Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Fire topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Fire chief urges two firefighters hire, stresses SAFER grant is not guaranteed
Summary
Fire Chief Trancoso told the City of Cibolo council the department’s overtime is driven by lean staffing, vacations and weather, and recommended two new firefighters (plus an IT position). He said the SAFER grant application is under review and would phase in federal support before the city must cover 100% in year four.
Fire Chief Trancoso told the council that Cibolo’s overtime “is driven” by a lean staffing model, weather and recurring leave, and recommended hiring two firefighters to equalize staffing across shifts. He said the department is pursuing a federal SAFER grant that would cover most of new hires’ salaries initially but leave the city responsible for 100% of salaries in the fourth year if awarded.
"Hiring 2 firefighters, immediately will equalize the staffing across across all shifts," Chief Trancoso said, laying out current minimums (three personnel per station) and describing how a SAFER award would phase federal contributions down through year four. He added the department applied for 12 SAFER positions earlier and that applications went under review July 17; staff emphasized the grant is competitive and not guaranteed.
Council members pressed for timing and contingency plans if the grant is not awarded. Staff said the new fire station is projected to open mid‑2028 and that the recommended two hires would begin at the start of the fiscal year if council approves the voter‑approval tax-rate scenario that funds new positions. City staff also described operational trade-offs: adding only two firefighters would permit opening additional coverage but provide limited flexibility for training, injuries and vacancies.
The Chief and staff recommended the budget include the two firefighter positions and an IT administrator to support public-safety systems. They said the SAFER grant would not cover uniforms, PPE or benefits and that the city would need to include those recurring costs in future budgets if the grant is awarded.
