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The City Council approved a measure to codify staffing requirements for sa国际传媒官网网页入口 Fire Rescue responses, a move that puts it at odds with the mayor鈥檚 office, and displays a rift between the firefighters鈥� union and department leadership.

The resolution, sponsored by Councilors Dan Lewis and Joaqu铆n Baca, would continue a requirement that two paramedics be on board an ambulance that is responding to rescue calls.

It passed 7-2 on Monday evening, with Councilors Tammy Fiebelkorn and Brook Bassan voting against it.

The measure counters a proposed AFR policy that would have a firefighter with basic EMT training take the place of one of the fully-trained paramedics during rescue responses. The fire chief has said the proposed change would be more efficient, in part because the department is struggling to recruit paramedics.

That would be a sweeping change, Lewis said.

鈥淭his is our current system, and I think it鈥檚 something that鈥檚 really touted,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 know there鈥檚 a difference in opinion, but I think it鈥檚 clearly the case that two medics on a rescue is the best possible service.鈥�

The resolution now goes to Mayor Tim Keller for his signature, though the administration and AFR Chief Emily Jaramillo have said the current staffing is leading to longer response times.

鈥淎nytime we have firefighters with higher levels of training, that is providing a better service. How we distribute those firefighters is where we get creative,鈥� Jaramillo told councilors Monday.

The firefighters鈥� union is against the chief鈥檚 proposal to allow for an EMT to replace a paramedic on an ambulance.

鈥淲e are just asking city councilors to not go back on a standard that everyone agrees is better,鈥� Gus Pedrotty, local firefighter鈥檚 union outreach director, told the Journal on Monday.

While the measure passed, there appears to be a question of how much weight the resolution holds.

During Monday鈥檚 council meeting city attorney Lauren Keefe said the council was overstepping its jurisdiction.

鈥淚f these proceedings go further, ultimately, somebody may have to decide this question and what they鈥檒l balance is the administration鈥檚 right to determine staffing versus the council鈥檚 right to legislate on safety,鈥� Keefe said.

Lewis contended that it was up for interpretation.

鈥淭hese are differences of opinion, even differences of legal opinion,鈥� Lewis said. 鈥淚 think there鈥檚 a legal opinion regarding that the council does have that ability and has, on many occasions, applied that during staffing issues and ordinances that this council votes on.鈥�

The Keller administration filed complaints against Baca and Lewis for filing the legislation to the Labor Management Relations Board.

鈥淭his is really about a personnel dispute that needs to be resolved by the labor board and courts, not by politicians including me,鈥� Keller said in a statement Tuesday.

Before her vote against the resolution, the council鈥檚 president expressed concern it was passing policy it couldn鈥檛 enforce.

鈥淢y big concern that I鈥檝e shared with both sides is that I think the council is getting really good at doing stuff and then almost immediately having to undo it, and it鈥檚 disappointing,鈥� Bassan said.

Editors note: This story has been updated to accurately reflect city attorney Lauren Keefe's position.