KPTM FOX 42: Omaha News, Sports and Weather; Nebraska News, Sports; kptm.com | Council - More Fire Staffing Debate; Mayor to Annc. Union Agreement
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OMAHA (KPTM) - It's an argument that seems to divide between dollars and safety. An Omaha resolution that creates minimum staffing on Omaha fire trucks and minimum staffing requirements for the police has been under fire recently.
Debate continued Tuesday afternoon in Omaha City Council chambers from both sides of the debate.
Minutes before debate got underway, Mayor Suttle's office announced a press conference Wednesday morning to, "announce details of an agreement in principle between the City of Omaha and the Omaha Professional Firefighters Union, Local 385."
Fire Union President Steve LeClaire could not elaborate, but tells KPTM FOX 42 News that tomorrow's briefing will "show the city that the Fire Department is willing to do its part to help deal with the city's budget shortfall."
Opponents like Omaha businessman Dave Nabity say the law costs the taxpayers of Omaha. Proponents of the measure say it was passed to ensure the safety of firefighters and police.
Nabity is part of a group that put out an ad pushing to do away with the staffing requirement. Nabity says the city could save the city $5 million.
Members of the fire department argue it's wrong to put a price on safety.
Nabity says he's not trying to put firefighters out of work, he wants the fire department to know its shouldn't be above taking some of the heat from the city's budget cuts."They are gutting the police department but they aren't touching the fire department."
During the first round of council debate, Councilman Ben Gray said he wants to make union contract negotiations more fair, but firefighter after firefighter took the podium, concerned the change would compromise the safety of firefighters and the public.
Discussion that day quickly went to numbers and the became heated. "This ordinance is about numbers," Omaha Fire Chief Mike McDonnell said. "It's about the firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice for the citizens of Omaha."
Gray wants to get rid of specific staffing rules in the fire and police departments. One provision requires four firefighters go out on every rig.
The minimum staffing requirements were put into the city charter in 2000 on a unanimous vote. They've been a part of the fire union contract since 1991.
