HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 27828-06-2025ORDINANCE NO.27828-06-2025
AN ORDINANCE REVISING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED
SWORN POSITIONS IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BY 543, EFFECTIVE
JUNE 28, 2025, BY ADDING POSITIONS IN VARIOUS SPECIFIED
CLASSIFICATIONS RELATED TO PROVISION OF EMERGENCY
MEDICAL SERVICES; PROVIDING A STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND
INTENT; DELEGATING TO THE FIRE CHIEF AUTHORITY TO MAKE
ADJUSTMENTS AMONG NUMBERS WITHIN CERTAIN
CLASSIFICATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS
PRESCRIBED HEREIN; PROVIDING THAT THIS ORDINANCE SHALL
BE CUMULATIVE OF ALL PRIOR ORDINANCES AND REPEAL
CONFLICTING ORDINANCES; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, Section 143.021(a), Texas Local Government Code provides that a
municipality's governing body shall by ordinance (i) establish the classifications of fire
fighters and (ii) prescribe the number of positions in each classification; and
WHEREAS, on September 19, 2023, the City Council adopted Ordinance 26455-
09-2023, which established the Fire Department's sworn personnel staffing levels,
effective October 1, 2023, as follows:
; and
Fire Assistant Chief 3
Fire Deputy Chief
6
Fire Battalion Chief
30
Fire Captain
92
Fire Lieutenant
143
Fire Engineer
228
Fire Fighter
547
Total
1049
WHEREAS, on June 24, 2025, the Fire Chief requested the City Council to
approve a temporary increase to the authorized strength of the Fire Department effective
May 31, 2025, by adding eighteen (18) fire fighters to accommodate all graduates of a
recent fire academy class; and
Ordinance No. 27828-06-2025
Page 1 of 5
I
WHEREAS, the City of Fort Worth is taking on the role of emergency medical
services provider with such personnel to begin working for the City on June 28, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the Fire Chief has requested that the City Council increase the total
number of authorized positions in the Fire Department by five hundred and forty-three
(543), effective June 28, 2025, consisting of two (2) Deputy EMS Officers, one (1) EMS
Administration Officer, six (6) EMS Managers, thirty (30) EMS Supervisors, one hundred
and eighty-nine (189) Lead Paramedics, two hundred and seventy-six (276) Emergency
Medical Technicians, one (1) Telecommunications Manager, seven (7)
Telecommunication Supervisors, and thirty-one (31) Telecommunicators, for the purpose
of providing emergency medical services through the Fire Department; and
WHEREAS, the Fire Chief has also requested authority to make adjustments
among the numbers in certain of those classifications, in compliance with the terms of the
current labor agreement, to reallocate more positions in the Technician classification and
fewer in the Lead classification over time as changes in personnel occur; and
WHEREAS, Section 143.307(a) of the Texas Local Government Code provides
that, to the extent of any conflict, an agreement with a civil service labor union enacted
under Subchapter I of Chapter 143 supersedes statute with respect to terms and conditions
of employment; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds it advisable to provide the Fire Chief with
limited authority to adjust the numbers among specified classifications of emergency
medical personnel within the limits prescribed in Section 2 of this ordinance.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS:
Ordinance No. 27828-06-2025 Page 2 of 5
SECTION 1.
That, following the formal adoption of this ordinance, the following positions shall
be the only sworn positions in each classification (rank) below, authorized in the City of
Fort Worth Fire Department effective June 28, 2025, until modified by subsequent
ordinance:
Initial
May be
Adjusted
to (see
Section 2)
Deputy EMS Officer
2
2
EMS Administration Officer
1
1
EMS Manager
6
6
EMS Supervisor
30
30
Lead Paramedic
189
137
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
276
328
Telecommunications Manager
1
1
Telecommunications Supervisor
7
7
Telecommunicator
31
31
Fire Assistant Chief
3
3
Fire Deputy Chief
6
6
Fire Battalion Chief
30
30
Fire Captain
92
92
Fire Lieutenant
143
143
Fire Engineer
228
228
Fire Fighter
565
565
Total
1610
1610
SECTION 2.
