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Fire Service Steering Committee Minutes 09/19/1989 MINUTES FIRE SERVICES STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING THE REGISTRY RESORT SEPTEMBER 19 , 1989 7 : 30 p.m. I ATTENDEES : Walt Kissel , Comm. NNFD Jack Thompson, Asst. Chief NNFD Greg Speers , Comm. ENFD Wayne Martin, Chief ENFD Dan Daniels, Comm. ENFD Tom Cannon, Comm. ENFD Bob Siebold, Chief BCIFR Nancy Hughes, Comm. BCIFR Donald Hughes BCIFD Marvin Steffen, Comm. GGFCRD Norman Hatcher, Chief GGFD Will Griffith, Comm. GGFD Jay A. Craven, Adv. Com. OFD Vince Doerr, Chief OFD Jay Reardon, C.C. Admin. Charles McDonald, Chief MIFD Wm. McGrath, Asst. Chief MIFD J.C. Nutley, Chief IFD John Hill , Member CCFCSG Frank Maggio, Comm. LHBSFD Chuck Mohlke, Member CCFCSG Jim Jones, Chief NNFD Chairman Tom Cannon called the meeting to order at 7 : 40 p.m. He asked if everyone had a copy of the minutes of the last meeting. Chief McDonald from Marco Island gave a slide presentation on "Dallas Fire Department Staffing Study" 1983-1984 , which was a study taken on the manning of apparatus . The study showed the less people you have the longer it takes to accomplish the task. Chief McDonald said in summation, as you increase the size of the Fire Department the better chance you have of putting out a fire. Chief Martin of East Naples Fire Department gave a presentation on NFPA 1500 , Standard on "Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program" . Chief Martin emphasized that it is a good set of standards to follow. It is a tool that ought to be adopted to bring safety together. He said we ' re meeting most of the requirements now, but maybe we can meet them better. Some of the points he touched on were standardization at the Administration level , in fire department organization, training and education, vehicles and equipment, protective clothing and equipment, emergency operations, facility safety, medical requirements and the importance of a member assistance program. Chief Martin said by ignoring these safety standards, it could get you in trouble and open for law suits . PAGE 2 Chief Jones reviewed House Bill 599 which is an act relating to Special Districts. Some of the items he read out of the act pertained to Special District mergers, dissolutions, collection of non-ad valorem assessments, and redefining the term "Special District" with respect to Florida Retirement System. Chief Jones said the purpose is to get Special Districts, whether it be dependent or independent, to be on the same wave length. Chief Jones said that House Bill 599 requires that dependent and independent districts participate with local Government in comprehensive planning. Chuck Mohlke gave a few comments on county-wide impact fees . He said we have to keep going forward, try to save money, without having to have a referendum. John Hill , reviewed the findings of a "Recommended Course of Action For Citizens Study Group" and in summation said it is hard to favor consolidation in general . He said that one person basically set up and prepared the document, and that individual is now writing the whole report, and he feels that there should be more group participation. He feels that it is a little pre- mature for the vote to take place in two days, and that the county needs and wants facts to support if it is feasible to consolidate, that perhaps we are rushing this vote. He questioned the objectivity of the data and voting to accept preliminary draft material as final . He hopes the study group on consolidation would consider voting against five items and make it less a function of the county staff. He felt we needed a complete review of the record to see what could and should be eliminated. We should extend the time and go over it before the voting. Chuck Mohlke gave a few comments of the Study Commission on Consolidation and its feasibility. He said fire professionals ' comments are very welcome. He said general purpose Government and harmony is the issue. Tom Cannon next asked for discussion on areas of cooperative endeavors : A. Develop a standardized set of specialized major fire apparatus performance specifications which can provide a competitive and cost savings advantage: Chief Nutley: It is being done now with tankers Chief McDonald: We could piggy back with other bids . They would be basically the same but with a few changes . This is being done State-wide now. It would be lower prices on bids for us . Maybe we could coordinate buying power down the road. Chief Jones : It would save time and expense of going through the bid process as well as money. } PAGE 3 B. Develop and implement an in-house centralized fire apparatus preventative maintenance and repair consultation program. Chief McDonald: We have a need for a central located facility based on needs and services used. We should have specialized mechanics for the repair of these apparatus vehicles. Chief Siebold: We don't need the specialized mechanic - we use more brush trucks. One mechanic is enough for us . Chief Martin: How about a centralized mechanic with a mobile mechanic. Chief Nutley: I agree with Chief Siebold. We share the same mechanic with Immokalee. We do not need a specialized mechanic. Chief Jones : We 've tried different mechanics, but we have to get in line like everybody else. Too much down time for a truck. Chief Martin: We have two Firefighters who do it on their off days . Let an off-duty Firefighter be the mechanic. Comm. Cannon: We send our mechanics to school and train them. Chief Doerr: We have to be careful of steering and brakes , but I would be willing to go along with a centralized location. Chief Martin: Insurance would be needed, and all would have to share it. Chief Siebold: We do need a mechanic locally to work on fire pumps . Chief Doerr: Even if we consolidate we still need a mechanic. C. Entertain a joint sharing responsibility of reserve fire apparatus. Chief Hatcher: It has worked for us . Chief Nutley: It has worked for us also. Chief Jones : Each Fire Department has an updated list of equipment and apparatus. D. Pursue an integrative system of emergency repair and towing service of major fire apparatus . Chief Doerr: We use the same service for repairs as Immokalee and Big Corkscrew Chief Nutley: We use one service, and last two times there was no fee. (Jay Reardon said the county paid those fees) Comm. Cannon: We need one that is close to each district. PAGE 4 E. Develop a cooperative and cost effective vehicle fueling capability which is 24 hour capable. Chief Siebold: We contract with a gas company and let them be responsible. Chief Doerr: We use Combs Oil only. It is not worth changing for a penny or two less, to get someone to deliver to Ochopee. Chief Jones : We need to look at the cost of in-ground tanks, the monitoring costs . We may do away with our tanks. Above ground may be the way to go or mobile delivery. F. Develop a major fire apparatus standard inventory and on- board location program. Chief McDonald: It would be o.k. if placed on a standardized place on the apparatus. Chief Siebold: It would not work as well for us, because we carry different equipment, like 10 or 12 shovels where Marco may not. Chief McDonald: I think we should standardize as much as possible. We should use it as a guideline to follow as close as possible. Chief Doerr: Maybe we could mark all of the doors. G. Pursue the purchase of a specialized 250 feet capable high rise rescue apparatus for county-wide use. Chief McDonald: The technology is not there - I think it should be left off. H. Develop a cost effecient self-contained breathing apparatus maintenance and repair capability which will assure quality and reduce liability. Chief Jones : It is not done enough. It should be done internally. A truck could be designed for just that purpose. Chief Nutley: One person handles it for my department. Chief Jones : We could train one person to do it all for all of the departments . Comm. Cannon: Each department could specialize on one phase maybe. Chief Hatcher: We need standardization of breathing apparatus first. Comm. Cannon: Could the Chiefs all agree on one type of breathing apparatus? The Chiefs should investigate this . Chief Nutley: Preference is involved here. The next meeting will be held at the Shores Club in Little Hickory on October 17, 1989 at 7 : 30 p.m. Attached is a copy of a handout by Chief Siebold that will be discussed at the October meeting. Meeting adjourned at 10 : 15 p.m.