BRANCIFORTE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 2711 Branciforte Drive, Santa Cruz, California 95065 (831) 423-8856 Fax (831) 423-8859 Board of Directors Neal Austin Richard Landon Kurt Meyer Pat O Connell Pete Vannerus Fire Chief Steve M. Kovacs Board of Directors MINUTES Thursday, September 21, 2017, 7:00 P.M. Branciforte Fire Station 2711 Branciforte Drive, Santa Cruz CA 95065 Board Packets are available on the District s web site @ www.branciforte-fire.com Any person who requires a disability related modification or accommodation in order to participate in a public meeting should make such a request to Daniel J. Grebil, Board Secretary, for immediate consideration. 1. Call to Order 1.1 Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence 1.2 Roll Call Members of the public may comment on an agenda item. Anyone wishing to comment on an agenda item must be recognized by the Board Chair prior to comment. The Board requests that anyone speaking states their name for the record. Chair O Connell called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m., and asked everyone in attendance to join him in saluting the flag. In attendance were Directors Vannerus, Austin and Landon. Director Meyer was absent. Chief Kovacs was also in attendance. 2. Public Comment (GC 54954.3) This portion of the meeting is reserved for persons wishing to address the Board on any matter not on the agenda. Any matter that requires Board action will be referred to staff for a report and action at a subsequent Board meeting. There was none. 3. Amendments (GC 54954.2) Discussion/Action There were none. Page 1 of 5
4. Action Items 4.1 Approve Regular Board Meeting Minutes of August 10, 2017 - Discussion/Action Director Landon advised that on page 6, under 5.1, the name should be Santa Vita RV Park, not Santa Rita. Director Vannerus made a motion to approve the Minutes of the August 10, 2017 meeting with the change mentioned above. The motion was seconded by Director Landon. 4.2 Payroll: Approve Payroll 16, 17 and 18 in the amount of: $87,755.70 - Discussion/Action Chief Kovacs advised that the bulk of the payroll was for strike team participation almost $45,000. Director Landon made a motion to approve Payroll 16, 17 and 18, in the amount of $87,755.70. the motion was seconded by Director Vannerus. 4.3 Approve Expenditures for August 2017, in the Amount of: General Fund: $18,301.64 - Discussion/Action Director Vannerus made a motion to approve Expenditures for August in the amount of $18,301.64. The motion was seconded by Director Landon. 4.4 Accept and File the District s Financial Audit for Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2015 and 2016, Discussion/Action Chair O Connell advised that a couple changes had been made to the District s Financial Audit for Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2015 and 16, to include the consistent use of Fire Fees verses Fire Tax; that strike team income went into the General Income category as opposed to the Fire Fee or Fire Tax categories; advised that the Measure T funds are now categorized correctly; and, went on to explain the reasoning behind the numbers used in the Financial Analysis for 2015 and 2016 - mentioning the financial issues in 2015, as well as significant legal fees, and the strike teem fees and tax revenue increase in 2016. Discussion ensued regarding the excessive legal fees in 2015 and briefing the new Chief on those fees, as well as the Agreement between Scotts Valley and Branciforte not having been mentioned in the Management Discussion portion of the Audit. The consensus of the Board is that the Agreement entered into by Branciforte and Scotts Valley in 2015 should be in included in the Audit for historical purposes, and the request for that correction would be made to the Auditor. Page 2 of 5
Director Vannerus made a motion to accept and file the District s Financial Audit for Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2015 and 2016 once the correction was made/included regarding the Agreement between Branciforte and Scotts Valley. The motion was seconded by Director Landon. 4.5 Appoint Chief Steve M. Kovacs as the District s Designated Representative for the Emergency Medical Services Integration Authority, Discussion/Action Director Vannerus made a motion to appoint Chief Steve M. Kovacs as the District s Designated Representative for the Emergency Medical Services Integration Authority. The motion was seconded by Director Austin. 