HomeMy WebLinkAboutFire Commission 2021-01-13 Minutes
CITY OF SAN RAFAEL
FIRE DEPARTMENT FIRE COMMISSION MEETING
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
January 13, 2021
Meeting via Zoom
The meeting was called to order at 4:03p.m. by Chair Mizroch.
Present: Chair Stephen Mizroch, Vice Chair Larry Luckham, Nadine Hade, Eli Hill, Thomas Weathers,
David Fonkalsrud, and Stan Burford
Guest: Jack Devlin, Chair of the San Rafael Fire Foundation
Staff: Chief Darin White
1. Approval of Minutes: M/S Luckham/Burford to approve the minutes from the December 9, 2020 Fire
Commission meeting.
• Chair Mizroch: Aye
• Vice Chair Luckham: Aye
• Commissioner Weathers: Aye
• Commissioner Hade: Aye
• Commissioner Hill: Aye
• Commissioner Fonkalsrud: Aye
• Commissioner Burford: Aye
2. Open Time for Public Expression: None.
3. Fire Foundation Report. This season’s fundraising totaled $21,566, which will be matched by Jeff
Craemer. Chief White presented certificates to Jack Devlin and Len Thompson who were honored for
their leadership and contributions to the San Rafael Fire Department. Jack Devlin provided comments,
including the commitment to continue to issue grants for Class A uniform subsidies and a recollection of
the efforts to fund San Rafael public safety capital improvements.
4. Historic Subcommittee: None.
5. Commissioner Reports: The commissioners provided their reports.
• Vice Chair Luckham: Raised attention to Swedish firefighting technology (will provide URL
separately), mentioned that his Photo50 photos (5TB) and fire investigation material are being
transferred to the San Rafael Fire Department. Raised attention to first responders’ awareness
of surroundings when they approach an incident. Add Diana and Administrative Staff. Requested
that we make time to interact with the Department staff in the next meeting as the pandemic
has eliminated interaction with the Commission.
• Commissioner Weathers: Recently sworn in as a member of the Assessment Appeals Board by
the Marin County Board of Supervisors. Inquired about past request to meet with the new City
Council.
• Commissioner Hade: None.
• Commissioner Hill: Inquired about Department readiness for responding to increased adoption
of electric generation and storage technologies (i.e. Li-ion storage, PV systems, EVs). Chief White
indicated that the Department’s posture involves both how to approach the incident itself as
well as an administration and that, beyond response to new electric generation and storage
technologies, there are many more dimensions that first responders must be prepared to
encounter and manage safely.
• Commissioner Fonkalsrud: Indicated that he had coordinated with David Catalinotto, San Rafael
Fire Department Environmental Management Coordinator, to create an editorial calendar to
plan the messages that will be delivered to the public over the next year and using social media
as a mechanism to share public safety information including information about incidents and
emerging conditions.
• Commissioner Burford: Shared that he sent a congratulatory letter to Mayor Kate Colin on
behalf of the San Rafael Fire Commission and encouraged that the Commission continue to find
opportunities to engage in this manner.
6. Fire Chief’s Report: Chief White provided verbal report spanning several topics, including:
• Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA)
o Northern California Council for the Community (NCCC) and AmeriCorps crews will return
to San Rafael in the March/April timeframe after having temporarily disengaged due to
a COVID-positive test.
o Directed the public to find MWPA projects on the website:
https://www.marinwildfire.org/programs
o Shared increased acquisition and adoption of Zone Haven, which provides real-time
situational awareness for escape routes during an emergency.
o Shared that ~$1M of anticipated MWPA funding for San Rafael will be arriving in April
and June.
• COVID-19
o Discussed COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
▪ The Department is starting to receive inoculations, targeting at least 80%
coverage.
▪ Drug stores are being leveraged to distribute.
• Incidents
o Oily Rags: Ignition of improperly handed oily rags was determined to be the cause of
fire.
o Vehicle: Accident involving 6 occupants resulted in only minor injuries.
o CMC Mule II: rescued using transportation device provided to the department by Fire
Foundation
• Hiring
o Cole Roth joined the Academy.
• Discussion
o Commissioner Fonkalsrud inquired about the posture for potential unrest. Chief White
provided comments.
Adjournment: The Fire Commission meeting was adjourned at 5:17 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled
for Wednesday, February 10, 2020.
Submitted,
Eli Hill, Fire Commission