Item 05: Wreckers - City Marshal

[COSM_Admin]

Consider approval of Ordinance 2024-31, on the second of two readings, amending Chapter 90, Article 4, Wreckers, of the San Marcos City Code for the purposes of modifying signage requirements, placing responsibility for administering the wrecker rotation system with the city marshal, improving safety equipment requirements, increasing the response time allowed for wreckers, improving impound and inventory requirements, expanding the locations for storage facilities to include the extraterritorial jurisdiction, increasing maximum fees for all types of tows and related services, creating a duty for storage facilities to report vehicles received to the police department and providing new fines and penalties for violations; including procedural provisions; and declaring an effective date.

 

[JHughson]

Thank you for providing the two amendments to address review of the fees on a regular basis.
I realize this is different because it's not fees the city charges for service - we are regulating maximum fees that can be charged by others.
How do we review other fees?
Do we allow a cost of living increase in between our review every 3 years?
If so, can we include BOTH amendments? I'm willing to make those motions to amend.

 

[COSM_Admin]

Response provided by Jade Huffman, City Marshal:
Staff can support the proposal on the standard 3% per year increase, as well as a review every three years.

Parking fees are prescribed by an Ordinance which is included in the City Code regarding parking. Specifically, the entire code is found in: Subpart A General Ordinances – Chapter 82 Traffic and Vehicles – Article 4. Stopping, Standing, and Parking. The parking fees are found in Article 4. Stopping, Standing and Parking - Section 82.159.-Penalties for parking violations.

Regarding your question of reviewing the fees, Section 82.159(d) speaks to the requirement to review the parking fees every three years. Specifically, Section 82.159(d) reads:

“No less than every three years, staff shall conduct a comprehensive parking violation rate study. This study shall include, but not be limited to, an assessment of comparable violations in neighboring cities, the cost of enforcement, administrative expenses, and the impact on public safety and traffic management. Following the completion of the rate study the Parking Advisory Board shall review the rate study and make a recommendation to the city council regarding any proposed parking rates.”

Link to City Code: https://library.municode.com/tx/san...ordinances?nodeId=SPAGEOR_CH82TRVE_ART4STSTPA