Council tables police off‑duty staffing app contract after questions about fees and double‑booking

Council members on May 5 tabled consideration of an agreement with a third‑party off‑duty policing app pending more information from department heads and the vendor.

Members said the contract as written indicates an 8% scheduling/processing fee that may be passed to municipalities. One council member raised scenarios in which a vendor could double‑book officers and leave the city to pay for officers who were scheduled but did not perform an assigned job. "The contract says they charge 8% per job, which means that when we do a paving job, it's now going to cost 8% more," the council member said during the discussion.

Administration characterized the rollout as collaborative and noted the program had been used by other municipalities; city staff said the vendor pays for the platform and that the contract language could be amended. Legal counsel said the ordinance and contract could be amended to clarify charges and invoicing practices if the council approved the program.

Council directed staff to arrange a follow‑up session, with the police department, finance and the vendor present (in person or by Zoom), so members can ask direct questions about double‑booking, invoicing, fee structures and how unpaid balances from outside entities would be handled. A motion to table the item was made and the council agreed to take it up again after the additional briefings.

Next steps: administration will schedule a follow‑up session with the vendor and relevant department heads and provide written answers about whether the vendor's 8% charge can be carved out or absorbed and about protections against double‑booking and vendor errors.