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Commission keeps two emergency towing vendors, rejects immediate single‑vendor RFP
Summary
After debate about storage obligations and recent statutory changes on evidentiary holds, the commission voted to retain two current tow vendors (Superior and Westway) and instruct staff to proceed if an RFP is later required, rejecting an immediate move to a single-vendor RFP.
The City Commission voted April 15 to retain both existing towing vendors that serve Pembroke Pines’ police and emergency-incident needs rather than immediately awarding a single, exclusive contract. Commissioners considered whether to issue a new request for proposals (RFP) for a single vendor, but the motion to go to an immediate RFP failed in a recorded vote; the commission then approved keeping both current vendors and directed staff to extend existing contracts if necessary while preparing any future procurement.
Chief Jose Vargas told the commission both vendors meet department standards. Vendor representatives from Superior Towing and Westway Towing told commissioners they would continue to serve the city and would comply with new statutory evidentiary-hold requirements for storing vehicles if required by law. Staff said the procurement code permits a manager-level extension (up to 180 days) to allow time for a new procurement if the commission later directs one.
Commissioners discussed tradeoffs: a single vendor simplifies operations for officers, but a two-vendor rotation provides redundancy for disasters and prevents service interruptions. An earlier substitute motion to open a fresh RFP for a single vendor failed; a subsequent motion to retain both existing contracts and allow staff to extend them as needed passed in a roll-call vote recorded by the clerk.
