HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023 01_11 Lansing Fire Board MinutesPlease contact Board Secretary, Michelle Greko if you cannot attend the meeting or, need special accommodations.
517-483-7659 or email michelle.greko@lansingmi.gov Lansing Fire Department 120 E. Shiawassee, Lansing MI 48933
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CITY OF LANSING
BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS
120 E. SHIAWASSEE ST., LANSING MI 48933
(517) 483-4200 |LANSINGMI.GOV/FIRE
1. Call to Order – Establish Quorum - 5:33 p.m.
1.1. Present: Charles Willis, Steve Purchase, Kris Singh, Barbara Lawrence,
Rodney Singleton, Gina Nelson, Jerrod LaRue
1.2. Absent: Kathleen Tobe
2. Additions to Agenda:
2.1. None
3. Approval of Minutes:
3.1. December 14, 2022 - A motion was made and supported to approve
the minutes as written. Motion was carried by unanimous vote
4. Public Comment – Agenda Items (Time Limit: 3 Minutes):
4.1. Dan Komm, Local 421 President apologized for not making more meetings, he or vice president will be
attending more meeting.
5. Review Communications
5.1. None
6. Comments from Chair Steve Purchase
6.1. Saw in the paper about the monies that we will receive from the Federal Government. Assistant Chief Tobin
stated that he began working with the Finance Dept and the Mayor’s office since last March for a line-item
budget appropriation from the Federal Government. The original request was for 3.9 million specifically for
EMS equipment, it was initially to help cover the cost of the ALS 360 program. We did not get the full 3.9
million but was awarded the 1 million that will go towards covering part of the cost of the ALS 360 program.
Chair Purchase asked if we have a good plan to cover the rest of that cost? A/C Tobin stated that between this,
the ARPA funding we funded about half of the 10 years for the program.
7. Presentation
7.1. Chair Purchase stated he asked the Finance Dept to come in and give a brief overview of where the city budget
stands today and how things are looking coming into the next budget year and what that means for the LFD
budget.
7.2. Joe McClure, Deputy Finance Director, I have been with the Finance Dept for about 6 months and with me is
Jackson Mills, Budget Analysis who has been with the city for just over 2 months now. Dep Director McClure
said looking at the 2023 Budget at the end of this month we are required to give our quarterly update to City
Council. For the 2023 budget currently, I am not seeing any financial issues facing the city. Typically, if there are
any issues they don’t show up until the end of the year. In respect to the 2024 budget that we are working on
REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2023, | 5:30 PM |
LFD STATION #1-COMMUNITY ROOM | 120 E. SHIAWASSEE ST. | LANSING MI
Meeting ID: 868 3440 9851
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Fire Commissioners
1st Ward Barbara Lawrence – Vice-Chair
2nd Ward Vacant
3rd Ward Kathleen Tobe
4th Ward Gina Nelson
At-Large Steve Purchase –Chair
At-Large Rodney Singleton
At-Large Charles Willis
At-Large Kris Singh
Brian Sturdivant, Fire Chief
Please contact Board Secretary, Michelle Greko if you cannot attend the meeting or, need special accommodations.
517-483-7659 or email michelle.greko@lansingmi.gov Lansing Fire Department 120 E. Shiawassee, Lansing MI 48933
2
right now, the biggest issue has been the pension funding. Stock market did not preform well. The other issue
is the collective bargaining agreement hasn’t been ratified yet. Fire does have ARPA funds for fleet upgrades.
7.3. Commissioner Lawrence asked to be given a brief education on ARPA funds. She stated all she knows is that it is
money coming to the city from the Federal Government because of the Pandemic. Dep. Dir. McClure went over
the process of what the city received and an overview of what the funding is for.
7.4. Chair Purchase asked if the 2.8 million that was stated that LFD got was that the total amount of ARPA funds
that LFD will get or is it just what they will get for the FY? Dep. Dir McClure said that was the total that LFD got.
