Schertz outlines timeline for Fire Station 4, public safety facility and radio replacement

City staff briefed council Feb. 7 on public safety capital needs, including a resumed design process for Fire Station 4, long‑term plans for a consolidated public safety facility intended to include an emergency operations center (EOC), and a near‑term need to replace handheld radios that have exceeded their service life.

Fire Station 4: staff said the project reentered design after an earlier selection of an architect was reversed; geotechnical work and owner’s representative coordination are under way and the current schedule estimates a completion in September 2026 for the station design and delivery phases.

Public safety facility and EOC: staff said the city owns property identified for a consolidated public safety building on the east side of Deeds Creek (near Community Circle Park). A new facility would likely host police, Fire Station 1 relocation and EMS functions and would be designed as a hardened building suitable for an EOC; however, staff said the facility remains several years out on the CIP and cost estimates of $30–$40 million were discussed as a planning‑level number.

Radio replacement: staff and a department representative said the department's handheld radios were procured in February 2013 and most radios are past typical service life (5–7 years). The vendor no longer repairs many older units; staff said a full radio system replacement will be needed within one to two years to remain on current platforms and to maintain reliability.

Other interim steps: staff outlined a plan to temporarily relocate property‑room and related functions into unused county space on FM 78 as a low‑cost bridge to the new public safety facility; council will receive an agenda item to approve the lease/use arrangement.

Ending: staff asked council to keep these projects in mind when reviewing CIP priorities and to expect more detailed scope, schedule and funding requests in upcoming budget cycles.