Resident urges clearer towing fees and uniform after-hours charge

Ziggy Spires addressed the council during citizen comments to raise concerns about recent language in the city's towing contract and ordinance that he said has created confusion over rates and after‑hours fees.

Spires, who gave his address for the record, walked council members through recent rate changes and the effect of cost adjustments tied to the consumer price index. He said the after‑hours call‑out fee was reduced from an expected CPI-based amount and that the contract language allowing an after‑hours fee only when an employee must "respond from off‑site" created inconsistent customer charges.

"I'm trying to get that to where every customer after hours pays exactly the same after hours. No ifs, ands, or buts," Spires said, arguing a single, consistent after‑hours fee would reduce disputes at the recovery yard. He also asked for clarification of the phrase "active towing" and whether it covers situations that require lowering a rollback bed or deploying a wheel lift, both of which add time to a tow.

Chief Clark and other staff explained the city's vendor rotation system and noted the city's logic that a single call‑out fee should apply when a tow vendor must respond to a location, but not be charged multiple times to customers if the vendor is already on scene and releases multiple vehicles. The council thanked Spires for his input; no formal action was taken at the meeting on the towing contract or ordinance language.