memorandum

to:	Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager
from:	Brian J. Curran, Chief of Police Terrie Gale, Police Attorney
subject:	Public hearing on fees for towing from private lots
date:	March 9, 2009

PURPOSE

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide information for tonight’s public hearing concerning the fees which may be charged for towing vehicles from private non-residential parking lots in zoning areas TC-1, TC-2, and TC-3 of downtown Chapel Hill, as well as the fees which may be charged for storage of towed vehicles.

BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION

On March 3, 2008, the Town Council amended the ordinances in Chapter 11, Article XIX of the Town Code on towing from private lots in downtown areas zoned TC-1, TC-2, and TC-3.  These amendments included provisions specifying the fees which may be charged for towing and storage. The maximum fees which may be charged are:

• $100 for towing or removing a vehicle.
• $20 per day for the storage of a towed vehicle, except that no fee may be charged for the first 24 hours.
• $50 to detach a vehicle from a tow truck if the vehicle’s owner or operator returns to the vehicle before it has been removed from the parking lot property.  No fee may be charged if the vehicle has not yet been attached to the tow truck.

In addition the Council enacted the following:

Section 3.  The fees authorized by Sec.11-304 and Sec.11-306 of Section 1 of this Ordinance shall be reviewed each year at a public hearing during the first Council business meeting in March.

Tonight is an opportunity for members of the public, including vehicle owners wishing to park in the downtown area, parking lot property owners, and tow truck operators, to express their views on the Town’s regulations on towing from non-residential lots in downtown areas zoned TC-1, TC-2 and TC-3.

RECOMMENDATION

That the Council receive comments from the public at this hearing on March 9, 2009, and provide guidance to Town staff as to the towing ordinance.