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Temple council approves police and fire classification increases, confirms appraisal-board nominee and clears consent agenda
Summary
The council approved amendments to classification ordinances to add two police officer positions and three total fire positions (one captain, one driver, two firefighters), confirmed a nomination to the Bell County Appraisal District board, and approved the consent agenda items presented without further discussion.
The Temple City Council voted to amend the city's classification ordinances for the police and fire departments to reflect positions approved in the fiscal year 2026 budget and to confirm a nominee to the Bell County Tax Appraisal District board.
Ms. Rodriguez, a city staff member, told the council that the council is required under the civil service statute to approve both classifications and the number of positions within each rank. "These positions have already been approved in the fiscal year 20 26 budget," Rodriguez said, asking the council to amend the classification ordinance accordingly.
The police department classification for police officer was increased by two positions, from 116 to 118. For the fire department the ordinance increases included one additional fire captain (from 26 to 27), one additional driver (from 35 to 36), and two additional firefighters (from 61 to 63). Staff said these staffing changes are part one of a two-part implementation tied to promotions and hiring timelines included in the budget.
Councilmember Pilkington moved to approve the firefighter classification amendment (item 5); Councilmember Kuykendahl seconded; the motion passed by a recorded vote of 5-0. The council then approved the police classification amendment (item 6) on a motion by Mayor Pro Tem Walker with a second by Councilmember Kuykendahl; that item also passed 5-0.
The council also considered routine consent-agenda items 3A through 3R (with item 3I removed for separate consideration). The consent agenda minus item 3I passed in a single motion (items 3A'R less 3I), recorded as five votes in favor and no votes against. Item 3I, the second and final reading to designate roughly 5.54 acres as City of Temple Tax Abatement Reinvestment Zone Number 47 for commercial and industrial tax abatement, was voted separately and recorded as passing with four votes in favor and one abstention (that item and the related tax-abatement agreement with Rowan Temple LLC are covered in a separate article).
For item 8 the council nominated and confirmed Sam Fulcher to continue representing the city on the Bell County Tax Appraisal District board of directors; the nomination passed 5-0.
