November 22, 2023
Community Development
DATE: November 22, 2022
TO: Mayor Butt and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Lina Velasco, Director of Community Development
Jesus Morales, Housing Manager
SUBJECT:
Emergency Security Services for the Castro
Encampment, Contract with Ascend Professional
Services, LLC
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The proposed security services will be paid for using funds from the $4.8 million encampment resolution grant received from the California Interagency Council on
Homelessness (Cal ICH) (Account String: 15061219-
400201-16G07).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
N/A
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
City staff is requesting authorization to enter into a short- term emergency contract for security services at the
Castro Encampment to address life, property, and public safety issues.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE an emergency contract with Ascend
Professional Services, LLC, to provide security guard
services, for up to three guards, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays, for term ending on
January 31, 2023, in an amount not to exceed $200,000
– Community Development (Lina Velasco/Jesus M.
Morales 510-620-6706).
AGENDA
REPORT
November 22, 2023
DISCUSSION:
The Community Development Department needs to secure emergency security services for the Castro Encampment, located at Hensley and Castro Streets. The Castro encampment is comprised of approximately 60 vehicles and 80 individuals. This encampment has been a source of documented and undocumented criminal activity over the past couple of years, including illegal dumping, stolen vehicles, drug activity, burglary, and sexual assault.
Moreover, in recent weeks there has been a suspicious death that is being investigated by Richmond Police Department as a possible homicide of one of the residents of the encampment that occurred on or about October 14, 2022, and a recent reported shooting on October 23, 2022, with the victim reported to be in critical condition. On November 6, 2022, a fire broke out that burnt three recreational vehicles, one boat, and damaged another RV. The cause of the fire is not known at this time but may have been a result of retaliatory acts against an encampment resident(s).
City staff is working on a Request for Proposal for Security Services at the Castro Encampment; however, due to the recent suspicious death, shooting, and fire, City staff and police have heightened concerns for personal safety of encampment residents and service providers working at the encampment. The emergency contract will be through the period ending January 31, 2023, in anticipation of having a contract for longer term security services in 2023 while the Request for Proposals is issued and responses can be properly evaluated and submitted for City Council consideration and approval, which can take 30 to 60 days.
This emergency contract would be for security guard services including three guards on duty, 24 hours a day through January 31, 2023, in an amount not to exceed $200,000.
City staff is recommending a contract with Ascend Professional Services, LLC, a security firm located in Vallejo, California, to provide these emergency security services.
Chauncey Kirtdoll, principal of Ascend Professional Services, LLC (Ascend), has over 25 years of experience in human resources, project and property security services, and military training. Ascend has been providing security in various locations and property types such as shopping malls, parking lots, schools, apartment buildings, grocery stores, homeless encampments, and other large public events for the Golden State Warriors, San Francisco 49ers, and the Super Bowl. All security staff is licensed by the State of California for security services. In addition, Mr. Kirtdoll provides and requires staff to participate in training to enhance their people management skills. His firm can access additional staffing as needed based on the requirements of each assignment.
Ascend has the necessary staff for the current assignment that would be able to start within four days-notice of contract execution.
These characteristics make Ascend Professional Services, LLC the ideal candidate to provide the short-term emergency security services for the Castro encampment and the
November 22, 2023
reason City staff recommends authorization to enter into this emergency contract for security services.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Contract
Attachment 2 – Emergency Justification Form