Police and fire chiefs detail staffing shortfalls and station needs amid bond discussion

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.