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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. I THINK WE COUNT OUR QUORUM. THE TIME IS 2:06 P.M. ARE WE LIVE, CLIFF? ALL RIGHT. TIME IS 2:06 P.M. ON THE 20TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2023. OUR B SESSION IS NOW LIVE, SO MADAM CLERK,
COULD YOU READ THE ROLL? >> CLERK:
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. WE HAVE ONE ITEM TODAY, AND SO I'LL TURN IT OVER
TO CITY MANAGER ERIK WALSH TO GET US STARTED. >> WALSH: THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
ONE ITEM ON THE AGENDA TODAY, IT'S A PRESOLICITATION BRIEFING FOR TOWING AND IMPOUND SERVICES, AND THE CITY CURRENTLY HAS TWO SEPARATE CONTRACTS. ONE FOR MUNICIPAL TOWING AND THE SECOND FOR OPERATING THE IMPOUND LOT FOR POLICE-DIRECTED TOES, VEHICLE STORAGE AND AUCTION SERVICES SO WE HAVE TALKED TO THE COUNCIL ABOUT THIS A NUMBER OF TIMES AND HAVE EXTENDED CONTRACTS IN ORDER TO ALIGN AND ISSUE THE SOLICITATION TO SEE IF WE CAN COMBINE THESE CONTRACTS, IF THERE'S A POTENTIAL FOR ALIGNING AND HAVING ONE CONTRACT. THERE IS -- RICK RILEY, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO WALK THROUGH THE PRESENTATION, AND THERE'S SOME OBVIOUS EFFICIENCIES FROM A CUSTOMER-SERVICE STANDPOINT, AND WE'LL TALK THROUGH THOSE. BOTH CONTRACTS HAVE -- THE COUNCIL'S ALREADY TAKEN ACTION TO ALIGN THE EXPIRATION IN SEPTEMBER OF 2024, SO WE HAVE SOME TIME -- A LOT OF MOVING PARTS. ONE OTHER ASPECT, AND YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT IT, AND SOME OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE HEARD THIS BEFORE, THE LOCATION OF OUR CURRENT FACILITY OFF OF GROWTON ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE RUNWAY THERE AT LACKLAND IS ON CITY-OWNED PROPERTY, AND THERE HAVE BEEN OVER THE YEARS INTEREST FROM JBSA TO POTENTIALLY ACQUIRE THAT LAND.
SO THAT'S BEING TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION, WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT TODAY, AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO RICK.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS RICK RILEY, AND I'M THE ASSISTANT POLICE DIRECTOR FOR THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT. TODAY I WILL PROVIDE A PRESOLICITATION BRIEFING ON THE MANAGEMENT OF MUNICIPAL TOWING AND IMPOUND OPERATION SERVICES. THE ORDER OF EVENTS TODAY, I'M GOING TO COVER THE PROJECT OVERVIEW, PROVIDE SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR EACH OF YOU, AND THEN PRESOLICITATION OVERVIEW, FOLLOWED BY THE PROJECT TIMELINE AS WE HAVE IT PLANNED OUT RIGHT NOW.
MOVING DIRECTLY INTO THE PROJECT OVERVIEW, THE CITY'S SEEKING A CONTRACTOR TO PROVIDE THE TOTAL MANAGEMENT OF ALL OF THE TOWING SERVICES AND THE IMPOUND OPERATION SERVICES UNDER ONE UMBRELLA.
TOWING SERVICES WILL INCLUDE THE DISPATCH OF TOW TRUCKS, POLICE-INITIATED TOWING OF VEHICLES THAT ARE DISABLED, INVOLVED IN CRASHES, ET CETERA, AS WELL AS INCIDENT SYSTEMS, WHEN WE HAVE A ROLLOVER ON THE FINE SILVER CURVE, SOMETHING THAT SERIOUS. FROM AN IMPOUND PERSPECTIVE, AND AS THE CITY MANAGER MENTIONED, THE POSSIBLE RELOCATION OF THE CITY'S VEHICLE STORAGE FACILITY FROM GROUTON TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION. THE FIRST QUESTION YOU MAY ASK YOURSELF IS WHY IS THE CITY EVEN INVOLVED IN TOWING AND IMPOUNDED VEHICLES.
I'VE LISTED SOME GOALS THERE THAT WE SET OUT TO ACCOMPLISH.
NUMBER ONE, BEING PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY. THAT IS NOT ONLY PROTECTING THE PUBLIC SAFETY OF INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN CRASHES, TO GET THOSE ROADWAYS CLEAR, TO MAINTAIN CLEAR ROADWAYS IS NUMBER TWO, BUT IT'S ALSO PROTECTING PUBLIC SAFETY BY ESTABLISHING ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVALS FROM THE TIME THE TOW TRUCK'S REQUESTED UNTIL IT ARRIVES ON SCENE IN ORDER TO GET THOSE SAN ANTONIO POLICE OFFICERS BACK IN SERVICE AND PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY PROTECT AND SERVE. WE ALSO REMOVE ABANDONED VEHICLES FROM STREETS.
THAT MAY BE REMOVING TO THE GROUTON IMPOUND, IT MAY BE RELOCATING.
OFTENTIMES THAT'S DONE IN CONJUNCTION WITH A BIG EVENT IN SAN ANTONIO, THE ROCK AND ROLL MARATHON, MLK MARCH, SO THOSE ROADWAYS ARE CLEARED FOR
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THE INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATING IN THOSE EVENTS.AND LASTLY IS THE ABILITY TO MEASURE PERFORMANCE. AS WE GO FORWARD IN THE PRESENTATION, I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PERFORMANCE, BUT THIS WAY THE CITY CAN HOLD THAT TOW MANAGER WHO HOLDS THE SUBCONTRACTOR RESPONSIBLE -- FROM AN IMPOUND PERSPECTIVE, IT'S THE ASSIST THOSE RESIDENTS WITH THE RETRIEVAL OF VEHICLES. IF YOU'VE EVER HAD YOUR CAR TOWED, YOU KNOW THE FIRST QUESTION IS WHERE IS MY CAR? AND THE SECOND QUESTION IS, HOW DO I GET IT BACK? SO PART OF THE GOAL IS TO PROVIDE A SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT WHEN THE CITY TOWS YOUR CAR, DIFFERENT FROM A PRIVATE PROPERTY TOW, AND WE CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, AS TO WHERE THAT GOES AND THE TECHNOLOGY EFFICIENCIES THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE TO ASSIST RESIDENTS IN LOCATING THEIR CAR QUICKER AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY RETRIEVING THEIR VEHICLE. THE SECOND GOAL IS THE EVIDENTIARY STORAGE, SO OFTENTIMES A VEHICLE THAT IS INVOLVED IN THE COMMISSION OF A CRIME OR RECOVERED STOLEN, THOSE ARE STORED THERE AT GROUTON SO THOSE DETECTIVES CAN CONDUCT WHATEVER EVIDENTIARY CASE REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY NEED TO, AND IT'S PART OF THAT, IN NUMBER THREE, IT'S A SECURE FACILITY.
FENCING ALL THE WAY AROUND AND SAPD OFFDUTY OFFICER ON DUTY THERE 24/7, AND THEN LASTLY TO MAKE SURE THAT ENVIRONMENTALLY THOSE CARS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN CRASHES THAT LEAK FLUIDS ON THE GROUND, THEY'RE NOT LEAKING INTO THE GROUND. WE'VE BUILT AN AREA THAT'S CONCRETE THAT COLLECTS ALL THAT FLUID, SO THAT WE'RE NOT ENVIRONMENTALLY CONTAMINATING THE GROUND OUT THERE.
MOVING TO THE SECOND ISSUE IS THE BACKGROUND. AS THE CITY MANAGER SAID, THESE ARE TWO SEPARATE CONTRACTS. OFTEN, THOUGH, THEY'RE CONFUSED AND CONFLATED INTO ONE. I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO UNDERSTAND, THEY'RE SEPARATE BUT THEY WORK IN TANDEM WITH ONE ANOTHER. SO CURRENTLY THE TOWING CONTRACT IS MANAGED BY U REAR VIEW MIRROR S, IT SUBCONTRACTS WITH ONE LOCAL DISPATCH COMPANY AND FIVE LOCAL TOW COMPANIES AND THEY PROVIDE THOSE POLICE-DIRECTED TOW MANAGEMENT, AND THAT CONTRACT IS, AS THE CITY MANAGER SAID, STARTED IN DECEMBER OF 2015. IN JUNE OF 2023, CITY COUNCIL EXTENDED THAT CONTRACT THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH OF 2024.
ON THE IMPOUND SIDE, ALANIS RECORD SERVICE IS THE IMPOUND WRECKER MANAGER. AND THEY SUBCONTRACT WITH AUTORETURN FOR THE SOFTWARE. THAT SOFTWARE'S CALLED ARES, SO IF YOUR VEHICLE'S TOWED, YOU GO TO AUTORETURN, YOU POP IN YOUR VEHICLE AND IT TELLS YOU, YES, YOUR VEHICLE'S LOCATED AT TBVMENTROUTON.
HELPS THOSE CONSUMER FIND THEIR VEHICLES. ADDITIONALLY AT GROUTON, -- AUCTION HELD FOR VEHICLES THAT ARE DEEMED ABANDONED.
THAT'S A VEHICLE THAT'S BEEN THERE MORE THAN 30 DAYS.
IT'S CONSIDERED ABANDONED AND THERE'S AN AUCTION THAT TAKES PLACE.
THAT CONTRACT BEGAN IN 2017. WE JUST EXERCISED AN OPTION TO EXTEND IT THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH OF 2024, THEREBY ENSURING THAT BOTH OF THOSE CONTRACTS TERMINATE AT THE SAME TIME SO WE CAN GO OUT FOR THIS SINGLE RFP. AS THE CITY MANAGER MENTIONED, THE IMPOUND FACILITY CURRENTLY LOCATED AT 3625GROUTON ROAD ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, JBSA IS INTERESTED IN THAT PROPERTY TO EXPAND ITS SAFETY AREA NECESSARY TO SUPPORT A MUNICIPAL STORAGE EXPANSION. THE CITY'S BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH JBSA AND WE'RE WORKING ON THE DETAILS OF THE POTENTIAL TRANSFER OF THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY IF JBSA -- JBSA ALSO HAS TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY ON EITHER SIDE OF THE CURRENT GROUTON FACILITY, SO THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS THERE IN ORDER FOR JBSA TO RECOGNIZE ITS GOAL OF EXPANDING MUNITIONS STORAGE AREA. LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BACKGROUND OF THE TOWING CONTRACT. WHAT YOU SEE THERE ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF THE SLIDE IS THE REQUIRED ETA FOR CITY STREETS, HIGHWAY AND HEAVY DUTY.
THAT THE TIME FROM THE TIME THE OFFICER CALLS TO HAVE THAT TOW TRUCK DISPATCHED UNTIL THAT DISPATCH ARRIVES ON SCENE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE CONTRACT TOWING OFFICE IS MOST PROUD OF WHEN IN 2015 WHEN THIS CONTRACT WAS FIRST STARTED, THE REQUIRED ETA WAS 30 MINUTES AND IT WAS TAKING UPWARDS OF 45 MINUTES FOR A TOW TRUCK TO ARRIVE ON SCENE. YOU CAN SEE NOW THE CURRENT AVERAGE IS 12 TO 13 MINUTES, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE'VE REDUCED THAT REQUIRED ETA FROM 30 MINUTES TO 20 AND 25 MINUTES RESPECTIVELY FOR THOSE HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS. THAT ALLOWS OFFICERS TO GET BACK IN SERVICE
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QUICKER, AND IT ALSO ALLOWS RESIDENTS TO GET OFF THE STREETS AND BE SAFE. ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SCREEN, YOU'LL SEE THE NUMBER OF TOES. FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, AND THOSE ARE CALENDAR YEARS, THAT NUMBER CONTINUES TO GROW AS WE CAME OUT OF THE COVID PANDEMIC. THE GROWTH IN POPULATION IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WE'VE SEEN A CONTINUAL UPTAKE. FOR REFERENCE THROUGH AUGUST 31ST OF 2023, WE'VE TOWED 45,700 VEHICLES, SO WE'RE ON PACE FOR THAT CALENDAR YEAR TO MEET OR BEAT 2022'S NUMBERS.SOME ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND FOR THE TOWING CONTRACT.
AS YOU RECALL, THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE ON COUNCIL IN JUNE, WHICH IS EVERYONE IN HERE, WE HAD -- WE BROUGHT THE EXTENSION OF THE CURRENT TOW MANAGER CONTRACT AND AT THE SAME TIME, BROUGHT A REQUEST TO INCREASE THE TOW FEES THAT HAD NOT BEEN INCREASED SINCE 2017.
SO WHAT YOU SEE UP THERE IS THE TOW FEES TODAY, LIGHT ARE LESS THAN 10,000 POUNDS. MEDIUMS ARE 10,000 POUNDS OR GREATER, AND THEN HEAVY IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU WOULD THINK IT IS. IT'S THOSE SEMITRACTOR TRAILERS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN ROLLOVER ACCIDENTS OR ACCIDENTS THAT WE HAVE TO TOW THOSE. ON THE RIGHT SIDE IS THE REVENUE THAT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS.
AGAIN, WITH THE INCREASE IN TOWS, AS YOU WOULD EXPECT, THERE'S AN INCREASE IN REVENUE. AND AS WE LOOK AT THIS SLIDE AND SEE $10.3 MILLION TOTAL, WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT 93% OF THAT TOTAL STAYS INSIDE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. THAT'S THE CITY COLLECTING ITS $370,000 AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THAT TOWING AND THAT SINGLE DISPATCH, THOSE FIVE TOWING COMPANIES AND THAT SINGLE DISPATCH COMPANY THAT ARE COLLECTING ALMOST $9 MILLION.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE VERY PROUD OF AS WE MOVE FORWARD, THAT WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP THAT MONEY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. OKAY.
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BACKGROUND OF THE IMPOUND CONTRACT.
