Fire Commission - January 24, 2018

 

 

The Video can be viewed by clicking this link:  http://sanfrancisco.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=180&clip_id=29…

 

President Cleaveland called the meeting to order at 5:01 p.m.

 

1. ROLL CALL

 

Commission President Ken Cleaveland Present 

Commission Vice President Stephen Nakajo Present

Commissioner Michael Hardeman Present

Commissioner Francee Covington Present

Commissioner Joe Alioto Veronese Present

 

Chief of Department Joanne Hayes-White Present

 

Mark Gonzales Deputy Chief – Operations

Jeanine Nicholson Deputy Chief --Administration

 

Dan De Cossio Bureau of Fire Prevention

Tony Rivera Support Services

Khai Ali Airport Division

Jeff Columbini Division of Training

 

Assistant Chiefs

Nicole Juratovac Division 2

Bill Storti Division 3

 

Staff

Mark Corso Deputy Director of Finance

Olivia Scanlon Communications and Outreach

Jesusa Bushong Department Personnel Officer

 

 

3. PUBLIC COMMENT

 

Tracy Thompson stated she was at the January 10, 2018, commission meeting to express her concern on the lack of AWSS in the western part of the City.  She mentioned she was concerned that the budget that was approved for $33,000,000 did not in any way apply to upgrading the AWSS.  She stated that there is a need for an adequate firefighting system in place, and the bonds were approved up to seven years ago  She added that she doesn’t think that because the AWSS falls under the PUC umbrella, it precludes the fire department from doing anything about it.  She also thought there was some confusion when the Commission voted to approve the budget at the last meeting.

 

4. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES [Discussion and possible action]

Discussion and possible action to approve meeting minutes.

 

• Minutes from Regular Meeting on January 10, 2018.

 

Commissioner Hardeman Moved to approve the above meeting Minutes.  Vice President Nakajo Seconded.  Motion to approve above Minutes was unanimous.

 

There was no public comment.

 

4. FIRE DEPARTMENT OPERATING BUDGET – FISCAL YEARS 2018-2019/ 2019-2020 [Discussion] 

Presentation from Mark Corso, Deputy Director of Finance and Planning on the Fire Department’s operating budget for Commission review and discussion.

 

Mark Corso, Director of Finance and Planning for the Department presented the attached slideshow outlining the Fiscal year 2018-19 and Fiscal Year 2019-20 budget discussions and as a follow-up to his last presentation on January 10, 2018.  http://sf-fire.org/sites/default/files/COMMISSION/Fire%20Commission%20S…

 

He started with a review of the budget timelines and instructions that were previously discussed.  He mentioned that all city departments have been requested to make a two-and-a-half percent reduction in their general fund in both years, and for the SFFD, that means approximately 1.5 million in each year.  He added that the mayor's office has also requested no net new positions.  He mentioned that they continue to meet with division heads on budget issues and needs assessments and they have reconvened the Budget Committee for the Department.

 

Commissioner Veronese confirmed that the medical calls have been the main driver of the overall departmental call increase and they've increased the fleet and the total number of vehicles on the EMS side.   Commissioner Veronese suggested using the increase in medical calls to make a case for the use of quick response vehicles.  He also supported the idea of getting a grant writer and it should be requested in the budget.

 

Commissioner Hardeman thanked Mr. Corso for his report.  He confirmed that the airport budget is 100 percent funded by the airport.

 

Commissioner Nakajo went over the line items and submittal dates provided by Mr. Corso and he confirmed that with the change in Mayor, the timelines for budget submittals will not change.  He also confirmed that there are four academy classes funded over the next two fiscal years.  He also confirmed that the Port funds 100 percent of the Port services provided by SFFD, such as the Port Fire Marshal and additional positions.  He also mentioned that the Commission takes the budget process very seriously and it’s a hard process and there’s a challenge to try and identify revenue sources.

