At the same special Tomball City Council workshop, city staff and the fire chief discussed the planned purchase of a new Pierce Custom Velocity 100‑foot mid‑mount aerial ladder truck from Simmons Martin Emergency Group to replace the department’s 2007 ladder apparatus.

Fire officials said the current build time for the apparatus is 48 months. "The current build time on these is 48 months. So we would not be looking at delivery until 2029," the chief said, adding that the invoice would arrive when the vehicle is delivered and that no funds would be expended between 2025 and 2029 under the current build schedule.

Staff reported a current vendor price just under $2,700,000. City staff told council members there is a pending federal appropriations request submitted via Congressman Hunt’s office for roughly $1.5 million that had been approved previously then removed; staff said they have reapplied but that the grant had not been awarded. City staff noted that locking the vendor price now would secure the current price prior to a scheduled price increase on September 1.

Council discussion focused on funding options if the $1.5 million federal appropriation does not materialize. Options discussed included appropriating a portion of the cost across fiscal years so the payment is phased over the four‑year build, using the city’s healthy fund balance/reserves to pay cash, or pursuing a lease‑purchase arrangement. One councilmember suggested directing a portion of sales tax above budget into a vehicle replacement reserve to fund the purchase over time.

The chief and staff described operational reasons for the replacement: the existing 2007 ladder is the department’s older aerial, and Station 1 — where the ladder is stationed — is the busiest station. Staff said ladder apparatus are required on many nonmedical emergency responses in that district and that response patterns and ISO considerations make maintaining a staffed ladder at Station 1 operationally important.

Council members asked about other apparatus replacement needs; staff said Engine 2 and Ladder 1 are the primary city‑funded apparatus and that other apparatus for outlying stations are managed and funded through the local Emergency Service District (ESD). Staff also noted that emissions‑related changes to diesel engine standards have contributed to rising apparatus prices in recent years and that a later purchase could be significantly more expensive.

Staff said there are contract milestones during the build process that could trigger vendor obligations if the city canceled after certain points, and that no upfront deposit was required to hold current pricing, but changes during the build could create additional charges.

Next steps: the item appears on the regular council agenda for action later in the evening. Council directed staff to continue pursuing the federal appropriation, evaluate funding options (phased appropriations, reserves, or lease financing), and present budget recommendations and contract terms for council action.