Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Fire topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Fire chief urges phased hires and pay review after response times climb
Summary
Portales Fire Chief Kathy told the Public Safety Committee that response times have averaged about 13.8 minutes this year — roughly double NFPA recommendations — and proposed a staged, multiyear staffing plan and targeted pay adjustments to improve response times, retention and overtime costs.
Fire Chief Kathy told the Portales Public Safety Committee that the city’s average emergency response time this year is "right at 13.8 minutes," well above the National Fire Protection Association’s recommended response windows.
Chief Kathy said NFPA 1710 recommends 17 personnel for a typical residential structure fire and noted that the department rarely has that many on duty because of staffing limitations. She told the committee that in a recent month with unusually high staffing levels the average response time fell to roughly the NFPA standard, demonstrating the staffing effect on response performance.
The chief outlined a phased staffing plan to reach an effective 12-person staffing model across two stations. The proposal would create a 10-person minimum and add positions over a three-year period so the department can "go from nine a shift to that 12 a shift in a staged equitable manner," she said. She also asked the committee to support an accurate salary study and targeted pay adjustments so the department can retain experienced personnel and be competitive in the regional labor market.
Kathy presented metrics she said would confirm success if implemented: minimum staffing met at least 95% of the time, at least a 25% reduction in overtime costs, a 25% or higher employee retention increase, and response times that meet national standards. She emphasized that the aim is a "living wage" that allows personnel to meet basic expenses without relying on excessive overtime.
Committee members asked clarifying questions about the proposal, the salary study and the timeline. Chief Kathy said the phased hiring would begin in FY27 and continue through FY29 if funding and recruitment allow. She described the plan as a collaborative effort with the city manager and finance staff and said she would continue to provide data to support budget requests.
The committee did not take a formal vote on the staffing plan at the meeting; Chief Kathy left the committee with a request to continue work with finance and city management on pay and staffing options.
