Tualatin council resists towing company request to raise private-property impound fees

Tualatin's city council pushed back on a request from a private towing company to raise maximum fees for private-property impounds, saying the existing schedule in Tualatin Municipal Code (TMC) 8-5 — set in 2013 — remains broadly reasonable compared with neighboring cities.

Don Hudson, assistant city manager and finance director, told the council that Beaverton Towing submitted a letter asking the city to review the caps in TMC 8-5, which were adopted in October 2013 and have not been updated. Management analyst William Sullivan said staff reviewed municipal codes for 11 neighboring and comparator cities and found most do not regulate private-property impoundment (PPI) rates. "The only cities we found that regulate PPI rates are Portland, Gresham and Fairview, along with Tualatin," Sullivan said, and summarized fee categories including hook-up/dispatch, towed mileage, lien filing (typically after about five days), drop/release-at-scene, storage, and an after-hours release fee.

Council discussion focused on two questions: whether the requested increases would constitute price gouging for residents, and whether staff should spend city time pursuing an ordinance change. "I think I'm not well, I'm not in favor of doing this, to be honest," Councilor Reyes said after reviewing the proposed line-item increases and noting some items appeared to double or triple. Councilor Gonzalez said the current class A passenger-vehicle rate is close to Portland's and that only one company has asked for a change, adding, "I think it's gonna be a no for me." Several members reflected a similar view: keep class A rates largely unchanged and, if anything, consider limited, justified adjustments for larger/class B or C vehicles.

Staff told council the ordinance does not include an indexing mechanism for automatic inflation adjustment and that any change would require council direction and an ordinance amendment. Staff also noted that tow companies pay city business licenses but that most impound fees are paid by vehicle owners to tow companies, not to the city; Sullivan said Portland was the only example identified that charges a separate city service fee that goes to the municipal government.

Rather than advancing an immediate ordinance change, the council asked staff to notify Beaverton Towing of the discussion and invite a more modest proposal if the company wishes to return. Council members also asked staff to gather data from local businesses and property owners (apartment complexes, bars, others who call tow companies) to determine whether difficulty obtaining tows is a local problem before committing more staff time. Mayor Buenek summarized the consensus: two council members stated a definitive no to increases; others were open to minor, justified modifications for heavier vehicles only.

Next steps: staff will notify Beaverton Towing about the council's feedback, may survey local businesses on tow availability and impacts, and return with a narrower, evidence-backed proposal if warranted. No motion or ordinance change was made at the work session.