HomeMy WebLinkAboutFire Commission 2017-02-08 MinutesCITY OF SAN RAFAEL FIRE DEPARTMENT
FIRE COMMISSION MEETING
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
February 8, 2017
Station 51, 1039 C Street, San Rafael
Present
Stephen Mizroch Deputy Fire Chief Robert Sinnott
Larry Luckham Battalion Chief Jeffrey Rowan
Carolyn Lenert
Leonard Thompson
David Fonkalsrud
Absent - Tom Weathers
The February 8, 2017 meeting of the San Rafael Fire Commission was called to order by Chair
Mizroch at 4:00 pm at Station 51. He called the meeting to order and asked for corrections to
the minutes of the previous meeting and the November meeting. With one spelling correction,
the approval of the minutes was moved, seconded and approved.
Open Time for Public Comment. One member of the public asked that the minutes be sent 72
hours before the next meeting and be marked “draft” until they are reviewed and accepted by
the Commission. The request was also made that the Chief’s report be included in the packet
with the agenda and draft minutes. Dr. Mizroch indicated he would follow up on these
elements of the Brown Act.
1. Chair Mizroch asked for an informal report from the San Rafael Fire Foundation
leadership regarding the 2nd annual crab feed fundraiser. He proposed that the Fire
Commission send a letter of appreciation to the Foundation and said he would prepare
it. Then he announced that the subcommittee preparing an historic element for the
new Public Safety Building did not meet recently. There is no meeting scheduled at this
time.
2. Commissioner Luckham reported that the Peruvian firefighters have returned home
expressing their gratitude for their visits to Stations 51 and 56 as well as their
experiences on a 24 hour shift and Academy. Additionally, they were familiarized with
SCBA equipment and viewed the Dominican University nursing simulation animatronic
unit. Photo 50 has been quiet, but did docume nt the move of Station 52 to 519 Fourth
Street.
CITY OF SAN RAFAEL FIRE DEPARTMENT
FIRE COMMISSION MEETING
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
February 8, 2017
Station 51, 1039 C Street, San Rafael
3. Commissioner Lenert mentioned three CERT-related events. On Monday, February 6,
2017, the San Rafael City Council authorized the working plan for General Plan 2040.
She asked the SRCC to make this a priority in the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan element.
Hearing no objections, she indicated she would apply for her final term as a
Commissioner.
4. Commissioner Thompson said that the San Rafael firefighters are supporting Firefighters
Without Borders and no public funding is involved. He noted that Petaluma and Rancho
Adobe fire districts in Sonoma County have negotiated their shared services agreement.
5. Commissioner Alternate Fonkalsrud asked a number of questions addressed by Chief
Sinnott: what was the community response to the closures of Stations 52 and 57? He
looks forward to assisting community outreach and engagement related to the re -
opening of the new stations. Additionally, he inquired about the immigrant community
impacts of recent national policies and Chief Rowan responded. Although the San
Rafael City Council has not recently re-affirmed it, San Rafael is a sanctuary city with the
full support of Police Chief Diana Bishop. The Chief remarked that CERT is offered in
Spanish which is an opportunity to help.
The following quote was shared: Thomas Jefferson, “In matters of style, swim with the current;
in matters of principle, stand like a rock.”
Chief Sinnott then reviewed Chief Chris Gray’s report (attached).
At 5:05 pm, the Fire Commission adjourned.
San Rafael Fire Commissioners,
Please accept the following Fire Chief Update for February 8, 2017.
Lot's of news going on at the SRFD as another storm hits Marin this week...
1. Latest Storm Damage Update (verbal) by Chief Sinnott
Our personnel are doing some amazing work out there...helping wherever they go.
2. The four-year terms of Fire Commissioners Carolyn Lenert and Leonard Thompson will expire
at the end of March 2017. As per City Resolution No. 13681, adopted on February 18, 2014,
appointments to the Fire Commission will be limited to two consecutive four-year terms.
Applications may be submitted electronically and are also available in hard copy format at the
City Clerk’s Office.
http://cityofsanrafael.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=38&clip_id=1091&meta_id=102
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3. Fire Station Update (verbal) by Chief Sinnott
Temporary Facilities and Demolition
FS 52 was closed for construction of the new station on January 30th.
BC Hatfield coordinating some excellent structure fire training at the 52 site.
Engine 52 moved to 519 Fourth on January 30, 2017.
Special thanks to Chief Sinnott for coordinating the work at 519.
FS 57 was demolished on February 8th. Site work will continue for several days before
the crew moves to 52
100% complete construction plans for 52/57 are due from the Architect by February 10,
2017
Plans will then go to the three General Contractors who are the finalists in the selection
process
Bids for 52/57 are expected by March 15, 2017
Construction should begin no later than April 1, 2017 and finish 12-14 months later.
Fire Admin moves to 1600 Los Gamos on February 25, 2017
51's crew and the BC are expected to move in April into Temp Qtrs at the Upper Parking
Lot of City Hall on 5th and Mission.
The PSC remains on track for an August construction start date with a 24 month
construction time frame.
4. The City has hired a Project Manager, Cindy Ray, to oversee the construction of the new
Essential Facilities. Cindy Ray is assigned to Public Works andhas a wealth of experience and
comes to San Rafael highly recommended. Cindy starts next week. There is a reception for her
on 2/15 at 3PM in the CDD Conf. Room. All are welcome.
5. Fire Academy 17 is in its final weeks. San Rafael has three new Recruits in the Academy out
of nine total (3-SNR, 1-LRK, 3-CMD and 2-MRW) who plan to graduate on February
18th. The Graduation Ceremony will be at City Hall in the Council Chambers on 2/18/2017 at 9
AM. All are welcome.
6. David Catalinotto has been hired as our new Environmental Management Coordinator and
starts on February 16, 2017.
David has ten years of Federal environmental experience and will be a welcome addition to the
City and County.
7. We have a Captains promotional process that has started and will be completed by early
April. We currently have one vacancy.
8. The Fire Mechanic exam is next week on February 14, 2017. We have seven candidates
that we will be interviewing. All have experience as a Fire Mechanic.
9. We are finalizing the candidate list for Emergency Management Coordinator and expect to
have a test within the next few weeks. We have some excellent candidates that have
applied. Once again, we will reach out to the Fire Commission and the Community to
participate in the exam process.
10. We have opened the recruitment for Vegetation Management Specialist.
11. The department is recruiting for Nurse Educator in cooperation with Kaiser. This is a critical
part-time position for us and we hope to have a number of candidates to choose from and fill
the position in the next 60 days.
12. Our two new Pierce Fire Engines are under construction and on the assembly line. They are
expected to arrive in April.
13. Fire Boat Confidence continues to undergo refurbishment in Richmond. We hope to have it
back in San Rafael in early March.
Operator training is going to be underway soon.
14. After six years of San Rafael support and some terrific work, Maggie Lang and the CERT
program will be relocating to Southern Marin after the our grant finally expired and we are
moving. Funding will be continued under Marin County and the CERT Office is being re located
to Fire Station 9 in Mill Valley.
15. The Local Hazard Mitigation Planning effort is now in full swing. Your participation is
encouraged, please contact Danielle Ferrigno for further details.
16. We are in the midst of budget preparation for FY 2017/18. We expect a few challenges
along the way and will keep the Commission advised on our progress.
Thank you for your continued advocacy and support.
Respectfully,
Christopher Gray
San Rafael Fire Chief
