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Council approves two‑year pilot to add three firefighters to reduce overtime
Summary
The council voted June 2 to authorize a two‑year pilot to hire three firefighters (one per shift) aimed at reducing mandatory overtime and improving response capacity; staff estimates minimal annual net savings initially but stressed long‑term service and wellness benefits.
The La Verne City Council on June 2 authorized a two‑year pilot program to hire three additional firefighters—one for each 24‑hour shift—to reduce mandatory overtime, improve redundancy for NFPA‑level responses and make the department less reliant on backfill overtime.
Fire leadership told the council the request is grounded in the department’s standards of cover and a two‑year historical review that found backfill needs on roughly 259 days per year. The chief said the pilot would place an additional Basic Life Support firefighter as a float to reduce higher‑rank overtime backfill and increase in‑house capacity for large incidents. “I respectfully request your authorization of the hiring of three additional firefighters for the Lever fire department. This 2‑year pilot program ... would allow us to reduce projected overtime by a minimum of approximately $53,811 annually,” the chief said.
Finance Director Christy Lopez confirmed the cost estimate includes employer pension contributions for PEPRA members and that the projected employer pension rate for new hires had been reflected in the plan. Staff estimated the annual personnel cost (salary and benefits) for the three hires at roughly $361,000 and said the pilot conservatively projects about $54,000 per year in overtime savings, with non‑monetary benefits such as reduced injury risk and improved staff wellness also cited.
Public commenters urged clearer reporting on overtime reimbursements from state fire assignments and asked for a more detailed ROI. Council members pressed for quarterly reporting on outcomes if the pilot proceeds. After questions and public comment, the council approved the pilot on a voice vote (motion by Cashel Fagita, seconded by Crosby), with staff committing to monitor and report outcomes and to stop expansion if savings do not materialize.
