Police and fire seek funds, training and equipment for K-9s, swift-water and flood response
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Summary
Police and fire chiefs reported requests for HVAC and K-9 vehicle funding, new rescue equipment and interagency training; fire received triage kits from the Region 3 Healthcare Coalition and staff formed a flood-response planning team.
Police and fire leaders updated councilors on equipment and preparedness needs, including HVAC repairs in police facilities, funds for a K-9 vehicle, swift-water rescue planning and flood-response coordination.
Police summary: The police chief reported HVAC failures and short-term repair estimates of about $124,000 to replace compressors and one unit; a finance transfer was scheduled for a later meeting. The police department also asked that $92,000 in auction proceeds be transferred into a vehicle fund to purchase a new K-9 unit; that transfer was planned for consideration at a finance meeting. The chief described repeated mechanical trouble with current K-9 vehicles and said the department will reassign a backup pickup for other city use after acquiring a new unit.
Fire and emergency preparedness: Fire leadership said the department completed a full-scale mass-casualty exercise at the airport, purchased new rope-rescue equipment to support calls at bottomless lakes and accepted a donation of triage kits from the Region 3 Healthcare Coalition (the coalition provided kits for the region and the city accepted its share). Fire also convened a cross-agency flood-response meeting that included police, AMR, hospitals and city leadership to develop a plan for future flood incidents.
Swift-water rescue planning: The police and fire chiefs reported progress on forming a joint swift-water rescue team; Church on the Move offered to donate boats and a local grant contact (Shelley Bell) may be able to fund training. Chiefs said they are vetting training providers, noting options in New Braunfels and Oklahoma as potential training locations.
Why it matters: Councilors were told these items address immediate safety and operational risk: failing HVAC systems in police facilities, unreliable K-9 transport vehicles, the need for specialized water-rescue capability and improvements to mass-casualty and flood response coordination.
Actions and next steps: Finance transfers for HVAC repairs and the K-9 vehicle were planned for a future finance meeting; chiefs will continue grant work and vendor selection for training and equipment. Triage kits and new rescue gear are in service; the interagency flood-response plan will be further operationalized.
Ending: Councilors heard multiple preparedness updates and directed staff to pursue funding transfers, grant opportunities and training to close capability gaps.
