HomeMy WebLinkAboutFire Commission 2016-02-10 MinutesCITY OF SAN RAFAEL FIRE DEPARTMENT
FIRE COMMISSION MEETING
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
February 10, 2016
Emergency Operations Center
1600 Los Gamos Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94903
PRESENT STAFF PRESENT
Stephen Mizroch Fire Chief Chris Gray
Carolyn Lenert Deputy Fire Chief Robert Sinnott
Aaron Golbus Battalion Chief Kyle Hamilton
Leonard Thompson
Thomas Weathers, Commissioner Alternate
ABSENT
Larry Luckham
Chair Stephen Mizroch called the Fire Commission to order at 4:12 p.m.
The Minutes of the January meeting were approved with the correction of the spelling of
Jonathan Frieman’s name on page two.
Reports.
Chair Mizroch reported on he and his wife’s experience as volunteer victims for the
Golden Gate Ferry disaster simulation/response drill. Marin agencies were full
participants. Called Golden Gate IV, this was a valuable exercise.
Commissioner Luckham’s report was delivered by Chair Mizroch (see attached).
Commissioner Lenert has no formal report this month.
Commissioner Golbus has no formal report this month.
Commissioner Thompson reported on the activities of the San Rafael Fire Foundation
(“SRFF”). He is now the Treasurer with $40,000 on hand. The next two events will be
repeats of the Wine Stroll and Crab Feed. Regular donations are possible through
Paypal including continuing monthly donations. He then noted that Hoverboard fires are
surprisingly common, even though the toys are not in charge mode.
Commissioner Alternate Weathers reported on his travels to Mashantucket Pequot FD
CT where he serves as a tribal judge. He plans to work with Maggie Lang on Marin
County CERT nonprofit formation with Tim Walsh of Marin County Fire.
Chair Mizroch presented the Fire Commission’s annual report to the City of San Rafael
and a report on the SRFF.
CITY OF SAN RAFAEL FIRE DEPARTMENT
FIRE COMMISSION MEETING
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
February 10, 2016
Emergency Operations Center
1600 Los Gamos Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94903
Group Project Selection. The Fire Commission has decided to select a group project for
2016. Among the choices are 1) a fire Citizens’ Academy; 2) City & County disaster
preparedness support working with CERT and other Marin’s agencies; and 3) formally
assist SRFF with staffing and fundraising efforts. After a discussion, the
Commissioners unanimously chose to support and assist the SRFF.
Report from Chief Gray.
1. The letter of gratitude from vacationers to FF/PM Angel Landaverde will go into
archives and also into Hotshot.
2. California Firefighters Association has provided free VISA cards to assist victims
of emergencies. He noted that the “seed” monies are provided by Chevron.
3. Please see the Chief’s written report. Further details follow:
Fire Commissioners were included in recent email string of appreciations.
Active recruitment is underway for captain vacancies and 3-4 others.
Other Departments are hiring which creates new competition for
applicants.
In the first part of March, the plans for the combined safety building
downtown will become available. Estimated completion dates: March
2018 and June 2019.
Station 53 on Joseph’s Court will be vacated. It was not known how the
space formerly occupied by SRPD will be used.
A new BC for administration is being recruited who will support succession
planning.
The State Board of Education has donated $10,000 to buy materials and
support including AEDs to train 7th graders as first responders. It is
recognized that 80% of all cardiac arrests occur at home. Many rescues
are effected by 7th graders who, research has shown, have the ideal level
of maturity, physical ability, desire and willingness to recognize, witness
and engage in rescue efforts. In fact, they are 5 times more likely than
10th graders to take needed action.
MERA (Marin Emergency Radio) upgrades require new equipment which
is not yet at the stage of request for proposals, but funding is making
progress since it is tied to real estate taxes.
A tour of the Communication Center will occur next year.
The meeting adjourned at 5:10 p.m.
Report to the San Rafael Fire Commission – February 10, 2016 ‐ Larry Luckham
I apologize for missing another meeting, this time because of a flight to LA.
