2012-70 AMENDING CITY CODE - CHAPTER 60 - VEHICLES FOR HIRE

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LEGAL DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM NO. 2012-09 September 12, 2012 TO: Honorable Mayor McElroy and City Council FROM: Ryan McCrady, City Manager Wendy Morthland, Corporation Counsel John T. Robinson, Assistant Corporation Counsel SUBJECT: Repealing Current City Code Chapters 60 and 61 and enacting new City Code Chapter 60—Vehicles For Hire SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION: This new Chapter 60 titled Vehicles For Hire replaces former City Code Chapters 60 (Taxicabs and Taxi Drivers) and 61 (Livery Vehicles). Staff recommends approval of the proposed ordinance. BACKGROUND: The new Chapter 60 streamlines the City's regulation of businesses and persons engaged in the business of carrying persons for hire, including taxis and livery vehicles. Vehicles used for public transportation, church purposes, funerals, business courtesy, public transportation, school buses, transportation of persons for medical services, carpools, and employee vehicles are exempt. It establishes a new class of occasional license for special events, including weddings, anniversaries, school functions, etc.,provided prior appointment is made for the use. Many of the provisions of new Chapter 60 were crafted in response to concerns expressed by current taxi and livery licensees, including allowing livery licensees to accept fares without prior appointment, authorizing consideration of rehabilitation of convicted felons, and occasional use licenses. The new Chapter clarifies, the requirements for obtaining vehicle for hire licenses and vehicle for hire driver's licenses. It authorizes vehicle for hire licensees to set fees. It requires licensees to conspicuously post their fee schedule within the licensed vehicle. It authorizes livery vehicles to pick up fares without prior appointment. It authorizes the Chief of Police to consider whether an applicant convicted of a felony is sufficiently rehabilitated to warrant the public trust. It requires a vehicle for hire license card for each licensed vehicle, which must be conspicuously displayed, and a vehicle for hire driver's license card for each driver operating a licensed vehicle, which also must also be displayed. It prohibits the use of a licensed vehicle to carry passengers unless the required cards are conspicuously displayed. It requires that a City issued vehicle number, and the name of the vehicle owner be prominently displayed on the exterior of the vehicle. It clarifies the application process for vehicle for hire licenses, modifies the restrictions on who and what vehicles may be licensed, clarifies licensee record keeping obligations, and otherwise regulates vehicles for hire.