[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6106345,"mediaKeyId","2781617-fc6dc75f5e291140a87610330bb48f57","parentId",2781617,"title","Firefighter families and regional peers urge Plano to consider 48/96 schedule; council says staffing schedule is city manager's responsibility","audioSeconds",2918,"startMs",3006000,"endMs",5924000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2781617-fc6dc75f5e291140a87610330bb48f57&start=3006&end=5924","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2781617-fc6dc75f5e291140a87610330bb48f57/thumbnail_3006000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6106345/Plano/Collin-County/Texas/Firefighter-families-and-regional-peers-urge-Plano-to-consider-4896-schedule-council-says-staffing-schedule-is-city-managers-responsibility","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6106345-b116dbd9fb4529a62cb029fbfc4f5117/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143859&Signature=PMBxhZGaiBVPLuVnsp4tgq7k5p-it0G3gAV1RxB9P~vYRu77WJwKF3~Vz4InW0UERvfleHjMo0YBKemLEV-ZQRW-CM9fzz3MfCVgO2dcy9~ELrnA8dtz~UJfcvZP-imXr3YoVbamMjeJPH9RWHY33x~-W0~EHMUf2GkNZEO0pmZfjcVLs~7nQYcI~VlRUiu-vzjA2rS46sapPImiYlxkSeiTqsOh336VsIJCmB7x7IZbAwaEKALmKF8bLqfLtmoLjCMdGPlera~rhDrO~5TVe~xInBa-7ZasXjVY94IKvPxVL9qvFnIr-MIBKYh1HbazJiFxvhX0AoiyICJo63EHnw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-03-26T22:23:20.34Z","article","Dozens of public speakers at the March 25 meeting urged the Plano City Council to consider changing the city's firefighter staffing schedule from the current 24/48 pattern to a 48/96 schedule; speakers included firefighters, family members and peer chiefs who said the schedule is a national best practice for health and recruitment.

Several speakers described personal impacts from the current schedule. Lindsay Scribner, who identified herself as a long-time fire family member, said the 48/96 schedule \"doesn't just improve the well-being of firefighters, it strengthens their families and enhances service of the citizens they protect.\" Raquel Blades, whose child is medically complex, said the longer recovery time would permit firefighters to attend medical appointments and better support their families.

Outside peers and northern-Texas speakers also spoke in favor: Cody Dryden, a Grand Prairie firefighter who said Grand Prairie has used 48/96 for three years, told the council: \"I would take a pay cut, to keep that schedule. If my wife were here, she would tell you that the past 3 years of our 11 year marriage has been the best it's ever been.\" Dan McCabe, speaking as a private citizen, noted that roughly 75% of comparable metro departments use the 48/96 pattern and argued the schedule helps hiring and retention.

Speakers and organizers said the change would come at \"no additional cost\" to the city as planned by the local firefighter association and cited the department command staff and medical director as supporters. Several speakers asked the council to place the item for public debate and vote at a future meeting so residents would know how councilmembers stand before May elections.

Council response: city manager authority and agenda rules

Mayor Muns and staff responded to the public comments during the meeting. The mayor said the city values firefighters and noted the council had discussed personnel matters in an executive session earlier in the month. \"Per the city charter, staff work schedules are the responsibility of the city manager and not the city council,\" the mayor said. He also cited an internal policy (referred to in the meeting as \"resolution 20 20 three-twelve-4R\") that sets rules about when items can be placed on future agendas, including a six-month requirement before reconsidering previously decided issues.

The mayor said the city manager will continue to address the issue with the fire department and that the council will not add a personnel scheduling decision directly to a future agenda under the council's procedural rules.

