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Extracted from Consolidated Report
This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.
Los Angeles County Grand Jury
• 2016-2017
Make Invsetments that Transform Lives
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 28 findings
F1
Pattern of inebriated inmates held in sobering cell beyond 6 hours without approval of watch commander or transfer to hospital
No recommendations for this finding
F2
Jail Log is handwritten, with confusing and unreadable entries
Related Recommendations (8)
R3
Page 213
El Monte 16A.3.1 The City Manager of El Monte (CMEM) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.3.2 The CMEM should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 207 form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.3.3 The CMEM should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.3.4 The CMEM should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.3.5 The CMEM should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.3.6 The El Monte Police Department (EMPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.3.7 The EMPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.3.8 The EMPD should provide public information when requested. (Finding 20) 16A.3.9 The EMPD should train and instruct their civilian and police staff of the public’s right to public information and and provide their employees with customer relations training. (Finding 20) 16A.3.10 The City Council of El Monte (CCEM) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.3.11 The CCEM should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R4
Page 214
Glendale 208 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 16A.4.1 The City Manager of Glendale (CMG) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.4.2 The CMG should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Finding 3 and 6) 16A.4.3 The CMG should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.4.4 The CMG should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12)
R5
Page 215
Glendora 16A.5.1 The City Manager of Glendora (Glendora) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.5.2 Glendora should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.5.3 Glendora should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.5.4 The Glendora Police Department (Glendora Police) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.5.5 Glendora Police should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.5.6 The City Council of Glendora (Glendora City Council) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.5.7 Glendora City Council should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 209 deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R6
Page 215
Huntington Park 16A.6.1 The City Manager of Huntington Park (CMHP) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.6.2 The CMHP should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.6.3 The CMHP should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.6.4 The CMHP should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.6.5 The CMHP should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.6.6 The City Council of Huntington Park (CCHP) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.6.7 The CCHP should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R8
Page 217
Irwindale 16A.8.1 The City Manager of Irwindale (Irwindale) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.8.2 Irwindale should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 211 tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.8.3 Irwindale should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.8.4 Irwindale should record and track accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile1 this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.8.5 Irwindale should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.8.6 The City Council of Irwindale (Irwindale Council) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.8.7 The Irwindale Council should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R10
Page 219
San Fernando 16A.10.1 The City Manager of San Fernando (CMSF) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.10.2 The CMSF should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.10.3 The CMSF should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.10.4 The CMSF should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.10.5 The CMSF should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 213 corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.10.6 The San Fernando Police Department (SFPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.10.7 The SFPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.10.8 The City Council of San Fernando (CCSF) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.10.9 The CCSF should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R11
Page 220
West Covina 16A.11.1 The City Manager of West Covina (CMWC) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.11.2 The CMWC should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 & 6) 16A.11.3 The CMWC should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.11.4 The CMWC should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.11.5 The CMWC should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant 214 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.11.6 The West Covina Police Department should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.11.7 The City Council of West Covina (CCWC) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.11.8 The CCWC should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R12
Page 221
Whittier 16A.12.1 The City Manager of Whittier (CMW) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.12.2 The CMW should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.12.3 The CMW should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.12.4 The CMW should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.12.5 The CMW should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.12.6 The City Council of Whittier (CCW) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 215 personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.12.7 The CCW should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9) VI REQUIRED RESPONSES California Penal Code Sections 933(c) and 933.05 require a written response to all recommendations contained in this report. Responses shall be made no later than ninety (90) days after the Civil Grand Jury publishes its report and files it with the Clerk of the Court. Responses shall be made in accord with Penal Code Sections 933.05 (a) and (b). All responses to the recommendations of the 2016-2017 Civil Grand Jury must be submitted on or before September 30, 2017, to: Presiding Judge Los Angeles County Superior Court Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center 210 West Temple Street Eleventh Floor-Room 11-506 Los Angeles, CA 90012 Responses are required from: Responding Agency Recommendations Baldwin Park Police Department 16A.1.5, 16A.1.6, 16A.1.7 City Manager of Baldwin Park 16A.1.1, 16A.1.2, 16A.1.3, 16A.1.4 City Council of Baldwin Park 16A.1.8, 16A.1.9 City Manager of Beverly Hills 16A.2.1, 16A.2.2, 16A.2.3 City Council of Beverly Hills 16A.2.4, 16A.2.5 El Monte Police Department 16A.3.6, 16A.3.7, 16A.3.8, 16A.3.9 City Manager of El Monte 16A.3.1, 16A.3.2, 16A.3.3, 16A.3.4, 16A.3.5 City Council of El Monte 16A.3.10, 16A.3.11 City Manager of Glendale 16A.4.1, 16A.4.2, 16A.4.3, 16A.4.4 Glendora Police Department 16A.5.4, 16A.5.5 City Manager of Glendora 16A.5.1, 16A.5.2, 16A.5.3 City Council of Glendora 16A.5.6, 16A.5.7 216 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT City Manager of Huntington Park 16A.6.1, 16A.6.2, 16A.6.3, 16A.6.4, 16A.6.5 City Council of Huntington Park 16A.6.6, 16A.6.7 Inglewood Police Department 16A.7.5, 16A.7.6 City Manager of Inglewood 16A.7.1, 16A.7.2, 16A.7.3, 16A.7.4 City Council of Inglewood 16A.7.7, 16A.7.8 City Manager of Irwindale 16A.8.1, 16A.8.2, 16A.8.3, 16A.8.4, 16A.8.5 City Council of Irwindale 16A.8.6, 16A.8.7 Montebello Police Department 16A.9.5, 16A.9.6 City Manager of Montebello 16A.9.1, 16A.9.2, 16A.9.3, 16A.9.4 City Council of Montebello 16A.9.7, 16A.9.8 San Fernando Police Department 16A.10.6, 16A.10.7 City Manager of San Fernando 16A.10.1, 16A.10.2, 16A.10.3, 16A.10.4, 16A.10.5 City Council of San Fernando 16A.10.8, 16A.10.9 West Covina Police Department 16A.11.6 City Manager of West Covina 16A.11.1, 16A.11.2, 16A.11.3, 16A.11.4, 16A.11.5 City Council of West Covina 16A.11.7, 16A.11.8 City Manager of Whittier 16A.12.1, 16A.12.2, 16A.12.3, 16A.12.4, 16A.12.5 City Council of Whittier 16A.12.6, 16A.12.7 VII ACRONYMS AB60 Assembly Bill 60 AB353 Assembly Bill 353 BPPD Baldwin Park Police Department CCBP City Council Baldwin Park CCBH City Council Beverly Hills CCEM City Council El Monte CCHP City Council Huntington Park CCI City Council Inglewood CCM City Council Montebello CCSF City Council San Fernando CCWC City Council West Covina CCW City Council Whittier CGJ 2016-2017 Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury CHP California Highway Patrol CHP Form 180 California Highway Patrol Form 180 CMBP City Manager Baldwin Park CMBH City Manager Beverly Hills CMEM City Manager El Monte CMG City Manager Glendale CMHP City Manager Huntington Park CMI City Manager Inglewood 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 217 CMM City Manager Montebello CMS Computerized Management System CMSF City Manager San Fernando CMWC City Manager West Covina CMW City Manager Whittier CVC California Vehicle Code DL Driver’s License DMV Department of Motor Vehicles DUI Driving Under the Influence EMPD El Monte Police Department HMR Harvey M Rose Associates, LLC IPD Inglewood Police Department LASD Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department LLC Limited Liability Corporation MPD Montebello Police Department OTS (California) Office of Traffic Safety RFP Request for Proposal SFPD San Fernando Police Department TIMS-SWITRS Transportation Injury Mapping System-Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System VIII COMMITTEE MEMBERS Dianne Kelley Chair Sharon Muravez Co-chair Regi Block Hilda Dallal Ronnie Dann-Honor 218 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT TOWS AND IMPOUNDS PART B: TOW VENDOR CONTRACTS IN TWELVE SELECT CITIES Dianne Kelley Chair Sharon Muravez Co-Chair Regi Block Hilda Dallal Ronnie Dann-Honor TOW VENDOR CONTRACTS IN TWELVE SELECT CITIES The Gift that Keeps on Giving I SUMMARY While conducting a companion investigation entitled “Impound Practices in Twelve Select Cities” (see previous report) problematic issues were revealed relating to tow vendor contracting practices. The current report pursues these issues. Some of the contract problems the Civil Grand Jury (CGJ) and Harvey M. Rose Associates, LLC (HMR) found are as follows:
F3
Pattern of no female jailer(s) or matrons on duty to monitor inebriated female inmates
Related Recommendations (10)
R1
Page 211
Baldwin Park 16A.1.1 The City Manager of Baldwin Park (CMBP) should improve the website to include a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.1.2 The CMBP should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.1.3 The CMBP should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.1.4 The CMBP should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.1.5 The Baldwin Park Police Department (BPPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.1.6 The BPPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.1.7 The BPPD should complete the CHP Form 180 at the time of a vehicle impound, or no later than the end of the initiating police officer’s shift, on the day the officer impounded the vehicle. (Finding 18) 16A.1.8 The City Council of Baldwin Park (CCBP) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 46 As a result of AB 353 206 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 16A.1.9 The CCBP should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R2
Page 212
Beverly Hills 16A.2.1 The City Manager of Beverly Hills (CMBH) should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.2.2 The CMBH should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.2.3 The CMBH should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.2.4 The City Council of Beverly Hills (CCBH) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.2.5 The CCBH should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R3
