Fire Commission - November 28, 2018

    Agenda

    Fire Commission Special Meeting
    Wednesday, November 28, 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 November 14, 2018.
     
    4. DISCUSSION OF DESIRABLE QUALITIES FOR THE NEXT SAN FRANCISCO FIRE CHIEF.  THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND SFFD TO PROVIDE INPUT TO THE COMMISSION REGARDING THE NEXT FIRE CHIEF [Discussion]
     
    5. 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.
     
    6. FIRE COMMISSION MEETING CALENDAR 2019 [Discussion and possible action]
    Discussion and possible action to adopt the 2019 Fire Commission Regular Meeting calendar. 
     
    7. COMMISSION REPORT [Discussion]
    Report on Commission activities since last meeting on November 14, 2018.
     
    8. AGENDA FOR NEXT AND FUTURE FIRE COMMISSION MEETINGS [Discussion]
    Discussion regarding agenda for next and future Fire Commission meetings.
     
    9. 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, November 28, 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 5:00 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
     
    Acting Chief of Department Mark Gonzales Present
     
    Jeanine Nicholson Deputy Chief --Administration
     
    Dan DeCossio Prevention
    Tony Rivera Support Services
    Michael Cochrane Homeland Security
    Andy Zanoff EMS
    Joel Sato Division of Training
     
    Assistant Chiefs
    Brook Baker Division 2
    Nicol Juratovac Division 3
     
     
    2. PUBLIC COMMENT
     
    Tom Doudiet, retired Assistant Deputy Chief suggested that there are some non-negotiable requirements for the next Chief of Department.  He added that the next Chief must recognize that their primary responsibility and the preservation of life and property is to prevent the city from being once again destroyed by firestorms following an earthquake, because if the city is destroyed by fire, thousands of lives will be lost, and nothing else that may have been accomplished in San Francisco up to that time will matter.  He also suggested that the next Chief must understand that following a great earthquake, it can only be brought under control by a continuous and inexhaustible supply of water, which fortunately the City has available on three sides of the city in the Pacific Ocean and the Bay.  He went on to explain the inadequate supply of water in the outer Richmond and Sunset Districts and described the limited water sources in those districts.  He added that the next chief must not endorse the proposals being submitted as the SFPUC’s Option 12 hydrant system and he provided binders with useful information that will clarify the issues that are most critical to the process of the selection of the next chief of the SFFD.
     
    3. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES [Discussion and possible action]
    Discussion and possible action to approve meeting minutes.
     
    • Minutes from Regular Meeting on November 14, 2018.
     
    The minutes were tabled to the next meeting for approval as Commissioner Covington noted there were significate omissions from the minutes that she would like added.
     
    There was no public comment.
     
    4. DISCUSSION OF DESIRABLE QUALITIES FOR THE NEXT SAN FRANCISCO FIRE CHIEF.  THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND SFFD TO PROVIDE INPUT TO THE COMMISSION REGARDING THE NEXT FIRE CHIEF [Discussion]
     
    Stephen Martinpinto, temporarily assigned to Engine 35 and is a fifth-generation San Franciscan would like to see in the next Chief someone who would be interested in forming a USAR team for SF, and he thinks it would boost preparedness to deal with any natural disaster or manmade terrorist attack as well as inject possible FEMA funding into the Department.  He would also like the next chief to continue to hire more veterans.
     
    Nancy Worful requested that the commission add an item to our next agenda specifically pertaining to adding a project to the Department’s new 10-year capital plan to extend the original AWSS System with three new saltwater pump stations to serve all residential neighborhoods not presently protected with unlimited water.  She added that the new chief should make the AWSS expansion a top priority.  She also mentioned that the new chief must have the ability to effectively demonstrate independence on behalf of the Fire Department and to stand up to the SFPUC, who now owns the AWSS System, and who consistently fails to provide projects that will guarantee firefighters with enough auxiliary water to fight post-earthquake fires.  She expressed her concerns with the SFPUC as well as it not being okay for the SFFD to not have their own standards for a new pipeline from Sunset Reservoir.  She added that the PUC may own the AWSS assets, but the SFFD is the only beneficiary of the system and she suggested that they demand their rights.  She provided the commission with a copy of her article in the Westside Observer.
     
