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Councilors press for cost breakdowns, ask whether city should rebuild tow yard or municipal fleet
Summary
Following discussion about oversized and abandoned vehicles, councillors asked for cost data on demolition, towing and storage and whether a municipal towing yard or fleet would be cost-effective; staff said demolition costs in current practice are charged to DFFM and cited a small budget line but noted larger needs exist.
Several councillors pressed city staff for the financial implications of towing, storing and demolishing oversized campers, boats and trailers and whether a municipal tow yard or tow fleet would yield savings.
Deputy and department staff said current demolition and destruction work has been handled through contracts with tow firms; Assistant Deputy Chief Carolla said the work is arranged with South Coast Towing and demolition costs were cited at about $100 per foot, with an example of a 20-foot camper costing roughly $2,000. Finance staff said there is a small solid-waste line item (about $25,000 over three years) in the proposed fiscal 26 solid-waste budget, but councillors and staff acknowledged that the problem likely exceeds that small allocation.
Councilors asked the administration to return with a budget and operations analysis that would outline whether establishing a municipal tow yard, adding tow capacity to an existing department, or strengthening contracting requirements for private towers would be most cost-effective. The committee requested specifics on amounts already spent in fiscal 25 and a schedule for how demolition and storage costs would be handled if the city expands activity.
