CONSENT ITEM
E-8
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
VIA: SERGIO GONZALEZ, CITY MANAGER
FROM: MIKI CARPENTER, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES
DATE: JULY 20, 2026
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF A FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL
SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH BLACKWATER PUBLIC SAFETY FOR
UNARMED SECURITY SERVICES
BACKGROUND:
In March 2015, the Metro Gold Line Station in Downtown Azusa opened, increasing activity throughout the City and resulting in a greater need for security services at City-owned facilities, public spaces, and community events. To help maintain a safe, secure, and welcoming environment, the City utilizes unarmed security personnel to provide a visible presence, assist the public, address lower-level safety concerns, deter prohibited or disruptive activity, and report incidents requiring law enforcement intervention to the Azusa Police Department.
Following a competitive Request for Proposals process, the City Council approved a Professional Services Agreement with Blackwater Public Safety on September 15, 2025, for unarmed security services from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2028, with two optional one-year extensions.
Since approval of the Agreement, the City's security needs have increased due to evolving operational requirements. Most notably, construction at the Library and Senior Center has required services, employees, and programming to be temporarily relocated to alternate sites while maintaining oversight of the construction locations. These temporary operating conditions have created the need for additional security coverage to help ensure a safe environment for employees, patrons, program participants, and visitors. As a result, additional funding is needed to support the increased level of service.
First Amendment to PSA for Unarmed Security Services
July 20, 2026
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Staff recommends the City Council take the following actions:
1) Approve a First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Blackwater Public Safety for the provision of unarmed security services, increasing the total not-to-exceed annual compensation amount from $225,000 to $321,000; and 2) Authorize the City Manager to execute the Amendment, in substantial form, subject to minor modifications acceptable to the City Attorney, on behalf of the City.
ANALYSIS:
Maintaining safe and welcoming public facilities remains a priority as the City continues to expand its programs, services, and operations. Unarmed security personnel provide an important layer of support by maintaining a visible presence, assisting the public, addressing lower-level safety concerns, monitoring City facilities, and contacting the Azusa Police Department when law enforcement intervention is needed.
Current security needs have increased due to the ongoing Library and Senior Center construction projects, which have temporarily relocated services and programming to multiple locations. These arrangements require expanded security coverage to provide appropriate oversight at both the temporary operating sites and construction areas. Additional security is also needed to support early morning Transit operations and other periods when an increased security presence is warranted.
The proposed First Amendment will increase the annual compensation by $96,000 to reflect these temporary operational needs and ensure continued security coverage at City facilities. Maintaining a visible security presence helps provide a safe environment for employees, patrons, program participants, and visitors while allowing City staff to focus on delivering quality public services.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Upon City Council approval, the contract purchase order will be amended and funded as follows:
• $103,000 from Recreation (10-25-410-000-6615)
• $60,000 from Senior Services (10-25-543-000-6615)
• $20,000 from Family Services (10-25-543-100-6615)
• $138,000 from Library (10-30-511-000-6615)
With the exception of the Library funding, all amounts were programmed in the FY 26-27 Budget.
The Library budgeted $90,720, requiring an additional $47,280 from General Fund in order to fully fund the contract for FY 26-27. Upon Council approval, staff will prepare a budget amendment and add $47,280 to the FY 2026-27 Library budget under account 10-30-511-000-6615.
First Amendment to PSA for Unarmed Security Services
July 20, 2026
Prepared by: Reviewed by:
Nikki Rosales Miki Carpenter
Senior Management Analyst Director of Community Resources Reviewed and Approved by:
Sergio Gonzalez
City Manager
Attachment:
1) First Amendment to PSA
1 CITY OF AZUSA
FIRST AMENDMENT TO
AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
1. PARTIES AND DATE.
The First Amendment to the Agreement for Professional Services (“First Amendment”) is entered into on this 20th day of July 2026, by and between the City of Azusa (hereinafter referred to as the “City”) and Blackwater Public Safety (hereinafter referred to as the “Consultant”). City and Consultant are sometimes collectively referred to herein as the “Parties.”
2. RECITALS.
2.1 Agreement. The Parties entered into that certain Agreement, attached as Exhibit A, for provision of unarmed security services dated September 16, 2025 (“Agreement”).
2.2 First Amendment. The Parties desire to increase the total compensation due to the increased need during the project.
3. TERMS.
3.1 Section 3.3.1 Compensation is deleted in its entirety and replaced with: 3.3.1 Compensation. Consultant shall receive compensation, including authorized reimbursements, for all Services rendered under this Agreement at the rates set forth in Exhibit “C” attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference. The total compensation shall not exceed Three Hundred TwentyOne Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($321,000) annually without written approval of the City Council. Extra Work may be authorized, as described below, and if authorized, will be compensated at the rates and manner set forth in this Agreement.
3.2 Remaining Provisions of Agreement. Except as otherwise specifically set forth in this First Amendment, the remaining provisions of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
SIGNATURES ON THE NEXT PAGE
2 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Second Amendment to the Agreement on this 20th day of July, 2026.
CITY OF AZUSA BLACKWATER PUBLIC SAFETY
By: By:
Sergio Gonzalez
City Manager
ATTEST:
By:
Jeffrey Lawrence Cornejo, Jr.
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
By:
Burke, Williams, & Sorensen, LLP
City Attorney
3 EXHIBIT “C”
COMPENSATION
Unarmed Guard Services Hourly Rate $45.00
Holiday Hourly Rate $67.50
Total compensation shall not exceed $321,000 annually. Services are rendered with a monthly invoice provided at the conclusion of each month.
Exhibit A