AGAIN, SIMILAR TO THAT TOWING CONTRAT, WE CONTINUE TO SEE AN INCEASE IN THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES IMPOUNDED AND THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES AUCTIONED. WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THIS IS THAT ABOUT -- OF THE VEHICLES IMPOUNDED, WE ONLY AUCTION ABOUT 20%.
THE OTHER 80%, GIVE OR TAKE, ARE RELEASED TO THE OWNER OR RELEASED TO THE OWNER'S INSURANCE COMPANY AS THEY COME AND CLAIM THOSE VEHICLES.
IN 2023, JUST FOR REFERENCE, THROUGH AUGUST AGAIN, WE'RE AT 36,370 IMPOUNDED VEHICLES, AND 6,665 AUCTIONED VEHICLE, SO WE'RE ON PACE AGAIN TO PROBABLY EXCEED WHAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY DONE IN 2022.
SOME ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND ON THE IMPOUND CONTRACT.
ON THE LEFT SIDE, YOU SEE THE FEES THAT ARE CHARGED.
SO IT'S A ONE-TIME IMPOUND FEE OF $20 PLUS TAX.
AND THEN A DAILY STORAGE FEE OF $20. THAT NOTIFICATION FEE IS THE NOTIFICATION THAT IS SENT OUT BY THE IMPOUND OPERATOR TO LET THE REGISTERED OWNER KNOW THAT WE HAVE YOUR VEHICLE AND YOU NEED TO COME CLAIM YOUR VEHICLE. THEN YOU HAVE AN AUCTION PROCESSING FEE, AND THEN AN ONLINE AUCTION FEE. THE AUCTION PROCESSING FEE IS TAKEN OFF THE TOP DURING AUCTION. THE ONLINE AUCTION FEE IS ADDED ON AT THE END.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF A VEHICLE IS SOLD AT AUCTION FOR $1,000, 10% IS ADDED ON THAT THE BUYER PAYS BECAUSE THOSE AUCTIONS ARE ONLINE.
AND THEN FROM THE THOUSAND THAT'S LEFT, $32 IS REDUCED FOR THE AUCTION PROCESSING FEE, THE CITY THEN RECOGNIZES 85% OF THAT REMAINING $968 AND ALANIS, THE CURRENT IMPOUND OPERATOR, RECOGNIZES 15% OF THAT.
THAT IS FOR AUCTIONS ONLY. THE IMPOUND OPERATOR, IF YOU COME CLAIM YOUR VEHICLE AND RELEASE, COLLECTS ALL THE FEES FOR IMPOUND, STORAGE AND NOTIFICATION AS PART OF THAT RELEASE.
ON THE RIGHT THERE, YOU SEE THE REVENUE IN MILLIONS.
AND, AGAIN, JUST FOR REFERENCE THROUGH 2023, AUGUST -- END OF AUGUST, WE ARE AT A TOTAL OF 14.8 MILLION. AND YOU LOOK AT THAT AND YOU SAY, HOW DO YOU GROW FROM 10 MILLION TO 16 MILLION IN A TWO-YEAR PERIOD? AS WE CAME OUT OF THE COVID PANDEMIC PRIOR TO COVID, WE WERE SELLING VEHICLES FOR JUST UNDER $700 AT AUCTION.
THAT TOPPED OUT AT ALMOST $1,400 IN THE LAST TWO YEARS AS IT'S BECOME TOUGHER TO FIND PARTS, AS IT'S BECOME TOUGHER TO FIND USED VEHICLES.
YEAR. SO AT 14.8 THROUGH AUGUST, WE ANTICIPATE POSSIBLY EXCEEDING THE 16.1 THAT WE SAW IN 2022.
I'LL MOVE ON TO POINT NUMBER THREE, THE PRESOLICITATION OVERVIEW. AS I MENTIONED, THE CITY INTENDS TO RELEASE ONE
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RFP IN ORDER TO COMBINE AND CONSOLIDATE THE FUNCTIONS OF THE TOW MANAGER WITH THE IMPOUND OPERATOR. AS WELL, IN THAT RFP, WE'RE GOING TO ASK POTENTIAL RESPONDENTS, GIVE US AN IDEA OF HOW YOU'RE GOING TO RELOCATE THE CURRENT IMPOUND FACILITY.SO THAT'S PART OF THE -- THAT'S PART OF THE RFP, AND IT DROPS DOWN TO THAT LAST POINT, THAT'S DIRECTLY RELATED TO JBSA DESIRING TO ACQUIRE AND TRANSFER THE GROWDON PROPERTY FROM THE CITY'S OWNERSHIP TO JBSA, TO THE AIR FORCE'S OWNERSHIP. AND LASTLY WITH ANY CONTRACT AND CHANCE TO GO OUT FOR BID, THE CITY'S GOING TO SEEK THE BEST PRACTICES FOR OPERATIONS AND HOW DO WE UTILIZE TECHNOLOGY IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAYS, RECOGNIZE THOSE EFFICIENCIES THAT HAVE GOPE DEVELOPED OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS. WE'RE GOING TO ISSUE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL.
THE ESTIMATED VALUE IS $23 MILLION ANNUALLY, THAT'S BASED ON THE THREE-REAR ROLLING AVERAGE. THE PROPOSED TIME IS 10 YEARS WITH TWO FIVE-YEAR OPTIONS. YOU MAY ASK YOURSELF, WHY SO LONG.
IF AN OPERATOR HAS TO ACQUIRE NEW PROPERTY, BUILD NEW BUILDINGS, MAKE ALL OF THOSE CAPITAL INVESTMENTS, WE WANT TO GIVE THAT OPERATOR -- THE CITY DESIRES. CONTINUING SOLICITATION, THOSE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT PURCHASING CODES, FOR TOWING, IT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU'D EXPECT, TOWING, FLEET MANAGEMENT AND DISPATCHING.
FOR IMPOUND, THE SAME, IT'S VEHICLE TOWING AND STORAGE AS WELL AS AUCTION SERVICES. WE NOTIFIED 260 VENDORS IN THE CENTRAL VENDING REGISTRY, TYPICAL ADVERTISING THROUGH TV FOR SA, THE CITY'S WEBSITE AND THE SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS. EVALUATION VOTING MEMBERS, BECAUSE THIS IS A HIGH-PROFILE CONTRACT, THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER AND THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER ARE BOTH MEMBERS OF THE VOTING COMMITTEE, AS WELL AS ASSISTANT CHIEFS AND DEPUTY CHIEFS ON PATROL AT THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER TO ENSURE THAT WE DO MAXIMIZE TECHNOLOGY EFFICIENCIES, MYSELF, CHIEF MONESTIR, HE'S IN CHARGE OF THE HAZMAT REMOVAL FROM STREET AND MR. PICA FROM TXDOT WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT IN 2015 IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THAT VOTING COMMITTEE. SO WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT JBSA DESIRING TO ACQUIRE THE GROWDON PROPERTY.
WE'RE ASKING RESPONDENTS TO PROVIDE TWO OPTIONS AS PART OF THE RFP.
NUMBER ONE IS CONTINUE TO OPERATE AT GROWDON AND PROPOSE A SECOND LOCATION. THAT SECOND LOCATION WOULD BE ACQUIRED BY THE OPERATOR, AND THAT THE CITY WOULD THEN HAVE THE OPTION TO PURCHASE THAT PROPERTY FROM THE OPERATOR AT A SPECIFIED TIME.
THAT WILL BE NEGOTIATED AS PART OF THE CONTRACT. THE SECOND OPTION THAT WE WANT RESPONDENTS TO REPLY TO IS HOW DO YOU OPERATE NOT INCLUDING GROWDON? DO YOU BUY ONE BIG ONE. CURRENTLY GROWDON'S 40 ACHE ES, WE USE ABOUT 25. AND THEN, AGAIN, THE CITY WOULD ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE THAT PROPERTY OR PROPERTIES FROM THE OPERATOR AT A SPECIFIED TIME AS WE UNDERGO CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS THAT WILL BE HASHED OUT. TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS.
AS WITH ANY CONTRACT, WE WANT TO IMPROVE WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
HOW DO WE MAKE THIS PAINFUL EXPERIENCE OF HAVING YOUR VEHICLE TOWED A BETTER EXPERIENCE FOR OUR CONSTITUENT TO GET THEIR VEHICLE BACK.
THE FIRST ONE IS TO AUTOMATE THE ENTIRE LIFE CYCLE, THAT'S FROM THE TIME YOUR VEHICLE IS HOOKED UP TO THE TOW TRUCK, AS IT MOVES, AS IT -- YOU KNOW, PRIOR TO WHEN IT WAS DISPATCHED, AS IT ARRIVES AT GROWDON, AS IT'S INPROCESSED AT GROWDON AND THEN HOW IT'S RELEASED.
THIS FEEDS INTO NUMBER TWO WHICH ALLOWS THE ABILITY THAT HAVE A CELL PHONE, A TABLET, A HOME COMPUTER, WE'LL STILL OFFER A PHONE CALL TO GROWDON OR A PHONE CALL TO THE TOWER FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE THAT TECHNOLOGY, BUT IT RELIEVES THE BURDEN OF DOING ALL OF THIS FROM OFFICERS, FROM 9-1-1 CALL-TAKERS AND DISPATCHERS, FROM 3-1-1 OPERATORS, SO THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS CAN RETURN TO PROVIDING THE IMPORTANT SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE TO THE COMMUNITY.
NUMBER THREE IS THE OPTIMIZATION OF TOW DISPATCHING.
CURRENTLY WE DO THIS, AND WE DO IT VERY WELL. THE DISPATCH COMPANY RUNS AN ALGORITHM THAT TELLS ME WHICH TOW TRUCK IS CLOSEST TO THE INCIDENT, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE TOW MANAGER IS NOT PERMITTED TO HAVE TOW TRUCKS ON THE ROAD. SO THIS DOES AWAY WITH ANY TYPE OF COMPLAINTS
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ABOUT FAVORITISM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND THAT ALGORITHM RUNS TO ENSURE THAT THE CORRECT TOW TRUCK IS DISPATCHED TO THE CORRECT ACCIDENT. I DON'T WANT TO SEND A HEAVY-DUTY TRUCK TO A LIGHT TOW. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE SHARED EQUALLY AMONGST THE FIVE TOWING COMPANIES. SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. AND THAT'S ALSO DONE, JUST SO YOU KNOW, IN AUSTIN, DALLAS/FORT WORTH AND EL PASO HAS THE SAME TYPE OF THING.A LITTLE BIT BRAGGING ON MY FOLKS, THIS WAS -- SAN ANTONIO WAS THE FIRST PEOPLE TO DO A TOW MANAGER TYPE CONTRACT, AND WE'RE NOW THE GOLD STANDARD FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS AND FOR THE NATION.
PEOPLE CALL CONTRACT TOWING ALL THE TIME AND SAY HOW DO YOU DO THIS? HOW HAVE YOU DONE THIS? SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. NUMBER FOUR THERE IS ELECTRONIC TOW SERVICE, WE'VE GOT TO GET THIS ELECTRONICALLY DONE. THIS WILL ALLOW AN OFFICER TO ORDER THE DISPATCH OF THE TOW TRUCK FROM THE OFFICER'S IN-CAR COMPUTER, FROM THAT MOBILE DATA TERMINAL, AND THEN THAT INFORMATION IS PASSED ELECTRONICALLY TO THE TOWER. ELECTRONICALLY TO THE IMPOUND OPERATOR, SO WE GET OFF OF THE PAPER. CURRENTLY WE STILL DO TOW SERVICE REQUESTS THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY, AN OFFICER WITH A PEN ON THE PAPER, AND THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT THE OFFICER HAS TO WRITE DOWN. AND SO WE WANT TO MOVE TO A COMPLETE ELECTRONIC WAY OF DOING THAT. AND THEN THE LAST ONE IS A SEPARATE SYSTEM FOR DATA COLLECTION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY IMPOUNDS.
CURRENTLY DONE IN AUSTIN, AND IT'S CURRENTLY DONE HERE, BUT WE NEED TO SMOOTH THAT OUT. THERE WAS A POINT IN TIME WHERE YOU WOULD CALL THE SERVICE DESK AT PUBLIC SAFETY HEADQUARTERS AND ASK, HEY, HAS MY VEHICLE BEEN TOWED, AND IF SO, WHERE IS IT LOCATED, BECAUSE THAT'S PRIVATE PROPERTY TOWS. THOSE DON'T GO TO GROWDON, THOSE MAY GO TO A PRIVATE PROPERTY TOWERS LOT. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE INTERFACE THAT SOFTWARE TO ALLOW BOTH PRIVATE PROPERTY TOWS, WHEN A RESIDENT'S VEHICLE'S TOWED, FOR EXAMPLE, FROM THE PEARL, AS WELL AS A VEHICLE THAT'S TOWED FROM A STREET OR A HIGHWAY AS A RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT, SO THAT RESIDENT OR CONSTITUENT CAN TRACK THEIR VEHICLE. MOVING ON TO SOLICITATION REQUIREMENTS.
AS YOU WOULD EXPECT, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THE EXPERIENCE, BACKGROUND AND QUALIFICATIONS, PRICING CLOSE BEHIND.
YOU SEE THERE SBEDA POINTS AWARDED FOR SMALL BUSINESS AND MINOR ANY/WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS AS WELL AS LOCAL PREFERENCE AND YOUR VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESSES. THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, THOSE ARE GOING TO BE A REQUIREMENT AS WELL AS SBEDA SUBCONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS OF 40% SMALL BUSINESS.
