Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Fire Staffing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
El Cajon council approves partial staffing plan and SAFER grant application for Engine 208
Summary
City council voted unanimously to fund a one-third crew for Engine 208 now and direct staff to apply for federal SAFER grant funding for additional positions, while noting long-term budget implications.
The El Cajon City Council on June 24 voted unanimously to fund one-third of the personnel for Engine 208 now and direct staff to submit a FEMA SAFER grant application seeking the additional positions needed to fully staff the engine.
City Manager Graham Mitchell told the council the city has Engine 208 available but lacks the full nine-person crew. He said the SAFER grant would cover base salaries for awardees for up to three years and that the grant’s match rises from 25% in years one and two to 65% in year three. Mitchell outlined three options: apply for the full nine positions under SAFER, fund three positions now and apply for the remaining six, or delay applying and fund only the three already in the draft budget.
The council chose the middle path — to fund the three positions already included in the draft FY 2025–26 budget and seek grant funding for the remaining six positions. Supporters said the option balances getting people on the engine sooner while pursuing additional federal support; opponents warned of long-term general fund costs if the grant does not cover future years. Councilmembers discussed timing for hiring, the grant award schedule and the risk that employees hired before notification would not be eligible for grant reimbursement.
Mitchell said the city expects to know results around late November to early December if the timeline follows past years and that staff would not proceed with new hires that would make individuals ineligible for the grant prior to notification.
The motion to pursue the second option — fund three positions now and apply for the remaining positions through SAFER — passed by unanimous vote.
Council members said they would monitor response times and mutual aid patterns once Engine 208 begins operations in order to assess longer-term staffing decisions and budget implications. Mitchell warned that regardless of the option chosen, the city will be responsible for full staffing costs beginning in year four of any SAFER award.
The council’s action directs staff to prepare and submit the SAFER grant application consistent with the selected option and to delay hiring that would jeopardize grant eligibility until after notification.
