BOARD OF DIRECTORS – ACTION SUMMARY

Wednesday, March 5, 2003 – 6:00 p.m. 

Administration Building

2101 Hurley Way, Sacramento, CA 

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by President Goold.  Board Members present:  Duveneck, Engellenner, Goold, Granados, Jones, Stewart, Trujillo, Valley, Vanderveen [arrived 6:15 p.m.].  Deputy Chief Ritter, Fire Chief Martinez [arrived 7:30 p.m.], General Counsel Price, Board Clerk Tilson.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS MATTERS OF PUBLIC INTEREST WITHIN DISTRICT JURISDICTION INCLUDING ITEMS ON OR NOT ON AGENDA

Assistant Chief Dan Haverty presented to the District his published study entitled California’s Fire Chiefs:  Building Relationships Between Effective Leadership and Organizational Performance, part of a requirement for the achievement of his Degree, Doctor of Public Administration.   

CONSENT AGENDA:

1.                  Board Meeting Action Summary—February 19, 2003

·                    Board Action:

Engellenner/Trujillo—Approve Consent Agenda.  Unanimous vote in favor by members present.  Director Vanderveen, absent.    

ACTION ITEM(S) 

1.         Resolution #25-03—(Appel)

                [considered after the Closed Session] 

§                     Work related injury resulting in permanent disability precluding performance of duties as a Battalion Chief.  

§                     Application filed with the Public Employees’ Retirement System.  

§                     Recommend approval—retirement effective March 6, 2003.  

·                    Board Action

Stewart/Granados—adopt the Resolution.  Unanimous vote in favor.     

PRESENTATION ITEM(S)

1.         Request from Carol West – Support for Identity of Orangevale Bluffs

In the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area General Plan—(Vanderveen)

                [Taken out of order after Presentation Item No. 3] 

§                     Carol West informed the Board that the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area General Plan is currently being updated.  An adjacent area historically has been known as Orangevale Bluffs and is now shown as Lake Natoma Bluffs.  She sent a letter of request to Jim Michaels, the General Plan Project Manager, to help preserve our State’s cultural heritage by maintaining the identity of Orangevale Bluffs in the 2004 General Plan.  She is seeking the signatures of governmental agencies directly associated with Orangevale Bluffs including those of Directors Vanderveen and Trujillo of the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, in support of her request.

§                     Director Vanderveen stated the name of Orangevale Bluffs is part of our history.  Divisions 3 and 5 merge at this point and both directors have the responsibility of sharing jointly a lead on supporting this endeavor.  Both he and Director Trujillo were in agreement and requested Board consent to send a joint letter of support, or full Board participation.

·                    Board Action:   

General consensus that Directors Vanderveen and Trujillo work on a joint letter in support of the request.

2.         2002/2003 Budget—Mid-Year Review

§                     Tabled pending presentation to the Board by Assistant Chief Janice Simcoe.

3.         Hazardous Materials Incident Response Team

Program Implementation—(Plessas/Turner)

                        [Taken out of order before Presentation Item No. 1]

Staff is recommending the Fire Chief be directed to establish a hazardous materials response team capability within Metro Fire that will include the following:

Ø       Provide advanced hazardous materials training to a minimum of 30 District personnel.

Ø       The hazardous materials response program should comply with the provisions of any and all applicable regulations to include Code of Federal Regulations 29 – 1910.120, California Code of Regulations Title 8 – Section 5192, NFPA 471, NFPA 472, et al

Ø       Provide a new truck company that will have both truck and hazardous materials response capabilities.

Ø       Modify the Fleet Plan to provide for the necessary vehicle(s) to meet the operational objectives.

Ø       Modify the Position Authorization Document to add:

§         4 Captains

§         3 Engineers

§         6 Firefighters

§                     Captain Monahan, representing Local 522, stated labor and management reached an agreement last night on issues of concern to include the minimum required personnel on the apparatus, with a maximum of 55 people in the program and no minimum.