PROUD TO SAY TODAY WE EXCEED THAT -- BUSINESSES TODAY. WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO -- GOAL-SETTING COMMITTEE MEMBERS THERE, YOU CAN SEE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAD A HAND, FINANCE HAD A HAND, PD HAD A HAND. THE API, THE APPLICATION PROGRAM INTERFACE WHICH, I THINK, EVERYBODY'S FAMILIAR WITH, BUT IN CASE YOU'RE NOT, IT'S JUST GETTING APPLICATIONS TO COMMUNICATE WITH ONE ANOTHER IN THE WORLD OF PROCUREMENT, THAT'S -- IN THIS CASE, IT WOULD BE HOW DO I UTILIZE WHEN'S A TOW TRUCK GOING TO BE DISPATCHED? WHAT TYPE OF TOW TRUCK'S AVAILABLE TO BE DISPATCHED? WE WANT THOSE SMALL MINORITY/WOMEN BUSINESSES, ENTERPRISES TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE TO THOSE TECHNOLOGIES AND WORK THOSE INTO THIS CONTRACT. AND FINALLY, THE LAST AREA I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IS THE TIMELINE. WE'RE HERE TODAY FOR B SESSION ON THE 20TH OF SEPTEMBER. PLAN ON RELEASING THE RFP ON OCTOBER 6TH. SOME TIME FOR QUESTION AND ANSWERS THROUGH OCTOBER. THE DUE DATE FOR RESPONSES WILL BE IN MID JANUARY. THAT GIVES GREATER THAN 90 DAYS FOR RESPONSES TO BE SUBMITTED, ACCOUNTING FOR SOME OF THE HOLIDAY PERIOD THERE, FOR THANKSGIVING AND THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS. POSTSOLICITATION EVALUATION IN MARCH OF 2024, WE'LL NEGOTIATE THE CONTRACT IN APRIL, WE'LL BE BACK IN FRONT OF COUNCIL ON A POSTSOLICITATION BRIEFING IN MAY, FULL COUNCIL CONSIDERATION IN MAY OR JUNE, AND THEN THAT WILL ALLOW A CONTRACT START DATE OF OCTOBER 1ST, 2024.
PENDING YOUR QUESTION, THAT COMPLETES MY BRIEF. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RICK, FOR THE PRESENTATION. WE'LL GO STRAIGHT INTO CONVERSATION NOW. I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, ACTUALLY, FIRST A FEW COMMENTS. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS ONE OF THE SERVICES THAT WE ONLY HEAR ABOUT WHEN PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINTS, BUT I DO REALIZE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PROGRESS OVER THE LAST FEW ITERATION ZEROS OF THIS RFP SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. I DO AGREE WITH THE EMPHASIS ON TECHNOLOGY. IT SURPRISES ME, ACTUALLY, THAT WE AREN'T DOING THAT ALREADY. AND WITH RESPECT TO THE GROWDON LOT, VERY INTERESTED IN FINALLY GETTING OVER THE HURDLE WITH THAT, WITH JBSA.
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BUT I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SEEING HOW MULTIPLE LOTS WOULD HELP SERVE THE CUSTOMER IN SAN ANTONIO. I MEAN, THE -- WE'VE GROWN TREMENDOUS LYSINS THAT GROWDON LOT WAS FIRST OPENED, AND TO ME, A FUNCTION OF THE RESPONSE TIME FOR TOWING HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT A LOT OF THESE CARS ARE BEING TOWED TO THE FAR END OF TOWN AND PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO GO TO, YOU KNOW, RELATIVE TO WHERE THEY ARE, AN ISOLATED LOCATION.SO I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF PERHAPS SMALLER, BUT MULTIPLE LOTS.
AND TO THE EXTENT THAT WE COULD HELP BENEFIT THAT BY PROVIDING OPTIONS FOR THAT, YOU KNOW, ONCE WE GET INTO A CONTRACT NEGOTIATION, PREFER TO SEE AN DISMISSING PARKING LOT -- EXISTING PARKING LOT TURNED INTO AN IMPOUND PARKING LOT AS OPPOSED TO TAKING A GREENFIELD.
ONLY QUESTION I HAVE IS WITH RESPECT TO SOLICITATION REQUIREMENTS. EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT PRICING MEANS IN THIS RFP, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND -- SO DO WE HAVE A REVENUE REQUIREMENT FOR THE CONTRACTOR? IN TERMS OF IMPOUND SALES
AND ALL THAT STUFF? >> I DON'T YOUR QUESTION.
MAYBE -- >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WHAT ARE WE SCORING ON IN
TERMS OF PRICING? >> OH, FOR -- SO CURRENTLY NEGOTIATED PRICING IS THE CITY RECEIVES $7 A TOW FOR THE TOWING, AND THEN THE TOW COMPANY RECEIVES -- ONCE THEY DROP THE VEHICLE OFF, THE CITY FRONTS THE
MONEY BACK TO THE TOW COMPANY. >> WALSH: THEY'RE GOING TO PROPOSE THE ACTUAL AMOUNT THEY'RE GOING TO CHARGE THOSE
INDIVIDUALS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. >> WALSH: IN THE RFP.
BUT WHAT'S THE TOW. >> 210 RIGHT NOW. >> WALSH: IT'S 210 FOR A
REGULAR CAR. >> LIGHT DUTY. >> WALSH: AND IF IT'S A BIG TRUCK, IT'S MORE. BUT THAT GETS SET BY THE CONTRACT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SO IT'S NOTHING TO DO WITH REVENUE ACQUIRED OFF OF
AUCTIONS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? >> WALSH: NO.
THAT'S ON TOWING. THE ONLY THING THAT -- THERE'S A COUPLE OF STATE LAW SSUES AT THE POUND, NOTIFICATION AND --
ARE -- >> IMPOUND STORAGE FEE. >> WALSH: THE STORAGE
FEE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SO THIS ENTIRE OPERATION IS
A REVENUE-NEUTRAL SERVICE FOR THE CITY, RIGHT? >> BASICALLY, IT'S A PASSTHROUGH FROM WHAT IS SOLD TO PAY THOSE TOWERS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SO WITH REGARD TO PRICING, YOU KNOW, NOBODY LIKES TO GET THEIR CAR TOWED. I WOULD COME TO THE PRICING REQUIREMENTS SCORING IN -- FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE CUSTOMER.
YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T GO CRAZY IF THOSE PRICES WERE EXORBITANT, AND AS LONG AS WE'RE COVERING OUR COSTS AS A CITY, THAT WOULD MAKE -- THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO ME. SO I GUESS I WAS JUST A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT THE PRICING MEANT IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL PROPOSALS.
>> SORRY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: VERY GOOD.
I THINK YOU'RE EMPHASIZING THE RIGHT THINGS, RICK, SO LOOK
FORWARD TO THE NEXT STEPS ON THE PROPOSAL. >> WALSH: SO JUST SO WE'RE CLEAR, LIKELY IF WE HAD TWO PROPOSALS IF ONE WAS CHARGING TWO 10 AND ONE WAS CHARGING 200, THE 200 WOULD GET MORE POINTS.
. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. I THINK I AGREE WITH
THAT. >> AND ONE THING, MAYOR, IS THAT THE STATE HAS A MAXIMUM. THE STATE HAS A MAXIMUM FOR LIGHT.
RIGHT NOW LIGHT IS $272. WE'RE WELL UNDER THAT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YOU CAN TELL I HAVE VERY LIMITED KNOWLEDGE WITH TOWING, KNOCK ON WOOD.
WE'LL START WITH COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA?
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION, SO THE GROWDON IMPOUND LOT IS IN D4, AND I THINK IT'S BEEN LIKE ON EVERY ONE OF MY ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS WITH MARIA EVER SINCE 2020, AND SO JUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO JOINED US ON COUNCIL, I WAS GETTING READY TO FILE A CCR ON SEPTEMBER 11TH OF 2020 ABOUT A FEASIBILITY STUDY, AND THEN ERIK WALSH AND MARIA SAID HOLD OFF ON IT, WE CAN JUST DO IT. RIGHT? SO INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR THE CCR PROCESS TO GO ALONG, LET'S JUST WORK ON IT. SO THEY DID THAT. AND THEN IT WAS KIND OF THE COVID THING HAPPENED AND SO THEN WE HAD TO BE PATIENT AND SO ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS, RIGHT, THAT HAD TO BE PRIORITIZED.
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO BUILD ON IT.
WE PUSHED FOR IT TO BE INCLUDED IN THE 2022 BOND, BUT IT WASN'T SUCCESSFUL, AND I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND WHY, COLLEAGUES.
WE HAVE PRIORITIES, RIGHT? BUT I DO THINK THAT THE RELOCATION -- LIKE THE MAYOR SAID, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, HAVING DIFFERENT AREAS REDUCES THAT TIME. AND I THINK THAT IT'S FRIENDLY TO BUSINESS THAT WAY AS WELL, BECAUSE THE STAFFING POWER, THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT IT TAKES TO GET BACK TO THEIR AREAS IS REALLY ADDED, RIGHT? SO THANK YOU IS WHAT I'M SAYING.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. IN THE FEASIBILITY STUDY, WE DID ANALYZE THE
[00:30:01]
MULTIPLE LOTS, AND MARIA, THAT FEASIBILITY STUDY WAS DONE JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, SO CAN YOU REMIND ME WHAT THE OUTCOME WAS OF THE FEASIBILITY AND SO THE DIFFERENT AREAS AND WHAT AREAS WERE IDENTIFIEDSPECIFICALLY? >> VILLAGOMEZ: SURE. SO WHAT THE FEASIBILITY STUDY DID WAS TO STUDY MODELS ACROSS THE STATE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY ON HOW MUNICIPALITIES HANDLE TOWING AND IMPOUND. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LEARNED THAT DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES HANDLE IT DIFFERENTLY.
SOME OF THEM HAVE AN OPERATOR OWNS THE LAND, THE BUILDING AND THEY MANAGE ALL THE OPERATIONS. SOME OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, LIKE US, WE ARE THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY -- AUDIO] -- AND THOUGH WE HAVE THE STATE CAP ON THOSE RATES THAT WE CHARGE, BUT THE CITY COUNCIL HANDLES CONTROL OF THAT.
SO WE BELIEVE THAT WHAT WE'RE PRESENTING TO COUNCIL TODAY FOR THE CITY TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT CONTROL IS THE BEST PRACTICE FOR A MUNICIPALITY, AS WELL AS FOR OUR RESIDENTS. AS FAR AS FACILITIES, THE CITY DOESN'T OWN TODAY ANY PROPERTY LARGE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE JUST TO MOVE THE GROWDON IMPOUND. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE IDENTIFIED THAT THERE'S A BENEFIT TO HAVE MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. IT'S BETTER FOR ONE COMPANY, THEY DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE SPECIFICALLY TO ONE SIDE OF TOWN.
IT'S ALSO BETTER FOR THE RESIDENT WHEN THEY HAVE TO GO PICK UP THEIR VEHICLES. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'LL SAVE TIME TO OUR POLICE OFFICERS AS THOSE TOWING COMPANIES CAN -- AUDIO] -- SO WHAT WE'RE PRESENTING TO YOU TODAY IS BASED ON THAT
FEASIBILITY STUDY. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MARIA.
AND THERE'S -- I COULDN'T HELP BUT NOTICE ON THE EVALUATION PANEL, YOU'RE THE ONLY WOMAN ON IT. AND SO JUST -- I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADD ANOTHER WOMAN, BUT I'M KIND OF ALWAYS LOOKING OUT FOR THAT. AND SO IF THERE'S ANY OPPORTUNITY TO ADJUST IT OR -- THAT'S JUST MY PLUG. AND THEN IF -- AUDIO] -- IDENTIFY THE -- A FEW LOCATIONS, AND SO THE REASON THAT I WAS SO FOCUSED ON THIS ORIGINALLY, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH COUNCILMAN PERRY AT THE TIME AND WITH GENERAL AYALA, AND HE BELIEVES THAT THIS WOULD HELP MAYBE PROTECT US FROM FUTURE ROUNDS OF BRAC, AND WE KNOW WHAT THE BRAC DID TO US LAST GO-ROUND, SO THE BASE REALIGNMENT.
AND SO GENERAL, DO YOU STILL FEEL LIKE THAT'S THE CASE?
IT WOULD DEFINITELY HELP, RIGHT? >> YEAH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. YES, IT WOULD. JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO HAS A LONG-TERM PLAN TO EXPAND. AND AS RICK MENTIONED, THEIR PLANS ARE MUNITIONS SUPPORT AREA. AND THOO MUNITIONS SUPPORT AREA, THE REASON THEY WANT THAT IS BECAUSE SOME OF THE FIGHTERS FROM THE F16 FIGHTERS HAVE TO GO TO ARIZONA TO GET CERTAIN TYPES OF AMMUNITION. IF WE HAD THIS MUNITIONS SUPPORT HERE, THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT. AND WHAT I'M AFRAID OF AND THEY'RE AFRAID OF IF THEY KEEP GOING TO ARIZONA, ARIZONA MIGHT SAY, HEY, WHY DO THEY HAVE TO GO SO FAR. IT'S A LONG-TERM PLAN, BUT, YES, TO ANSWER YOUR
QUESTION, THAT'S WHY. >> GARCIA: WE DON'T WANT THEM TO GO TO ARIZONA EITHER. SO CURRENT LOCATION, I KNOW WE MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT GROUND BRO TECH SHUNS. WHAT ABOUT THE WATERSHED
BECAUSE IT BACKS RIGHT INTO THE LEON CREEK. >> CORRECT, COUNCILMAN.
WE DO ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING REGULARLY OUT THERE THAT TCEQ'S INVOLVED IN, AND A FEW YEARS AGO, PROBABLY FOUR YEARS AGO NOW, WE BUILT A CONTAINMENT AREA TO HOUSE THOSE VEHICLES THAT ARE LEAKING, SO THAT THAT DOES NOT SEEP INTO THE GROUNDWATER AND LEON CREEK ON THE BACK SIDE.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU. AND THEN ONE OF THE MAJOR COMPLAINTS THAT WE RECEIVE IS ABOUT LIKE THE WAITING AREA, AND SO THERE'S NOT ENOUGH SEATING OR THE RESTROOMS ARE NOT AS NICE, ET CETERA.
AND SO -- OR THERE'S NO PAID PARKING APPARENTLY AND IT'S NOT ADA ACCESSIBLE, THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HEAR LIKE FROM RESIDENTS JUST AROUND THE CITY ALSO, RIGHT, AS WE HEAR ABOUT THE IMPOUND LOT. SO HOW -- WHAT ARE WE DOING TO ADDRESS THAT?