That, in accordance with Section 143.307(a) of the Texas Local Government Code,
the Fire Chief is authorized to make adjustments among those classifications noted in the
"May be Adjusted to" column in Section 1, provided that such adjustments may not result
in (i) the total number of authorized positions in the classification of Lead Paramedic being
less than the number in the "May be Adjusted to" column, (ii) the total number of
authorized positions in the classification of Emergency Medical Technician classification
being greater than the number in that column, or (iii) the cumulative total number of
Ordinance No. 27828-06-2025 Page 3 of 5
authorized positions among all classifications of civil service personnel within the
department differing from the "Total" shown in the "May be Adjusted to" column.
SECTION 3
That the "Mayor and Council Communication" memorandum, which is presented
contemporaneously with this ordinance, is hereby expressly incorporated herein by
reference for further clarification and explanation of the purpose and intent of the City
Council in its adoption of this ordinance as well as the Department in its implementation.
SECTION 4.
That this ordinance shall be cumulative of all provisions of previous ordinances and
of the Code of the City of Fort Worth, Texas (2015), as amended, except where the
provisions of this ordinance are in direct conflict with the provisions of prior Fire staffing
ordinances for the Fire Department and such Code, in which event conflicting provisions
of such ordinances and such code provisions are hereby repealed and this ordinance shall
be controlling.
SECTION 5.
That it is hereby declared to be the intention of the City Council that the sections,
paragraphs, sentences, clauses and phrases of these ordinances are severable, and if any
phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or section of this ordinance shall be declared
unconstitutional by the valid judgment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction,
such unconstitutionality shall not affect any of the remaining phrases, clauses, sentences,
paragraphs and sections of this ordinance, since the same would have been enacted by the
Ordinance No. 27828-06-2025 Page 4 of 5
City Council without the incorporation in this ordinance of any such unconstitutional
phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or section.
SECTION 6.
That this ordinance shall be effective June 28, 2025, with respect to the change in
positions as reflected above, and it is so ordained.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY: ATTEST:
Asst. City Attorney
ADOPTED: June 24, 2025
EFFECTIVE: June 28, 2025
Jannette S. Goodall, City Secretary
ri
A
Ordinance No. 27828-06-2025 Page 5 of 5
Rank
Grade/Job Code
EMT
LEAD PARAMEDIC
CITY OF FORT WORTH Addendum A
Fire EMS Civil Service Classifications
Salary Schedule for FY 2024-2025 and
FY 2025-2026
44 Hour Schedule
Step
Step
Years from
Per Pay
Acting
Step
Step
Monthly
Annual
Hourly
Holly
Start
Period
Rate
HOF
Rate
Start
1
1,764
3,821
45,852
20.04
28.95
30.06
10.02
1
2
1,816
3,935
47,224
20.64
28.95
30.96
10.32
2
3
