Explanation
BACKGROUND: The City of Columbus, Department of Development, Land Redevelopment Division owns and manages many parcels that vehicles are abandoned or parked illegally. This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into an agreement with Capital Towing & Recovery to allow Capital Towing & Recovery to patrol and remove vehicles parked illegally or abandoned. Capital Towing & Recovery will provide and install signage regarding towing.
Proposals were solicited from towing companies in the Columbus, Ohio area. Capital Towing & Recovery 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.
Emergency legislation is requested to prevent disruption of maintenance services provided by the Land Bank program.
FISCAL IMPACT: No funding is required for this legislation.
Title
To authorize the Director of Department of Development to enter into a contract with Capital Towing & Recovery to provide towing services at designated City owned properties that are managed by the Department of Development; to authorize the Director of Department of Development to enforce parking restrictions at such sites by causing the removal of vehicles; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, Capital Towing & Recovery’s bid was received and evaluated by the Department of Development for towing enforcement at designated City owned properties managed by the Department of Development, as authorized by the Director; and
WHEREAS, there will be no cost to the City of Columbus for the towing of vehicles as the owner of vehicle will be responsible for payment to retrieve their vehicle; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development, Land Redevelopment Office in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into this contract all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the Director of Department of Development is hereby authorized to enforce parking restrictions at designated City properties that are managed by the Department of Development by causing the removal of vehicles that are in violation of said restrictions, provided notice is clearly provided by signage approved by the Director as required by Section 3 of this ordinance.
Section 2. That the Director of Department of Development be and is hereby authorized to enter into a two-year contract with Capital Towing & Recovery to provide towing services necessary to enforce parking restrictions at designated City properties that are managed by the Department of Development.
Section 3. That the contract authorized by this ordinance shall contain a provision requiring Capital Towing & Recovery to install and maintain signage at all sites described in Section 1 of this ordinance 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 Capital Towing & Recovery.
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 ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.