Title
Consider a resolution amending "Appendix A: Fees, Rates, and Charges" to the Code of Ordinances, City of Round Rock, Texas, by repealing fees, rates and charges related to wreckers.
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. A city may only legally regulate police initiated tows, or "nonconsent tows." The State regulates all consent tows. Currently, towing fees for wrecker companies providing nonconsent tows for the City are set forth in "Appendix A: Fees, Rates and Charges" of the Code. These wrecker fees and rates should be stricken from the Code because mandatory towing fees will only apply to the sole-source wrecker company. Once a wrecker company is awarded the sole-source contract, the required towing fees will be set forth in an agreement between the sole-source wrecker company and the City. The amendment to Appendix A of the Code repealing all wrecker fees, rates, and charges will not be effective until January 1, 2017.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends approval.