Rochester City Council — Transcript
Monday, June 8, 2026
Fire Department Operations and Staffing Needs
Future of Mayo Field and Redevelopment Planning
2026 State Legislative Session Recap
Votes (1)
Discussion and Direction for FEMA SAFER Grant Application
Dissent: Council Member Keane and Council Member Palmer expressed significant reservations regarding the cost and rationale for the proposed staffing increase.
Chief Polar presented a request to apply for a FEMA SAFER grant to hire 15 additional firefighters. This increase, from a previous request of 8, aims to better align the department's effective response force with national standards for garden-style apartments and strip malls, and improve capacity for concurrent single-family home fires. The Chief detailed the financial implications, noting federal funding for the first three years but a subsequent $2.4 million annual impact on the city's tax levy. Council members expressed mixed views, with some supporting the application to address critical staffing gaps and others raising concerns about the long-term financial commitment and the efficiency of 'chasing standards' versus addressing specific problems.
Notable Quotes (4)
Our ask would be to hire 15 through the safer grant with the grant. And these changes, these change year after year, but the last two years have been consistent. The grant will fund 75% of a first year firefighter salary and benefit package uh for the first two years and then 35% of that uh salary and benefit package for the third year.
C with the grant. I mean, this is one of the things that we ask all the time of our grants. Is this a onetime grant that gets people hired? Is it or how long does the grant go because we will have to pick up the tab after the first year, fifth year, whatever year.
Okay. I'll say I I feel comfortable um you know supporting application uh for this. I I think we have more to talk about and we're obviously over the first hour, but clearly more to talk about in the fire operations and help us feel comfortable with some of the policy areas. But I think at this point I I would express support for application of this program.
15% growth in a in a department that I think you have about a in the range of 110 firefighters right now. It it just feels and and if I had a very specific problem that I knew I was addressing, but just to chase these standards, it I I I'm not there yet.
Ordinances & Resolutions (13)
Agenda item for fire department's current strategic plan and progress.
Ongoing plan for the fire department, subject of current progress updates and goal setting.
Prior strategic plan, from which some 'to-do' items like adding a second battalion chief were accomplished.
Previous long-term fire department plan by Chief Kurska, which identified vulnerabilities and recommended staffing changes.
A plan drafted by previous Fire Chief Kurska to staff Station 6 and address other departmental needs; its steps were reviewed for progress.
A product for public safety policy implementation, currently being rolled out to modernize fire department policies.
A robust document being drafted by Fitchen Associates, used in accreditation to analyze incident data, community risk, growth, and deployment models.
Federal funding opportunity for fire departments to increase firefighter numbers and meet industry minimum standards.
National Fire Protection Agency standard for the organization and deployment of career fire departments, covering staffing and response times.
Adopted plan that acknowledged Mayo Field stadium needed updating or replacement, with a long-term vision and no immediate funding.
Forthcoming update (late 2026 through 2027) to guide reuses for park spaces, including potentially Mayo Field.
City-wide plan that identified the need for more detailed small area plans to guide future development.
Proposed planning process for the Mayo Field area to identify future development opportunities, land use, and connectivity.