City Council debates $2.7 million civic‑center security package; both motions fail

Councilmember Mark Ridley Thomas asked the City Council to approve a special‑meeting recommendation to fund immediate security upgrades for the downtown civic center, including 40 new security positions and an integrated electronic security system for City Hall, City Hall East, City Hall South and the LA Mall.

The proposal, presented by Ed Rose of the Office of the City Administrative Officer, called for adding 40 security and staff‑support positions at an estimated $1.1 million in direct salary costs, and for design, acquisition and installation of an integrated security system priced at about $1.5 million. The report identified a total package of roughly $2.7 million and said about $2.3 million could be paid from uncommitted MICLA balances; roughly $400,000 in salary savings was identified to help offset personnel costs.

Councilmembers debated whether to approve the package now or send it to Budget and Finance for a broader, citywide review. Councilmember Richard Weiss and others urged a phased approach that prioritized staffing and immediate needs; Councilmember Nick Pacheco moved to adopt the Budget and Finance Committee report so staff could pursue a citywide funding review. Councilmember Ridley Thomas moved the joint ITGS and personnel recommendation (the staff package). After roll calls, the Budget and Finance motion carried 6‑4 but ultimately failed on reconsideration; the joint ITGS/personnel motion also failed. The clerk recorded the final outcome as both items failing and being continued to a subsequent council meeting.

Supporters of the staff package, including General Services General Manager John Muckrey and fire officials, said the plan reflected multi‑year work and responded to vulnerabilities highlighted by recent national events. Muckrey said the package was “a starter system” intended to be modular and built upon, and that planning began well before September 11. Fire Chief (Dematre) and Commander Lee told the council the interoperability of alarm, camera and response systems — and coordinated staffing — made the package urgent.

Opponents, including Pacheco, Weiss and others, pressed for a broader, citywide prioritization of security needs and asked for clearer cost estimates for future phases. Councilmembers also sought clarity on communications, weaponry and long‑term costs; General Services said it had begun purchasing radios and planned a move toward standardizing firearms for security personnel to 9‑millimeter for interoperability and training.

Because both motions failed, the council did not authorize new hiring or system purchases at this meeting. Council members and city staff said they expect the item to return for further review and for the Budget and Finance Committee and the City Administrative Officer to identify funding and prioritization options citywide.

Ending

Both competing measures on the special‑meeting security package failed and the council directed staff and committees to continue work on a prioritized, citywide security plan; a final funding decision was not made at this meeting.