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Home My WebLink AboutFire Commission 2021-12-08 Agenda Packet AGENDA SAN RAFAEL FIRE COMMISSION VIRTUAL MEETING Wednesday, December 8 @ 4:00 P.M. Please click the link below to join the webinar: Watch on Webinar: https://tinyurl.com/fc-2021-12-08 Listen by phone: (253) 215 8782 ID: 813 6207 5946# One Tap Mobile: US: +12532158782,,81362075946# Zoom link to follow for Commissioners and Staff only 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 – November 10, 2021 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 act ion. 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 Ken Johnson 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 REGULAR MEETING November 10, 2021 4:00 p.m. Meeting via Zoom The meeting was called to order at 4:03 p.pm by Chair Mizroch. Roll call indicated those present: Chair Stephen Mizroch, Vice Chair Larry Luckham, Commissioners Nadine Hade, Ken Johnson, Tom Weathers, David Fonkalsrud and Stan Burford. Staff: Fire Chief Darin White, Deputy Fire Chief Robert Sinnott Open time for Public Expression Tony Morgan, an insurance underwriter, is scheduled to join the meeting at 4:30 with comments regarding fire insurance. Approval of Minutes FC Burford moved to accept the minutes as presented. Commissioner Fonkalsrud offered the 2nd. Commission approved the minutes. “Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast” William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet Fire Foundation Update Chairman Mizroch, speaking for the Fire Foundation, reiterated that with an uncertain crab season and the variables of Covid restrictions, the annual crab feed for the Foundation would not be held in 2021. A direct mail campaign is being developed to address this year’s fund raising activity. Historic Subcommittee Update No new activity to report Commissioner’s Reports Vice Commissioner Chair Luckham summarized the recent rain storms and reviewed the County’s increased reservoir storage statistics. Usage restrictions remain in place. FC Luckham also added a historical reminder that 11/10 was the anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, she was lost with her entire crew of 29 men on Lake Superior November 10, 1975. CITY OF SAN RAFAEL FIRE DEPARTMENT FIRE COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING November 10, 2021 4:00 p.m. Meeting via Zoom FC Weathers reminded the Commission that November is Native American Indian Heritage Month. Commissioner Weathers asked about some recent parking restrictions appearing in Lincoln Hill area of San Rafael. This prompted a brief discussion, lead by Deputy Fire Chief Sinnott, about a city-wide program designed to establish safe and predictable parking in some of our more densely populated areas. Full details available at: https://library.municode.com/ca/san_rafael/ordinances/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=10 81508 Commissioner Hade — Nothing new to report. Commissioner Johnson offered some new information on fire insurance for San Rafael homeowners. Commissioner Johnson has created a computerized presentation, a tool box, “Community Wild Fire, Chief’s Took Kit for Homeowners Insurance Insight” (it is a work in progress - not completed nor ready for public distribution). A rough of the first draft is included in the video minutes of the 11/10/2021 Fire Commission meeting. https://www.cityofsanrafael.org/meetings/fire-commission-november-10-2021/#/tab- video “All’s well that ends well” William Shakespeare Commissioner Fonkalsrud reminded the Commission that the Wildfire Watch video series [produced through Fire Safe Marin] is an excellent public presentation regarding risk and preparation. Commissioner Burford mentioned the nationwide slowdown of Comcast services on 11/09/21 and asked if it affected any of the Web services of the City. Apparently not. Second issue raised was the movement across the country, state[s], counties and cities to eliminate small gasoline powered tools - lawn blowers, chainsaws, generators and the like. Will that include the first responder community? Apparently yes, according to Chief White. Last item was a note about YOU.COM. A new web search service just launched similar to Google. Tony Morgan, a business colleague of Commissioner Johnson, was invited to share some of his insights regarding homeowners fire insurance. With the increased incidents of wildfire in California, fire insurance is becoming a supply and demand kind of transaction - completely different from the traditional business model. Because insurance companies are beginning to withdraw or limit their exposure to properties in high risk areas, many homeowners are finding their policy cost skyrocketing or simply CITY OF SAN RAFAEL FIRE DEPARTMENT FIRE COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING November 10, 2021 4:00 p.m. Meeting via Zoom being canceled at time of renewal. Best advice - shop around. There can be substantial cost savings between independent insurance agents and “company” agents who only represent one company. Because no two properties are ever exactly the same, what’s available from different agents and companies will differ - take the time to shop. The Fire Chief report was presented by Deputy Chief Sinnott Chief Sinnott expanding on the “Parking Box” program recently initiated in San Rafael. The first full neighborhood to be assessed was Lincoln Hill. Crews were assigned to remove much of the overgrowth that with time infringed into “safe” parking areas. Areas that previously accommodated parking were returned to full service. Streets were measured and parking spaces were painted [outlined] to identify safe parking. Additional red curb painting was also added in “pinch” area where adequate space is required for fire truck passage. This kind of specified parking was first established in Larkspur in 1991 following the Oakland fire. Much of the San Rafael open space vegetation removal is once again being handled by an Ameri-Corp team being supervised by Quinn Gardner our Emergency Management Project Manager. Fire stations 54 and 55 have been approved for major renovation. Unlike the total rebuild of 51, 52 and 57, the renovation will bring the existing facilities up to current code and ADA compliance as well as increase their total flexibility. Commissioner Chair Mizroch closed the meeting with a smile-friendly story of the 4th grade class at Glenwood Elementary School who held a bake sale to raise money as a thank you for the SRFD crew at station 55 who had assisted the school. The bake sale raised $400, the San Rafael Fire Foundation added $200 and the monies were used to buy three $200 gift cards for Andy’s Market. [$200 per shift]. “Some are born great, others achieve greatness” William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night Shakespeare added at the request of Chair Mizroch — Submitted by Commissioner Stan Burford