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Home My WebLink AboutFire Commission 2022-10-12 Agenda Packet AGENDA SAN RAFAEL FIRE COMMISSION VIRTUAL ZOOM MEETING Wednesday, October 12, 2022 @ 4:00 P.M. Watch on Zoom: https://cityofsanrafael-org.zoom.us/j/83441506482 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 – September 14, 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. 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. 5. 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 the 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, individuals are requested to refrain from wearing scented products. CITY OF SAN RAFAEL FIRE COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING September 14, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. Meeting Via Zoom The meeting was called to order at 4:01 p.m. by Chair Luckham. Present: Chair Larry Luckham, Vice Chair Nadine Hade, Commissioner Thomas Weathers, Commissioner Ken Johnson, Commissioner Stan Burford, Commissioner Donna McCusker, Commissioner David Fonkalsrud Staff: Chief Darin White 1. Open Time for Public Expression a. No public comments 2. Approval of Minutes a. Commissioner Burford moved to adopt the minutes of the August Fire Commission meeting with Commissioner Hade seconding the motion. The minutes were approved unanimously with Commissioner Weathers abstaining. 3. Fire Foundation Update a. Commissioner McCusker reported that the Fire Foundation participated at the recent Heritage Day event at China Camp. The SRFD fire boat was also present at the event and provided a water show. 4. Historic Subcommittee Update a. Chair Luckham shared a SRFD pamphlet from the 1950s. An image of the pamphlet is available on the Photo 50 site: www. SRphoto50.com 5. Commissioners’ Reports a. Vice Chair Hade: no report b. Commissioner Weathers noted that he had recently interviewed for a position on the Marin Co. Board of Assessment Appeals. c. Commissioner Johnson shared a news article from Louisiana about increases in homeowners insurance, noting the nationwide issues on this topic. Chair Luckham noted that his rates recently increased by 17%. d. Commissioner Fonkalsrud noted the recent SRFD Wildfire Hazard Evaluation teams in his neighborhood and the notices left for residents after visual property inspections. He suggested an alternative to the current process where notices left by inspectors ask residents to go to a website and provide PII (Personally Identifiable Information) details. Given privacy concerns, the suggestion was to make reports available to residents who are uncomfortable providing their personal information, perhaps mailing reports. Chief White noted that the SRFD could provide hard copy reports for residents upon request. Chair Luckham asked if the inspection reports are public and Chief White noted that they can be made public, but that the SRFD redacts some information, such as name, address and photos of properties, given privacy concerns. Some general discussion amongst Commissioners about PII and data privacy in general. e. Commissioner Burford noted that a recent SRFD incident response in China Camp involved a neighbor of his. He also asked if Fire Commissioners can be of assistance with vegetation management and reporting violations. Commissioner McCusker noted that she has a contact that she will share with the Commission. f. Commissioner McCusker: no report other than the Fire Foundation report noted above g. Chair Luckham: no report 6. Fire Chief’s Report a. Chief White joined the Zoom conference meeting from the California Fire Chiefs conference in Sacramento and reported on the following: i. Recruitment: was a topic of the Fire Chiefs conference and continues to be a challenge throughout the state ii. WFPA Vegetation Management: the energetic SRFD staff is working hard. Currently, several hundred properties in San Rafael are out of compliance. While enforcement will eventually have consequences, the current goal of the SRFD is to move forward with efforts to gain voluntary compliance. iii. MWPA: The Citizen Oversight Committee has provided very detailed recommendations to the Board of Directors. While the work of the Committee is appreciated, some of the recommendations are at a greater level of detail than expected, and some counterproposals are under consideration. iv. COVID: Ample new vaccinations are available throughout the state for existing variants and the SRFD is encouraging all to get vaccinated. COVID risk remains, as not all in the community are vaccinated. Commissioner Weathers asked if any SRFD personnel are unvaccinated, and Chief White responded that SRFD is accommodating legitimate circumstances (religious or health) and that some previous requirements for vaccination are starting to be removed in various jurisdictions. v. Station 54 and 55 Renovations: moving along well and may finish ahead of schedule. Challenge with one site supervisor – working it out with that individual. vi. Multi Company Training: SRFD crews were excited with Captain Ryan Goodwin’s multi-company drills in August. This enabled individuals to rotate into different assignments for basic skills development. Chief White emphasized the importance of training, especially on seldom used skills in dangerous environments such as helicopters and boats. vii. China Camp Heritage Day: SRFD also had a booth. Greater publicity is needed to get the word out to the community about China Camp Heritage Day, as attendance this year was light. viii. Fire Prevention Week: “Fire won’t wait so plan your escape” is this year’s theme, noting the importance of planning alternative ways of evacuating. Chair Luckham also noted the importance of closing room doors within a house at night in order to prevent smoke from moving rapidly throughout a house. Also, the importance of installing smoke detectors in every room and hallway. Meeting ended at 4:49 pm