The City of Austin is researching the possibility of implementing a fire call fee before making any decisions about moving forward with the revenue-generating measure.

During the third of four meetings in which the Austin City Council will discuss budget reductions, the council opted Monday night to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of such a fee with other cities.

The proposal was one of several public safety line items on the agenda at the work session.

City councils in Minnesota were granted the right to implement fire call fees in 2005. The Austin council would have to adopt in ordinance, and decide how much the fee would cost.

“It sure seems like a core service to the citizens they already pay taxes for,” council member Steve King said, pointing out citizens may risk extinguishing fires themselves to avoid the fire call fee. He added that making sure people pay their fees could be a problem, particularly those who don’t have homeowner’s insurance.

“I just see it as a core service the city should be responsible for through the tax levy,” King said.

Council member John Martin said many people will not be able to afford paying the fee, which could amount to hundreds of dollars per fire.

“I got calls from numerous people in the Third Ward who are living on a fixed income,” Martin said.

Tom Dankert, director of administrative services, said most homeowners have insurance, which may cover the cost if the fire department had to be called. Many metro areas do not have fire call fees; he did not know about rural areas.

The proposed fire fee would generate $11,250 in 2009 and $22,500 in 2010. An estimated flat fee cost per call was not discussed. Fires at rental properties would be charged to the property owner.

With the exception of the fire call fee and half of the Police Explorers funding, all other public safety proposals were recommended for approval at the next regular council meeting April 6.

Other public safety reductions discussed Monday included:

Holidays

One proposal is to require public safety staff to take holidays off without pay beginning in 2010.

The city would have to negotiate with the unions, Police Chief Paul Philipp said.

The holidays would amount to a “pretty substantial amount of money,” Philipp said. Employees now get 11 paid holidays. The proposal would save the city $25,000.

Adult school crossing guard program

The adult school crossing guard program — not to be confused with the student safety patrol officers who monitor the areas around the schools — has been recommended for a $5,300 cut in 2009 and $10,961 cut in 2010, which would eliminate the city’s involvement with the program.

Philipp surveyed the four crossing guards, who work 45 minutes in the mornings and afternoons:

The Sumner Elementary guard at Fourth Street and Seventh Avenue Northwest has about 12-15 kids in the morning and 12-15 in the afternoon.

The Banfield Elementary guard at 12th Street and Third Avenue Southwest has about four kids during the winter and eight in nice weather in the morning and eight students in the afternoon.

The Banfield guard at Oakland Avenue and 15th Street Southwest has about 10 kids in the morning and 10-20 in the afternoon.

The Southgate Elementary guard at 12th Street Southwest and 19th Avenue has about two to four kids in the winter and eight when it’s nice in the morning and two to four in the winter and 10 when it’s nice during the afternoon.

“We’re probably talking about 40 children served by this program in the city,” Philipp said. “It’s a really tough program to fill. We’ve done it for more than the 30 years I’ve been here.”

Philipp said there are many dangerous intersections in Austin that do not have guards, an issue that has not been addressed.

“It’s just kind of been left there,” he said.

The chief said neither the school district nor senior center expressed interest in taking over the program when asked. Philipp said if funding is eliminated, he believes there will no longer be any adult crossing guards at those intersections unless another entity takes the reins.

“As a parent who volunteers their share, I would think we could get parents,” council member Steve King said.

Police Explorers

About 10-15 kids each year participate in the Police Explorers program, where students receive training from the police department and serve as security at various events.

“It’s like a Boy Scouts program for people who are particularly interested in careers in law enforcement,” Philipp said. “I think that they are a pretty dedicated group.”

The proposal would eliminate the city’s contribution of $3,000 in 2010.

The city does not fund officers for training; the money only goes toward uniforms, equipment and a trip to the statewide competition.

“We told them, this year they’re OK; next year something will happen,” Philipp said. “They are interested in continuing it.”

The council recommended funding half of the $3,000 for 2010.