Committee approves short extension of City Hall security contract; members press for customer-service and building redesign plan

The Finance Committee on Sept. 9 approved an extension of the City Hall security officer contract with Security Pro Intel LLC through March 31, 2026, at an estimated cost of $68,949.

A staff presentation described the extension as a short-term measure: staff said funds are available through the end of the year and the proposed extension to March gives the council and finance more time during the budget process to evaluate options, noting the contract contains a 30-day termination notice. "We have the funds to pay for through this year and then it's extending to another quarter to give the council and finance another opportunity to talk about options, at the budget," a city staff member said.

Committee members who had been involved when the guard position was first approved said the security position was intended as an interim solution tied to a broader plan to redesign City Hall's first floor to balance customer service and building security. Members praised the guards' response to incidents — staff said guards had responded to roughly five or six incidents in the last year, sometimes involving mental-health or medical events — but several members said the guard currently performs both security and customer-service tasks and questioned whether the facility layout and staffing should change so security and customer service roles are distinct.

Several members asked for a written update on the status of the facility improvements and process changes that were discussed when the contract was first approved. One committee member offered to submit a tracked communication documenting what was done and what remains to be done; staff suggested that an update could come to the October finance meeting.

Action: the committee voted unanimously to approve the extension; the contract remains terminable on 30 days' notice and staff said it is funded through the end of 2025 unless council directs otherwise.

Why it matters: the extension preserves an on-site security presence while committee members seek a clearer plan for first-floor redesign, a potential welcome center, assignment of customer-service staff, and longer-term funding choices in the budget process.