the Utilization Study. He noted that once the study is finalized, he will have more information on appropriate sites for a potential fire station. Vice Chair Martinez wanted to know what the process is if a firefighter from another island wanted to transfer to Kauai. Fire Chief Goble replied that basically people wanting to transfer must get their current department to sign off on their transfer request and then have the new department sign their transfer request. It is his recommendation that all transfers attend a modified recruit class so that they are on the same page with KFD’s departmental process. With no further questions, Chair Chahanovich called for a motion to receive Fire Goble’s Monthly Reports. Commissioner Levinthol moved to receive Chief Goble’s Monthly Reports. Commissioner Pacheco seconded. The motion carried 5:0. Business KFC 2021-09 Discussion and decision-making on Fire Chief’s Goble outline of Monthly Goals and Objectives and other related matters. Fire Chief Goble highlighted items reflected in the Goals and Objectives Report. Goal and Objective 1. Define Standards of Response Coverage 90% percent of the Utilization Study to establish service baselines/technical is set to be completed at the end of the month. The purpose of the study is to define the community baseline needs; risk assessment; identify applicable standards; establish goals and objectives on risk tolerance; define critical task KFC Open Session Minutes Of August 17, 2021 Meeting Page 9 SUBJECT ACTION capability; set service level objectives related to distribution, concentration and reliability; and make policy recommendations. Also, included in the study is the Keystone Evolution Firefighter Drills. The 1st quarter firefighters training drill was completed on July 31, 2021. The purpose of the drill is to establish baseline performance, critical task capability and schedule a company officer review. The second quarter keystone evolution training drill is in the works. Goal and Objectives 2. Review, Revise and Develop Written Standard Operational Guidelines:  Emergency Responses  Administrative  Establish a regular review, revision and implementation process for standard operational guidelines The Department is establishing a “source of truth” guidelines and has identified Power DMS as the record of repository. The idea is to have everyone in the organization be on the same wavelength and make decisions based on mutually accessible data. In addition, a committee was formed to review, revise and develop standard operating guidelines for the Core Emergency Response Team (CERT). Goal and Objectives 3. Enhance Promotional Process and Career Development  Continue to evaluate and refine promotional processes  Define Career Advancement Expectations  Develop a process for effective feedback KFC Open Session Minutes Of August 17, 2021 Meeting Page 10 SUBJECT ACTION A working group was established to review the Department’s existing promotional practices, make recommendations on improving the process and implementing the changes. The group’s first meeting was originally scheduled for August 18, 2021 but was rescheduled to the following week. Chief Goble will provide an update of that meeting at the commission’s in September. Chair Chahanovich thanked Fire Chief Goble for making good progress on his goals. With no further comments or questions, Chair Chahanovich moved on to item KFC 2021-01. KFC 2021-01 Update by Deputy Fire Chief Michael Gibson on the Kauai Fire Dep artment’ s Utilization Study and possible decision-making on other related matters. Deputy Fire Chief Gibson reported that the technical review began last month which was previously covered at last month’s meeting. Fire Chief Goble did most of the heavy lifting; his part was to make sure that everything was in order. Fire Chief Goble and ESCI Project Manager Bill Boyd worked jointly on study. Fire Chief Goble did find some discrepancies, but he was able to correct those discrepancies. August 10, 2021 Fire Chief Goble submitted his last items to Mr. Boyd and anticipates that the Study should be completed by the commission’s meeting in September. Fire Chief Goble added that the last exchange he had with Mr. Boyd was that the Study is now in the hands of the proofreader to make sure that the product is clean before they release it. The review could take up to 12 to 14 days to complete. KFC Open Session Minutes Of August 17, 2021 Meeting Page 11 SUBJECT ACTION With that being said, Chair Chahanovich asked if October would be a reasonable time to have them present the Study to the commission to which Fire Chief Goble replied yes, and stated that it will give them time to review the Study and add more information as needed to their presentation. Adjournment With no further business to conduct, Chair Chahanovich called for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Pacheco moved to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Kaauwai- Iwamoto seconded. The motion carried 5:0. At 3:09 p.m. the meeting adjourned. Submitted by: __________________________________ Reviewed and Approved by: _________________________________________ Mercedes Omo, Staff Support Clerk Jen Chahanovich, Chair ( ) Approved as circulated on ( ) Approved as amended. See minutes of ___________ meeting.