NOR CAL FIRE PREVENTION OFFICERS ASSOCIATION

 Mike Stewart, President

February 27, 2004

Minutes - Monthly Membership Meeting

Dublin, CA

Dublin Library

President Stewart called the February meeting to order at 0930 hours at the Dublin Library in Dublin, CA.

Tonya Hoover, Past President conducted the pledge of allegiance and Vernon Brown was appointed the Sergeant at Arms.

President Stewart introduced Fire Marshal, Theresa Johnson. Fire Marshal Johnson welcomed the group to Dublin, California. She then introduced Deputy Chief, Sheldon Gilbert, who welcomed the FPO group to Dublin on behalf of the Fire Chief, Bill McCammon. Chief Gilbert then introduced the Mayor of Dublin, Janet Lockhart.

Visiting Fire Chiefs, Building Officials and Past Presidents were recognized.

Self-introductions were made. At this time, Forrest Craig, Past President declared a quorum.

• A motion was made, and seconded, to approve the January minutes after two corrections were made. Rick Terry mentioned that the meeting which President Stewart attended in January was a CalBo/Cal Chiefs Fire Advisory Board meeting and that President Stewart also attended a Building Standards Commission meeting on January 7^th.
• The second correction was from Elliot Gittleman who wanted the following added to his January comments under exchange of ideas: Elliot mentioned that a report with recommendations has been issued by a consultant to the professional engineering board. The recommendations affect the status of fire protection engineering. 1) Convert all title act engineering branches to practice act branches(which would be great), 2) Eliminate all title act branches. Title act branches would then have to petition the legislature to re-establish the branch as a practice act branch. Under 2), fire protection engineering could cease to exist. Contact Elliot Gittleman, SFPE representative, for additional information. (Phone: 415-751-9461)

President Stewart mentioned that the Annual Report for 2003 was available and to pick up a copy before leaving the meeting. He then introduced Fort Hartsfield. Fort Hartsfield mentioned that we now have a new joint Nor Cal and So Cal website which is: www.firepreventionofficers.org. Cards are available with the new website address on them and banner advertisements are available for members who wish to advertise on the website. See Fort for more information. President Stewart thanked Fort for all of his great work in setting up the new joint website.

State Fire Marshal Report – None.

Legislative Report – John Haberek gave the Legislative report. See the attached legislative report.

 Exchange of ideas:

Sam Husoe – spoke about the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act.

Rick Probert – mentioned that the Diablo FireSafe Council is requesting assistance in providing base information for the Alameda and Contra Costa County Urban Wildland Interface fire action plan. See the attached information.

Tonya Hoover – stated the there will be a Urban Wildland Interface Building Code working group meeting on March 4^th in Sacramento. See attached meeting agenda. She also mentioned the upcoming workshop and to book your hotel as soon as possible.

Scott McMillan – will be unable to attend this year’s workshop and has a hotel room reserved if anyone needs a room.

Vernon Brown – promoted youth scholarships available from California Alarm Association for children of law enforcement and fire service personnel. See the attached flyers.

Sam Husoe – mentioned that the next Nor Cal meeting in San Francisco in April will be a joint meeting with the National Fire Sprinkler Association. He also spoke about several Fire Sprinkler Seminars being offered. See the attached announcements.

Dave Dewey – stated that two classes, 1) Fire Pattern Recognition and 2) Interviews and Interrogations for Arson Investigators will be offered by the San Mateo County FPO’s. See attached flyers.

Roger Sprehn – spoke about a training seminar sponsored by the Marin County FPO Association entitled "Hands-On Electrical Fire Investigation" in March. See attached flyer.

Ray Simpson – stated that in San Jose they use heat detectors in lieu of smoke detectors for elevator recall. See attached letter.

Lorin Neyer – said the Building Standards Committee is working on the NFPA 5000 codes and they are looking at having a one day free class on the NFPA codes before or after the March workshop.

Steve Hart – donated a new 2004 California Fire Laws Book for the raffle.

Kent Miller – is working on updating the codes on ammonia refrigeration systems. If you are interested on working on this issue contact Kent.

Dennis Mathisen – advertised that the Roseville Fire Department has a job opportunity for Fire InspectorI/II.

Fort Hartsfield – mentioned that he can post job announcements on the joint FPO website.

Tom Harvey – stated that the San Francisco Fire Department will be jointly hosting the next Nor Cal meeting with NFSA in San Francisco in April. Tom mentioned a Uniform Fire Code Overview Class which will be held in Contra Costa County in April. See attached information. Tom also brought up an issue that he was having with SBC not applying for installation permits for battery backup systems for their phone equipment installations.

Meeting was adjourned to Committees and Executive Board meeting at 1030 hours. 

The afternoon program was a presentation by James Hoover of the Cable Fire Research Association on NFPA 90A and NEC issues dealing with the fire safety of communications cables installed in buildings.

Detailed committee reports are in these minutes.

Thank you Alameda County Fire Department for an excellent meeting!

President Stewart adjourned the meeting at 1322 hours.

The next meeting will take place in San Francisco on April 23, 2004. 

Respectfully submitted,

Angela Giuliani, Secretary

The Nor Cal FPO’s would like to welcome the following new members!

Joyce Oren Code Three Fire Protection

Amy Wilborn Sacramento Fire Department

Henry Hernandez City of Clovis Fire Department

Leslie Haberek Office of the State Fire Marshal

Rex Buthmann West Point Fire District