Mayor Coleman’s 2017 Budget Address Remarks as Prepared (Fire Department Comments):

Of course, one of the other major pillars of public safety in our city is the Saint Paul Fire
department. Our commitment to first class safety in Fire/EMS remains steadfast. Our firefighters
and paramedics work hard year-round to keep our residents safe. My 2017 budget will ensure our
Fire department maintains its daily staffing of 114. We have also identified one-time money to
purchase new emergency vehicles and make sure our fire fleet is up to the job when we need
them.

While I am proud of the investments I am making in our Fire Department, the creation of the
Fire Fighter Health and Wellness Pilot Program is one of the most poignant. Last year we lost
two of our Saint Paul Fire Fighters – Shane Clifton and Jason Woodbury. As a result of those
potentially preventable losses, Deputy Mayor Beckmann and Council President Russ Stark,
convened a taskforce to review measures that could be taken to improve the physical and mental
health of our force. Based on the recommendations of that taskforce, we are investing $200,000
in one-time money in a pilot project that is really an investment in the men and women we count
on at the worst moments of our lives.

We are also engaged in ongoing conversations about how to improve response times and EMS
service. Calls for service are up. But our outcomes remain among the best in the nation. 

Residents and guests in our city receive first-class fire suppression service and high quality
health care from our first responders and paramedics.

To better determine how and where Fire department resources should go, my budget provides
$100,000 in one-time money for a full analysis of key data, to be led by Deputy Mayor
Beckmann and our Innovations Team, with key support from the Saint Paul Fire department.
While the scope of the analysis will be finalized in the coming months, the team will likely
explore demographic and population shifts in the city, first responder response times, outcomes
for patient care, fleet and facility needs and resource deployment. The result will be a better
strategic foundation for making future investment decisions in the department. 

To see full Budget Address CLICK HERE