§                     Move to action requested due to timelines of a proposed July 1 start date, acquiring necessary training, and negotiations with the County of Sacramento for some funding for providing service into the County.  The County of Sacramento contract expiring June 30 has been extended and the intent is to be operational for July 1 in concert with the County’s new contract to start receiving some revenue.

§                     It is a major benefit to our District to have its own hazardous materials capability with the issues of terrorism, emergency response, and homeland defense.

§                     Director Vanderveen expressed support of the Program with the exception of the additional staffing authorization—recommended a staffing analysis be brought back at the Policy committee level for study.

§                     Concerns expressed regarding a need for more research and too short a timeline for the hazardous materials training.

·                    Board Action:   

Duveneck/Stewart—move to Action Item.  Directors Duveneck, Jones, Stewart, Trujillo, Valley, Goold, AYE.  Directors Engellenner, Granados, Vanderveen, NO.  Motion passes by 6 – 3 vote. 

Counsel Price advised motion did not pass for lack of a super majority.

Presentation Item #1 taken out of order at this point (see Page 2)

PRESENTATION ITEM(S)

3.         Hazardous Materials Incident Response Team

Program Implementation (continued)

§                     Clarification by Counsel Price--a super majority is required to add an item to the Agenda, but he reviewed the Board Policies & Procedures and Section 25 states a Presentation Item may be changed to an Action Item with approval by a majority of the Board, so the motion did in fact pass.

§                     Item back on the floor for action.

·                    Board Action:   

Duveneck/Stewart—approve the first four bullets of the staff recommendation.  The fifth recommended bullet (to modify the Position Authorization Document to add 4 Captains, 3 Engineers, and 6 Firefighters) will be tabled for further discussion through members of the Board with appropriate staff members as well as the Personnel (Policy) Committee, and be brought back to the Board as an Action Item addressing the hazardous materials response program implementation staffing.  Directors Duveneck, Goold, Jones, Stewart, Trujillo, Valley, Vanderveen, AYE.  Director Engellener, ABSTAIN.  Director Granados, NO.  Motion Passes.

§                     President Goold requested this as an Action Item for the next meeting.  

PRESIDENT’S REPORT—(Goold)

None.  

FIRE CHIEF’S REPORT—(Ritter)

[After Committee and Delegate Reports] 

§                     The Sacramento Bee, Special Advertising Section, February 27, 2003, contained an article entitled The Very Best Organizations.  The Sacramento Area Human Resource Association in partnership with the Sacramento Bee, hosted the 2003 Sacramento Workplace Excellence Leader awards program on February 26 at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento.  This event recognized the outstanding organizations in the greater Sacramento area who were nominated by their employees for unique and exceptional human resource practices. 

Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District was one of those nominated.  (Copy of article distributed to the Board at recess) 

§                     District received a call from law enforcement chaplain, Mindy Russell, thanking the District for its participation in the Tyler Marsh funeral last week.  Participants were the crew of Engine 21 B shift, and Chiefs Haverty, Cooper, and Rogers.

GENERAL COUNSEL’S REPORT         

[After Committee and Delegate Reports]

Settlements were reached on two Workers’ Compensation Claims--both within the settlement authority provided by the Board to the District Workers’ Compensation counsel:

§         James Lieb versus the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, Case No WCAB SAC308493 and WCAB SAC308494, for a full compromise and release in the sum of $33,277.77.

§         Charles Archer versus the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, Case No. WCAB SAC0318661, for a stipulated settlement award of $19,337.50 plus future costs of medical.

Hazardous Materials Incident Response Team

Program Implementation

[considered after General Counsel’s Report]

Captain Pat Monahan, representing Local 522, stated part of the negotiation process with the District on the haz mat unit was an agreement that there would be promotional opportunities to staff the unit by providing for additional staffing of 4 captains, 3 engineers, and 6 firefighters, and not for transferring an existing crew to haz mat.  As it sits now, it has been approved to implement the haz mat unit absent the promotions.

President Goold stated the issue will be taken under advisement.

COMMITTEE AND DELEGATE REPORTS:

[Prior to Fire Chief’s and General Counsel’s Reports]

Executive Committee—(Goold)

§                     Next Meeting—TBD

Communications Center Delegate—(Vanderveen)

§                     Report on February 25 meeting.

