After combining its police and fire operations just five years ago in an effort to cut costs, a committee Tuesday voted to move ahead with a plan that would once again separate the departments and shake up leadership.
The Tuesday vote means a police and fire subcommittee can now work toward determining new job duties for newly promoted fire and police chiefs, as well as the new role for the city's current public safety chief.
The city commission narrowly approved the measure back on Sept. 21.
Under the proposed reorganization plan, the city's current deputy police and deputy fire chiefs would be promoted to chiefs of their respective departments. Both would report to the city manager, as opposed to the current model where the deputy chiefs answer to Catherine Garcia-Lindstrom, the city's chief of public safety.
City leaders contest the move is about smart succession planning and being prepared for an expected wave of retirements over the next few years, including the top three ranking personnel in the city's police department.