HomeMy WebLinkAboutFire Commission 2017-08-09 Minutes
CITY OF SAN RAFAEL FIRE DEPARTMENT
FIRE COMMISSION MEETING
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
August 9, 2017
1600 Los Gamos, Suite 345
San Rafael, CA
Present
Chair Steve Mizroch Deputy Fire Chief Bob Sinnott
Larry Luckham Battalion Chief Kyle Hamilton
Len Thompson
Nadine Atieh Marinwood citizen Linda Bartello
The meeting was called to order by Commission Chair Mizroch at 4:05 PM.
I. Open Public Expression: Linda expressed thanks for cooperation from SRFD with MRW
particularly in regards to the recent fire series in Marinwood. She also said that this
reflects well on consideration of merging, which is coming up more often in anticipation
of Chief Roach retiring next year.
II. Approval of Minutes: Chair Mizroch asked for any additions or corrections to the
minutes of the June 12, 2017 meeting. None were offered. M/S (Luckham/Thompson) to
approve the minutes from the June 12, 2017 meeting. Approved by: All, Opposed: none.
The minutes of the June 12, 2017 meeting are approved as submitted.
Chair Mizroch presented the draft Fire Commission Annual Report and asked for
additions. There being none he advised that it would be submitted to Chief Gray to be
included in the department’s annual report.
III. Commission Reports:
A. Chair Mizroch talked about a new breast cancer awareness patch, of which he
had samples, being possibly considered to be worn by and for sale by SRFD. Per
Chief Gray SRFD would be the first fire department in California to do so. It’s
mostly done by PD’s. Should be available on website. He also presented an
article from the New England Journal of Medicine related to health and safety
about whether more healthcare services is necessarily better healthcare. Larry
will post on http://www.srphoto50.com. Steve also brought up the topic of San
Rafael’s ISO class 1 rating, and coupled that with a question about what ISO
means, that it is not an abbreviation but that it’s derived from Gree k “isis”
meaning equal. There followed a discussion of how the ISO class 1 rating affects
San Rafael, including the periodic audits, and the fact that “ISO Class 1” is on the
side of all of our rigs. Finally, Steve related that, because we are a mission ci ty,
he thought it would be a good idea to send an SRFD patch to the Pope. He did so
and received the patch back with a note explaining that the patch had been
blessed by His Holiness.
B. Commissioner Luckham could not top that so he just mentioned the recent fires
in Marinwood that he responded to. He also mentioned that he had just spent
an hour or so over at the Marin County Communication Center talking about the
logs they are able to provide for investigation purposes. The old logs provided
much more useful information than what’s now available from the Intergraph
system. They were able to provide some “cheat sheets” that permit manual
decoding of the logs they can provide.
C. Commissioner Thompson discussed plans for the Fire Foundation fund raising
events. The BID will not be hosting a wine stroll this year so there won’t be an
opportunity to partner there. Donors are being sought for the crab feed,
December 9th.
Linda mentioned a program sponsored by Pet Food Express that posts portraits
of the donor and pet if they make a donation of $500 to an animal welfare
organization and wondered if something like that could be incorporated for the
Foundation. She offered to help with a donation.
There followed a discussion of possible “dinner at the firehouse” or tour of
Skywalker, or Pixar as things that could be auctioned at the auction.
D. Commissioner Atieh mentioned the Columbia/Mountain Hardware Employee
and Friends store in Richmond as a possible perc for donors. She also
volunteered her services to help the Foundation. She also asked about whether
changes in federal policy were affecting the SRFD vis-à-vis grants, etc. Chair
Mizroch explained that SRFD is mostly funded by the city’s general fund and
paramedic tax which is not dependent on federal policy. BC Hamilton pointed
out that one area where there could be impact is in Medicare reimbursement
should federal policy change there. Commissioner Thompson pointed out that
we are not permitted to make money of things like ambulance billing, we can
only recover costs. BC Hamilton also pointed out that we do still apply for grants,
mostly through the county. Linda pointed out the Marinwood recently got a
grant to replace SCBA’s.
She also asked about our participation in National Night Out. BC Hamilton
responded that although he was not on duty we did have engines out in the
community, but that it’s more of a PD event than fire.
Chair Mizroch then discussed a recent public meeting to explain the construction
process for the new Public Safety Center which he attended. There were few members
of the public in attendance but questions were asked and answered regarding work
hours, noise, and dust control, etc.
IV. Deputy Chief Sinnott then presented the Chief’s report.
a. Only one bidder on the PSC demolition and excavation. City will break up and re -bid.
b. Plans for PSC in plan check.
c. FS 52 almost ready for foundations for classroom and tower.
d. FS 57 has some storm drain problems that have caused delay but moving a head.
e. City working on the history of FS 51, Blue House.
f. BC Hatfield & crew just back from Modoc County fires.
g. Two new Pierce engines now sitting at FS 51 almost ready to go into service.
h. Decommissioning ceremony at FS 51 and blessing of 2 new engines and “wetting” of the
new engines. Followed by a walk to temp station and flag raising.
i. Moving M-51 and E-51 and BC to temp quarters was an immense challenge. Temp
facilities not intended to serve as fire stations. And, everything had to work perfectly at
the turn of a switch. Worked out a few kinks, but working very well. Same for FS-52
moving to 519 – Fourth Street and FS-57 to old FS-53.
j. Recent series of fires, Dixie, Kinross drive, Windward vegetation caused by fireworks,
etc. BC Hamilton flew his drone. Security camera from car lot filmed kids running from
the scene.
k. New fire inspection staff hired part time.
l. Just signed Whitman to take over ambulance billing.
m. BC Hamilton explained shrouded badges for Ross Valley FF death.
Chair Mizroch asked if there was anything further from anyone, and there being nothing further
adjourned the meeting at 5:05 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Larry Luckham
