AGENDA ITEM
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CARLO TOMAINO
CITY MANAGER
BY: BRAD KENNEALLY
CHIEF OF POLICE
SUBJECT:
title
AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR JAIL SERVICES, PARK SECURITY, AND PARKING ENFORCEMENT SERVICE TO UNIFIED PROTECTIVE SERVICE LP, DBA ALLIED UNIVERSAL SECURITY SERVICES
summary
Summary:
The Signal Hill Police Department jail enhances the service level to the community, creating operational efficiency, improving officer safety, and helping maintain local control over resources. The jail is a local, short-term holding facility that allows officers to process detainees quickly without leaving jurisdiction for long periods of time, keeping officers within City limits and available to respond to calls for service. The Police Department’s jail is staffed by Dispatcher/Jailers, a unique dual-role position combining communications and jailer functions. Historically, the dual-role position was not as uncommon and therefore made it easier to recruit and retain employees. However, over the last several years, cities have more commonly opted to keep the two functions of dispatcher and jailer separate making the positions more attractive as standalone functions.
Importantly, the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) requires at least one person on duty at all times to be immediately available and accessible to incarcerated people in the event of an emergency. The dual role of Dispatcher/Jailer is not always suitable for these regulatory requirements. Following discussions with executive and police management, and in partnership with representatives of the impacted bargaining groups, staff evaluated various operational alternatives. Staff proposes to implement a one-year pilot program and contract with a third-party to operate the jail and perform park patrols and parking enforcement duties.
Strategic Plan Goal(s):
Goal No. 2: Community Safety: Maintain community safety by supporting public safety services and increasing emergency preparedness.
Goal No. 5: High Functioning Government: Strengthen internal communication, recruitment, retention systems, and processes to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of City services.
recommendation
Recommendations:
Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Universal Protection Services LP DBA Allied Universal (Allied Universal), for jail services, park security, and parking enforcement for a one-year term effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, and a not-to-exceed contract amount of $692,415 for one year, in a form approved by the City Attorney.
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Fiscal Impact:
The proposed agreement for the one-year pilot program includes a not-to-exceed annual amount of $692,415, proposing an increase of current operating costs by $585,271 for the proposed FY2026-27 operating budget. Staff recommends funding the difference of the one-year pilot program for Jail Service and Parking Enforcement, and an additional $14,729 in contingency, using the Workforce Innovation Reserve, which is specifically intended to support initiatives that enhance or augment the City’s workforce. Staff included the allocation in the proposed FY2026-27 Operational Budget. If approved, staff would incorporate these changes and present the updated budget to the City Council on June 23, 2026, as part of budget adoption.
Background:
The Signal Hill Police Department has operated its own jail detention facility since its inception. While there are several benefits to the Department having its own detention facility, by law it must comply with the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) Title 15 of the California Code of Regulations, which establishes minimum standards and other operational requirements for local detention facilities. The BSCC conducts regular inspections of police facilities that operate a holding facility to ensure compliance, safety, and legal operation. The BSCC has historically worked with the Police Department to achieve compliance and has the authority to shut down detention facilities it deems to be unsuitable or persistently noncompliant.
Title 15 of the CCR includes minimum staffing standards for detention facilities and requires at least one person on duty at all times to be immediately available and accessible to incarcerated people in the event of an emergency. The City’s Dispatcher/Jailers staff the dispatch center and operate the jail when not actively intaking or dispatching calls for service. The dual role allows staff to function primarily as dispatchers and operate as jailers when necessary. While the existing staffing model works if all positions are filled, the City has historically experienced challenges consistently recruiting qualified staff for this unique position. The Dispatcher/Jailer role is rare in contemporary municipal policing and only a small number of police departments in California continue employing this staffing model.
Analysis:
The City’s Strategic Plan prioritizes Community Safety and a High-Functioning Government. The Police Department proactively seeks opportunities to improve community engagement and operational efficiencies to prioritize the safety of the community. The City’s jail system is an important element of Police Department Operations that includes evolving compliance standards that are more complex than in previous years. Nonetheless, the Police Department desires to meet this challenge by adoption a new staffing model that accomplishes several goals. As discussed throughout this report, the Police Department identified a need to address a long-standing operational issue to ensure the City continues to operate effectively its local jail, which provides various benefits to the Police Department and the community as discussed further below.
While not all police departments have their own detention facility, there are several advantages including maintaining local control and responsiveness; operational efficiency; and community and officer safety. The Department has direct oversight and supervision of the detention facility, and ensures quality control of the operations, maintenance, and staffing levels. Additionally, officers have the ability to detain individuals quickly, removing suspects from the streets, further enhancing community safety. Operationally, a local detention facility allows for a more efficient use of police officer time, alleviating the need for a police officer to drive to a County detention facility, located in the downtown Los Angeles, taking an officer away from the immediate local jurisdiction for three to four hours at one time.