>> SO PART OF THAT -- ADDRESSING THAT, WE CURRENTLY HAVE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO DO THAT. AND PART OF THAT IS PLAYING THE GAME WITH JBSA AS FAR AS WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE IT? DO WE WANT TO MAKE THIS BIG CAPITAL INVESTMENT IN IT. I AGREE, IT TURNS INTO LAKE GROWDON, ANYBODY THAT'S BEEN OUT THERE AFTER IT RAINS, KNOWS THAT IT DOES FLOOD AND IT'S TOUGH AND IT'S SPARTAN, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU GO TO GET YOUR VEHICLE RELEASED AND THE AUCTION AREA.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CERTAINLY WE CAN TAKE FOR ACTION.
WE CAN DO SOME IMPROVEMENTS. I THINK WE CAN GET SOME BETTER PARKING OUT THERE AND SOME ADA ACCESSIBILITY AT LEAST TO MAKE A PATH FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT NEED THAT TYPE OF ACCOMMODATION.
>> GARCIA: GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THEN THE TOTAL REVENUE THAT WAS COLLECTED IN 2023, REMIND ME HOW THOSE FUNDS ARE USED. ARE THEY ADDED TO THE GENERAL FUND OR --
>> YES. >> GARCIA: OKAY. THEN THAT'S MY ONLY OTHER QUESTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH,
[00:35:02]
MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.
>> HAVRDA: THANKS, MAYOR. ARE THERE GOING TO BE -- THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. ARE THERE GOING TO BE MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR THE ACTUAL OPERATION OF THE POUND? YOU KNOW, SATISFACTION LEVELS, RESPONSE TIMES, IS THAT GOING TO BE
INCLUDED IN THE RFP? >> YES, THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE ARE.
FP, AS IS THE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE OUT THERE HAVE TO BE [INDISCERNIBLE] CLEARED AND ALSO HAVE TO BE TRAINED UNDER THE SERVICE MEMBER CIVIL RELIEF ACT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT AUCTIONING OFF A MILITARY MEMBERS VEHICLE THAT'S DEPLOYED SOMEWHERE. SO ALL OF THAT TRAINING OCCURS. THE EMPLOYEES ARE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD AND WE'RE OUT THERE ALL THE TIME TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE MEETING.
>> WHAT WAS THAT FIRST THING YOU SAID. THEY HAVE TO BE SOMETHING
CLEARED. >> CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION SYSTEM.
>> HAVRDA: GOT IT. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU.
MAINLY MY QUESTION IS ABOUT THE RELOCATION REQUIREMENT IN THE RFP.
I DON'T EXACTLY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE ASKING WHEN IT COMES TO ASKING THEM TO RELOCATE THE CURRENT IMPOUND FACILITY.
ARE WE ASKING THEM TO -- I MEAN, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE ASKING THEM TO FIND THE LOCATIONS -- I MEAN, ARE THEY DOING ANY STUDIES? MY CONCERN HERE IS THAT THEY -- I UNDERSTAND THE ADVANTAGE OF TAKING, I GUESS, ADVANTAGE OF DESIRE FOR THE CONTRACT THAT THEY WOULD DO THIS.
AT THE SAME TIME, THEY'RE NOT REALLY PRIVY TO COUNCIL PRIORITIES, NEIGHBORHOOD ISSUES, YOU KNOW, ANY REGIONAL CENTERS, THINGS LIKE THAT. SO HOW WOULD WE SUPPORT THAT?
>> VILLAGOMEZ: YES, COUNCILWOMAN. SO WHAT WE ARE GOING TO GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THE OPERATORS TO PROVIDE US WITH OPTIONS.
ONCE THEY PROVIDE THOSE OPTIONS, THAT WILL BE PART OF THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE LOCATIONS THAT ARE BEING SELECTED ARE CONSISTENT WITH THOSE PRIORITIES.
WITH THAT SAID, WE DO -- YOU SAW ON THE TIMELINE, A PRESOLICITATION -- PRESUBMITTAL CONFERENCE ON OCTOBER 16, AND ALSO QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET FROM THE POTENTIAL OPERATORS ON THE 23RD.
SO THAT WAY WE CAN HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM AND THEY CAN START BEGINNING TO INQUIRE ABOUT POTENTIAL LOCATIONS.
>> HAVRDA: I -- I -- I QUESTION WHETHER IT'S REALLY FAIR OF US TO ASK THEM TO DO THAT, GIVEN ALL OF THE ISSUES. I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THEM TO GO OUT AND DO THAT, THEN THEY'LL COME BACK TO YOU AND YOU -- WE AS A CITY WILL LET THEM KNOW, THESE ARE, I GUESS, SOME ISSUES, BUT I'M SORT OF QUESTIONING THAT PROCESS.
WHY IT WOULD BENEFIT THEM TO GO OUT AND DO IT FIRST AS OPPOSED TO THE CITY.
>> VILLAGOMEZ: AND WE CAN INCORPORATE, COUNCILWOMAN, AS PART OF THE RFP, POTENTIAL AREAS, IF YOU WILL. YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, SOMETHING THAT COMES TO MIND, WE DON'T WANT PROPERTIES OVER THE EDWARDS AQUIFER, FOR EXAMPLE. SO THOSE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN INCORPORATE INTO THE RFP. NOW, THE IDEA IS TO FACILITATE THAT, MAKE IT EASIER ON THEM TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTIES AND WORK FOR THEM AS WELL FOR THEIR OPERATIONS, WE WANT TO GIVE THEM THAT
FLEXIBILITY. >> HAVRDA: OKAY. THANK YOU, MARIA.
I AGREE WITH THE COUNCILWOMAN, I THINK THERE SHOULD BE MORE WOMEN, BUT IF YOU'RE ONLY GOING TO HAVE ONE WOMAN, IT SHOULD BE MARIA, RIGHT? BUT I GUESS HAVING SAID THAT, I DO STILL -- I QUESTION THE EFFICIENCY OF HAVING THEM GO OUT AND -- AND EFFECTIVENESS. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN, OF HAVING THEM GO OUT FIRST AND DO THAT, THOSE RELOCATION -- I'LL CALL THEM STUDIES, BUT, YOU KNOW, RESEARCH. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO -- TO BE EFFECTIVE OR EFFICIENT, I'LL SAY THAT. BUT THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I ONLY HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION, AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT OFF TOPIC, BUT, ERIK, DO WHICH HAVE -- HAVE WE IN THE PAST INCLUDED A PREFERENCE AND BID EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR BUSINESSES THAT HAVE PARTNERSHIP OR OWNERSHIP WITH PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL
NEEDS? >> WALSH: I DON'T KNOW. TROY?
I DON'T THINK SO. NO, I DON'T THINK SO. >> HAVRDA: OKAY.
OKAY. WELL, WE'D HAVE TO START A PROCESS FOR THAT, I GUESS. OKAY. ALL RIGHTY.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER ALDARETE
GAVITO? >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS ACTUALLY PIGGYBACKING AFTER COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA'S QUESTIONS, SO WHEN WE WOULD BE PROVIDING THEM OPTIONS, AND I DON'T KNOW A WHOLE LOT ABOUT GROADEN, FIRST
OFF, HOW BIG IS IT? >> IT'S 40 ACRES. >> GAVITO: SO THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO BE LOOKING -- WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AROUND THE
CITY FOR 40 ACRES PLUS. >> MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. WE COULD TAKE THAT INTO FOUR 10-ACRE SPOTS OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.
>> GAVITO: RIGHT. >> AND THEN IT BECOMES A LITTLE MORE STRATEGIC ON HOW TOW TRUCKS ARE DISPATCHED, SO IF YOU'RE DISPAMPED TO THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF THE CITY, YOU'RE NOT TAKING A CAR TO THE SOUTHEAST SIDE
[00:40:02]
OF THE CITY. THAT MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE.SO, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD BUILD THOSE TO HOLD THOSE, OBVIOUSLY, WITH SOME EXPANSION CAPABILITY, IN CASE, YOU KNOW, WE RECOGNIZE, HEY,
WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF CARS IN THAT AREA. >> GAVITO: SURE.
THAT MAKES SENSE. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M CONCERNED WITH IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THE TOWING TRUCKS -- OR WHOEVER WINS THIS POTENTIAL CONTRACT WOULD PROVIDE US OPTIONS ON WHERE TO GO, BUT AS COUNCILWOMAN CABELLO HAVRDA SAID, I MEAN, THEY DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW LIKE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS OR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD -- REALLY JUST LIKE THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS. AND SO I'M WONDERING INSTEAD OF POTENTIALLY CREATING SO MUCH BACK AND FORTH, COULD WE GET IT -- AND I'M JUST GOING TO GO OUT ON A LIMB AND ASSUME THAT A LOT OF DISTRICTS DON'T WANT THIS IN THEIR AREA. SO I'M WONDERING, HOW DO WE GET RID OF THAT BACK AND FORTH OF LETTING THEM KNOW WHERE WE MIGHT BE
OKAY WITH IT AND WHERE WE'RE NOT OKAY WITH IT. >> VILLAGOMEZ: SURE.
I THINK IT'S BENEFICIAL FOR US TO HEAR THAT FROM THE COUNCIL TODAY IN TERMS OF WHAT THOSE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR YOU.
WE WERE THINKING FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE.
>> GAVITO: SURE. >> VILLAGOMEZ: BUT IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER PRIORITIES THAT YOU WOULD LIKE FOR US TO INCORPORATE, THIS IS THE TIME TO GET THAT FEEDBACK SO WE CAN INCORPORATE IT INTO THE RFP.
>> GAVITO: WELL, AS I THINK AS THE MAYOR SAID, WE DON'T WANT TO BE CUTTING DOWN GREENSPACE FOR THIS. I'LL SPEAK FOR ME, THAT'S A BIG PRIORITY. AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S PROBABLY WORTH DIGGING INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE ON LOOKING AT THE DISTRICTS AND SEEING, LIKE, HEY, WE KNOW THAT THIS ISN'T GOING TO GO -- FLY OVER WELL WITH THE ALAMO FARMSTEAD NEIGHBORHOOD OR WHATEVER. SO WE CAN WORK OFFLINE ON THAT. LET'S SEE. THE ONLY OTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS -- I WAS ASSUMING THAT FOR A CONTRACT THIS SIZE, WE WERE EXPECTING MULTIPLE COMPANIES TO KIND OF COME TOGETHER AND BID ON THIS WITH JUST ONE
LEAD AGENCY? I'M GUESSING. >> VILLAGOMEZ: WE DON'T
KNOW, COUNCILWOMAN. >> GAVITO: OKAY. >> VILLAGOMEZ: THERE ARE SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO THIS WORK, OR COMPANIES THAT DO THIS WORK -- WE KNOW THERE'S INTEREST FROM AT LEAST A COUPLE OF COMPANIES THAT HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME. SO WE ANTICIPATE THAT IT WILL BE A COMPETITIVE
PROCESS. >> GAVITO: OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD.
>> WALSH: SO, MAYOR, JUST ONE THING, MAYBE -- AND WHAT I'M HEARING FROM SOME OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS, AT LEAST THE ONES THAT HAVE SPOKEN SO FAR, YOU KNOW, WE CAN PUT SOMETHING IN THE RFP THAT PROVIDES SOME GUIDANCE IN TERMS OF CONSISTENCY WITH REGIONAL PLANS AND PROXIMITY TO NEIGHBORHOODS AND THOSE TYPES OF ASPECTS. YOU KNOW, I THINK -- I THINK WE CAN BUILD SOMETHING IN THERE SO THAT THEY'VE GOT SOME
GUIDANCE. >> GAVITO: SOME GUIDELINES, YEAH.
>> WALSH: YOU KNOW, PART OF THIS IS GOING TO BE, I WOULD IMAGINE, AS THEY DEVELOP THOSE OPTIONS IS GOING TO BE THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
>> GAVITO: SURE. >> WALSH: SO AN EXISTING -- I'M GOING TO GO OUT ON A LIMB HERE, I'M GOING TO SAY THAT AN EXISTING PARKING LOT IS GOING TO BE A LOT EASIER TO RECOVER EXPENSES THAN OFF OF A NEWLY DEVELOPED ONE, BUT WE CAN PUT SOME THINGS IN THERE TO TRY TO GIVE THEM SOME GUIDANCE
AS THEY -- AS THEY DEVELOP THOSE OPTIONS. >> GAVITO: YEAH.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDARETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER
MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ? >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
REAL QUICK, SO I JUST WANT TO BE -- OF THE FACILITY IS FACTORED INTO THE RFP MEANING WE WILL BE PAYING -- WELL, WE'RE GOING TO BUY IT. AND SO -- OKAY.
I THINK I FIGURED OUT THE ANSWER TO MY OWN QUESTION.
I THINK THAT IF THIS WERE -- LOCATION AND THE PRIORITIES THAT YOU JUST SAID THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR AND THE PRIORITIES -- OR THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT FEEDBACK ON, I THINK ONE OF THE PRIORITIES IS I'LL ECHO WHAT HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS OF GREENSPACE VERSUS EXISTING PARKING LOTS, I'LL COMPLETELY 100% AGREE. AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, BEING SENSITIVE TO MY DISTRICT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I'M MOST FAMILIAR WITH, WE SEE A LOT OF GREENSPACE TURNED INTO INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES AND WAREHOUSES AND THE LIKE, AND SO I CAN ONLY IMAGINE FRUSTRATION AND ANGER IF, YOU KNOW, A PROPOSAL FOR -- IF THE CITY CAME BY WITH A PROPOSAL TO BUILD AN IMPOUND LOT. AND SO -- COMMUNITY FOR THAT IN ADVANCE, BECAUSE I ALREADY KNOW THAT'S GOING TO BE -- THAT'S GOING TO BE A HEADACHE FOR WHOEVER AND ALL OF US.
