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Police and fire chiefs detail staffing shortfalls and station needs amid bond discussion
Summary
Fire Chief Holcomb and Police Chief White described recent hires and remaining needs: Police added six officers over the last two years (21 FTEs over four years) and a staffing study projects a need for about 130 officers by 2029; Fire indicated a new three-bay station would cost roughly $14–15 million. Chiefs urged that public safety needs remain part of council planning even while the ballot question focuses on recreation/library.
Police and fire chiefs used the council meeting to outline continuing public-safety needs as council debated a bond measure for a recreation center and library.
Police Chief White said the department added six officers in the last two years and 21 full-time equivalents over the last four years. "The last 2 years, we've added 6... Last 4 years since I've been here we've added 21 FTEs total," Chief White said, and cited a recent staffing study that indicated a need to house about 130 sworn positions by 2029, above current capacity. Chief White said staffing needs mean public-safety planning should remain prominent in council discussions even if this ballot question is limited to recreation and library funding.
Fire Chief Holcomb described current facility constraints — including modular sleeping arrangements at Station 3 — and said a three-bay station included in ESD plans for Ranch Road would cost roughly $14–15 million. Both chiefs said while community recreation facilities can deliver benefits, council should weigh those benefits alongside unresolved public-safety facility and staffing gaps.
