(A) Within 90 calendar days of the date an existing towing carrier permit is due to expire, or whenever the Chief of Police determines that a new towing carrier is needed to provide tow services to the city, the Chief of Police shall prepare and distribute a notice inviting requests for qualifications for a towing carrier permit. The Chief of Police shall identify the most qualified towing carrier, provided that the city receives at least one qualified applicant, in accordance with the rules and specifications as these may be promulgated in writing by the Chief of Police. In determining the required number of towing carriers, the Chief of Police may consider, but is not limited to, the following factors:
(1) The operational needs of the city;
(2) The population growth in the city;
(3) The number of currently authorized towing carriers and their average response times;
(4) The administrative burdens imposed by the number of towing carriers to be included on the rotation list; and
(5) Any other relevant factors to be determined by the Chief of Police.
(B) The name of any qualified applicant(s), if there is one, shall be forwarded to the Chief of Police, who shall conduct a background investigation of the operator and his or her employees. In addition, the Chief of Police or his or her designee will verify all information included in the proposal submitted to the city. Upon successful completion of the background investigation, the Chief of Police shall recommend in writing to the City Manager that the city issue, or refuse to issue, a towing carrier permit to the applicant(s) identified by the Chief of Police. The City Council shall then determine whether it is in the city's best interests to issue a towing carrier permit to the identified applicant(s). If the City Council determines that it is in the city's best interests to issue a towing carrier permit, it may do so by resolution in accordance with this chapter.
(Ord. 1308, passed 6-2-21)