PRESENTER: Presenter
Osbaldo Flores, Chief of Police
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of the first reading of an ordinance amending Chapter 138 of the City of New Braunfels Code of Ordinances, related to the New Braunfels Police Department’s rotation list system for incident management tows and updating fees charged by tow companies to the vehicle owners.
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DEPARTMENT: Police Department
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: All.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The city’s incident management tow ordinance that also sets the maximum allowable fees that tow companies can charge for police initiated incident management tows was last updated in 2015. The New Braunfels Police Department was tasked with reviewing the ordinance and suggesting updates to council, recommending procedural and legal updates to said ordinance. With input from the stakeholder tow companies who participate in the NBPD’s rotation list system for incident management tows, the NBPD recommends that certain fees be increased based on its analysis and stakeholder provided data. Further, the NBPD also recommends reviewing the fees every two years as specified in the ordinance in order to keep up with market conditions, including fuel costs.
ISSUE:
As presented to City Council at a public meeting on April 13, 2026, the city’s incident management tow ordinance needs to be updated, including the maximum fees that tow companies can charge customers for services provided for tows under the city’s rotation list system for incident management tows.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
☐Economic Mobility ☐Enhanced Connectivity ☐Community Identity
☒Organizational Excellence ☒Community Well-Being ☐N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
The city will pay all applicable fees related to towing of city owned vehicles consistent with costs and fees associated with this ordinance change.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the proposed amendments contained in the attached ordinance.