THE SECOND PIECE OF THAT IS, I'M WONDERING IF -- AND I'M THINKING ABOUT THE COSTS AND THE TOWING RATES, I'M WONDERING IF WE'VE EVER TAKEN A LOOK FROM AN EQUITY LENS. I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE, BUT I'M THINKING ABOUT GENERALLY WHAT DOES EQUITY LOOK LIKE WHEN TAKING THIS PROGRAM INTO ACCOUNT? WHO IN THE CITY ARE MOST
[00:45:03]
OFTEN TOWED, WHAT ARE THE DEMOGRAPHICS? WHAT ARE THEIR INCOME LEVELS AND WHO'S MOST IMPACTED BY TOWING. SO NOW KNOWING THAT THE TOWING RATES ARE BASED -- ARE ONE OF THE FACTORS THAT WE DECIDE THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH THE LOWEST COST, I'M WONDERING -- HMM.IS THERE A MINIMUM THAT WE COULD SET OR A MAXIMUM THAT WE COULD SET PERSONALLY. YOU SAID THE STATE'S MAXIMUM IS 272.
SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME? >> THAT'S CORRECT, COUNCILMAN.
272 FOR A LIGHT-DUTY TOW IS THE STATE'S MAXIMUM. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: WHAT DO YOU THINK IS REASONABLE IN TERMS OF IF WE WERE TO SET A MAX, IS
THAT SOMETHING THAT'S... >> WALSH: I THINK THERE'S A BALANCE THERE, BECAUSE THE CONTRACTORS ARE GOING TO NEED TO RECOVER SOME EXPENSES.
ONE OF THE LARGEST CONSTITUENCIES OF INDIVIDUALS WHOSE CARS ARE THERE ARE STOLEN CARS THAT ARE RECOVERED, SO WE'VE GOT TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THEY'VE BEEN VICTIMIZED ONCE, POLICE HAVE RECOVERED IT, THEY'VE GOT TO GO TO GROWDON AND THEN THEY'VE GOT TO PAY A FEE.
SO I THINK IT'S A BALANCE. AND THAT'S WHY WE LEAVE IT UP TO THE PROPOSERS TO SHARPEN THEIR PENCILS. YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE'RE PROBABLY -- HOW DO WE COMPARE TO OTHER CITIES ON THEIR TOW RATES?
>> SO THE ARLINGTON AND HOUSTON, ARLINGTON AND HOUSTON ARE BOTH ABOVE US. DALLAS/FORT WORTH AND AUSTIN ARE BELOW US.
SO THE AVERAGE IN TEXAS RIGHT NOW IS ABOUT $190 FOR A LIGHT-DUTY TOW.
WE'RE AT 210, SO YOU CAN SEE WE'RE SLIGHTLY ABOVE AVERAGE.
THE LOWEST IS DALLAS AT 140. DALLAS IS MUCH SMALLER, HAS MULTIPLE IMPOUND LOTS TO BRING VEHICLES TO. I'M NOT TRYING TO MAKE AN ASSUMPTION ON HOW THEY FIGURE TO GET TO THAT AMOUNT, BUT THAT'S WHERE
THEY'RE CURRENTLY AT. >> WALSH: I MEAN, IF ANYTHING, ANOTHER OPTION FOR THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER WOULD BE TO, YOU KNOW -- RICK SHOWED YOU
THE PRICING, I THINK 10% WAS ON PRICING. >> CORRECT.
>> WALSH: MAYBE ADJUSTING THAT WEIGHT A BIT. >> OR 20 POINTS ON
PRICING. >> WALSH: 25 WAS BACKGROUND AND
QUALIFICATIONS. >> 25 IS PROPOSED PLAN, 30 POINTS.
>> WALSH: PULL THAT SLIDE UP. LET'S LOOK AT IT REAL QUICK. THAT'S ANOTHER WAY OF TRYING TO EMPHASIZE THAT PIECE. AND MARIA JUST REMINDED ME, SO WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO WERE INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS, NOT AT THEIR OWN FAULT ARE PAYING THAT AMOUNT, GENERALLY WE WAIVE THE FEES FOR VEHICLES RECOVERED STOLEN
VEHICLES. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: OKAY WAWLZ B.
>> WALSH: BUT YOU'RE DRIVING HOME, YOU'RE IN AN ACCIDENT, IT'S GOT TO BE TOWED, YOU'RE HAVING TO PAY TO RECOVER THAT EXPENSE FROM THE TOW
COMPANIES THAT PROVIDE THE SERVICE. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: WOULD IT BE -- AND I THINK THIS IS SEPARATE FROM THE RFP, BUT I THINK IT GUIDES MY THOUGHTS ON THE RFP, IS THERE OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME SORT OF ASSISTANCE -- SOME SORT OF PROGRAM THAT REDUCES COST FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN HIGH -- LOW INCOME, I GUESS WOULD BE THE FACTOR THAT I'M LOOKING FOR.
AND IT'S OKAY IF WE THINK ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE I KNOW IT PROBABLY HAS NO BEARING ON THE RFP ITSELF, BUT I WOULD LIKE US TO THINK OF A WAY TO
LESSEN THE NEGATIVE IMPACT. >> WALSH: WELL, THAT COULD BE SOMETHING WE ASK THE PROPOSERS TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION AND
GIVE US SOME SUGGEST SHURNS. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: OKAY.
THAT WOULD BE A PRIORITY FOR ME. AND JUST SO I'M UNDERSTANDING, SO WHAT I HEARD WAS $210 IS THE FEE, AND THEN WE GET $7.
THEN WHAT DO WE DO WITH THAT $7? >> WE GET $7 PER TOW.
AND THEN THE PASSTHROUGH THAT MARIA'S TALKING ABOUT THAT GOES INTO THE GENERAL FUND, SO WHEN A VEHICLE IS RELEASED, THE OWNER OF THAT VEHICLE PAYS THE TOWING FEE, THE IMPOUND FEE, THE STORAGE FEE, THE NOTIFICATION FEE, AND THAT MONEY THEN IS SENT TO THE CITY, AND THE CITY THEN SENDS THAT TO THE TOW MANAGER. THE TOW MANAGER DISPERSES THAT TO THE DISPATCH COMPANY AND THE TOWING COMPANIES BASED UPON THEIR SUBCONTRACT
AGREEMENTS. >> WALSH: SEVEN DOLLARS IS BASED ON THE EXISTING CONTRACT, SO THAT MIGHT CHANGE BASED ON WHAT WE SEE OR GET.
OBVIOUSLY I'M A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT ON ALL THINGS TEEING, AND
WHATNOT. >> WALSH: WE ALL WILL BE IN ABOUT SIX MONTHS AS YOU GUYS GO THROUGH THIS CONVERSATION.
I DON'T SEE ANY CONSUMER ADVOCATES, AND SO I'M WONDERING WHAT IS THE -- I'M THINKING ABOUT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE WITH THE COMPANIES THAT APPLY, THEY'RE WORKING WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING THROUGH A VERY, VERY STRESSFUL TIME AND SOMETIMES IT'S ONE OF THE WORST DAYS OF PEOPLE'S LIFE, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT GOT PEOPLE TO THAT POINT. SOMETIMES IT'S NOT THAT, BUT I DO BELIEVE WE SHOULD INCENTIVIZE GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND SO I'M RECOGNIZING THAT THE EXPERIENCE, SOMETIMES CAN BE DEHUMANIZING AND ROUGH.
[00:50:01]
HOW DO WE FACTOR THAT INTO THE SCORING PROCESS AND THE EVALUATIONCOMMITTEE. >> OH, I'M SORRY. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: IT
WAS FOR ANYONE. >> AND THIS GOES TO COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA'S QUESTION ABOUT A SINGLE FEMALE ON THE EVALUATION.
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DISCUSSION LET ME ASK YOU THIS TARRY REVIEW MEMBER SO I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT IT TO COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA'S POINT AND TO YOURS, TOO, SIR. .
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: WELL, I GUESS THOSE THREE THINGS WOULD BE A PRIORITY FOR ME, THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN THAT I HAD ABOUT GREENSPACE VERSUS PARKING LOT, THE -- I WOULDN'T CALL IT A PRICE VARIANCE, BUT SOME SORT OF EQUITY COMPONENT, AND THEN THE EVALUATION TEAM INCLUDING
A CONSUMER ADVOCATE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO?
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, RICK, FOR THE PRESENTATION. I WANTED TO STRESS ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENT, RIGHT. OUR DISTRICT HAS METAL RECYCLING PLANTS THAT RECYCLE THESE VEHICLES AND I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT -- THIS IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, BUT WHAT WE RECEIVE A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT IS WHEN THESE VEHICLES THAT ARE PURCHASED, RIGHT, THAT HAVE BEEN LIKE COMPLETELY WRECKED AND THEY'RE BEING TOWED TO THE RECYCLING PLANT IS OFTENTIMES DEBRIS FROM THE VEHICLE FALLS, RIGHT? WOULD WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK THAT WITHIN A BLOCK OF THEIR LOCATION THAT THEY'RE MAINTAINING ANY DEBRIS THAT FALLS OFF OF THE TOWING TRUCK, SO THAT WAY WE CAN AVOID CONSTITUENTS RUNNING OVER THE DEBRIS AND POPPING THEIR TIRE AND CAUSING THOSE ISSUES?
>> I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT, COUNCILWOMAN. MY INITIAL CONCERN IS THAT'S PER PURCHASED BY AN INDIVIDUAL THIRD-PARTY TO WHICH THE CITY HAS NO CONTROL OVER AND CAN'T REALLY POLICE THAT WORK, TO USE A GENERIC TERM.
BUT I THINK THAT DESERVES SOME RESEARCH BY OUR CITY ATTORNEY.
>> CASTILLO: OKAY. YEAH, BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE FOR THE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS TO REQUIRE MAINTENANCE AROUND THE PROPERTY WHERE THE LOTS ARE GOING TO BE TOWED TO AVOID THOSE CONSTITUENT CONCERNS AND THE IMPACT TO THEIR VEHICLES. I WANTED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ IN HIS REQUEST FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE BEING A METRIC THAT WE ADD POINTS TO OR EVALUATE, RATHER. OUR OFFICE HAS RECEIVED A COUPLE OF CALLS FROM A FEW CONSTITUENTS JUST LIVID ABOUT THE PROCESS AND TRYING TO NAVIGATE IT, AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE EVALUATING, BUT I'M ALSO GRATEFUL THAT YOU ARE INCLUDING NOW THAT TECHNOLOGY COMPONENT TO LET RESIDENT'S KNOW WHERE THEIR VEHICLES HAVE BEEN IMPOUNDED. I THINK THAT WILL ALLEVIATE A LOT OF THOSE CONCERNS. AND LASTLY, AGAIN, RIGHT, IT'S ALREADY BEEN SAID, BUT I WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT INCENTIVIZING THE REMOVAL OF GREENSPACES WITH PARKING LOTS. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD NOT WANT TO SEE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.
COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN? I'LL COME BACK TO HER. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ?
>> PELAEZ: THANKS. DO WE HAVE A RULE IN PLACE, ERIK, ABOUT
CRIMINAL BACKGROUNDS FOR TOW TRUCK DRIVERS? >> YES, COUNCILMAN.
SO PART OF THE REASON THAT WE RAISED THE RATES, NOT ONLY JUST THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS, WAS THE COST THAT A TOW TRUCK DRIVER HAS TO PASS A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK BEFORE THEY CAN HIRED ON TO TOW VEHICLES AS PART
OF THE TOW MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY. >> PELAEZ: WHICH CRIMES WOULD EXCLUDE THEM FROM BECOMING A TOW TRUCK DRIVER?
>> SO MOSTLY SERIOUS FELONIES. WE TOOK AWAY THE -- THE CHIEF HAS THE ABILITY TO LESSEN THAT REQUIREMENT. WE RECENTLY TOOK THAT AWAY IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS BECAUSE TOW TRUCK COMPANIES WERE HAVING DIFFICULTY FINDING DRIVERS. SO IN ORDER TO OPEN THAT APERTURE FOR HIRING PROCESSES, WE LESSENED THOSE REQUIREMENTS AND MADE IT AVAILABLE FOR SOMEBODY WHO HAD A MISDEMEANOR THEFT CHARGE OR, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEY COULD STILL APPLY FOR AND BE A TOW TRUCK DRIVER FOR ONE OF THE TOWING SUBCONTRACTORS.
>> PELAEZ: YEAH. IT'S BECAUSE -- YOU KNOW, COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA AND I SIT THROUGH THE READY TO WORK BOARD MEETINGS AND THE ONE THING WE KEEP HEARING IS THAT, YOU KNOW, HAVING A BACKGROUND -- A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND INTERFERES WITH THE ABILITY TO, YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY FIND A JOB AFTER YOU FINISH THE PROGRAM, RIGHT? AND THAT IMPEDIMENT IS
SOMETHING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE FOR. >> AND COUNCILMAN -- I'M SORRY, I CUT YOU OFF. THAT'S A STATE REQUIREMENT.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE AS THE CITY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO WAIVE.
SO THERE'S STATE REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE TDLR THAT SAY IF YOU'VE GOT THIS CONVICTION ON YOUR RECORD, YOU CANNOT BE A TOW TRUCK DRIVER.
AND I CAN GET YOU A LIST OF THOSE. >> PELAEZ: YEAH.
BUT YET WE LOOSENED IT. SO OURS WAS HIGHER THAN THE STATE REQUIREMENT.
