Georgetown City staff on Thursday urged the council to authorize design work for a proposed fourth fire station while continuing to test funding and staffing scenarios.

Chief Administrative Officer Devin Golden and Financial Director Stacy Clark told the special work session that the city budget includes $250,000 for station design and that a previous 2023 schematic cost about $36,500. Staff estimated combined capital and apparatus costs at roughly $5 million to $5.5 million. "We've budgeted $250,000 for the design of a fire station in this year's budget," Clark said.

The council also examined recurring staffing costs tied to opening a station. Clark said the council already approved and funded three firefighter positions in the current budget; a staffed station requires 12 positions, so nine more hires would be needed before opening. "For the 9 new firefighters, you can see the cost starting at a little under $1.2 million and by 2031 just under $1.5 million," Clark said, citing assumptions about COLA, pension and medical-cost increases.

Staff recommended pursuing competitive SAFER grant funding to offset hiring costs but warned council that SAFER awards are time-limited and program percentages have changed. "We will absolutely apply for a SAFER grant," Clark said, "but the concern has always been once the grant runs out, we still have to pay for this." Council members stressed the need to demonstrate the city can sustain recurring costs if it relies on grant-funded positions.

Chief Johnson, presenting calls-for-service data and response-time "heat maps," said his analysis indicates Lexus Way remains the most advantageous location to improve coverage. "My research still indicates Lexus Way," Chief Johnson said, and he offered to present maps at a follow-up meeting.

Staff outlined an approximate schedule: design contracts commonly take three to six months (staff cited roughly four months as typical), an RFQ to designers could be issued in January, construction contracting could be approved late next summer or early fall, and an 18‑month build would make the station operable in early fiscal year 2028 under an accelerated timeline. Clark said staff could phase hiring — e.g., some positions in one budget year and the remainder later — depending on the station construction schedule.

Council members expressed general support for moving forward with design procurement but emphasized that final construction and hiring decisions depend on design returns, revenue projections and potential revenue measures. Mayor (Speaker 1) summarized the council’s direction as proceeding to solicit design work and returning to the council with detailed costs and a high-level schedule for budgeting and prioritization.

Next steps: staff will prepare RFQs for the council to authorize at a future meeting, present updated response maps and bring more detailed cost and staffing schedules back to the council for formal decisions.