Council adopts one‑year festival security credit but delays write‑off of unpaid police bills amid legal concerns

The Saint Paul City Council approved a one‑year Festivals & Events Security Credit program (version 2) designed to reduce police security invoices for qualifying free cultural events. Under the program, event organizers will check qualifying criteria on their event application; if all boxes are met, the police department will apply a credit up to $7,000 or 50% of the event's security bill. The police department committed to quarterly reporting to the council on credits applied.

The vote to adopt the credit was unanimous (7–0). Deputy Chief Halstrom described the administrative flow: organizers apply through existing permitting channels, special operations staff review the qualifying boxes, an estimate with the credit applied is issued, and OFS reconciles final billing.

Separately, council debated a proposed direct write‑off of outstanding police invoices for seven organizations (approximately $75,000). Organizers and small‑festival representatives urged relief, saying policing costs threaten the viability of free community events. The city attorney provided a memo advising that a straight write‑off likely would be an illegal gift under the city's legal framework unless specific statutory conditions are met; members raised fairness and process concerns. After extended testimony and council discussion, the council laid the write‑off item over for two weeks (vote to lay over passed 5–2) so OFS and the city attorney can provide further legal and procedural analysis and propose alternative mechanisms.

Council members said they are pursuing a longer-term fix for high security costs but used the credit as a stopgap to get relief into effect this year.