[00:55:02]
>> YES, WE HAD ESTABLISHED A HIGHER BAR THAN THE STATE REQUIREMENT, AND WE LOOSENED THAT TO BRING IT BACK TO THE STATE
DEPARTMENT. >> PELAEZ: I'D BE INTERESTED TO US NEVER EXCEEDING THE STATE MINIMUM, JUST BECAUSE WE NEED CDL DRIVERS TO GET JOBS, RIGHT? AND WE DON'T NEED ONE OF OUR VERY OWN CONTRACTOR -- ONE OF OUR VERY OWN CONTRACTS REQUIRING HUNDREDS OF DRIVERS TO, YOU KNOW, BE OUT OF REACH FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO TRAIN. AND SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND THE SECOND THING IS, I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE REMEDIATION OF ANY ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS ON THE CURRENT IMPOUND LOT AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT -- WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THAT. AND WITHOUT GETTING, YOU KNOW, CROSSWISE WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AND DISCUSSING THINGS WE MAY NOT WANT TO DISCUSS IN THIS ROOM, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU GUYS CAN TELL ME ABOUT SPILLED OIL OR FUEL OR -- BECAUSE, I KNOW THAT THEY'RE STORING FUEL ON SITE FROM EMPTYING THESE CARS, BUT WHAT CAN WE -- WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME THAT ISN'T
GOING TO MAKE ANDY SEE RED? >> SEGOVIA: LIKE ANY OTHER TRANSACTION, COUNCILMAN, WE WILL HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING AND THAT WILL BE PART OF THE TRANSACTION AS TO WHAT THE CURRENT STATE OF THE PROPERTY IS AND WHAT THE OBLIGATIONS WILL BE BETWEEN THE SELLER, US, AND THE BUYER. MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE WILL WORK, AS RICK SAID, WITH THE T CEQ TO MAKE SURE WE'RE UP TO SPEED IN TERMS OF THE CURRENT TESTING AND CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION OF THE SITE.
SO ONE IS COMPLIANCE, THE TWO IS TRANSACTIONAL, WE'LL FIGURE THAT OUT
WHEN WE DO THE PROPERTY TRANSFER. >> PELAEZ: ASSUMING THAT WE DON'T PLACE THIS IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE PLACE, THESE NEW LOTS, WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FORWARD-LOOKING CONTRACT HAS PROVISIONS IN IT TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS WERE CREATED AT THE GROWDON LOT DON'T EXIST FOR US 20 YEARS FROM NOW IN THE FUTURE, RIGHT?
>> SEGOVIA: AND, AGAIN, WE'LL LOOK AT THAT IN THE TRANSACTION TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE IDENTIFY THE PROPERTIES, IF WE DO IDENTIFY MORE THAN ONE, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK, WE'LL DO TESTING, AND BASED ON THAT TESTING AND THE HISTORY OF THAT PROPERTY, THEN WE'LL WORK IN TERMS OF THE PROPERTY TRANSFER TO ENSURE THAT WHATEVER CLEANUP HAS TO BE DONE BEFORE IS DONE BEFORE AND SO THAT WE SET CLEARLY WHAT THE OBLIGATIONS ARE OF THE BUYER AND THE
SELLER GOING FORWARD. >> IF I CAN ADD, COUNCILMAN, THE OTHER THING, PART OF THE REQUIREMENTS WILL BE TO BUILD A CONTAINMENT AREA SO WE CAN CONTAIN THAT. SO WHATEVER THE STATE OF THE PROPERTY IS BEFORE IT'S TRANSITIONED TO A VEHICLE STORAGE FACILITY, WE KNOW WHAT IT IS, WE BUILD CONTAINMENT WITH CURBS THAT COME UP, SO THAT CAN'T LEAK OUT, EVERYTHING'S CONTAINED, AND THEN WE CLEAN THAT PURSUANT TO ANY
ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS. >> PELAEZ: SO IS THIS CONTAINMENT FOR FUEL OR OIL, IS THIS OPEN AIR RIGHT NOW? IS IT JUST A PIT WHERE WE POUR OIL OR FUEL INTO IT?
>> SO IT'S THERE TO CATCH ANY LEAKS. IT IS OPEN AIR.
CARS ARE BROUGHT THERE USUALLY ON A FORKLIFT BECAUSE MOST OF THOSE CARS AREN'T DRIVABLE, DROPPED INTO -- IT'S A CONCRETE AREA, PROBABLY THE LENGTH OF A FOOTBALL FIELD, AS WIDE AS A FOOTBALL FIELD, SO MULTIPLE CARS THERE, SO AS THOSE CARS -- ALL THE LIQUID DRAINS OUT OF THOSE CARS, WHEN THE CAR IS MOVED TO THE NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS, WHICH
USUALLY IS AUCTION IF THE CAR IS -- >> PELAEZ: COLLECTED IN,
WHAT, TANKS SO IT DOESN'T EVAPORATE AND ALL THAT. >> THAT'S CORRECT.
AND THEN DISPOSED OF THAT APPROPRIATELY PURSUANT TO TCEQ.
>> SEGOVIA: AND THERE'S SEPARATE REGULATIONS THAT GOVERN THE STORAGE, TOO.
>> PELAEZ: SO I'M CONCERNED THE SAME WAY ALL MY COLLEAGUES ARE THAT WE NOT PUT THIS IN A PLACE WHERE -- YOU KNOW, IN A PLACE THAT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL, RIGHT? THAT IT'S A NATURAL GREEN ASSET AND WE DON'T RUIN SOMETHING IF WE DON'T HAVE TO. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I'D HATE TO SEE IT NEXT TO MITCHELL LAKE OR ON THE SHORES OF MEDINA RIVER OUT THERE OR ANYWHERE NEAR OUR AQUIFER, CONSIDERING THAT WE'RE LETTING STUFF DRIP OUT OF CARS AND... BUT ADDITIONALLY, I'M ALSO REALLY SENSITIVE TO THE REALITY THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN DISTRICTS IN TOWN THAT HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE ONES THAT INHERIT LOUD AND NOXIOUS OPERATIONS, YOU KNOW, THE PICK AND PULL JUNKYARDS. THAT'S NOT DISTRICT 8, THAT'S NOT DISTRICT 9, RIGHT? IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE DISTRICT FOUR, DISTRICT TWO, DISTRICT FIVE, DISTRICT THREE, AND ON TOP OF THAT, THEY GET, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS GET ALL THE PAYDAY LOANS AND THE -- YOU KNOW, THE PAWN SHOPS AND ALL. THAT'S JUST NOT -- I MEAN, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO SOLVE FOR, A SO MAKE SURE AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE ENORMOUS PROJECTS WE DON'T CONTINUE MAKING THE SAME MISTAKES AND PERPETRATING ON THESE DISTRICTS IN THE PAST.
THAT'S THE JUGGLING ACT, BALANCING ACT, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PLAN IS TO KEEP THAT IN MIND AS WE MOVE FORWARD, RIGHT? AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, WE CAN ALWAYS SAY, WELL, WE'LL JUST PUT IT
[01:00:01]
IN THE PERIPHERY OF THE CITY, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO TAKE IT INTO ACCOUNT THAT IT REQUIRES THE CUSTOMER TO DRIVE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE TO PICK UP THEIR CAR. I DON'T ENVY YOUR JOB IN HAVING TO PICK A PLACE THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY. I DO WANT TO ASK ABOUT DEFUELING THESE CARS, RIGHT? SO IN MANY INSTANCES, IN ORDER TO GET THEM TOWED AND STORED SAFELY, YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE THE FUEL OUT. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A COST TO DOING THAT IF THERE'S -- IF THE CAR'S NOT LEAKING, RIGHT? YOU'VE GOT TO PUMP IT OUT OF THE TANK AND THAT -- YOU KNOW, FOR A LIGHT-DUTY CAR OR TRUCK, THAT'S RELATIVELY EASY, BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE HAVE TO TOW A SCHOOL BUS OR AN 18-WHEELER OR, YOU KNOW, ANY LARGE COMMERCIAL VEHICLE? DO WE -- IS THERE A COST DIFFERENTIAL?DO WE RECOGNIZE IT COSTS MORE, IS MORE EFFORT? >> YES, COUNCILMAN.
SO TO TOW HEAVY DUTY, IT'S $410.02-HOUR MINIMUM.
USUALLY THOSE LAST A LOT LONGER THAN TWO HOURS. YOU CAN GET INTO THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TIME ON STATION. YOU GET SOMETHING THAT TURNS OVER ON THE FINE SILVER CURVE. THAT'S NOT A TWO-HOUR JOB TO GET THAT. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SPECIAL TRUCK.
IT'S CALLED A ROTATOR. THAT TOW TRUCK GETS THAT SEMIBACK UPRIGHT IN ORDER TO TOW IT, AND THEN YOU HAVE ALL OF THE CLEANUP THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT AT THAT POINT IN TIME OF THAT ACCIDENT SITE. SO THAT TOW TRUCK DRIVER CAN BE THERE FOR A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME, SO, YES, THE COST
CAN BE VERY -- >> PELAEZ: AND THAT'S HOURLY?
>> THAT IS CORRECT, YES. >> PELAEZ: OKAY. ADDITIONALLY, I'VE BEEN READING MORE AND MORE ABOUT ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND WHAT HAPPENS AFTER AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE ACCIDENT AND, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE ALL THESE TINY BATTERIES. EVERYBODY THINKS IT'S JUST ONE BIG BATTERY, BUT THEY'RE JUST A WHOLE BUNCH OF AAA BATTERIES STUCK TOGETHER.
WHEN ONE OF THEM GETS PIERCED, YOU HAVE THEM PHENOMENON WHERE IT'S A RUNNING IGNITION. ONE BAD BATTERY WILL LIGHT THE NEXT ONE AND THE NEXT ONE. THESE CARS CAN'T BE PUT OUT BY SPRAYING WATER ON THEM THE WAY YOU WOULD DO IT FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE. YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO KIND OF WAIT FOR IT TO BURN OUT, RIGHT, AND THIS DAMAGES, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, TOW TRUCKS, RIGHT? SO IS THAT A CONVERSATION YOU'VE HAD WITH THE CONTRACTORS ABOUT, YOU KNOW -- BECAUSE IT'S JUST A NEW REALITY THAT THEY'RE HAVING TO DEAL WITH?
>> YES. WE HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH THEM, COUNCILMAN.
AND I THINK PART OF YOUR QUESTION IS ALSO HOW DO YOU DISPOSE OF THOSE BATTERIES, RIGHT? SO PART OF THE RFP, WE'VE ASKED POTENTIAL RESPONDENTS, GIVE US A SOLUTION TO THESE ELECTRIC VEHICLES, THESE BATTERIES THAT ARE LEAKING, HOW DO WE DISPOSE OF THEM, HOW DO WE REMOVE THEM, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS AS WELL. SO THAT WILL BE INCLUDED
IN THIS NEXT CONTRACT. >> PELAEZ: BUT IT'S FAIR TO ASK YOU TO ALSO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEM ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU HAVE TO SPEND A FEW MINUTES OR A FEW HOURS TOWING A CAR THAT'S CURRENTLY ON FIRE IN THE
BACK OF YOUR TRUCK. >> YES, I THINK THAT'S FAIR.
>> PELAEZ: IS THAT A CONVERSATION YOU'RE HAVING.
>> YES, WE'RE CURRENTLY HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
TOW MANAGER AND THE TOWING COMPANIES. >> PELAEZ: THAT'S IT.
THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE IT.
>> SEGOVIA: COUNCILMAN, IF I MAY, THE AUTO MAKERS NOW REGULARLY PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO DEAL WITH VEHICLES, PARTICULARLY AFTER ACCIDENTS, IN TERMS OF HOW TO DEAL WITH ELECTRIC BATTERIES, SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF AND THEY
REGULARLY SHARE THAT. >> PELAEZ: AND THE FACT THAT YOU KNOW THAT IS WHY
YOU'RE THE BESTW PERSON FOR THIS JOB. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN?
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
SO WE'RE DOING THIS NOW BECAUSE THE CONTRACT STARTED IN 2015 AND IT
WAS A 10-YEAR CONTRACT? >> NO, MA'AM. THE ORIGINAL LENGTH OF THE CONTRACT WAS SIX YEARS. COUNCIL EXS EXTENDED IT TWICE SINCE THAT POINT OF TIME, AND THE PURPOSE THE LAST TIME WAS SO IT WOULD MATCH UP WITH THE EXPIRATION OF THE IMPOUND CONTRACT.
>> VIAGRAN: OKAY. THANK YOU. I AM -- THE GROWDON, I FEEL LIKE THERE'S TOO MANY UNCERTAINTIES THERE.
I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO CONTINUE EXTENDING THIS UNTIL WE COULD GET THIS SETTLED WITH JOINT BASE, BUT I SEE THAT BECAUSE OF THE TECHNOLOGY AND THE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE WHY WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD NOW.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE IS I WOULD LIKE TWO LOCATIONS TO BE IDENTIFIED, ONE IN THE NORTH, ONE IN THE SOUTH IN THIS RFP, AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO SEE POSSIBLE WITH THE CONTRACT -- WITH -- IN THIS RFP PROCESS KIND OF AN IDEA OF IF WE MOVED ONE EAST AND WEST. I THINK THAT THE ISSUE IS, FOR ME, WE NEED TO JUST ASSUME THAT GROWDON IS GONE. THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASSUME. AND MAKE SURE THAT THESE COMPANIES COMING UP FOR BID UNDERSTAND WE WOULD LIKE TWO LOCATIONS, ONE IN THE NORTH, ONE IN THE SOUTH.
BECAUSE MY ANTICIPATION IS THAT PD IS GOING TO START IMPOUNDING A LOT MORE OF THESE VEHICLES THAT ARE RACING AND THEY'LL HAVE TO BE TOWED TO SOMEWHERE ON THE SOUTH SIDE BECAUSE
[01:05:02]
THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE DOING A LOT OF THIS. BUT I KNOW IT'S CITYWIDE.SO THAT'S WHY I THINK WE NEED TWO LOCATIONS AND WE NEED TO EXPAND TO THE EAST AND POSSIBLY THE WEST. THE OTHER THING IS THE TRANSPORTATION.
IF THE TOW TRUCKS DON'T HAVE TO GO AS FAR, IT'S NOT AS DAMAGING AS THAT LONG ROAD TRIP FOR THE GROWDON CENTER. BUT I THINK WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT CUSTOMER SERVICE, LIKE SOME OF MY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE SAID, AND HAVE THAT ANTICIPATION THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A LOT ON THE SOUTH SIDE DOESN'T MEAN THAT THAT'S WHERE YOUR CAR IS, THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN STOLEN AND GOT TAKEN TO THE NORTHERN LOT BECAUSE IT WAS FOUND IN THAT AREA.
I THINK WE NEED TO SET OUR EXPECTATIONS FOR THAT. I THINK THE TECHNOLOGY PIECE IS VERY IMPORTANT. I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD ON THAT.