Page 213
El Monte 16A.3.1 The City Manager of El Monte (CMEM) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.3.2 The CMEM should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 207 form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.3.3 The CMEM should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.3.4 The CMEM should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.3.5 The CMEM should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.3.6 The El Monte Police Department (EMPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.3.7 The EMPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.3.8 The EMPD should provide public information when requested. (Finding 20) 16A.3.9 The EMPD should train and instruct their civilian and police staff of the public’s right to public information and and provide their employees with customer relations training. (Finding 20) 16A.3.10 The City Council of El Monte (CCEM) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.3.11 The CCEM should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R4
Page 214
Glendale 208 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 16A.4.1 The City Manager of Glendale (CMG) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.4.2 The CMG should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Finding 3 and 6) 16A.4.3 The CMG should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.4.4 The CMG should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12)
R6
Page 215
Huntington Park 16A.6.1 The City Manager of Huntington Park (CMHP) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.6.2 The CMHP should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.6.3 The CMHP should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.6.4 The CMHP should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.6.5 The CMHP should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.6.6 The City Council of Huntington Park (CCHP) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.6.7 The CCHP should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
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Inglewood 16A.7.1 The City Manager of Inglewood (CMI) should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees 210 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.7.2 The CMI should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.7.3 The CMI should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.7.4 The CMI should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.7.5 The Inglewood Police Department (IPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.7.6 The IPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.7.7 The City Council of Inglewood (CCI) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.7.8 The CCI should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R8
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Irwindale 16A.8.1 The City Manager of Irwindale (Irwindale) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.8.2 Irwindale should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 211 tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.8.3 Irwindale should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.8.4 Irwindale should record and track accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile1 this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.8.5 Irwindale should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.8.6 The City Council of Irwindale (Irwindale Council) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.8.7 The Irwindale Council should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
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Montebello 16A.9.1 The City Manager of Montebello (CMM) should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.9.2 The CMM should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.9.3 The CMM should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.9.4 The CMM should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant 212 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.9.5 The Montebello Police Department (MPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.9.6 The MPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.9.7 The City Council of Montebello (CCM) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.9.8 The CCM should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R10
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San Fernando 16A.10.1 The City Manager of San Fernando (CMSF) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.10.2 The CMSF should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.10.3 The CMSF should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.10.4 The CMSF should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.10.5 The CMSF should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 213 corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.10.6 The San Fernando Police Department (SFPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.10.7 The SFPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.10.8 The City Council of San Fernando (CCSF) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.10.9 The CCSF should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R12
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Whittier 16A.12.1 The City Manager of Whittier (CMW) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.12.2 The CMW should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.12.3 The CMW should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.12.4 The CMW should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.12.5 The CMW should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.12.6 The City Council of Whittier (CCW) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 215 personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.12.7 The CCW should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9) VI REQUIRED RESPONSES California Penal Code Sections 933(c) and 933.05 require a written response to all recommendations contained in this report. Responses shall be made no later than ninety (90) days after the Civil Grand Jury publishes its report and files it with the Clerk of the Court. Responses shall be made in accord with Penal Code Sections 933.05 (a) and (b). All responses to the recommendations of the 2016-2017 Civil Grand Jury must be submitted on or before September 30, 2017, to: Presiding Judge Los Angeles County Superior Court Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center 210 West Temple Street Eleventh Floor-Room 11-506 Los Angeles, CA 90012 Responses are required from: Responding Agency Recommendations Baldwin Park Police Department 16A.1.5, 16A.1.6, 16A.1.7 City Manager of Baldwin Park 16A.1.1, 16A.1.2, 16A.1.3, 16A.1.4 City Council of Baldwin Park 16A.1.8, 16A.1.9 City Manager of Beverly Hills 16A.2.1, 16A.2.2, 16A.2.3 City Council of Beverly Hills 16A.2.4, 16A.2.5 El Monte Police Department 16A.3.6, 16A.3.7, 16A.3.8, 16A.3.9 City Manager of El Monte 16A.3.1, 16A.3.2, 16A.3.3, 16A.3.4, 16A.3.5 City Council of El Monte 16A.3.10, 16A.3.11 City Manager of Glendale 16A.4.1, 16A.4.2, 16A.4.3, 16A.4.4 Glendora Police Department 16A.5.4, 16A.5.5 City Manager of Glendora 16A.5.1, 16A.5.2, 16A.5.3 City Council of Glendora 16A.5.6, 16A.5.7 216 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT City Manager of Huntington Park 16A.6.1, 16A.6.2, 16A.6.3, 16A.6.4, 16A.6.5 City Council of Huntington Park 16A.6.6, 16A.6.7 Inglewood Police Department 16A.7.5, 16A.7.6 City Manager of Inglewood 16A.7.1, 16A.7.2, 16A.7.3, 16A.7.4 City Council of Inglewood 16A.7.7, 16A.7.8 City Manager of Irwindale 16A.8.1, 16A.8.2, 16A.8.3, 16A.8.4, 16A.8.5 City Council of Irwindale 16A.8.6, 16A.8.7 Montebello Police Department 16A.9.5, 16A.9.6 City Manager of Montebello 16A.9.1, 16A.9.2, 16A.9.3, 16A.9.4 City Council of Montebello 16A.9.7, 16A.9.8 San Fernando Police Department 16A.10.6, 16A.10.7 City Manager of San Fernando 16A.10.1, 16A.10.2, 16A.10.3, 16A.10.4, 16A.10.5 City Council of San Fernando 16A.10.8, 16A.10.9 West Covina Police Department 16A.11.6 City Manager of West Covina 16A.11.1, 16A.11.2, 16A.11.3, 16A.11.4, 16A.11.5 City Council of West Covina 16A.11.7, 16A.11.8 City Manager of Whittier 16A.12.1, 16A.12.2, 16A.12.3, 16A.12.4, 16A.12.5 City Council of Whittier 16A.12.6, 16A.12.7 VII ACRONYMS AB60 Assembly Bill 60 AB353 Assembly Bill 353 BPPD Baldwin Park Police Department CCBP City Council Baldwin Park CCBH City Council Beverly Hills CCEM City Council El Monte CCHP City Council Huntington Park CCI City Council Inglewood CCM City Council Montebello CCSF City Council San Fernando CCWC City Council West Covina CCW City Council Whittier CGJ 2016-2017 Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury CHP California Highway Patrol CHP Form 180 California Highway Patrol Form 180 CMBP City Manager Baldwin Park CMBH City Manager Beverly Hills CMEM City Manager El Monte CMG City Manager Glendale CMHP City Manager Huntington Park CMI City Manager Inglewood 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 217 CMM City Manager Montebello CMS Computerized Management System CMSF City Manager San Fernando CMWC City Manager West Covina CMW City Manager Whittier CVC California Vehicle Code DL Driver’s License DMV Department of Motor Vehicles DUI Driving Under the Influence EMPD El Monte Police Department HMR Harvey M Rose Associates, LLC IPD Inglewood Police Department LASD Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department LLC Limited Liability Corporation MPD Montebello Police Department OTS (California) Office of Traffic Safety RFP Request for Proposal SFPD San Fernando Police Department TIMS-SWITRS Transportation Injury Mapping System-Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System VIII COMMITTEE MEMBERS Dianne Kelley Chair Sharon Muravez Co-chair Regi Block Hilda Dallal Ronnie Dann-Honor 218 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT TOWS AND IMPOUNDS PART B: TOW VENDOR CONTRACTS IN TWELVE SELECT CITIES Dianne Kelley Chair Sharon Muravez Co-Chair Regi Block Hilda Dallal Ronnie Dann-Honor TOW VENDOR CONTRACTS IN TWELVE SELECT CITIES The Gift that Keeps on Giving I SUMMARY While conducting a companion investigation entitled “Impound Practices in Twelve Select Cities” (see previous report) problematic issues were revealed relating to tow vendor contracting practices. The current report pursues these issues. Some of the contract problems the Civil Grand Jury (CGJ) and Harvey M. Rose Associates, LLC (HMR) found are as follows:
F4
Jail Manual out of date
No recommendations for this finding
F5
Plumbing problem in cell sink
Related Recommendations (12)
R1
Page 211
Baldwin Park 16A.1.1 The City Manager of Baldwin Park (CMBP) should improve the website to include a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.1.2 The CMBP should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.1.3 The CMBP should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.1.4 The CMBP should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.1.5 The Baldwin Park Police Department (BPPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.1.6 The BPPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.1.7 The BPPD should complete the CHP Form 180 at the time of a vehicle impound, or no later than the end of the initiating police officer’s shift, on the day the officer impounded the vehicle. (Finding 18) 16A.1.8 The City Council of Baldwin Park (CCBP) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 46 As a result of AB 353 206 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 16A.1.9 The CCBP should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
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Beverly Hills 16A.2.1 The City Manager of Beverly Hills (CMBH) should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.2.2 The CMBH should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.2.3 The CMBH should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.2.4 The City Council of Beverly Hills (CCBH) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.2.5 The CCBH should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R3
