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Minutes 04-11-05 MINUTES OF THE SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING HELD IN THE FIRE/POLICE TRAINING ROOM, CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ON MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2005 AT 10:00 A.M. Present: John Bebensee, Chair Kevin Nugent, Vice Chair Barbara Madden, Secretary Brenda LeVant Rodney Vicki Grace Wilson Sharyn Stump Tom Balfe Barbara Scott Glenda Hall Chuck Magazine Mark Bobich Recreation Fire/EMS City Clerk Communications Finance/W arehouse Engineering Library Parks Police/Code Compliance Public Works Risk Management Utilities Absent: Carisse LeJeune Chris Mitchell Eric Falstad Dorothy Mack Glendon Morgan City Manager Development Golf Course Human Resources ITS I. Call to Order Chairman Bebensee called the meeting to order at 10:06 a.m. II. Roll Call The Secretary called the roll and declared a quorum was present. III. Acceptance of Minutes of 3-14-05 Regular Meeting Mr. Magazine noted that on Page 4, Paragraph H, "Medieval Faire," the language beginning in the second line reading "Mr. Magazine stated next year Risk Management would also sponsor" was incorrect. The sentence should state, "Mr. Magazine stated next year Risk Management would attempt to obtain sponsors for the event." Meeting Minutes Safety Committee Meeting Boynton Beach, Florida April 11, 2005 Motion Mr. Magazine moved to approve the minutes, as amended. Motion seconded by Mr. Bobich and unanimously carried. IV. Safety Committee Education and Training Program None V. Unfinished Business A. Fire Drills Division Chief Nugent reported he has been very busy with the new construction taking place downtown and he has been addressing the role the Fire Department would be taking on with high rises being built. He did report that he met with the Fire and Life Safety units and there is a form that will be provided to the Safety Coordinators when a fire drill is conducted. He still needs to coordinate with Communications when fire drills are held to avoid having all kinds of vehicles responding to the location of the drill. Mr. Magazine also requested when the drill is over, to let dispatch know. B. Proud to be a Safe Worker Awards Mr. Bobich had an award for John Reynolds and Les Sarkkinen, who are supervisors in the Utilities Department. On their way to a meeting last week, they noticed a man lying on the sidewalk on the south side of Ocean Avenue, east of the Civic Center. They approached the man to see if they could help him. It appeared the man had been lying there for a while since there was dried blood on his face and the sidewalk. The gentleman also appeared disoriented and shaky. Mr. Sarkkinen called 911 who instructed them to keep the man lying still until the paramedics arrived, which they did. Upon arrival of the paramedics, they went on to their meeting knowing the man was being taken care of. John Reynolds and Les Sarkkinen demonstrated to everyone the City's Core Values of Integrity and Stewardship with their actions. Their awareness, caring and response to this man's situation set an example for all of us who serve the public. Mr. Bobich provided a copy of the Award to the Secretary for inclusion with the records of the meeting. Mr. Magazine requested a copy be furnished to Ms. LeJeune for Inclusion in the City's newsletter. Chairman Bebensee had a Proud to be a Safe Worker Award for Barbara Callahan who is an Art Center Instructor. A child was choking on food in class and Ms. Callahan administered the Heimlich maneuver, resulting in the child spitting out the object. The child was neither harmed nor frightened and the mother was informed when she picked 2 Meeting Minutes Safety Committee Meeting Boynton Beach, Florida April 11, 2005 the child up. A copy of the Award was presented to the Secretary for inclusion with the records of the meeting. Division Chief Nugent reported he is a member of the Emergency Cardiac Care Committee for the American Heart Association for the State and this organization gives awards to people like Ms. Callahan for her heroic action. He requested a copy of the Safe Worker Award so he could forward it to the State office. Chairman Bebensee will follow through with the request. C. Departmental Inspections and Safety Meetings Mr. Magazine will bring an updated matrix to the next meeting. Any departments that have reports should submit them to his office so they could be included on the matrix. Reports are still available on the share drive. D. Defensive Driver Course Classes continue to be held. Anyone needing to take the course should contact Risk Management to sign up for a class. He reported the last class was full and the training is mandatory for any employee who drives a City vehicle or drives their own vehicle on City business. E. Incident Review Board Referrals None F. Holiday Parade Mr. Magazine distributed copies of the Memorandum that the Safety Committee sent to City Manager Bressner dated March 15, 2005 and a copy of Mr. Bressner's reply dated March 22, 2005 regarding the Holiday Parade. Copies of both Memoranda are included with the records of the meeting. Mr. Magazine read Mr. Bressner's entire reply in response to the Safety Committee's recommendation that the Holiday Parade be moved to Congress Avenue. In summary, Mr. Bressner was opposed to moving the Holiday Parade to Congress Avenue. He noted the City Commission directed that the Parade be returned to Federal Highway when the Parade had been previously moved to Congress Avenue. Mr. Bressner referenced all the construction taking place along Congress Avenue corridor that could pose a safety issue for participants and observers. Also, there is no longer a staging area available along Congress Avenue. Mr. Bressner also stated when construction begins in the Central Business District, the route of the Parade may need to be revisited. 