C7F-Accept Recommendation Towing Software And In-Vehicle Cameras\
COMMISSION ITEM SUMMARY
Gondensed Title:
A Resolution of the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami Beach, Florida, accepting the
recommendation of the Finance and Citywide ProjectCommitteeto research technologicalenhancements,
regarding towing software and in-vehicle cameras; and provide an update at the September Finance and
iects Committee meetino.
lntended Outcome
I mprove Parking availability.
Supporting Data (Surveys, Environmental Scan, etc.): Miami Beach Customer Survey indicates
74o/o of residents and 72o/o of businesses rate the availability of parking across the City as too little or
much too little. Availability of parking was one of the changes residents identified to make Miami
Beach a better to live. work or olav.
Item Summary/Recommendation :
On November 14,2012, the Mayor and Commission approved the Police and Parking DepartmentTowing
Permits with Beach Towing and Tremont Towing, respectively for a three year term, commencing on
December 1,2012 and expiring on November 30, 2015. The following is a brief update regarding the
status of the towing permit requirements:
o Both towing service providers have complied with the requirements stipulated in the permit,
including providing uniforms for their employees, driver's license screening, drug test screening,
and GPS tracking devices in all wreckers conducting City tows;
. "Agreed Upon Procedures" is the remaining requirement. Section 27, entitled, lnspections and
Audit, provides for the Chief Financial Officer, lnternal Auditor, and Permittee to develop these
procedures. Numerous meetings have taken place to develop a cost allocation method that is
acceptable to both parties. As of the time of this writing, both parties have agreed to a cost
allocation method and the Agreed Upon Procedures are being finalized;
o There are other technology enhancements referenced in the Towing Permit. Section 11.E.(2),
entitled "Equipment" states the following: "Effective December 1 2012, and in addition to the
requirement rn suDsecfibn 11.E.(1) above, at any time following the end of the first Permit year, the
City Commission may,ln lfs so/e option and discretion, review and, following such review, require
Permittee to implementthe following additionaltechnological improvements; one (1) each during
the second and third Permit years, respectively: (a) Towing software (which includes a point of
sale and dispatch tracking system); and (b) ln-vehicle cameras to monitor and record tows in real
time.
On May 20, 2014, the aforementioned items were reported to the FCWPC. The FCWPC held a brief
discussion and directed the Administration to conduct additional research regarding towing dispatch
software and cameras and to report back to the FCWPC at their September meeting.
Administration Recommendation :the Resolution.
Financial I nformation :
Source of
Funds:
Amount Account
I
2
3
OBPI Total
Financial !mpact Summary:
Saul Frances
MIAMIBEACH 398
g MIAMI BEACH
City of Miomi Beoch, I700 Convention Center Drive, Miomi Beoch, Florido 33,1 39, www.miomibeochfl.gov
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
Mayor Philip Levine and Members of
Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: July 23,2014
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE
FINANCE AND CITYWIDE PROJECTS COMMITTEE TO RESEARCH
TEGHNOLOGICAL ENHANCEMENTS, REGARDING TOWING SOFTWARE
AND IN.VEHICLE CAMERAS; AND PROVIDE AN UPDATE AT THE
SEPTEMBER FINANCE AND CITYWIDE PROJECTS COMMITTEE MEETING.
BACKGROUND
On November 14, 2012, the Mayor and Commission approved the Police and Parking
Department Towing Permits with Beach Towing and Tremont Towing, respectively for a
three year term, commencing on December 1,2012 and expiring on November 30, 2015.
The following is a brief update regarding the status of the towing permit requirements:
o Both towing service providers have complied with the requirements stipulated in the
permit, including providing uniforms for their employees, driver's license screening,
drug test screening, and GPS tracking devices in all wreckers conducting City tows.
