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Home My WebLink AboutMS Towing Service Fees 2016CITY Agenda Item No: 3.i OF 'n. 1� Meeting Date: October 3, 2016 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Department: Parking Services Division, Management Services Department Prepared by: Jim M hers, Parking Services City Manager Approval: Manager TOPIC: TOWING SERVICE FEES SUBJECT: RESOLUTION APPROVING THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ROTATION TOWING SERVICE SCHEDULE OF FEES RECOMMENDATION: Adopt the proposed resolution. BACKGROUND: The San Rafael Police Department and Parking Services Division operate in conjunction with local towing companies to provide law enforcement and rotational towing services. These services include response to accidents, citizen calls for service, law enforcement calls for service, and enforcement of the City's parking ordinances. Authorized towing companies are issued an annual permit from the San Rafael Police Department for the right to be placed on the rotational list for Police and Parking Service requested vehicle tows. ANALYSIS: It is recommended that the City Council approve an increase of San Rafael Law Enforcement and Rotation fee rates to bring San Rafael fee rates more closely aligned with regional tow rates. Staff is recommending that the tow fee, drop fee, gate fee and storage fee all be increased to bring them closer to rates charged by the CHP. Staff is also recommending a modification to the method used to calculate storage rates. Currently, storage rates do not start until 6 hours have elapsed from the time the vehicle enters the storage yard. Staff is recommending that the storage fee now be charged from the time the vehicle arrives at the storage facility, which is the industry standard. Proposed and existing rates are shown on Exhibit A- Fee Schedule. The current fee schedule for law enforcement and rotation towing services in San Rafael was approved by City Council in September 2015. At that time, the Council approved towing fees for one year. Parking FOR CITY CLERK ONLY File No.: 9-10-2 x 9-3-87 x 9-3-30 x 11-8 Council Meeting: 10/03/2016 Disposition: Resolution 14206 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Paae: 2 staff has received feedback from tow companies outlining the costs of providing tow service and the need for the City to bring some of its tow rates more in line with the reality of the cost of their service. Pursuant to section 10. 85.110 of the San Rafael Municipal Code, the City Council shall determine the fees that may be charged by operators providing law enforcement and rotation towing services. Fee recommendations to City Council are based on prevailing rates established by local law enforcement agencies for tow services in Marin County. To determine a fair fee schedule for both operators and citizens, staff has obtained the Marin County Office of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) 2016/2017 rotation tow rate schedule. The CHP arranges for tows of a significant number of vehicles in Marin County. It is CHP policy to approve company tow rates that are reasonable, valid and not in excess of those rates charged for similar services provided in response to requests initiated by a public agency. CHP towing rates just approved for the 2016/2017 period range from $250.00 to $260.00 for the towing fee. Gate fees obtained from each company range from $85.00 to $130.00 and the daily storage fee range is $70.00 to $80.00. Release fees, which normally are half of the tow rate, range from $125.00 to $130.00. Existing Class A tow fees in the City of San Rafael and tow fees for Marin County CHP Tow Service are as follows: Fee Type Tow Rate Storage Fee Gate Fee Release Fee City of San Rafael Current Rates $230.00 $70.00 $75.00 $115.00 City of San Rafael Proposed Rates $240.00 $75.00 $100.00 $120.00 Marin County CHP Rates $250.00-$260.00 $70.00-$80.00 $85.00-$130.00 $125.00-$130.00 FISCAL IMPACT: The City will not realize any revenue as a result of this resolution. All fees are paid directly by vehicle owners to the towing companies. OPTIONS: 1) Approve the resolution, as recommended, approving proposed fee schedules. 2) Reject the proposed fee schedules and retain the fee schedule approved in 2015. 