National City Fire Department restructures leadership and adds alarm program coordinator role

A new tobacco retail license program is set to launch in National City, with fees estimated between $600 and $700 per license. This initiative is expected to generate approximately $40,000 in revenue, as officials anticipate around 60 to 70 licenses will be issued. The city is also shifting its focus towards proactive code enforcement through its Westside Business Compliance Program, reallocating $80,000 from the amortization budget to enhance compliance efforts.

In a related discussion, the city council addressed the ongoing challenges of homelessness. The cost of the homeless outreach team has been transferred to the housing enterprise fund, which is projected to have a positive balance of about $8 million. City officials are optimistic about applying for various homelessness grants, aiming to strengthen their outreach programs.

The fire department is undergoing significant changes as well. A new fire division chief position will be created, while two firefighter positions will remain vacant. This strategic move is intended to ensure continuity and effective management of ongoing projects, especially as the current fire chief prepares for retirement. The new division chief will oversee large-scale projects and administrative tasks, allowing for better resource management within the department.

City officials emphasized that while the new position will incur an additional cost of approximately $30,000, it is viewed as a necessary investment to maintain operational efficiency and support upcoming revenue-generating initiatives. The council will revisit the necessity of this position once the current chief retires, ensuring that future staffing aligns with the city’s evolving needs.