    James Dalessandro, author of 1906: A novel, who spent 30 years of his life studying this problem and studying what happened to San Francisco in 1906 and 1989 stated that the hiring of the new fire chief will be the most important hire the City may ever see in the Fire Department because the further we are from 1906, the closer we are to a repeat.  He explained the history of past earthquakes and the lessons we should have learned and stated that the next chief has to have imagination, has to understand the history and has to put an end to this problem.
     
    Lt. Buren, a 21-year member of the department stated that she agreed with the past speakers on characteristics they want in the next chief, and added firefighter experience, and knowledge of their job, vision, strength, leadership, integrity and maybe even some humor should also be considered.  She also asked the commission to consider someone that will focus their attention and funds on health and wellness for the employees, training and someone who is able to work together to collaborate with other organizations in the city and communicating with the rank and file, and uniting every rank and division, from the command staff as a whole to all the divisions in the Department.
     
    Commissioner Covington stated that she was happy that she pushed to have this item on the agenda and that the time of day was not the most opportune time, and that many people expressed to her that they couldn’t be here today, but the few that did speak spoke eloquently and very specifically and she appreciates their comments.
     
    Commissioner Veronese also thanked the people that spoke and that he thinks this is an important decision and that he was a little disappointed that they didn’t hear from more members.  He suggested that in order to really gauge the temperature and the needs of the members of the Department, he would be popping into the various stations to ask members to communicate with him on what they want in the next fire chief, and he would report back to the commission and suggested that maybe the other commissioners could do the same.  He added that he wants to go into this decision with a lot of information and he wants to see a lot of candidates apply for the position.
     
    Vice President Nakajo also thanked the individuals who took the time to come on short notice to express their desires in the next fire chief.  He added that he thought the commission has opportunities to go to the rank and file and have further dialogue.
     
    Commissioner Hardeman also thanked the speakers that came forward and expected to hear that everyone wants the same thing in the chief.  He added that there are a lot of talented people in the department and he would be surprised if there was somebody from outside the department that could have the talent that the SFFD possess.  He thinks they will have three wonderful candidates going forward.  He also thanked Chief Tom Doudiet for his work on the auxiliary water over the years.
     
    President Cleaveland confirmed that the deadline for filing applications is December 7, 2018, and suggested that an agenda item is added to the December 12, 2018 meeting allowing for another opportunity for additional comment on the attributes for a future fire chief.  He acknowledged the people that came to speak, particularly the AWSS information as he knows it is something that has been discussed multiple times over the years with very little action.
     
    5. 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 October 2018.  She mentioned that the Physician’s Office is going to be busy over the next couple of months conducting physicals for the people that are going to be getting conditional offers of employment.  With regard to Investigative Services Bureau, she announced they are in the process of conducting background investigations on people and meet and greets with those people for the next academy class.  She stated that the Assignment Office was conducting vacation relief moves and vacation bidding begins tomorrow.  With regard to Support Services, she mentioned that BOE has handled 70 plus field and equipment repairs and hundreds of calls for equipment.  She stated that fleet has on order, six triple combination pumpers, engines with the pump, tank, and hose and they are currently being fabricated and that a team from the BOE, Local 798, and Central Shops are going to be traveling next week to Louisiana to conduct an inspection.  She also mentioned that they have five more engines in addition to those six that are currently with the Office of Contract Administration as that request will have to go before the Board of Supervisors because they have gone over the $10,000,000 contract but she does not see an issue with that as they have the Mayor’s full support.  She added that the construction of the new aerial trucks is underway and the first one is due in April and once they have that one and it meets the standards and expectations, they can order four more.  They also have the approval of ordering 15 ambulances.  She touched on the groundbreaking ceremony that took place today for the Ambulance Deployment Facility.  She announced that they continue to work diligently for the completion of Station 16, but that the contractor has been very difficult to work with and he keeps extending the completion date which has been moved to December 10th.  With regard to Station 5, she stated that they could not work the past couple of weeks due to smoke and rain so that completion date may also be extended.  She touched on street projects with MTA, the Division of Training including the MOU with City College they are working on where they will be able to enroll academy members in City College and get remuneration for hours of training.  It will also facilitate training and certifications for the members, not just academy members but also officers and state fire marshal classes.  She added that the MOU is currently in the hands of the City Attorney’s Office and will come to the Fire Commission for approval once it gets vetted by the city attorney.  She touched on the upcoming H-3 L-1 class that is scheduled to graduate Friday, the Fire Reserves; NERT, Homeland Security and the wildland responses where the department had multiple deployments to different fires in Southern California and in Butte County.  She stated that they sent Engine 9, Engine 11, and Engine 17 to the Woolsey Fire in Ventura and they received a letter of commendation from a Geoffrey D. Maloon, Acting Battalion Chief from the Milpitas Fire Department that worked with our teams.  Chief Nicholson read the letter into the record.
     
