The Birmingham City Commission held its annual long-range planning session Jan. 21, during which commissioners heard reports from various city departments on what happened in 2011 and what's in store for Birmingham in 2012.

Birmingham Patch was there all day, but just in case you missed it, here are some of the highlights about the upcoming year in city government.

Fire Department discusses new equipment, renovating Chesterfield station

At the Jan. 21 long-range planning session, Fire Chief Mike Metz presented a list of the Birmingham Fire Department’s projected purchases for the upcoming year, including buying a new power stretcher that could reduce firefighter injuries and replacing a 17-year-old EKG monitor. Metz also spoke of the department’s plans to eventually replace its 15-year-old reserve ambulance as well as various staff and utility vehicles.

Commissioners also discussed purchasing a new fire engine in upcoming years, as well as proposed renovations to the Chesterfield Fire Station, in part because new fire engines are too wide to enter the station’s doors.

• For more: For a full report from the long-range planning session, check out Birmingham Plans for 2012 and Beyond During Long-Range Planning Session. Make sure to tell us what you think city government should focus on in 2012 by taking our poll at the end of the story.