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El Monte 16A.3.1 The City Manager of El Monte (CMEM) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.3.2 The CMEM should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 207 form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.3.3 The CMEM should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.3.4 The CMEM should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.3.5 The CMEM should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.3.6 The El Monte Police Department (EMPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.3.7 The EMPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.3.8 The EMPD should provide public information when requested. (Finding 20) 16A.3.9 The EMPD should train and instruct their civilian and police staff of the public’s right to public information and and provide their employees with customer relations training. (Finding 20) 16A.3.10 The City Council of El Monte (CCEM) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.3.11 The CCEM should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R4
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Glendale 208 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 16A.4.1 The City Manager of Glendale (CMG) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.4.2 The CMG should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Finding 3 and 6) 16A.4.3 The CMG should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.4.4 The CMG should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12)
R5
Page 215
Glendora 16A.5.1 The City Manager of Glendora (Glendora) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.5.2 Glendora should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.5.3 Glendora should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.5.4 The Glendora Police Department (Glendora Police) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.5.5 Glendora Police should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.5.6 The City Council of Glendora (Glendora City Council) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.5.7 Glendora City Council should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 209 deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R6
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Huntington Park 16A.6.1 The City Manager of Huntington Park (CMHP) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.6.2 The CMHP should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.6.3 The CMHP should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.6.4 The CMHP should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.6.5 The CMHP should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.6.6 The City Council of Huntington Park (CCHP) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.6.7 The CCHP should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R7
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Inglewood 16A.7.1 The City Manager of Inglewood (CMI) should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees 210 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.7.2 The CMI should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.7.3 The CMI should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.7.4 The CMI should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.7.5 The Inglewood Police Department (IPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.7.6 The IPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.7.7 The City Council of Inglewood (CCI) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.7.8 The CCI should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
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Irwindale 16A.8.1 The City Manager of Irwindale (Irwindale) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.8.2 Irwindale should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 211 tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.8.3 Irwindale should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.8.4 Irwindale should record and track accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile1 this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.8.5 Irwindale should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.8.6 The City Council of Irwindale (Irwindale Council) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.8.7 The Irwindale Council should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
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Montebello 16A.9.1 The City Manager of Montebello (CMM) should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.9.2 The CMM should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.9.3 The CMM should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.9.4 The CMM should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant 212 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.9.5 The Montebello Police Department (MPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.9.6 The MPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.9.7 The City Council of Montebello (CCM) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.9.8 The CCM should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
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San Fernando 16A.10.1 The City Manager of San Fernando (CMSF) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.10.2 The CMSF should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.10.3 The CMSF should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.10.4 The CMSF should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.10.5 The CMSF should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 213 corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.10.6 The San Fernando Police Department (SFPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.10.7 The SFPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.10.8 The City Council of San Fernando (CCSF) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.10.9 The CCSF should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
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West Covina 16A.11.1 The City Manager of West Covina (CMWC) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.11.2 The CMWC should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 & 6) 16A.11.3 The CMWC should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.11.4 The CMWC should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.11.5 The CMWC should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant 214 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.11.6 The West Covina Police Department should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.11.7 The City Council of West Covina (CCWC) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.11.8 The CCWC should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
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Whittier 16A.12.1 The City Manager of Whittier (CMW) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.12.2 The CMW should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.12.3 The CMW should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.12.4 The CMW should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.12.5 The CMW should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.12.6 The City Council of Whittier (CCW) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 215 personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.12.7 The CCW should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9) VI REQUIRED RESPONSES California Penal Code Sections 933(c) and 933.05 require a written response to all recommendations contained in this report. Responses shall be made no later than ninety (90) days after the Civil Grand Jury publishes its report and files it with the Clerk of the Court. Responses shall be made in accord with Penal Code Sections 933.05 (a) and (b). All responses to the recommendations of the 2016-2017 Civil Grand Jury must be submitted on or before September 30, 2017, to: Presiding Judge Los Angeles County Superior Court Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center 210 West Temple Street Eleventh Floor-Room 11-506 Los Angeles, CA 90012 Responses are required from: Responding Agency Recommendations Baldwin Park Police Department 16A.1.5, 16A.1.6, 16A.1.7 City Manager of Baldwin Park 16A.1.1, 16A.1.2, 16A.1.3, 16A.1.4 City Council of Baldwin Park 16A.1.8, 16A.1.9 City Manager of Beverly Hills 16A.2.1, 16A.2.2, 16A.2.3 City Council of Beverly Hills 16A.2.4, 16A.2.5 El Monte Police Department 16A.3.6, 16A.3.7, 16A.3.8, 16A.3.9 City Manager of El Monte 16A.3.1, 16A.3.2, 16A.3.3, 16A.3.4, 16A.3.5 City Council of El Monte 16A.3.10, 16A.3.11 City Manager of Glendale 16A.4.1, 16A.4.2, 16A.4.3, 16A.4.4 Glendora Police Department 16A.5.4, 16A.5.5 City Manager of Glendora 16A.5.1, 16A.5.2, 16A.5.3 City Council of Glendora 16A.5.6, 16A.5.7 216 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT City Manager of Huntington Park 16A.6.1, 16A.6.2, 16A.6.3, 16A.6.4, 16A.6.5 City Council of Huntington Park 16A.6.6, 16A.6.7 Inglewood Police Department 16A.7.5, 16A.7.6 City Manager of Inglewood 16A.7.1, 16A.7.2, 16A.7.3, 16A.7.4 City Council of Inglewood 16A.7.7, 16A.7.8 City Manager of Irwindale 16A.8.1, 16A.8.2, 16A.8.3, 16A.8.4, 16A.8.5 City Council of Irwindale 16A.8.6, 16A.8.7 Montebello Police Department 16A.9.5, 16A.9.6 City Manager of Montebello 16A.9.1, 16A.9.2, 16A.9.3, 16A.9.4 City Council of Montebello 16A.9.7, 16A.9.8 San Fernando Police Department 16A.10.6, 16A.10.7 City Manager of San Fernando 16A.10.1, 16A.10.2, 16A.10.3, 16A.10.4, 16A.10.5 City Council of San Fernando 16A.10.8, 16A.10.9 West Covina Police Department 16A.11.6 City Manager of West Covina 16A.11.1, 16A.11.2, 16A.11.3, 16A.11.4, 16A.11.5 City Council of West Covina 16A.11.7, 16A.11.8 City Manager of Whittier 16A.12.1, 16A.12.2, 16A.12.3, 16A.12.4, 16A.12.5 City Council of Whittier 16A.12.6, 16A.12.7 VII ACRONYMS AB60 Assembly Bill 60 AB353 Assembly Bill 353 BPPD Baldwin Park Police Department CCBP City Council Baldwin Park CCBH City Council Beverly Hills CCEM City Council El Monte CCHP City Council Huntington Park CCI City Council Inglewood CCM City Council Montebello CCSF City Council San Fernando CCWC City Council West Covina CCW City Council Whittier CGJ 2016-2017 Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury CHP California Highway Patrol CHP Form 180 California Highway Patrol Form 180 CMBP City Manager Baldwin Park CMBH City Manager Beverly Hills CMEM City Manager El Monte CMG City Manager Glendale CMHP City Manager Huntington Park CMI City Manager Inglewood 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 217 CMM City Manager Montebello CMS Computerized Management System CMSF City Manager San Fernando CMWC City Manager West Covina CMW City Manager Whittier CVC California Vehicle Code DL Driver’s License DMV Department of Motor Vehicles DUI Driving Under the Influence EMPD El Monte Police Department HMR Harvey M Rose Associates, LLC IPD Inglewood Police Department LASD Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department LLC Limited Liability Corporation MPD Montebello Police Department OTS (California) Office of Traffic Safety RFP Request for Proposal SFPD San Fernando Police Department TIMS-SWITRS Transportation Injury Mapping System-Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System VIII COMMITTEE MEMBERS Dianne Kelley Chair Sharon Muravez Co-chair Regi Block Hilda Dallal Ronnie Dann-Honor 218 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT TOWS AND IMPOUNDS PART B: TOW VENDOR CONTRACTS IN TWELVE SELECT CITIES Dianne Kelley Chair Sharon Muravez Co-Chair Regi Block Hilda Dallal Ronnie Dann-Honor TOW VENDOR CONTRACTS IN TWELVE SELECT CITIES The Gift that Keeps on Giving I SUMMARY While conducting a companion investigation entitled “Impound Practices in Twelve Select Cities” (see previous report) problematic issues were revealed relating to tow vendor contracting practices. The current report pursues these issues. Some of the contract problems the Civil Grand Jury (CGJ) and Harvey M. Rose Associates, LLC (HMR) found are as follows:
F6
Cameras removed in Cell Gallery and processing room
No recommendations for this finding
F7
Improper and inadequate signage in jail holding area 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 345
