2026/5/18 - City Council Workshop

The City of Caldwell held a City Council workshop on May 18, 2026, focusing primarily on the fire department's strategic planning and community risk assessment. Emergency Services Consulting International, led by former fire chief Jeff Stone, presented findings from a year-long study funded by ARPA dollars. The presentation covered population growth projections, current and future fire station locations, staffing needs, and response time standards. The fire department currently operates with 69 personnel, which is below the recommended staffing level of 93 for the current population, and projections indicate a need for up to 160 personnel by 2050 to meet growing demand. The council discussed challenges related to staffing, equipment procurement delays, and the financial implications of expanding fire services, including the opening of new stations and hiring additional personnel. The workshop emphasized phased implementation over 10-15 years to address growth and maintain service levels, with specific mention of budget considerations for staffing increases and station construction. No formal votes were recorded during the workshop, but the discussion highlighted critical procurement and budget planning issues for fire department capital projects and personnel expansion.