Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Finance and Management Director to establish purchase orders to purchase Towing Services of City Owned Vehicles on behalf of the Fleet Management Division, in order to maintain City vehicles; and these purchase orders will be issued from a Universal Term Contract previously established by the City of Columbus, Purchasing Office.
Pro-Tow, Inc CC# 000415, Vendor# 000415 PA008613 - Towing of City Owned Vehicles UTC - expires 8/31/2028
Emergency action : Emergency action is requested because the City’s existing contract for towing services expires on August 31, 2026, and funding must be established for the newly awarded towing vendor to ensure uninterrupted towing services following expiration of the current contract. Failure to have funding in place for the new vendor could result in a lapse in towing services for disabled, damaged, or otherwise inoperable City vehicles and equipment.
Fiscal Impact: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $150,000.00 from the Fleet Management Operating Fund from previously established Universal Term Contract for towing services related to City vehicles.
$125,000.00 was spent in 2025
$250,000.00 was spent in 2024
$100,000.00 was spent in 2023
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to establish various purchase orders for towing services of City Owned Vehicles from Pro-Tow, Inc, on behalf of the Fleet Management Division, per the terms and conditions of previously established Universal Term Contract; to authorize the expenditure of $150,000.00 from the Fleet Management Operating Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($150,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Finance and Management Department, Fleet Management Division, has a need to purchase towing services for vehicles operated by the City; and
WHEREAS, Pro-Tow, Inc, successfully bid and was awarded contract PA008613 - City Vehicle Towing Services UTC, expires 8/31/28; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $150,000.00 from the Fleet Management Operating Fund; and funding for this purchase is budgeted and available within the Fleet Management Operating Fund; and
WHEREAS, a Universal Term Contract (UTC) has been established through the formal competitive bidding process of the Purchasing Office for towing services; and
WHEREAS, the Finance and Management Department, Fleet Management Division, has a need to purchase towing services for vehicles operated by the City; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to associate all General Budget Reservations resulting from this ordinance with the Universal Term Contract Purchase Agreements; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Finance and Management, Division of Fleet Management, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the establishment of funding for the newly awarded towing vendor prior to the August 31, 2026 expiration of the existing contract in order to prevent an interruption in towing services and maintain the operational readiness of the City’s fleet, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, prosperity, safety and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Finance and Management is hereby authorized to issue purchase orders for the Fleet Management Division, per the terms and conditions of established Universal Term Contracts for City Vehicle Towing Services, as follows:
Pro-Tow, Inc CC# 000415, Vendor# 000415 PA008613 - Towing of City Owned Vehicles UTC - expires 8/31/2028
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $150,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary in regard to the action authorized in Section 1, is hereby authorized in Fund 5200 Fleet Management Operating Fund in object class 03 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
See Attached File: Ord 2140-2026 Legislation Template.xls
SECTION 3. That the Director of the Department of Finance and Management be and is hereby authorized to associate all General Budget Reservations resulting from this ordinance with the appropriate Universal Term Contract Purchase Agreements for the purchase of towing services.
SECTION 4. That the monies in the foregoing Sections shall be paid upon order of the Director of Finance and Management, and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except by voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 5. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 6. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 7. 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 ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.