HomeMy WebLinkAboutFire Commission 2020-10-14 Agenda Packet
AGENDA
SAN RAFAEL FIRE COMMISSION
VIRTUAL MEETING
Wednesday, October 14, 2020 @ 4:00 P.M.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://tinyurl.com/Fire-2020-10-14
Telephone: (669) 900-9128
Meeting ID: 848-3223-7245#
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 9, 2020
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:
Dr. Stephen Mizroch – Chair
Larry Luckham – Vice Chair
Thomas Weathers
Nadine Hade
Elias Hill
David Fonkalsrud, Alternate
Stan Burford, 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 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 transportation 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 DEPARTMENT FIRE COMMISSION MEETING
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
September 9, 2020
Meeting via Zoom
The meeting was called to order at 4 p.m. by Chair Mizroch.
Present: Chair Stephen Mizroch, Vice Chair Larry Luckham, Nadine Hade, Eli Hill, Thomas Weathers, and
Stan Burford.
Absent: David Fonkalsrud
Staff: Chief Robert Sinnott, Chief Darin White
1. Approval of Minutes: M/S Luckham/Burford to approve the minutes from the September 9, 2020, Fire
Commission meeting.
• Chair Mizroch: Aye
• Vice Chair Luckham: Aye
• Commissioner Weathers: Absent at time of vote
• Commissioner Hade: Absent at time of vote
• Commissioner Hill: Aye
• Commissioner Fonkalsrud: Absent
• Commissioner Burford: Aye
2. Open Time for Public Expression: None.
3. Fire Foundation Report. $26,267: Donna Mccusker made ~$4,000 donation. Chair Mizroch shared that
the Crab Feed has been cancelled due to safety concerns related to COVID-19 pandemic. Instead,
request for donations will be sent to existing contacts with offer of Public Safety Center challenge coins.
4. Historic Subcommittee: No report.
5. Commissioner Reports: The commissioners provided their reports.
• Chair Mizroch: Urged for people to get the flu shot. Noted 170th birthday of the State of
California. Recommended the film “Rebuilding Paradise”. Sent gratitude to AmeriCorps for
efforts to mitigate wildfire.
• Vice Chair Luckham: Shared advanced European fire helmet.
• Commissioner Weathers: No report this month.
• Commissioner Hade: Shared gratitude for the collegiality of the Fire Commission. Shared
account of Cal OES fire response to an incident in San Luis Obispo.
• Commissioner Hill: Shared progress on enhancing data capabilities for SRFD.
• Commissioner Burford: Congratulated Paul and Yvonne Sasse on their 70th Anniversary; Paul
retired as a Captain of the San Rafael Fire Department.
6. Fire Chief’s Report: Chief White provided verbal report spanning several topics, including:
• Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA)
o Director position may be solidified in the next week.
o Inspection staff (6) have conducted 1600 inspections this season; have been received
positively.
o Northern California Council for the Community (NCCC) may be able to be deployed in
October.
• Wildfire Safety Forum
o Held on August 31, 2020, with Officer Sgt Eberly, Quinn Gardner, and Chief White.
Addressed topics that included evacuations, defensible space, community risk
mitigation.
• September is National Preparedness Month and Public Safety Mental Awareness
o Quinn Gardner to hold a weekly session with the community this month.
• Wildfire Mitigation Specialist will be joining the department to support safety efforts
• COVID-19 Impact
o Short-term lodging has been cleared for re-open with restrictions.
o Additional types of businesses are under consideration for re-open.
o Provided current statistics of COVID-19 infections and deaths.
• Wildfire update
o As of September 6, 2020, 7,448 fires had been ignited, noting that there are 13 major
incidents.
o Woodward Fire no longer has any local resources assigned.
• Recruitment
o Three (3) recruits graduated and joined San Rafael Fire Department on September 5th.
• Chief White, Chair Mizroch and Vice Chair Luckham provided comments to dispel misconception
of analogizing herd immunity to wildfire.
• Public Safety Center tour is scheduled for Wednesday September 16, 2020.
Adjournment: The Fire Commission meeting was adjourned at 4:53 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled
for Wednesday, October 14, 2020.
Submitted,
Eli Hill, Fire Commission