Council schedules workshop to vet 48/96 firefighter shift trial after budget questions

A council meeting of the City of Live Oak on a proposed 48/96 firefighter schedule ended with the council authorizing a workshop to produce detailed cost estimates and to consult labor counsel before any trial begins.

A speaker who identified themself as a firefighter outlined the proposed 48/96 schedule, saying it preserves rest at home while reducing forced overtime and could improve retention. The speaker said the schedule could be implemented with a six-month trial but acknowledged the city needs to assess budget impacts. “I’m not a finance guru. I’m a firefighter,” the speaker said, pressing the need for staff to run payroll models by rank and overtime status.

City finance staff responded that the current budget ‘‘can handle it’’ but stressed the final cost depends on rank, overtime rates and how forced overtime is counted. Council members repeatedly requested a firm, timesheet-based cost model before moving forward — including a clear accounting of any forced overtime reduction and whether the cited startup estimate of about $10,000 is accurate.

One councilmember recommended retaining labor counsel to guide any collective-bargaining or contract modifications and to present options at the proposed workshop. The councilmember named Robert Larkin as counsel experienced in union negotiations and suggested Mr. Gil as another possible advisor.

A motion to establish a workshop and to authorize outreach to labor counsel was made, seconded and approved by voice vote. Councilmembers asked staff to schedule the workshop promptly and to aim for a date before the next committee/CR meeting so payroll changes can be coordinated with the planned ADP payroll rollout.

Next steps: staff will produce the timesheet-based cost analysis, return with a workshop presentation that includes projected forced-overtime savings and estimated startup costs, and report on counsel availability and estimated fees.