. "Agreed Upon Procedures" is the remaining requirement. Section 27, entitled,
lnspections and Audit, provides for the Chief Financial Officer, lnternal Auditor, and
Permittee to develop these procedures. Numerous meetings have taken place to
develop a cost allocation method that is acceptable to both parties. As of the time of
this writing, both parties have agreed to a cost allocation method and the Agreed
Upon Procedures are being finalized.
o There are othertechnology enhancements referenced in the Towing Permit. Section
11.E.(2), entitled "Equipment" states the following: "Effective December 1 2012,
and in addition to the requirement in subsection 1 1 .E.(1) above, at any time following
the end of the first Permit year, the City Commrssrbn may, in ifs so/e option and
discretion, review and, following such review, require Permittee to implement the
following additionaltechnological improvements;one (1) each duing the second and
third Permit years, respectively:
(a) Towing software (which includes a point of sale and dispatch tracking
system); and
(b) ln-vehicle cameras to monitor and record tows in realtime.
o Credit Card Acceptance - Section 23, entitled, "Responsibility for Payment", states
the following, "The vehicle owner (or legally authorized representative) of the vehicle
shall be responsible for payment of charges imposed by the Permittee, due upon
TO:
FROM:
399
July 23,2014 CW Commission Memo
Recommendation FCWPC Towing Permit Requirements
Page 2 of 2
vehicle release. The City shall not be responsible for any charges imposed for
towing and storage, or securing payments due upon vehicle release. Permittee shall
accept the following as acceptable forms of payment: cash, travelers check, personal
bank checks drawn on a bank in Miami-Dade, Broward, or Monroe Counties, or
credit cards. Permittee may require two (2) forms of identification, one of which shall
be a picture identification. Permittee shall install and continuously operate and
maintain in good working order at least one (1) automatic teller machine (ATM) on its
premises."
The Permittee has an ATM on premises; however, credit cards are not accepted at their
service window. This issue was discussed by the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee
and subsequently the Mayor and Commission; however, no action was taken.
ANALYS!S
On May 20,2014, the aforementioned items were reported to the FCWPC. The FCWPC
held a brief discussion and directed the Administration to conduct additional research
regarding towing dispatch software and cameras and to report back to the FCWPC at their
September meeting.
CONCLUSION
The Administration will conduct the additional analysis regarding towing dispatch software
and cameras and will provide its findings and recommendation to the FCWPC at the
September meeting.
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400
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF
THE FINANCE AND CITYWIDE PROJECTS COMMITTEE FOR THE CITY
ADMINISTRATION TO RESEARCH TECHNOLOGICAL ENHANCEMENTS
REGARDING TOWING SOFTWARE AND IN.VEHICLE CAMERAS AND
TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE AT THE SEPTEMBER 2014 FINANCE AND
CITYWIDE PROJECTS COMMITTEE MEETING.
WHEREAS, on November 14, 2012, the Mayor and City Commission approved the
Police and Parking Department Towing Permits for Beach Towing and Tremont Towing,
respectively, for three year terms, commencing on December 1, 2012, and expiring on
November30,2015; and
WHEREAS, both towing service providers have complied with the requirements
stipulated in the Towing Permits, including providing uniforms for their employees, driver's
license screening, drug test screening, GPS tracking devices in all wreckers conducting City
tows, and agreed upon audit procedures; and
WHEREAS, there are other technology enhancements referenced in the City of Miami
Beach Administrative Rules and Regulations for Police and Parking Towing Permits in Section
11.E.(2) stating, "Effective December 12012, and in addition to the requirement in subsection
11.E.(1) above, at any time following the end of the first Permit year, the City Commission may,
in its sole option and discretion, review and, following such review, require Permittee to
implement the following additional technological improvements; one (1) each during the second
and third Permit years, respectively:
(a) Towing software (which includes a point of sale and dispatch tracking system); and
(b) ln-vehicle cameras to monitor and record tows in real time; and
WHEREAS, on May 20,2014, the aforementioned items were reported to and discussed
by the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee (FCWPC) and the FCWPC recommended that
the City Administration conduct additional research regarding towing software and in-vehicle
cameras; and to report back to the FCWPC at its September meeting.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby accept the recommendation of the Finance and Citywide Projects
Committee that the City Administration research technological enhancements regarding towing
software and in-vehicle cameras and provide an update at the September 2014 Finance and
Citywide Projects Committee meeting.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this
ATTEST:
day of 2014.
Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk Philip Levine, Mayor
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