The Houston Police Department recommends adoption of an Ordinance amending Chapter 8 of the City of Houston Code of Ordinances to update the Automotive Board’s membership to better reflect the Automotive Board’s area of oversight.
The proposed amendments address the following issues:
Section 8-17. Automotive board.
-
Proposed language for subsection (a)(5) – Position 5 revised
The Automotive Board consists of 11 members, with Position 5 to be filled by a service station or gas station owner. However, the Code of Ordinances has been amended so that service stations and gas stations no longer need a license to sell automotive parts and accessories because of the small volume of these products sold by service stations and gas stations. Thus, because the City no longer issues automotive licenses to service stations or gas stations, the Automotive Board has no oversight of this industry. This position has been vacant for 4 years.
HPD discussed the matter with the Automotive Board and determined that Position 5 should be reallocated to a tow company owner. This is especially relevant because tow license hearings make up a very large portion of every Automotive Board meeting, and currently no Automotive Board positions are allotted to an owner of a tow company.
- Proposed language for subsection (a)(10) – Ex-Officio Members.
The proposed amendment clarifies that representatives from City Legal and HPD serve as ex-officio members of the Automotive Board (Positions 10 and 11, respectively) and are non-voting members.
-
Proposed language for subsection (b) – Term.
The proposed amendment provides that board members’ terms will be four, rather than two years. This change was made in consultation with the Mayor’s Office of Boards and Commissions and will result in a more efficient use of resources.