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Rosemount council accepts fire staffing master plan, sets phased hiring and station upgrades
Summary
After a consultant’s review, the council accepted a fire staffing master plan that recommends a blended career/volunteer model, phased hires up to 18 full‑time firefighters, and station remodels to support 24/7 staffing. Staff signaled pursuit of federal SAFER grant funding.
Rosemount accepted a fire staffing master plan on April 7 that lays out a multi‑year approach to strengthen emergency response as the city grows.
The CityGate study presented to the council found Rosemount’s current paid‑on‑call model yields delayed multiple‑unit response times—roughly 19 minutes for aggregated crews in some areas—and recommended a phased transition to a blended staffing model with additional career personnel and modest station remodels. Consultant Stuart Garry told the council that the city’s two existing stations reach much of the population quickly but that unstaffed stations and the limits of volunteer call‑out create gaps when larger incidents require multiple crews.
Mayor Jeffrey D. Weisenell and Fire Chief Kip Springer said the report validates measures the department has already started, including a pilot daytime duty crew program and two recent staff hires. Chief Springer noted the pilot began earlier this year and staff expect to track measurable improvements over the coming months.
The plan recommends an initial step of part‑time/daytime staffing and station upgrades, followed by additional career hires in later phases to reach the report’s recommended 18 full‑time employees to sustain two staffed stations 24/7. Staff explained that, on a typical rotating schedule, hiring one full‑time position generally requires hiring three employees to maintain continuous coverage. The consultant described the staffing increases as necessary to deliver both the “speed of attack” and the “weight of attack” that complex fires and high‑acuity EMS calls demand.
To help pay for phased hires, the city will pursue federal SAFER grant funding, which staff said typically covers the bulk of salary costs in the first year and a reduced share in subsequent years. Chief Springer said the SAFER grant is competitive but that Rosemount’s growth profile and recent internal investments make a strong application likely.
Councilmember Climple moved to accept the report; the motion passed on a unanimous roll call. Council members and staff said next steps will include cost estimates and a fiscal plan to present to council later this year, and that some construction or hiring could begin as soon as 2027 if funding and grant awards align.
The council vote accepted the master plan as presented; no ordinance or budget appropriation was finalized at the meeting.
