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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