It went to help purchase turnout gear, Fleet upgrade and EMS equipment. Fleet upgrade was 1.7 million (new
ladder truck), turnout gear for 300,000, and then EMS equipment for 780,000. Central Garage got 5 million to
upgrade City wide fleet. I am not sure what part of that will be used towards Fire. Chair Purchase asked about
the funds for revenue loss and how it worked. Dep. Dir. McClure stated that the funds for revenue loss went
back into the general fund. Revenue loss for parking alone was over 5 million.
7.5. Commissioner Willis stated that the amount Fire received from ARPA isn’t enough. He stated we know that the
bond was passed for a new building and station and to help with upgrades, but we know that is not going to be
enough to cover what we need. He asked if the ARPA funds could have been used to go into the stations to
help with upgrades. Dep Dir McClure stated that the ARPA monies were issued because of issues that were
impacted by the pandemic. On the surface I am not sure. A/C Tobin stated no it couldn’t have been used.
7.6. Chair Purchase asked when do they expect to have LFD’s budget ready for board review? Per City Charter, City
Council must approve the final budget in May. The Board seems to get the budget later each year for approval
and that ends up requiring a special meeting to be called. I am hoping to avoid that if possible. Dep Dir
McClure stated that the City Charter requires the mayor to submit a balanced budget to City Council by the 4th
Monday of March. Chair Purchase stated that it is also in the Charter that the Police Board and Fire Board are
to approve the Department budget before it is presented to Council. Anything that can be done to get that to
us would be helpful.
7.7. Commissioner Willis asked if Fire Department is the only union contract that is outstanding. Dep Dir McClure
stated yes to his knowledge.
8. Fire Administration Report – Mike Tobin, Assistant Chief and Assistant Chief Lay
8.1. A/C Tobin station that Chief Sturdivant is doing well and sends his best.
8.2. A/C Tobin spoke on the Ice Rescue that took place on Stoneleigh on Christmas Eve. Crews did an amazing job.
Three victims, 1st was a semi self-rescue, 2nd was an entry into the water, 3rd was a rescue who had been
submerged for about 40 minutes but was successfully found by LPD dive team. Victims were transported to the
hospital. One was transferred to UoM hospital the next day and unfortunately passed away a few days later.
8.3. A/C Tobin handed out a report that is generated by the 911 Center and is a breakdown of the calls that they
dispatched to LFD. Majority of the calls are medical. A/C Tobin gave an overview of the breakdown stats.
8.4. Commissioner Willis asked if we respond to a state building, a hospital, or a school, how is it reflected in this
report? A/C Tobin stated that this report is for specific cad codes for alarm types.
8.5. A/C Tobin stated that they have finalized the order for the new Ladder Truck. Not going to take credit but it
was my push, and I got no resistance but the new ladder truck with going to be blacked out truck. It will be
black over red and the ladder itself will be black, the bucket is going to be black, and I think it’s going to be
sweet. This will be something that the Citizens have never seen before. Delivery of the truck is scheduled for
Mid-November. This week crews are training on the new power load systems; this should help with injuries.
8.6. A/C Lay spoke about the shutdown of Boston Market Restaurant on S. Cedar St. We were just a part of that
shut down. During inspections, a piece of equipment was not working and after many attempts to get them to
fix it and they didn’t, the Building Department as well as other departments got involved that ultimately caused
the shutdown to happen. It is on the owner to have proper working equipment.
8.7. A/C Lay spoke about the beginning stages of a smoke detector program. Smoke detectors will be free, all they
need to do is contact us and we will schedule 2 staff members to go out and install the detectors. The state has
a free program that we will be getting them from.
Please contact Board Secretary, Michelle Greko if you cannot attend the meeting or, need special accommodations.
