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ENSURE EFFECTIVE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO FIRE AND MEDICAL EMERGENCIES IN OUR CONTRACT CITIES Challenge #1 -Difficulty filling vacant shifts for staffing at all three stations. Maintaining adequate staffing levels across all three stations remains a significant challenge. While the addition of six full-time Captains in 2024 enabled a 24/7 staffing model, we continue to rely heavily on part-time personnel —many of whom have full- time jobs or commitments elsewhere. Vacant shifts, particularly at Station 130, have led to "brown -out" conditions where the station is unstaffed. In 2024, Station 130 was browned out during 21% of scheduled shifts, and 46% of shifts had fewer than eight personnel on duty. Our current budget supports either eight or nine personnel dependent on the day of the week and time of day. Shifts staffed with fewer than 8 personnel mean there are one or more vacancies and the base schedule was not filled. 37% Shifts in 01 2025 with fewer than 8 personnel on duty ree Reduced staffing directly impacts our ability to respond safely and effectively to emergencies. For structure fires, a full crew is required to conduct search and rescue or initiate fire suppression. With limited personnel, crews must wait for backup before entering a structure, costing critical time. This is especially dangerous given the rapid growth rate of modern fires and the limited survivable window for occupants. Addressing this challenge is our highest strategic priority. Incremental hiring of full-time firefighters will reduce reliance on part-time staff, improve response consistency, and lower costs related to gear, training, and software platforms based on headcount. Appendix A and Appendix C show the increasing call volumes and overlapping incidents historically. Appendix B gives a more detailed look at staffing across the stations during 2024. 12