April 4, 2012 Minutes - Minnesota



Members/alternates present:Bob Johnson, Insurance Federation of Minnesota – ChairMark Dunaski, Designee MN Commissioner of Public SafetyDan Winkel, MN State Fire Department Association Jim Fisher, MN Association of Townships Tom Thornberg, MN Professional Firefighters AssociationSteve Zaccard, Fire Marshals Assoc. of MN/International Assoc. of Arson InvestigatorsH. Dan Ness, League of Minnesota CitiesDon Smiley, MN State Fire Chief’s AssociationNyle Zikmund, MN State Fire Chief’s AssociationMembers/alternates absent:Sue Iverson, League of Minnesota CitiesShane Schmidt, MN State Fire Department AssociationRick Loveland, MN Professional Firefighter’s AssociationMark Kulda, (Alternate) Insurance Federation of Minnesota Others present:Kevin Reed, Department of Public Safety, HSEMBill Chandler, Department of Public Safety, HSEMJared Jordal, Department of Public SafetySherry Munyon, Capitol AccessJerry Rosendahl, State Fire MarshalTom Brace, MN State Fire Chief’s AssociationAngela Geraghty, Department of Public Safety – SecretaryThe meeting was called to order by Chair Bob Johnson at 10:00 a.m.New Business:Sherry Munyon provided a legislative update. Questions have been raised regarding whether the Fire Safety Account raises more money than the fire service needs. Representative Holberg, Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, is interested in working with the fire service to resolve this issue. The current fee is assessed at .65 percent. An analysis of how funds have been allocated from the Account indicates approximately .36 percent is allocated for fire safety purposes. Some caucus members and leadership would like to change the fee to .36 percent. Representative Holberg has proposed the fee be reduced to .55 percent. Sherry has asked for a reduction to .60 percent. Discussions are continuing.Legislators have raised the idea of applying percentages to revenue leaving the Fire Safety Account. Fixed percentages would be assigned to the areas identified in statute to receive funding from the Account. The Fire Service Advisory Committee expressed the need for funds in the Account to remain flexible. The needs of the fire service are fluid and it is important for the Fire Service Advisory Committee to retain the ability to be responsive to those needs. Jerry Rosendahl provided an update on the Fire Safety Account. Collections to date for FY12 total $11,014,641.76. The revenue projection for FY12 was $13,100,000. Jerry Rosendahl discussed the progress the State Fire Marshal’s Office has made since 2007 with the benefit of Fire Safety Account funds. Equipment and supplies are adequate; technology upgrades have been made as well as vehicle replacements. MFIRS is online and 600 fire departments are currently utilizing it. The State Fire Marshal’s Office has filled replacement positions including a Fire Code Specialist, an Investigator, and a Public Fire Safety Educator. They have added new positions including a Data Manager for the Fire Incident Reporting System and a Code Training and Development Coordinator. They are currently in the process of hiring a Juvenile Fire Setter Specialist and a Fire Service Specialist.The Strategic Expenditure Plan outlines two positions in the State Fire Marshal’s Office; one in Fire Code training and one in fire investigation training. Fire Marshal Rosendahl indicated that in the last year the State Fire Marshal’s Office did more free training in both fire code and fire investigation than ever before. The office has been able to provide the training with existing staff. Fire Marshal Rosendahl indicated that the three positions at the top of the list at this time would be a Fire Service Specialist, a Fire Inspector in the residential area, along with an additional supervisory position over the fire inspectors.Kevin Reed discussed the CAT teams and indicated a big funding concern at this time is to fill the gap in backfill and overtime created when individuals attend training. Trailers also must be maintained and insured.Nyle Zikmund made a motion to adopt the recommendations for year one as outlined in the Strategic Expenditure Plan developed by MSFCA, MPFF, MSFDA, FMAM and MnIAAI:$366,000 to the State Fire Marshal’s Office$700,000 to Task Force 1$330,000 to Hazardous Materials Response Program$200,000 to Chemical Assessment Teams (10) $100,000 to Emergency Response Team (1) $30,000 for Certification Examinations$75,000 Priorities for Regional State Grants$3,029,000 Minnesota Board of Firefighter Training and EducationThe motion was seconded by Jim Fisher and approved unanimously by the Fire Service Advisory Committee. These recommendations will be formalized and forwarded to the Commissioner of Public Safety. ................
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