Ending

Speakers asked that firefighters be heard directly in council chambers; council and staff said the request would be handled within the city manager's personnel authority and existing agenda rules. No formal council action or vote on schedule changes occurred during the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Plano - City Council Meetings | 03-24-25","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple speakers, including firefighters' spouses and out-of-town chiefs, urged the council to add a 48/96 schedule change for Plano Fire Rescue to a future agenda; the mayor said per the city charter staff schedules are the city manager's responsibility and that the city's internal processes will address the request.","taxTitle","Plano, Collin County, Texas","taxId",2776,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6106351,"Multiple speakers urge Plano council to oppose DART funding cuts; council took no action",1518,2919000,4437000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2781617-fc6dc75f5e291140a87610330bb48f57&start=2919&end=4437","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2781617-fc6dc75f5e291140a87610330bb48f57/thumbnail_2919000.jpg","/articles/6106351/Plano/Collin-County/Texas/Multiple-speakers-urge-Plano-council-to-oppose-DART-funding-cuts-council-took-no-action","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6106351-30dad5dcb90662e86e5b7ba5b95ceb2c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143859&Signature=RmtCVuG0BGJZ494VFoBE7GoJnIVDHbAVXu1NNLiq2kov8g6GffjCE-uG9c6JSE7TWKW2uy7INmK1ehOUxOqG0NqY25naZiI9A5adkyoQ088~PXoAvt2jIAIHuY4LrmNR8bCdS~DmqwJ-kFJcstXmh92qU9I6RJE6YVaoSkZPKmdXvrHLWlR2FkrAAh08qBgDa2wh4sJ0h9oLgXIAAPNm7Jn8RdMmOsUpt2~mZXZ6spKdu1WvXm2IdNOqOI-7TX7I~n-T1zudg-SeB25yJ7yGATkuDz7YpfxjUCCtVJN8BPqzXxEmcVEidb2jAp9BPacjgRW2IZT2LH1xUvhHnILHsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the March 25 Plano City Council meeting, several residents and regional advocates urged city leaders to oppose proposed reductions to Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) funding and to lobby state lawmakers to preserve transit resources.

Jessica Berner, speaking by Zoom, told the council \"I just wanted to voice my support for DART funding. It is enormously impactful for everyone who lives in Dallas and DFW,\" and warned that budget cuts ahead of major regional events could create reputational problems. Daniel A. Rodriguez, a commuter who uses DART services from Fort Worth to Plano, told the council he observed packed buses and more riders choosing transit to avoid traffic.

Sahara Khan, a Dallas ISD teacher, said public transit was a \"lifeline\" for many students and families and described an individual student who dropped out after a route was removed. Tyler Wright of the Dallas Area Transit Alliance and other regional advocates asked council members to use their influence with state legislators and to join a regional delegation going to Austin to oppose bills that would reduce DART's funding.

Several speakers described DART as critical to education access, workforce mobility and public safety. \"Now is not the time to cut funding for DART, but to continue to support our hardworking students,\" Sahara Khan said. Other speakers noted the regional nature of the service and asked for Plano to take a public stance or to work with regional partners.

Council did not take any action in response to the public comments during the meeting; comments of public interest are not debatable items and the presiding officer noted the council may respond with factual information or place an item on a future agenda. Staff and councilors did not announce a follow-up agenda item on DART funding during the meeting.

Ending

Speakers asked council to contact state representatives and to participate in regional advocacy; organizers said they planned further outreach, including a trip to Austin, to press the case to lawmakers.","More than a dozen public speakers urged the council to oppose cuts to Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) funding and to press state lawmakers against bills that would reduce regional transit funding; the comments were part of the public-interest portion of the meeting and prompted no immediate council action.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6106354,"Plano staff and consultants present five-year financial forecast; model flags days-of-fund balance pressure",1679,2788000,4467000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2781617-fc6dc75f5e291140a87610330bb48f57&start=2788&end=4467","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2781617-fc6dc75f5e291140a87610330bb48f57/thumbnail_2788000.jpg","/articles/6106354/Plano/Collin-County/Texas/Plano-staff-and-consultants-present-five-year-financial-forecast-model-flags-days-of-fund-balance-pressure","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6106354-fd10bfc02f510ddc585f8317bd884b62/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143859&Signature=GfHYbWqeeCSyxM-cTdhdHZOP~BSKSH1YJVZsffZQQ4R5te~JySK8R0yvN9wTBAgxV4AID2a~ZmTJ9QJ7-FONEefoQDK9Wv39pLB9ydFD22z7bWQ8nVB0Pqjp5NimGjeT3ly1NFJSc0vkIy7fWb8ResUOjQvAJcDvlflx2wU3WWOW0hFTAIiUF2JqPWn7vqSDz2gv7RVwENGa6Z9Qg5lIkPkdvzI-h5JaNhqS0r1H~NUmrAj~dexqM6yukULFGf~CJIMcgn5cyiZE~C1AuB4u87hMBv4y0VXT3ovyavwPGs4s8uMq4vUOupbwEyih5iFRrr0JJYB4I2IBHcpxts339A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City budget staff and outside consultants on March 25 presented a five-year financial forecast that projects pressure on the general fund under a continuation-of-services scenario and recommends monitoring property-tax, sales-tax and fees as primary levers.

