Fire Commissioner Regular Meeting

San Juan Fire Protection District 2

Orcas Island Fire District

July 12, 2011

The meeting was convened at 7:30 pm.

Present: Commissioners Clyde Duke, Barbara Bedell and Jim Coffin; Chief Mike Harris; volunteers of Orcas Island Fire and Rescue, members of the public.

Correspondence:

Motion for June 14 Regular Meeting has been approved.

Motion of the June 28 working session has been approved with the correction of name Mr. Derwin to Mr. Durland throughout the session.

Old Business-

DNR Agreement- The DNR Agreement has been executed and has been sent to Department Natural Resources. It is a standard renewal agreement that has to be signed every three years.

Station 24 status: Final payment was given to the contractor last month. The current payment is for $20,000.00 of the $25,000.00 will be released for retained payments. Orcas Fire will need to have a release from Dept. of Labor and Industries before they release any monies.

There has been a slight revision on landscape plan because of the water and soil issues. The county has approved the modifications.

One issue that has come up is that we would not be able to use water system for irrigation

Do we have water available for irrigation? (Clyde) Yes, the dirt work and fences need to get completed first before landscape gets started. Landscape should be put in the fall when it’s a little cooler.

Cayou Valley Water Agreement: Jim Coffin is in the process of writing plans for Cayou Valley Water Users Association recognizing concerns such as how Station 24 can and cannot use the hydrant water. The only time the hydrant will be used is if there is an exigent need or if there is a fire needing water with transport of water within a specific number of feet of the hydrant. Mike Harris “A hydrant will be used to fill tankers if the hydrant is the closest one.” This matter will need further looking into before a specific number is decided.

Strategic Plan- The Communications and Policy & Procedure committee have nothing to report at this time. The Finance committee feels they are in final stages for an outline and intend to present the rough draft to small groups for feedback until it is finally presented at a pubic meeting.

New Business –

Adoption of the Amended 2011 Budget: (Rick Anda) We need to amend our 2011 Capital Budget. When we prepared the budget last fall, we anticipated the Deer Harbor station would have been completed in 2010 and did not put monies for Deer Harbor station in 2011 budget forcompletion. So instead of spending that money in 2010, it has been sitting in our bank account... We have been taking from our Equipment and Capital Projects budget to pay for Deer Harbor station. Now we need to add $250,000.00 to our Deer Harbor budget. Motion for approval by commissioners.

Motion approved for Resolution 2011-6 Adoption of the Amended 2011 Budget.

Inter-local Agreement: There have been many drafts of the Fire Marshal Inter-local Agreement. The most current revision was drafted by Jim Coffin which specifies how all aspects of funds will be managed. Clyde duke was pleased with the draft presented, however one revision is still needed which Jim will have available by Thursday July 14, 2011. Once complete, a final draft will be sent to all other districts for review.

Succession Plan: Chief apologizes to the Commissioners for not having a succession plan available to present at this meeting. He is hoping to have a draft available at the next regular meeting.

Public Comments: (Pierette Guimond) Guimond offers the suggestion to the Commissioners that Barbara sit in the middle of the Board table since she is running the meeting tonight.

She also questions the succession plan and she would like to know the terms of the Chief’s contract.

Coffin: replies to her comment stating a misconception that Chief may be leaving soon from the department. Jim states clearly that we have started a succession plan, but the Chief’s departure is not imminent.

Guimond: As a matter of public record, she would like to know what the terms are of the Chief’s contract at this time. It is very unclear in the Chief’s contract and feels the public has a right to know what his current contract is.

Coffin: The Chief’s contract is public record. It is available for whoever wants to see it.

Guimond: Would like to suggest to the Commissioners to consider drought tolerant plants for the Deer Harbor Station.

Duke: We are very much looking into. We also have to an accepted plan from the neighbors and the county where they have picked much of the landscape plan that has already been agreed to and signed off by neighbors.

Guimond: Many years back we used to have a Chief’s report and Division Chief’s report and we have no received one in a long time. Do we plan on presenting one?

Mr.Durland: If I am to put a 30,000 water tank with standpipe on property, how close does a truck need to get to the fitting?

Harris: Mike Harris and Fire Marshal Paul Turner will to do an inspection with a tender apparatus and find out what is needed. Harris and Turner will contact Mr. Durland in the near future to set time for inspection.

Announcements

There will not be a working session meeting on July 26.

August 6 & 7 Firefighters Association Pancake Breakfast in Support of Orcas Fly In

August 9 BOFC Meeting

Adjournment of Regular Meeting at 8:35PM

_____________________________Jim Coffin, Chairman of the Board

_____________________________Barbara Bedell, Commissioner

_____________________________Clyde Duke, Commissioner

_____________________________Jessica Giasullo, Recording Secretary

_____________________________Mike Harris, District Secretary