Fire Commission - April 25, 2018

Regular Commission Meeting
    Agenda

    Fire Commission Regular Meeting
    Wednesday, April 25, 2018 – 5:00 p.m.
     
    City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 400  San Francisco  California  94102
     
     
    AGENDA
     
    Item No.
    1. ROLL CALL
     
    President Ken Cleaveland
    Vice President Stephen A. Nakajo
    Commissioner Michael Hardeman
    Commissioner Francee Covington 
    Commissioner Joe Alioto Veronese
     
    Chief of Department Joanne Hayes-White
     
    2. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
     
    Members of the public may address the Commission for up to three minutes on any matter within the Commission’s jurisdiction and does not appear on the agenda. Speakers shall address their remarks to the Commission as a whole and not to individual Commissioners or Department personnel. Commissioners are not to enter into debate or discussion with a speaker. The lack of a response by the Commissioners or Department personnel does not necessarily constitute agreement with or support of statements made during public comment.
     
    3. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES [Discussion and possible action]
    Discussion and possible action to approve meeting minutes.
     
    • Minutes from Regular Meeting on April 11, 2018
     
    4. 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 April 11, 2018, including budget, academies, special events, communications and outreach to other government agencies and the public.
     
    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.
     
    5. OVERVIEW OF ASSISTANT DEPUTY CHIEF OF HOMELAND SECURITY’S POSITION [Discussion]
    Assistant Deputy Chief of Homeland Security, Michael Cochrane to present an overview of his position.
     
    6. COMMISSION REPORT [Discussion]
    Report on Commission activities since last meeting on April 11, 2018
     
    7. AGENDA FOR NEXT AND FUTURE FIRE COMMISSION MEETINGS [Discussion]
    Discussion regarding agenda for next and future regular meetings.
     
    8. ADJOURNMENT  
     
    SAN FRANCISCO FIRE COMMISSION
     
    NOTICE OF COMMISSION PROCEDURES
     
     
    Commission Meeting Schedule and Location
     
    The Fire Commission will meet regularly on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102. The second Wednesday in Room 416 at 9:00 a.m. and the fourth Wednesday in Room 400 at 5:00 p.m.
     
    Commission Office
     
    The Fire Commission Office is located at 698 Second Street, Room 220, San Francisco, CA 94107. The Fire Commission telephone number is (415) 558-3451; the fax number is (415) 558-3413. The web address is http://sf-fire.org/fire-commission; Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
     
    Language Access
     
    Per the Language Access Ordinance (Chapter 91 of the San Francisco Administrative Code), Chinese, Spanish and or Filipino (Tagalog) interpreters will be available upon requests. Meeting Minutes may be translated, if requested, after they have been adopted by the Commission.  Assistance in additional languages may be honored whenever possible. To request assistance with these services please contact the Commission Secretary at (415) 558-3451, or fire.commission@sfgov.org at least 48 hours in advance of the hearing.  Late requests will be honored if possible. 
     
    Information on Disability Access
     
    The hearing rooms in City Hall are wheelchair accessible.  The closest accessible BART station is the Civic Center Station at United Nations Plaza and Market Street. Accessible MUNI lines serving this location are: #42 Downtown Loop, and #71 Haight/Noriega and the F Line to Market and Van Ness and the Metro Stations at Van Ness and Market and at Civic Center. For information about MUNI accessible services call (415) 923-6142. There is accessible curbside parking adjacent to City Hall on Grove Street and Van Ness Avenue and in the vicinity of the Veterans Building at 401 Van Ness Avenue adjacent to Davies Hall and the War Memorial Complex.  For more information about MUNI accessible services, call (415) 701-4485.
     
    To obtain a disability-related modification or accommodation, including auxiliary aids or services, to participate in the meeting, please contact the Commission Secretary at least two business days before the meeting at (415) 558-3451 to make arrangements.  Late requests will be honored, if possible.
     
    To assist the City’s efforts to accommodate persons with severe allergies, environmental illnesses, multiple chemical sensitivity or related disabilities, attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical based products. Please help the City to accommodate these individuals.
     
    Policy on use of Cell Phones, Pagers and Similar Sound-Producing Electronic Devices at and During Public Meetings
     
    The ringing and use of cell phones, pagers and similar sound-producing electronic devices are prohibited at Fire Commission meetings. Please be advised that the Chair may order the removal from the meeting room of any person(s) responsible for the ringing or use of a cell phone, pager, or other similar sound-producing electronic device.
     
    Documents for Public Inspection
     
    Documents referred to in this agenda, if not otherwise exempt from disclosure, are available for public inspection and copying at the Fire Commission Office.  If any materials related to an item on this agenda are distributed to the Fire Commission after distribution of the agenda packet, those materials, if not otherwise exempt from disclosure, are also available for public inspection at the Fire Commission Office, 698 Second Street, room 220, San Francisco, during normal office hours.
     
