7/2/2025
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PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO RMC CHAPTER 5.15 AND OFFICIAL POLICE TOW TRUCK SERVICE AGREEMENT Safety, Wellness, and Youth CommitteeJuly 16, 2025RiversidePolice Department RiversideCA.gov2
•Official Police Tow Service (OPTS) is a Tow company having a contractual relationship with RPD providing tows in accordance withRMC Chapter 5.15•RPD regularly assesses RMCand OPTTS Agreement for effectiveness•Proposed revisions are outlinedherein and, upon approval, incorporated in RMC and OPTTS Agreement•June 18, 2025 – Safety, Wellness and Youth Committee heard this item and continued the discussion to the July Committee MeetingBACKGROUND 7/2/2025
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•Currently 6 OPTS providers selected through an RFQ process in 2021•Initial Agreement term was 3 years and ended December 31, 2024•3 optional 1-year renewal terms are allowed by the agreement at the discretion of the City •Current companies are operating under the first renewal term ending December 31, 2025 •RFQ seeking qualified tow companies is planned for Summer of 2025 for Agreements effective January 1, 2026 due to revisions•All current providers are eligible to respond to the RFQDISCUSSION RiversideCA.gov4
Various terms, phrases, and sections were eliminated, revised, or added throughout the RMC Chapter for clarity and alignment with the OPTTS Agreement and the CA Vehicle Code. •Section 5.15.095 is revised to:–Reference City’s Schedule of Fees and Charges which includes a per-tow fee to be charged to OPTS when performing a tow at “owner’s request” and facilitated by RPD •Section 5.15.110 is revised to:–Clarify that RPD incurs cost for impounding a vehicle as evidencebut when hold is lifted, owner is responsible for storage fees–Require tow answering service to provide weekly reports to RPD at cost to OPTS RMC CHAPTER 5.15 PROPOSED AMENDMENTS 7/2/2025
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•Section 5.15.145is revised to :–Clarify appeals and Tow Board Hearing process allowing OPTS facing potential disciplinary actions, the opportunity to appeal–Allow RPD and Tow Board to consider OPTS conduct during the current agreement term and any previous agreement terms instead of limiting to the previous 12 months•Section 5.15.150is revised to:–Allow OPTS to “pass” on a tow no more than twice a month before being penalized.RMC CHAPTER 5.15 PROPOSED AMENDMENTS RiversideCA.gov6
Various terms, phrases, and sections were eliminated, revised, or added throughout the OPTTS Agreement for clarity and alignment with RMC Chapter 5.15 and the CA Vehicle Code. Specific revisions include, but are not limited to, the following:•Clarification of what constitutes “good standing” and what conduct leads to disciplinary action or forfeiture of payment•Addition of language specifying who is subject to background investigations•Update to grooming standards for tow truck operators OPTTS AGREEMENT PROPOSED AMENDMENTS 7/2/2025
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•Requirement of OPTS tobillfor serviceswithin 30 daysorforfeit payment•Addition of language stating thatLapses in insurancecoverage can lead toremovalfromtow rotation untilcoverage is current•Clarification thatupdatesto City’sSchedule of Fees andChargeswill bepassedon toOPTS.OPTTS AGREEMENT PROPOSED AMENDMENTS RiversideCA.gov8
Strategic Priority 2 Community Well-Being Goal 2.4STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
7/2/2025
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That the Safety, Wellness, and Youth Committee:1. Receive and discuss this report summarizing the proposed ordinanceamending Riverside Municipal Code Chapter 5.15 and the proposedrevisions to the Official Police Tow Truck Service Agreement;2. Recommend that the City Council adopt the proposed ordinanceamending Riverside Municipal Code Chapter 5.15 – Regulation ofRiverside Police Official Police Tow Truck to clarify definitions, eliminateunnecessary verbiage, create consistency between Chapter 5.15 and theAgreement, and implement procedural changes to improve operationalefficiency; and3. Recommend that the City Council approve the proposed revisions to theOfficial Police Tow Truck Service Agreement to clarify definitions, eliminateunnecessary verbiage, create consistency between Chapter 5.15 and theAgreement, and implement procedural changes to improve operationalefficiency.RECOMMENDATIONS