The existing operating model for the jail provides adequate staffing for both the dispatch center and jail; however, compliance with Title 15 is contingent upon all budgeted positions being filled without vacancies and requires that at least two Dispatcher/Jailers be on duty at all times. While there are several benefits to having a detention facility, the Department has experienced challenges filling the dual role of Dispatcher/Jailer position, including filling all positions for an extended period of time. Additionally, due to the changes resulting from an evolving workforce, finding candidates capable of successfully performing the duties of the dispatch and jail functions has become more difficult, creating challenges with retention.
In December 2025, City representatives met with SHEA representatives to discuss viable options and agreed that compliance with Title 15 was the first and foremost priority, and that staffing the jail function of the Department with a third-party contractor would be the best approach to achieve compliance. The City discussed a one-year pilot program, allowing management staff time to assess the operational efficiency of separating the dispatching and jail functions. The pilot program would also allow current Dispatcher/Jailers to share their feedback with management and allow management to assess their comments and further evaluate the pilot program for a more permanent recommendation at the end of the contract term.
Contracting jail services provides the added benefit of transferring a significant portion of operational risk and liability from the City to the contracted provider. Under such an arrangement, the contractor assumes full responsibility for the administration, documentation, and management of the jail operations, including the handing of all required reports and records. The contractor is also held accountable for all activities within the facility, including incidents that may escalate and necessitate review or further investigation by external regulatory agencies.
RFP Circulation Process
The City has a contract in place that provides park security services. The contract with the current vendor expires on June 30, 2026. To align all the Department needs and for efficiency, the Police Department prepared a Request for Proposals (RFP) to secure a vendor providing park security and incorporate jail services and parking enforcement services into a new contract. On March 2, 2026, staff issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for park security, parking enforcement, and jail services. The City posted the RFP at the following locations:
• PlanetBids via the City’s online portal
• City Website
• City’s public notice locations as identified in Signal Hill Municipal Code Section 1.05.010.
The City notified prospective bidders of the bid opportunity through PlanetBids; the bids were due to the City on March 11, 2026, by 5:00pm. The City received 9 proposals from the following firms by the proposal deadline:
1. AM PM Nationwide Security Incorporated
2. Blackwater Public Safety
3. Egis Guard Company
4. GuardNow Incorporated
5. H&L Private Security
6. Safeguard on Demand Incorporated
7. Unified Protective Services Incorporated
8. Universal Protection Services LP, DBA Allied Universal Security Services
9. Veterans High Risk
Staff verified each proposal for completeness and compliance with City requirements and confirmed that all firms met the RFP criteria to have their proposal considered for an award of contract.
Evaluation Process and Consultant Selection
The reviewing committee, comprised of the Police Chief, Operations Lieutenant, Police Administrative Sergent, and the Community Development Planning Manager, evaluated the qualified proposals based on the established criteria:
a) Cost of Services;
b) Ability, capacity, and skill of the proposer to perform the contract or provide the services required;
c) Ability of the proposer to provide the services promptly or within the time specified, without delay or interference.
d) Character, integrity, reputation, judgement, experience, and efficiency of the proposer.
On March 16, 2026, after an independent review and scoring by the reviewing committee, the top two firms were invited to an interview to further evaluate their experience, skills, qualifications, and service approach.
Selection Process
Based on the technical proposal evaluations and interviews, the reviewing committee determined that Unified Protective Service LP, DBA Allied Universal Security Services (Allied Universal) best met the evaluation criteria, conveyed a clear approach and methodology through the review process, and demonstrated the qualification and competence necessary for the required services. Allied Universal has proven experience in custody environments with various municipalities and police departments including the cities of Garden Grove, Beverly Hills, Upland, Rialto, Barstow, Fontana, Buena Park, Fullerton, and Downey. The company also provides parking enforcement services for agencies including the cities of Huntington Beach, Anaheim, and Ontario.
Staff evaluated the proposed fees and negotiated any necessary adjustments with the consultant to ensure the completeness of the scope of services, and the reasonableness and competitiveness of the fees. Staff deemed the total not to exceed cost of $692,415 per year reasonable based on the agreed-upon anticipated work to be delivered over the agreed upon terms. Approval of the proposed agreement would allow the department to achieve immediate compliance with Title 15 for jail operations, and continue to provide security for parks, while conducting additional parking enforcement.
At the conclusion of the one-year pilot program, staff would return with a presentation to the City Council with a recommendation after evaluating the pilot program and include input from Police Department personnel.
Reviewed for Fiscal Impact:
_________________________
Siamlu Cox
Attachment(s):
A. Allied Universal Professional Services Agreement