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Residents and council press Waukegan to demand towing RFP after complaints of high fees and inconsistent practices
Summary
Multiple public commenters and several aldermen urged the city to put towing services out to competitive bid, citing high fees, a lack of standard rates and perceived disproportionate impacts on Black and Brown residents. An alderman moved to place a towing RFP and ordinance on a future agenda; leaders agreed to draft language and schedule it.
A string of public commenters and multiple aldermen told the May 4 council meeting that Waukegan needs a clear, competitive process for towing services after residents described steep fees, inconsistent practices and a perception that Black and Brown residents were disproportionately affected.
"It only seems fair to request a bid for this function rather than award the function to connected firms," said Felix Rivera, who urged the council to open towing to a request for proposals and to set clear contract terms, complaint procedures and conflict-of-interest safeguards. Other speakers recounted examples of vehicles held for days with storage and towing fees that reached $600, and business owners described harm from road construction and enforcement practices.
Several council members agreed. At a tense exchange later in the meeting, an alderman moved to put an RFP and a towing ordinance on the next agenda so the city could codify rates, protect the city’s liability and require competitive procurement; colleagues agreed to have staff and counsel draft terms. Mayor Cunningham and other leaders described past practices, noted differences between tows requested by police for crash/criminal incidents and private tows requested by vehicle owners, and said legal and procurement staff would draft the ordinance language.
What happens next: Council members said they will direct staff and corporate counsel to draft an ordinance and RFP language for towing services to be scheduled on a future agenda for public debate and a formal vote. Residents were encouraged to provide receipts and specific examples to assist staff review.
