City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: December 19, 2023
Agenda Item: 5.E
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: David Martin, Director, Code Enforcement
Subject: Approval of Fifth Modification to A. G. Coast, Inc. Contract for Security Services on the Pier
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant effect pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3)(Common Sense Exemption) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
2. Award RFP #384 to A. G. Coast, Inc. dba California Panther Security for security services on the Santa Monica Pier for the Community Development Department.
3. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a fifth modification to agreement# 11259 in an amount of $3,102,470 with A.G. Coast, Inc. dba California Panther Security for the Community Development Department. This will result in a five- year amended agreement with a new total amount not to exceed $3,102,470, with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
Summary
The City of Santa Monica has been contracting with A. G. Coast, Corp. dba California Panther (CA Panther) Security since January 2022 to provide security services on and around the Santa Monica Pier. Code Enforcement Officers along with the Santa Monica Police Department work with CA Panther’s unarmed security guards to monitor points of entry onto the Santa Monica Pier. The current agreement with A.G. Coast expires on December 31, 2023. Staff conducted a formal Request for Proposals in October 2023, evaluated the proposals, and determined that A.G. Coast, Corp.’s proposal is the one that best meets the needs of the City. Staff recommends that the Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a fifth modification to agreement #11259 with 2 of 5
A.G. Coast, Corp. for security services on and around the Santa Monica Pier in an amount not to exceed $3,102,470 (includes 6% contingency) for five years, extending the term through December 31, 2028.
Discussion
In 2018, California adopted Senate Bill 946, the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act, decriminalizing sidewalk vending and allowing local authorities to adopt non-criminal laws to protect public health, safety, and welfare. In April 2019, the City updated Santa Monica Municipal Code Chapter 6.36: VENDING, to comply with State law. While the City responded to this new law by increasing the number of Code Enforcement Officers and staff from the Fire and Police Departments assigned to the Pier, the staffing was insufficient to respond to vendors obstructing the ingress and egress onto the Pier, thereby creating health and safety issues. In October 2020, the city determined that private, unarmed security services were necessary to keep the Santa Monica Pier safe structurally and for people visiting the Pier.
Allied Security Services, who was under contract with the City to provide security services at parking structures throughout the City, provided security officers to work with Code Enforcement Officers on the Pier from October 2021 through January 2022 to allow staff time to obtain informal bids. The City entered into a six-month contract with CA Panther through June 30, 2022. In May 2023, a second modification was approved to extend the term and increase the amount. In September 2022, a third modification was approved to include an extension of the term, an increase in compensation, and a modification of the services provided by CA Panther. A fourth modification was approved in May 2023 to extend the term of the agreement through December 31, 2023.
The City conducted a formal RFP solicitation in October 2023 and received nineteen responses. Code Enforcement Staff evaluated all proposals and determined that A.G.
Coast, Corp. dba California Panther Security best meets the needs of the city. CA Panther has been providing security services on the Pier for the past two years, can perform the services without delay, and is capable of providing officers who have experience interacting with the vendors and visitors on the Pier. 3 of 5
Vendor Selection
Bidder Recommendation
Best Qualified
Firm
A.G Coast, Corp. dba California Panther Security
Evaluation
Criteria
Training, credentials and experience of the firm; ability of the firm to perform the contract within the time specified and without delay; price; and the reputation and experience of the bidder.
The City is not required to select the bid with the lowest price.
Municipal Code SMMC 2.24.190
RFPs Received
Golden Company
Security
Access Control Security Allied Consulting Hollywood Elite Security
Citiguard, Inc Alltech Industries BBB-CA Inc Security American Global Security
A.G. Coast, Corp. Good Guard GSG Management Inc The BCS Agency Case Services USA Unified Protective
Services, Inc
WGS Group Inc SJA Security
Green Knight Security Apollo Protection
Agency
CLB Solutions
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RFP Data
Date Posted Posted on Advertise in
(City Charter & SMMC)
Date Publicly
Opened
10/11/2023 City’s Online
Bidding Site
Santa Monica Daily Press 11/2/2023
Justification to Award
Based on the evaluation criteria above and the criteria in SMMC 2.24.190, staff recommends A.G. Coast, Corp. dba California Panther Security as the best firm to provide Security Services based training of security officers, credentials and experience of the firm; ability of the firm to perform the contract within the time specified and without delay; the reputation and experience of the bidder, and cost.
Environmental Review
This agreement is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, which states that CEQA does not apply, “where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on environment.” This contract will allow the City to continue its contract with A. G. Coast, Corp., dba California Panther Security for security services on the Pier. Therefore, it can be seen with certainty that the agreement will not result in adverse physical impacts on the environment, and as such, is exempt from CEQA.
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Past Council Actions
Meeting Date Description
4/9/2019 Comprehensive Sidewalk Vending Program and
Emergency Ordinance
1/6/2022 Original Agreement 4865 with CA Panther
2/22/2022 Citywide Response to Sidewalk Vending Study Session 5/23/2023 Fourth Modification to Agreement #11259
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to approve available funding from the General Fund to increase the amount of agreement #11259 with A. G. Coast, Corp. (dba CA Panther) for security services on and around the Santa Monica Pier.
Contract Request
Agreement#
Current
Authorized
Amount
FY 2023-2024
Request
Amount
Future Years
(4.5 Years) Dept. Account #
Total Revised
Contract
Amount
11259 $1,059,969 $310,247 $2,792,223 01700005.550010 $3,102,470 Future year funding is contingent on Council budget approval.
Prepared By: Cheryl Shavers, Senior Administrative Analyst Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Comprehensive Sidewalk Vending Program and Emergency Ordinance (Web Link)
B. Orignal Agreement #4865 CA Panther
C. Citywide Response to Sidewalk Vending (Web Link)
D. Approval of Fourth Modification to Contract with California Panther Security E. CA Panther Oaks 23_24