Related Recommendations (9)
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Baldwin Park 16A.1.1 The City Manager of Baldwin Park (CMBP) should improve the website to include a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.1.2 The CMBP should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.1.3 The CMBP should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.1.4 The CMBP should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.1.5 The Baldwin Park Police Department (BPPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.1.6 The BPPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.1.7 The BPPD should complete the CHP Form 180 at the time of a vehicle impound, or no later than the end of the initiating police officer’s shift, on the day the officer impounded the vehicle. (Finding 18) 16A.1.8 The City Council of Baldwin Park (CCBP) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 46 As a result of AB 353 206 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 16A.1.9 The CCBP should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
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El Monte 16A.3.1 The City Manager of El Monte (CMEM) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.3.2 The CMEM should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 207 form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.3.3 The CMEM should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.3.4 The CMEM should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.3.5 The CMEM should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.3.6 The El Monte Police Department (EMPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.3.7 The EMPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.3.8 The EMPD should provide public information when requested. (Finding 20) 16A.3.9 The EMPD should train and instruct their civilian and police staff of the public’s right to public information and and provide their employees with customer relations training. (Finding 20) 16A.3.10 The City Council of El Monte (CCEM) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.3.11 The CCEM should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
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Huntington Park 16A.6.1 The City Manager of Huntington Park (CMHP) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.6.2 The CMHP should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.6.3 The CMHP should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.6.4 The CMHP should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.6.5 The CMHP should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.6.6 The City Council of Huntington Park (CCHP) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.6.7 The CCHP should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
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Inglewood 16A.7.1 The City Manager of Inglewood (CMI) should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees 210 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.7.2 The CMI should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.7.3 The CMI should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.7.4 The CMI should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.7.5 The Inglewood Police Department (IPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.7.6 The IPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.7.7 The City Council of Inglewood (CCI) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.7.8 The CCI should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
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Irwindale 16A.8.1 The City Manager of Irwindale (Irwindale) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.8.2 Irwindale should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 211 tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.8.3 Irwindale should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.8.4 Irwindale should record and track accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile1 this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.8.5 Irwindale should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.8.6 The City Council of Irwindale (Irwindale Council) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.8.7 The Irwindale Council should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R9
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Montebello 16A.9.1 The City Manager of Montebello (CMM) should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.9.2 The CMM should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.9.3 The CMM should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.9.4 The CMM should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant 212 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.9.5 The Montebello Police Department (MPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.9.6 The MPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.9.7 The City Council of Montebello (CCM) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.9.8 The CCM should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R10
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San Fernando 16A.10.1 The City Manager of San Fernando (CMSF) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.10.2 The CMSF should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.10.3 The CMSF should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.10.4 The CMSF should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.10.5 The CMSF should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 213 corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.10.6 The San Fernando Police Department (SFPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.10.7 The SFPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.10.8 The City Council of San Fernando (CCSF) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.10.9 The CCSF should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R11
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West Covina 16A.11.1 The City Manager of West Covina (CMWC) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.11.2 The CMWC should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 & 6) 16A.11.3 The CMWC should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.11.4 The CMWC should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.11.5 The CMWC should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant 214 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.11.6 The West Covina Police Department should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.11.7 The City Council of West Covina (CCWC) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.11.8 The CCWC should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R12
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Whittier 16A.12.1 The City Manager of Whittier (CMW) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.12.2 The CMW should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.12.3 The CMW should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.12.4 The CMW should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.12.5 The CMW should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.12.6 The City Council of Whittier (CCW) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 215 personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.12.7 The CCW should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9) VI REQUIRED RESPONSES California Penal Code Sections 933(c) and 933.05 require a written response to all recommendations contained in this report. Responses shall be made no later than ninety (90) days after the Civil Grand Jury publishes its report and files it with the Clerk of the Court. Responses shall be made in accord with Penal Code Sections 933.05 (a) and (b). All responses to the recommendations of the 2016-2017 Civil Grand Jury must be submitted on or before September 30, 2017, to: Presiding Judge Los Angeles County Superior Court Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center 210 West Temple Street Eleventh Floor-Room 11-506 Los Angeles, CA 90012 Responses are required from: Responding Agency Recommendations Baldwin Park Police Department 16A.1.5, 16A.1.6, 16A.1.7 City Manager of Baldwin Park 16A.1.1, 16A.1.2, 16A.1.3, 16A.1.4 City Council of Baldwin Park 16A.1.8, 16A.1.9 City Manager of Beverly Hills 16A.2.1, 16A.2.2, 16A.2.3 City Council of Beverly Hills 16A.2.4, 16A.2.5 El Monte Police Department 16A.3.6, 16A.3.7, 16A.3.8, 16A.3.9 City Manager of El Monte 16A.3.1, 16A.3.2, 16A.3.3, 16A.3.4, 16A.3.5 City Council of El Monte 16A.3.10, 16A.3.11 City Manager of Glendale 16A.4.1, 16A.4.2, 16A.4.3, 16A.4.4 Glendora Police Department 16A.5.4, 16A.5.5 City Manager of Glendora 16A.5.1, 16A.5.2, 16A.5.3 City Council of Glendora 16A.5.6, 16A.5.7 216 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT City Manager of Huntington Park 16A.6.1, 16A.6.2, 16A.6.3, 16A.6.4, 16A.6.5 City Council of Huntington Park 16A.6.6, 16A.6.7 Inglewood Police Department 16A.7.5, 16A.7.6 City Manager of Inglewood 16A.7.1, 16A.7.2, 16A.7.3, 16A.7.4 City Council of Inglewood 16A.7.7, 16A.7.8 City Manager of Irwindale 16A.8.1, 16A.8.2, 16A.8.3, 16A.8.4, 16A.8.5 City Council of Irwindale 16A.8.6, 16A.8.7 Montebello Police Department 16A.9.5, 16A.9.6 City Manager of Montebello 16A.9.1, 16A.9.2, 16A.9.3, 16A.9.4 City Council of Montebello 16A.9.7, 16A.9.8 San Fernando Police Department 16A.10.6, 16A.10.7 City Manager of San Fernando 16A.10.1, 16A.10.2, 16A.10.3, 16A.10.4, 16A.10.5 City Council of San Fernando 16A.10.8, 16A.10.9 West Covina Police Department 16A.11.6 City Manager of West Covina 16A.11.1, 16A.11.2, 16A.11.3, 16A.11.4, 16A.11.5 City Council of West Covina 16A.11.7, 16A.11.8 City Manager of Whittier 16A.12.1, 16A.12.2, 16A.12.3, 16A.12.4, 16A.12.5 City Council of Whittier 16A.12.6, 16A.12.7 VII ACRONYMS AB60 Assembly Bill 60 AB353 Assembly Bill 353 BPPD Baldwin Park Police Department CCBP City Council Baldwin Park CCBH City Council Beverly Hills CCEM City Council El Monte CCHP City Council Huntington Park CCI City Council Inglewood CCM City Council Montebello CCSF City Council San Fernando CCWC City Council West Covina CCW City Council Whittier CGJ 2016-2017 Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury CHP California Highway Patrol CHP Form 180 California Highway Patrol Form 180 CMBP City Manager Baldwin Park CMBH City Manager Beverly Hills CMEM City Manager El Monte CMG City Manager Glendale CMHP City Manager Huntington Park CMI City Manager Inglewood 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 217 CMM City Manager Montebello CMS Computerized Management System CMSF City Manager San Fernando CMWC City Manager West Covina CMW City Manager Whittier CVC California Vehicle Code DL Driver’s License DMV Department of Motor Vehicles DUI Driving Under the Influence EMPD El Monte Police Department HMR Harvey M Rose Associates, LLC IPD Inglewood Police Department LASD Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department LLC Limited Liability Corporation MPD Montebello Police Department OTS (California) Office of Traffic Safety RFP Request for Proposal SFPD San Fernando Police Department TIMS-SWITRS Transportation Injury Mapping System-Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System VIII COMMITTEE MEMBERS Dianne Kelley Chair Sharon Muravez Co-chair Regi Block Hilda Dallal Ronnie Dann-Honor 218 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT TOWS AND IMPOUNDS PART B: TOW VENDOR CONTRACTS IN TWELVE SELECT CITIES Dianne Kelley Chair Sharon Muravez Co-Chair Regi Block Hilda Dallal Ronnie Dann-Honor TOW VENDOR CONTRACTS IN TWELVE SELECT CITIES The Gift that Keeps on Giving I SUMMARY While conducting a companion investigation entitled “Impound Practices in Twelve Select Cities” (see previous report) problematic issues were revealed relating to tow vendor contracting practices. The current report pursues these issues. Some of the contract problems the Civil Grand Jury (CGJ) and Harvey M. Rose Associates, LLC (HMR) found are as follows:
F8
No first aid kit in jail
No recommendations for this finding
F9
No evidence of annual environmental inspections
Related Recommendations (11)
R1
