City Council reaches $13 million contract for infrastructure security

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – The City Council Tuesday unanimously approved a five-year, $13.7 million contract with Securitas Security Services USA Inc. to provide enhanced security services at critical public infrastructure sites in San Diego.

The contract, called for under federal Department of Homeland Security guidelines for water and wastewater infrastructure, is for one year at nearly $2.5 million, with four one-year options to renew.

The affected sites are the Miramar, Alvarado, and Otay Water Treatment Plants; Point Loma, North City, and South Bay Wastewater Treatment Plants; Metro Biosolids Center, Chollas Yard, the Metropolitan Operations Complex; and all dams operated by the Public Utilities Department.

According to the city, security guards with “a higher level of competency” are required at such locations.

A previous contract expired two years ago. The current vendor has been providing security until the new deal takes effect, according to city documents.

In other news, the City Council made the results of the November general election official. Chris Cate defeated Carol Kim for a council seat, and is set to take office Wednesday.