Professionally and compassionately helping people GOVERNANCE BOARD MEETING MINUTES February 15, 2017 Call Meeting to Order The Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority Governance Board Meeting was called to order by Board Chairperson Les Thomas at 5:33 p.m. In attendance were Board Vice Chair Harry George, Sr. and Board Members Allan Barrie, Dennis Higgins, Margaret Harto, Bill Boyce, and Advisory Board Member Sean Smith. Advisory Board Member Erin Sitterley had an excused absence. The following department personnel were in attendance: Fire Chief Jim Schneider, Deputy Chief Brian Wiwel, Division Chief Pat Pawlak, Division Chief Larry Rabel, Division Chief John Madson, Division Chief Mark Jones, Captain Ray Shjerven-Local 1747 President, Government Relations Manager Kimberly Matej, Finance Manager Margaret Martin, Human Resources Manager Deanna Gratzer, IT Manager Don Gentry, Attorney Brian Snure, and Board Secretary Jane Ogren. Citizen Advisory Committee member Mike Davis was also in attendance. Several members of the public were in attendance for the Benefit Charge Public Hearing. Flag Salute The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Agenda Modifications There were no agenda modifications. Announcements, Proclamations, and Presentations The Special Recognition Presentation was moved to Good of the Order. Public Comment Mr. Eric Bernard, a Kent resident, addressed the Governance Board on inconsistent charging of benefit charges on outbuildings within the department s response area. Mr. Bernard discussed that some outbuildings had not been charged a benefit charge since 2011. Mr. Bernard proposed a fair and equal solution that outbuildings should not be charged a benefit charge and asked the Governance Board to consider the proposal. Benefit Charge Review Board Public Hearing The Public Hearing was opened at 5:40 p.m. Captain Rabel presented a staff report on the appeal process. Captain Rabel reviewed pending appeals: Parcel #0822059106 (Goff Family Trust) Appeal: Requesting reduction of fee, fee has doubled due to accessory structures being added in. Staff Recommendation: Accessory structures are improvements to real property, no change in fee. Parcel #662340015103 (Mr. Kenneth Baker) Appeal: Seeking to appeal 2017 addition of 5,400 sq. ft. commercial garage and associate fee of $682.91. Staff Recommendation: No change to fee. Accessory structure greater than 399 sq. ft. Should be charged per adopted formula.
RFA Board Minutes February 15, 2017 Page 2 of 5 Parcels #250060555, 2122049106, 2722059193, 1722059303 Appeal: Fee should be assessed to the personal property on the pad, not the owner of the pad. Staff Recommendation: No change to assessed fees. Benefit far exceeds the fee, fee is based upon a reasonable fee for the average mobile home fee was intentionally reduced in consideration of low income residents. Public Comment: Attorney Walt Olsen, appellant for the above named parcels attended the meeting. Attorney Olsen described how mobile home parks work. Mobile home parks own the dirt, and the residents own their mobile home. Attorney Olsen does not believe mobile home park owners should be taxed for benefits their tenants receive. The fee should be attached to each resident s tax bill. Attorney Olsen would like the charges removed from each of the above parcels. Parcel #7701940230 (Basil T. Kattula & J Paulette) Appeal: The benefit charge increased too much over 2016. Staff Recommendation: No change in fee. Parcel #8830400007 (Daniel J. Carpinito) Appeal: Alarm discount for partial alarm coverage on parcel. Staff Recommendation: No change in fee until all apartment units are covered with alarm systems. Parcel #2822059285 (Dean & Karen Williams) Appeal: Shed should be exempt. Staff Recommendation: No change in fee, shed is greater than 399 sq. ft. Parcel #3546000660 (Kathryn Woodley) Appeal: Total square footage is incorrect. Staff Recommendation: To measure the structure and see if there is a discrepancy with King County records. Public Comment: Ms. Woodley discussed that her square footage is incorrect. She also asked how long it would take to measure and how long it would take King County to send out a revised tax notice. Division Chief Rabel said that the measuring would typically be done by the end of March. However, he did not know how long it would take King County to make any revisions in their system. Board Advisory Member Smith mentioned that Ms. Woodley would need to pay her first half of the tax bill, then would receive a reduced bill for the second half. A MOTION was made by Board Member Harto and SECONDED by Board Vice Chair George to approve administrative adjustments. (MOTION CARRIED 6-0) At 6:22 p.m. the Appeals Hearing was continued to March 16, 2016. Consent Agenda A MOTION was made by Board Vice Chair George and SECONDED by Board Member Harto to approve the Consent Agenda (MOTION CARRIED 6-0). Committee Reports Citizens Advisory Committee No report was given.
