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Home My WebLink About02-19-13 Wrecker Committee Meeting and Public HearingWRECKER COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA Notice is hereby given of a Meeting and Public Hearing of the La Porte Wrecker Committee to be held on February 19, 2013, at 3:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 604 West Fairmont Parkway, La Porte, Texas, for the purpose of considering the following agenda items: I . Call to order. 2. Roll call of members. 3. Consider approval of the July 10, 2012, meeting minutes. 4. Conduct public hearing to consider possible action to suspend, cancel, or revoke wrecker permits issued to La Porte Automotive, Inc. in accordance with the City of La Porte Code of Ordinances. A. Open public hearing B. Staff comments C. Public comments D. Close public hearing 5. Consider possible action to suspend, cancel, or revoke wrecker permits issued to La Porte Automotive, Inc. 6. Conduct public hearing to consider possible action to suspend, cancel, or revoke wrecker permits issued to La Porte Towing, Inc. in accordance with the City of La Porte Code of Ordinances. A. Open public hearing B. Staff comments C. Public comments D. Close public hearing 7. Consider possible action to suspend, cancel, or revoke wrecker permits issued to La Porte Towing, Inc. 8. Administrative Reports 9. Committee comments on matters appearing on agenda or inquiry of staff regarding specific factual information or existing policy 10. Adjourn A quorum of City Council members may be present and participate in discussions during this meeting; however, no action will be taken by Council. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of La Porte will provide for reasonable accommodations for persons attending public meetings. To better serve attendees, requests should be received 24 hours prior to the meetings. Please contact Patrice Fogarty, City Secretary, at 281.470.5019. CERTIFICATION I certify that a copy of the February 19, 2013, agenda of items to be considered by the City of La Porte Wrecker Committee was posted on the City Hall bulletin board on the day of , 2013. Title: City of La Porte Wrecker Committee Minutes of July 10, 2012 Committee Members Present: Planning Director Tim Tietjens (designated representative of the City Manager), Lt. Gary Rice (designated representative of the Police Chief), and City Secretary Patrice Fogarty Staff Members Present: Assistant City Attorney Clark Askins and Chief Building Official Debbie Wilmore 1. Call to order. Meeting called to order by Chairman Tim Tietjens at 3:08 p.m. 2. Roll call of members. Committee Members Tim Tietjens, Patrice Fogarty, and Gary Rice were present for roll call. 3. Consider approval of March 27, 2012, meeting minutes. Motion by Gary Rice to approve the Minutes of March 27, 2012. Second by Patrice Fogarty. Motion carried unanimously. 4. Conduct public hearing to receive input on a request by Taylor Towing for issuance of four (4) emergency auto wrecker permits, under Section 78-297 of the La Porte Code of Ordinances. A. Open public hearing Chairman Tietjens opened the public hearing at 3:09 p.m. B. Staff comments Chief Building Official Debbie Wilmore presented the staff report. In response to questions from the Committee, Mrs. Wilmore confirmed the vehicle information provided by the applicant has been reviewed and found to be in proper order, and noted drivers for Taylor Towing would be operating out of Deer Park, Shoreacres, and if approved, La Porte. C. Public comments Charlie Hinds, Charlie Hinds Paint & Body, addressed the Committee. Mr. Hinds stated that in the past, the Ford dealership discontinued using Taylor Towing because they were not making their calls. Mr. Hinds would not be opposed to Walter Jones operating his own trucks, but is opposed to the Committee granting permits to Taylor Towing to tow for Mr. Jones. Paul Taylor, 323 Meadow Wood Court, League City, addressed the Committee. Mr. Taylor stated he has drivers in Deer Park and Shoreacres that would be available during the day and on -call at night. Mr. Taylor will have an office at A & W Jones Collision. He has been in business for 22 years and meets all insurance requirements. Todd Johnston, Apple Towing, addressed the Committee. Mr. Johnston spoke in opposition to additional towing permits being issued due to there not being enough work. Wrecker Committee Minutes of July 10, 2012 Page 2 of 2 Walt Jones, A & W Jones Collision & Storage Facility, addressed the Committee. Mr. Jones wants to bring in Taylor Towing because he wants things done right. Mr. Jones questioned the opposition from Mr. Hinds and Mr. Johnston, since he lives and has a business in La Porte. Anita Jones, A & W Jones Collision, addressed the Committee. Ms. Jones agreed with Mr. Jones's statements and added they are trying to provide better service by bringing in Taylor Towing, having had to release McGinty Wrecker Service for non -responsiveness to call -outs. D. Close public hearing Chairman Tietjens closed the public hearing at 3:23 p.m. 5. Consider action to grant or deny four (4) emergency auto wrecker permits to Taylor Towing under Section 78-297 of the La Porte Code of Ordinances. Gary Rice spoke of a Better Business Bureau report showing an "F" rating for Taylor Towing. Committee Members discussed the report. Motion by Patrice Fogarty to grant four (4) emergency auto wrecker permits to Taylor Towing. Second by Tim Tietjens. Motion carried 2-1 with Gary Rice voting in opposition. 6. Administrative Reports There were no Administrative Reports. 