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Baldwin Park 16A.1.1 The City Manager of Baldwin Park (CMBP) should improve the website to include a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.1.2 The CMBP should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.1.3 The CMBP should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.1.4 The CMBP should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.1.5 The Baldwin Park Police Department (BPPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.1.6 The BPPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.1.7 The BPPD should complete the CHP Form 180 at the time of a vehicle impound, or no later than the end of the initiating police officer’s shift, on the day the officer impounded the vehicle. (Finding 18) 16A.1.8 The City Council of Baldwin Park (CCBP) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 46 As a result of AB 353 206 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 16A.1.9 The CCBP should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R2
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Beverly Hills 16A.2.1 The City Manager of Beverly Hills (CMBH) should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.2.2 The CMBH should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.2.3 The CMBH should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.2.4 The City Council of Beverly Hills (CCBH) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.2.5 The CCBH should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R3
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El Monte 16A.3.1 The City Manager of El Monte (CMEM) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.3.2 The CMEM should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 207 form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.3.3 The CMEM should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.3.4 The CMEM should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.3.5 The CMEM should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.3.6 The El Monte Police Department (EMPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.3.7 The EMPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.3.8 The EMPD should provide public information when requested. (Finding 20) 16A.3.9 The EMPD should train and instruct their civilian and police staff of the public’s right to public information and and provide their employees with customer relations training. (Finding 20) 16A.3.10 The City Council of El Monte (CCEM) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.3.11 The CCEM should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R5
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Glendora 16A.5.1 The City Manager of Glendora (Glendora) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.5.2 Glendora should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.5.3 Glendora should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.5.4 The Glendora Police Department (Glendora Police) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.5.5 Glendora Police should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.5.6 The City Council of Glendora (Glendora City Council) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.5.7 Glendora City Council should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 209 deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R6
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Huntington Park 16A.6.1 The City Manager of Huntington Park (CMHP) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.6.2 The CMHP should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.6.3 The CMHP should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.6.4 The CMHP should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.6.5 The CMHP should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.6.6 The City Council of Huntington Park (CCHP) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.6.7 The CCHP should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R7
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Inglewood 16A.7.1 The City Manager of Inglewood (CMI) should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees 210 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.7.2 The CMI should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.7.3 The CMI should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.7.4 The CMI should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.7.5 The Inglewood Police Department (IPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.7.6 The IPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.7.7 The City Council of Inglewood (CCI) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.7.8 The CCI should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R8
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Irwindale 16A.8.1 The City Manager of Irwindale (Irwindale) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.8.2 Irwindale should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 211 tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.8.3 Irwindale should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.8.4 Irwindale should record and track accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile1 this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.8.5 Irwindale should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.8.6 The City Council of Irwindale (Irwindale Council) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.8.7 The Irwindale Council should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R9
Page 218
Montebello 16A.9.1 The City Manager of Montebello (CMM) should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.9.2 The CMM should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.9.3 The CMM should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.9.4 The CMM should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant 212 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.9.5 The Montebello Police Department (MPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.9.6 The MPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.9.7 The City Council of Montebello (CCM) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.9.8 The CCM should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R10
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San Fernando 16A.10.1 The City Manager of San Fernando (CMSF) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.10.2 The CMSF should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.10.3 The CMSF should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.10.4 The CMSF should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.10.5 The CMSF should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 213 corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.10.6 The San Fernando Police Department (SFPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.10.7 The SFPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.10.8 The City Council of San Fernando (CCSF) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.10.9 The CCSF should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
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West Covina 16A.11.1 The City Manager of West Covina (CMWC) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.11.2 The CMWC should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 & 6) 16A.11.3 The CMWC should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.11.4 The CMWC should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.11.5 The CMWC should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant 214 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.11.6 The West Covina Police Department should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.11.7 The City Council of West Covina (CCWC) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.11.8 The CCWC should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R12
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Whittier 16A.12.1 The City Manager of Whittier (CMW) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.12.2 The CMW should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.12.3 The CMW should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.12.4 The CMW should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.12.5 The CMW should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.12.6 The City Council of Whittier (CCW) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 215 personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.12.7 The CCW should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9) VI REQUIRED RESPONSES California Penal Code Sections 933(c) and 933.05 require a written response to all recommendations contained in this report. Responses shall be made no later than ninety (90) days after the Civil Grand Jury publishes its report and files it with the Clerk of the Court. Responses shall be made in accord with Penal Code Sections 933.05 (a) and (b). All responses to the recommendations of the 2016-2017 Civil Grand Jury must be submitted on or before September 30, 2017, to: Presiding Judge Los Angeles County Superior Court Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center 210 West Temple Street Eleventh Floor-Room 11-506 Los Angeles, CA 90012 Responses are required from: Responding Agency Recommendations Baldwin Park Police Department 16A.1.5, 16A.1.6, 16A.1.7 City Manager of Baldwin Park 16A.1.1, 16A.1.2, 16A.1.3, 16A.1.4 City Council of Baldwin Park 16A.1.8, 16A.1.9 City Manager of Beverly Hills 16A.2.1, 16A.2.2, 16A.2.3 City Council of Beverly Hills 16A.2.4, 16A.2.5 El Monte Police Department 16A.3.6, 16A.3.7, 16A.3.8, 16A.3.9 City Manager of El Monte 16A.3.1, 16A.3.2, 16A.3.3, 16A.3.4, 16A.3.5 City Council of El Monte 16A.3.10, 16A.3.11 City Manager of Glendale 16A.4.1, 16A.4.2, 16A.4.3, 16A.4.4 Glendora Police Department 16A.5.4, 16A.5.5 City Manager of Glendora 16A.5.1, 16A.5.2, 16A.5.3 City Council of Glendora 16A.5.6, 16A.5.7 216 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT City Manager of Huntington Park 16A.6.1, 16A.6.2, 16A.6.3, 16A.6.4, 16A.6.5 City Council of Huntington Park 16A.6.6, 16A.6.7 Inglewood Police Department 16A.7.5, 16A.7.6 City Manager of Inglewood 16A.7.1, 16A.7.2, 16A.7.3, 16A.7.4 City Council of Inglewood 16A.7.7, 16A.7.8 City Manager of Irwindale 16A.8.1, 16A.8.2, 16A.8.3, 16A.8.4, 16A.8.5 City Council of Irwindale 16A.8.6, 16A.8.7 Montebello Police Department 16A.9.5, 16A.9.6 City Manager of Montebello 16A.9.1, 16A.9.2, 16A.9.3, 16A.9.4 City Council of Montebello 16A.9.7, 16A.9.8 San Fernando Police Department 16A.10.6, 16A.10.7 City Manager of San Fernando 16A.10.1, 16A.10.2, 16A.10.3, 16A.10.4, 16A.10.5 City Council of San Fernando 16A.10.8, 16A.10.9 West Covina Police Department 16A.11.6 City Manager of West Covina 16A.11.1, 16A.11.2, 16A.11.3, 16A.11.4, 16A.11.5 City Council of West Covina 16A.11.7, 16A.11.8 City Manager of Whittier 16A.12.1, 16A.12.2, 16A.12.3, 16A.12.4, 16A.12.5 City Council of Whittier 16A.12.6, 16A.12.7 VII ACRONYMS AB60 Assembly Bill 60 AB353 Assembly Bill 353 BPPD Baldwin Park Police Department CCBP City Council Baldwin Park CCBH City Council Beverly Hills CCEM City Council El Monte CCHP City Council Huntington Park CCI City Council Inglewood CCM City Council Montebello CCSF City Council San Fernando CCWC City Council West Covina CCW City Council Whittier CGJ 2016-2017 Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury CHP California Highway Patrol CHP Form 180 California Highway Patrol Form 180 CMBP City Manager Baldwin Park CMBH City Manager Beverly Hills CMEM City Manager El Monte CMG City Manager Glendale CMHP City Manager Huntington Park CMI City Manager Inglewood 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 217 CMM City Manager Montebello CMS Computerized Management System CMSF City Manager San Fernando CMWC City Manager West Covina CMW City Manager Whittier CVC California Vehicle Code DL Driver’s License DMV Department of Motor Vehicles DUI Driving Under the Influence EMPD El Monte Police Department HMR Harvey M Rose Associates, LLC IPD Inglewood Police Department LASD Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department LLC Limited Liability Corporation MPD Montebello Police Department OTS (California) Office of Traffic Safety RFP Request for Proposal SFPD San Fernando Police Department TIMS-SWITRS Transportation Injury Mapping System-Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System VIII COMMITTEE MEMBERS Dianne Kelley Chair Sharon Muravez Co-chair Regi Block Hilda Dallal Ronnie Dann-Honor 218 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT TOWS AND IMPOUNDS PART B: TOW VENDOR CONTRACTS IN TWELVE SELECT CITIES Dianne Kelley Chair Sharon Muravez Co-Chair Regi Block Hilda Dallal Ronnie Dann-Honor TOW VENDOR CONTRACTS IN TWELVE SELECT CITIES The Gift that Keeps on Giving I SUMMARY While conducting a companion investigation entitled “Impound Practices in Twelve Select Cities” (see previous report) problematic issues were revealed relating to tow vendor contracting practices. The current report pursues these issues. Some of the contract problems the Civil Grand Jury (CGJ) and Harvey M. Rose Associates, LLC (HMR) found are as follows:
