Council approves nearly $1.0M security services contract for City Center and Civic Center properties

The council approved a contract Jan. 6 with Allied Security to provide property management security services for City Center, Civic Center and related municipal facilities. The contract covers an on‑site account manager (converted from a prior supervisor role), armed and unarmed guards for the Civic Center and weekends at the library, vehicle patrols of the city‑center area, and coverage for municipal court events.

Public Works Director Victor Rochelle said the contract (described in the packet as a little over $1 million with a roughly 4.23% increase from last year) grew after a 2023 series of incidents at municipal facilities; staff said Allied had responded to an RFP in 2022 and became the city’s contractor. Rochelle said a preliminary staff survey showed a sizable increase in staff sense of security after Allied’s staffing increase and that residents and patrons report a greater feeling of safety at the library and city‑center facilities.

Council approved the contract on a voice/roll call vote 7‑0. Several council members praised Allied’s visible presence and suggested staff should evaluate whether an in‑house civilian security model tied to the police department (but not sworn officers) would be a cost‑effective alternative in future years. City Manager Sean Lewis and Director Rochelle said staff would analyze alternatives and costs as part of future budget and strategic‑plan work but noted the per‑hour cost of sworn officers is significantly higher than contractor rates and that shifting duties would require additional sworn staffing if city policing hours were to be reduced elsewhere.