From: Alexander Gutterud
To: Public Comment; Clerk
Cc: Maria Severson; Michael Aguirre
Subject: 2026-09-22 Written Comment - Special City Council Mtg Item 5.1 Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2026 12:45:59 PM
Attachments: 2026-09-22 Public Written Comment National City Special City Council Meeting.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Greetings,
Please find attached Micaela Polanco's Public Written Comment for today's (September 22, 2026) Special City Council Meeting Agenda Item 5.1.
Please confirm receipt. If you have trouble accessing the attached PDF, please let me know. Thank you.
Best regards,
Alexander Gutterud, Esq.
Associate Attorney
AGUIRRE & SEVERSON, LLP
501 W Broadway, Ste. 1050
San Diego, CA 92101
Office (619) 876-5364, Ext. 3
[email protected]
National City Special City Council Meeting
Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 5:00 P.M.
Written Public Comment: Agenda Item 5.1
Submitted on behalf of Micaela Polanco
Mayor and Councilmembers,
This written comment is submitted regarding Agenda Item 5.1:
Agreements for Towing and Impound Services
Recommendation:
Adopt the Resolution Entitled, “Resolution of the City Council of the City of National City, California, Authorizing the Mayor to Execute Agreements with Cortes Towing Enterprises Inc. and Tony’s Auto Center Inc. dba Tony’s Auto Center for Towing and Impound Services, with Initial Terms of October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2029.
Given the history of the Mayor’s Assistant, Josie Flores-Clark, having a financial interest in towing companies contracting with National City,1 it is imperative that the people of National City know the identities of any towing contractors with whom their city government may do business.
Accordingly, please obtain from the two proposed contractors (Cortes Towing Enterprises Inc. and Tony’s Auto Center Inc. dba Tony’s Auto Center for Towing and Impound Services) a list of all owners/shareholders and any financial arrangements related to the proposed towing contracts.
The proof-of-ownership and financial arrangement documents should be obtained and released to the public before any award of the proposed towing contracts.
Under Art. 1, Sec. 3 of the California Constitution, the public has a constitutional right of access to information concerning the conduct of the people’s business. This right is especially important given the ongoing serious concerns about public transparency in National City and the need to inquire into any possible conflicts of interest between potential towing contractors and the Mayor’s Assistant.
Thank you,
Michael Aguirre
1 See e.g. National City mayor’s assistant leaves tow job: Council considered inquiry into possible conflict of interest, August 19, 2009, San Diego Union Tribune https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2009/08/19/nationalcity-mayors-assistant-leaves-tow-job/?clearUserState=true From: Alisha Morrison
To: Clerk
Cc: Alisha Morrison
Subject: Special Meeting Item 5.1
Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2026 12:06:11 PM
Attachments: 2026.09.22 Special Mtg Item 5.1.docx
Rating Criteria Weighting Factor.pdf
Exhibit C - Appendix A - Positions and Disclosure Categories.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Good Afternoon,
Please find attached public comment and supplemental attachments for item 5.1 Respectfully,
Alisha
2026.09.22 – Special Meeting Item 5.1
Alisha Morrison
I am requesting a demand for cure and correct item 5.1
The presentation for rating Criteria – Weighting Factor “8 voting members on the tow committee” After trying to locate an agenda for the “tow committee” and unable to review any meeting minutes of said “tow committee” as this “8 voting member committee” has violated the Brown Act by failing to post an agenda to the Public. No minutes of any meetings are available for Public review.
No where is an existence of “Tow Committee” nor is it listed as a Board/Commission/Committee on your current list of National City Positions and Disclosure Categories (Exhibit C- Appendix A)
After checking with a member of the Traffic Safety Committee the is confirmation that no information available to the Public of the exitance of a “Tow Committee” This item needs to be pulled and said “Tow Committee” needs to be created by City Council and added to your current list of National City Positions and Disclosure Categories. The committee members need to be formally appointed by City Council, and any meetings held by the “Tow Committee” must be Publicly Noticed in accordance with CA Gov Code (§§ 54951, 54952).
