HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-14-10 Special Called Regular Meeting and Public Hearing of the La Porte Wrecker Committe
City of La Porte
Wrecker Committee
Minutes of April 14, 2010
Committee Members Present: Tim Tietjens, Planning Director (designated representative of the City
Manager); Martha Gillett, City Secretary; and Officer Kyle Jones, filling in
for Lt. Gary Rice (designated representative of the Police Chief)
Staff Members Present: Clark Askins, Assistant City Attorney; Debbie Wilmore, Chief Building
Official; and Peggy lee, Office Coordinator
1. Call to order.
Meeting called to order by Chairman Tim Tietjens at 3:05 p.m.
2. Roll call of members.
Tim Tietjens, Martha Gillett, and Officer Kyle Jones (filling in for Lt. Gary Rice) were present for
roll call.
3. Consider approval of January 27, 2010, meeting minutes.
Motion by Martha Gillett to approve the Minutes of January 27,2010, as presented. Second by
Kyle Jones. The motion carried unanimously.
4. Conduct workshop to review the Code of Ordinances Chapter 78 Vehicles for Hire, Article III
Automobile Wreckers and Towing Vehicles, for possible updates.
Workshop was conducted to allow Committee Members an opportunity to review the current
ordinance requirements and related matters. The following was discussed for possible
consideration at a future meeting:
o Remove the word "without" from the definition of auto wrecker - Auto wrecker means
a towing vehicle which may lawfully appear at the scene of an accident where a vehicle
has collided with another vehicle or other object or which has been wrecked or disabled
in any manner for the purpose or expectation of towing, removing or hauling away the
wrecked vehicle from the scene of the accident without having been expressly
summoned there by the police department or the owner of one of the vehicles involved
in the accident.
o Add definition for heavy duty wrecker.
o City cannot limit the number of permits issued, unless it can be proven that such action
is related to safety and is supported by a study.
Wrecker Committee
Minutes of April 14, 2010
Page 2 of 2
o Restructure call out rotation list so that each company has only one rotation on the list.
When called, a company could send any available wrecker that has been issued a permit
by the City to operate.
o Maintain a separate heavy duty wrecker rotation list.
o Change the size of the letters for the signage on the wrecker to: license holder name 3",
license holder address and phone number 2", and vehicle owner name and phone
number 1".
o Attorney will check to ensure the City is not being exposed to any liability with regard to
how companies are named on state/city permits/licenses and certificates of insurance.
A public hearing will be scheduled next month to gather public input on possible updates to the
ordinance.
5. Administrative Reports
There were no administrative reports.
6. Committee Comments
A. Matters appearing on agenda.
None.
B. Inquiry of staff regarding specific factual information or existing policy.
None.
7. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 4:40 p.m.
Prepared by Peggy Lee, Planning Department Office Coordinator