A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, EXTENDING, ON A MONTH-TO-MONTH BASIS, THE CURRENT TOWING PERMITS WITH THE CITY'S TWO (2) TOWING PERMITTEES, BEACH TOWING SERVICES, INC. AND TREMONT TOWING, INC., RESPECTIVELY, WHICH ARE CURRENTLY SET TO EXPIRE ON FEBRUARY 28, 2021, FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED THREE (3) MONTHS, OR UNTIL MAY 28, 2021, TO PROVIDE THE CITY ADMINISTRATION WITH ADDITIONAL TIME TO PREPARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS REQUESTED BY THE CITY COMMISSION PURSUANT TO RESOLUTIONS NO. 2020-31501 AND NO. 2020-31507.

Adopt the Resolution.

On January 15, 2020, the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2020-31147, urging the City's Inspector General (IG) to take the following actions regarding the audits previously performed on the City's two (2) towing permittees, Beach Towing Services, Inc., and Tremont Towing Services, Inc.: (1) transmit the draft audit reports to the towing permittees, and allow the permittees to provide any comments, in writing, to the IG; and (2) following the "comment period" deadline, requesting that the IG take such action(s) as necessary to finalize the audits, (incorporating, as the IG deems necessary, any comments provided by the towing permittees); and (3) requesting the IG to place a follow-up discussion item regarding the final towing audit reports on the City Commission agenda. The City Commission also extended the towing permits, which were set to expire on February 28, 2020, on a month-to-month basis for up to six (6) months, or until August 28, 2020. The Resolution is attached as Exhibit “A” to this Memorandum.

On July 29, 2020, the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2020-31371, continuing to extend the towing permits, on a month to month basis, up to three (3) months after the expiration date of August 28, 2020 (or November 28, 2020), to allow for updated permits incorporating the IG’s recommendations.

The IG’s reports (copies of which are attached as, respectively, Exhibits “B”, “B-1” [Tremont Audit], and “B-2” [Beach Towing Audit] to this Memorandum) were finalized on September 24, 2020. Therefore, another three (3) month extension was requested to incorporate the recommendations of the IG report into the new towing permits.

On November 18, 2020, the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2020-31501, further extending the towing permits on a month to month basis, up to three (3) months after the expiration date of November 28, 2020 (or February 28, 2021), to allow for updated towing permits incorporating the IG’s recommendations, as well as other recommendations including, without limitation, those from Miami Beach United (MBU).

The current month-to-month extension, will expire on February 28, 2021.  In order for the Police and Parking Departments to continue to be able to tow vehicles on public property, as deemed necessary and when required, the Administration recommends further extending the towing permits, on a month-to-month basis for up to three (3) months,  or until May 28, 2021. This will allow the Administration to continue to address pending issues and to update the Administrative Rules and Regulations pertaining to Police and Parking towing.

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.

The Administration recommends further extending the towing permits of both towing permittees, on a month-to-month basis from February 28, 2021, for up to three (3) months, or until May 28, 2021.