NOR CAL FIRE PREVENTION OFFICERS ASSOCIATION

Forrest Craig, President

May 17, 2002

Minutes - Monthly Membership Meeting

Modesto

Modesto Fire Department Training Center

President Craig called the May meeting to order at 0935 hours at the Modesto Fire Department Training Center.

Gale Bate, Past President, led the pledge of allegiance.

Past President Rick Terry was appointed Sergeant at Arms.

President Craig welcomed the group to Modesto. He also recognized the visiting fire chiefs.

Mike Payton, Host Fire Marshal, welcomed the group to the Modesto Fire Training Center. Fire Chief Doug Hannink, Fire Chief of Modesto, welcomed the group and recognized the efforts of fire prevention. Chief Hannink emphasized the importance of fire prevention technology and that the Fire Service should consider social issues when trying to improve our fire problems.

Self-introductions were made. All Past Presidents present at the meeting were recognized. At this time Danielle Stefani, Past President, declared a quorum.

A motion was made, and seconded, to approve the April minutes with the following change: 1) the correct address for the Southern California FPO’s website is www.socafpo.org.

Past President Stefani presented gift baskets to those Co-Chairs who were not at the January 2002 meeting. Danielle also noted the President Craig has been using a substitute gavel at each meeting since he became our President. He apparently never took possession of the official gavel. The appropriate fine was levied. 

State Fire Marshal Report – Hugh Council delivered an update on several issues being worked on by the State Fire Marshal’s Office. A full report is included with the minutes.

Leslie Billington presented the latest Title 19 topics. An information packet covering the Green Oaks Family Academy Elementary School Fire Protection Act (SB 575) was handed out to the group. The packet is available on the CSFM website. Leslie also gave an update on the bedridden regulations. 

President Craig presented the 2002/2003 Preliminary Budget. Copies were distributed. A few changes were addressed in this budget, including a new Cal Chiefs membership fee (not increasing our member’s dues), an increase in travel expenses for the committees so they may work closer with our So-Cal FPO’s partners, an increase in Fire Service Education Committee so they may continue putting on those great classes. 

Legislative Report – Gene Gantt, Benicia Fire Department, was not present. The May Legislative Report will be included in these minutes. 

Exchange of ideas:

Steve Hart, Retired Fire Marshal – Donated another Fire Service Law book to the raffle.

Jim Weigand, Stanislaus Consolidated FD – Presented order forms for the new California Fire Code. The 2000 Fire Code Application Manual will be out next month. A new CFC CD with search engine is also available.

Bruce LeCair, Woodland FD – Announced two Fire Prevention Specialist positions available in his agency.

Bill Tyler, Novato FPD – Announced an Introduction to Wildland Fire Investigation class and an Advanced Wildland Fire Investigation class, both being held on July 10, 2002. See flyer in the minutes.

Robert Evans, Stockton FD – Stockton is hosting a seminar related to seismic requirements and fire protection systems next Thursday.

Larry Thude, Contra Costa County FPD – Announced a new Fire Inspector position.

Danielle Stefani, Livermore-Pleasanton FPD – Announced an asbestos awareness class. If interested, please contact Danielle.

Fort Hartsfield, Webmaster – Announce that he has started to include monthly meeting photos on the website. He has also reinstituted banner advertising. Space is available so please contact Fort if you would like to place an ad on the Nor Cal FPO’s website.

Lorin Neyer, OSHPD - Offered to clarify the information related to the recently terminated contract between the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Department of Health and Human Services. The rumor that OSHPD will be doing the annual HHS inspections is not true. HHS will be doing their own inspections.

Steve Hart, Retired Fire Marshal – Followed up on Lorin’s statement. He urged local fire departments to conduct their annual hospital inspections since the SFM will no longer be doing the HHS inspections.

Gale Bate, Code Resource – Reminded the local fire departments that there are certain occupancies the local fire authority is mandated to inspect.

Bill Hopple, Grinnell/Simplex/Tyco – Invited everyone to suggest improvements to the Bulletin Materials Listing Program through the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Forrest Craig, Novato FPD – Restated the North and South Executive Boards’ recent direction to the code committees of Nor Cal and So Cal. The Southern code committees will actively work on the NFPA code process and monitor the IFC process. The Northern code committees will actively work on the IFC code process and monitor the NFPA process. This direction is intended to clearly define the efforts of the code committees, spread out the workload for the committees, and assure that both the IFC and NFPA code processes are adequately covered.

Page Dougherty, IFCI – Urged the FPO’s to become Class A members of ICBO and participate in the upcoming code hearings. 

Meeting was adjourned to Committees and Executive Board meeting at 1110 hours.

 Afternoon Program – Page Dougherty and Kevin Scott made a presentation regarding IFCI and the International Fire Code.

 Detailed committee reports are in these minutes.

Thank you Modesto Fire Department and all contributors for an excellent and well-attended meeting! Much appreciation is extended to the Modesto Fire Department and all staff for making the necessary arrangements, as well as letting us use your beautiful training facility.

President Craig adjourned the meeting at 1400 hours.

The next meeting will take place on June 28th at the USA World Classics Auto Museum in Vallejo. Bring a member of your staff, and we will see you there.  

Respectfully submitted,

Dennis M. Mathisen, Secretary