Since its inception, the City of Shakopee Fire Department has primarily been staffed by volunteers and paid-on-call firefighters. As the city has grown and developed, so has the need for full-time staff. A full-time chief was hired in 2008, a full-time day response crew was added in 2013, and additional positions were added over the last several years to reach the staffing level Shakopee Fire has today of eight full-time staff, with an additional 35-40 part-time firefighters. 

In 2020, the City of Shakopee began transitioning to a 24/7 staffing model in which the full-time staff continue to work primarily a traditional daytime schedule, while paid-on-call staff supplement the nights and weekends with scheduled shifts. This model is getting harder to maintain as our part-time staff are trying to juggle the demands of scheduled fire shifts, fire department training, personal and family lives, and outside full-time employment. 

A comprehensive departmental study will provide recommendations for a reliable, predictable, and sustainable staffing model, as well as identify an overall strategic direction for the future of Shakopee Fire. It would also likely recommend a deferment or even reduction in currently anticipated capital expenditures for facilities, vehicles, and/or equipment. Two proposals were received and reviewed, staff is recommending to engage Citygate to perform the study.