Agenda Item Wording:
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Authorize Contract for Security Services - Authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract for security services for Transit, Parks and Facilities, Convention Center, Water Reclamation Facility, and other miscellaneous City needs or special events.
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Deadline for Action: 11/17/2025
Submitting Department: Administration - Transit Division
Contact Name and Phone Number:
Angelina Baker, Transit Manager, angelina.baker@visalia.gov, (559) 713-4591
John Lollis, Assistant City Manager, john.lollis@visalia.gov, (559)713-4323
Department Recommendation:
Authorize the City Manager to award a one-year contract for security services to Falcon Security to provide regularly scheduled security services for Transit, Parks and Facilities (Downtown parking structures), Convention Center, Water Reclamation Facility, and other miscellaneous City needs or special events at the rate of $24.00 per security hour not to exceed $600,000 for one year.
Summary:
At its meeting on March 3, 2025, staff presented an item (25-0010) to the City Council to award a security contract to Val Security for $470,000 annually. The selection of this vendor was made after staff conducted a competitive Request for Bids (RFB No. 23-24-41) and Val Security was the successful bidder. This contract went live in April 2025 with many City Divisions transitioning over to the new contract. On Friday, October 24, 2025, City staff was notified that Val Security had filed for bankruptcy, and that effective immediately Val Security would no longer be providing services at any City facility.
Background Discussion:
With the sudden departure of the current security contractor Val Security, there was a critical void for service that needed to be filled immediately. City staff reached out to the previous contractor Falcon Security, whose contract had just terminated in April 2025, to gauge their ability to provide emergency security services to the City. Not only does Transit and the Downtown parking structures rely on 24-hour security services, but the Convention Center had multiple events scheduled that day and weekend that required an active security presence. Falcon Security responded immediately, providing security guards for the City’s events beginning the very same day and met all City requirements. At this time, City staff is requesting that Council authorize a one-year contract to Falcon Security while the City prepares a new RFB.
Transit
The Transit Division has maintained a security services contract for many years, the most recent contract with Falcon Security which was implemented in April 2019 and expired in March 2024. The contract continued on a month-to-month basis until the RFB was released to the public. Transit made several changes from the previous contract, with the most significant change being to the hours that security would be on Transit Center property and the adjacent Administration building.
In recent years, Transit has seen a rise in incidents, theft, and vandalism of the Transit Center and adjacent Administration building, which is also owned by Transit and covered by the security contract. Given the rise in incidents, the decision was made to contract security services on Transit property on a 24-hour/7-days per week basis. Another change is the additional requirement of security guards to utilize the Transit Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) security probe system which requires the guards to follow a path with a probe device at least once per hour around the Transit Center and Administration building properties. Guards will use the probe device to tap the RFID tags in various locations on the properties, and that data will be transmitted to a report. This will allow Transit staff to ensure that guards are patrolling both properties at least once per hour and maintaining a visible presence.
Parks and Facilities - Parking Structures
The Parks and Facilities Division oversees the maintenance and security of the two (2) Downtown parking structures. The previous security services contract for the parking structures was awarded to Val Security by the City Council at its meeting on November 16, 2020. During the past four (4) years of the contract, staff found areas in the scope of services that needed to be updated to address issues that have been arising within the parking structures, as well as in the breezeway and courtyard of the adjacent Convention Center. Some of these issues are vandalism, drinking of alcoholic beverages, and large parties congregating on the top floor of the 300 E. Acequia Avenue parking structure. There were also issues with City staff’s ability to monitor security guards on duty and the frequency of security checks at each level of the parking structures. To address these issues, staff did not renew the fifth year of the current contract and have updated the scope of services to include RFID checkpoints, mandatory reports that must be submitted along with monthly meetings with the project manager, and designated break and meal periods to ensure coverage of the parking structures and adjacent Convention Center.
Convention Center
To mitigate incidents and issues in and around the Convention Center, enhanced security measures are necessary to ensure the safety of guests, staff, and vendors. Increased security presence helps to prevent unauthorized access, property damage, and potential disturbances that could impact event operations and guest experience. A proactive approach to security protects the facility’s reputation, maintain business continuity, and provide a secure environment for attendees. This service will only be utilized when requested and will be charged back to the customer.
Water Reclamation Facility
The Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) requires on-site security patrols during non-working hours to safeguard critical infrastructure and deter unauthorized access. As a remote facility containing high-value equipment, hazardous chemicals, and sensitive control systems, the WRF is vulnerable to theft, vandalism, and potential tampering when staff are not present. A security guard is needed to conduct regular perimeter checks, verify that gates and doors are secured, and respond to alarms or suspicious activity in real time. After-hours patrols also provide an immediate presence to address issues such as trespassing, illegal dumping, or utility tampering, which can pose serious operational and environmental risks. Having a trained guard on-site during off-hours enhances situational awareness, supports rapid response in the event of emergencies such as power failures or intrusions, and ensures the continuous protection of City assets and public infrastructure.
Fiscal Impact:
Security services are budgeted in each operations budget. Staff is estimating the total not to exceed amount for all services to be $600,000. The increase of $130,000 is due to the Wastewater and special events being on a separate contract in past. This is distributed as $295,000 for Transit, $155,000 for Parks and Facilities, $120,000 for the Water Reclamation Facility, $20,000 for Convention Center, and $10,000 for special events.
Prior Council Action:
March 3, 2025: Award of Contract for Security Services (25-0010)
Other: N/A
Alternatives:
City Council could not authorize security services.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
Authorize the City Manager to award a one-year contract for security services to Falcon Security to provide regularly scheduled security services for Transit, Parks and Facilities (Downtown parking structures), Convention Center, Water Reclamation Facility, and other miscellaneous City needs or special events at the rate of $24.00 per security hour not to exceed $600,000.
Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Attachments:
1. Award of Contract for Security Services (25-0010)