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Council supports fire service delivery study and moving property inspections out of Fire Department
Summary
Fire Chief Daniel O'Brien requested a comprehensive service-delivery and organizational study to address staffing shortages and rising calls; the council supported including the study in the 2027 budget and discussed funding it from special project reserves and moving property inspections to Community Development.
Fire Chief Daniel O’Brien told the Council the department needs a comprehensive Fire Service Delivery and Organizational Study to respond to historical staffing challenges, increased call volumes, and recruitment and retention pressures.
Chief O’Brien said he would consider the vendor that performed the previous study because of institutional familiarity. Mayor Amáda Márquez Simula expressed support for the study and endorsed moving property inspections out of the Fire Department. City Manager Aaron Chirpich said structural changes could take about five years after the study and recommended funding the study from special project reserves rather than tax increases; he also noted those reserves have drawn down recently to purchase body armor for firefighters.
Council consensus supported including the study in the 2027 Fire Department budget and exploring staff reassignments for property inspections to Community Development, while retaining some Fire Department involvement for building layout knowledge. Staff will return with budget details and an implementation timeline for Council review.