Karen Rudz Whitley, the city's budget director, said the city revised its cost-recovery and fee-study policy and identified revenue changes already approved in the consent agenda: updated ambulance fees are expected to yield about $650,000 in the current year and $1.6 million the following year. She said sales-tax receipts were trending above prior 3-year averages, with a roughly $5 million year-to-date gain compared with the three-year baseline.

Consultants from NewGen Strategies and Solutions led the presentation of a five-year forecast and a new budgeting tool. Matthew Garrett said the model starts with the fiscal 2025 budget as a base and applies inflation and revenue assumptions; it is intended to be updated frequently by staff. \"This engagement wasn't because you were lacking. This engagement is to try to enhance the tool that's already in place, extend it a few years, and maybe make it a little easier for staff to update,\" Garrett said.

Garrett and Steve Duke described key assumptions used in the model: an average general inflation factor of roughly 2.8% per year in the base case (with salary growth assumptions of 3% and health-benefit assumptions near 4%), and a continuation-of-service approach that excludes additional program requests. The consultants said staff-provided inputs for enterprise funds were imported and that the model allows scenarios, including a voter-approval tax path (a truth-in-taxation-related rate that would yield additional resources) and contingent appropriation of sales-tax outperformance.

The forecast shows that under a \"no new revenue\" property-tax rate, general-fund days of working capital decline below the newly adopted 60-day policy (staff's projection for the current year was about 47 days). With a voter-approval property-tax path (3.5% yield) and a partial recognition of sales-tax outperformance, the model projects improving fund balances and returning toward or above the policy target by year five.

Consultants discussed the property-tax side in detail. Steve Duke said the forecasting method ties projected market-value growth to a house-price index for the Dallas/Plano/Irving area; the consultants said each 1% change in house prices historically correlated with roughly a 0.75% change in market values recorded by the Collin and Denton appraisal districts 10 months later. The model also includes projected new construction values (staff-provided figures: $750 million per year for the next three years, then $500 million per year thereafter) and a modeled impact from the Texas residential homestead protections (10% cap) and property-tax freezes for seniors and disabled residents.

Council members asked technical questions about inflation assumptions, the model's update frequency and whether the aging population and additional property-tax freezes were captured. Duke said the model does capture aging-related property-tax freeze projections by aging the appraisal-district data and that the consultants recommended quarterly updates to reflect rapidly changing economic assumptions.

Councilmember Riccadilly praised the approach and asked whether further revenue diversification and a stepped \"PAYGO\" (pay-as-you-go) policy could reduce debt service over time; consultants and staff said the model can be extended to test different capital and debt strategies but that detailed debt and I&S (interest and sinking) analyses were not yet incorporated.

Karen Rudz Whitley and Matthew Garrett said staff will continue the budget process, meet with the Collin County and Denton County appraisal districts (meetings scheduled for April 3 and April 30, respectively), and incorporate updated inputs during the formal budget cycle.

Ending

Staff and consultants characterized the work as an enhanced forecasting tool to support the FY 2025-26 budget process and recommended periodic updates; the council did not vote on the model itself during the meeting.","Consultants from NewGen and city budget staff presented a five-year forecast that shows Plano's general fund days-of-working-capital falling below the new 60-day policy under a no-new-revenue property-tax scenario; a voter-approval tax path plus a contingent sales-tax appropriation would sustain balances in the model.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6106359,"Plano staff propose codifying local food code, add new requirements for mobile vendors and date-marking",979,322000,1301000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2781617-fc6dc75f5e291140a87610330bb48f57&start=322&end=1301","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2781617-fc6dc75f5e291140a87610330bb48f57/thumbnail_322000.jpg","/articles/6106359/Plano/Collin-County/Texas/Plano-staff-propose-codifying-local-food-code-add-new-requirements-for-mobile-vendors-and-date-marking","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6106359-5542fd45ee125d0c03b66fbbec8b0e2b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143859&Signature=SkBshGroXFtE7mR1DHZQh9DefLWypfU2bt4Q2-ZDy3dQxd08682chQDgPPrTxiElFHpvZX8RVRJFTLinyBakg0I6-xd9JPDcpbFBfzDhaOrjeLpesVCsfKvMmz11UZGK~iokxvunoKKFrk243LUzABqEbZCj1vD-x1IAwgWq~RzLbZPFDbNOakzJEKJbhlvdZAgzeMUy8opADtI0JcHooYeZfbg2yK7IOLf2y41mVlShI00upr0v5SAM3~L59EHi-z6CTRUmdKGghadakI7oVG9XHHN6Yp5lmviler25JbS3FdWlcpKpo0G25fpNLa0ZHhpfZj3RMuuKvoGiatCn-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Plano environmental health staff on March 25 presented a package of proposed revisions to the city's food code intended to clarify requirements, align local rules with state standards and the FDA Model Food Code, and adopt a single local code numbering system.

