Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into contract with ProTow, Inc. for the towing of abandoned or illegally parked vehicles within specified parks.
The Recreation and Parks Department has had ongoing issues when abondoned cars occupy parking spaces or are parked illegally. Further, many of the vehicles are parked after hours and are trespassing within the park. This ordinance would provide an update to the prior contract from 2013, authorized by ordinance 2418-2013, with ProTow to allow ProTow to patrol and remove vehicles that are abandoned or parked illegally within specified parks after the parks are closed or when a vehicle is not parked in a designated parking spot per park signage. ProTow will provide and install signage regarding towing within the specific park.
Proposals were originally solicited from towing companies in the Columbus, Ohio area. ProTow was selected for this project for various reasons including experience, location, availability, and familiarity and expertise with towing vehicles in the City of Columbus. There will be no cost to the City associated with this contract.
Previous Ordinance #: 2418-2013 & 2229-2015
Parks are shown on the attached Exhibit A.
There will be no funding obligation on this contract.
Principal Parties:
ProTow, Inc.
1669 Harmon Avenue, Columbus, OH 43223
James Whittredge 614-419-1917
06-1825828
Exp Date: 12/15/17
Emergency Justification: An emergency is being requested to renew said contract so that there will not be a gap in service as the current contract has expired.
Benefits to the Public: ProTow is providing a service to the community by protecting the park users' ability to park at parks with ease. ProTow shall be required to install and maintain signage at all designated sites providing both notice of the parking restrictions and that vehicles parked in violation of such restrictions shall be towed.
Area(s) Affected:
See attached Exhibit A
Master Plan Relation: Many of the areas listed in Exhibit A are areas that were targeted within the Master Plan of areas in need of maintenance and park use. This contract will help in securing the parking for the community to utilize and park within the park.
Fiscal Impact: None
Title
To authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into contract with ProTow to provide towing services at designated City-owned properties managed by the Department of Recreation and Parks; to authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to enforce parking restrictions at such sites by causing the removal of vehicles; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to enforce parking restrictions at such sites by causing the removal of vehicles; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Recreation and Parks in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into contract with ProTow for two years to provide towing services at designated City-owned properties that are managed by the Department of Recreation and Parks so that there will not be a gap in services as the current contract has expired; NOW, THEREFORE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Recreation and Parks is hereby authorized to enter into contract with ProTow for two years to provide towing services necessary to enforce parking restrictions at designated City properties that are managed by the Department of Recreation and Parks.
SECTION 2. That ProTow shall be required to install and maintain signage at all designated sites providing both notice of the parking restrictions and that vehicles parked in violation of such restrictions shall be towed. The Director shall approve all signage language prior to its installation by ProTow.
SECTION 3. That the Director of Recreation and Parks is hereby authorized to enforce parking restrictions at such sites by causing the removal of vehicles.
SECTION 4. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or 10 days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.