Mayor Cam Guthrie said he has noticed an increase in the number of incidents at City Hall requiring security.
“I hear it, I see it,” Guthrie said on Tuesday.
Whether or not the city needs to hire two full time security guards was a topic of debate at City Council’s Committee of the Whole meeting Tuesday afternoon.
Staff is recommending the addition of two full-time guards at a net cost of around $50,000 to the city once cost savings associated with their addition are considered.
One of the security officers would be placed in the lobby of city hall, the other would have a vehicle and be available at other city facilities, in both a proactive and reactive capacity.
Chief Administrative Officer Derrick Thomson backed up the Mayor’s observation, telling council that ‘the threats to staff and the public in this building are real” and that there have been attacks on staff and the public inside City Hall.
He said city staff certainly has some security and health and safety concerns.
“It’s important for council to see that they are needs of the organization” ahead of budget deliberations, Thomson said.
City Council was not being asked to make a decision on adding the additional security on Tuesday, but was being given a heads-up that staff will be seeking the additional staff in the upcoming budget deliberations.
Some councillors had some questions about the possible move, namely details on possible options instead of adding security and what was happening in other municipalities.
“I’m concerned we’re jumping the gun a bit” by supporting the staff report, said Coun. Mike Salisbury, because before he supports adding full-time employees to the city payroll he would like more information and analysis.
Staff said more detail would be coming at budget time.
General Manager of Operations Doug Godfry said that staff had looked at various options and costs and that this was deemed the most suitable option.
