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