Arlington police, firefighters urge quick resolution to talks with sports teams
By SUSAN SCHROCK
sschrock@star-telegram.com
ARLINGTON — Police and fire association leaders said Friday that they are concerned that the city hasn’t reached an agreement with the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers about who will pay for public-safety personnel at games and special events.
City officials have said they hoped to have an agreement by Dec. 15. The first event at the 80,000-seat Cowboys stadium could occur as early as May.
"We are seven months away from the first big event. We need to quit negotiating and come to an agreement," said Randle Meadows, president of the Arlington Police Association.
Both the Cowboys stadium and the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington are on city-owned property. Under the city’s special-events guidelines, which were proposed in August, the teams and event promoters who use those venues would have to submit a detailed public-safety plan for approval. The city also wants authority to help determine the level of police, fire and medical staffing needed not only to ensure visitors’ safety but also to avoid disruption of traffic and basic services to other neighborhoods.
The proposal includes a formula that determines staffing needs based on the expected number of visitors at the venue and other factors, such as an increased public-safety threat if multiple events are held close to each other. Under the 1/2 times their normal proposal, event organizers would pay city employees 1 hourly pay. If the event falls on a holiday, normal hourly pay would be doubled.
Officials of both teams have expressed concern about costs if the city sets minimum staffing levels. The police and fire association leaders say they are worried that the teams will request a reduction in the number of personnel they would be required to pay for, leaving it to taxpayers to cover any additional personnel the city deems necessary.
The city did not increase the police or fire department budgets this fiscal year to handle additional events in the entertainment district.
"We believe without this agreement in place, it’s going to be devastating to all of us," said David Crow, president of the Arlington Professional Fire Fighters Association. "That’s going to rob from delivery of services to the rest of the town."
Assistant Fire Chief Don Crowson, who helped draft the guidelines, declined to comment Friday on how negotiations with the teams are going. He said he hopes to have a report for the City Council in a couple of weeks.
SUSAN SCHROCK, 817-548-5475
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