City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: May 12, 2026
Agenda Item: 4.H
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Darrick Jacob, Police Chief, Police Department
Subject: Approval of Second Modification to Agreement # 11035 With Vital Medical Services, LLC, to Provide In-House Medical Services to Arrestees Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the 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; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute a second modification to agreement #11035 in the amount of $900,000 with Vital Medical Services, LLC, to provide in-house medical services to arrestees for the Police Department. This will result in a 7-year amended agreement with a new total amount not to exceed $3,813,000 with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
Summary
The Santa Monica Police Department (“SMPD”) is required by state and federal law to provide medical services to arrestees known to have, or are declaring, medical issues or injuries prior to booking and housing in the SMPD jail or to being transferred to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Currently, the City of Santa Monica (“City”) has an agreement with Vital Medical Services, LLC (“Vital Medical”) to provide on-site medical services for SMPD arrestees. Medical services covered under this agreement include pre-booking medical clearances to arrestees who exhibit or complain of medical conditions and blood draws taken from persons arrested for driving under the influence (“DUI”). Under the current agreement, all medical services are administered by experienced and licensed medical personnel under the supervision of an emergency care physician. City staff recommend that the Council modify the agreement to increase 2 of 4
the contract by an additional $900,000 and authorize the City Manager to execute an extension of the agreement for one additional year.
Discussion
Since 2015, SMPD has used Vital Medical to perform medical services for arrestees.
The current agreement with Vital Medical expires on June 30, 2026. Due to this fact, an exception to competitive bidding for temporary procurement was approved by the City’s Procurement Manager to ensure the City’s compliance with state law past the contract expiration date. Staff requests that Council approve a one-year extension for this agreement and to increase its contract authority in the amount of $900,000. Extending the contract term by one year will allow staff to complete the required competitive bidding process, and allow time for contract negotiations, as well as provide sufficient time for a potential new vendor to mobilize their equipment and medical supplies to the Public Safety Facility.
The only alternative to utilizing Vital Medical is for police officers to transport arrestees to the UCLA Santa Monica Hospital Emergency Department to obtain a pre-booking clearance, medical care, or blood draws. Currently, with Vital Medical working in the jail, SMPD only transports arrestees to the emergency room when they have more serious or complex medical needs that can’t be treated in the jail, such as an injury requiring an x-ray. The use of Vital Medical for medical treatment has significantly reduced the need for police officers to be removed from patrol duties to obtain medical clearances from local emergency rooms (“ER”). Not having arrestees in the ER limits the exposure of the public to uncooperative, potentially combative arrestees and thwarts a mechanism for escape. It also enhances officer safety by not having to transport an uncooperative or combative arrestee to and from the SMPD jail. The cost of the emergency room visits, physician services, and any ancillary tests or medical services are absorbed by SMPD.
Vital Medical’s personnel provide pre-booking medical clearance evaluations and select minor medical treatments to arrestees utilizing appropriately vetted and licensed Physician Assistants and/or Nurse Practitioners. Examples of medical services performed include any requests for medical attention, including minor wound care, treatment of nausea, administering prescription medicine, and treating wounds caused by vermin infestations. Without Vital Medical services available to treat the variety of arrestee medical needs, SMPD officers would be responsible for transporting arrestees 3 of 4
to the ER. Vital Medical provides the necessary equipment and supplies to perform the medical services in a private room on-site. The medical exam room meets all medical, County Health Department and Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) requirements for these types of services. Providing such medical services in the jail complies with current standards set forth in Title 15 of the California Code of Regulations.
Environmental Review
The proposed agreement is exempt from the provision of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines (common sense exemption). The proposal 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 agreement would not result in any adverse physical environmental effects as it would continue existing medical services for arrestees. Therefore, the agreement is exempt from CEQA and no further environmental review under CEQA is required.
Past Council Actions
Meeting Date Description
04/28/2020
(attachment A)
Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a fiveyear professional services agreement with Vital Medical Services, LLC.
11/11/2024
(attachment B)
Authorized the City Manager to negotiate and execute a first modification with Vital Medical Services, LLC.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to approve available funding from the General Fund to increase the amount of agreement #11035 with Vital Medical Services, LLC to provide in-house medical services for arrestees. Funds are included in the FY 2026-27 Budget Plan which was approved by Council in the FY 2025-27 Adopted Biennial Budget.
Agreement Modification Request
Agreement
#
Current
Authorized
Amount
FY2026-27
Request
Amount
Dept Account #
Total Revised
Contract
Amount
11035 $2,913,000 $900,000 01180004.550210 $3,813,000
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Future year funding is contingent on Council budget approval.
Prepared By: Kiajett Charles, Administrative Analyst
Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Staff Report 4.28.20 - Vital Medical Agreement (Web Link) B. Staff Report - 11.11.24 - 1st Modification (Web Link) C. Vital Medical - Original Contract
D. Vital Medical - 1st Modification
E. OAKS FORM - Vital Medical
F. Levine Act Disclosure - Vital