MY CONCERN, HOWEVER, IS THAT IF IT IS TIED TO THE POLICE -- AND YOU MENTIONED GCIS.
YOU CALLED IT CGIS? I HAVEN'T HEARD THAT IN FOREVER.
I HAD ACCESS WHEN I WAS PART OF THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND YOU DO NEED TO BE VETTED AND YOU DO NEED TO HAVE THE RIGHT CREDENTIALS SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WHATEVER TECHNOLOGY WE BRING IN FOR THE APPS OR WHATEVER WE PLAN TO USE, THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO.
SO I AM VERY INTERESTED IN THE TECHNOLOGY PIECE AND THE SAFETY OF THAT TECHNOLOGY PIECE.
ESPECIALLY AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND THERE IS TONS OF SCAMS WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
WHAT I DON'T WANT TO SEE IS PEOPLE GETTING A NOTICE THAT SAYS YOUR CAR HAS BEEN TOWED.
CLICK ON THIS LINK AND IT'S A FRAUDULENT LINK. I THINK TECHNOLOGY IS GREAT AND I WANT TO SEE THAT BUT, AGAIN, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S SECURE.
AND I DO AGREE THAT IN TERMS OF THE EVALUATION, MARIA IS GREAT AND I'M EXCITED FOR HER BEING ON IT BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ANOTHER WOMAN ON THAT PANEL -- AND IT COULD BE FROM ANOTHER CITY DEPARTMENT, JUST TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT -- IT'S IMPORTANT THAT OUR EVALUATION COMMITTEES ARE REFLECTIVE OF THE CITY AND THE POPULATION WE HAVE.
AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GETTING THEIR CARS STOLEN AND TOWED, ALSO.
SO THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT I HAVE. BUT I DO WANT TO SEE TWO -- I DON'T WANT THIS OPTION OF WHAT WOULD YOU DO. GROWDON WILL BE CLOSED SO WE WANT TWO LOCATIONS, ONE IN THE NORTH AND ONE IN THE SOUTH. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WAS INTERESTED IN LEARNING A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE AUCTIONING PROCESS. SO ON SLIDE -- I GUESS IT'S 9. THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT, ALMOST LIKE 30% OF THE VEHICLES ARE BEING AUCTIONED. WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR AUCTIONING AND DO WE HAVE DATA ON WHOSE CARS ARE BEING AUCTIONED?
>> SO THE PROCESS I CAN ANSWER. WE DO NOT KEEP DATA ON WHOSE CAR IT IS BY THE REGISTERED OWNER. THE PROCESS IS WHEN THE VEHICLE ARRIVES AT GROWDON, WITHIN TEN DAYS, BY STATE STATUTE, WE HAVE TO PROVIDE NOTIFICATION TO THE REGISTERED OWNER THAT YOUR CAR IS AT THE IMPOUND FACILITY. CURRENTLY, WE BEAT THAT REQUIREMENT. THOSE LETTERS USUALLY GO OUT WITHIN THE FIRST FIVE DAYS.
IF WITHIN THAT FIRST TEN DAYS WE DON'T RECEIVE A RESPONSE FROM THE REGISTERED OWNER, WE SEND A SECOND NOTIFICATION. THAT'S SENT BETWEEN THE 10TH AND 20TH DAY.
AFTER 30 DAYS THE VEHICLE IS CONSIDERED ABANDONED AND THEN WE CAN AUCTION THAT VEHICLE.
NOW, THE CAVEAT OF BEING MILITARY CITY, USA, WE TAKE AN EXTRA STEP AND WE WORK WITH A VENDOR TO IDENTIFY VEHICLES THAT MAYBE BELONG TO MILITARY MEMBERS.
BACK IN THE DAY YOU HAD A STICKER ON YOUR CAR AND IT WAS EASY.
NOW THERE ARE NO STICKERS ON THE CAR, WE HAVE TO SEARCH THAT THROUGH A DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE WEBSITE AND WE HAVE TO GET INFORMATION THAT'S NOT READILY AVAILABLE FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS AS A REGISTERED OWNER. ONCE WE IDENTIFY THAT IT'S NOT A MILITARY MEMBER'S VEHICLE, THEN THAT VEHICLE IS SET FOR AUCTION. THAT AUCTION IS EVERY WEDNESDAY AT 3:00 P.M. IT'S CONDUCTED TOTALLY ONLINE NOW.
WE HAVEN'T SEEN A REDUCTION. IT USED TO BE IN PERSON BUT WHEN COVID CAME WE MOVED TO AN
[01:10:03]
ONLINE. WE HAD A VENDOR COME, MAKE A PRESENTATION FOR 18 MONTHS DIDN'T TAKE ANY MONEY AND NOW WE'VE CHANGED. ORIGINALLY THE FEAR WAS WE WOULD SEE A REDUCTION IN PRICES BEING PAID BECAUSE THEY WOULD FIGURE IN THE 10%.WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT. SO THAT 10% GOES DIRECTLY TO THE ONLINE AUCTION COMPANY.
DOESN'T IMPACT ANY REVENUE THAT IS RECEIVED BY THE CITY OR BY THE IMPOUND OPERATOR RIGHT
NOW. >> KAUR: GOT IT. SO MY LINE OF QUESTIONING AND PRIORITY IS SIMILAR TO WHAT COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ MENTIONED AROUND THE EQUITY COMPONENT FOR THE AUCTION. MY THOUGHT IS ARE PEOPLE LEAVING THEIR CARS THERE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE FEES THAT THEY HAVE TO PAY TO PICK UP THEIR CAR? OR JUST WANTING TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHY SO MANY PEOPLE -- I WOULDN'T
EXPECT THAT MANY PEOPLE WOULD JUST LEAVE THEIR CAR. >> OFTENTIMES, COUNCILWOMAN, THAT'S BECAUSE THE CAR IS CONSIDERED TOTALED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY LOOKS AT IT AND SAYS IT'S NOT WORTH ANYTHING. WE'RE NOT GOING TO PICK IT UP.
AND SO THE IMPOUND OPERATOR BECOMES THE DEFAULT STORAGE UNTIL THEY'RE ABLE TO AUCTION
THAT VEHICLE. >> KAUR: GOT IT. WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF THESE ARE CARS THAT ARE TOWED FOR PARKING INCORRECTLY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THAT'S PROBABLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE. >> YES.
VERY SMALL. >> KAUR: OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
SO I WOULD ALSO -- AND GOING BACK TO THE SLIDE OF THE RFP BREAKDOWN FOR POINTS.
SO ON THE LINE, ERIK, WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW WE COULD ADJUST THE POINTS FOR EQUITY, POTENTIALLY IN TERMS OF FOCUSING ON PRICING. ANOTHER THING THAT WE COULD CONSIDER IS DECREASING FIVE POINTS FROM EXPERIENCE AND PROPOSED PLAN AND ADDING TEN POINTS JUST IN THE EQUITY PLAN, TO MAYBE HAVE THEM RESPOND TO HOW THEY FEEL THEY ALIGN TO OUR EQUITY GUIDELINES SO THAT WE COULD REALLY INCORPORATE THAT INTO THE RFP.
>> I WOULD DEFER TO MY FRIENDS IN PROCUREMENT. I'M NOT A PROCUREMENT GUY.
>> WALSH: YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE -- ADDING IT TO THE PRICING?
>> KAUR: I WAS JUST ADDING IT AS A LINE ITEM. JUST LIKE WE ADDED SBEDA FOR THE CONTRACTOR, ADDING MAYBE 5 OR 10 POINTS FOR THEM TO RESPOND SPECIFICALLY TO HOW THEY WOULD ALIGN TO OUR EQUITY. PUT THE ONUS ON THE COMPANY TO SAY HOW ARE YOU GOING TO ACTUALLY INCORPORATE OUR EQUITY PRINCIPLES INTO THE CONTRACT.
>> WALSH: WE WOULD LIKELY NEED TO DEFINE THAT. SOMETHING THAT BROAD I THINK WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR THEM -- IF IT'S EQUITY AROUND PRICING OR CHARGES, THEN THAT'S EASILY DEFINED. BUT SOMETHING BROAD LIKE THAT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT FOR THEM.
>> KAUR: GOT IT. >> SEGOVIA: IF I MAY, ERIK, WE'LL VOLUNTEER THE DEIA DEPARTMENT TO WORK WITH PROCUREMENT TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO INCORPORATE WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, COUNCILWOMAN, WHICH IS SEEING HOW WE CAN LINK OUTCOMES TO CRITERION PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SO WE CAN ADDRESS OUR EQUITY PRINCIPLES.
>> KAUR: THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU, ANDY.
YEAH, I THINK FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING. WE TALK ABOUT DECRIMINALIZING POVERTY AND HOW DO WE HELP PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY IN A LOW POSITION AND LOSING YOUR CAR WHEN YOU HAVE TO GET TO
WORK IS ONE OF THOSE WAYS WE COULD POTENTIALLY HELP. >> WE COULD WEAVE THAT INTO THE
PROPOSED PLAN. >> KAUR: THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
ONE OTHER POINT IS THEY ARE AUTHORIZED TO CHARGE UP TO $50 TO NOTIFY OF AN AUCTION.
>> THAT'S A STATE STATUTE THAT AUTHORIZES THAT NOTIFICATION TO BE PAID.
THAT'S BECAUSE THAT NOTIFICATION HAS TO BE SENT CERTIFIED MAIL.
OBVIOUSLY, REGULAR MAIL AS WEG SO YOU'RE COVERING BOTH ENDS OF THAT PRONG.
AND IT ALSO COVERS IF A SECOND LETTER HAS TO BE SENT. >> KAUR: OH, GOT IT.
DOES SAPD DO THAT 50? I KNOW THEY'RE AUTHORIZED. IS THAT WHAT THEY CHARGE WHEN
THEY DO SEND THAT LETTER? >> NO, MA'AM. THAT CHARGE IS BY THE IMPOUND OPERATOR. SAPD DOES NOT SEND OUT ANY LETTERS ON CITY LETTERHEAD.
>> KAUR: IS IT ACTUAL OR A FLAT RATE? >> FLAT RATE.
>> KAUR: THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE HAVE PURVIEW OVER ANYWAYS? >> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> KAUR: THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THAT COMPONENT. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL WORKING ON
THAT. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. I ASSUME, ERIK, THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE GOING TO BE WELL REFLECTED IN THE PRE-SOLICITATION BRIEFING AND WHAT COUNCIL IS EMPHASIZING ON
THE PLAN, RIGHT? >> WALSH: THAT'S A PRETTY SAFE ASSUMPTION, MAYOR.
EVERYBODY IS FURIOUSLY TAKIOING NOTES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THE
ENVIRONMENTAL AND EQUITY ISSUE -- >> WALSH: GIVEN THAT THERE'S A LOT MORE COMMENTS THAN NORMAL ON A PRE-SOLICITATION, BEFORE WE ISSUE IT
THAT CAME UP IN B SESSION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YEAH, BECAUSE ON THE BACK END OF THIS WHEN COUNCIL IS VOTING ON THE CONTRACT, HOPEFULLY WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE OUTCOME OF THAT AS WELL. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO A SECOND ROUND
[01:15:02]
HERE. WE'LL START WITH COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ.>> PELAEZ: THANKS. TWO ISSUES. I'M LOOKING AT THE PRESENTATION AND I NOTICE THAT FOR THE RFP, THAT WE'RE INCLUDING SBEDA REQUIREMENTS.
THERE'S THAT LANGUAGE ABOUT 40% SBE. IS THAT STATUTORY OR IS THAT
DISCRETIONARY, UP TO US? >> THAT'S DISCRETIONARY SET BY OUR SMALL BUSINESS OFFICE.
>> PELAEZ: I TELL YOU IF IT'S DISCRETIONARY I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT LOCAL SBEDA 100%.
WHY CAN'T WE DO THAT AND WHAT'S THE DOWN SIDE FOR THE SUBCONTRACTOR.
>> MICHAEL SINDON WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
SO THE ORDINANCE ONLY ALLOWS SUBCONTRACTING TO BE SET AT A MAXIMUM OF 40%.
SO UP TO 40%. >> PELAEZ: THAT'S OUR LOCAL ORDINANCE?
>> CORRECT. >> PELAEZ: SO, I MEAN -- ANDY, HOW DO WE GET TO WHERE I
WANT TO GET, WHICH IS MORE? >> SEGOVIA: UP ONE DISPARITY STUDY WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO SEE WHAT OUR PROGRAM IS, WHAT THE LEGAL RECOMMENDATIONS ARE TO MAKE IT DEFENSIBLE. AND SO WE'VE GOT AN ORDINANCE WITH THE PROGRAM, ANY TIME WE GO OUTSIDE OF THAT ORDINANCE WE RISK A LITTLE BIT OF --
>> PELAEZ: OH, I GET IT. >> SEGOVIA: ESSENTIALLY WE HAVE TO BE CONSISTENT WITH OUR
DISPARITY STUDY. >> PELAEZ: SO THEN IS THE 10 POINTS FOR LOCAL PREFERENCE
PROGRAM, IS THAT STATUTORY? >> THAT'S A SEPARATE PROGRAM, NOT PART OF OUR SBEDA PROGRAM.
THE LOCAL PREFERENCE HANDLES OUT OF PROCUREMENT RATHER THAN SMALL BUSINESS.
SO, YES. >> PELAEZ: THAT'S STATUTORY? >> IT'S ALLOWABLE UNDER
STATUTE. >> PELAEZ: IT'S MAXED OUT AT 10?
>> I BELIEVE SO. BASED ON OUR ORDINANCE AS WELL.
