Agenda

Return

C. 51

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Melinda Cervantes, County Librarian
Date:	May 14, 2019

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Contract with Cypress Security, LLC

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 05/14/2019

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor

ABSENT:

Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

W. Beveridge 925-608-7730

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: May 14, 2019
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the County Librarian, or designee, to execute a contract with Cypress Security, LLC, in an amount not to exceed $238,000, to provide security services at the Walnut Creek Library, the Concord Library, and the San Pablo Library for the period January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019.

FISCAL IMPACT:

100% Library Fund.

BACKGROUND:

The Contra Costa County Library is requesting approval for a contract with Cypress Security, LLC, to provide security services at the Walnut Creek Library, the Concord Library, and the San Pablo Library.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

The Walnut Creek Library is a two-story, 42,000 square foot facility located in downtown Walnut Creek, adjacent to Civic Park. It is a very well-used library that is open to the public 6 days each week for a total of 56 open hours per week. On average, 140 people visit the library each hour it is open with a total of approximately 408,000 visits per year. Library patrons come from a broad cross section of community members. The Trinity Center, a non-residential program serving people who are homeless in Central Contra Costa County, is located four blocks from the Walnut Creek Library. Many of the people served by the Trinity Center are regular library users. In addition to welcoming persons who are homeless into the library, staff provides services each day to patrons who exhibit behaviors consistent with mental illness and/or substance abuse.

Built in 1959, the Concord Library is one of the busiest branches in Contra Costa County. This is the only branch in the City of Concord which has a population of 128,726 (2016). Taking great pride in serving the community, the Concord Library has a helpful staff and is housed in a one-story building than spans 12,500 square feet. The Concord Library is located in downtown Concord, right next to Concord’s City Hall and Civic Center. It is a well-used library that is open to the public 7 days each week for a total of 52 open hours per week. On a daily basis, the Concord Library sees up to 600 visitors per day. On average close to 100 people access this library each hour the library is open. The Concord Library has approximately 200,000 visits per year.

The San Pablo Library opened in its new 20,000 square foot facility in August 2017. The previous location of 9,000 square feet was located in the shopping center at El Portal and San Pablo Avenues. A security guard was provided by the property manager and patrolled the library and other businesses. The new San Pablo Library is open 7 days each week for a total of 47 hours per week, but lacks security services. Since moving to the new location, the foot traffic has tripled from an average of 52 visitors per hour to 136 visitors per hour. The library is projected to have 200,000 library visitors this fiscal year.

In situations where illegal behavior on the part of a patron might be occurring or when staff have difficulty enforcing the Library’s Patron Conduct Policy, staff will call upon the local police for assistance. The Walnut Creek Police, the Concord Police and the San Pablo Police have been very responsive to these requests for assistance. However, the Library has determined, through a security review of the incidents that have been occurring, that the services of an unarmed security guard would further help to discourage behaviors that could be dangerous to other patrons or staff or violate the Library's Patron Conduct Policy.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If not approved, the Walnut Creek Library, the Concord Library and the San Pablo Library would not obtain security services to enhance the patron library experience.