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Measure P committee recommends fire vehicles, decontamination equipment, CERT, trainee and mental‑health programs while declining marine training and police pay
Summary
The oversight committee recommended several fire‑and‑emergency program requests — including vehicles ($3.225M), gear extractors/dryers, CERT, a firefighter trainee program and a peer‑support mental‑health program — but voted not to recommend a marine firefighting training ask and declined police recruitment funding transfers.
The Measure P Oversight Committee voted May 14 to recommend a package of public‑safety investments for the Vallejo Fire Department and city emergency functions, while declining one training request and a separate City personnel funding transfer.
Fire fleet and equipment: Interim Fire Chief Jim Rustis asked for $3,225,000 to replace Type 1 engines and field command vehicles across FY26‑27 and FY27‑28 so the department can recover from years of deferred replacement. The committee voted to recommend the funding, with staff noting state purchasing cooperatives and life‑cycle timing.
Firefighter decontamination: Interim Deputy Chief Tim Booth requested four dedicated gear extractors and six gear dryers to decontaminate bunker gear quickly after structure fires; Booth said the extractors reduce carcinogen exposure and dryers cut turnaround to under 6 hours. The committee recommended funding the equipment.
Community programs: The committee recommended $100,000 for an expanded Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program to train up to 100 residents per year and $50,000 per year for a firefighter trainee program to create a local recruitment pipeline. Supporters said the programs expand resilience and career pathways for Vallejo youth.
Mental‑health services: The committee also recommended $75,000 per year for a firefighter mental‑health and peer‑support program to provide culturally competent clinicians, confidential counseling and peer‑support training. Deputy Chief Booth and peer‑support lead Captain Kevin Brown described mandatory annual check‑ins and evidence that robust peer and clinician programs reduce workers’‑comp time and help retention.
Marine firefighting training: The committee voted not to recommend a $150,000 marine firefighting and rescue training request; members expressed concerns that the need exists but questioned whether Measure P was the correct fund source while recommending pursuit of grants and interagency options.
Personnel funding controversy: Separately, the committee declined to recommend moving $568,000 in recruitment/retention incentive funds for the Vallejo Police Department from general fund to Measure P, and declined a $55,700 request for promotional assessments; public commenters strongly objected to using Measure P for personnel incentives and urged City Council oversight.
All committee recommendations will go to the City Council for final budget decisions.