517-483-7659 or email michelle.greko@lansingmi.gov Lansing Fire Department 120 E. Shiawassee, Lansing MI 48933
3
8.8. A/C Lay spoke about the station decoration challenge and the overwhelming response from the community on
how they loved it. We are looking at doing more things like this that are more family oriented.
8.9. A/C Lay stated that he spoke with HR today and we are in the process of getting everything separated to go.
We are going to change it up a little bit. We are going to have an open application process, whereas we are
going to leave it up and people will continue to apply until about 3 weeks before the test is scheduled. Then
once the process closes, after the testing is completed, we will open it up again for more applications can be
accepted.
8.10. Commissioner Nelson asked about the status of the awards program. A/C Lay stated that we are working on
revamping it and possibly looking at having an end of the year banquet.
9. Old Business:
9.1. None
10. New Business:
10.1. Chair Purchased asked A/C Tobin about the status of the departments SOG process. A/C Tobin stated that the
contract with Lexipol to assist without policies has been signed. The initial training for the review group has
happened, the initial pool for the policies is being looked at right now. The group has reviewed the first 2
chapters of that which is the equivalent of about 14 policies. After we review blocks of them, we will meet with
Lexipol, and their attorneys and they look at our edits and make changes. The final review will go to the Chief
for approval. We have moved into the next phase of our strategic plan development for Lansing Fire. We now
have our community and our internal meetings scheduled.
10.2. A/C Lay stated that the community meeting is scheduled for January 30 and the internal is January 31,
February 1 and 2. We want input from the community and you as board members will be a part of that. There
is limited space available. We want the community there to give their idea of what they want their fire
department to be. Then there are the internal stakeholders which will be driven by department staff members.
We are looking at a plan for 3-5 years and what you/we would like to happen over those 3-5 years on where
the department will be or go. We are looking forward to it.
10.3. Commissioner Singh asked if the Board Schedule is posted in the stations because he has received calls and
been asked a few times when the next meeting is because they want to come. A/C Tobin stated that it is
posted at every station and all personnel received an email with the schedule.
10.4. Commissioner Nelson asked about the Dr. King Luncheon. A/C Lay stated that we do have a table, the Chief
put it out to the staff members, 7 people have responded so I have 1 ticket available. Tickets in general are sold
out.
10.5. Chair Purchase asked with regards to Lexipol at what extent are those first groupings touching on
administrative rules or rules governing the conduct of personnel that would be subject to this board’s
approval? A/C Tobin stated that he believes these are just some general boiler plate stuffs.
11. Request for Commissioners to be Excused
11.1. A motion was made by Commissioner Lawrence and moved by Commissioner Nelson to excuse Kathleen Tobe
from the January 11, 2023, meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
12. Commissioner Comments
12.1. Commissioner Lawrence stated that now that this board is full, maybe it’s time this body looks at doing some
strategic planning ourselves.
13.Public Comment – On any matter- speakers must state their name and address (Time Limit: 3 minutes):
13.1. IAFF 421 President Komm spoke on the city’s liability cost. When our contract is ratified, I will be more than
happy to talk to you about it. I will bring business cards next time. I feel we are headed in the right direction.
Our administration is doing things that need to be done and have needed to be done for a long time.
Please contact Board Secretary, Michelle Greko if you cannot attend the meeting or, need special accommodations.
517-483-7659 or email michelle.greko@lansingmi.gov Lansing Fire Department 120 E. Shiawassee, Lansing MI 48933
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14. General Order
14.1. Chair Purchase asked that we go around the room and introduce ourselves to the new commissioner.
Introductions took place. Commissioner LaRue introduced himself stating he is a former Firefighter at Lansing
Township Fire due to an injury I am not longer active and I am looking forward to being on the board.
15. Adjournment: 6:50 p
Minutes submitted Wednesday, February 8, 2023, by: Michelle Greko
Michelle Greko
Lansing Fire Department – Administration
120 E. Shiawassee St. | Lansing, MI 48933
O: 517-483-4564 | E: michelle.greko@lansingmi.gov