F10
Strong odor in jail area
No recommendations for this finding
F11
Porcelain toilets in cells
No recommendations for this finding
F12
No privacy curtain in shower area
Related Recommendations (12)
R1
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Baldwin Park 16A.1.1 The City Manager of Baldwin Park (CMBP) should improve the website to include a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.1.2 The CMBP should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.1.3 The CMBP should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.1.4 The CMBP should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.1.5 The Baldwin Park Police Department (BPPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.1.6 The BPPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.1.7 The BPPD should complete the CHP Form 180 at the time of a vehicle impound, or no later than the end of the initiating police officer’s shift, on the day the officer impounded the vehicle. (Finding 18) 16A.1.8 The City Council of Baldwin Park (CCBP) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 46 As a result of AB 353 206 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 16A.1.9 The CCBP should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
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Beverly Hills 16A.2.1 The City Manager of Beverly Hills (CMBH) should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.2.2 The CMBH should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.2.3 The CMBH should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.2.4 The City Council of Beverly Hills (CCBH) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.2.5 The CCBH should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R3
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El Monte 16A.3.1 The City Manager of El Monte (CMEM) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.3.2 The CMEM should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 207 form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.3.3 The CMEM should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.3.4 The CMEM should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.3.5 The CMEM should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.3.6 The El Monte Police Department (EMPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.3.7 The EMPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.3.8 The EMPD should provide public information when requested. (Finding 20) 16A.3.9 The EMPD should train and instruct their civilian and police staff of the public’s right to public information and and provide their employees with customer relations training. (Finding 20) 16A.3.10 The City Council of El Monte (CCEM) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.3.11 The CCEM should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R4
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Glendale 208 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 16A.4.1 The City Manager of Glendale (CMG) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.4.2 The CMG should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Finding 3 and 6) 16A.4.3 The CMG should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.4.4 The CMG should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12)
R5
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Glendora 16A.5.1 The City Manager of Glendora (Glendora) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.5.2 Glendora should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.5.3 Glendora should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.5.4 The Glendora Police Department (Glendora Police) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.5.5 Glendora Police should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.5.6 The City Council of Glendora (Glendora City Council) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.5.7 Glendora City Council should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 209 deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R6
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Huntington Park 16A.6.1 The City Manager of Huntington Park (CMHP) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.6.2 The CMHP should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.6.3 The CMHP should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.6.4 The CMHP should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.6.5 The CMHP should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.6.6 The City Council of Huntington Park (CCHP) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.6.7 The CCHP should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R7
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Inglewood 16A.7.1 The City Manager of Inglewood (CMI) should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees 210 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.7.2 The CMI should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.7.3 The CMI should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.7.4 The CMI should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.7.5 The Inglewood Police Department (IPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.7.6 The IPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.7.7 The City Council of Inglewood (CCI) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.7.8 The CCI should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R8
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Irwindale 16A.8.1 The City Manager of Irwindale (Irwindale) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.8.2 Irwindale should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 211 tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.8.3 Irwindale should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.8.4 Irwindale should record and track accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile1 this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.8.5 Irwindale should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.8.6 The City Council of Irwindale (Irwindale Council) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.8.7 The Irwindale Council should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R9
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Montebello 16A.9.1 The City Manager of Montebello (CMM) should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.9.2 The CMM should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.9.3 The CMM should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.9.4 The CMM should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant 212 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.9.5 The Montebello Police Department (MPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.9.6 The MPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.9.7 The City Council of Montebello (CCM) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.9.8 The CCM should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R10
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San Fernando 16A.10.1 The City Manager of San Fernando (CMSF) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.10.2 The CMSF should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.10.3 The CMSF should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.10.4 The CMSF should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.10.5 The CMSF should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 213 corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.10.6 The San Fernando Police Department (SFPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.10.7 The SFPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.10.8 The City Council of San Fernando (CCSF) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.10.9 The CCSF should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R11
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West Covina 16A.11.1 The City Manager of West Covina (CMWC) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.11.2 The CMWC should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 & 6) 16A.11.3 The CMWC should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.11.4 The CMWC should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.11.5 The CMWC should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant 214 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.11.6 The West Covina Police Department should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.11.7 The City Council of West Covina (CCWC) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.11.8 The CCWC should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R12
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Whittier 16A.12.1 The City Manager of Whittier (CMW) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.12.2 The CMW should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.12.3 The CMW should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.12.4 The CMW should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.12.5 The CMW should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.12.6 The City Council of Whittier (CCW) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 215 personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.12.7 The CCW should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9) VI REQUIRED RESPONSES California Penal Code Sections 933(c) and 933.05 require a written response to all recommendations contained in this report. Responses shall be made no later than ninety (90) days after the Civil Grand Jury publishes its report and files it with the Clerk of the Court. Responses shall be made in accord with Penal Code Sections 933.05 (a) and (b). All responses to the recommendations of the 2016-2017 Civil Grand Jury must be submitted on or before September 30, 2017, to: Presiding Judge Los Angeles County Superior Court Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center 210 West Temple Street Eleventh Floor-Room 11-506 Los Angeles, CA 90012 Responses are required from: Responding Agency Recommendations Baldwin Park Police Department 16A.1.5, 16A.1.6, 16A.1.7 City Manager of Baldwin Park 16A.1.1, 16A.1.2, 16A.1.3, 16A.1.4 City Council of Baldwin Park 16A.1.8, 16A.1.9 City Manager of Beverly Hills 16A.2.1, 16A.2.2, 16A.2.3 City Council of Beverly Hills 16A.2.4, 16A.2.5 El Monte Police Department 16A.3.6, 16A.3.7, 16A.3.8, 16A.3.9 City Manager of El Monte 16A.3.1, 16A.3.2, 16A.3.3, 16A.3.4, 16A.3.5 City Council of El Monte 16A.3.10, 16A.3.11 City Manager of Glendale 16A.4.1, 16A.4.2, 16A.4.3, 16A.4.4 Glendora Police Department 16A.5.4, 16A.5.5 City Manager of Glendora 16A.5.1, 16A.5.2, 16A.5.3 City Council of Glendora 16A.5.6, 16A.5.7 216 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT City Manager of Huntington Park 16A.6.1, 16A.6.2, 16A.6.3, 16A.6.4, 16A.6.5 City Council of Huntington Park 16A.6.6, 16A.6.7 Inglewood Police Department 16A.7.5, 16A.7.6 City Manager of Inglewood 16A.7.1, 16A.7.2, 16A.7.3, 16A.7.4 City Council of Inglewood 16A.7.7, 16A.7.8 City Manager of Irwindale 16A.8.1, 16A.8.2, 16A.8.3, 16A.8.4, 16A.8.5 City Council of Irwindale 16A.8.6, 16A.8.7 Montebello Police Department 16A.9.5, 16A.9.6 City Manager of Montebello 16A.9.1, 16A.9.2, 16A.9.3, 16A.9.4 City Council of Montebello 16A.9.7, 16A.9.8 San Fernando Police Department 16A.10.6, 16A.10.7 City Manager of San Fernando 16A.10.1, 16A.10.2, 16A.10.3, 16A.10.4, 16A.10.5 City