HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 1856City of Palo Alto (ID # 1856)
City Council Staff Report
Report Type: Consent Calendar Meeting Date: 7/25/2011
July 25, 2011 Page 1 of 3
(ID # 1856)
Summary Title: AVASA Agreement
Title: Approval of Extension of the Santa Clara County Abandoned Vehicle
Abatement (AVASA) for Third 10-Year Term and the City of Palo Alto’s Continued
Participation
From:City Manager
Lead Department: Police
Recommendation
Staff recommends that Council:
1.Adopt the attached resolution approving the extension of the Santa Clara
County Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Service Authority (AVASA) for a third
10-year term beginning May 1, 2012; and
2.Approve the City’s continued participation in AVASA.
Background
Sections 9250.7 and 22107 of the California Vehicle Code provide for the establishment
of a service authority for abandoned vehicle abatement if the County Board of
Supervisors and a majority of the cities within a county adopt resolutions supporting
such action. This program imposes an annual vehicle registration fee of one dollar on
the vehicles registered to owners with an address in each county. Revenue collected by
the Department of Motor Vehicles is used to reimburse participating agencies based on
the following formula: 50 percent based on the jurisdiction’s population percentage and
the other 50 percent based on a jurisdiction’s percentage of vehicles abated county-
wide.
In 1991, Santa Clara County established the AVASA program and the City Council
adopted a resolution authorizing the City of Palo Alto’s participation. This service
authority was established to provide County law and code enforcement agencies with
resources to facilitate the proper removal and disposal of abandoned vehicles. Santa
Clara County’s current AVASA agreement sunsets on April 30, 2012.
July 25, 2011 Page 2 of 3
(ID # 1856)
Discussion
Senate Bill 106 amended Section 9250.7 of the California Vehicle Code which
established the AVASA program. The amendment authorizes the extension of the
service fee for each service authority for increments of up to 10 years if the County
Board of Supervisors, by a two-thirds vote, and a majority of the cities having a
majority of the incorporated population within the county, adopt resolutions providing
for the extension of the fee. Palo Alto has approximately 3.6% of the County’s
population. Approving the extension of the program is required for the program to
continue. Adoption of this resolution would reauthorize the City’s participation in the
AVASA program until April 30, 2022.
Resource Impact
Currently, approximately 50 percent of a community service officer’s time in the Police
Department’s Traffic Division is spent on abandoned vehicle abatement in Palo Alto.
Over 1,000 abandoned vehicles were processed last year, and over 6,000 abandoned
vehicles were abated in the last ten years. The City has received approximately
$458,250 in reimbursement funds from the AVASA program in the last ten years.
Including equipment, salary and benefits, and administrative overhead, the City spends
approximately $47,000 a year to provide this service. By participating in AVASA, about
97 percent of these costs have been reimbursed to the City over the last ten years.
In FY 2010-2011, the City of Palo Alto projected AVASA revenues are estimated to be
approximately $42,000.
Policy Implications
This recommendation is consistent with existing City policy.
Attachments:
·AVASA Resolution (PDF)
Prepared By:Karen McAdams, Parking Manager
Department Head:Dennis Burns, Police Chief
July 25, 2011 Page 3 of 3
(ID # 1856)
City Manager Approval: James Keene, City Manager
*NOT YET APPROVED*
Resolution No. ---
Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Approving
the Extension of Authority for The California Department of
Motor Vehicles to Collect the Vehicle Registration Fee for
Distribution to the Santa Clara County Abandoned Vehicle
Abatement Service Authority
WHEREAS, California Vehicle Code Section 22710 authorizes the establishment of a
service authority for the abatement of abandoned vehicles in a county and the imposition of a one
dollar ($1.00) vehicle registration fee, if the board of supervisors, by a two-thirds vote, and a
majority of the cities having a majority of the incorporated population within the county have
adopted resolutions providing for the establishment of the authority and the imposition of the fee;
and
WHEREAS, on November 4, 1991, the Council approved Resolution No. 7039
authorizing the establishment of a service authority within Santa Clara County, thereby making
funds available to the City for abatement activities through the imposition of a one dollar ($1.00)
per vehicle annual registration fee on all vehicles registered in Santa Clara County;
WHEREAS, the number of vehicles abandoned on public and private property is
constantly increasing, and it is increasingly difficult for the City to sufficiently fund programs to
abate abandoned vehicle nuisances; and
WHEREAS, the City of Palo Alto has established a plan for the abatement of
abandoned vehicles pursuant to Chapter 9.64 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code; and
WHEREAS, California Vehicle Code section 9250.7(g) authorizes the vehicle
abatement registration fee to be imposed by a service authority only for a period of 10 years from
the date that the collection of the fee commenced, provided, however that the fee may be
extended in increments of up to 10 years by two-thirds vote of the County Board of Supervisors
and a majority of the cities having a majority of the incorporated population within the County
adopting resolutions providing for the extension of the fee;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does RESOLVE as
follows:
SECTION 1. The City Council of the City of Palo Alto hereby declares that it
approves the extension for an additional period of ten years the collection by the California
Department of Motor Vehicles for distribution to the Santa Clara County Abandoned Vehicles
Abatement Service Authority that vehicle abatement fee authorized by California Vehicle Code
Section 22710.
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*NOT YET APPROVED*
SECTION 2. The City Council of the City of Palo Alto hereby declares that it
approves the extension for an additional period of ten years the collection by the California
Department of Motor Vehicles for distribution to the Santa Clara County Abandoned Vehicles
Abatement Service Authority that vehicle abatement fee authorized by California Vehicle Code
Section 22710.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED:
City Attorney City Manager
Police Chief
Director of Administrative Services
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