The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutFire Commission 2022-08-10 Agenda Packet AGENDA SAN RAFAEL FIRE COMMISSION VIRTUAL ZOOM MEETING Wednesday, August 10th @ 4:00 P.M. Watch on Zoom: https://tinyurl.com/FC-081022 Webinar ID: 834 4150 6482 Listen by phone: +1 669 900 9128 Link to follow via Zoom email for Fire Commissioners only Members of the Public May Speak on Agenda Items 1. Open Time for Public Expression The public is welcome to address the Fire Commission at this time on matters not on the agenda that are within its jurisdiction. Please be advised that pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2, the Fire Commission is not permitted to discuss or take action on any matter not on the agenda unless it determines that an emergency exists, or that there is a need to take immediate action which arose following posting of the agenda. Comments may be no longer than two minutes and should be respectful to the community . 2. Approval of Minutes – July 13, 2022 Recommended Action: Amend and or approve as submitted. 3. Fire Foundation – Verbal Update from Appropriate Commissioner(s) Recommended Action: Accept Verbal Report and take appropriate action. 4. Historic Subcommittee – Verbal Update from Appropriate Commissioner(s) Recommended Action: Accept Verbal Report and take appropriate action. 5. Chair and Commission Member Reports: Larry Luckham – Chair Nadine Hade – Vice Chair Thomas Weathers Ken Johnson David Fonkalsrud, Alternate Stan Burford Donna McCusker, Alternate Informational only. No action to be taken on these items. 6. Fire Chief Report Informational only. No action to be taken. Any records relating to an agenda item, received by a majority or more of the board or commission less than 72 hours before t he meeting, shall be available for inspection at San Rafael Fire Department’s Administrative Office, 1375 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, CA. Sign Language interpreters and assistive listening devices may be requested by calling (415) 485 -3066 (voice), emailing Lindsay.lara@cityofsanrafael.org or using the California Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing “711”, at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting. Copies of documents are available in accessible formats upon request. Public transp ortation is available through Golden Gate Transit, Line 22 or 23. Paratransit is available by calling Whistlestop. Wheels at (415) 454 -0964. To allow individuals with environmental illness or multiple chemical sensitivity to attend the meeting/hearing, ind ividuals are requested to refrain from wearing scented products. City of San Rafael Fire Department Fire Commission Meeting Minutes of the Regular Meeting July 13, 2022 Via ZOOM Present: Absent: Chair Larry Luckham Ken Johnson Vice Chair Nadine Atieh Thomas Weathers Stan Burford David Fonkalsrud – Alternate Donna McCusker – Alternate Fire Chief Darin White Chair Luckham called the meeting to order at 4:00 PM. 1. OPEN TIME FOR PUBLIC EXPRESSION No members of the public present. 2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES First order of business – approval of the minutes from the 6/8/22 Commission meeting. Moved to accept by FC Stan Burford, seconded by FC David Fonkalsrud – vote, unanimous. 3. FIRE FOUNDATION FC McCusker reported the following items: • With the Fire Chief’s approval, the Fire Fighters are designing a duty T shirt to recognize & honor our military. To be used at work during appropriate holidays such as Memorial Day & Veteran’s Day. • FF will staff a booth @ Heritage Day/Friends of China Camp on Aug 27th 11-3 PM at China Camp. San Rafael Fireboat will do a demonstration midday. Join us! • New FF officers were nominated & approved beginning July 2022. Board President Leonard Thompson Vice President Pat Kendall Treasurer Jack Devlin Secretary Steve Mizroch. Current Board Members Jeff Craemer & John Chew remain. • A custom window decal for the Foundation has been designed & produced to give to Donors for display in their respective business window. • Feed the Firefighters concept under review for further good will. • Future Fundraising: Foundation has designed a formal letter w the Chief’s approval that will be produced & sent to local businesses in the hopes of promoting donations. 4. HISTORIC SUBCOMMITTEE The role of historian is not restricted to commission members. The Public Safety Center has 2 historical items; Former Station 51 wooden doors & the spiral staircase, both of which are on display in the lobby of the bldg. 5. CHAIR & COMMISSION REPORTS FC Stan Burford addressed the following items & provided links to the Commission for follow on information. 1. Salmon protection agreement hamstrings fire safety efforts 2. Massive cellular failure that occurred in Canada which prevented 911 emergency calls to be made, no ability to go online, no cellphone service. Detailed discussion followed as to what Marin County/San Rafael has as a backup system. Currently the existing radios & Nat’l Oceanographic & Atmospheric radios issued to Fire Safe Marin. Chief White stated a First Res ponder Network has been put to bid w ATT. D-Block would be exclusive to First Responder. San Rafael IT is currently reviewing this. 3. New Fire Retardant for bombers. Fighting fire w mixture of soda w water. When sprayed on fire soda removes CO2, extinguishes fire faster. https://www.fireengineering.com/leadership/fighting-fire-with- soda-water/ https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2022-07-02/as-u- s-tests-new-fire-retardant-critics-push-other-methods https://www.marinij.com/2022/07/11/marin-voice-salmon- protection-agreement-hamstrings-fire-safety-efforts/ FC Larry Luckham discussed in detail radio communique. Marin County Radios only work in county. Looking to obtain new radios for police & fire w grant from Federal Govt. He salvaged 9 old Bendex King radios to b us ed in training w wildland fires. FF’s in Marin County used to need a MERA radio for most calls but also needed to carry a BK radio for wildland fires. Marin County FD’s received a grant to allow upgrading new MERA radios to tri-band so that Marin firefighters only need to carry one radio for in county wildland fires. That has reduced our need for the BK’s. But, they still need the BK’s for out of county wildland fires. FC Thomas Weathers – nothing to report FC David Fonkalsrud – nothing to report FC Donna McCusker – nothing to report SRFD Chief White – • Fire Hydrants: Marin County owns the fire hydrants. FD is responsible for their maintenance, inspection chkg gaskets/caps, painting, & operate valves & lubricate. MMWD presents a challenge in regards to the hydrant flush to make sure it is functional & confirm flow rates. This last item has not been done of recent due to water shortage. Working w public works to get a move fwd on this. San Rafael has 5-6 different hydrants types w different capacities. • MWPA approved office space “The Commons” @ Los Gamos road for $125,000 year rent which is considered below market rate. 17 Board members & public will be able to use this space for their 51 Brown Act meetings a year. • Guidelines/Covid 13% of Army Nat’l Guard members remain unvaccinated & could be forced out of service. • Deer Park & Highland Ave vegetation fire deemed suspicious. Under investigation. • Fireboat San Rafael rescued wind surfer under the Richmond San Rafael Bridge. • Stations 54 & 55 construction has moved forward significantly, hope to have completed by yearend. • Promotional Ceremonies occurred in June. 2 fire Captains, 1 Fire Engineer. 1 paramedic completed probation & promoted to permanent status. Deputy Chief of Operations Abe Roman had his swearing in ceremony. Several members completed their probationary periods in various ranks w/in the dept. • A priority for Spring 2023 is to hold a “Girls Camp” in the hopes of encouraging a better rapport w young people. May be held in conjunction w Novato and/or the County. CA Fire had a camp of this nature in Sacramento. FC Larry Luckham stated that in the past there was a “Berkeley Academy”. It was a weekend event called “Ignite”. It was all women/all athletes whom attended. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:00 PM. Prepared by: FC Donna McCusker