Form revised March 16, 2004

 

FISCAL NOTE FOR NON-CAPITAL PROJECTS

 

Department:

Contact Person/Phone:

DOF Analyst/Phone:

Executive Administration

Mel McDonald/3-0071

Tyler Running Deer/4-8075

 

Legislation Title:

A RESOLUTION approving specifications for the towing and storage of vehicles, pursuant to Seattle Municipal Code Section 11.30.220 A.

 

·        Summary of the Legislation:

SMC 11.30.220 A requires approval of the City Council by resolution of the bid specifications for towing and storage services.  The Department of Executive Administration intends to re-bid the City’s impound towing contracts later this year.  The proposed contract specifications provide for certain towing and storage services to be performed on behalf of the City of Seattle by registered tow truck operators.  Contracted services include removal and impoundment of vehicles abandoned on public streets, parked in tow-away zones, illegally blocking traffic, or needed by the Seattle Police Department as evidence of criminal activity.  The proposed contracts also provide for impounds associated with first- and second-degree violations of driving while license suspended laws, and persons cited for parking violations with more than four unpaid citations on record.  Upon approval of the new bid specifications by the City Council, the Director of Executive Administration will undertake a competitive bid process with the goal of new contracts becoming effective as of November 30, 2004. 

 

·        Background: (Include brief description of the purpose and context of legislation and include record of previous legislation and funding history, if applicable):

Historically, the City of Seattle has contracted with various tow companies to provide these services through the same bid process that the City now intends to undertake.  The last contract was signed in 1998.  It had a term of three years, and the City extended it for an additional three years, as allowed in the contract.  The new contracts will have the same terms.  As with the current towing contracts, the bid specifications limit to four (out of six) the total number of zones that may be awarded to a single contractor.  Other proposed changes to the bid specifications are discussed in the briefing paper that is an attachment to the accompanying fiscal note.  Below are estimates of revenues and expenditures the City expects from the towing program continued through the new contracts.  These numbers are based upon impound activities in 2003, and may be affected by recent ordinance changes, potential budget actions later this year, and procedural revisions contemplated in the proposed specifications. 

 

·        Please check one of the following:

 

____    This legislation does not have any financial implications. (Stop here and delete the remainder of this document prior to saving and printing.)

 

__X_   This legislation has financial implications. (Please complete all relevant sections that follow.)

 

 

Appropriations:  This table should reflect appropriations that are a direct result of this legislation.  In the event that the project/ programs associated with this ordinance have appropriations that were, or will be, received because of previous or future legislation or budget actions, please provide details in the Notes section below.

 

Fund Name and Number

Department

Budget Control Level*

2004

Appropriation

2005 Anticipated Appropriation

General Fund 00100

SPD

D/C Administration

$350,000*

$370,000*

TOTAL

 

 

$350,000*

$370,000*

*See budget book to obtain the appropriate Budget Control Level for your department.

 

Notes:  *This legislation does not appropriate funds.  Appropriation for SPD expenses incurred in administration of the tow contract is included in the 2004 Adopted and 2005 Proposed Budgets.  This information is provided strictly for informational purposes. 

 

Anticipated Revenue/Reimbursement: Resulting From This Legislation: This table should reflect revenues/reimbursements that are a direct result of this legislation.  In the event that the issues/projects associated with this ordinance/resolution have revenues or reimbursements that were, or will be, received because of previous or future legislation or budget actions, please provide details in the Notes section below the table.

Fund Name and Number

Department

Revenue Source

2004

Revenue

2005

Revenue

General Fund 00100

SPD

Administrative Fees

$ 277,000*

$ 277,000*

General Fund 00100

SPD

DWLS Fee

$   96,000*

$   24,700*

General Fund 00100

SPD

Scofflaw Fee

$     1,100*

$     1,100*

TOTAL

 

 

$ 374,100*

$302,800*

 

Notes:  *This legislation does not authorize fees.  This information on current fees associated with the towing program is provided strictly for informational purposes. 

 

Administrative fee is $15.00 per non-DWLS tow.  $7.00 of the Administrative Fee goes towards the cost of SPD’s new computer system.  The DWLS and Scofflaw fee is $67, which includes the $15.00 Administrative Fee. 

 

Estimated revenue for administrative fees based upon 18,467 tows (x $15).  DWLS fee is based upon 2,504 total (first-, second- and third-degree) DWLS tows in 2003.  Of these, 2,135 tows were for third-degree DWLS offenses.  The City stopped impounding vehicles for third-degree DWLS offenses.  Therefore, total DWLS tows will drop to approximately 1,436 in 2004 and to 369 tows (first- and second-degree only) in 2005.  

 

Total Regular Positions Created Or Abrogated Through This Legislation, Including FTE Impact:  This table should only reflect the actual number of positions created by this legislation  In the event that positions have been, or will be, created as a result of previous or future legislation or budget actions, please provide details in the Notes section below the table.

Position Title and Department*

Fund Name

Fund Number

Part-Time/ Full Time

2004

Positions

2004 FTE

2005 Positions**

2005 FTE**

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*   List each position separately

** 2005 positions and FTE are total 2005 position changes resulting from this legislation, not incremental changes. Therefore, under 2005, please be sure to include any continuing positions from 2004

 

Notes:  None.

 

·        Do positions sunset in the future?  (If yes, identify sunset date):   Not applicable.

 

 

Spending/Cash Flow: This table should be completed only in those cases where part or all of the funds authorized by this legislation will be spent in a different year than when they were appropriated (e.g., as in the case of certain grants and capital projects).  Details surrounding spending that will occur in future years should be provided in the Notes section below the table.

Fund Name and Number

Department

Budget Control Level*

2004

Expenditures

2005 Anticipated Expenditures

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

 

 

 

 

* See budget book to obtain the appropriate Budget Control Level for your department.

 

Notes:

 

 

·        What is the financial cost of not implementing the legislation? (Estimate the costs to the City of not implementing the legislation, including estimated costs to maintain or expand an existing facility or the cost avoidance due to replacement of an existing facility, potential conflicts with regulatory requirements, or other potential costs if the legislation is not implemented.)

 

Not applicable. 

 

·        What are the possible alternatives to the legislation that could achieve the same or similar objectives? (Include any potential alternatives to the proposed legislation, such as reducing fee-supported activities, identifying outside funding sources for fee-supported activities, etc.) 

 

Potentially, the City could request an amendment to extend the term of the current impound and towing contracts.  These contracts were bid six years ago, however.  Current contractors would certainly require revisions to rates and other terms and conditions of the original contract. 

 

The City cannot forgo impound services, which are required to maintain public safety, transportation, and criminal investigation.  Currently, the City does not have the infrastructure or personnel to perform the duties itself. 

 

 

·        Is the legislation subject to public hearing requirements:  (If yes, what public hearings have been held to date, and/or what plans are in place to hold a public hearing(s) in the future.)   No.

 

·        Other Issues (including long-term implications of the legislation):  None. 

 

 

Please list attachments to the fiscal note below:

 

Towing and Storage Service Contracts – Briefing Paper