 

Commissioner Covington stated that she spoke to Chief Scott about their grant writers and he confirmed that they have a raft of them and she will set up a meeting with Chief Scott to get more information on their grant writers.  She asked Mr. Corso to explain how the City can be running such a huge deficit.  Mr. Corso explained that over the past few years, the growth that the city has seen year to year was on the revenue side which has tapered off and the overall issue is that the expenses for the city are far outweighing those revenues coming in, particularly surrounding retirement, pensions, health benefits and salary costs.  Commissioner Covington confirmed that the department is maintaining the recruiting initiatives.  She also confirmed that the bike medics at the airport are currently out of service because of shortage in staffing levels.

 

President Cleaveland asked Mr. Corso if there was money in the budget to expand the NERT program.  Mr. Corso explained that a number of items to expand NERT is in the additional enhancement request list and that would be above-and-beyond what is currently funded.  President Cleaveland asked what the cost of an ambulance is.  Mr. Corso responded that the old style model is approximately $170,000.00 and the new ones that they are currently piloting are about $90,000.00 or so. 

 

5. CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT’S REPORT [Discussion]

REPORT FROM CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT – JOANNE HAYES-WHITE

Report on current issues, activities and events within the Department since the Fire Commission meeting on January 10, 2018, including budget, academies, special events, communications and outreach to other government agencies and the public.

 

Chief Hayes-White reported on events since the last meeting on January 10, 2018.  Chief Hayes-White stated that in regards to the budget, they just completed the second quarter of this fiscal year's budget and they are on track with revenues and expenditures.  Regarding academies, she stated the 123rd class is in their 18th week and will graduate on Thursday, February 8, 2018, at 6:00 at Riordan High School.  She added that the 124th academy is scheduled to start on March 26, 2018, and that they hired 36 H-3 Level 1 entry level EMTs that will be staring at the end of the month.

 

Chief Hayes-White announced that since the last meeting, they have been involved in meetings regarding the auxiliary water supply system, specifically, as it relates to establishing increased redundancy for fire suppression in the western side of the city, including the Sunset and Richmond districts.  She added that a third-party report was done by Professor Charles Scawthorn, who is an expert in the field and they had a meeting with Supervisor Sandra Fewer and Supervisor Katy Tang and both were very pleased with the proposal.  She stated that she and staff members went before Capital Planning and one of the PUC staff members presented the plan and it seemed to be very well received by the community members present as well as the members on the Capital Planning Committee.  She suggested inviting the PUC to come to a future meeting and make a presentation on the future AWSS plans.  Other events she attended during the reporting period included the Martin Luther King March, a labor-management meeting, NERT Advisory Board meeting, and the third alarm fire in West Portal.

 

Commissioner Hardeman thanked the Chief for her report and mentioned that he was also at the West Portal fire and was impressed how the crews got the fire out so quickly and it was a very great performance by the Fire Department.  He recognized the swearing in of Mayor Mark Farrell and thinks he has a very good understanding of the Fire Department and will be supportive of the Department.

 

Commissioner Veronese reiterated the importance of having a strong early warning system in times of potential disasters and suggested that the Department work with DEM to make sure people know what to do in the event of a catastrophic disaster, such as tsunami or earthquake.

 

There was no public comment.

 

REPORT FROM ADMINISTRATION, DEPUTY CHIEF JEANINE NICHOLSON

Report on the Administrative Divisions, Fleet and Facility status, Finance, Support Services, Homeland Security and Training within the Department.

 

President Cleaveland welcomed Chief Nicholson.  Chief Nicholson stated that the assignment office completed the vacancy bid for Station 49 and they made a good faith effort and worked collaboratively with the union and the shop stewards to come up with a workable schedule that would meet both operational needs, as well as allow for some employee scheduling flexibility.  She touched on the Physician’s Office, Investigative Services Bureau, the Stress Unit, where John Christy will be retiring in May, and Dan Nazaretta will be assigned to the unit, and they will get many of the members trained so that they can do critical incident stress debriefing and management so that the Stress Unit can actually focus on more one-on-one debriefings.  She mentioned that while they work on filling the Homeland Security position, she has been meeting with Lt. George Karawanny who is on loan to the Northern California Regional Intelligence Center and he has been updating the Department on any potential terrorist or suspicious activities.  She touched on the Division of Training, NERT, and Support Services.

