TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file the report entitled "Cost Benefit Analysis of Wheel Clamping"; request that City Council request the City Manager to report back to the City Council in 60 days regarding the initiation of a wheel clamping program in Long Beach.
DISCUSSION
Initiative #11 of the Long Beach City Auditor's Police Efficiency Study, published in June 2007, was a recommendation to institute a wheel clamping program. The report estimated that implementation of such a program would generate $1,463,000 in its first year. In order to assist City Management, the Mayor, and the City Council with their consideration of this proposal, the attached follow-up report has been prepared on this specific recommendation, which seeks to refine and expand the previous analysis.
This cost benefit analysis estimates that implementation of a wheel clamping program in Long Beach would result in approximately $1.1 million to $2.5 million in annual net revenue to the City. In addition to the fiscal impact, some non-pecuniary tradeoffs of wheel clamping are outlined as well. Finally, we are aware that Management is pursuing aggressive collection efforts of some of the monies identified in this study, and we hope that this proposal will be considered as potentially complimentary to those efforts, as it has been in other cities.
We would like to thank the many individuals in Financial Management, the Police Department, and Public Works for the input and information they provided for this analysis. We would also like to thank the many cities that provided information on their wheel clamping programs, as such sharing of data and best practices helps all of us better serve the public. This report has been presented to management for their consideration, and we now provide it to you for your consideration and deliberation.
Management has indicated to us that they plan to implement organizational efficiencies outlined in the FY09 Budget prior to implementing a wheel clamping program, and thus . we recommend that City Management be given sufficient time to initiate such a program.
The City Auditor's office is pleased to bring forward this opportunity to maximize our City revenues while enhancing the effectiveness of our parking enforcement program. I look forward to discussing this proposal further with you and answering any questions you may have.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
This item is not time sensitive.
FISCAL IMPACT
As discussed in the cost benefit analysis, wheel clamping is projected to produce $1.1 to $2.5 million in annual recurring net revenues to the City. These projections are based on an assumption of 10% and 20% recovery of outstanding scofflaw parking violations, respectively.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
LAURA L. DOUD, CPA
CITY AUDITOR
SUJA LOWENTHAL, COUNCILMEMBER, SECOND DISTRICT
GARY DELONG, COUNCILMEMBER, THIRD DISTRICT
RAE GABELICH, COUNCILWOMAN, EIGHTH DISTRICT