4.6 Approve Resolution 2017-6, Appointment of Chief Steve M. Kovacs as the District s Designated Representative for the Santa Cruz County Fire Agency Insurance Group, Discussion/Action Director Landon made a motion to approve Resolution 2017-6, Appointment of Chief Steve M. Kovacs as the District s Designated Representative for the Santa Cruz County Fire Agency Insurance Group. The motion was seconded by Director Vannerus. 5. Board of Directors and Staff Reports Information/Discussion (No action will be taken on any questions raised by the Board at this time.) 5.1 Board of Directors Report Directors Chair O Connell thanked the Chief on behalf of the Board, and Chief Kovacs advised that the transition appeared to be going quite smoothly. 5.2 Staff Reports Staff (August 2017) a. Administration/Budget e. Volunteer Participation b. Incident Data f. Apparatus c. Training g. Fuel Delivery d. Staffing 5.2 a. Chief Kovacs advised that the District had received some unclaimed monies (unanticipated revenue), the County had deposited the funds into the District s account, and that some of the unclaimed monies dated back to 2004. Additionally, Chief Kovacs advised that not all the figures through the end of August had appeared for the Final Budget advised they would be in by the end of this month; and, advised that the strike team monies were going to be a little higher than anticipated. 5.2b. Chief Kovacs advised that there had been 15 calls in August. Discussion ensued regarding two calls to the same location on August 22, 2017. Page 3 of 5
5.2c. Chief Kovacs advised that there were 14 training sessions in August; advised that August 29 th there was an Association meeting, at which 21 attended, that pizza was served, and the Chief s expectations and leadership philosophy were discussed and, advised that it was a good meeting. 5.2d. Chief Kovacs advised that he had expressed his desire to see more effort in getting the holes in the schedule filled, and that he wanted a second person at the Station as much as possible. 5.2e. August. Chief Kovacs mentioned that there was a slight decline in the training hours in 5.2f. and g. Chief Kovacs made mention of these reports, but didn t give an overview. Chief Kovacs advised that there was a little money left over in the Cal Fire Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG), so Branciforte has applied to the Grant for some additional protective clothing; advised that the District had secured seven complete sets from the first Grant; that the District still has some older gear that needs to be replaced; advised that they had been working with Central and Scotts Valley in the purchase of the new equipment to aid in the lowering of the price(s); advised that he attended his first Chief s Meeting; advised that he is still getting oriented and soaking in information; advised that there was good communication(s) with the firefighters and staff; advised that he will be working on some goal setting and organizational items, and that he would be sharing that information with the Board; advised that Engine 2636 had covered the Soquel Station for nine days, so the District will receive some money from Cal Fire for reimbursement for that; advised that he is working with Scotts Valley to streamline paperwork between Branciforte and Scotts Valley; advised that next week he would be attending the CalChiefs Conference in Riverside, at no cost to Branciforte; and, advised that as a member of the California Fire Assistance Agreement Committee, he is working with other Chiefs regarding the rate(s) California Districts are paid by FEMA; advised that he had met with Chair O Connell on September 20th; he thanked those who had attended his Badge Pinning Ceremony, and thanked Chair O Connell for speaking at the Pinning. Chair O Connell thanked Chief Kovacs for the positive things he said at his Pinning Ceremony. Discussion ensued regarding Board Meetings, and it was decided that the Board would meet in October, possibly not holding a meeting in November (to be discussed at the next regular Board Meeting), and that there would be a meeting in December. 6. Correspondence Information There was none. 7. Adjournment Director Landon made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Director Austin. Page 4 of 5
The meeting was adjourned at 7:41 p.m. This will certify that the foregoing is a true copy of discussions during the Branciforte Fire Protection District Regular Board Meeting held on September 21, 2017, as prepared by me. Dated: September, 2017 Donna J. Steward Recording Secretary ATTEST: Board Chair Next Regularly Scheduled Board Meeting Thursday, October 19, 2017 at 7 P.M. Page 5 of 5