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Committee forwards proposed mall police services agreement covering three officers at Commons
Summary
The parks and public safety committee voted to forward a proposed services agreement that would continue dedicated police coverage at the Commons Mall, a privately contracted arrangement that brings revenue to the city and keeps three officers assigned during mall hours.
The Parks, Recreation, Human Services and Public Safety Committee voted unanimously to forward to the Sept. 16 consent agenda a proposed services agreement that would continue a city-funded police presence at the Commons Mall through a contract with MGPX1 Commons West LLC. The agreement would bring revenue to the city for 2025 policing at the mall.
Committee members and police leadership said the dedicated mall detail provides steady community contact and faster initial response to thefts and fraud reported at the shopping center. Commander Hodge, presenting for the police department, said the mall officers allow “officers the opportunity to interact with the citizens” and that residents feel safer with an on-site presence.
The city would receive revenue to offset officers’ costs; the presentation listed $275,476.78 attributed to the city for 2025. Chief presenters said the mall detail currently staffs three officers and provides coverage while preserving patrol staffing elsewhere. Michael Coffey, a commander filling in at the meeting, told the committee: “We are definitely saving time and money by having them in the mall.”
Committee members asked operational questions about hours (presented as roughly 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Monday–Saturday and a shorter Sunday schedule), whether the mall detail counts toward patrol district totals (it does not), and whether the city maintains a storefront substation at the mall (staff said there is a substation but not an active storefront and that mall management controls storefront space). Police said the department moved from two to three officers as mall workload and scheduling needs required continuous coverage.
The committee’s vote authorized forwarding the proposed services agreement for final council approval on the consent agenda; no substantive amendment to the contract was adopted in committee.
Committee members said they support the continuation of the detail but pressed staff for updated crime numbers at the mall and for clarification of the contract’s cost‑sharing and scheduling implications before final council action.
