01/14/1991 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e e Responding to questions regarding license fees, Bill Gary, City Attorney's Office, clarified that the proposed fee schedule is not part of the ordinance but would be fixed by Administrative Rule. It would be possible to instruct the City Manager to conduct a one-year review of the fee schedule. Mr. Nicholson pointed out that with private property towing, the person who requests the service is often not the person who ultimately pays for the service and questioned what added protection the ordinance gives to the pub- lic. In response, Lieutenant Vic Mann, Department of Public Safety, testi- fied to the problem that exists when a person contracts for a AAA tow through the police department. He indicated that the City is attempting to keep a record of rates charged in order to aid in the investigation of complaints of unfair pricing that arise. Mr. Robinette indicated that the GO-day notice seems excessive and asked for the rationale behind this number. Lieutenant Mann responded that the GO-day time limit was taken directly from the old ordinance. It would be possible to compress the time frame. Mr. Rutan expressed his appreciation to members of the security licensing industry who were willing to work with the City in establishing an ordinance acceptable to both parties. He spoke about the competitive nature of the industry and suggested that total cost recovery be phased-in over several years. Noting that some cities do not regulate security businesses at all, Mr. MacDonald asked for the rationale behind regulating this industry. In re- sponse, Ms. Utecht said that the City has become involved in industry regula- tion in order to ensure that the public's faith in the industry is justified. Recent enforcement issues based on unscrupulous business practices of indus- try members has accentuated the need for regulation. Reminding the council of its agreement to phase in cost recovery when neces- sary, Mr. Boles expressed his support for a one-year fee review. However, he pointed out that anything less than 100 percent cost recovery would continue to be borne by the General Fund. At Mr. Rutan's suggestion, the council agreed that phased-in fee recovery should be set by the City Manager toward total cost recoupment and that a mandatory evaluation of the fees be conducted at one year. It also agreed that the notice of towing rate changes would be reduced from a period of GO days to 15 days. In response to testimony from Mr. Hoke, Ms. Utecht said that under the pro- posed ordinance, unarmed investigators would not have to provide proof-of- insurance as was required previously. However, proof-of-insurance will con- tinue to be mandatory for armed investigators. CB 42G3--An ordinance concerning licensed activities; amending and renumbering Sections 3.012 and 3.015 of the Eu- gene Code, 1971, to Section 2.019; adding Sections MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 14, 1991 Page 5