    Know Your Rights under the Sunshine Ordinance
    (Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code)
     
    Government's duty is to serve the public, reaching its decisions in full view of the public. Commissions, boards, councils and other agencies of the City and County exist to conduct the people’s business. This ordinance assures that deliberations are conducted before the people and that City operations are open to the people’s review.  For more information on your rights under the sunshine ordinance or to report a violation of the ordinance, contact the sunshine ordinance task force. You may contact the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force Administrator, as follows: Sunshine Ordinance Task Force, City Hall, Room 244, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102-4689, Phone: (415) 554-7724, Fax: (415) 554-5784, E-mail: sotf@sfgov.org. Copies of the Sunshine Ordinance can be obtained from the Clerk of the Sunshine Task Force, the San Francisco Public Library and on the City’s Web site at http://www.sfgov.org.
     
    San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance
     
    Individuals and entities that influence or attempt to influence local policy or administrative action may be required by the San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance (San Francisco Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code sections 2.100 – 2.160) to register and report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the Ethics Commission at 30 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 3900, San Francisco, CA 94102, telephone (415) 581-2300, fax (415) 581-2317 and Web site: http://www.sfgov.org/ethics
     

     
    FIRE COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING
    MINUTES
    Wednesday, April 25, 2018 – 5:00 p.m. 
    City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 400, San Francisco, California, 94102
     
     
     
    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
    Michael Cochrane Homeland Security
    Andy Zanoff EMS
    Khai Ali Airport Division
    Joel Sato Division of Training
     
    Assistant Chiefs
    Bob Postel Division 2
    Tom Siragusa Division 3
     
    Staff
    Mark Corso Deputy Director of Finance
    Olivia Scanlon Communications and Outreach
     
     
    3. PUBLIC COMMENT
     
    There was no public comment.
     
    4. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES [Discussion and possible action]
    Discussion and possible action to approve meeting minutes.
     
    • Minutes from Regular Meeting on April 11, 2018.
    Commissioner Hardeman Moved to approve the above meeting Minutes.  Commissioner Veronese Seconded.  Motion to approve above Minutes was unanimous.
     
    There was no public comment.
     
    4. 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 April 11, 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 April 11, 2018.  Chief Hayes-White stated that in regards to the budget, they presented before the Budget and Finance Committee in March and submitted the Department’s budget.  Per the chair, Supervisor Cohen, they will await further presentation on the budget during the month of June, after Mayor Farrell submits his balanced budget.  She added that they are scheduled to go before the Budget and Finance Committee on June 15th and either June 21st or 22nd and on June 18th where there will be an opportunity for public comment.  She announced that they had an internal budget committee meeting that was chaired by Deputy Director Corso and also attended by Vice President Nakajo to review some of the Department’s priorities.  Regarding the Division of Training, she mentioned that the 124th class is in their fifth week, with 54 members.  She added the preparations will begin for the selection process for the 125th class in the coming weeks.  With regards to activities she attended throughout the reporting period, she stated that she participated in a press conference related to street-smarts, designed for elementary aged children and championed by Supervisor Norman Yee.  She stated that on April 13, 2018, Chief Zanoff participated and received recognition from City College of San Francisco as an employer partner due to the close partnership they have with the Department.  She attended the monthly labor-management meeting with Local 798; the 1906 Earthquake activities, such as the Lotta’s Fountain commemoration, followed by the Golden Hydrant tribute, along with Anita Lee, Mayor Lee’s widow.  She acknowledged all the hard work from members of the department that participated in the mobile command unit tour in lot A by the ballpark, where they had command vehicles from the Airport, the Police Department, the Fire Department, the Sheriffs’ Department, and other neighboring agencies.  Cal OES also participated in that event and she acknowledged Lt. Baxter who put a lot of work into that event as well as Chief Cochrane who did a lot of the coordination.  She touched on the Hotel Heroes event she attended; the Earth Day Breakfast; the NERT Drill, the Cherry Blossom Festival which Vice Present Nakajo and Commissioner Covington also attended; and the gathering at City Hall where a delegation from Cork, Ireland signed the LGBTQ initiatives as it relates to San Francisco and Cork.
     
    Commissioner Covington thanked the Chief for her report and asked about the numerous committees that are operating within the Department on various items and whether anyone from the Union sits on those committees.  Chief Hayes-White explained that it is her understanding that there is someone representing Local 798 from an executive board level on every committee.  Commissioner Covington asked for an update on the two new captains hired at Fire Prevention.  Chief Hayes-White stated that one captain is a liaison working more closely with the Municipal Transportation Agency and the other with Housing and Development projects and she would be more than happy to have them present at a future commission meeting.
     
