Garland, TX — The Fire and EMS Stakeholder Committee held its latest meeting on October 8, 2025, featuring a presentation by city-hired consultant Tim Nowak, who has been engaged for nine months to provide an outside perspective on fire and emergency medical services (EMS) management. City Manager Judson Rex noted that Nowak’s role is to “poke holes in the way Garland is doing things,” adding that the industry was changing. The committee will continue its work leading up to the next Municipal Election, which means there will be new faces joining Council to determine the fate of what comes out of this committee, with Jeff Bass and BJ Williams reaching their term limit this May. The discussion was centered on models of fire and EMS that could be considered for Garland. To listen to the full meeting, tune in online here.
Traditional and Alternative Models
Nowak began by explaining how other states operate their fire and EMS services. He then went on to give a brief overview of traditional models of fire and EMS management: Public/Municipal, Specialty Districts (taxing districts, Emergency Service Districts), and Private-for/Non-Profit organizations. He emphasized that while these models are prevalent, alternative models could be tailored to meet Garland’s unique needs.
Among the alternative models discussed were public-private partnerships, public safety departments, consortium systems, fire-based EMS with standalone providers, and emergency service departments.
As an example of a public-private partnership, Nowak highlighted the Aurora Fire Department and Falck Ambulance in Aurora, Colorado. In this model, the city’s public fire department provides initial advanced life support (ALS) and patient stabilization, while the private company, Falck Rocky Mountain, manages ambulance transport. While this model may offer some efficiencies, it has faced criticism regarding costs and service quality.
“I had a non-emergency situation that led to a bill of $2,021 for an ambulance ride of less than 10 blocks,” one reviewer of Falck noted on their Facebook page. “They did no medical procedure, only strapped me in and delivered me to the hospital.” Such feedback raises concerns about the implications of privatization, especially regarding the potential for price gouging without competition and the quality of care.
Another example presented was from Pinellas County, Florida, where a partnership with Sunstar EMS has resulted in scrutiny over response times and staffing levels. An audit revealed that Sunstar did not consistently meet response time obligations and had an average of 11.1% below the minimum required paramedics.
Addressing Burnout and Community Needs
The discussion also focused on the increasing number of calls to the Garland Fire Department, primarily EMS-related, which has led to burnout among firefighters. The department is currently evaluating the potential for a schedule transition to better accommodate the demands of its personnel and the community it serves. The committee recognized that EMS is a life-critical department, and significant changes may be necessary to support both the firefighters and the citizens of Garland.
It was stressed that the importance of exploring creative solutions, including the possibility of special taxing districts or a potential tax increase to fund necessary changes.
Committee Questions and Discussion
During the meeting, Nowak’s demeanor was notable, particularly during his exchange with Councilmember Dutton. When she expressed frustration with his presentation and pressed him about whether he had spent time with the firefighters, he explained that he had not yet had the chance and added, “I’m here speaking objectively and without emotion and it’s impartial, and with all due respect, you’re speaking from emotion right now,” suggesting that her concerns were emotionally driven. Dutton countered, to point out the importance of understanding the department’s culture and operations, stating, “As a resident of Garland who has a vested interest, absolutely, I have emotion.”
Nowak maintained that he was providing context without bias, but his interruptions during Dutton and committee member Merrill Balanciere’s attempts to clarify his points created a tense atmosphere. Balanciere sought to address the specifics of Nowak’s points, but was often cut off as Nowak continued to assert his perspective.
The discussion continued on, and shifted more to the primary reason the committee was formed, which was to address the potential shift change for the Garland Fire Department to move from a 24/48 to a 24/72 model. In light of Plano recently announcing its schedule change, the appeal to adjust has grown. Although it was mentioned during the discussion that data comes frequently and it can change, research overwhelmingly supports a reduced workload to combat negative health impacts from overworking. Firefighters currently work well beyond 40 hours each week, and that is taxing on anyone, let alone those providing life-critical care.
Key Questions for Future Consideration
As the committee continues its discussions, several questions could help clarify the path forward:
- What percentage of the Garland Fire Department personnel would support a 24/72 schedule? Could those who desire this schedule be accommodated?
- Has the city considered reallocating funds from other departments to support critical EMS needs, rather than solely relying on a tax increase or privatizing services?
- Will the committee ultimately suggest to Council that there be a community vote on a tax rate increase, or risk losing essential EMS services?
- Have larger patterns of EMS calls been analyzed to identify potential solutions for reducing call volume, especially those related to the Garland Jail or accident-prone intersections that could solve the latent problem?
- Will discussions include the introduction of telehealth services for EMS, such as RightSite, to broaden the scope of care available to the community?
The meeting concluded with a commitment to continue exploring these issues and to gather more data to inform future recommendations. The next Fire and EMS Stakeholder Committee meeting is scheduled for November 12, 2025, where these topics will be further examined.
Related: Discussions Swirl as the City of Garland Considers Privatizing Emergency Medical Services
