LOS ANGELES : Council Tentatively OKs Competitive Bids for Towing
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The Los Angeles City Council tentatively agreed Wednesday to order competitive bidding for the city’s towing contracts, potentially ending a four-decade monopoly for a dozen companies.
The “official police garages” tow illegally parked and abandoned vehicles. A dozen companies have held contracts with the city since the 1960s, and five others have had agreements for a shorter time.
The City Charter requires the mayor and the council to approve contracts for periods of more than three years, but the agreements have continued without that review.
The ordinance tentatively approved Wednesday mandates phasing in bidding starting in 1998.
In October, a Superior Court judge ordered officials to open up the selection process for the contract in the Wilshire district after two garage operators seeking the lucrative work sued the city.
The council is scheduled to take a final vote on the ordinance in two weeks.
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