I responded to one small fire at an auto dealer’s office on upper Fourth Street at the end of January and
other than that, no fires since out last meeting.
I missed the last Fire Commission meeting due to a scheduling conflict with a meeting of the Facilities
Working Group, which I attended. I’ll leave the update of facilities to the Fire Chief’s report.
I also attended a half day MERA meeting last month that involved all of the participating agencies in
MERA to discuss coverage issues. Representatives from Federal Engineering, the company hired by
MERA to provide general engineering and project management services for the next generation system
now in the works, were on hand along with very informative computer simulations of the coverage
provided by the current system as compared with various options under the proposed new system.
Most of you have seen the photo book that I put together several years ago of SRFD fires and other
events during the span of 2009‐2012. Over the past couple of months I made an effort to catch up with
that project. The result are books for 2013, 2014 and 2015.
And, finally, as most already know, I will miss next month’s Commission meeting because I will be in
Peru and Guatemala with a contingent of five San Rafael firefighters on a mission to provide training to
the local volunteer firefighters in our host countries. The sponsoring organization is Firefighters Without
Borders Canada. San Rafael firefighter/paramedic Angel Landaverde is the U.S. representative for FWBC,
and has made this trip several times before. I’ll have a full report at our April meeting.
Fire Commission – Fire Chief Update – February 10, 2016
San Rafael Fire Captain Richard Hamilton has retired
after nearly 30 years of service.
We appreciate Capt. Hamilton’s many contributions and
outstanding public service.
This week Firefighter/Paramedic Miguel Padilla has
resigned after 3.5 years of service. FF Padilla is pursuing
an opportunity with Alameda County.
We plan to interview for the new Capt. vacancy and are in
the process of conducting a FF recruitment. The current
Fire Captain’s Eligibility List has two candidates remaining
on the list. We extended the Engineers Eligibility List last week until August 2016. Four candidates remain
on the Engineer List.
We are finally hitting our stride with Essential Facilities as we completed an Open House for 52 last night
and are hosting one for FS 57 this evening. More work continues on Conceptual Designs for FS 51/Public
Safety Center. Additional work continues on the planning involved with the temporary relocation of fire
facilities during the course of construction.
Fire Station 52 Design Open House: February 9 - 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. @ 210 Third Street
Fire Station 57 Design Open House: February 10 - 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. @ 3530 Civic Center Drive
Design Review Board: Wednesday, February 17 - 7 p.m. @ 1400 Fifth Avenue
Negotiations regarding CSA 19 and FS 57 are continuing. We are very close!
We are again pursuing a Staff position to cover Training/EMS and at a BC level for FY 16/17. This is our #1
Budget Priority and I believe we have a solid financial strategy to cover the cost. We certainly have the
demonstrated need. We met with the CM last week to review Goals/Objectives and the FY 16/17 Budget.
As you know, the second Fire Academy of 2015 graduated five (5) new FF/PM’s in December and we have
requested/received approval to begin the recruitment process to develop a new FF/PM eligibility list. On
January 29, 2016, we sent invitations to 272 Firefighter/Paramedic candidates on the FT CT List dated
1/8/2016. Corte Madera and Marinwood have both expressed interest in adding (1) each new hire to the
Academy. We’ve already received 30 applications.
As we continue to move through a strong El Niño season, I would like to invite you to an EOC orientation at
the City’s OES office located at the Fire Department Annex on C Street. The training will take place on
Friday, February 19th from 9 am to approximately 10:30 am. We will review the role and functions of an
emergency operations center, key EOC positions that need to be filled during a disaster, and also walk
through a flood emergency scenario.
We are in the midst of finalizing the City Council Agenda Report for the purchase of two (2) new fire
engines that we expect to order and receive later this year.
We are getting underway with a CPR program targeted at instructing all 7th graders in San Rafael City
Schools and Marin County. Teachers are involved as well. This is a significant effort that will save lives.
Thank you for your continued outstanding public service, it is valued and appreciated.
Respectfully,
Christopher R. Gray, Fire Chief