1,871
4,054
48,643
21.26
28.95
31.89
10.63
3
4
1,927
4,176
50,107
21.90
28.95
32.85
10.95
4
5
1,985
4,301
51,617
22.56
28.95
33.84
11.28
5
6
2,044
4,429
53,150
23.23
28.95
34.85
11.62
6
7
2,106
4,563
54,752
23.93
28.95
35.90
11.97
7
8
2,169
4,700
56,399
24.65
28.95
36.98
12.33
8
9
2,234
4,841
58,092
25.39
28.95
38.09
12.70
9
10
2,301
4,986
59,831
26.15
28.95
39.23
13.08
10
11
2,370
5,135
61,616
26.93
28.95
40.40
13.47
12
12
2,441
5,289
63,469
27.74
29.13
41.61
13.87
44 Hour Schedule
Start
1
1
2
2,548
5,520
66,239
28.95
33.40
43.43
14.48
2
3
2,624
5,686
68,228
29.82
33.40
44.73
14.91
3
4
2,703
5,857
70,287
30.72
33.40
46.08
15.36
4
5
2,784
6,033
72,392
31.64
33.40
47.46
15.82
5
6
2,868
6,214
74,566
32.59
34.22
48.89
16.30
6
7
2,953
6,399
76,785
33.56
35.24
50.34
16.78
7
8
3,042
6,591
79,096
34.57
36.30
51.86
17.29
8
9
3,134
6,790
81,476
35.61
37.39
53.42
17.81
9
10
3,228
6,994
83,924
36.68
38.51
55.02
18.34
10
11
3,325
7,203
86,441
37.78
39.67
56.67
18.89
12
12
3,424
7,419
89,026
38.91
40.86
58.37
19.46
NOTE:
1. Annual Hours 2,288
2. Monthly and Annual rate are approximations
3. Entry Rate $28.00/hr
Rank
Grade/Job Code
EMS SUPERVISOR
CITY OF FORT WORTH
Fire EMS Civil Service Classifications
Salary Schedule for FY 2024-2025 and
FY 2025-2026
I Years from (Ste Per Pay I MonthlyI
Start I p Period
Start
1
2
3
4
6
7
8
9
10
12
NOTE:
1. Annual Hours 2,288
2. Monthly and Annual rate are approximations
2
3
2,939
6,368
4
3,027
6,559
5
3,118
6,755
6
3,212
6,959
7
3,308
7,167
8
3,407
, 7,383
9
3,509
7,604
10
3,615
7,833
11
3,723
8,067
12
3,835
8,309
44 Hour Schedule
Annual I Step I Acting I Step I Step
Hourly Rate 1 Hourly HOF
76,419
I
33.40
43.65
50.10
16.70
78,707
34.40
43.65
51.60
17.20
81,064
35.43
43.65
53.15
17.72
83,512
36.50 I
43.65
54.75
18.25
86,006
37.59
43.65
56.39
18.80
88,591
38.72
43.65
58.08
19.36
91,245
39.88
43.65
59.82
19.94
93,991
41.08
43.65
61.62
20.54
96,805
42.31
44.43
63.47
21.16
99,711
43.58
I 45.76
65.37
21.79
Rank
Ij Grade/Job Code
EMS MANAGER
CITY OF FORT WORTH
Fire EMS Civil Service Classifications
Salary Schedule for FY 2024-2025 and
2025-2026
Years from I Ste Per Pay I Monthly
Start p Period
Start
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
12
NOTE:
1. Annual Hours 2080
2. Monthly and Annual rate are approximations
EMS ADMINISTRATION OFFICER
Start
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
12
NOTE:
1. Annual Hours 2,080
2. Monthly and Annual rate are approximations
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
40 Hour Schedule
Annual I Step I Acting
Hourly Rate
Step Step
Hourly HOF
3,292
7,133
85,592
41.15
51.33
61.73
20.58
3,390
7,346
88,150
42.38
51.33
63.57
21.19
3,492
7,566
90,792
43.65
51.33
65.48
21.83
3,597
7,793
93,517
44.96
51.33
67.44
22.48
3,705
8,027
96,325
46.31
51.33
69.47
23.16
3,816
8,268
99,216
47.70
51.33
71.55
23.85
3,930
8,516
102,190
49.13
51.33
73.70
24.57
4,049
8,772
105,269
50.61
51.33
75.92
25.31
4,170
9,036
108,430
52.13
52.13
78.20
26.07
4,295
9,306
111,675
53.69
53.69
80.54
26.85
40 Hour Schedule
3,911
8,474
101,691
48.89
51.33
73.34
24.45
4,029
8,729
104,749
50.36
52.88
75.54
25.18
4,150
8,991
