The office of fire chief is hereby created and established for the city. The fire chief shall be the chief of the fire department of the city. The fire department of the city shall be under his/her supervision, and all members of the fire department shall be subject to the orders and supervision of the fire chief.
(2000 Code, sec. 11-6)
In accordance with 143.006 Local Government Code, the provisions of chapter 143 Local Government Code are hereby adopted and implemented in accordance with the law.
(2000 Code, sec. 11-7)
The classification of all firefighters subject to state civil service law and the number of authorized positions in each classification are hereby provided as follows:
Classification
No. of Authorized Positions
Fire chief (noncivil service position)
1
Fire marshal
1
Captain
4
Lieutenant
6
Equipment operator
12
Firefighter
12
Total
36
(Ordinance 11-3546, sec. I (11-8), adopted 6/14/11)
(a) 
Fire chief. The city fire chief is hereby designated, pursuant to state law, to be a noncivil service position.
(b) 
Cadet. Cadet position serves as a noncivil service position in the fire department until such time as the individual obtains required certifications to transition into an opening in the firefighter classifications listed in section 5.02.003. The fire chief, with city manager approval, may authorize the employment of, up to, an equal number of cadets as there are vacancies or openings in number of authorized positions in the firefighter classifications listed in section 5.02.003.
(Ordinance 04-3435, sec. I (11-9), adopted 10/26/04)
(a) 
The term “fire department certification pay” shall relate to pay which is offered upon successfully meeting the requirements set by the state commission on fire protection (TCFP) and the state department of state health services (TDSHS) for certification in the following areas and providing proof of the applicable accomplishments to the fire chief:
(1) 
TCFP basic firefighter;
(2) 
TCFP intermediate firefighter;
(3) 
TCFP advanced firefighter;
(4) 
TDSHS basic EMT;
(5) 
TDSHS EMT advanced; and
(6) 
TDSHS EMT-paramedic, or LP.
(b) 
The following chart shows which positions will be eligible for certification pay:
Positions
Intermediate firefighter
Advanced firefighter
EMT-I
EMT-P or LP
Fire chief
-
-
-
-
Fire marshal
X
X
X
X
Captain
X
X
X
X
Lieutenant
X
X
X
X
Equipment operator
X
X
X
X
Firefighter
X
X
X
X
(c) 
Continuing eligibility.
In order to have continuing certification pay eligibility as provided in this section, members of the fire department shall comply with the following provisions:
(1) 
After becoming eligible for the fire department certification pay, each member of the fire department, in order to continue such eligibility, is hereby required to successfully continue to meet all requirements of the TCFP, the TDSHS, Plainview Fire/EMS Department’s SOP, and city policy regarding such certifications.
(2) 
In the event that eligibility for the fire department certification pay, as set by the TCFP and the TDSHS, is not maintained by any member of the fire department, such member’s certification pay shall terminate on the date upon which the said TCFP or the TDSHS revokes, cancels or suspends the member’s certification.
(d) 
Authority.
It is hereby determined that the city has a population of under 1.5 million, and this section is passed pursuant to the authority of V.T.C.A., Local Government Code, section 143.044.
(Ordinance 11-3566, sec. I (11-10), adopted 11/17/11; Ordinance 21-3712, sec. 1, adopted 3/9/21)
(a) 
The city council hereby authorizes assignment pay in addition to the regular pay received by civil service members of the following divisions of the city fire/EMS department due to the specialized functions of such members:
(1) 
Fire prevention division;
(2) 
EMS division;
(3) 
Arson investigator (only if assigned to fire prevention division);
(4) 
Fire inspector (only if assigned to fire prevention division);
(b) 
It is hereby determined that the city has a population of under 1.5 million, and this section is passed pursuant to the authority of the V.T.C.A., Local Government Code, section 143.042.
(Ordinance 11-3566, sec. I (11-11), adopted 11/17/11)
A firefighter meeting the following minimal criteria and complying with the requirements established below shall receive additional pay.
(1) 
Arson investigator II.
To receive arson investigator II pay, a firefighter must:
(A) 
Hold an intermediate arson investigator certification issued by the state commission on fire protection and maintain this certification level or higher;
(B) 
Be assigned to the fire prevention division and actively perform the duties of arson investigator II; and
(C) 
Provide proof of certification to the fire chief.
(2) 
Arson investigator III.
To receive arson investigator III pay a firefighter must:
(A) 
Hold an advanced arson investigator certification issued by the state commission on fire protection and maintain this certification level or higher;
(B) 
Be assigned to the fire prevention division and actively perform the duties of arson investigator III; and
(C) 
Provide proof of certification to the fire chief.
(3) 
Fire inspector II.
To receive fire inspector II pay a firefighter must:
(A) 
Hold an intermediate fire inspector certification issued by the state commission on fire protection and maintain this certification level or higher;
(B) 
Be assigned to the fire protection division and actively perform the duties of fire inspector; and
(C) 
Provide proof of certification to the fire chief.
(4) 
Fire inspector III.
To receive inspector III pay a firefighter must:
(A) 
Hold an advanced fire inspector certification issued by the state commission on fire protection and maintain this certification level or higher;
(B) 
Be assigned to the fire prevention division and actively perform the duties of fire inspector; and
(C) 
Provide proof of certification to the fire chief.
(Ordinance 11-3566, sec. I (11-12), adopted 11/17/11)
Additional pay is authorized in the following monthly amounts:
(1) 
Certification pay shall be authorized for the following additional amounts paid:
(A) 
Firefighter certification pay.
(i) 
Basic firefighter certification: $40.00.
(ii) 
Intermediate firefighter certification: $120.00.
(iii) 
Advanced firefighter certification: $220.00.
(B) 
EMS certification pay.
(i) 
Basic EMT: $40.00.
(ii) 
EMT-A: $240.00.
(iii) 
EMT-P or LP: $480.00.
(C) 
Paramedic recertification pay.
A paramedic is required to be recertified once every four years. For each time a paramedic is recertified as a paramedic while employed by the city, the employed paramedic will be paid $25.00 per month.
(2) 
Assignment pay shall be authorized for the following additional amounts paid:
(A) 
Fire prevention division.
(i) 
Arson investigator II: $120.00.
(ii) 
Arson investigator III: $220.00.
(iii) 
Fire inspector II: $120.00.
(iv) 
Fire inspector III: $220.00.
(B) 
EMS division.
The fire chief may assign up to three (3) employees from within the fire department to serve as a quality assurance reviewer (quality assurance reviewer).
(i) 
Quality assurance reviewer: $120.00.
(Ordinance 11-3566, sec. I (11-13), adopted 11/17/11; Ordinance 21-3712, sec. 2, adopted 3/9/21; Ordinance 21-3712, sec. 3, adopted 3/9/21)
(a) 
The city council authorizes assignment pay in the above-stated additional amounts for firefighters in the above-specified positions as long as he/she possesses the specific criteria to perform the assigned positions.
(b) 
The fire chief shall establish procedures for the administration of the additional pay authorized by this article.
(c) 
Such certification and assignment pay will be effective retroactively starting October 1, 2011.
(Ordinance 11-3566, sec. I (11-14), adopted 11/17/11)