RFA Board Minutes February 15, 2017 Page 3 of 5 Board Member Reports City of Covington A lot of energy is going into finding places attractive for outdoor enjoyment. Board Advisory Member Smith thanked City of Covington Public Works for all they did with the recent snow storm. Covington was given three additional AED s due to recognition being given for saving a life. AWC s action day in Olympia is this week. Covington has a new City Attorney. City of Kent The City Council recently attended a retreat. Some of the items discussed at the retreat were the B&O Tax, marijuana, and quiet train zones. City of SeaTac No report was given. Chief s Report The South King County Fire Training Consortium annual report was handed out. The 2017 Work Plan/Budget document will be handed out at the March board meeting. A workgroup has been formed to evaluate Station 47. Three meetings have been held. A recommendation will go to the SeaTac Council in June 2017. Department Reports Finance A budget update report was handed out for January 2017. Discussed the health care reserve funds. These funds will be moved to the operating reserve. The department is no longer self-insured. Human Resources Accepting applications for tech support and public education. The positions close on Monday, February 20, 2017. The department will be posting a position for Emergency Management Coordinator for SeaTac. The painter applicant is currently going through background checks. IT ESO units have been deployed to all stations for training. The Surface Pro 4 s will have ESO, Active 911 and Site Maps. Attorney Report Attorney Snure discussed that two Resolutions were given the same number inadvertently. Resolution #117 Update Names on Established Funds will be re-numbered to Resolution #119. A MOTION was made by Board Member Harto and SECONDED by Board Vice Chair George to renumber Resolution #117 Update Names on Established Funds to Resolution #119. (MOTION CARRIED 6-0) Correspondence Correspondence was discussed. Unfinished Business There was no unfinished business.
RFA Board Minutes February 15, 2017 Page 4 of 5 New Business Authorization of Department of Ecology, Oil Spill & Hazardous Materials Response & Firefighting Equipment Grant 2017 The Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority Emergency Management Division, along with members of the Zone-3 HazMat provider teams in conjunction with Renton RFA applied for the DOE HazMat Response and Firefighting Equipment grant in November of 2016. Our Regional proposal was for two (2) firefighting specialized foam trailers equipped with alcohol resistant Firefighting foam, not carried or provided by any other agencies in Zone 3. These foam trailers will be strategically located in Zone 3 (Kent & Renton) to provide a quick & timely response to flammable alcohol based fires, such as gasoline tankers and oil trains. These trailers will be built here in Zone 3 with the assistance of the Renton Pipefitters and coordinated by members of the Zone 3 HazMat team, overseen by the Puget Sound Fire Emergency Management Division. Forty-two grant applications where received and funding was offered to 30 projects. Our proposal finished number four overall in the grading criteria and we were awarded the full amount of $92,250.00 to build and place into operational service by June 30, 2017. A MOTION was made by Board Member Barrie and SECONDED by Board Vice Chair George authorizing the Fire Chief to sign the Grant agreement and guidelines as outlined by the Department of Ecology Firefighting Equipment Grant and proceed with the project. (MOTION CARRIED 6-0) Waiver of Competitive Bidding Requirements and Authorization of Purchase of KFT Trainer System Upgrade & Retrofit for Training Tower Our present burn props were installed approximately 27 years ago. These systems have been in service for more years than the designed life cycle. Staff plans to replace approximately 70% of the two existing props with new modern props. We will be able to salvage approximately 30% of the old props by utilizing the newer upgrades we have made over the last 3 years. We will also utilize the existing shells and frames of the old system while replacing the inner components. We are also installing two new burn props. The original equipment was produced and maintained by KIDDE Fire Trainer now called KFT. They are the manufacturers, installers and maintenance providers for these systems. The equipment and controllers for these systems are proprietary. KFT is the sole source for these systems. The Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority was awarded a Department of Homeland Security, Assistance to Firefighters Grant in the amount of $421,855 for the purpose of purchasing new burn props for the fire training tower. The Federal share of this grant is 90% of the cost to a maximum of $383,505 and the applicant share is the remaining 10%. The period of performance for this grant is August 2, 2016 through August 1, 2017.
RFA Board Minutes February 15, 2017 Page 5 of 5 A MOTION was made by Board Member Harto and SECONDED by Board Member Higgins to approve Resolution No. 120 waiving competitive bidding requirements and authorizing the fire chief to enter a contract to purchase the equipment identified in Exhibit A at a cost of $354,000 exclusive of sales tax upon review and approval of the contract form by legal counsel. (MOTION CARRIED 6-0) Termination of Ropes Course Lease The Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority ( RFA ) currently leases land at approximately 12523 SE 286th Place, Auburn, Washington from the City of Kent ( City ) that is surplus to the needs of the RFA. King County would like to locate equipment on this premise for the Puget Sound Emergency Radio Network. Accordingly, pursuant to Section 17.11 of the Lease, the RFA and City mutually agree to terminate the Lease effective immediately. Additionally, the RFA and City also agree to cooperate in removal of any remaining portions of the Ropes Course. A MOTION was made by Board Member Barrie and SECONDED by Board Vice Chair George to declare the leased land at approximately 12523 SE 286th Place, Auburn, Washington surplus to the needs of the RFA and to authorize the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority Fire Chief to sign the Mutual Agreement to Terminate Lease Agreement for Ropes Course with the City of Kent upon review and approval of the agreement form by legal counsel. (MOTION CARRIED 6-0). Cost/Benefit Analysis Presentation of Contract Services Provided by Facilities and Property Management An informational presentation was given by Division Chief Pawlak on the cost/benefits of the Facilities and Property Management Division. Cost/Benefit Analysis Presentation of Contract Services Provided by Fleet Management An informational presentation was given by Division Chief Jones on contract services provided by the Fleet Management Division. Executive Session An Executive Session was not held. Good of the Order Chief Schneider presented outgoing RFA Board Chairperson Barrie with a special recognition award for his year of service to the RFA Board as Chairperson. Board Member Barrie will not be in attendance at the March Board Meeting. Future Meetings Future meetings were discussed. Signing of Vouchers Vouchers were signed. Meeting Adjourned Meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.