Fire Department Chief Kurt presented the department's operating requests during the budget workshop and described several line-item increases and capital needs.
Major points:
- Health and safety: new statutory requirements for firefighter physicals led to a budget increase for medical exams and related health/wellness costs.
- Equipment and maintenance: the department reported higher vehicle and equipment maintenance costs and requested funds for uniforms, turnout gear start-up costs for new hires and increased hazmat consumables.
- Facility additions: Chief Kurt said the planned new fire-administration addition will increase electricity use and janitorial needs; council asked whether the existing generator will support the addition and staff said the existing generator cannot fully power the expanded facility. A replacement, previously budgeted as a carryover item, remains necessary.
- Emergency notifications: the department requested $10,000 to discontinue a local AM radio-based alert system and contract with Everbridge for targeted, opt-in voice/text/email notifications to residents; staff described Everbridge as used by neighboring jurisdictions and argued it allows geo-fenced, targeted alerts.
- EMS cost and coverage: the city's ambulance coverage changed July 1 when Fort Worth replaced MedStar as the EMS provider. Staff said the change increased the budgeted EMS expense by about $16,000 annually but that the Fort Worth arrangement is still a cost-effective alternative to starting a local ambulance service. Officials also noted Fort Worth intends to stage ambulances at fire stations to reduce response times, and staff said they would track quarterly utilization statistics for council.
Council direction and timing: council members urged the fire department to accelerate replacement of the generator and to return to a future meeting with procurement updates for HVAC, generator and other capital items. The mayor and council also asked for regular EMS-response metrics after the Fort Worth takeover.
Ending: No vote was held Aug. 2; staff will report back with procurement status and EMS utilization metrics.