(April 22, 2015, 7:18 p.m.) -- As seen LIVE and reported first (again) on LBREPORT.com, on April 17 the City Council's Public Safety Committee (Price, Austin, with Mungo absent) asked LBPD and LBFD management to present what Committee chair Price called [agendized text] "alternate funding sources for public safety" and "innovative ways" to address public safety needs.

• LBFD management: Long Beach Fire Chief Mike DuRee testified that he plans to propose that the City Council consider what he called a "First Responder Fee," a fee separate from current ambulance charges already assessed. Chief DuRee didn't provide the Committee with details and didn't submit written testimony but indicated he plans to bring a "First Responder Fee" proposal forward for Council discussion in the coming weeks.

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An online search indicates some California cities have implemented "First Responder Fees" although their substance varies. Garden Grove charges a First Responder Fee to nonresidents of the city, with exceptions to business owners and family members who are in the home of a resident at the time. Elk Grove and Galt have a First Responder Fee intended to cover the costs of a fire truck or engine responding to advanced life-supporting calls.

LBREPORT.com sought information from Chief DuRee's office on what he plans to propose; our inquiry remains pending; we'll update our text with a response as received.

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• LB Firefighters Ass'n: The Long Beach Firefighters Association (firefighters' union) didn't testify at the Committee in person but submitted a letter (visible in full in LBREPORT.com's previous coverage at this link.) proposing two initiatives. One proposal would create a "Fire District," which [LBFFA letter text] "would create a permanent long-term solution to rebuilding the Long Beach Fire Department and keeping it on a stable financial footing. Fire district formations are not new and many fire districts currently exist in the California."

  In very general terms, Fire Districts in other communities affect the way a fire department is run and funded. Fire districts operate basically as independent service entities and receive funds from taxes and/or fees. A portion of taxes paid by property owners could go to the fire district or an additional fee may be assessed in each district.

  LBFFA's letter also proposes "Fire Management Consolidation," stating: "Fire management has not been examined for efficiencies that can be made, nor have they been subject to cuts over the years. Several cities, recognizing that they can no longer cut operational sworn firefighters, have implemented fire management sharing with neighboring jurisdictions. Fullerton and Brea in Orange County have implemented such a model."

  LBREPORT.com sought details from LBFFA on exactly what it seeks in both of its proposals; our inquiry remains pending; we'll update our text with a response as received.)

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• LBPD management: LBPD Deputy Chief David Hendricks testified that the Department has already implemented various technological innovations (including real-time video feeds from privately owned security cameras) and also partners with other city departments and with non-profits and hopes to do more as opportunities arise. He didn't specify any new fees or taxes.

• LB Police Officers Ass'n: The LBPOA provided no in-person or written testimony to the Committee. LBREPORT.com contacted the LBPOA to learn if it favors any "alternate funding sources for public safety" or "innovative ways" to address public safety needs. Its response is pending and will be added here as received.

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Council majorities ultimately decide budget spending, and at the Committee meeting, neither Committee chair Price nor vice chair Austin (Mungo was absent) publicly questioned "proportionate share" budget reductions (initiated under former Mayor Bob Foster and his Council majorities) that have brought significant cuts to police and fire budgets (the General Fund's two largest spending areas) and reduced public safety service levels previously received by taxpayers.

Committee vice-chair Austin stated that he believes many of the solutions to public safety funding "may require a conversation with our residents...with the voters, on how they want to see resources allocated, if they want to commit new resources to public safety." Committee chair Price made a motion, seconded by vice-chair Austin, that at the Committee's next meeting "that there be an analysis or a review of some possible innovative options that each department can undertake or study in terms of finding more efficiencies in anticipation of the potential cuts that are coming." Chair Price indicated her Committee's next meeting would be in roughly two months.

Developing. LBREPORT.com will be following these proposals and will report details as we learn them.