09/12/2023 Regular MeetingKodiak Island Borough
Fire Protection Area No. 1 Service Area Board
September 12, 2023
A regular meeting of the Fire Protection Area No. 1 Service Area Board was held on September
12, 2023, in the Bayside Fire Station, 4606 E Rezanof Drive.
CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chair Richard Carstens called the meeting to order at 6:OOPM.
2. ROLL CALL
Staff Brian Price conducted a roll call. Members present were Chairman Richard
Carstens, Craig Walton, John Parker, and Mike Dolph. Vice Chair Paul Vandyke was
absent. A quorum was established. Also present were Kodiak Island Borough Mayor
Scott Arndt and Bayside Fire Chief Scott Ellis.
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA, MINUTES AND FINANCIAL REPORT
PARKER MOVED to approve the agenda, minutes, and financial report.
WALTON Seconded.
VOICE VOTE ON THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
4. CITIZENS' COMMENTS (Limited to Three Minutes per Speaker)
S. FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT
Bayside Fire Chief Scott Ellis gave his report. The board was shown a presentation
first by Chief Ellis. The presentation was a product demonstration and advertisement
for RDCs (Rapid Deployment Crafts). Chief Ellis further shared information about his
personal research into and outlook for use of these emergency response crafts by
Bayside personnel. It was made clear by Chief Ellis that the primary function of these
crafts would be for open ice -water rescue in less accessible areas. Purchase of this
equipment would cost around $6,650, including all the supplementary equipment
needed for the personnel operating the craft.
Chief Ellis moved to the next portion of his report where he detailed the benefits,
costs, and long term outlook for 3 different digital records keeping programs. Chief
Ellis began with stating the objective to migrate to paperless records management.
The 3 programs and each of their respective purposes were Lexipol, ESO, and I am
Responding. Chief Ellis gave an in depth explanation for each one.
6. CHAIR PERSONS' REPORT
Chair Richard Carstens gave his report. He shared that depositions pertaining to the
litigation involved with Bayside Fire Department have been completed. All individuals
who needed to be deposed should have been by now. He did not have anything
further to report.
Kodiak Island Borough Fire Protection Area No. 1 Board Meeting
September 12, 2023 Minutes
7. NEW BUSINESS
(� a. Fire Science Program Presentation By Patrick Callahan
tr Patrick Callahan was not in attendance to give the Fire Science Program Presentation. Chair
Carstens informed the board of sparce communications between himself and Patrick Callahan
leading up to his withdrawal of the presentation. Chair Carstens stated he knew Patrick
Callahan put a lot of work into the program and hoped that Patrick can give the presentation at a
later date if not tonight.
b. Report on Bayside's Recently Received Apparatus by Chief Ellis
Fire Chief Scott Ellis reported on the status of new apparatus. He felt displeased by the
condition it had arrived in. Bayside is continuing to add equipment to it before it sees use. Chief
Ellis listed specifications of the vehicle that were met and others that weren't. For example,
there was visible slag on the weld -lines, and 2-1/2 hard suction was not included as specified
and agreed upon for the apparatus. To correct this, Rebel Strike had offered to pay for local
follow-up work once provided quotes by Chief Ellis. Chief Ellis went on to describe in detail the
capabilities and intended personnel use of the apparatus. John Parker questioned when the title
and registration of the vehicle was to be completed so that it may begin to be used. Chief Ellis
explained the documentation that the Kodiak Island Borough Engineering and Facilities
Department was waiting on from the vendor to complete , and that it is not being ignored or
delayed from negligence of Borough staff.
8. CITIZENS' COMMENTS
Kodiak Island Borough Mayor Scott Arndt commented and gave his personal opinion
about Chief Ellis' presentation. He felt the programs Chief Ellis asked the board to
consider adopting were effective and useful programs, however he also felt that it will
take time to gather the resources and materials to be transferred into the digital
programs. Mayor Arndt felt this is something worthwhile but recommended waiting to
adopt the programs so the preliminary work for transitioning into the new records
keeping software is done before any implementation.
9. OLD BUSINESS
10. BOARD MEMBERS' COMMENTS
John Parker- I enjoyed the September 11th remembrance event. Where I am at
currently, I'm thinking on where we need to be going with these programs. In my
experience, if you don't have the paperwork, you pay for not having it later. I
recommend what we need is a 1-person 'Chief department with 1 employee. These
programs would help such an employee not have to do extra work. I don't know what
the time frames to'adopt-in' would be. Maybe not today, but we need to be looking
down the road. I can't see us having a more full-time Secretary. There is a lot more
records -keeping going on all the time at every level. You can't get around it so we
need to be able to get documents together and sent in less than 3 weeks to whatever
agency that wants it.
Kodiak Island Borough Fire Protection Area No. 1 Board Meeting
September 12, 2023 Page 2 of 3
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Craig Walton - I enjoyed the presentation. I definitely think we need to move in that
direction for the ease of recording and that kind of stuff. I'm very familiar with when an
agency requests a document. They don't want it tomorrow, or the next day, they want
it right when they're talking to you. These programs could help our ISO rating. It's all in
how this is implemented. The ease of putting stuff onto a program is yet to be seen,
but once it is done it's all there. It's definitely something to chew on and think about,
figure it out, review the budget, and move forward on it.
Mike Dolph - Technology is changing daily, even hourly in these days. When we look
at these programs and, to get those in place so that the chief has an easy path to go
that branches off to different things, that's where we need to be. Knowing that, next
month, there could be enhancements already, or there could be a completely separate
program that's better than the one we just got into! The standard could be summarized
by saying: Constant Change. I appreciate your presentation to us, Chief, regarding all
of the things we need to keep track of. The kinds of reports, information, and forms
that needs to be filled out; all of that could be at your fingertips, and that's where we
need to be.
Richard Carstens - My whole working life, my mantra was "always be ready for an
unannounced survey." The last half of my career i actually succeeded in that, where
had no fear. It was to the point where you would have 2 other individuals that could
take over for you in your absence, but of course that was when I was working with all
paid individuals. Right now, we need to get through the present ISO inspection, and
then prepare for the next. I'm sure [Chief Ellis] you'll do the best job with what you
have back there.
11. SET NEXT MEETING DATE
Next meeting date was scheduled as call of the chair.
12.ADJOURNMENT
Chair Carstens adjourned the meeting at 7:15PM.
ATTE T:
Brian Price, Board Secretary
KIB Engineering/Facilities Department
Kodiak Island Borough
September 12, 2023
KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
Chair Richard C fstens,
Fire Protection Area #1
Approved on:
JAN 2 4 2024
BOROUGH CLERK'S OFFICE
KODIAK, ALASKA
Fire Protection Area No. 1 Board Meeting
Minutes
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