Title
Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Execute a Two-Year Service Provider Agreement, with the Option to Extend for an Additional Two Years, with First Shield Security and Patrol, Inc. for Unarmed Security Guard Services at the Main Library for a Total Agreement Compensation Not-to-Exceed $400,000. (Library 21052300)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jennifer Ott, City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Consistent with the Cooperative Purchasing provision of the City of Alameda's (City) Purchasing Policy, the Alameda Free Library (Library) selected First Shield Security and Patrol, Inc. (First Shield) to provide unarmed security guard services at the Main Library based on the City of Hayward's (Hayward) Request for Proposal (RFP) 2305-09052. Staff recommends approval of the Service Provider Agreement with First Shield for a total agreement compensation not-to-exceed $400,000 (Exhibit 1).
BACKGROUND
The Main Library does not currently have any regular security presence. On February 8, 2025, a library user physically assaulted a City employee at the Main Library, located at 1550 Oak St., after suspending the person for violating the Library's Behavior Policy.
After the assault, the Library conferred with other City departments about the most effective ways to address the safety of staff and the community due to an increase in unwanted and disruptive behavior at the Library. Library staff also researched other libraries regarding security and learned that Alameda County Library, Contra Costa County Library, Berkeley Public Library, Hayward Public Library, Oakland Public Library, Richmond Public Library, San Francisco Public Library, and San Leandro Public Library have unarmed security guards. The latter two libraries employ security guards while the remainder contract those services. In addition to unarmed security guards, some of these libraries utilize social workers to address behavior issues as well as connect people...
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