CRT 2017 #60 · Communication to the City Council · Dec 4 2017

ATTACHMENTA City of Cambridge 0-20 Amended Order IN CITY COUNCIL September 11, 2017 COUNCILLOR TOOMEY It has come to the attention of the City Council that when the City has a motor vehicle WHEREAS: towed, they do not actively notify the owner that the vehicle has been towed or actively notify the owner where the vehicle is located; now therefore be it ORDERED: That the City Council request the Chair of the Transportation and Public Utilities 'ommittee to schedule a hearing to discuss implementing a program that woul rovide instant notification via email to individuals that their vehicle has been towe and the location to where it has been towed; and be it further ORDERED: That the Transportation and Public Utilities Committee review the possibility of eliminating towing during street cleaning. In City Council September 11, 2017. Adopted as amended by the affirmative vote of nine members. Attest:- Donna P. Lopez, City Clerk A true copy; ATTEST:- Danna P. Rape, Donna P. Lopez, City Clerk REFERRED TO THE TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMITTEE

City of Cambridge 0-20 ORIGINAL ORDER IN CITY COUNCIL September 11, 2017 COUNCILLOR TOOMEY WHEREAS: It has come to the attention of the City Council that when the City has a motor vehicle towed, they do not actively notify the owner that the vehicle has been towed or actively notify the owner where the vehicle is located; now therefore be it ORDERED: That the City Council request the Chair of the Transportation and Public Utilities Committee to schedule a hearing to discuss implementing a program that would provide instant notification via email to individuals that their vehicle has been towed and the location to where it has been towed.

I would like to submit the following statements for the record, please let me know if commenting on anything else is appropriate: 1 live at 19 Garden St. in Cambridge and have lived there for the last five years. My car was parked on Concord Ave and was towed on/about August 17 due to a tree-trimming request while I was out of town. I received no notice of this, and when I returned on August 21 I could not find my car. I was surprised to find that the city had it towed and had not notified me. as ! receive emails and contacts from the city about numerous items on a monthly basis. If I had been notified of the two i could have returned earlier to retrieve my car or arranged for a friend to do so. Immediately notifying residents that their car has been towed would be a positive step by Cambridge. With technology capabilities and the need to register my car and contact information with the City of Cambridge, notifying residents that their car has been towed is feasible and a win for Cambridge and its residents. I was also surprised to find that Cambridge had no active notification system prior to towing. When I spoke with the police officer who had authorized the tow he noted that he had gone to the door of my apartment building to find me prior to towing it, but couldn't find which apartment I was in. When I asked him why he didn't just call me instead of going to my apartment building, he noted that it wasn't his responsibility to notify me via phone. However, there is a dichotomy here because he was willing to to take the initiative to visit my apartment building, which was not his responsibility, to see if he could find me - not knowing if I would be home or away conducting professional activities, but did not take the initiative to notify me via phone, If I had been notified of tree-trimming and the need for the parking spot ahead of time I would have ensured my car was moved prior to the spot being needed as well. With technology capabilities and the need to register my car and contact information with the City of Cambridge, notifying residents that their car will be towed prior to towing it, especially when a special permit has been issued for a spot, is feasible and a win for Cambridge and its residents. Michael Baskin