7. Committee comments on matters appearing on agenda or inquiry of staff regarding specific factual information or existing policy. Patrice Fogarty commented to tow company representatives in the audience to please pass early on call - outs, if known that a 20-minute response time is not likely. An email/letter was previously sent, and will be resent to all wrecker permit holders, containing information on the procedure police dispatch is using for call -outs. In order to ensure the Police Department is getting the appropriate level of service they need, Gary Rice will ask Dispatch to keep detailed call -out records that may be reviewed by the Committee quarterly. Chairman Tietjens allowed a question from a member of the audience, Todd Johnston, regarding a warning ticket Apple Towing received for having an auto wrecker in a residential zone. Building Official Debbie Wilmore described current ordinance provisions on the subject and the City's plans to review the Zoning Ordinance section dealing with one -ton and larger trucks (including auto wreckers) currently prohibited in residential zones. 8. Adjourn. Motion by Patrice Fogarty to adjourn. Second by Gary Rice. Chairman Tietjens adjourned the meeting at 4:00 p.m. Prepared by Peggy Lee, Office Coordinator Lee,Peggy From: Adcox, Kenith Sent: Monday, ,January 07, 2013 11:35 AM D: Rice, Gary; Fogarty, Patrice; Tietjens, Tim; Wilmore, Debbie; askinslaw@swbel1.net Cc: Adcox, Kenith Subject: RE: La Porte Towing Violation Tim, can you fill me in on what the plan is here. We simply cannot allow this to continue. We are receiving justifiable complaints from other towing companies and, most importantly, this is negatively impacting the PD's ability to do our job. Please let me know how we can help and what the time -line is. Thanks- Ken From: Rice, Gary Sent: Monday, January 07, 2013 11:05 AM To: Adcox, Kenith; Fogarty, Patrice; Tietjens, Subject: La Porte Towing Violation Tim; Wilmore, Debbie; askinslaw@swbell.net Another issue with La Porte Towing... Officer Boles did not allow La Porte Towing to pick up the vehicle for La Porte Automotive... this led to a prisoner sitting in the back seat of Bennie's patrol car in handcuffs for 30 minutes because the wrong truck showed up, and in the case was not allowed to pick up... see all emails below ... From: Bales, Bennie Sent: Monday, January 07, 2013 11:01 AM To: Rice, Gary Subject: RE: La Porte Towing le was not happy about it at all. He did not say anything to me but... was not happy. Jn another note, my prisoner sat in the back seat in handcuffs for 30 minutes because he showed up with the wrong truck. "Every DW1 arrest SAVES a LIFE!" Officer B. Boles 679 La Porte Police Department 3001 N. 23rd St. LaPorte, TX 77571 This email and any files transmitted with it may contain PRIVILEGED or CONFIDENTIAL Information and may be read or used only by the Intended recipient. if you are not the Intended recipient of the email or any of its attachments, please be advised that you hove received this email In error and that any use, dissemination, distribution, forwarding, printing, or copying of this email or any attached files Is strictly prohlbitetl. If you have received this email in error, please Immediately purge it and all attachments and notify the sender by reply email or contact the sender at the number listed. From: Rice, Gary Sent: Monday, January 07, 2013 10:56 AM To: Boles, Bennie Subject: RE: La Porte Towing Thanks Bennie... .=rom: Boles, Bennie Sent; Sunday, January 06, 2013 6:08 AM To: Rice, Gary Gc:.'-'ook, Lance Subject: La Porte Towing La Porte Towing showed up for a La Porte Automotive tow. Driver Stated his other truck was in the shop. 'vent NUmber 201300813 01/06/2013 0600 hours. "Every DWI arrest SAVES a LIFE!" Officer B. Boles 679 La Porte Police Department 3001 N. 23rd St. La Porte, TX 77571 This email and any files transmitted with it may contain PRIVILEGED or CONFIDENTIAL information and may be read or used only by the intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient of the email or any of its attachments, please be advised that you have received this email in error and that any use, dissemination, distribution, forwarding, printing, or copying of this email or any attached flies Is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please immediately purge it and all attachments and notify the sender by reply email or contact the sender at the number listed. Lee, Peggy From: Rice, Gary gent: Monday, January 07, 2013 1:04 PM o: Adcox, Kenith; Fogarty, Patrice; Tietjens, Tim; Wilmore, Debbie; askinslaw@swbell.net Cc: Bradley, Shamarian; Rice, Gary Subject: Wrecker Statistics - Quarterly Report - October 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012 Statistics for the last quarter as indicated in the Wrecker Activity Log. Statistics supplied by Dispatch Supervisor Shaye Bradley. Statistics compiled and percentages calculated by Lt. Rice Vendors rated from most reliable to least reliable by percentages of calls accepted. 1. Charlie Hinds — Calls received = 84, Calls accepted = 71(84%), Calls refused r 4 (5%), Calls canceled by PD or Citizen Requesting =9 (11%) 2. La Porte Towing— Calls received = 79, Calls accepted = 61(77%), Calls refused = 6 (8%), Calls canceled by PD or Citizen Requesting =12 (15%) 3. Taylor Towing - Calls received = 74, Calls accepted = 54 (73%), Calls refused = 9 (12%), Calls canceled by PD or Citizen Requesting = 11(15%) 4. La Porte Automotive Calls received = 79, Calls accepted = 52 (66%), Calls refused = 13 (16%, Calls canceled by PD or Citizen Requesting = 14 (18%) 5. Apple Towing Calls received = 71, Calls accepted = 1 (2%), Calls refused = 45 (63%), Calls canceled by PD or Citizen Requesting = 25 (35%) 'e.g. gWUJ, D S ce Spa. 'a Ya de J alke Depardowit 3001.N 2&d Shea Ba J rude, .1 ea w 77571