Does city council need bullet proof glass?

City council approves $4 MILLION of Council Chamber upgrades including a dais encased in bullet proof glass. They only care about their safety, not the residents sitting in the chamber. Maybe consider a metal detector?
1) Approve a budget adjustment in the amount of $3,852,000 from the Public, Educational and Government Access (PEG) fund balance to construct City Council Chamber Audiovisual Broadcast Upgrades and Facility Improvements.
2) Approve the plans, specifications and contract documents for the City Council Chamber Audiovisual Broadcast Upgrades and Facility Improvements.
3) Approve the Engineer’s Estimate, Construction Contingency and Project Funding Summary.
4) Authorize staff to solicit competitive bids and award construction contracts to the lowest responsive and responsible bidders, in accordance with the City’s purchasing policies and procedures, within the approved project budget.
Page 8 of the attached document has the cost breakdown but with little in the way of itemized expenditures: http://irvine.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=68&clip_id=4417&meta_id=85719

6 Comments
Frank Marchese
June 11, 2018 at 10:54 pmThere is zero mention of bullet proof glass in the proposal.
Karen Jaffe
June 12, 2018 at 4:46 pmRight, that’s part of the transparency issue that Lalloway spoke about. There are NO ITEMIZED COSTS for any of the project. This didn’t come up until the meeting and has since been reported on and verified by Council at the meeting. Suggest that you watch the 8 May Council Meeting where the bullet proof dais was discussed and approved. Shea specifically stated it was because she has received death threats. Is her safety more important that that of the residents in the Chamber?
Rob Smith
June 12, 2018 at 3:38 pm“DESCRIPTION OF WORK: The work to be performed shall include, but not be limited to:
The work consists of major renovation of the City Council Chamber including the replacement of
existing Council Chamber furnishings, installation of bullet resistant under counter panels, replacement
of light fixtures, accessibility enhancements and other items not mentioned here, but are required by
the plans and Special Provisions. The Engineer’s construction cost estimate for the project is above
$996,378. (rounded to the nearest ten thousand).”
Page 133. You literally could have used search.
Branda Lee
June 12, 2018 at 10:26 pmWhich city council members approved spending $4m to install bullet proof glass in council chambers? The fact that these council members voted in favor of this expense, in one of the safest cities in America, is yet another example of how far removed they are from representing the people of our city. It also shows who they care about most – themselves. What about those sitting in the audience? Why not have metal detectors instead so EVERYBODY entering is protected? This is a self-serving way to spend tax payer dollars.
Susan Sayre
June 19, 2018 at 10:49 amOnly 3 council members were present at that City Council meeting. I was there. Mayor Wagner and Christina Shea voted for the 4 million dollar expenditure and asked for bullet proof glass and for better cameras and better sound system and Council Member Lalloway was adamantly opposed and voted against it. I am personally opposed to approving budget expenses on a 3 person city council attendance with a 2 to 1 vote.
Gail Lewis
June 19, 2018 at 12:44 pmMy question is what unreasonable things are Shea and Wagner going to try and get passed they are so afraid of the residents of the “safest city in America” that they need bullet proof protection????
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