City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: SEPTEMBER 18, 2019
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Proposed Perimeter and Building Security Improvements at City Hall.
BODY
ISSUE: City Hall Perimeter and Building Security.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council approve the improvements to the perimeter security of City Hall including (1) limiting building access to the Cameron Street entrance and the Market Square center door, (2) the addition of uniformed daytime security guards to City Hall, and (3) the approval of the arming of City Hall security guards.
BACKGROUND: On June 6, 2019, in light of active violence incidents that have occurred with increasing frequency across the country including at the Virginia Beach Government Center, the City Manager tasked the Department of General Services with creating the Old Town Campus Safety Committee ("Committee"). The Committee was tasked with reviewing all security measures currently in place in the Old Town Campus, which includes City Hall, Tavern Square and Banker's Square and developing recommendations to improve employee and public safety at these City facilities through either future improvements, enhancements of measures currently in place or development and implementation of new required measures not currently in place. The City Manager required that the Committee develop these recommendations within 30 days.
The Committee was comprised of staff from most departments located in the Old Town Campus as well as Police Department personnel trained in building security matters. The Committee toured all sites in the Old Town Campus. By touring the facilities, the Committee was able to get a better understanding of the security measures that are currently in place and what either needs to be improved or put in place. The Committee met with City employees in each Campus facility and each security item or...
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