Agenda Item # 12.2
For Council Meeting of: July 25, 2023
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JOHN CREGAN, CHIEF OF POLICE
SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF THE TOW VENDOR FRANCHISE LIST FOR POLICE GENERATED TOW OPERATIONS AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by the Police Department that the Council, by resolution: 1) grant police generated vehicle tow franchises to the tow operators identified in Exhibit A to the Resolution; 2) authorize tow agreements with these franchisees in substantially the same form as Exhibit B to the Resolution, subject to approval as to form by the City attorney; and 3) authorize the Chief of Police or designee to execute the tow agreements.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The current tow vendor franchise agreement expires on August 31, 2023. The approval of the new tow vendor franchise list will be for a term of five years and will provide the police department with a rotation tow list to provide tow services to remove stopped, standing, parked and hazardous vehicles from public streets, roads, and private property.
BACKGROUND
On July 20, 2004, the City adopted an ordinance authorizing the Council to grant franchises to one or more tow operators for police generated tow services and requiring the payment of a franchise fee to cover the cost of the program.
Tow operators placed on the City’s Rotation Tow List are permitted to provide tow services to remove stopped, standing, parked, and hazardous vehicles from public streets, roads, and private property. Qualified tow operators provide this service on a rotating basis. They also provide qualified storage facilities.
Police Department staff is responsible for insuring compliance with the law and the tow agreement, collecting CHP 180 (tow report) forms from employees and confirming forms are properly completed, and insuring notifications are mailed out as required by the California Vehicle Code.
The Franchise Agreement for Vehicle Tow Services with current tow franchisees was approved by City Council and will expire on August 31, 2023.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW
On January 9,2018 the City Council, by Resolution No. RES-2018-006, approved the addition of two vendors to the franchise tow list.
On August 29, 2017, by Resolution No. RES-2017-164, approved the second one-year extension of the term of tow vendor franchises.
On August 30, 2016, the City Council, by Resolution No. 28850, approved the tow vendor franchise list and revised the franchise fees to $300 per vendor.
ANALYSIS
The Police Department has been utilizing franchise tow agreements since 2004. These franchise tow companies are put on a rotation tow list which has proven to be very successful in providing fast, reliable service to remove stopped, standing, parked and hazardous vehicles from public streets, roads, and private property. Without this approved franchise tow list the department would not be able to complete these in as timely of a manner. The department has an average of 180 vehicles towed per month.
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
This action is exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) and 15378 in that there is no possibility that the implementation of this action may have significant effects on the environment, and no further environmental review is required.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Not applicable.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution / Exhibit A - Tow Vendor List / Exhibit B – Franchise Tow Agreement
PRESENTER
John Cregan, Chief of Police
Josh Ludtke, Lieutenant
APPROVAL OF ADDITION OF TWO TOW VENDORS TO THE TOW VENDOR FRANCHISEE LIST FOR POLICE-GENERATED OPERATIONS PAGE 3 OF 3