Marin County Fire Chief's Association

Marin County Fire Chiefs Association
Fire Prevention Officers Section
Annual Planning Meeting
December 15, 2004
Roast Haus Restaurant, Novato ? Sponsored by Warren Security

Participants:
(left-right standing) Warren Glass, Warren Security; Clarence Roberge, Skywalker Ranch; Roger Sprehn, Corte Madera; Scott Alber, Marin County; Bill Tyler, Novato; Ron Barney, Tiburon; Ken Massucco, MCFCA President 2005, Marin County; Steve Riggs, San Rafael; Keith Schoenthal, San Rafael; Sandy Wargo, Novato; (left-right kneeling) Jim Galli, Kentfield; Joel White, Marinwood; Tom Roach, 2004 MCFCA Liaison, Marinwood; Photo and meeting facilitation: Tom Forster, Skywalker Ranch.

2005 Officers: Bill Tyler, President; Ron Barney Vice President; Steve Riggs - VP/Fire Investigation Team; Secretary/Treasurer Denise Campigli; Roger Sprehn, Past President.

Meeting Summary: Accomplishments from 2004 were reviewed. Trends for planning purposes were reviewed and discussed. Marin County Fire Chiefs Association Incoming President Ken Massucco expressed appreciation for a great job in 2004 by this section, especially with the vegetation management and open space issues. Goals were established for 2005, including requests from the Marin County Fire Chiefs Association. Warren Glass of Warren Security hosted the meeting and sponsored food ? thanks Warren!

2004 Goals & Accomplishments

1. Successfully Addressed Open Space Fire Safety Issues (MCFCA Request)
- Wrote position paper
- Attended all public policy review meetings
- Met with Fran Brigman and Ron Miska
- Spoke at various public meetings
- Follow-up letter was sent
- Plans were adjusted and are being used
- May be changes to development process about building near wildland
- Excellent progress made with changes and overall relationship

2. Sponsored Monthly and Joint Meetings
- All scheduled meetings were held.
- A joint meeting was held in March with Sonoma County FPOs.

3. Fire & Life Safety Fair Successfully Held
- Held October 2nd at The Village in Corte Madera, continued great sponsorship from The Village ? staff, location, funding ads, PR. $10,000 total sponsorship funding. Very good participation from departments, reasonable attendance from public, about the same as 2003. Involved many other non-profits. Corte Madera FD did much of the work. Parking was an issue.

4. Completed Trailer Maintenance, Secured Some Replacement Funding
- Noah Skinner and Sandy Wargo made a presentation in November to the Marin County Soroptimists in November 2003 re: funding a new Fire & Life Safety Trailer. They held a fund-raising Soroptimist dinner in March, 2004 with many of the police and fire chiefs and FPOs serving. Several other charities were also sponsored. $7,000 was raised to help replace the trailer. Marinwood also submitted for a FEMA grant to replace the trailer. Unfortunately it was not funded.
- Numerous informal work parties were held, including work by the Novato FD mechanic for electrical and suspension needs.
- Used ?a lot? by various departments (see web site signups).

5. Successfully Operated Fire Investigation Team
- Started new phone notification system, dedicated phone number for messages.
- Many successful call-outs, fielded teams for all of them.
- Purchased and stocked various investigation supplies.
- Outfitted updated vehicle received from San Rafael FD in 2003.
- Juvenile Fire Setter program approved.
- Planning meeting was held in 2004.
- Electrical fire investigation class was held.
- Two general team meetings were held.

6. Sponsored Other Training
a) Wildland Fire Investigation course successfully held, early June.
- Approx. 50 students from around CA.
- This is a money maker for Marin, Sonoma, Napa Solano FPOs, and
Nor Cal FPOs.
- Spawned NWCG FI-210 offered in Concord.
b) School inspection training class held in Kentfield August 6.
- Approx. 21 students, successful.
c) Instructor 2B held in April with TOs ? low attendance.

7. Successfully Streamlined Committees
- Reduced overall number of committees.
- Good participation in those that remained.

8. Evolved Web Site Section
- Its being used regularly.
- Links are helpful and being expanded.
- Minutes are posted.
- Joint training class was successfully held in Bel Marin Keys in January 2004.

9. Updated By-Laws/Administration
- Officer roles adjusted.

10. Encourage new member involvement in all departments.
- Not much change: Ross; Ross Valley; Southern Marin
still not active in 2004. Larkspur ? Tom Timmer participating.
- Email all Chiefs in the departments that have not been participating.
- Add Bolinas an Inverness to the contact list.

Other Accomplishments:
11. Funded lunch for Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation fund-raiser - $600
12. Urban Wildland Interface Code will go public next month.
13. Trailer went to County Fair, was staffed for four days.
14. Provided various legislative support.
15. Fireworks PSA completed.

