Fire and police officials seek hires and equipment; staff propose Jan. 1 start dates to save Q1 funds

Fire and police department leaders presented multiple decision packages at the July 7 workshop asking the commission to fund additional personnel and equipment to address staffing shortfalls and aging apparatus.

The fire chief said the department needs a full‑time fire inspector to reach inspection targets (one inspector can inspect roughly 800 commercial occupancies a year) and requested three firefighter hires to move daily staffing closer to a target of 17 members that would improve response capacity. The chief also described the need for new brush trucks at older stations and estimated a $70,500 shortfall to finish restoration work on a historical American LaFrance apparatus; staff proposed funding the cardiac monitors from a QUIP fund.

The police presentation requested personnel across the communications, detention and patrol functions, including one communications officer (staff are considering funding one of two requested positions now) and four patrol officers to add one per shift. The police package also included longer‑term professionalization items—an internal affairs/training lieutenant and an administrative assistant for the criminal investigations unit.

City staff proposed Jan. 1 start dates for requested police and fire hires to realize first‑quarter salary savings and recommended prioritizing staffing over noncritical equipment where funding is constrained. Commissioners pressed departments on operational details—how inspections and contract enforcement would be handled, which positions could be filled internally, and whether certain equipment requests could be deferred.

No formal votes were held; staff will include these packages in the tranche recommendations and update cost tallies once the certified valuation and July sales‑tax report are received.