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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022 07-19 FC Open Session APPROVED Minutes.pdf COUNTY OF KAUAI MINUTES OPEN SESSION MEETING Board/Commission Kauai Fire Commission Meeting Date July 19, 2022 Location Boards and Commissions Conference Room, 4444 Rice Street, Piikoi Building, Suite 300, Līhu‘e, Hawai‘i 96766 Start of Meeting: 2:00 p.m. 2:40 p.m. Present Chair Chad Pacheco ; Vice Chair Jen Chahanovich ; Commissioners: Alfredo Garces Jr., Linda Iwamoto, Alfred Levinthol, Michael Martinez, and Rodney Yama. 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 Michael Gibson and Chief’s Secretary Soncy Tamashiro. Excused Absent SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Call to order At 2:00 p.m., Chair Pacheco called the Fire Commission’s July 19, 2022, Meeting to order. Roll to ascertain quorum Chair Pacheco called for a roll call to ascertain quorum. A roll call ensued with all seven (7) Commissioners present constituting a quorum. Approval of Agenda Chair Pacheco called for a motion to approve the July 19, 2022, meeting agenda. Vice Chair Chahanovich moved. Commissioner Iwamoto seconded the motion. Hearing no objections, the agenda was approved. KFC Open Session Minutes Of July 19, 2022, Meeting Page 2 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Chair’s Announcement Chair Pacheco announced that the next regularly Fire Commission meeting will begin at 2:00 p.m., on Tuesday, August 16, 2022, in the Boards and Commissions Conference Room. Public Testimony on any of the agenda items *Oral testimony will be taken at any time during the meeting There was no public testimony. Approval of Meeting Minutes • June 16, 2022, Special Open Session Meeting • June 16, 2022, Special Executive Session Meeting • June 21, 2022, Regular Open Session Meeting Chair Pacheco called for public testimony. Being there was no public testimony regarding the meeting minutes, Chair Pacheco called for a motion to approve or amend the open session and the executive session minutes of the June 16, 2022, special meeting and the regular monthly open session minutes of the June 21, 2022, meeting. Vice Chair Jen Chahanovich moved to approve all three (3) meeting minutes as submitted. Commissioner Rodney Yama seconded the motion. Hearing no objections. The minutes were approved. Chief’s Monthly Bureau Reports and Pertinent Updates a) Update on Kaua‘i Fire and Ocean Safety, including updates on Partnerships, Covid 19 and Resources Highlights b) Administrative Bureau Update, including updates on the budget, staffing, overtime report, facilities, and fleet c) Fire Operations Bureau Update, including statistics on calls for service and brief description of some of the incidents responded to d) Fire Prevention Bureau Update, including monthly statistics e) Fire Training Bureau Update f) Ocean Safety Bureau Update, including monthly statistics and bureau highlights KFC Open Session Minutes Of July 19, 2022, Meeting Page 3 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION g) Update on Fire Chief Gibson progress on the Goals and Objectives for FY 2021-2022 Chair Pacheco called for public testimony on the data reflected in the Chief’s Monthly Bureau Reports. Being there was no public testimony, Chair Pacheco called on Fire Chief Michael Gibson to address the Commission regarding the Fire Department’s June Monthly Reports. Fire Chief Gibson started by saying that the Monthly Reports is in line with the Department’s strategic priorities. Regarding the Fire and Ocean Safety quarterly meeting. The fire captains from the red, green, and blue platoons were invited to the Chief’s office on different days and they each had the opportunity to provide an accurate snapshot of how the policy plans and trainings are working in their respective platoons. Regarding the 4th quarter meetings which are held via Microsoft Teams has been very productive and fruitful because it provides an opportunity for the fire captains and on-duty personnel to share information as it relates to their respective platoons. Fire Chief Gibson reported that he had the opportunity to meet with Mayor Derek Kawakami and Managing Director Michael Dahilig to discuss two of his biggest priorities one of which was to fill the deputy fire chief position. In the meantime, he has permission to bring in retired Assistant Fire Chief/Battalion Chief Solomon Kanoho in as an 89-day hire to help tie in the old with the new and put the Department in the direction where it should go. KFC Open Session Minutes Of July 19, 2022, Meeting Page 4 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION The recruitment process on filling the deputy fire Chief position has been approved and the job posting is set to be posted on Monday, July 25, 2022, and will be closed prior to the interviews that is schedule for August 11, 2022. Fire Chief Gibson noted that he is hoping to name the new deputy fire chief on September 1, 2022. Partnerships: • KFD is partnering with Police Chief Todd Raybuck and members of his staff and the Department of Parks and Recreation. • Public works will be grading the unpaved areas to open it up for more accessibility and will be clearing multitudes of overgrown brush and will remove all the abandon vehicles at Ninini Point. • The county’s houseless coordinator has joined the partnership and will be working with the houseless to help relocate them. Covid-19: • There has been a five (5) week decline in case counts and people testing positive for Covid-19. The Fire Department has seen a decline in the number of personnel testing positive for Covid-19. Resource Update: • Progress is being made to build a new fire training facility, a landing pad, and a helicopter hanger to house Air One in a designated area at the Honsador site in Līhu‘e. • Bids for a new fire engine is progressing. • KFD’s new resiliency truck has arrived. • Engines for