3) Direct staff to adjust the schedule of fees using different criteria. ACTION REQUIRED: Adopt a resolution. Attachment: Resolution for Fee Schedule for Law Enforcement and Rotation Towing Services. RESOLUTION 14206 RESOLUTION APPROVING THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ROTATION TOWING SERVICE SCHEDULE OF FEES WHEREAS, Section 10.84.110 of the San Rafael Municipal Code requires any company engaged in the business of towing motor vehicles within the city to obtain a permit prior to conducting business; and, WHEREAS, in Chapter 10.85 of the San Rafael Municipal Code entitled Police Rotation Towing Services, Section 10.85.110 entitled Fee Schedule authorizes the City Council to set the schedule of towing service fees by resolution; and WHEREAS, the proposed fee schedule for the Law Enforcement and Rotation Towing Services is intended to establish rates based on prevailing rates for like tow services in the San Rafael area and the rates allowed by local law enforcement agencies; and, NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council hereby adopts the Fee Schedule for Law Enforcement and Rotation Towing Service as set forth in Exhibit "A" attached hereto and incorporated herein, and that any resolutions or other actions previously establishing a Fee Schedule for these services are hereby rescinded. I, ESTHER C. BEIRNE, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of said City held on October 3, 2016 by the following vote, to wit: AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Gamblin, McCullough & Mayor Phillips NOES: Councilmembers: None ABSENT: Councilmembers: Colin A-- .a&W ESTHER C. BEIRNE, City Clerk ...... \tic+Inn City or Marin CITY OF WM Exhibit A CITY OF SAN RAFAEL Law Enforcement and Rotation Towing Services IW04W1y:104Din NN Pursuant to the San Rafael Municipal code, Title 10, Chapter 10.85, the City Council of San Rafael sets the fees for all vehicles towed by the San Rafael Police Department and by Parking Services. Only charges listed below may be levied for a tow authorized by either group. A copy of this Fee Schedule must be prominently posted at each location where San Rafael tows are released. Every towed vehicle's owner or agent is entitled to an itemized list of all charges levied by the tow operator at the time of release. Vehicle Tows The minimum charge for towing service shall be one hour. Additional time shall be charged in 15 minute increments based on the applicable hourly rate. Class A& B Vehicles Class C — Heavy Vehicles Sept. 8, 2015 $230.00/hour October 4, 2016 $240.00/hour $235.00/hour $245.00/hour Additional Operators An Additional Operator needed to complete a tow will be billed at an hourly rate. The additional operator shall be charged at a minimum of one-half hour and additional time shall be charged in 15 -minute increments. Additional Operator Sept. 8, 2015 $170.00/hour October 4, 2016 $170.00/hour 1400 FIFTH AvENUE • PO Box 151560 • SAN RAFAEL, CA 94915-1560 W W W.CITYOFSANRAFAEL.ORG Hazardous Material Debris Pickup Some debris left at a tow scene as a result of a vehicle collision may be deemed hazardous material. Pickup, transportation and disposal costs of hazardous material left at the scene shall be charged at $30.00 per incident. Vehicle Storage Towed vehicle storage fees shall be charged from the time the vehicle arrived at the storage facility. Vehicles are charged in 24 hour increments. Sept. 8, 2015 October 4, 2016 Outside Class A $70.00 per day $75.00 per day Inside Class A $75.00 per day $75.00 per day All Storage Class B $75.00 per day $75.00 per day All Storage Class C $75.00 per day $75.00 per day Vehicle Releases — Gate Fees Cash and/or valid Credit Cards must be accepted as payment for a vehicle release. Sept. 8, 2015 October 4, 2016 M -F, 8:OOam to 5:OOpm No Charge No Charge M -F, 5:O1pm to 7:59am $80.00 $100.00 Fr 5:O1pm — Mo 7:59am $80.00 $100.00 Drop Charges Drop charges may be charged when a tow operator has raised at least one wheel of the vehicle off the ground. This covers the expense of responding to the tow request and time spent hooking up the vehicle. Sept. 8, 2015 October 4, 2016 $115.00/ hour $120.00 p/h If you have any questions relating to the conduct of a tow operator or the charges levied for a vehicle tow, contact the Traffic Sergeant of the San Rafael Police Department at (415) 485-3034 or the San Rafael Parking Services Manager at (415) 458-5333. ROUTING SLIP / APPROVAL FORM INSTRUCTIONS: Use this cover sheet with each submittal of a staff report before approval by the City Council. Save staff report (including this cover sheet) along with all related attachments in the Team Drive (T:) --> CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS 4 AGENDA ITEM APPROVAL PROCESS 4 [DEPT - AGENDA TOPIC] Agenda Item # Date of Meeting: 10/3/2016 From: Jim Myhers Department: Parking Services/Management Services Date: 9/23/2016 Topic: Towing Fees Subject: RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF SAN RAFAEL APPROVING THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ROTATION TOWING SERVICE SCHEDULE OF FEES Type: ® Resolution ❑ Ordinance ❑ Professional Services Agreement ❑ Other: APPROVALS ® Finance Director Remarks: MM - approved 9/24/2016 ® City Attorney Remarks: Approved with minor changes. ETD. 9/26/16 ® Author, review and accept City Attorney / Finance changes Remarks: JM 9/26/16 ® City Manager Remarks: