Sterling Heights approves new firefighter and police‑command agreements; firefighters’ contract adds peak‑demand ambulance unit funded by federal program

Sterling Heights — The City Council approved labor agreements with two public safety bargaining units this week, including a firefighter contract that creates a dedicated, lower‑acuity ambulance unit and a new mobile integrated health coordinator position. Council also approved a separate memorandum of understanding with the Police Command Officers Association.

City Manager Mark Vanderpool described the firefighters’ agreement as “transformative,” saying the contract implements a so‑called peak demand unit: an ambulance staffed by two firefighter‑EMT personnel to respond to non‑life‑threatening calls during weekday peak hours. “One of the recommendations was to develop a peak demand unit … staffed by EMT licensed personnel,” Vanderpool said, adding the city engaged the Center for Public Safety Management for a community risk assessment that recommended the change.

Vanderpool said about two‑thirds of the department’s runs are low acuity and that routing those calls to a dedicated unit will free fully equipped 24‑hour engine/ALS resources for higher‑priority emergencies. He said the EMT‑level unit is intended to be staffed by city employees (not contract providers), which he argued improves training and long‑term recruitment and retention.

Funding and related programs: Vanderpool told council the new unit and related initiatives will be funded through the federal Ground Emergency Medical Transport (GEMT) reimbursement program, not the general fund. He said the agreement also creates a mobile integrated health coordinator — a role to identify high‑use callers and connect them with services to reduce repeat 911 use. Vanderpool said a pilot for medical priority dispatch and other quick‑response initiatives are planned in conjunction with county partners.

Police command agreement: Council also approved an agreement with the Sterling Heights Police Command Officers Association. That agreement includes operational changes such as moving some command officers to a 12‑hour shift schedule, consistent with earlier bargaining practices for other units.

Why it matters: city leaders said the firefighter contract restructures EMS response to reduce over‑use of high‑level apparatus for low‑acuity calls and to improve coordination for frequent 911 callers. Funding from GEMT was presented as a way to implement the program without increasing property taxes or dipping into the general fund.

Public comment and votes: A teacher and resident praised council for addressing compensation and the contracts were adopted by council with motions that authorized the mayor and city clerk to sign the agreements.

What’s next: staff said training, hiring and launch timelines will follow the ratified contract language; HR Director Kate Baldwin said EMT firefighters who want to pursue paramedic licensure would remain eligible for the city’s tuition reimbursement program per their bargaining unit terms.