KFD’s radon boat were installed, both engines are currently going through its break-in period. KFC Open Session Minutes Of July 19, 2022, Meeting Page 5 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Administrative Bureau: • Expenses were up slightly due to the 12 firefighters’ vacancies prior to the new recruit class. • Due to the fluctuation in numbers going to the retirement contribution it is estimated that monies will be going back to the general fund based on the numbers reflected in the preliminary report. • The new generator for the Kapa‘a fire station is finalized. • Work being done at the Waimea fire station kitchen is still in progress – waiting on the contractor to finish the duct hood system from the oven. • One area of the Honsador site will be going back to public works. • Call volume is up significantly. Majority of the calls were rescue related calls. • Recruitment for ocean safety – 12 candidates are scheduled to take the written test on July 26, 2022, of those 12 three will be selected to fill the three vacancies. Fire Prevention: • Inspection numbers are up. The Department is working to help the businesses to prepare for a fire inspection prior to the inspectors’ arrival the bureau is using social media as a way to help business owners prepare for future fire inspections. • According to the fire codes all food trucks must follow the same standards as restaurants. Fire Training Bureau: • Last month’s Keystone training focused on extended fire attack. Tasks performances include tank water attack, tank to hydrant, and hose deployments. Fire grounds Ops training cadre focused on hose handling and hose loads. Refresher training courses included helicopter awareness and EMS training on vector solutions. Ocean Safety Bureau: Vice Chair Chahanovich moved. Commissioner Levinthol seconded the motion. Hearing no objections. The Chief’s Monthly Reports was received for the record. KFC Open Session Minutes Of July 19, 2022, Meeting Page 6 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION • OSB personnel was busy with the Keiki & Junior Lifeguard Program at Salt Pond beach park in Hanapēpē , Kalapakī beach, and at Hanalei beach park on the north shore. • OSB Staff partnered with the Kauai Food Bank to distribute food in the Anahola area. • HGEA arbitration hearing has concluded. • Workday Training for all county employees is set to begin soon. Goals and Objectives updates: • Goal #1 – A vendor has been identified for Community Risk Dashboard. Base line performance/critical task capability in completed, training and evaluation development for tactical deployment scenarios/benchmarks is completed. • Goal #2 – HR’s review of draft policy that was sent to Human Resources is completed. Supervisors review is also completed. The policy will be submitted to the Hawai‘i Firefighters Association for consultation. • Goal #3 – Promotional written test materials have identified and communicated – follow-up meeting is completed. • Tuesday, September 6, 2022, is the Fire Captain written test. Chair Pacheco called for a motion to receive the Chief’s Monthly Reports for the record. Business KFC 2022-6 Discussion and decision-making on selecting two (2) commissioners to attend the 2022 Hawai‘i Fire Chiefs Association Conference on the Big Island of Hawai‘i from December 14 -18, 2022, at the Fairmount Orchid Mauna Lani Resort. Chair Pacheco called for public testimony. Being there was no public testimony, Chair Pacheco asked the Commissioners to look at their schedules to see if they would be able to attend this year’s conference. KFC Open Session Minutes Of July 19, 2022, Meeting Page 7 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Commissioners Iwamoto, Levinthol, Martinez, Vice Chair Chahanovich, and Chair Pacheco gave their reasons as to why they would not be to attend the conference. Commissioners Garces and Yama said that their schedules are open during that week therefore they would be able to attend this year’s conference on Hawai‘i island. Chair Pacheco thanked Commissioners Garces and Yama for expressing interest in wanting to attend the conference, and then called for a motion to designate Commissioners Alfredo Garces and Rodney Yama to attend the 2022 Fire Chiefs Conference on Hawaii Island. Administrator Ching suggested that if for some reason Commissioner Garces or Commissioner Yama cannot attend the conference the Commission should select an alternate. Chair Pacheco agreed, then called for a volunteer. After a brief discussion, Chair Pacheco was named the alternate. Administrator Ching stated that a motion would be appropriate at this time. Chair Pacheco called for a motion. Motion No. 1 Commissioner Michael Martinez moved to send Commissioners Alfredo Garces Jr., and Rodney Yama to attend the 2022 Hawai‘i Fire Chiefs Association Conference on the Big Island of Hawai‘i from December 14 -18, 2022. Commissioner Alfred Levinthol seconded the motion. Hearing no objections. The motion carried 7:0. Motion No. 2 A motion was made by Commissioner Michael Martinez and seconded by Commissioner Linda Iwamoto to designate Chair Chad Pacheco as the alternate if either Commissioners are unable to attend the 2022 Fire Chiefs Conference. Hearing no objections. The motion carried 7:0. Adjournment Being there were no further business, Chair Pacheco called for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Vice Chair Chahanovich moved. Commissioner Yama seconded the motion. Hearing no objections from the Commissioners, the meeting adjourned KFC Open Session Minutes Of July 19, 2022, Meeting Page 8 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION at 2:40 p.m. Submitted by: __________________________________ Reviewed and Approved by: _________________________________________ Mercedes Omo, Staff Support Clerk Chad Pacheco, Chair (x ) Approved as circulated on August 16, 2022. ( ) Approved as amended. See minutes of ___________ meeting.