107,890
51.87
54.46
77.81
25.94
4,274
9,261
111,134
53.43
56.10
80.15
26.72
4,402
9,539
114,462
55.03
57.78
82.55
27.52
4,534
9,825
117,894
56.68
59.51
85.02
28.34
4,670
10,119
121,430
58.38
61.30
87.57
29.19
4,810
10,423
125,070
60.13
63.14
90.20
30.07
CITY OF FORT WORTH
Fire EMS Civil Service Classifications
Salary Schedule for FY 2024-2025 and
FY 2025-2026
40 Hour Schedule
Rank Years from
Per Pay
Step
Acting
Step
Step
Grade/Job Code Start
Step Period Monthly
Annual Hourly Rate
Hourly
HOF
DEPUTY EMS OFFICER Minimum
4,395 9,522
114,261 54.93 57.68
82.40
27.47
Maximum
5,405
11,711
140,530
67.56
70.94
101.34
33.78
NOTE:
1. Annual Hours 2,080
2. Monthly and Annual rate are approximations
CITY OF FORT WORTH
Fire EMS Civil Service Classifications
Salary Schedule for FY 2024-2025
and FY 2025-2026
44 Hour Schedule
Rank Years from I Per Pay I I I Step Hourly
Start Step period Monthly Annual Rate Acting Rate Step Hourly OT Step HOF
Grade/Job Code
TELECOMMUNICATOR
Start
1
2,244
4,862
58,344
25.50
30.42
38.25
12.75
1
2
2,312
5,009
60,106
26.27
30.42
39.41
13.14
2
3
2,380
5,158
61,890
27.05
30.42
40.58
13.53
3
4
2,452
5,312
63,744
27.86
30.42
41.79
13.93
4
5
2,526
5,472
65,666
28.70
30.42
43.05
14.35
5
6
2,601
5,636
67,633
29.56
31.04
44.34
14.78
6
7
2,680
5,806
69,670
30.45
31.97
45.68
15.23
7
8
2,760
5,979
71,752
31.36
32.93
47.04
15.68
8
9
2,842
6,159
73,902
32.30
33.92
48.45
16.15
9
10
2,928
6,343
76,122
33.27
34.93
49.91
16.64
10
11
3,016
6,534
78,410
34.27
35.98
51.41
17.14
12
12
3,106
6,731
80,766
35.30
37.07
52.95
17.65
44 Hour Schedule
TELECOMMUNICATIONS SUPERVISOR
Start
1
1
2
2
3
2,677
5,800
69,601
30.42
37.47
45.63
15.21
3
4
2,757
5,974
71,683
31.33
37.47
47.00
15.67
4
5
2,840
6,153
73,834
32.27
37.47
48.41
16.14
5
6
2,925
6,338
76,053
33.24
37.47
49.86
16.62
6
7
3,012
6,527
78,318
34.23
37.47
51.35
17.12
7
8
3,103
6,723
80,675
35.26
37.47
52.89
17.63
8
9
3,196
6,925
83,100
36.32
38.14
54.48
18.16
9
10
3,292
7,133
85,594
37.41
39.28
56.12
18.71
10
11
3,391
7,346
88,157
38.53
40.46
57.80
19.27
12
12
3,493
7,568
90,811
39.69
41.67
59.54
19.85
NOTE:
1. Annual Hours
2,288
2. Monthly and Annual rate are approximations
CITY OF FORT WORTH
Fire EMS Civil Service Classifications
Salary Schedule for FY 2024-2025
and FY 2025-2026
40 Hour Schedule
Rank Years from
Per Pay
Step Hourly
,
Step
I Monthly I
Annual I
I Acting Rate
Step Hourly OT
(Step HOF
Grade/Job Code Start
period
Rate
TELECOMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Start
1
1
2
2
3
2,998
6,495
77,938
37.47
39.34
56.21
18.74
3
4
3,087
6,689
80,267
38.59
40.52
57.89
19.30
4
5
3,180
6,890
82,680
39.75
41.74
59.63
19.88
5
6
3,275
7,096
85,155
40.94
42.99
61.41
20.47
6
7
3,374
7,309
87,714
42.17
44.28
63.26
21.09
7
8
3,475
7,530
90,355
43.44
45.61
65.16
21.72
8
9
3,579
7,755
93,059
44.74
46.98
67.11
22.37
9
10
3,686
7,987
95,846
46.08
48.38
69.12
23.04
10
11
3,798
8,228
98,738
47.47
49.84
71.21
23.74
12
12
3,911
8,474
101,691
48.89
51.33
73.34
24.45
NOTE:
1. Annual Hours 2,080
2. Monthly and Annual rate are approximations
Addendum B
Command Staff Pay Range for EMS Personnel in
Rank Grade Min $/hr
