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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFire Commission 2021-03-10 Minutes 1 CITY OF SAN RAFAEL FIRE COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING March 10, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. Meeting Via Zoom The meeting was called to order at 4:02 p.m. by Chair Mizroch. Present: Chair Stephen Mizroch, Vice Chair Larry Luckham, Commissioner Thomas Weathers, Commissioner Nadine Hade, Commissioner David Fonkalsrud, Commissioner Stan Burford. Staff: Fire Chief Darin White 1. Open Time for Public Expression No public comments. 2. Approval of Minutes Vice Chair Luckham corrected “Camera 50” to “Photo 50” in the minutes for 2/10/21. Commissioner Burford added that the meeting closed at “5:19 p.m.” Vice Chair Luckham moved to adopt the revised minutes. Commissioner Fonkalsrud seconded. The minutes were adopted unanimously. 3. Fire Foundation Chair Mizroch reported that the Fire Foundation had $66,948 in the bank. He also reported that there had been an identity theft attempt using the Fire Foundation name. Somebody had tried to open a credit card in the name of the Fire Foundation. The Fire Foundation also received a 1099 Form stating that somebody sold $70,000 worth of stuff on behalf of the Fire Foundation which was not true. Commissioner Fonkalsrud asked if an employer identification was available. Vice Chair Luckham thought a 1099 Form odd because a fraudster does not usually file taxes. Chair Mizroch said the Fire Foundation is transparent on-line so anybody can see its information but that the Fire Foundation did not lose any money in these fraud attempts. 2 Commissioner Burford asked about charity money going from Amazon to the Fire Foundation through an Amazon purchase program. The Fire Foundation has received $241 from Amazon for purchases on Amazon. Chair Mizroch reported that the Fire Foundation initially signed-up for charity payments from Amazon for purchases but a local business recommended purchases should be from local businesses. Chair Mizroch said he would follow up with the Fire Foundation to determine if the Fire Foundation should continue in the Amazon program or abandon participation to avoid tenson with local businesses. 4. Historic Subcommittee No report. 5. Commissioners’ Report Vice Chair Luckham had nothing to report except that he has Fire Commission mugs for people. Commissioner Weathers had nothing to report. Commissioner Hade had nothing to report. Commissioner Fonkalsrud reported that he was working on an editorial calendar. Chair Mizroch responded that the spreadsheet on different topics was terrific. Fire Chief White also said he appreciated the spreadsheet. Commissioner Burford had nothing to report. Chair Mizroch suggested the Fire Commission consider resuming in-person meetings. Vice Chair Luckham was amenable. Commissioner Weathers was opposed until all Commissioners were vaccinated. Commissioner Fonkalsrud was also opposed until full vaccination for all Commissioners. Commissioner Hade open to in-person meetings if outside, done at a distance, and all participants masked. There was then discussion on when vaccines might be available for persons under age 65. Consensus was to wait until everybody vaccinated. 6. Fire Chief’s Report Fire Chief White reported that he had prepared a certificate for former Commissioner Hill who was appointed to the City Council. He showed the certificate to the Commission. He had also prepared certificates for fire captains. Fire Chief White also reported on the citizen concerns with access to the upper Fremont area in San Rafael. He discussed vegetation management and the fire truck turnaround. There will be a chipper day and more inspections. The Fire Department would be walking the property again and continuing to work with the property owner to minimize fire risk. The turnaround was for garbage and delivery trucks. The citizen was thankful for the Fire Department’s response and involvement with the issue and wanted additional information from the Fire Department. Fire Chief White said he would go and try to determine if a fire truck could use the 3 garbage/delivery truck turnaround. Vice Chair Luckham said a smaller fire truck could probably use the turnaround. Chair Mizroch applauded the citizen for being a neighborhood advocate. He also suggested that everybody needs to know safe evacuation routes. Commissioner Burford asked about legal requirements for fire truck turnarounds. The development of upper Fremont pre-dates the zoning codes on turnarounds. Chair Mizroch thanked Fire Chief White for chipper days and vegetation management. Fire Chief White reported that the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority was up and running and interviewing for planning program coordinator. A staff was being built. He also reported on the chipper program and looking for increased participants. He was also looking into an air curtain burner as an alternative to dumping vegetation. He said chipping will occur four days a week. Fire Chief White also commented about COVID-19 and the progress Marin County was making in moving into the red tier. He reported vaccination sites were operating around the county. Fire Chief White reported on a fire in an RV park on West Francisco. A non -profit helped the displaced families. There was also a car that crashed into a building on Woodland Avenue. Fire Chief White applauded the San Rafael Police Department for catching the driver who ran from the crash. Fire Chief White reported that the fire academy had graduated two persons. He also thanked a local school that donated donuts to firefighters training off Smith Ranch Road. He reported that Captain Schmitt retired. The meeting adjourned at 5:08 p.m.