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Council debates $155,000 festival security fund; author moves two-week layover for operational details
Summary
Council considered a plan to centralize a $155,000 2026 allocation to reimburse city department security costs for festivals (maximum $7,000 per event). Members praised the goal but requested operational plans from Planning & Economic Development; the author withdrew a motion and moved a two-week layover to Feb. 25 for staff details.
Council Member Buie presented Version 3 of a resolution to direct a $155,000 allocation toward reducing festival security costs by establishing administration within the Planning & Economic Development (PED) department. The plan would reimburse eligible city department security expenses tied to festivals (police, parks, public works and related costs), capped at $7,000 per event, and prioritize St. Paul-based, free events with a five-year history or events located in concentrated-poverty areas.
"Security cost has been the largest barrier for organizers to scale their festivals," Buie said, describing the proposal as a way to treat event organizers as small businesses and reduce economic barriers. She noted the program would reimburse city department bills rather than provide direct payments to organizations.
Council members questioned logistics and administrative capacity. Council Member Joost asked how PED would reconcile reimbursements with departmental billing cycles; Director McMahon (interim PED) said the department would need to create a new fund and application process and work with Finance and billing departments to operationalize credits versus reimbursements. "We would be diverting some economic development staff to create and administer this fund," McMahon said.
Several council members — including Joost and Coleman — said they supported the policy goals but wanted clearer operational timelines and staffing plans before adoption. Buie withdrew an initial motion and moved instead for a two-week layover to Feb. 25 to allow PED and other departments to provide concrete administrative steps. The layover motion passed unanimously (6–0).
What happens next: PED will prepare operational details (application process, reimbursement vs. credit workflow, staffing and timeline) for the Feb. 25 meeting so the council can decide between the competing versions and ensure funds can be dispersed promptly once approved.
