The Administration recommends approving the referral to the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee (FERC).

On September 24, 2020 the Office of Inspector General finalized the Parking and Police Department requested tows operational audit, the Beach Towing Services, Inc audit and Tremont Towing, Inc, audit reports.

On November 18, 2020 the Mayor and City Commission approved Resolution No. 2020-31501 extending, on a month-to-month basis, the towing permits with the City’s two (2) towing permittees for a period not to exceed three (3) months, or until February 28, 2021.

At the same City Commission meeting the Mayor and City Commission approved Resolution No. 2020-31507 directing the Administration to do the following:

1. work with the City Attorney’s Office to develop a competitive solicitation for the issuance of towing permits to provide towing services for the City’s Police and Parking departments;

2. evaluate the October 19, 2020 comments and recommendations made by Miami Beach United with respect to towing services;

3. identify recommendations for enhancing competition, including, without limitation, an analysis of:

  a.  properties that may be potential candidates for “on-site” storage of impounded vehicles; b. measures to improve customer service and transparency, including whether towing company personnel should be required to wear body cameras;

  c.  logistical or operational issues associated with the City directly performing towing functions within the City, should the City elect to do so; and

  d.  proposed amendments to the City Code and/or the administrative rules and regulations for police department and parking department towing permits, which may be required to enhance competition beyond the existing two permittees; and

4. Conduct public outreach, such as through a “virtual” town hall or similar event, to obtain public input and comment on the foregoing matters.

Additionally, the following amendment and direction were given:

•  towed vehicles must be stored or impounded within the confines of the City at authorized storage facilities during the first 48 hours of being towed or impounded, per City Code requirement;
•  Administration to explore all options;
• come back with a recommendation(s);
• bring back a draft request for proposal; and
• review the Inspector General’s report and Miami Beach United’s recommendations.

On February 10, 2021 the Mayor and City Commission approved Resolution No. 2021-31579 extending, on a month-to-month basis, the towing permits with the City’s two (2) towing permittees for a period not to exceed three (3) months, or until May 28, 2021.

Results from the 2019 Resident Survey show that 61.5% of residents rated the availability of on-street Parking in Miami Beach as too little.

It is requested the City Commission refer this item to the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee for the review and approval of:

1.  the proposed changes to the Administrative Rules and Regulation for Police and Parking Towing Permits;
2.  the proposed changes to the Miami Beach City Code to allow for additional Police and Parking Towing Permittees;
3. the viability of the City directly performing towing functions; and
4. the draft competitive solicitation for the issuance of towing permits to provide towing services for the City’s Police and Parking departments.