Meeting_Body
REVISED
OPERATIONS, SAFETY AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE COMMITTEE
MARCH 18, 2021
Subject
SUBJECT: TRANSIT LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES
Action
ACTION: APPROVE CONTRACT MODIFICATIONS
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
A. AMEND the combined contract value for the three multi-agency law enforcement contracts for services through December 31, 2021 by an increase of $36,000,000 from $645,675,758 to $681,675,758. The Board delegates to the CEO, or his designee, the discretion to allocate the $36M among the three law enforcement contracts, as deemed appropriate.
B. ENGAGE the Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) for the remaining six months of the multi-agency law enforcement contract.
Issue
ISSUE
In order to maintain a consistent and reliable law enforcement presence and to ensure a safe and secure transit system for Metro patrons and employees, the multi-agency law enforcement services contracts need to be modified.
Additional contract authority is being requested to cover significant costs incurred since the beginning of the contract period to (1) augment outreach services to the unhoused population, address crime trends, sexual harassment; and (2) enhanced deployments to cover special events, employee, and customer complaints, or other unforeseen circumstances. An additional $36M is being requested for services through December 31, 2021.
Background
BACKGROUND
On February 23, 2017, the Metro Board of Directors approved the award of three individual five-year, firm-fixed unit rate contracts to the City of Long Beach, City of Los Angeles and County of Los Angeles for multi-agency law enforcement services to support bus and rail operations throughout the entire Metro transit system. The total five-year contract amount for multi-agency law enforcement services is $645,675,758.
In order to effectively and efficiently meet Metro’s changing safety and security requirements and to better address ridership safety and security concerns, Metro evaluates and adjusts policing strategies and realigns deployment methodologies. Since contract inception, Metro has requested all three law enforcement agencies to deploy additional resources to meet these changing needs. These deployment adjustments, have, among other things, resulted in fewer copper thefts, making it possible to reopen the New Blue Line on schedule; a decreased crime rate; and improved supportive services for the unhoused population through an increased number of homeless contacts, referrals to social services and housing placements.
The following additional resources and cost adjustments have been incurred to date:
City of Long Beach
In December 2018, Metro requested the City of Long Beach to provide two (2) full-time Metro Quality of Life officers for homeless outreach along the A (Blue) Line, one (1) detective and one (1) vehicle.
City of Los Angeles
In July 2018, Metro authorized the City of Los Angeles to implement the following contract adjustments:
• Augment the “Billing and Inspection Unit”;
• Increase Crime Analyst Personnel;
• Reclassify the Sick/IOD/Subpoena Control Coordinator from Police Officer III to Management Analyst;
• Convert HOPE Detail from overtime positions to full-time positions;
• Convert Bomb/K9 Unit from as needed to full-time positions; and
• Enhance “Watch 3” staffing (overtime coverage) to facilitate station closures;
• Increase the training budget for additional law enforcement personnel;
• Increase “Reserve Overtime” for new positions;
• Include “Premium Holiday Pay” in accordance with the respective labor agreements;
• Include provisions for community outreach activities; and
• Increase budget for office supplies.
Since October 2017, the City of Los Angeles has deployed resources to support 184 additional activities such as the following: Metro Real Estate Agreements with Council District 1, Westlake/MacArthur Station Park Community Market, Metrolink Union Station Platforms, A (Blue) Line Closure, New Blue Copper Theft Mitigation, and Metro Rail Operation’s calendar of special events, among other enhance deployments.
Metro staff also anticipates staffing level increases will be required to support the Offloading and Flexible Dispatching operations, and the opening of the new Crenshaw/LAX Line. Once the opening date of the new Crenshaw/LAX Line is established, Metro staff will return to the Board of Directors to request approval for additional contract modification authority.
County of Los Angeles
Since contract inception, the County of Los Angeles has augmented budgeted personnel to support 59 additional activities such as: Metro’s Red-Light Photo Enforcement (RLPE) program, Metro Real Estate Agreements with East San Gabriel Valley Coalition (ESGVCH), Annual Homeless Winter Shelter Program, and Metro Rail Operation’s special events and enhance deployments.
Metro staff anticipates staffing level increases will be required to support the opening of the new Crenshaw/LAX Line. Once the opening date of the new Crenshaw/LAX Line is established, Metro staff will return to the Board of Directors to request approval for additional contract modification authority.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Through the multi-agency law enforcement services contracts, Metro is able to provide a consistent and reliable law enforcement presence, improve response times, increase law enforcement staffing over each 24-hour operating period, support bus and rail operations throughout the entire Metro transit system and provide additional law enforcement services on an as-needed basis for special events and/or other exigent circumstances.
By approving this amendment and funding the multi-agency law enforcement contract through December 31, 2021, it provides the Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) the opportunity to provide recommendations on the remaining six months of the contract, including the approach for the opening of Crenshaw/LAX Line, and the future contract to help reimagine public safety on Metro‘s system. In doing so, it allows Metro to launch pilot programs, gather lessons learned, identify costs, and seek customer feedback. This will complement initiatives underway such as our ambassador program that will assist with connecting persons experiencing homelessness with social services, a pilot Flexible Dispatch Program, and environmental safety enhancements like Call Point. In addition, staff will be launching a Public Safety Survey to better understand the safety needs of our diverse ridership. The survey, in collaboration with PSAC, is expected to be launched in the Summer with results being available in the Fall.
Staff will incorporate PSAC recommendations for the Board’s consideration in the November/December 2021 board cycle.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
The authorization of the contract modifications to each of the law enforcement contracts, will ensure continued safety and security of patrons and employees, improvement of Metro’s ability to safeguard critical transportation infrastructures, and outreach to the unsheltered.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The funding increase of $36M will be added to the total contract value of the three five-year multi-agency law enforcement contracts.
Impact to Budget
The source of funds for this effort will be local operating funds including fares, sales tax Proposition A, C, TDA, and Measure R. Using these funding sources maximizes the allowable project funding designations given approved funding use provisions and guidelines.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
The recommendation supports strategic plan goal 2.1 of committing to improving security. To achieve this goal, Metro will rely on a multi-layered, integrated security program that comprises of technology, people, and partnerships.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
Should the Board of Directors not approve the recommendation outlined in this report, it may consider approving a $111,201,973 amendment to fund the three law enforcement agencies through the end of their contract term of June 30, 2022. This alternative is not recommended as it does not provide PSAC the opportunity to provide recommendations on how to reimagine public safety.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Upon Board approval, staff will execute contract modifications to each of the law enforcement contracts to continue to provide law enforcement services.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Procurement Summary
Attachment B - Contract Modification/Change Order Log
Attachment C - DEOD Summary
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Ronald Dickerson, Deputy Executive Officer, System Security & Law Enforcement, (213) 922-4948
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Robert Green, Chief System Security & Law Enforcement Officer
(213) 922-4811
Debra Avila, Chief Vendor/Contract Management Officer
(213) 418-3051
Nalini Ahuja, Chief Financial Officer, (213) 922-3088
