Brooklyn Park council approves hiring four firefighters to reduce overtime and burnout

The Brooklyn Park City Council voted unanimously Monday to authorize the immediate hiring of four firefighters and to adjust the general fund budget to pay for the hires.

Fire Chief Conway presented staff's recommendation, describing the department's staffing model, current leave levels and an onboarding timeline. Chief Conway said the city is still quantifying how overtime affects pension costs and that the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) impacts will vary by individual firefighter based on experience and pay offers.

"It's a step in the right direction," Council Member Christian Eriksen said, urging the council to address long-term staffing sustainability and the risk of increased injuries and burnout tied to repeated overtime.

Council Member Maria Tran, who said she recently rode along with firefighters, described crews that historically numbered five now operating with two people on some shifts and thanked them for their service.

The council approved the action on a roll-call vote after Amanda Cheng Xiong moved and Tony McGarvey seconded the motion to waive reading and adopt Resolution #2025-128 authorizing the hires and funding adjustments. The motion passed unanimously: Page, McGarvey, Tran, Eriksen, Xiong and Mayor Hollies Winston voted yes.

City staff told the council they would return with more precise pension and overtime-offset calculations, including percentage ranges for PERA contributions for new hires. The resolution directs staff to proceed with hiring and to use available contingency, fund balance or budget savings as identified in the motion.

The council set no additional conditions on the hires; staff will follow the department's recruitment and onboarding timelines described at the meeting.