1. Complete UWI Code
- Assess impacts
- Publish draft.
- Speak at public information meetings in January.
- Address any changes needed.
- Forward to MCFCA for approval.
- Finally, make available for adoption by jurisdictions.
Responsible: Forrest Craig and committee.
Completion: Spring 2005.

2. Expand Relationships with Other Open Space Districts and Private Land Owners with Goal of Improving Vegetation Management.
- Tim Walsh/Kent Julin MCFD working on fuel management plan.
- Identify more projects and funding.
- Develop educational piece to sit down and discuss with other groups.
- Have workshop for landowners.
- Complete fuel plan-set date
- Invitations out
Committee: Scott Alber Chair, Brad Mark, Joel White, and Bill Tyler.
Time Frame: Spring 2005
Chief Ken Massucco will provide speaker.

3. Expand Juvenile Fire Setter Program
- Identify three to four fire service people to train from each area ? North,
Central, South.-
S. Marin 3 People
Novato 2 People
Central ?
- Sponsor workshop and training.
- Also invite any other appropriate groups to training.
- FEMA program?
- Corte Madera has some materials.
- Ron Barney to schedule workshops.
- Ron, Jim, Bill to identify other people and order supplies.

Committee: Ron Barney, Bill Tyler, and Jim Galli.
Time Frame: Summer 2005.

4. Improve Fire Investigation Team
- Hold planning meeting in January
- Define service levels and agree on expectations.
- Establish updated budget.
- Work to increase participation.
- Contact other teams in the Bay Area for ideas on effective operations.
- Sponsor minimum of two meetings, one training session.
- Update By-Laws as necessary.
- Include case report responsibility statement.
- Look at any necessary changes in related info in mutual aid plan.
- Note: remember, ?One size does not fit all? with service levels to
various departments.
Responsible: Steve Riggs

5. Sponsor Monthly Meetings
- Meeting locations, all start at 10:00:
January Tiburon
February Corte Madera
March Marinwood
April Southern Marin
May Mill Valley
June Marin City
July San Rafael
August Skywalker Ranch
September Novato Joint Meeting?
October Larkspur
November Kentfield
December Warren Security will sponsor, location TBD.

- Possible joint meeting with Marin Code Advisory Board? Roger will contact them, lunch meeting on Wednesday at Rings.
Responsible: President Bill Tyler, Roger Sprehn will contact Code Advisory Group.

6. Sponsor Other Training
- Wildland fire investigation course
- Continue with joint sponsorship Nor. Cal/So Co
- Coordinate with TOs
- Send out general course interest survey.
- Identify and agree on any other classes.
Responsible: Ron Barney

7. Operate and Maintain Fire Prevention Trailer
- Continue search for replacement funding, spring 2005
- Research appropriate insurance coverage ? Firemans Fund?
- Change storage arrangements? Covered? (need help on this)
- Update check in and out procedures.
Responsible: Roger Sprehn and Joel White

8. Sponsor Fire and Life Safety Fair & Public Safety Fun Zone
- Suspend the Fire and Life Safety Fair for 2005.
Responsible: Liaison Chief Tom Roach

9. Encourage new member involvement.
Encourage Ross; Ross Valley; & Southern Marin 2004 participation.

Related Trends for Planning Awareness, 2005

Compilation from planning meetings of Marin County Fire Chiefs Association (11-18-04), Marin County Fire Prevention Officers section (12-15-04), Marin County Operations & EMS Officers (12-06-04), and Marin Sonoma Fire Training Officers (12-14-04) planning meetings.

Society in General

� More negative public focus on generous PERS retirement systems.
� WMD issues still large target of Federal attention and funding.
� Federal deficit growing, no reduction in near future.
� Iraq war continues, costs very high.
� Many cities unwilling to support FDs.
� Economy swinging up, but slowly.
� Various changes brought about by new Governor.
� Governor making new appointments to State Building Standards Commission.
� Support for ICC Code increasing, NFPA decreasing with new administration.
� State deficit continues, unknown what will be proposed to fix.
� ?Hate? web sites have increased.
� More ?mega? houses being built in Marin
� West Marin ? old ranches being converted to wealthy residences.
� Increase in younger folks with money in Marin.

