Council tables Arts Council request to forgive Music on Main policing bill

The Allegheny County Council on July 16 tabled a request from the Arts Council to forgive a roughly $1,100 policing bill tied to the recent Music On Main event.

An Arts Council representative (Arts council representative, S4) told the council the group was surprised to receive the invoice, saying the amount had not been budgeted and that they were not given advance notice of the change in policy. "It was about $1,100 that we had not budgeted for in our fundraising," the representative said.

Council members and staff discussed why the charge appeared. Staff (Council member / Staff, S2) and the police (Police chief / Red Peter, S3; Police officer, S10) said the fee covered officer time for street closures and traffic control as well as public-safety responsibilities; staff also noted municipal crews set up and took down barricades. The chief said events routinely require marked police presence for traffic control and public safety, and that officers sometimes must leave events for emergency calls, increasing required coverage.

Speakers explored alternatives to reduce costs for next year, including a fixed, predictable charge, using volunteer groups or other community organizations to assist with barricades, and clearer advance notice to event organizers. "It would be easier to budget for if it's just a known entity," the Arts Council representative said.

Council member (S9) moved to table the Arts Council’s request to the next meeting so staff could draft clearer contracts and billing language; another member seconded. The chair called the motion and the matter was tabled for further review.

The council did not adopt a policy change at the meeting; staff were asked to return with proposed contract language and cost estimates for event policing and barricade labor.