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Urbana fire department requests civilian fire‑prevention officer to restore inspections, offset by fees
Summary
The fire department proposed a civilian fire prevention officer position (recurring cost ~ $146,000 plus one-time startup) to restore capacity for roughly 400 annual permits and about 2,000 rotating commercial inspections; staff said partial fee recovery is possible but not full cost recovery.
Fire-department leaders asked the committee for approval to add a civilian fire prevention officer to restore inspection capacity that has fallen in recent years. "The fire prevention officer would be responsible for conducting fire safety and fire prevention permit inspections for our commercial occupancies," the department presenter told the committee during the June 1 meeting.
Staff described two cost components: recurring annual costs for salary, benefits and replacement-equipment contributions estimated at approximately $146,000, and one-time start-up expenses for a vehicle, uniforms and onboarding. The department said that when staff can complete its target workload—about 400 fire-prevention permits and roughly 2,000 commercial inspections on a rotating basis—it will be able to bill for more activity; however, staff did not claim the position would be fully cost‑recovered by fees.
Council members pressed staff on operational details. In response to Council Member James, staff said the recurring figure includes payments into the vehicle-replacement fund so there is a plan for future vehicle replacement. Council Member Grace asked about inspection timing; staff explained that many occupancies are on a three‑year inspection rotation and that some permits, such as those tied to liquor licenses, require more frequent (annual) checks. The department also clarified that the city performs contracted fire-protection services for the University of Illinois and that the campus prevention officer position helps meet that contractual obligation.
No formal vote on the new position was taken in committee; the item served as a staff request and Q&A to inform upcoming budget decisions. Staff repeatedly characterized the proposal as a capacity-restoration measure linked to public-safety goals rather than a new enforcement program.
Ending: The committee heard the request and technical questions; the budget ordinance and any personnel additions will be considered in the committee process ahead of the June 22 council adoption timetable.