Council of San Fernando 16A.10.8, 16A.10.9 West Covina Police Department 16A.11.6 City Manager of West Covina 16A.11.1, 16A.11.2, 16A.11.3, 16A.11.4, 16A.11.5 City Council of West Covina 16A.11.7, 16A.11.8 City Manager of Whittier 16A.12.1, 16A.12.2, 16A.12.3, 16A.12.4, 16A.12.5 City Council of Whittier 16A.12.6, 16A.12.7 VII ACRONYMS AB60 Assembly Bill 60 AB353 Assembly Bill 353 BPPD Baldwin Park Police Department CCBP City Council Baldwin Park CCBH City Council Beverly Hills CCEM City Council El Monte CCHP City Council Huntington Park CCI City Council Inglewood CCM City Council Montebello CCSF City Council San Fernando CCWC City Council West Covina CCW City Council Whittier CGJ 2016-2017 Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury CHP California Highway Patrol CHP Form 180 California Highway Patrol Form 180 CMBP City Manager Baldwin Park CMBH City Manager Beverly Hills CMEM City Manager El Monte CMG City Manager Glendale CMHP City Manager Huntington Park CMI City Manager Inglewood 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 217 CMM City Manager Montebello CMS Computerized Management System CMSF City Manager San Fernando CMWC City Manager West Covina CMW City Manager Whittier CVC California Vehicle Code DL Driver’s License DMV Department of Motor Vehicles DUI Driving Under the Influence EMPD El Monte Police Department HMR Harvey M Rose Associates, LLC IPD Inglewood Police Department LASD Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department LLC Limited Liability Corporation MPD Montebello Police Department OTS (California) Office of Traffic Safety RFP Request for Proposal SFPD San Fernando Police Department TIMS-SWITRS Transportation Injury Mapping System-Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System VIII COMMITTEE MEMBERS Dianne Kelley Chair Sharon Muravez Co-chair Regi Block Hilda Dallal Ronnie Dann-Honor 218 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT TOWS AND IMPOUNDS PART B: TOW VENDOR CONTRACTS IN TWELVE SELECT CITIES Dianne Kelley Chair Sharon Muravez Co-Chair Regi Block Hilda Dallal Ronnie Dann-Honor TOW VENDOR CONTRACTS IN TWELVE SELECT CITIES The Gift that Keeps on Giving I SUMMARY While conducting a companion investigation entitled “Impound Practices in Twelve Select Cities” (see previous report) problematic issues were revealed relating to tow vendor contracting practices. The current report pursues these issues. Some of the contract problems the Civil Grand Jury (CGJ) and Harvey M. Rose Associates, LLC (HMR) found are as follows:
F13
No padding in sobering cell
No recommendations for this finding
F14
Visitor Reservation Kiosk in MCJ Main Lobby is frequently out of service
No recommendations for this finding
F15
No defibrillators are in cell blocks. Crash Carts are used, sometimes with added 5-6 minute response delay.
Related Recommendations (7)
R1
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Baldwin Park 16A.1.1 The City Manager of Baldwin Park (CMBP) should improve the website to include a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.1.2 The CMBP should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.1.3 The CMBP should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.1.4 The CMBP should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.1.5 The Baldwin Park Police Department (BPPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.1.6 The BPPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.1.7 The BPPD should complete the CHP Form 180 at the time of a vehicle impound, or no later than the end of the initiating police officer’s shift, on the day the officer impounded the vehicle. (Finding 18) 16A.1.8 The City Council of Baldwin Park (CCBP) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 46 As a result of AB 353 206 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 16A.1.9 The CCBP should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R3
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El Monte 16A.3.1 The City Manager of El Monte (CMEM) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.3.2 The CMEM should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 207 form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.3.3 The CMEM should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.3.4 The CMEM should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.3.5 The CMEM should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.3.6 The El Monte Police Department (EMPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.3.7 The EMPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.3.8 The EMPD should provide public information when requested. (Finding 20) 16A.3.9 The EMPD should train and instruct their civilian and police staff of the public’s right to public information and and provide their employees with customer relations training. (Finding 20) 16A.3.10 The City Council of El Monte (CCEM) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.3.11 The CCEM should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R5
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Glendora 16A.5.1 The City Manager of Glendora (Glendora) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.5.2 Glendora should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.5.3 Glendora should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.5.4 The Glendora Police Department (Glendora Police) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.5.5 Glendora Police should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.5.6 The City Council of Glendora (Glendora City Council) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.5.7 Glendora City Council should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 209 deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R7
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Inglewood 16A.7.1 The City Manager of Inglewood (CMI) should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees 210 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.7.2 The CMI should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.7.3 The CMI should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.7.4 The CMI should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.7.5 The Inglewood Police Department (IPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.7.6 The IPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.7.7 The City Council of Inglewood (CCI) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.7.8 The CCI should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R9
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Montebello 16A.9.1 The City Manager of Montebello (CMM) should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.9.2 The CMM should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.9.3 The CMM should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.9.4 The CMM should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant 212 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.9.5 The Montebello Police Department (MPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.9.6 The MPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.9.7 The City Council of Montebello (CCM) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.9.8 The CCM should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R10
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San Fernando 16A.10.1 The City Manager of San Fernando (CMSF) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.10.2 The CMSF should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.10.3 The CMSF should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.10.4 The CMSF should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.10.5 The CMSF should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 213 corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.10.6 The San Fernando Police Department (SFPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.10.7 The SFPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.10.8 The City Council of San Fernando (CCSF) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.10.9 The CCSF should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R11
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West Covina 16A.11.1 The City Manager of West Covina (CMWC) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.11.2 The CMWC should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 & 6) 16A.11.3 The CMWC should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.11.4 The CMWC should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.11.5 The CMWC should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant 214 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.11.6 The West Covina Police Department should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.11.7 The City Council of West Covina (CCWC) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.11.8 The CCWC should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
F16
Courthouse was built in 1954 shows severe deterioration and is in need of replacement
No recommendations for this finding
F17
Numerous deficiencies in access, efficiency, security, overcrowding and ADA compliance
Related Recommendations (6)
R1
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Baldwin Park 16A.1.1 The City Manager of Baldwin Park (CMBP) should improve the website to include a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.1.2 The CMBP should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.1.3 The CMBP should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.1.4 The CMBP should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.1.5 The Baldwin Park Police Department (BPPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.1.6 The BPPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.1.7 The BPPD should complete the CHP Form 180 at the time of a vehicle impound, or no later than the end of the initiating police officer’s shift, on the day the officer impounded the vehicle. (Finding 18) 16A.1.8 The City Council of Baldwin Park (CCBP) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 46 As a result of AB 353 206 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 16A.1.9 The CCBP should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R3
Page 213
El Monte 16A.3.1 The City Manager of El Monte (CMEM) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.3.2 The CMEM should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 207 form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.3.3 The CMEM should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.3.4 The CMEM should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.3.5 The CMEM should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.3.6 The El Monte Police Department (EMPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.3.7 The EMPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.3.8 The EMPD should provide public information when requested. (Finding 20) 16A.3.9 The EMPD should train and instruct their civilian and police staff of the public’s right to public information and and provide their employees with customer relations training. (Finding 20) 16A.3.10 The City Council of El Monte (CCEM) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.3.11 The CCEM should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R5
Page 215
Glendora 16A.5.1 The City Manager of Glendora (Glendora) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.5.2 Glendora should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.5.3 Glendora should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.5.4 The Glendora Police Department (Glendora Police) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.5.5 Glendora Police should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.5.6 The City Council of Glendora (Glendora City Council) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.5.7 Glendora City Council should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 209 deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R7
Page 216
