From
Fred Bates, Jr.
Title
Ordinance amending Chapter 25, "Traffic," Article V, "Towing," Section 25-60 "Authority to Remove; Procedure; Fees," by increasing the Police Department's Auto Pound fees for towing
Presenter
Steve Dye, Deputy City Manager / Chief of Police, and Ryan Simpson, Support Services Division Manager
Recommended Action
Approve
Analysis
The Police Department continues to review and evaluate the efficiency of its operation and management of City resources while providing a high level of quality service to the citizens and visitors of Grand Prairie. While conducting an overall review of operations at the Auto Pound facility located at 3010 Hardrock Road, staff recognized the need to reassess the current associated operating costs.
The Auto Pound serves as the location where towed vehicles are impounded and stored by various City departments, including but not limited to Police and Fire. Vehicles are towed and impounded for various reasons, including: collisions, abandoned vehicles, stolen vehicle recoveries, arrests, and City code violations. An evaluation of costs associated with performing these vital public safety functions found that operating costs had increased without any adjusted fee increases since 2011. Additionally, the City’s towing contractor (Dave’s Hi-Way Wrecker Service, Inc.), which has provided quality towing services to the City for several years, recently agreed to a new contract that included an increase in costs for services.
Based on the aforementioned factors, staff is recommending Ordinance amendment to assess towing fee increases to cover the additional costs to operate the Auto Pound and to pass through the price increase associated with the new tow service contract.
|
|
Current Fee |
Proposed Fee |
Increase |
|
Standard Tow |
$153.00 |
$171.00 |
$18.00 per tow |
|
Heavy Duty Tow |
$228.00 per hour |
$246.00 per hour |
$18.00 per hour |
Staff compared both current and proposed fees with surrounding agencies. The comparison revealed the City of Grand Prairie is currently on par with comparison agencies and would remain extremely reasonable when factoring quality of service, population and land size. The comparison data is provided in Attachment A.
Staff projects that the increased fees will result in approximately $108,000 in additional towing revenue, based on 6,000 vehicles impounded annually, to cover price increases in the new contract with Dave’s and current Auto Pound operating costs.
The Public Safety, Health, and Environment Committee reviewed this item on September 9th and recommended that it be forwarded to the City Council.
Financial Consideration
None
Body
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS, AMENDING CHAPTER 25, “TRAFFIC,” ARTICLE V, “TOWING,” SECTION 25-60 “AUTHORITY TO REMOVE; PROCEDURE; FEES,” SUBSECTIONS (b) (9) OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS, RELATED TO STORAGE FEES, CONTAINING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; AND TO BECOME EFFECTIVE UPON ITS PASSAGE AND APPROVAL
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS:
SECTION 1. THAT Chapter 25, “Traffic,” Article V, “Towing,” Section 25-60 “Authority to remove; procedure; fees,” Subsections (b) (9) of the Code of Ordinances, is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:
(b) Redemption; fees. A vehicle removed and towed pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be kept at the place designated by the chief of police until the owner or other person entitled to possession pays all costs of towing, impoundment and storage. The chief of police shall charge fees for towing and storage of vehicles at city pound locations in accordance with the following regulations:
(9) Towing fees shall be at the rate of one hundred seventy-one dollars ($171.00) per vehicle for regular duty tow, and two hundred forty-six dollars ($246.00) per hour for heavy-duty tow. Additional fees may be charged when specialized equipment is used.
SECTION 2. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this ordinance is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions thereof.
SECTION 3. All ordinances or part of ordinances in conflict with this ordinance are hereby repealed.
SECTION 4. THAT this ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and approval.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS, ON THIS THE 17th DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2019.