    Commissioner Veronese confirmed that the full-time position that the commission has advocated for is still being requested during the budget process and that the Department should know whether or not it was approved sometime before the Mayor submits a balanced budget on June 1, 2018.  He also confirmed that MOU negotiations between Local 798 and the City need to be finalized by May 15, 2018.  He acknowledged all of the potential recruits in the room that seem to attend every meeting with the hopes of getting selected for a firefighting position within the Department.  He stated his amazement of Chief Hayes-White attending the funeral of Len Stefanelli, as he knows how busy she was that day and he was glad she was able to attend.  He talked about the career of Len Stefanelli.
     
    President Cleaveland thanked the Chief for her report and confirmed that there are between 2,500 to 3,000 people on the NTN eligible list.
     
    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.
     
    Chief Nicholson reported on events for the month of March 2018.  She began her report with the Physician’s Office stating that they conducted 60 probationary permanent physicals in multiple ranks, and 41 return-to-work evaluations.  With the regard to the Investigative Services Bureau, 72 drug and alcohol tests were conducted with negative results.  She touched on the Assignment Office, Support Services in which she mentioned that all of the wash extractors for the PPE’s to decontaminate have been put in place at the stations.  She announced that the Moose Boat is due in September and is capable of firefighting and has a dive platform and CBRNE capabilities (chemical, radiological, nuclear biological and explosive detection capabilities); and that six new engines from Ferrara are on order.  She touched on Station 35; the Ambulance Deployment Facility; and Station 5 which is still on track for completion in December.  She mentioned that in-service suppression training had 600 hours of hands-on training to over 200 members and EMS in-service training had 9,000 hours of training, which includes online training as well as classroom training.
     
    Commissioner Hardeman confirmed that the new Moose Boat is very similar to the one the Department currently has.  He announced that Victor Makras has been appointed to serve on the Port Commission.
     
    Commissioner Veronese asked in regards to the three-alarm fire last week if he could get an update on the member that was injured.  Chief Hayes-White answered that the member was transported, treated and released and he is doing fine.  Commissioner Veronese talked about his friend who recently had a severe heart attack and that the Department responded and saved his life and he was wondering if there is a way that members of the Department can get further information about what happens with patients, especially for the ones that they save, and if that information is actually helpful to the members of the Department in the way of morale or in a way on how they deal with stress.  Chief Hayes-White answered that they will definitely look into it, but that some people might think it’s helpful and others might not, that once they deliver patients to the hospital, that’s all they want to know.  She added that when they have a willing patient, particularly someone that was in a life-threating situation, often times, the Department gets in touch with them or they get in touch with the Department, and that has worked out well.
     
    Commissioner Covington thanked Chief Nicholson for her report and confirmed that CBRNE capabilities on the Moose Boat are chemical, radiological, nuclear, biological and explosive detection capabilities and that the boat was acquired through a Homeland Security Grant.  She added that that is why she keeps asking for a grant writer, because the Department needs these monies and opportunities from elsewhere and that she recently read that a lot of Homeland Security funding and equipment, particularly military-style equipment, is not being requested by most municipalities these days because the citizens are upset about the militarization of their local police departments and that the Fire Department would be happy recipients of any monies that are out there.  She asked for an updated on Stations 16 and 35.  Assistant Deputy Chief Rivera stated that Station 35 is in the process of getting all the required approvals to move forward and he confirmed that the float portion would be prefabbed in China and shipped to Treasure Island to be assembled and that Station 16 is moving right along and is in the home stretch.
     
    President Cleaveland asked how one would get involved with the fire reserves.  Chief Hayes-White answered that the fire reserves work under the Division of Training and they typically have about 50 active reserves at a time who meet every Thursday night and do training for about a two to three-hour period of time at 19th and Folsom.  She added that there is a process by which an application can be submitted as vacancies open up and that they must be San Francisco residents.
     
    There was no public comment.
     
    5. OVERVIEW OF ASSISTANT DEPUTY CHIEF OF HOMELAND SECURITY’S POSITION [Discussion]
    Assistant Deputy Chief of Homeland Security, Michael Cochrane to present an overview of his position.
     
    Assistant Deputy Chief Cochrane stated that currently, he is working on updating the manual for disaster planning and making sure that all the information is correct.  He has participated in the Urban Areas Security Initiative which deals with how to respond to weapons of mass destruction, biological weapons and things of that sort, to preventing it, how to respond and how to recover from that type of event.  Under his role in Special Operations, they are looking at what is the best equipment to protect the members and getting that equipment through grant funds.  He explained how he plans for large events such as the arrival of dignitaries and large parades and other large events that are held in the City.  He talked about mobile command rally, and upgrade to the command van so it will be able to communicate regionally and be able to dispatch out of it in a large disaster.  He mentioned that the K-9 Unit works on the USAR team and they are trying to secure a new dog for the Unit.
     