    Commissioner Veronese confirmed that the City College classes will get college credits for the people being hired in the recruit academy and will get college credits toward their degree and the department will get some reimbursement back.  Commissioner Veronese suggested that the commission get a report on the AWSS to get some sort of reassurance that the Department is planning for a worst-case scenario.  He also suggested that the commission stays on top of priorities such as going to the Mayor's office or the Board of Supervisors about getting an in-house person for fleet repair and other priorities previously discussed.  He also wanted to make sure that we are using our statistics on homelessness to implement Proposition C and advocate for some of that money.  Commissioner Veronese also confirmed that the liquidated damages recovered for the delay of Station 16 does not come to the Department, it goes to the General Fund and he thinks legislation should be drafted so that those monies come back to the SFFD.  He also mentioned that he wants to stay on top of the Stress Unit resolution and that the deadlines outlined in the document are met.  He announced that he wants to make sure that if we are still fighting wildland fires with wildland equipment, that the department has updated that equipment to make sure that the men and women of the SFFD have what is needed to fight the types of fires that they are fighting today.
     
    Chief Gonzales stated that he had the privilege to represent Chief Hayes-White at the Huntington Park, Nob Hill Association where Captain Pablo Sequenza was awarded recognition for his wildland deployments.
     
    There was no public comment.
     
    6. FIRE COMMISSION MEETING CALENDAR 2019 [Discussion and possible action]
    Discussion and possible action to adopt the 2019 Fire Commission Regular Meeting calendar. 
     
    Commissioner Hardeman Moved to approve the 2018 Fire Commission Meeting Calendar.  Commissioner Covington Seconded.  Motion to approve 2018 meeting calendar was unanimous.
     
    There was no public comment.
     
    7. COMMISSION REPORT [Discussion]
    Report on Commission activities since last meeting on November 14, 2018.
     
    Commissioner Hardeman stated that he attended the Peer Stress Unit meeting and he thought it was very well done and he was there for support and to listen.  He also attended the groundbreaking of the new Ambulance Deployment Facility and he acknowledged the huge crowd that attended, including Mayor London Breed, whom you could tell deep down loves the Fire Department. 
     
    Commissioner Covington echoed Commissioner Hardeman’s sentiments regarding the groundbreaking ceremony.
     
    President Cleaveland stated that he attended a couple of meetings during the reporting period, including with the Director of the Bicycle Coalition to see how the Department can work more closely with the bike folks, and apparently, the Department has a good representative who is doing a very good job.  He also met with President Sherman Tillman of the Black Firefighters Association to see how their organization is going and to get his input on our next chief.  He also attended the groundbreaking as well and thinks it was a long time in coming.  He added that there is a need to get voters to approve a bond to pay for a future training facility, which is going to be in excess of $100,000,000.00.
     
    8. AGENDA FOR NEXT AND FUTURE FIRE COMMISSION MEETINGS [Discussion]
    Discussion regarding agenda for next and future Fire Commission meetings.
     
    • Cancer Prevention Presentation
    • Chief’s public comment
    • Done policy update
    • Training facility update
     
    Commissioner Covington stated that at the last meeting it was announced that there would be a discussion on the new training facility for this evening’s meeting and then it was taken off calendar, and she thinks it should be on the calendar for the next meeting.
     
    Vice President Nakajo confirmed that elections of officers will be held the first meeting in January, January 9, 2019.
     
    9. ADJOURNMENT President Cleaveland adjourned the meeting at 6:56 p.m. in the memory of Michael Kirk.
    Supporting documents