EASTSIDE FIRE & RESCUE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
REGULAR MEETING
4:00 p.m.
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of Eastside Fire & Rescue was held on February 12, 2008, at Eastside Fire & Rescue Headquarters, 175 Newport Way, NW, in Issaquah, WA.
PRESENT Board Director/Vice Chairman Lee Fellinge (City of Sammamish)
Board Director Rick Gaines (Fire District 10)
Board Director Mike Mitchell (Fire District 10)
Board Director Maureen McCarry (City of Issaquah)
Board Director Jack Barry (City of Sammamish)
Board Director David Kappler (City of Issaquah)
Fire Chief Lee Soptich
Deputy Chief Wes Collins
Deputy Chief Jeff Griffin
Board Secretary/CFO Dave Gray
Chief of Maintenance Kelly Refvem
Fire Marshal Tim Pilling
HR Manager Ingrid Anderson
Controller Scott Faires
EAA Deborah Gober-Beneze
AUDIENCE Ken Hearing (Mayor, City of North Bend)
Mike Sauerwein (City of Sammamish)
Charlie Grant (FF, Local 2878 Governmental Affairs)
Scott DePuy (FF, Local 2878 Shift Rep)
Brian McMahan (Battalion Chief)
Josie Williams (PIO/Public Educator)
David Misakian (Volunteer Project Manager)
ABSENT Board Director Ron Pedee (District 38)
Dee Williamson (City of North Bend)
CALL TO ORDER
Vice Chairman Fellinge called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
Mayor Hearing led the flag salute. Fire Chief Soptich took roll call. All the Directors were present with the exception of Directors Pedee and Williamson who are absent and excused.
RECOGNITION:
None.
CITIZEN INPUT:
Charlie Grant, on behalf of President Hooper and IAFF Local 2878, read a letter to the Board that outlined the Local’s views on domestic partnership and asked the Board to join and work with the Local to get the domestic partnership initiative included as a standard accepted practice at EF&R.
Mayor Hearing, on behalf of the City of North Bend, asked the Board for assistance in helping North Bend and District 38 build a new fire station.
CONSENT AGENDA:
Director Gaines moved to approve Agenda Bill 2008-04 February Consent Agenda. A second was offered by Commissioner Mitchell. The motion passed unanimously.
GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE DISCUSSION:
Chief Soptich: Directed the Board to his monthly report in the Board packet which outlined the noteworthy accomplishments for the month of January.
The Chief proposed to dissolve the HR/Legislative and Finance/Operations Committees in favor of adding a work session attended by the entire Board. This would be in addition to the regular business meeting each month. The pros and cons of the committee work were discussed. The challenge would be in finding a day and time that would accommodate all Directors. A poll will be sent to the Directors and an Agenda Bill outlining the change in meeting schedule will be brought back to the Board.
Operations: Deputy Chief Griffin directed the Board to his monthly report which outlined the significant reduction from 2006 to 2007 in injuries and illnesses that caused a time loss of more than one full shift.
Finance: Controller Faires answered questions Director Fellinge had about December’s Expense Report pertaining to year end.
Planning: Deputy Chief Collins answered questions Director McCarry had regarding the programming of the new Station 72. Discussion ensued over the design, size, and how many companies the station could hold in the future.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
1. Finance
Operations Committee Report:
Director Fellinge reported the notes from last week’s meeting are in the Board
Packet. He reviewed the cost measures/benchmarks set by the Board and stated
that learning and understanding why a benchmark is above or below is the real
value in having them.
Director Fellinge also remarked on the 2009, 2010 budget cycle and that keeping
cost increases under 5% would be beneficial to the City of Sammamish due to the
other budget challenges they will have.
Director Fellinge asked the Board for their opinion on using a facilitator in a meeting to discuss the strategy of seeking new partners. Following discussion, the Board voted to use a facilitator and noted that it is very important for the full Board to be present. Staff will look for a day and time for this meeting to take place.
2. HR Legislative
Committee Report:
Director Gaines stated notes are not currently available and had nothing
immediate to report at this meeting.
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Non-Profit Status:
Drafts of the Bylaws, Articles, and work plan are currently with the
Board Directors for their review. Chief Soptich reported Administration
is waiting on additional information from legal counsel.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Safety Quarterly Report:
Deputy Chief Griffin deferred the time until next month.
2. Year End Financial Benchmark Report:
Controller Faires reported that the 2006 budget compared to the 2007
actual budget increased by 3.3% which beat the CPI-U which was 4.6%.
3. Agenda Bill 2008-05 – 2008 Agency Goals:
Chief Soptich reported that the 2008 Agency Goals were, in
concept, approved by the Board last year. Vice Chairman Fellinge
outlined the purpose of setting goals; they become the structure of the work
plan, and define the Agency. Following open discussion by the Board,
Director McCarry moved to have Agenda Bill 2008-05 2008 Agency Goals
revised and re-presented at next month’s meeting with the
modifications discussed. A second was offered by Director Mitchell.
The motion passed unanimously.
GOOD OF THE ORDER:
Deputy Chief Griffin described the purpose of the First Due Initiative which is about service to the public. He identified areas of shaving seconds off response times along with design of stations and changing of culture.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
In accordance with RCW 42.30.140, the Regular Meeting was adjourned and the Executive Session began at 5:44 p.m. to discuss the Battalion Chief Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Executive Session was expected to last approximately 15 minutes. The Executive Session was adjourned at 5:59 p.m. and the Regular Meeting of the Board was called back in session.
CALENDAR REVIEW:
Fin/Ops meeting will be held on April 3, 2008, at 4:00 p.m.
HR/Legislative meeting will be on March 13, 2008, at 3:00 a.m.
Next EF&R Board meeting will be April 8, 2008, at 4:00 p.m.
With no further business to discuss, Director Barry moved to adjourn the meeting. A second was offered by Director Mitchell. The motion passed unanimously and the meeting was adjourned at 6:13 p.m.
SIGNING OF DOCUMENTS:
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Board Director Board Director
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Board Director Board Director
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