    Commissioner Covington asked for an update on the drone policy.  Chief Cochrane explained that he has done some research from small departments to larger departments to see how they handle their drone policies internally.  Commissioner Covington asked what needs to be done to be cleared to have a drone in the Fire Department.  Chief Cochrane answered that according to the Committee on Information Technology, there is a pilot program in effect that can be extended and he mentioned that it is his understanding that drones cannot be flown over fires if you don’t have a flight plan.  Chief Hayes-White added that the policy needs to be reviewed by the City Attorney’s office and COIT to make sure it’s in sync with the responsible measures required, and she wants to make sure before the Department launches it, it is something that they can work with in terms of funding for the program and in terms of training and maintenance, and that they are not quite there yet.  Commissioner Veronese added that the draft policy has been in his in-box for a couple of months and he owes Chief Cochrane his revisions before they submit it to the City Attorney.  He added that COIT will also have to get involved because one of the issues is they don't allow them to fly at night and he sees the Department using them at cliff rescues during the nighttime hours.  Commissioner Covington recommended that they put the policy forward with daytime authority, because otherwise they will have to continue to wait, and it's important to her to move forward with the draft policy. 
     
    Vice President Nakajo stated that he called for this item to be put on the agenda because it gives the commission an opportunity to dialogue and hear concepts and ideas and to welcome Chief Cochrane to the Command Staff.  He stated that he realizes the tremendous amount of experience, responsibility, and expertise that comes with overseeing the Division of Homeland Security and he appreciates the update.  He touched on his position on the drone policy and he agrees with Commissioner Covington about having eyes in the sky but he also thinks that they need to have a clear list of responsibilities on how the Department will utilize drones.  Vice President Nakajo also confirmed with Chief Cochrane that in a city-wide emergency, Chief Hayes-White is the point person in terms of overall responsibility of the department coordination.
     
    Commissioner Veronese touched on his involvement and input with regards to the draft policy and he’s fairly confident when it gets in front of the commission for approval, that most of the questions being asked will be answered in the final draft.  With regards to the Moose Boat, he confirmed that the two monitor hoses would have about two-thousand-gallons per minute capacity, which is the equivalent to one of the department’s fire engines compared to 18,000 gallons per minute capacity on the St. Francis fire boat hoses.
     
    Commissioner Hardeman mentioned that Chief Cochrane has a difficult job and he thinks that the responsibilities that he has for protecting San Francisco and its population is an enormous job.  He stated that he also supports the department having drones but it doesn’t seem like it’s going to be as quick a process as they were hoping.
     
    Commissioner Covington pointed out that with regards to the drone policy, and to remind her fellow commissioners that she attended a huge symposium held by the Menlo Park Fire Department and spent six hours learning about drones and hearing presentations by leaders in the field and that she has more than a passing familiarity with this issue and she continues to read up on the subject.
     
    There was no public comment.
     
    7. COMMISSION REPORT [Discussion]
    Report on Commission activities since last meeting on April 11, 2018
     
    Vice President Nakajo gave an update on his meeting with the Guardians of the City he attended on April 14, 2018.  He stated that they discussed issues involving the storing and towing of the antique apparatus and the issues with the surplus dollars from the 150th Department Anniversary festivities.  They discussed the MOU status between the Department and GOTC, insurance issues, financial issues and long-term plans for the apparatus.  He concluded by stating there is still work to be done to resolve the issues at large and he personally has a lot of respect for the GOTC and he made it clear that they looking for solutions together.  Mr. Corso provided some additional information in regards to insurance and financial matters with the GOTC and he is awaiting further information from the GOTC.  He confirmed that the Guardians provided the funding for the transportation from the Academy of Art to Treasure Island. 
     
    Commissioner Veronese announced that he would be submitting a resolution for the commission’s approval pertaining to the Peer Support Unit that he drafted as well as a resolution that he circulated to the Chief and Local 798 relating to enhancing the tools for the EMS-6 Unit.  He also commented on an article he read where the state legislator is considering a law currently to expand on the duties of paramedics in California.
     
    There was no public comment.
     
    8. AGENDA FOR NEXT AND FUTURE FIRE COMMISSION MEETINGS [Discussion]
    Discussion regarding agenda for the next and future regular meetings.
     
    There was no public comment.
     
    9. ADJOURNMENT 12. ADJOURNMENT
     
    President Cleaveland adjourned the meeting at 6:46 p.m. in memory of Leonard Stefanelli.
     
    Supporting documents