Title
Consider an ordinance amending Article IV, Chapter 42, Sections 42-472 through 42-493 regarding wreckers. (First Reading)*
Body
Currently, the City uses a rotation list for all police-initiated tows. The Police Department desires to terminate the rotation list as of January 1, 2017, primarily due to poor response times. In lieu of a rotation list, the Police Department will utilize a single wrecker company to be the exclusive provider for wrecker and impound services for all police-initiated tows. If this Agenda Item is approved, the City intends to issue a Request for Proposals for a sole-source wrecker company that can meet all the City's towing and impound needs. Benefits of using one wrecker company include: 24/7 service by one company; increased technology; and free towing services for city vehicles and vehicles seized by the Police Department.
There will be no cost to the City. The sole source wrecker company will have the right to collect all towing and impound fees from the vehicle owners. Maximum towing fees will be set forth in an agreement between the sole-source wrecker company and the City.
A city may only legally regulate police initiated tows, or "nonconsent tows." The State regulates all consent tows. Sections 42-472 through 42-493 of the City's Code of Ordinances pertain primarily to the establishment of a rotation list and requirements wrecker companies on the list must meet to perform nonconsent tows for the City. In switching to a sole-source wrecker company, most of this language is no longer applicable and should be stricken from the Code. All towing and impound requirements for the sole source wrecker company will be set forth in an agreement with the City and will not need to be part of the Code. The amendments to Sections 42-472 through 42-493 will not be effective until January 1, 2017, after an agreement has been entered into between the selected sole source provider and the City.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends approv...
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