The Comm Center received an EMS proposal from Assistant Chief Haverty to support an ambulance redesignation of names as part of the recent EMS Master Plan Revision.  He was uncomfortable representing the District on a policy matter that our Board had not considered yet.  The Comm Center Board deferred action on the proposal emanating from District staff.

§                     Next Meeting—March 25, 2003—10:30 a.m.

California Fire & Rescue Training Authority—(Stewart)

§                     Next Meeting—May 12—10:00 a.m.

Finance Committee—(Jones)

§                     Next meeting:  March 19, 2003 – 5 p.m.

Policy Committee—(Duveneck)

§                     Received a presentation on today’s meeting.

Ø       Focus will be on issues directed to the Committee by the Board.

Ø       Ongoing policy issues reviewed—just a few remaining.

Ø       Director Granados presented a proposal on Electronic records and devices for the Board, a Policy Committee issue referred to the Board—

-     Request for lap top computers for the Board consistent with District standards to facilitate electronic tracking/filing of Board agenda materials and alleviate paper inundation.

·                    Board Action:

General consensus to task Director Granados and Board Clerk Tilson to move this issue forward.

§                     Next meeting:  April 2, 2003 – 5:30 p.m.

INFORMATIONAL ITEM(S):

Newspaper(s):                                                                                                                

1.         Sacramento Bee Neighbors, Push for Signs Reflects Perils

            at Emergency Scenes, February 19, 2003,                                                      

2.         Sacramento Bee Neighbors, Boot Donations Aid Charity,                            

            February 27, 2003

3.         Sacramento Bee Neighbors, New Rig Will Give Rescuer

            An Edge, February 27, 2003

·                    Board Action:

Received and filed.

RECESS FOLLOWED BY CLOSED SESSION AT 7:25 PM.

[Fire Chief Martinez arrived at 7:30 p.m.]

RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION 8:50 PM/CLOSED SESSION REPORT

Report by General Counsel Price:

            1.         LABOR NEGOTIATIONS [considered after Closed Session Item No. 2]

                        Pursuant to California Government Code Section 54957.6

                                District Negotiator:  Deputy Chief Teresa Means

                                Employee Organization:  Sacramento Area Fire Fighters Local 522  

The Board discussed the revised Employee-Employer Relations Resolution and provided direction to the Negotiating Team—no action taken.

2.                  CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—EXISTING LITIGATION

Pursuant to California Government Code Section 54956.9(a)-One (1) Case

Joe Anderson v. Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District Claim #6221020180

The Board received medical information for this industrial disability retirement—no action taken.

Resolution to retire Battalion Chief Joe Anderson on an industrial disability for consideration under Action Item No. 1 [see Page 1].

BOARD MEMBER QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS

            Trujillo:

§                     Commended the firefighters for the Fill the Boot event; handled very professionally with no traffic interference.

§                     Received an opinion from Counsel Price on previous inquiry relative to a statute on employing an Affirmative Action Officer in organizations with over 500 employees.    

Inquired about an Equal Employment Officer (EEO) separate from Human Resources, relative to a recommendation made by the Affirmative Action Manager for the State Personnel Board that those offices be separated because there is a conflict of interest.  Requested Counsel Price check on possible conflict of interest and report back. 

Counsel Price expressed an interest in looking at the recommendation for a better understanding of the perceived conflict.

            Granados:

Voted against the hazardous materials team because of a concern that the proposed staffing level is too low; it takes quite a few people to make an entry.  If our healthy economic situation changed, he would support taking these programs out before cutting manpower in the stations.

            Jones:

§                     Voted for the Haz Mat Program; however, the fifth bullet of increased staffing is an important item and we need to move that forward as soon as possible.

Goold:

§                     Congratulated the labor group and staff for negotiating the hazardous materials agreement; offered assurance it will move forward.  The community deserves it.

            ADJOURNMENT: 

            The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

            Grant B. Goold, President                                        James M. Stewart, Secretary 

            Charlotte Tilson, Clerk of the Board 

Back To Agendas and Minutes