1 APPENDIX A
National City Positions and Disclosure Categories
CURRENT POSITIONS
CURRENT DISCLOSURE CATEGORIES 2024
2026
Accountant 1,2,4,5
Assistant City Attorney 1,2,3,5,7 1,2,5 and 7
Assistant Director of Community Development 1,2,5,7 1,2,6,7 Assistant Engineer – Civil 1,2,3,5,7
Associate Engineer - Civil 3
Assistant Planner 3,4
Assistant Director of Engineering / PW 1,2,5
Assistant Police Chief 1,2,5 and 7
Associate Planner 3,4
Battalion Chief 2
Budget Manager 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 1, 2 5 and 7
Building Official 1,2,3,4,5
Building Inspector 3
Building Inspector/Plan Checker 3,4
Buyer 2,4,5,7
City Attorney 87200
City Clerk 1,2,6
City Councilmember 87200
City Librarian 6,7
City Manager 87200
City Treasurer/Director of Finance 87200
Code Conformance Officer 1 3
Code Conformance Officer II 3
Community Development Manager 1,2,6,7
Community Development Specialist II 2
Community Development Specialist III 1,2,4,5,7
Community Services Director 1,2,5,7
Community Services Manager 3,6,7
Confidential Assistant 1,2,3,5,7
Crime & Intelligence Analyst 7
Deputy City Attorney 1,2,3,5,7 1,2,5 and 7
Deputy City Clerk 1,2,6
Deputy City Manager 1,2,3,5,7 1,2,5 and 7
Deputy Fire Marshal 1,2,6
Director of Community Development 1,2,5,6,7
Director of Emergency Services 1,2,5,7
Director of Library Services 1,2,5,7
Director of Finance / Treasurer 1,2,5,7 87200
Director of Public Works/City Engineer 1,2,5,7
Director of Neighborhood Services 1,2,5,7
Emergency Manager 5
Emergency Medical Services Coordinator 5
Equipment Maintenance Supervisor 5
Equipment Mechanic I 5
Equipment Mechanic II 5
Executive Assistant II 3,6
Executive Assistant III 3,6
Executive Assistant IV 1,2,5,7
Executive Secretary 1,2,5,7
Facilities Maintenance Supervisor 5
Financial Services Officer 1,2,5,7
2 Fire Chief 1,2,6
Fire Battalion Chief 2,4,5,7 6
Fire Division Chief 1,2,6
Fire Inspector 2,4,5 3,4
Fire Inspector I 2,4,5 3,4
Fire Inspector II 2,4,5 3,4
Homelessness Service Coordinator 1,2,6,7
Housing Programs Manager 1,3,2, 6,7
Human Resources HR Director 1,2,5,7 1,3,5
Human Resources HR Manager 1,5,7
IT Analyst 3,4,6
IT Information Technology Manager 4,6,7 6
Lead Equipment Mechanic 5
CURRENT POSITIONS CURRENT DISCLOSURE CATEGORIES 2026
Library Circulation Supervisor 6
Management Analyst I 6,7
Management Analyst II 1,3,4,6
Management Analyst III 1,3,4,6
Mayor 87200
Neighborhood Services Manager 1,3,4,6
Neighborhood Council Coordinator 5,7
Nutrition Programs Manager 6
Nutrition Services Supervisor 6
Park Superintendent 3,4,6
Park Supervisor 3,4,6
Planning Commissioner 87200
Police Captain 1,2,3,6,7 1, 2 5 and 7
Police Chief 1,2,3,6,7 1, 2 5 and 7
Police Lieutenant 1,2,6
Police Operations Assistant 3,5
Police Records Clerk 3
Police Records Supervisor 3,5,6
Police Support Services Manager 3
Principal Civil Engineer 1,3,5 3,4,5
Principal Librarian 6,7
Principal Planner 1,2
Property Agent 1,2,6,7 1,2,5,7
Public Information Officer 3,5
Public Works Crew Supervisor 5,6 1,2,5
Recreation Superintendent 1,2,5
Recreation Supervisor 6
Records Program Specialist 1,2,6
Risk Management Specialist 1,2
Senior Accountant 1,2
Senior Accounting Assistant 1,4,5,7
Senior Building Inspector 3,4
Senior Construction Inspector 3,4, 5
Senior Information Technology Analyst 3,4,6
Senior Librarian 6,7
Street and Wastewater Maintenance Supervisor 3,4,5
Stop Grant Office Coordinator 3
Supervising Human Resources Analyst 5,7
Traffic Engineer 3,4,5
Training Coordinator 3
3 BOARDS/COMMISSIONS/COMMITTEES CURRENT DISCLOSURE CATEGORIES 2026 Board of Library Trustee Member 1
Civil Service Commissioner 1,3
Community & Police Relations Commissioner 1,2
Housing Advisory Committee Member 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,1,2,5,7 Parks, Recreation & Senior Advisory Committee 1,5
Planning Commissioner 87200
Port Commission 1,2,4,7,5
Public Art Committee 3,7 5
Traffic Safety Committee 3,4 1,5,7
Position Resolution Adding or Amending Position
Senior Librarian Resolution No. 2015-19, February 17, 2015 Community Services Manager Resolution No. 2022-69, May 3, 2022 Assistant Director of Community Services Resolution No. 2024-84, August 6, 2024 Human Resources Technician Resolution No. 2024-84, August 6, 2024 Records Program Specialist Resolution No. 2024-84, August 6, 2024 Risk Management Specialist Resolution No. 2024-84, August 6, 2024 Public Information Officer Resolution No. 2024-134, November 19, 2024 Supervising Human Resources Analyst Resolution No. 2024-134, November 19, 2024 Director of Library Services Resolution No. 2025-104, September 2, 2025 Emergency Manager Resolution No. 2025-130, October 7, 2025 Emergency Medical Services Coordinator Resolution No. 2025-169, December 2, 2025 From: Isaac Carmona
To: Public Comment; Clerk
Subject: Item 5.1 Towing Services at Special Council Meeting Sept 22 Date: Monday, September 21, 2026 3:22:44 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
I would like to know if Council and Staff are aware of possible issues with both the recommended tow companies.
Are you aware if Tony's Auto Center quit their towing contract with the City of San Diego for police towing services around September 2023 mid-contract. If Tony's Auto Center failed to complete the entire contract because of not wanting to tow abandoned vehicles and motorhomes wouldn't that be a very important consideration? If past performance on the same services is not important what is?
Are you aware if Cortes Towing was suspended for over four months (Sept 2025 - Feb 2026) for failure to pay the City of San Diego money collected and owed to the City of San Diego from it's police tow service contract in amounts of hundreds of thousands of dollars? Again, Cortes will now be responsible for collecting and paying the City of National City. This was a very significant action which did not happen to any of the other tow companies working for the City of San Diego. Shouldn't this be a major red flag? I encourage you to take careful consideration before moving forward on this decision.
Thank you,
Isaac Carmona