City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: September 22, 2026
Agenda Item: 4.B
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Jenny Rogers, Recreation and Arts Director, Recreation and Arts Department Subject: Approval of Second Modification to Agreement with AG Coast, Inc., dba California Panther Security, for Unarmed Security Guard Services at the Annenberg Community Beach House for the Recreation and Arts Department 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.
2. Authorize the City Manager to enter into a Second Modification of Agreement #11120 (CCS) with AG Coast Inc. dba California Panther Security to continue 24/7 unarmed security guard service at the Annenberg Community Beach House for the Recreation and Arts Department in an amount equal to $159,000 resulting in a new not-to-exceed contract total of $1,403,268 through March 31, 2027.
Summary
The Annenberg Community Beach House (“Beach House”) has contracted with a security vendor since opening its doors in April 2009. Governing documents for the Beach House site, including the Statement of Official Action and Annenberg Community Beach House Operations Plan, require the City of Santa Monica (“City”) to provide onsite, unarmed security personnel, year-round.
AG Coast Inc. dba California Panther Security (“Panther”) is the current security service contractor at the Beach House. The City and Panther wish to enter into the Second Modification of Agreement #11120 (“Second Modification”) to extend Panther’s service term on a month-to-month, as-needed basis through March 31, 2027, and increase funds accordingly. This temporary extension will ensure that crucial security coverage is 2 of 6
maintained at the Beach House while adequate time is given to complete RFB #4516 (currently in the evaluation phase), execute a new contract, and onboard the contractor.
Discussion
Bid #4399 for unarmed security service at the Beach House was awarded to Panther on December 23, 2020. Subsequently, the City and Panther entered into Agreement #11120 (CCS) (“Original Agreement”) through January 14, 2026 (Attachment A).
Unforeseen delays with the scope development for the competitive bidding process for the next security service contract necessitated the First Modification to Panther’s contract with the City. On January 15, 2026, the City and Panther entered into the First Modification to Agreement #11120 (CCS) (Attachment B), to extend the length of the contract through September 30, 2026, increase funds by $215,000.00 for a new not-toexceed contract total of $1,244,268.00, and prevent a lapse in required security coverage while a new solicitation was issued. The First Modification of Agreement #11120 (CCS) was approved on February 10, 2026, as an exception to the competitive bidding process (ECB# 341).
Staff now seeks City Council approval to enter into the Second Modification of Agreement #11120 to continue service on a month-to-month, as-needed basis through March 31, 2027, and increase contract authority by an additional $159,000.00 for a new not-to-exceed total of $1,403,268. RFB #4516 is in the final evaluation phase but will unlikely be awarded, executed, and fully onboarded prior to the expiration of Panther’s agreement on September 30, 2026. The Second Modification will ensure uninterrupted 24/7 security coverage at the Beach House while allowing for adequate time to complete the award RFB #4516, execute the new contract, and onboard the new contractor.
Site History and Security Needs
The Beach House sits on a five-acre parcel of Santa Monica State Beach, developed by William Randolph Hearst for actress Marion Davies in the 1920s. Originally known as the Marion Davies Estate, it later became an oceanfront luxury hotel, then a private 3 of 6
beach club. In partnership with the Annenberg Foundation and California State Parks, the City opened the site as a public beach facility known as the Annenberg Community Beach House on April 25, 2009. The Beach House is a unique community destination and is open to all. The site combines elements of the historic Marion Davies Estate with beach, recreation and cultural amenities and demonstrates the City’s commitment to community-responsive programming, quality visitor services, and a high level of maintenance and security.
In the interest of public safety and site protection, security guard service at the Beach House is mandatory and guided by requirements specified in the Statement of Official Action (Attachment C) approved by City Council on May 25, 2006, and the Annenberg Community Beach House Operations Plan (Attachment D). In accordance with these governing documents, the City is required to have security personnel on site to monitor the site year-round, even during holidays when the site is closed to the public.
Security personnel at the Beach House are responsible for ensuring the safety of employees and visitors, and ensuring facilities and infrastructure remain secure and protected from trespassing, vandalism, illegal and inappropriate behavior, and suspicious activities. Additional security duties include:
• Providing regular roaming patrols day and night, including checking in at electronic stations throughout the site.
• Securing vehicle entrances to the Beach House parking lots and external doors. • Staffing property when City staff may not be present, such as nights and holidays, to monitor access; maintain a high visibility presence; and take appropriate measures to prevent trespassing, damage, or theft of Beach House property.
• Assisting City personnel, including fire and police, as necessary by providing perimeter access control and traffic direction or by acting as site liaison. • Enforcing rules and providing support to Beach House staff when hired for permitted private events that may involve alcohol, be youth-focused, or are attended by high-visibility individuals.
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• Observing and reporting suspicious activity.
Environmental Review
The contract modification 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 the environment.” The modification will provide the City with continued security coverage at the Beach House. Therefore, it can be seen with certainty that the proposed modification would 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
12/15/20
(Staff Report, Attachment
E)
Original bid and award of Agreement #11120 to
Panther for unarmed security service at the Beach
House through January 14, 2026.
02/10/26
(Staff Report, Attachment
F)
First Modification to Agreement #11120 with
Panther to extend existing service and increase
funds to cover the period of January 15, 2026,
through September 30, 2026.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
The cumulative contract value, including the Original Agreement, First Modification, and Second Modification, is $1,403,268.00. Under the Procurement Policy, contract value is cumulative for purposes of determining applicable approval authority and procurement requirements. Staff seeks authority to approve available funding from the Beach Fund to increase the amount of Agreement #11120 with California Panther Security to continue 24/7 unarmed security guard services at the Annenberg Community Beach House.
Contract Modification Request
Original
Agreement
Current
Authorized
Amount
Second
Modification
(FY 26-27) Account #
Total Revised
Contract Amount
11120 $1,244,268 $159,000 11430001.550010 $ 1,403,268
Prepared By: Melissa Zak, Senior Administrative Analyst Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. A. CSA 11120 (CCS) 12.23.20
B. B. CSA 11120 (CCS) First Mod 01.15.26
C. C. STOA 05.25.06
D. D. ACBH Operations Plan
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E. E. Staff Report 12.15.20 Item 3.C
F. F. Staff Report 02.10.26 Item 4.K
G. G. OAKS INITIATIVE FORM 08.19.26
H. H. Levine Disclosure 02.03.26