Title
Authorizing the write off of Police staffing costs for qualifying free public cultural festivals and community events.
Body
WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes that free public cultural festivals and community events are a public benefit that generate economic activity, activate public space, and support neighborhood vitality; and
WHEREAS, police staffing and related public safety services required by the City for such events constitute a municipal cost incurred to protect public safety and the orderly use of public space; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that subsidizing certain public safety costs for qualifying cultural festivals and community events serves a valid public purpose by supporting continued public access to cultural programming and stabilizing neighborhood based events; and
WHEREAS, under current economic conditions and enforcement related disruptions, certain community organizations lack the financial capacity to absorb these public safety costs without jeopardizing the continuation of their events; and
WHEREAS, it is the intent of the City Council, through this resolution, to authorize a one time public safety cost subsidy by writing off specified Accounts Receivable invoices associated with police staffing for qualifying events held in calendar year 2025.
WHEREAS, Chapter 96 of the Saint Paul Administrative Code governs the collection and write off of Accounts Receivable owed to the City of Saint Paul; and
WHEREAS, Section 96.05 of the Saint Paul Administrative Code authorizes the City Council to write off Accounts Receivable invoices by resolution when the action serves a clearly articulated public purpose and sets forth the factual basis for that determination; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has further exercised its authority to eliminate or write off library related fees and fines in recognition that access to public services, education, and community resources should not be restricted by financial barriers; and
WHEREAS, these actions reflect an established council practice of using Accounts Receivable write off authority as a policy tool to remove barriers to public access, promote community well being, and advance legitimate municipal purposes; and
WHEREAS, the write off of Accounts Receivable invoices for police staffing at qualifying free public cultural festivals and community events is consistent with this longstanding practice and represents a continuation of prior council actions taken in furtherance of public safety, access to public services, and neighborhood vitality.
WHEREAS, the Office of Financial Services has prepared the attached Accounts Receivable Write Off Report, attached hereto as Exhibit A, which complies with the requirements of Section 96.05, including the accounting unit, description of services provided, indication of whether the budget included income for such services, and any prior write off history; now, therefore, be it
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Saint Paul hereby establishes the following write off for qualifying free public community events and festivals for purposes of Accounts Receivable write off under this resolution:
1. Eligibility Criteria
A qualifying event must meet all of the following:
a. The host organization is based in Saint Paul and the event takes place within city limits; and
b. The event is free and open to the public; and
c. The event either
i. has been held in Saint Paul for a total of at least five years (not required to be consecutive), or
ii. takes place within an area of concentrated poverty or a designated cultural corridor; and
d. The event is not organized in support of a political candidate or political party; and
e. The organization demonstrates financial hardship and lacks the ability to pay the outstanding balance without jeopardizing future event viability; and
f. The Accounts Receivable invoice relates to police staffing or related public safety services required by the City.
2. Authorization of Write Off:
Pursuant to Section 96.05 of the Saint Paul Administrative Code, the Accounts Receivable invoices identified in Exhibit A are hereby written off in full.
3.City Council Administrative Direction
The Saint Paul Police Department and the Office of Financial Services are authorized to process the authorized write off in accordance with Chapter 96 of the Administrative Code and standard accounting practices.
4. Applicability of Section 96.06
Unless otherwise expressly stated herein, the provisions of Section 96.06 of the Administrative Code shall apply.