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Council limits Allied Universal security contract to one year, seeks study on bringing services in-house
Summary
After extended debate about contracting versus city employment, the Richmond City Council amended and approved a security-services agreement with Allied Universal for one year and asked staff to study whether regular security duties could be converted to city positions.
The Richmond City Council on Jan. 28 approved a revised one‑year contract with Allied Universal Security Services for security at city locations, after debate about whether recurring security duties should be filled by contractors or by city employees.
City staff presented a three‑year contract proposal with a total estimated cost not to exceed $1,916,153.99 including a 5% contingency for the term Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2027 and two one‑year extensions if mutually agreed. Several council members said they supported the immediate need for security but raised concerns about long‑term reliance on contractors for ongoing work.
Council Member Wilson led questions about the equity implications of contracting for long-term, ongoing functions that are performed by the same people for decades. "When a city needs a job done regularly on an ongoing basis, I think they should be hiring people as city employees to do those jobs," Wilson said, asking staff to explore options to create city positions.
City Manager Shasa Kurls said hiring a new classification (a security guard or community-ambassador classification) requires an extensive process — job classification, compensation study, state registration and training — and that staff could develop a timeline; she also said staff is preparing a community‑ambassador classification targeted for implementation by summer. Kurls said Recreation had used a separate security contract for a special event and Allied Universal was the primary contractor for the ongoing security work.
After discussion, Council Member Wilson moved to amend the agreement to a one‑year contract so the city could continue immediate security coverage while staff prepares analysis. Council Member Jimenez seconded the amendment. The council voted unanimously to approve a one‑year contract instead of the proposed three‑year term and directed staff to return with analysis, including classification and compensation considerations, pathways to convert eligible contractor positions to city employment, potential costs and prioritization tied to council goals.
The council and staff also discussed the City’s procurement process and outreach to Richmond-based small businesses; staff said the city’s bidding portal is available to local vendors and that additional outreach can be performed. The one‑year contract provides city security coverage while staff develops the requested report and any meet‑and‑confer obligations are addressed.