Fire Deputy EMS Officer Z07 54.93
Fire Assistant Chief Y08 78.59
Fire Chief 311 78.40
Fire, eff 6/28/2025
Max $/hr
67.56
91 17
129.36
City of Fort Worth, Texas
Mayor and Council Communication
DATE: 06/24/25 M&C FILE NUMBER: M&C 25-0632
LOG NAME: 36FY25 FIRE STAFFING ORDINANCE EMS
SUBJECT
(ALL) Adopt Ordinance Amending Fire Department Staffing Effective June 28, 2025, to Increase the Number of Authorized Civil Service Positions
in Various Specified Classifications by a Total of Five Hundred Forty -Three (543) to Account for Emergency Medical Services Personnel, Adopt
Ordinance Amending the Fort Worth City Code to Address the Newly Created Appointed Position of Deputy EMS Officer, and Adopt Ordinance
Prescribing Salaries for the Emergency Medical Services Personnel in the Fire Department
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Adopt the attached ordinance to revise the authorized strength in the Fire Department effective June 28, 2025 by adding a total
543 positions in various specified classifications for Emergency Medical Services Civil Service personnel;
2. Adopt the attached ordinance adding Section 13-24.1, "Fire EMS Appointees," and amending Section 13-25 of the Fort Worth City Code to
allow for direct appointment in the newly created classification of Deputy EMS Officer; and
3. Adopt the attached ordinance prescribing salaries for Emergency Medical Services personnel in the Fire Department, effective June 28,
2025.
DISCUSSION:
The purpose of this Mayor and Council Communication (M&C) and the attached ordinances is to take actions associated with the incorporation of
ambulance and emergency medical services, including EMS communications, that were previously provided by the Metropolitan Area Emergency
Medical Services (EMS) Authority d/b/a MedStar into the Fire Department. This first ordinance attached to this M&C will add a total of 543 Civil
Service positions to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budgeted authorized strength in the Fire Department, effective June 28, 2025, the second
ordinance will revise the City Code to allow for a new appointed classification of Deputy EMS Officer, and the third will prescribe the salaries of
each new classification.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Professional Firefighters Association, IAFF Local
440, revised the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to grant civil service status to employees in certain EMS positions. The MOU was
approved on January 28, 2025 (M&C 25-0085; Fort Worth Contract No. 62733) and expires on September 30, 2026, alongside the CBA.
Adoption of the first ordinance will revise Civil Service staffing levels in the Fire Department to include Emergency Medical Services personnel and
will amend the last staffing ordinance (Ordinance 26455-09-2023) to include 543 EMS Civil Service Positions.
Adoption of the second ordinance will amend the City Code to recognize the authority of the Fire Chief to appoint up to two persons in the
classification of Deputy EMS Officer, as part of the EMS Personnel and update an internal cross-reference and a citation to state law.