>> PELAEZ: SO WE CAN'T INCREASE IT PAST 10? THAT'S NOT RACE BASED, THAT'S NOT GENDER BASED OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
>> THERE'S NOT A DISPARITY STUDY THAT LOOKS AT THE LOCAL PREFERENCE POINT.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ASKING WHETHER OR NOT WE EXCEED THAT, WHETHER WE DO ANYTHING LEGALLY TO OUR LOCAL PREFERENCE PROGRAM. PROBABLY NOT THE SAME RISK THAT
WE ARE ON THE SBEDA SIDE. >> SEGOVIA: I THINK THE SHORT ANSWER IS COUNCIL CAN ALWAYS LOOK AND REVISIT THE ORDINANCE BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE 10% THAT'S ESTABLISHED BY CITY ORDINANCE. SO THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE IT BUT I THINK
THERE'S FLEXIBILITY TO CHANGE IT. >> PELAEZ: THE REASON I BRING THIS UP, GUYS, IS FIVE OF US SHOWED UP TO A MEETING WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND WE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR THAT WE CAN DO BETTER. WE HAVE TO DO BETTER AND INCREASING THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL BUSINESS I THINK IS A PRIORITY FOR EVERYBODY AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S WORTH OUR TIME TO REVISIT WHETHER OR NOT WE GIVE MORE POINTS TO LOCALLY OWNED. CAN WE DO THAT? IS THERE ANYTHING TO KEEP US
FROM DOING THAT WITH THIS ONE AS A FIRST? >> SEGOVIA: THE ANSWER IS YES, COUNCILMAN, BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE NEED TO COMPLY WITH THE ORDINANCE.
>> PELAEZ: OKAY. >> SEGOVIA: SO THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IS WE ARE STUCK -- I SHOULDN'T SAY STUCK. WE HAVE THE 10% ESTABLISHED BY CITY ORDINANCE SO WE WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW THAT FOR THIS. BUT, AGAIN, THE CITY COUNCIL HAS THE FLEXIBILITY TO REVISIT THAT AND SEE IF WE CAN INCREASE THAT. BUT YOU WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE
THE ORDINANCE. >> PELAEZ: ANY OBJECTIONS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
TO TAKE THIS UP? >> WALSH: I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY -- I THINK IT'S A BROADER CONVERSATION BECAUSE IF YOU GO TO THAT, THE QUESTION IS WHAT ARE WE EVALUATING -- AND PROBABLY ACTUALLY BEYOND THIS CONTRACT. BUT HOW DO WE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION PRICING OR QUALIFICATIONS OR SMALL BUSINESS OR LOCAL OR WE HAVE VETERANS-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS PREFERENCE. WE HAVE LAYERS IN THERE SO ADJUSTING ONE IS GOING TO TAKE FROM SOMETHING ELSE. I THINK IT'S WORTH PROBABLY A LARGER CONVERSATION WITH THE COMMITTEE ABOUT HOW WE DEAL WITH THAT IN GENERAL AND WHAT IMPACTS, IF ANY, IT HAS ON PROCUREMENT. NO, WE COULD DO THAT AT THE
COMMITTEE LEVEL. >> PELAEZ: THANKS, GUYS. THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I FORGOT TO ASK WHEN THERE'S ACCIDENTS ON THE ROAD -- AND COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO WAS REFERENCING AROUND THE AREA, MAYBE LIKE A ONE MILE.
BUT WHEN THERE'S ACCIDENTS AROUND THE ROAD, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT'S THE TOW
TRUCK'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PICK UP ANY OF THE DEBRIS, CORRECT? >> YES.
>> GARCIA: SO HOW DO WE KIND OF LIKE VERIFY OR SPOT CHECK? BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THERE'S SO MANY BUMPERS ON THE ROAD OR ON THE HIGHWAY JUST EVERYWHERE. HOW DO WE SPOT CHECK THAT?
[01:20:04]
>> WE HAVE TRANSPORTATION INSPECTORS INSIDE OF THE CONTRACT TOWING OFFICE THAT
INSPECT THAT. >> GARCIA: ARE THEY INSPECTING AFTER 8:00 P.M.?
>> YES, THEY ARE. YEAH. HE'S ON CALL 24/7 SO...
>> GARCIA: CAN I HAVE THAT NUMBER I CAN CALL? I HAVE SEEN PERSONALLY AND HIT MY BRAKES. I SEE OTHERS HITTING THEIR BRAKES BECAUSE THERE'S BUMPERS OR ALL SORTS OF STUFF ON THE GROUND THAT I FEEL LIKE ISN'T BEING COLLECTED.
AND SO I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS THAT SO I WAS HAPPY WHEN THEY BROUGHT THE HERO TRUCK ON FROM TXDOT BECAUSE THEY WERE GOING TO BE ON THE HIGHWAYS. BUT IT'S ON OUR STREETS AS WELL. AND SO I WAS JUST -- LIKE DO WE JUST CALL 3-1-1? WHAT DO WE DO? OR 207-SAPD? WHERE DO WE CALL?
>> I WOULD CAUTION OUR INSPECTOR LOOKS AT AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE TOWING COMPANY IS CALLED. SO ANYTHING THAT FALLS OFF YOUR VEHICLE BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND YOU KEEP YOUR VEHICLE IN DISREPAIR, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO KNOW ABOUT IN THAT REQUIREMENT. I WILL GET YOU THAT NUMBER DIRECTLY TO CALL.
I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S 3-1-1 OR 207-SAPD. >> GARCIA: I CALLED 207-SAPD BUT I WAS ALSO ON A RIDE ALONG A FEW MONTHS AGO AND LATER ON I PASSED BY JUST TO SEE IF THAT STUFF HAD BEEN COLLECTED AND IT HADN'T. AND IT'S A REALLY DARK AREA.
IT JUST WORRIES ME THAT IT'S CAUSING MORE ACCIDENTS, POTENTIALLY.
THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING. SO, THANK YOU. AND THEN SO THE CURRENT GROWDON IS NEAR A REGIONAL PARK, IS RIGHT ACROSS FROM MARGOT PARK, RIGHT ALONG LEON CREEK.
THIS IS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE GREENWAY BIKE SYSTEM AND THE TRAIL SYSTEM STILL TIED IN. SO HOW DID WE PICK IT, ORIGINALLY? I MEAN, I'M LOOKING AT ERIK WALSH BECAUSE HE'S BEEN HERE SINCE HE WAS AN INTERN.
BUT I DON'T KNOW, DO YOU REMEMBER? >> WALSH: IT WAS WAY BEFORE ME, COUNCILWOMAN. I MEAN, I THINK IT'S BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF OFF THE BEATEN PATH SPOT. BUT WE CAN FOLLOW UP AND SEE WHAT THE HISTORY OF IT WAS.
I'M NOT SURE. >> I JUST TALKED TO THE PERSON WHO'S BEEN IN CHARGE OF IT THE LONGEST AND WE DON'T KNOW HERE EITHER AS TO WHY IT WAS SELECTED.
>> GARCIA: I WAS JUST WONDERING HOW IT WAS PICKED. I HEARD A COMMENT EARLIER ABOUT HOW WE SHOULD BE MINDFUL OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS, ET CETERA. SOME OF THE RESIDENTS DON'T LEARN ABOUT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND DON'T HAVE TIME TO COME AND PROTEST IF SOMETHING IS GOING IN THEIR AREA. SO I WOULD BE LOOKING FOR A PLAN OF HOW TO INFORM THE PEOPLE IN THE AREA THAT'S BEYOND SOCIAL MEDIA OR BEYOND THE PUBLICATION ON NEWSPAPER.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD BE POSTCARDS WE WOULD SEND OUT, COMMUNITY MEETINGS, ET CETERA.
I WOULD LOVE TO TALK MORE ABOUT THAT AS WELL. HOW DO WE ACCOUNT FOR TOWING OF OVERSIZED ITEMS? AND SO LAST MONTH I HAD A MOBILE HOME THAT WAS DUMPED IN MY DISTRICT THAT STAYED THERE LIKE THREE WEEKS, RIGHT? BUT IT WAS -- AND SO I TALKED TO ERIK WALSH AND IT WAS ON TXDOT, TECHNICALLY, SO THEY HAD TO DO IT.
BUT ORIGINALLY I WAS TOLD THAT WE WERE GETTING A COST ESTIMATE FOR IT AND IT WAS GOING TO BE LIKE $25,000 TO PICK IT UP. HOW ARE WE TAKING THAT TYPE OF SITUATION INTO ACCOUNT FOR
FUTURE? >> VILLAGOMEZ: GREG MAY HAVE TO HELP ME WITH THIS BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION, COUNCILWOMAN, THE MOBILE HOME WAS ON TXDOT PROPERTY SO WE COORDINATED WITH THEM TO HAVE IT REMOVED. IT DID TAKE LONGER THAN WHAT WE WOULD HAVE WANTED TO TO GET THAT COORDINATION. NOW I'LL RICK RESPOND.
>> IN THAT SITUATION, COUNCILWOMAN, THE COST WAS IT REQUIRES SPECIAL EQUIPMENT.
THE AX EL AXELS WERE BROKE ON THAT THING. PRIOR TO AS WE WERE TRYING TO GET IT REMOVED , WE HAD GOTTEN DSD INVOLVED, SOLID WASTE INVOLVED, EVERYBODY THAT WE COULD TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE BEST WAY. AND THEN WE FIGURED OUT IT'S ON TXDOT PROPERTY. TXDOT, YOU NEED TO COME OUT AND TAKE CARE OF IT FOR US.
WHY $25,000? SPECIAL EQUIPMENT. IT WASN'T AS SIMPLE AS HOOKING
A TOW TRUCK UP OR PUTTING IT ON A FLAT BED TRAILER. >> GARCIA: BUT WILL WE ADD THAT INTO THE RFP? IS THAT ACCOUNTED FOR THAT EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE SPECIAL
EQUIPMENT TO PICK UP A MOBILE HOME? >> TWO OF THE COMPANIES UNDER
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THE TOW MANAGER HAVE THAT CAPABILITY. NOT ALL FIVE, JUST TWO OFTHEM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA
GARCIA. COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: I WANTED TO CHIME IN ON THE EVALUATION CRITERIA , SLIDE 16. WHEN WE LOOK AT LOCAL PREFERENCE -- I DO LIKE THE FACT THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON LOCAL PREFERENCE PROGRAM.
THIS MAY GO BACK TO WHY WE NEED MORE WOMEN ON THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE.
THERE ARE, HOWEVER, LOCAL TOW COMPANIES THAT USE PREDTARY TOWING.
IT IS JUST WHAT WE HEAR. I CAN SPEAK OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
YOU PARK IN A SPOT. THEY COME AND YOU TRY TO TELL THEM WHY ARE YOU MOVING MY CAR? AS A WOMAN WE GET A DIFFERENT ATTITUDE.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE REPUTATIONS OF SOME OF THESE SUBS.
THE REASON I LIKE THE WAY IT IS NOW IS THERE'S FIVE SO IF WE GOT A COMPLAINT THAT SOMEONE WAS RUDE WHEN THEY WEREN'T IN A FIRE ZONE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IT'S EASIER FOR US TO FIND OUT WITH THOSE FIVE. I THINK THE MORE -- BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF TOW COMPANIES HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. THE MORE WE BRING INTO THIS PROCESS, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THEIR PRACTICES. SO IS THAT KIND OF THE EQUITY LENS AND KIND OF THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE? BUT I DO WANT AN EVALUATION CRITERIA TO KIND OF TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME COMPANIES IN THE CITY THAT DO NOT RESPECT THE RULES THAT HAVE BEEN SET UP AND ARE TOWING WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T BE TOWING.
>> COUNCILWOMAN, IF I MAY ADDRESS THAT. FROM THE TOW MANAGER FOR THE CITY'S PERSPECTIVE, WHEN IT HIRES A TOWING COMPANY, THERE IS A VETTING PROCESS THAT OCCURS FROM THE TOW MANAGER TO THOSE FIVE COMPANIES. WE LOOK AT INCIDENT MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE, FLEET, CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEIR PERFORMANCE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.
SO THAT THE CITY DOESN'T BRING ON A PREDATORY TOWER THAT WOULD PERFORM THIS AND GIVE THE CITY A BLACK EYE IN PERFORMING THAT. UNFORTUNATELY, WE DON'T HAVE AS MUCH CONTROL OVER THOSE PRIVATE PROPERTY TOWERS AND THE TOW MANAGEMENT -- HATS OFF TO THEM. THEY HAVE DONE A VERY GOOD JOB AND WHEN THERE IS A COMPLAINT,
THEY'RE IMMEDIATELY TO ADDRESS IT WITH THEIR TOW COMPANIES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. IT WILL BE REALLY BRIEF. I THINK JUST WHILE WE'RE HAVING THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE, I THINK I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE DISPARITY STUDY. AND I'M THINKING ABOUT THE BUSINESSES THAT THERE WERE GAPS AND THAT WAS THE BLACK AND ASIAN-OWNED BUSINESSES AND I'M THINKING WE SHOULD JUST MAKE IT A PRACTICE THAT WE HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM BOTH OF THOSE MINORITY GROUPS IN ALL FUTURE EVALUATION COMMITTEES. AND MAYBE THAT'S A PRACTICE THAT WILL HELP US.
I THINK SOMETIMES WE NOTICE WHEN WE ARE NOT IN A ROOM -- LIKE WE HAD A NUMBER OF OUR WOMEN COUNCIL MEMBERS IDENTIFIED THAT THERE WAS ONLY ONE WOMAN.
I'M LOOKING AT THESE AND JUST BASED OFF OF NAMES, I DON'T THINK THERE ARE ANY BLACK FOLK ON THE COMMITTEE. I DON'T THINK THERE ARE ANY ASIANS ON THE COMMITTEE SO I
THINK THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. I THINK THAT'S IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RICK. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT STEPS IN THE PROPOSAL.
IF THERE ARE NO -- THERE'S NO OTHER BUSINESS, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION SO THANK YOU TO THE STAFF PRESENT. THE TIME IS 3:35 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2023. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL NOW MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071 AND TO DELIBERATE OR DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.087. PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.072. CONSULTATION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR LEGAL ISSUES OR ADVICE RELATED TO LITIGATION INVOLVING THE CITY AND LEGAL
ISSUES RELATED TO EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PURSUANT TO >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON, THE TIME IS 4:23 P.M. ON THE 20TH OF SEPTEMBER, 2023, WEDNESDAY. CITY COUNCIL HAS RECONVENED FROM ITS EXECUTIVE SESSION. NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN.
OUR B SESSION
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.