 

Commissioner Veronese thanked her for her emphasis on the Stress Unit.  He suggested renaming the Unit that better describes what the Unit does and the importance of what it does.  He congratulated Chief Nicholson on her appointment to Deputy Chief.

 

President Cleaveland asked Chief Nicholson if she could get more details as to what is being done to protect the neighborhoods in the south and western parts of the City and outside of the 2020 bond that will have some major improvements to the AWSS.

 

There was no public comment.

 

6. COMMISSION REPORT [Discussion]

Report on Commission activities since last meeting on January 10, 2018

 

Commissioner Hardeman suggested any commissioner that wants to compare the ambulances should go out to Station 49, rather than bringing them to City Hall.

 

Commissioner Covington stated she would prefer them to be at City Hall and the Commissioners could go in two at a time and ask questions.

 

President Cleaveland commended and thanked Commissioner Veronese for pulling together a very great luncheon for the City’s commissioners.

 

7. FIRE COMMISSION ELECTION OF OFFICERS [Action]

 

a. Nomination and election of Commission President. 

 

Vice President Nakajo nominated President Cleaveland for Commission President.  Commissioner Covington seconded and the nomination for Commission President was unanimously approved.

 

Commissioner Covington stated that she appreciates President Cleaveland and was glad that V.P. Nakajo laid out some of the things that he wants to accomplish such as keeping on top of the new training facility, improving the relationship with the Guardians of the City and the possibility of forming a Friends of the San Francisco Fire Department.

 

b. Nomination and election of Commission Vice-President.

 

Commissioner Covington nominated Vice President Nakajo for Commission Vice President.  Commissioner Hardeman seconded and the nomination for Commission Vice President was unanimously approved.

 

There was no public comment.

 

8. AGENDA FOR NEXT AND FUTURE FIRE COMMISSION MEETINGS [Discussion]

Discussion regarding agenda for the February 14, 2018 and future regular meetings.

 

• Early Warning System update from DEM

• ADF update

• Physician’s evaluation

• Budget – Action item

• Deliberations FC Case No.:  2017-06

• Cow Palace – possible training facility

 

9. POSSIBLE CLOSED SESSION REGARDING EXISTING LITIGATION

 

This item was called out of order and was heard following approval of the minutes.  President Cleaveland called for public comment.  There was no public comment.

 

a. VOTE ON WHETHER TO CONDUCT ITEMS 9(b) IN CLOSED SESSION [Action]

 

The Commission may hear Item 9(b) regarding existing litigation in closed session if it votes to invoke the attorney-client privilege (Government Code § 54956.9; Administrative Code § 67.10(d)).  

 

Commissioner Veronese made a motion to conduct item 9(b) in Closed Session.  Commissioner Hardeman seconded, and the motion was unanimously approved.  (5-0; Cleaveland, Nakajo, Hardeman, Covington, Veronese)

 

The Commission went into closed session at 5:08 p.m.

 

Also present was Deputy City Attorney, Jonathan Rolnick.

 

b. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION. Conference with legal counsel to discuss existing litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(a), (c), (d), and Administrative Code Section 67.10(d)(1) and possible recommendation to the Board of Supervisors for settlement approval or to take other action.  [Action item]

 

Existing Litigation:

Johnson v. City and County of San Francisco 

United States District Court Case No. 09-5503 JSW

 

10. REPORT ON ANY ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION [Discussion and possible action] as specified in California Government Code Section 54957.1(a) and San Francisco Administrative Code section 67.12(b).

 

The Commission reconvened in Open Session at 5:22 p.m.  President Cleaveland reported that the Commission unanimously agreed to recommend to the Board of Supervisors for settlement approval of the above existing litigation.

 

11. VOTE TO ELECT WHETHER TO DISCLOSE ANY OR ALL DISCUSSIONS HELD IN CLOSED SESSION, as specified in San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.12(a).   [Action]

 

Commissioner Covington Moved to not disclose discussions held in closed session.  Commissioner Hardeman Seconded.  The motion was unanimously approved.  (5-0; Cleaveland, Nakajo, Hardeman, Covington, Veronese)

 

12. ADJOURNMENT

 

President Cleaveland adjourned the meeting at 7:20 p.m. in honor of Vice President Nakajo’s birthday.