3 Meeting Minutes Safety Committee Meeting Boynton Beach, Florida April 11, 2005 G. HeritageFest A review meeting of HeritageFest was held and much discussion took place about the location of the events, especially the concert. The future of the HeritageFest at this time is not known. This was the fifth year of the five-year program after which it was supposed to be taken over by a committee of citizens that would form a 501 c(3) not-for- profit corporation to run the event. Now, it is not certain whether this is possible. The CRA is trying to form a Board of Directors to run the event. Mr. Magazine spoke with Annette Gray, the Administrative Assistant for the CRA, and made a recommendation that in lieu of a concert, they consider having an African/American Film Festival that could be held at the new Muvico being built at the Boynton Beach Mall. Mr. Magazine felt that this type of event would be easier to control and would attract a larger crowd. Ms. Gray indicated that they would consider doing away with the concert and hold a Film Festival. H. Movies on the Avenue Mr. Magazine reported that the "Movies on the Avenue" was better organized than the previous one and there was staff present from both the CRA and the City to organize and coordinate the event. The roads were properly cordoned off this time. Ms. Hall inquired about the attendance, and Mr. Magazine estimated that 30 to 40 people were present. There are plans to show one more movie in May. I. Department Alternates Chairman Bebensee noted that some Departments still need to appoint an Alternate for the Safety Committee. Ms. Stump will check with Ms. Farace to determine if there is an Alternate for the Library. VI. New Business A. Departmental Safety Issues Chairman Bebensee reported that lightning rods were installed on the lifeguard towers at the Beach and staff is requesting that they be allowed to remain in the towers during thunderstorms to better protect the public. There are times when people would come to the Beach and try to swim in the water during a thunderstorm. Previously staff had to vacate the towers and go to the office because there were no lightning rods on the towers. Ms. Hall inquired how a lifeguard would handle a person who tried to go into the water during a thunderstorm. Chairman Bebensee stated if they were allowed to remain in the towers, they would be able to stop a person from going into the water. Division Chief Nugent felt that a directive was needed to allow staff to remain in the tower and use a bullhorn to alert citizens not to enter the water. He felt it would be unsafe for staff to 4 Meeting Minutes Safety Committee Meeting Boynton Beach, Florida April 11, 2005 leave the tower during a thunderstorm in order to try to stop a person from entering the water. Mr. Magazine inquired if signage was put up to warn people not to go in the water during a thunderstorm. Chairman Bebensee stated they do not post signs. There are signs in the shelters and pavilions that state they are not safe areas to be in during thunderstorms. Ms. Hall inquired what the current warning system is at the Beach. Chairman Bebensee stated that two red flags are flown that means "get out of the water and off the Beach;" horns are honked and whistles are blown. If people do not leave the water, the lifeguard would go down to them and tell them to get out of the water and off the Beach. Chairman Bebensee also pointed out that sometimes the storms form so fast, the lifeguards do not have enough time to leave the towers and get to the office for safe keeping. Mr. Balfe noted that the Golf Course has a type of radar system that warns people to get off the course. Mr. Magazine inquired if the Beach had this type of radar system and Chairman Bebensee responded they did not. Chairman Bebensee reported that they tried two different types of lightning detection systems, neither of which were effective. Ms. Hall inquired how other beaches address thunderstorms. Chairman Bebensee stated that it varied from beach to beach. Mr. Magazine recommended speaking with the City's Grants Coordinator, Debbie Majors, to determine if there are any grants available to purchase a radar system that would provide an early warning of any impending lightning. He noted that when the Golf Course was looking to purchase their radar system, there were systems that could reach 50 miles over the horizon, which would be great for the Beach. Mr. Magazine inquired about the size of the towers at the Marina project and was informed they would be 15 stories. Mr. Magazine questioned if the developer of the project would be amenable to having an antenna on a tower for this purpose that could serve both the Beach and the Golf Course. Mr. Magazine felt that the system could also be used to alert people who are using other City facilities and parks. Ms. LeVant did not think that dispatch could possibly reach all the City facilities in the event of an impending storm. Mr. Magazine noted that dispatch would have to be furnished with a schedule of events to know what locations are being used and at what time. Chairman Bebensee said that the lifeguards would like to be allowed to remain in the towers during a storm. Mr. Bobich inquired if the office was equipped with lightning rods and was informed it was. Chairman Bebensee stated only the snack bar and the parking attendant office do not have lightning rods. Chairman Bebensee will check with the 5 Meeting Minutes Safety Committee Meeting Boynton Beach, Florida April 11, 2005 Florida Beach Patrol Chief's Association to determine how other beaches are addressing this. Mr. Magazine recommended tabling the item until the next meeting. Chairman Magazine recommended forming a sub-committee to come up with a better system that could be used citywide. He recommended that Eric Falstad from the Golf Course serve on the sub-committee, as well as someone from Communications. Chairman Bebensee, Mr. Magazine, and Mr. Balfe will also serve. Chairman Bebensee will contact the sub-committee members by E-mail to set up a meeting. A. Departmental Safety Issues None B. Other None VII. Announcements Mr. Magazine announced that he would be out of the office beginning Thursday through most of next week. All inquiries should be directed to his office. Chairman Bebensee announced that he must attend a mandatory staff meeting and will not be present at the next meeting. VIII. Next Meeting Date: Monday, May 9, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. IX. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting properly adjourned at 10:32 a.m. Respectfully submitted, "h..4t~vt'- )(;\ . fVt wJ,~ Barbara M. Madden Recording Secretary (April 13, 2005) 6