Emergency Services Workforce In General & Training Programs

� Constant leadership changes & retirements having impact.
� Need to develop younger folks to be officers; promoting people early due to many retirements; getting new folks up to speed is a challenge in ?do more with less time.
� Loss of institutional knowledge hurts.
� Novato conducting succession planning workshops, opened up to other departments, going well; half-day class held every other month for all departments; Novato only on alternate months; includes various programs and presenters on a wide variety of topics including financial, politics, MTZ plan, etc.
� There is a difference between career development (for all), and succession planning (for some).
� Need to commit to professional college degree programs in management, administration, emergency services, etc.; this is good exposure to the outside world. Without this, the fire service will have more trouble competing for resources in the future. Look at the private sector for courses/training.
� Most Marin career FDs will be on same schedule in 2005 ? ABC 48s.
� Longer commutes, less availability of off-duty personnel continue.
� Fewer line personnel available for callback functions continue.
� Leadership changes in local union ? first time there was a contested election.
� CICCS Physical testing implementation ? requirement for Pack Testing for out-of-County responses implemented by MCFCA.
� Some working a physical fitness course for structure protection; questions on validity and applicability to current workforce.
� Discussions in progress with MCFCA & labor regarding in-service fitness testing.
� SRJC Academy continues to be crowded, using lottery system.
� Pre-service workforce issues with maturity and discipline continue at Academy.
� CICCS Red Card historical recognition period extended to 12-05.
� State CFSTES curriculum is in many cases very outdated. Many Fire Officer and Chief Officer courses have not been updated for more than 10 years due to lack of funding and SFM leadership.
� State Training and Education Advisory Committee (STEAC) group may be eliminated as part of Governors commission simplification proposals.
� Continued success with grants in general with various FDs.
� New Command 1C course implemented; addressing need for wildland training; trainer requirements are high.
� On a more hopeful note, the SFM is filling four positions in January 2005.
� More mandatory training without funding being implemented; WMD examples.
� Training Partnerships are increasing with law, private sector, etc. Oregon, Reno Public Safety Training Center, etc.
� Sonoma County fire training with law, etc. at ?the Village? is going well.
� We need to commit to developing at least one ?state of the art training facility in this area ? could we do this jointly with law enforcement since they have more funding?
� New tactics are increasingly focused on Firefighter safety, fire streams, search and rescue, etc. ? look at scheduled courses in fire conferences.
� Volunteer firefighter programs continue to decline for a variety of reasons. Novato FD eliminated their program in 2004. Sonoma County had 350 volunteers in 1990; current number is approx. 225 while population has increased approx. 20% since 1990.
� Demographics have changed dramatically for volunteer firefighters, and training and safety requirements are much higher. Training for volunteer fire officer role alone requires 80+ hours.
� Computer based training programs are increasingly being used for basic needs, EMS, etc.

Emergency Services in General

� MCFCA continuing to strengthen in cooperative efforts.
� Common MCFCA grant effort with Firemans Fund Heritage Program successful with mapping project.
� Increased discussions on consolidations: examples include Southern Marin & Sausalito, discussions starting with San Rafael & Novato.
� SRA fees as proposed by CDF were rejected in a lawsuit by the Farm Bureau and others.
� New State Fire Marshal appointed.
� More financial inequity between departments.
� Performance based budgeting is being increasingly requested by agency leaders; accountability is increasing; performance measures are being identified; more work is expected from the same number of people; impacts from training must be measured. This is known as in part as Return on Investment (ROI) in the private sector.
� Increased focus on wildland safety ? example discussed re: 2003 Cramer Fire in Idaho, possible criminal charges.
� MERA ? some PDs online now; FDs coming in 2005, Tiburon issue resolved but now Bolinas.
� Temporary cutbacks continue: example ? San Rafael Admin. furloughs.
� Marin Chiefs are starting to look again at a regional fire/EMS dispatch center. In the meantime, Main SO Comm Center and MCFD Woodacre dispatch are partnering to mirror and support each others CAD operations in 2005.
� Proposed large cuts at National Fire Academy.
� Wildland fuel management continues to be mostly unresolved, but MCFD looking at long-range plan.
� Ambulance Strike Teams plan implemented.
� Various service delivery improvements implemented, including boundary drops.
� EMT regulations changed by State.
� Expanded EMS scope opportunities will have impact on destination decisions.
� Trauma system decisions postponed due to possible lawsuit.
� State Workers Comp reforms have started.
� Technology improvements continue ? example given of AVLs.
� Fire service continues to diversify revenue streams and duties.

Fire Prevention and Public Education

� Shelter in place vs. evacuation being actively sought.
� School fires have continued.
� Juvenile fire setter issues remain.
� UWI impacts on public lands is now a ?hot topic.
� Budget issues for all departments to various degrees, may impact these areas.
� A.S.I.S article expressing concern about terrorism and arson potential.
� Eco-terrorism arson acts nationwide increased.
� Developments and remodels have continued, but number of permits have decreased (MCFD); increased permits but smaller projects (CMFD).
� San Rafael charging fees for E-CO inspections, but business community upset saying FD is charging for inspections but not doing them.
� San Rafael FD plan review fee still being explored.
� Corte Madera ? new development fees split with other Town departments.
� Vegetation management funds available have greatly decreased, WUI, etc.

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