04-01-96 Regular Meeting of La Porte Wrecker Committee

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Minutes of Public Hearing and Regular Meeting La Porte Wrecker Committee April 1, 1996, Page 2 Department has no objection to this request. They would like to lower the twelve hour charge on storage per arrest. Chief Powell stated, "I do think we should set some reasonable time for someone arrested. If he is bailed out of jail within an hour or so the $15.00 charge is lowered and perhaps charged by an hourly or quarter hourly fee. Also there was a request to change the seven E-tags now available to six. Their reason for the request was the revenues seem to be going down because there is not enough business to afford a living for all holders of E-Tags. That is up to the Committee to decide". Assistant City Attorney asked to speak to the Committee. He stated, "I am more familiar with the changes of Federal regulation with respect to the towing industry. These have specifically affected cities ability to regulate the towing industry. I do not want to get into any of the particulars in an open meeting setting simply because, as a legal representative, I do not want to say anything one way or the other that might jeopardize the City. I would like to bring forward the fact that radical changes have taken place in the federal law which preempt the cities ability to regulate the rotation and number of E-tags. City Council has not changed the ordinance yet. We are in that process at this time, so our current ordinance is what we have to deal with. There are changes that could enact in the enforceability of what we do. I am not on the committee, but the changes would affect what the committee would do". Planning Director Guy Rankin opened the public hearing at 3:08 P.M. Mr. Rankin called for the first speaker. Mr. Mike Gordon, spokesman for Les Marks Mazda, addressed the committee. Mr. Gordon stated, "Our company feels it is in their best interest to expand their services to their customers and to the community. We have three car lines and feel like we need some representation for our Mazda franchise as well as our Chevrolet. Mr. Rankin asked for other public input. Mr. Keith Mainor, E-tag permit holder, spoke indicating the revenue for E-tag permit holders has decreased over the past few years. He also indicated the need for an increase of the amount of the storage fee to access from individuals who have been arrested as well as wrecked vehicles. He did not see the necessity to issue another E- tag at this time. Chief Powell reported some of the facts regulating the rotation system as set forth by Federal law and indicated some of the circumstances depend on the type of arrests made. Mr. Rankin asked Chief Powell if the number of E-tags were still seven. Chief Powell stated, "There are seven E-tags at the present". Mr. Rankin recognized the next speaker, Mr. Tim DeWalt, E-tag permit holder. Mr. DeWalt stated his concerns regarding the decrease in revenue and number of requests for services which he was receiving. Mr. DeWalt stated, "That permit has not been used in almost a year, and it has not made an impact on the service provided. We do not see the necessity for issuing another permit. We do not have any objections to Les Marks having that E-tag permit, but we just don't believe there is a necessity to issue another permit."