CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
DATE: AUGUST 26, 2026 CONSENT CALENDAR
SUBJECT: APPROVE OFFICAL POLICE TOW AND STORAGE SERVICE AGREEMENT NO. 26Q168 WITH ALFONSO TOWING, INC.; NO. 26Q169 WITH DAVE’S TOWING SERVICE; AND NO. 26Q170 WITH MOHICA
TOWING, INC. FOR AS-NEEDED VEHICLE TOWING AND STORAGE
SERVICES FOR THE PALM SPRINGS POLICE DEPARTMENT
FROM: Scott C. Stiles, City Manager
BY: Police Department
SUMMARY:
The City Council has adopted an ordinance establishing the selection process and contractual system for vehicle towing and storage services that are initiated by the Palm Springs Police Department. To facilitate the selection process, the City solicited qualifications from tow companies wishing to provide vehicle towing and storage services to the Police Department. This action will award agreements to three (3) tow companies that have been deemed qualified and competent to provide as-needed vehicle towing and storage services for the Palm Springs Police Department.
This action will approve Agreement No. 26Q168 with Alfonso Towing Inc., No. 26Q169 with Dave’s Towing Services, and No. 26Q170 with Mohica Towing Inc., for an initial three-year term, with two one-year extension options for as-needed vehicle towing and storage services.
RECOMMENDATION:
1) Adopt a Resolution entitled, "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING AGREEMENTS WITH
CERTAIN TOW COMPANIES FOR AS-NEEDED VEHICLE TOWING AND
STORAGE SERVICES FOR THE PALM SPRINGS POLICE DEPARTMENT." 2) Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all necessary documents.
City Council Staff Report
August 26, 2026 -- Page 2
Approve Official Police Tow and Storage Service Agreements BUSINESS PRINCIPAL DISCLOSURE:
According to the Public Integrity Disclosure forms (Attachment B) submitted in June 2026, Alfonso Towing, Inc., Dave’s Towing Services, and Mohica Towing, Inc. are registered in the state of California.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Palm Springs Police Department requires the services of qualified contractors to provide professional towing, recovery, and vehicle storage services in support of its public safety operations. The Department does not possess the specialized equipment, personnel, or certifications necessary to safely and effectively perform these services internally.
Contracted towing services are essential to ensure the timely removal, recovery, transportation, and secure storage of vehicles resulting from traffic collisions, criminal investigations, vehicle impounds, abandoned vehicles, and other law enforcement activities. Utilizing qualified towing contractors ensures compliance with applicable state laws, industry standards, and safety requirements while allowing Police Department personnel to remain focused on their core public safety responsibilities.
Entering into agreements with qualified towing service providers will ensure the Department maintains reliable, responsive, and professional towing services that support public safety, protect City assets, and provide efficient service to the community.
In 2006, the City Council adopted an ordinance establishing the selection process and contractual system for police tow services. In addition, the ordinance set forth minimum requirements and performance standards for equipment, facilities, personnel and services for each tow company providing as-needed vehicle towing and storage services requested by the Palm Springs Police Department. The ordinance also established procedures for suspending or revoking tow companies that fail to meet the City's minimum standards, violate federal, state or local laws, or for any cause which the Police Department determines is in the public interest, convenience, necessity or general welfare to suspend or revoke an individual agreement.
On July 18, 2018, City Council adopted Resolution No. 24471, approving the City’s RFP to solicit proposals for new tow service providers. In response to the City’s RFP, the City’s three incumbent tow service providers submitted proposals to continue providing tow services to the community. On December 19, 2018, City Council adopted Resolution No. 24536 approving an Official Police Tow Service Agreement with those three firms: A&A Towing and Recovery, Inc. (A6280); Dave’s Towing Service (A6281); and Mohica Towing, Inc. (A6282).
The terms of these agreements were 5 years, through December 2024, and have subsequently continued on an interim basis to allow staff to prepare a new Request for City Council Staff Report
August 26, 2026 -- Page 3
Approve Official Police Tow and Storage Service Agreements Proposals/Statement of Qualifications (RFP/SOQ) to solicit new proposals for tow services.
On March 14, 2024, City Council adopted Resolution No. 25189 approving maximum rates that tow service providers can charge and an updated the Vehicle Towing Administrative Cost Recovery (VTACR) fee for the Palm Springs Police Department and Amendment No. 2 to Agreements A6281 and A6282.
On March 25 and April 8, 2026, City Council adopted Ordinance 2129 amending Section
11.82.130 (j)(1), Subdivision (j)(1) of Section 11.82.130 of Chapter 11.82 of Title 11 of the Palm Springs Municipal code to read as follows:
(j) Official police tow service shall have a secure and environmentally safe vehicle storage facility with a minimum of fifteen thousand usable square feet.
(1) The vehicle storage facility must be located in or within ten (10) miles of the corporate city limits of the city of Palm Springs. For purposes of measuring the ten (10) miles, distance shall be measured in driving distance.
The prior code required tow facilities to be located within cooperate boundaries of the city which resulted in reduced competition, therefore staff desired to modify the location requirements for vehicle storage facilities. This change will now provide the tools necessary for the Police Department to retain a rotational pool to clear the roadway of damaged vehicles and debris, remove abandoned vehicles, recover stolen vehicles, and help ensure roadway safety. Official police tow service providers, dispatched on a rotational basis, remove and store vehicles the Department impounds or holds for investigation, examination, or evidence.
On May 12, 2026, City Council adopted Resolution No. 25394, authorizing staff to advertise and solicit responses for as-needed vehicle towing and storage services for the Palm Springs Police Department.
STAFF ANALYSIS:
The City’s Procurement Department worked closely with the Police Department and City Attorney’s Office to prepare the solicitation and Official Police Tow Services Agreement and posted, distributed, and advertised the Request for Qualifications (RFQ 04-26) for Official Police Towing and Storage Services on May 18, 2026. The Notice was electronically transmitted to nine tow companies operating throughout the region. The City received five responses to its RFQ.
• Alexandra Recovery Services Inc. – Palm Springs, CA (Non-Responsive) • Alfonso Towing Inc. – Desert Hot Springs, CA
• Daves Towing Service – Palm Springs, CA
City Council Staff Report
August 26, 2026 -- Page 4
Approve Official Police Tow and Storage Service Agreements • Mohica Towing Inc. – Palm Springs, CA
• RRR Towing, Inc. – Palm Springs, CA (Non-Responsive)
An evaluation panel consisting of representatives from the Police Department evaluated these responses based upon the criteria set forth in the RFQ. Criteria included the firm’s facilities, equipment and personnel; staff and team’s qualifications and experience; demonstrated understanding of the overall scope of work requested, financial and organization stability; successful completion of similar services, and safety record.
After reviewing and scoring the five responses, the evaluation panel concluded that only three of the five firms met the minimum qualifications to provide the towing services as requested in the RFQ and is recommending that the City Council award agreements to the following tow companies (in alphabetical order): Alfonso Towing; Dave's Towing; and Mohica Towing.
Staff recommend approval of Official Police Tow Service Agreement No. 26Q168 with Alfonso Towing, Inc.; No. 26Q169 with Dave’s Towing Service; and No. 26Q170 with Mohica Towing, Inc., for the initial three-year term, subject to two one-year optional renewals upon mutual agreement (Attachment C).
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
The requested City Council action is not a “Project” as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Pursuant to Section 15378(a), a “Project” means the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. The requested action is to approve contracts for the above-mentioned services, and is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15378(b), in that a “Project” does not include: (5) Organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLANNING:
These services directly align with the City's broader goals of enhancing public safety and delivering high-quality community services. Maintaining qualified towing and storage contractors ensures the Police Department can respond efficiently to emergencies, remove hazards from public roadways, preserve evidence when necessary, and provide timely service to the community. This partnership supports the Department's mission of protecting the public while promoting safe, efficient, and effective municipal operations.
City Council Staff Report
August 26, 2026 -- Page 5
Approve Official Police Tow and Storage Service Agreements FISCAL IMPACT:
No impact, as City expenses will be recovered via implementation of the VEHICLE TOWING ADMINISTRATIVE COST RECOVERY (VTACR) fee as established by the City Council and adopted by Resolution No. 25189 on March 14, 2024.
REVIEWED BY:
Department Director: Andrew Mills
City Manager: Teresa Gallavan for Scott Stiles
ATTACHMENTS:
A. Resolution No.
B. Public Integrity Disclosures
C. Official Police Towing and Storage Services Agreements