The proposed ordinance would codify Plano's local food code in full, incorporate the minimum requirements of the Texas Food Establishment Rules (TFER) and the FDA Model Food Code, and adopt a uniform local numbering scheme, Rachel Patterson, director of environmental health and sustainability, told the City Council. \"The recommendation from our legal department is to codify the Plano food code as in its entirety,\" Patterson said.

Patterson said Plano currently regulates about 1,835 permitted food establishments, from restaurants to grocery stores and hospitals, and that the city's permit count has grown in the last two years. She described a multi-step outreach effort that included postcards, e-mails, two in-person meetings, one virtual meeting and an online presentation; city staff reported 223 views of the video and 461 views of the change summary document.

The staff presentation listed several categories of changes. Most are neutral edits or updates required to remain at least as restrictive as state rules. Examples of clarifications and neutral edits Patterson described include updated definitions (including for commercial equipment), a requirement that dish racks be stored off the floor, and an express statement that mobile units that cook on-board must meet applicable fire-code requirements.

Staff also outlined more-restrictive changes that would affect certain operations. Those include a requirement that supplies for cleaning up vomit or diarrhea incidents be kept on-site, a requirement that chemical fruit-and-vegetable washes be verified with an on-site test kit, expanded date-marking requirements to record both the time food was removed from temperature control and the discard time, limitations on sealed-concrete floor options in food-prep areas, and new expectations for refrigeration manufacturer recommendations and maintenance. Patterson said the draft would not force many existing establishments to retrofit equipment immediately; for example, a requirement for dump sinks in bar areas would be enforced only for new establishments or after repeated noncompliance findings.

On mobile food units, staff proposed clarifying that \"mobility\" requires an operable means to move the unit (for example a driver or tow vehicle), requiring operators at locations longer than two hours to arrange restroom facilities for employees, requiring commissary log sheets be emailed regularly for verification, and specifying generator use and sizing for refrigeration. \"This would require the mobile food service operator to arrange for restroom facilities for employees when at a location for more than 2 hours,\" Patterson said.

Council members asked about enforcement and education. Mayor Pro Tem asked whether the council or staff would enforce the code; Patterson responded that enforcement is a staff responsibility and that the department would prioritize education after adoption, allowing a cure period and training before strict enforcement. Councilmember Prince asked whether identifying existing public restrooms (for example in parks) would satisfy the mobile-unit restroom requirement; Patterson said yes. Councilmember Smith asked about inspection ratings and closures; Patterson said enforcement closures are rare and typically occur for extreme conditions like loss of hot water or refrigeration.

Patterson told council the next step is to place the proposed amendments on the council agenda for consideration; she said staff planned to present the ordinance at the council meeting in April (she referenced April 14 as the target date).

City staff provided detail on fiscal impacts and said most changes are expected to be administrative or neutral; one identified potential fiscal burden would be limited and tied to repeated noncompliance or to new construction where space is restricted.

If the council places the draft ordinance on a future agenda, it will be the first formal step toward adoption; staff said there would be at least a 60-day publication period required by state law before the code takes effect and that they anticipate additional education and outreach to operators before enforcement.

Ending

Patterson said the changes aim to reduce confusion caused by multiple layers of reference documents and numbering systems and to give operators a single local code to consult. She asked council to place the amendments on a subsequent agenda for formal action and said staff will continue outreach and education efforts prior to enforcement.","City environmental health staff presented a proposed revision to Plano's food code to align with state rules, simplify numbering, and add several local clarifications and more-restrictive requirements for some operations; council was told the amendments will be placed on an upcoming meeting agenda for consideration.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Firefighter families and regional peers urge Plano to consider 48/96 schedule; council says staffing schedule is city manager's responsibility

Multiple speakers urge Plano council to oppose DART funding cuts; council took no action

Plano staff and consultants present five-year financial forecast; model flags days-of-fund balance pressure

Plano staff propose codifying local food code, add new requirements for mobile vendors and date-marking