City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: March 26, 2024
Agenda Item: 5.A
1 of 3
To: Mayor and City Council
From: David Martin, Director, Administration
Subject: Approval of Second Amendment to Contract with the County of Los Angeles for Lifeguard Services on Santa Monica State Beach
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. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a Second Modification to agreement #9045 (CCS) in the amount of $3,962,000 with the County of Los Angeles for lifeguard services for the Community Development Department. This will result in a 16-year amended agreement with a new total amount not to exceed $47,495,594.
Summary
The City contracts with the County of Los Angeles to provide year-round lifeguard services on Santa Monica State Beach. The current fifteen-year agreement will expire on April 21, 2024, and the County agrees to extend the contract by one year while it conducts a Fee for Service study to determine whether future fee adjustments are necessary to perform the required level of service. The current payment formula is comprised of a base payment for County lifeguard personnel, subject to annual CPI increases, plus County’s overhead costs. Staff of both agencies have reviewed the current level of services and agree that the terms of the current agreement sufficiently fulfill public safety needs. Under the proposed Second Amendment, the annual payment formula will remain the same, and the cost for the one-year extension is estimated to be $3,962,000 reflecting a four percent increase over the prior year. 2 of 3
Discussion
City has contracted with County of Los Angeles since 1974, to provide lifeguard services at Santa Monica State Beach. Services provided under the agreement include lifeguard coverage for the entire beach seven days a week, year-round; 24-hour a day emergency response for regional emergencies; and 24-hour a day paramedic support to the community. Staff assigned to Santa Monica include two captains, 19 ocean lifeguards, and ocean lifeguard specialists. Specialized equipment provided by the County as part of this service includes emergency response vehicles, rescue boat, and helicopter. The County is often the first responder to emergencies on the beach, in the water, and near the Pier.
City Council initially approved a 10-year agreement on March 24, 2009, a First Amendment approved by Council on February 26, 2019 provided a 5-year extension which increased the total term to 15 years. The incorporation of the requested Second Amendment would provide an additional 1-year term and would result in a 16-year amended agreement.
Over the 15-year term, payments under the current contract formula have increased an average of five percent per year. The County’s Fee for Service study will examine if the actual cost incurred by the County to provide lifeguard services is fully reimbursed by the City, or if the base payment amount should be adjusted due to increasing personnel and overhead costs.
After the County conducts its study, staff will return to Council with the results of that effort and a recommendation for continuing lifeguard services.
Past Council Actions
Meeting Date Description
February 26, 2019
(attachment A)
First Amendment authorizing 5-year extension of Contract March 24, 2009
(attachment B)
Authorization to enter into 10-year Contract
Environmental Review
3 of 3
The contract amendment is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines. The contract amendment is covered by the common sense exemption 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 the environment.” The amendment to continue existing beach lifeguard services would not result in adverse physical impacts on the environment, and as such, is exempt from CEQA.
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to approve funding from the Beach Fund to increase the amount of contract with the County of Los Angeles for beach lifeguard services. Future year funding is contingent on Council budget approval.
Contract/Agreement/Purchase Order Modification Request
Agreement #
Current Authorized
Amount
FY 2024-25
Budget
Modified Request
Amount
Dept/CIP Account # Total Revised
Contract Amount
#9045
(CCS) $43,533,594 $ 3,962,000
11700001.552010 $47,495,594
Prepared By: Elana Buegoff, Pier Administrator
Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. February 26, 2019 Staff Report (Web Link)
B. March 24, 2009 Staff Report
C. 2009 Lifeguard Services Agrement with Los Angeles County D. 2019 Extension of Lifeguard Services Agrement with Los Angeles County