SALEM — The rules and ordinances committee reviewed a proposed ordinance setting standards for tow companies operating in the city in its meeting Tuesday.

Committee Chairman and Councilman Jeff Stockman said a new ordinance concerning standards for vehicle towing services and impound lots operating in the city was requested by Police Chief J.T. Panezott. Panezott said the proposed ordinance would help ensure that companies were operating consistently and safely and reduce issues dispatching tow trucks.

Panezott also said that it would establish a rotation for tow companies to be utilized by the police department like the one already employed by the city for ambulances, and that the rotation would use three companies at a time.

To stay in the rotation companies must abide by several policy standards, including maintaining a $1,000 liability insurance policy, arriving at the site of a tow call within 20 minutes, permitting “reasonable access to any impounded vehicles by any city police officer upon request,” and not giving a call assigned to the company by dispatch to any other company. The ordinance would also impose equipment standards for companies operating within the city including having at least two tow trucks, owning a motorcycle trailer “or other acceptable means of carrying a motorcycle in an upright position,” having at least one amber flashing light on trucks, and carrying a list of safety equipment in truck.

The committee voted unanimously to forward the proposed ordinance to the city council to be reviewed for potential approval.

The committee also reviewed proposed updates to the city’s fire code and to chapter 185 of part one of title nine of the codified ordinances of the city of Salem which concerns the excise tax levied on temporary lodgings like hotels, and motels, which is sometimes called a bed tax.

Fire Chief Scott Mason explained that the updates to the city’s fire code were necessary to align it with the current standards of the state code and adopts the appendices and reference standards of the state code, which were previously absent in the city’s own. He said that the update would also specify that the city will also adopt any future updates made by the state fire marshal.

Stockman explained that the updates to chapter 185 make sweeping language changes to bring the city’s ordinance in line with current state regulations and specifies that short-term rentals like Airbnbs and spas are also subject to the excise tax

The committee voted unanimously to forward the proposed updates to both ordinances to the city council for review.

The city council will meet next at 7 p.m. on April 7.