The Committee's items were agendized before a Sept. 2 Council action approving (without voted dissent) a mainly management/Mayor recommended FY15 budget providing taxpayers with no restored budgeted police, the complete elimination of LBPD's field anti-gang unit (previously 20 officers + 2 sergeants), no restored fire engines in three fire stations...and no additional park rangers.

However on a floor motion by 3rd dist. Councilwoman Suzie Price, the Council allocated $350,000 to LBPD to address residential burglaries. Councilwoman Price pursued her floor motion and prevailed (with support from Councilman Patrick O'Donnel;l) against some initial push-back from Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal.

At the Sept. 2 Council meeting, Mayor Garcia (presiding) gave the floor to Vice Mayor Lowenthal (his choice to chair the Council's Budget Oversight Committee) whom he invited to recite a series of agendized items to adopt the FY15 budget...despite the Council's ability to adopt the budget a week later (after additional discussion) at its Sept. 9 meeting.

This is the first meeting of the Council's Public Safety Committee Committee under new chair Price, with vice chair 8th dist. Councilman Al Austin and member 5th dist. Councilwoman Stacy Mungo (all chosen by new Mayor Garcia in July.)

LBREPORT.com will carry video on our front page www.LBREPORT.com starting atg noon.