Inglewood 16A.7.1 The City Manager of Inglewood (CMI) should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees 210 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.7.2 The CMI should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.7.3 The CMI should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.7.4 The CMI should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.7.5 The Inglewood Police Department (IPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.7.6 The IPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.7.7 The City Council of Inglewood (CCI) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.7.8 The CCI should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R9
Page 218
Montebello 16A.9.1 The City Manager of Montebello (CMM) should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.9.2 The CMM should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.9.3 The CMM should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.9.4 The CMM should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant 212 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.9.5 The Montebello Police Department (MPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.9.6 The MPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.9.7 The City Council of Montebello (CCM) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.9.8 The CCM should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
R10
Page 219
San Fernando 16A.10.1 The City Manager of San Fernando (CMSF) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.10.2 The CMSF should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.10.3 The CMSF should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.10.4 The CMSF should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.10.5 The CMSF should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 213 corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.10.6 The San Fernando Police Department (SFPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.10.7 The SFPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.10.8 The City Council of San Fernando (CCSF) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.10.9 The CCSF should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
F18
Insecure movement of juveniles in public hallways to and from courtrooms
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
Page 211
Baldwin Park 16A.1.1 The City Manager of Baldwin Park (CMBP) should improve the website to include a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.1.2 The CMBP should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.1.3 The CMBP should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.1.4 The CMBP should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.1.5 The Baldwin Park Police Department (BPPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.1.6 The BPPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.1.7 The BPPD should complete the CHP Form 180 at the time of a vehicle impound, or no later than the end of the initiating police officer’s shift, on the day the officer impounded the vehicle. (Finding 18) 16A.1.8 The City Council of Baldwin Park (CCBP) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 46 As a result of AB 353 206 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 16A.1.9 The CCBP should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
F19
Seriously neglected maintenance and repairs in holding cells. Much graffiti
No recommendations for this finding
F20
Clean and paint walls
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Page 213
El Monte 16A.3.1 The City Manager of El Monte (CMEM) should post all city impound fees in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 2) 16A.3.2 The CMEM should improve the website to be clear, user friendly, and provide a source of complete information on the impound procedures required to retrieve and release a vehicle including: identify the city office that accepts payments, hours and days the city office is open, office phone number, required documents to bring to the city office that accepts payment, total city fees required to obtain vehicle release 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 207 form, tow vendor total fees required to release vehicle, links to the tow vendors site, identify type of payments that are accepted (cash and credit card), and information on the right to an impound hearing. (Findings 3 and 6) 16A.3.3 The CMEM should post information on the right to an impound hearing in the city office that accepts impound payments. (Finding 5) 16A.3.4 The CMEM should record and track an accurate count of the number of impounds it initiates, and reconcile this count with their tow vendor(s) count. (Finding 12) 16A.3.5 The CMEM should monitor the number of impound hearings and their results as a way to determine if there are trends in the outcomes of hearings that may warrant corrective action concerning police procedures and measuring tow vendor performance. (Finding 7) 16A.3.6 The El Monte Police Department (EMPD) should both record and track the information on the California Vehicle Code violations that result in impounds. This information can assist the police department and the public in assessing the type of violations occurring within the city. (Finding 15) 16A.3.7 The EMPD should implement a computerized record management system that has the ability to keep, record, track, organize, coordinate and retrieve the number of impounds, impound locations, and specific CVC violations. This is needed to improve the data base and recordkeeping for the police department, as well as, making public information accessible to the public. (Finding 17) 16A.3.8 The EMPD should provide public information when requested. (Finding 20) 16A.3.9 The EMPD should train and instruct their civilian and police staff of the public’s right to public information and and provide their employees with customer relations training. (Finding 20) 16A.3.10 The City Council of El Monte (CCEM) should adopt policies that require the cost of administering their towing programs to be reassessed on a periodic basis to ensure that franchise fee and administrative fees are not exceeding the cost of service. Since personnel costs typically adjust annually, this cost assessment should be conducted no less than every two years. (Finding 9) 16A.3.11 The CCEM should annually review their city and tow contractor fees charged to vehicle owners, including comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County, to evaluate and justify the amounts charged, considering the potential hardship on their citizens relative to the policy objectives of the fees including deterring certain types of behavior, as well as considering the fairness of the fees being charged relative to other jurisdictions. (Finding 9)
F21
Floors are severely worn
No recommendations for this finding
F22
Many plumbing problems
No recommendations for this finding
F23
Dirty walls in holding cells area
No recommendations for this finding
F24
Plumbing in disrepair
No recommendations for this finding
F25
Ceiling is damaged because of water leaks
No recommendations for this finding
F26
Temporary padding attached to walls in gymnasium, exposing beams and pipes
No recommendations for this finding
F27
Two escapes this year at a perimeter block wall with no razor-wire
No recommendations for this finding
F28
No defibrillators at the facility, even though requested in the past
No recommendations for this finding
Additional Recommendations 16
These recommendations are not explicitly linked to specific findings.
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R13Page 239Six of the twelve cities surveyed for this investigation (Baldwin Park, Beverly Hills, Huntington Park, Irwindale, San Fernando and West Covina) indicated that their towing vendors provided in-kind services and gifts outside of their contract requirements. The vendors’ donations and services typically included free meals at public safety checkpoints and community meetings and events, sponsorships for luncheons and athletic events, and supporting community events.
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R14Page 239Of the surveyed cities, only two cities (Glendale and West Covina) maintain policies regulating or prohibiting towing vendors from selling auctioned lien vehicles to city officials or city agencies. Five cities (Baldwin Park, Beverly Hills, Glendale, Glendora and Whittier) maintain policies regulating or prohibiting the city from contracting with vendors that are owned by city employees. One city (Glendora) has a policy regulating or prohibiting the city from contracting with vendors who employ relatives of city officials.
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R15Page 239Police department personnel are heavily involved in the contracting process in nine of the twelve cities. Single departments were found to be solely responsible in a number of key stages in the tow vendor procurement processes in three surveyed cities.
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R16Page 239Individual city employees may have too much involvement in the procurement process and may benefit from gifts and services of interested parties and not be subject to financial disclosure.
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R17Page 239There have been several instances of impropriety involving towing vendors that provided in- kind services and donations to government officials and employees in Los Angeles County in recent years. Cities have an obligation to mitigate fraud and abuse by adopting and enforcing conflict of interest policies, enhancing the competitive bidding process to include more stakeholders documenting proposal evaluations, and increasing reporting requirements for gifts and services provided by towing vendors. 236 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT V RECOMMENDATIONS
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R18Some senior LASD program managers were unable to readily explain to the CGJ the financial status of various programs, activities and expenditures.
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R19In reviewing IWC Minutes, it does not appear that commissioners are aware of weekly Town Hall meetings with inmates, or getting feedback in soliciting inmates’ comments regarding IWF expenditures and/or programs.20
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R20The term “not needed” as used in §4025 is vague. V RECOMMENDATIONS
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R21Stakeholder reticence is an impediment in changing practices and using new technology A lack of stakeholder commitment has been a problem for establishing and sustaining a video arraignment program, as evidenced in the PEMC pilot program conducted in 2010 as part of a state-wide initiative to test video arraignments. The most recent effort by stakeholders 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 265 concluded that the system “was not broken” and recommended continuing the antiquated and expensive process of transporting inmates to courts.
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R22Locating a court adjacent to or inside a detention facility With few exceptions, detention facilities and courthouses are in locations remote from one another. It requires extended trips and security measures to transport inmates to court for a hearing that is often short and perfunctory. Co-locating the court and jail captures the advantage of videoconferencing, but makes the administrative process even more efficient and gives more flexibility in scheduling appearances. In 2009, Orange County created an in-custody arraignment court inside its main county jail complex that holds 1,400 male inmates and 400 female inmates.69 This arrangement offers the advantages of videoconferencing, but adds the flexibility for the court to multitask on different hearings simultaneously. V RECOMMENDATIONS
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R23Dirty walls in holding cells area
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R24Plumbing in disrepair
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R25Ceiling is damaged because of water leaks Recommendations:
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R26Temporary padding attached to walls in gymnasium, exposing beams and pipes
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R27Two escapes this year at a perimeter block wall with no razor-wire Recommendations:
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R28No defibrillators at the facility, even though requested in the past Recommendation: