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Fire chief says turnover cost city 29 specialty certifications; asks council for one-time funds to restore readiness
Summary
Fire department reported a net loss of 29 specialized life‑safety certifications due to turnover and asked council for a $133,200 request (split between recurring training and a one-time recovery of $53,650) to restore capabilities, pursue state accreditation and reduce future costs.
Fire leadership told the council a wave of turnover since January 2025 produced a measurable capability gap across many technical specialties. "Over the last 18 months, our department experienced an expected large amount of turnover...The result net loss was 29 critical life saving certifications," the presenter (speaker 12) said, listing lost roles including driver operators, structural collapse technicians, rope rescue technicians, hazmat technicians and paramedics.
Staff estimated the one-time price to restore those lost certifications at $53,650 and asked the council to combine a recurring training budget of $70,000 with a one-time fund-balance allocation to recover the lost capabilities. The department said it is pursuing state accreditation to deliver many courses locally, which would reduce travel and long-term costs. Council members suggested using fund balance for the one-time recovery while preserving a lower recurring budget; staff will return with the exact budget split and implementation plan.
