For us to have a solid grasp on where we are navigating the Department, we need to reflect on the successes and failures of the past. Only with eyes wide open will we be able to establish a vision to the future. This year there have been 11 Goals developed to serve as the overarching guidance for the development of objective. Those include;
1. Ensure that the Hawaii Fire Department Strategic Plan is relevant, and is being utilized as a guiding document.
2. Develop a health and wellness program that considers holistically the wellbeing of the Department Employees.
3. Codify fiscal requirements through a robust needs analysis and develop an itemized budget to account for requirements, identify potential funding sources and cost sharing opportunities.
4. Conduct a Community Risk Assessment to determine the stakeholders and County Governments expectations of the Department.
5. Develop a Standards of Cover to codify staffing and equipment needs for the Departments area of responsibility and develop a cost analysis for program coverage.
6. Publish an updated and consolidated policy and procedures manual.
7. Update and establish as needed, all MOU’s and MOA’s.
8. Conduct a thorough Overtime analysis to identify areas where greater efficiency can be applied with the goal of reducing overall costs.
9. Develop a process to capture and justify future plans and expenditures in relation to CIP, Repairs, Equipment Replacement, etc.
10.Create a workforce focused on trends and statistical analysis of performance with the goal of identifying inefficiencies and comparing budgetary expenditures with like sized departments and jurisdictions.
11.Provide for the effective management of fire and emergency services, encompassing all related activities to include fire prevention, special services and ocean safety.
There are many opportunities we are looking forward in the up-coming year. Many of the challenges we are facing now will be behind us as staffing levels increase and specialty positions are filled. We additionally look forward to a revamped budget that allows the more efficient tracking and expenditure of funds. If we had to sum up our perspective for 2022 in one word, it would be Excitement.