During the February 13, 2024 Council Meeting, Citygate Associates presented Council Members with a technical report and an overview of its findings from the comprehensive evaluation of the Shakopee Fire Department it had conducted. Within its report, Citygate noted 26 findings and 12 recommendations. Of those, 15 findings and 7 recommendations are regarding staffing or are recommendations that will impact staffing, if implemented. More specifically, it was recommended that the Shakopee Fire Department move away from its current combination department that relies primarily on paid on-call firefighters to a career department that relies on full-time firefighters, supplemented by part-time firefighters, and operating out of two fire stations. Additionally, Citygate provided a comprehensive staffing recommendation and phasing plan which laid out the addition of 25 full-time positions including 14 firefighters, 6 Captains, 3 Battalion Chiefs, an administrative support staff, and a Fire Inspector. These additional positions are recommended to take place over a four-year period and cost an estimated total of $1,713,932.