Adoption of the third ordinance will prescribe the salaries for each classification of EMS personnel in the Fire Department in accordance with state
law and the adopted Collective Bargaining Agreement
As of June 28, 2025, Civil Service staffing will be increased in the Fire Department to the following:
Rank
(Current Change from
(Authorized ChangelAuthorized Future
Authorized Fire Class
Positions from
Strength Intended
Positions 99 Graduation including EMS
including Authorized
Overages
Overages (this
EMS Strength
(separate
M&C)
M&C)
Deputy EMS Officer
I I
+2
2 2
F
EMS Administration
+1
1 1
Officer
EMS Manager
+6
6
F
EMS Supervisor
iLead Paramedic
Emergency Medical
Technician (EMT)
I
Telecommunications
Manager
Telecommunications
Supervisor
+30
130
30
+189
189
137
+276
I
276
328
+1
11
1
+7 7 7
Telecommunicator +3' 1 31 131
EMS Subtotal
Fire Assistant Chief 3
Fire Deputy Chief 6
Fire Battalion Chief 30
Fire Captain 92
Fire Lieutenant
Fire Engineer
r------
Fire Fighter
Fire Subtotal
F
Total Strength
+543 543 543
l
I3 3 3
6 6 16
I
30 1 30 30
I92 I92 92
143
143
143
143
I
•228
228
228
228
-
547 +18
I
�565
565
547
1,049
1,067
I1,067 I
1,067
1,610
1,049
1,592
1,049
EMS positions are captured in the Emergency Medical Services Fund and are included in the cost allocation process for other jurisdictions that
will be receiving EMS services from Fort Worth (the Member Cities). Fire positions are captured in the General Fund.
The MOU amended the CBA to add a new subsection (L) to Article 4, to provide that the Fire Chief can, by directive, "set or prescribe the number
of EMTs, Lead Paramedics, EMS Supervisors, EMS Managers, and EMS Administration Officers, Telecommunicators, Telecommunications
Supervisors, or Telecommunications Managers in each classification." This authority is in addition to the authority of the City Council to determine
the number of positions in each classification.
This provision was included to provide an efficient mechanism for addressing the fact that the personnel coming over from Medstar include more
individuals who meet the Lead Paramedic classification than the City would ideally have if it were building the EMS system and staffing positions
from the ground up. If the City were designing from scratch, there would be fewer Lead Paramedics and more EMTs. The Fire Chief will use this
provision to rebalance the allocation over time as personnel changes take place.
When a vacancy occurs in the Lead Paramedic classification, the Fire Chief, by directive and in accordance with authority delegated under the
staffing ordinance, will decrease the number of authorized positions in the Lead Paramedic classification and increase the number of authorized
positions in the EMT classification. This procedure will be used by the Fire Chief until the authorized strength in the Lead Paramedic classification
is reduced to 137 and the authorized strength for the EMT classification is increased to 328. A vacancy in the EMT classification will be filled
through the customary process, and no changes in the authorized strength will result. In changing the number of authorized positions in the EMT
and Lead Paramedic positions in the manner described above, the Fire Chief will endeavor to maintain 465 total authorized positions in the
classifications of EMT and Lead Paramedic of which 449 are currently assigned to Field Operations.
Included in the chart above, due to Class 99 Fire Recruit Graduation, there is a temporary increase in authorized strength by eighteen (18) in the
rank of Fire Fighter. These positions are being added pursuant to a separate M&C and ordinance that are also on today's agenda. As attrition
occurs in the rank of Fire Fighter, these overages will be eliminated, and a new staffing ordinance will be presented to adjust the authorized
strength, accordingly. The column headed as 'Future Intended Authorized Strength' is the return of firefighters, to their current authorized strength,
as well as the appropriate balance of EMT's and Paramedics in field operations based on current deployment need for Advanced Life
Support (ALS) and Basic Life Support (BLS).
A Form 1295 is not required because: This M&C does not request approval of a contract with a business entity.
FISCAL INFORMATION ! CERTIFICATION:
The Director of Finance certifies that upon approval of the recommendations and adoption of the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget for Emergency Medical
Services by the City Council, funds will be available in the current operating budget, as appropriated, in the Emergency Medical Services
Fund. Prior to an expenditure being incurred, the Fire Department has the responsibility to validate the availability of funds.
Submitted for Citv Manaaer's Office bv: William Johnson
Orioinatina Business Unit Head: Jim Davis 6801
Additional Information Contact:
Expedited