09162008 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mayor Narvaiz opened the Public Hearing at 7:42 p.m. to There being no public comments, Mayor Narvaiz closed the Public Hearing at 7:42 p.m. MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Thomaides and a second by Councilmember Guerrero, the City Council voted six (6) for and none (0) opposed, to approve the ordinance, as previously captioned, on the first of three readings. The motion carried unanimously. 16. Consider an ordinance amending Article 4, Wreckers, of Chapter 90, Vehicles For Hire, of the San Marcos City Code to update, expand and clarify City regulations for wrecker services that perform tows in the City; including procedural provisions, and consider ordinance on the first of three readings. MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Couch and a second by Councilmember Bose, and amended by Councilmembers Thomaides and Couch, the City Council voted six (6) for and none (0) opposed, to approve the ordinance, as previously captioned, amending Section 90.290 (b) to remove the summons provision, on the first of three readings. The motion carried unanimously. The following persons spoke regarding this item: Harvey Jenkins, 12205 S. IH-35, stated that he is opposed to the Council imposing restrictions on what he can charge. He noted that he has a private party contract with clients that have contracted to have illegally parked cars towed. He asked the Council to think of the fuel that is expended to tow a car and then release it for free. The contract says the client has already given them permission. Tommy Saucedo, 211 Gary Street, stated that wreckers are not predators; apartment managers call us to take care of their complexes. People have offices and college kids urinate in parking lots, party and throw bottles. The wrecker service is hired to go through at 1:00 a.m. at night and pick the vehicles up. They pick up vehicle and the next day when the person is sober, they can pick it up. If the manager thinks we are wrong we give the vehicle back free. It has been like this for long time. They have a job no one else wants. Charles Meeks, 310 W. San Antonio, general manger of the Nelson Center, stated that each occupied space generates revenue for each hour. If a car is illegally parked, and there is no customer in the store, that merchant has lost income. He has to protect the parking lot or he will lose tenants. Referencing additional signage on the property, he noted that he has 150% compliance with signs, but they are not paid attention to. The signs have had no influence on the number of illegal cars parked in lot. He stated that he does summons tows now. If parking lot is full and there are no customers in a store, then he calls. He also noted that having a wrecker in the lot is a deterent to illegal parking. He asked Council to back up the merchants. 0