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Council approves $42 million unarmed security guard contract amid calls for review
Summary
Council approved consent calendar items including a five‑year, $42 million unarmed uniform security guard services contract. Councilmember McLaren flagged the contract’s $14.5 million increase over the 2020 agreement and asked staff to review necessity and potential savings.
The Sacramento City Council on Tuesday approved its consent calendar, which included a five‑year contract for unarmed uniform security guard services amid councilmember calls for further review of scope and cost.
Councilmember McLaren raised concerns about the contract for unarmed security services from Universal Protection Service/Allied Universal, noting the agreement covers 32 sites and totals $42,000,000 over five years — roughly $8.5 million annually and about $14,500,000 more than the city’s 2020 contract. McLaren asked whether the city could identify savings through reconsidering guard assignments, use of cameras or AI, and overtime reductions.
Nut graf: The contract was passed as part of the consent calendar, but McLaren said staff and council should scrutinize whether all 32 sites require unarmed guards given a city budget shortfall and look for possible efficiencies.
McLaren said the city should “take a moment step back” and consider whether the full scope is necessary given a projected $60 million budget deficit, and that even modest savings could help close the gap. City staff affirmed the contract resulted from a competitive process but did not provide detailed line items during the consent discussion.
The consent calendar motion carried; there were no recorded no votes and one councilmember absent. McLaren said she will review the contract details and ask staff for accountability information on guard assignments and service levels across the 32 sites.
Ending: Councilmembers moved on to subsequent hearings; McLaren indicated she would pursue follow‑up questions about program needs and potential cost savings with city staff.
