2004-94 AMENDING CITY CODE - CHAPTER 34 - TRAFFIC - CHAPTER 60 - TAXICABS AND TAXI DRIVERS - CHAPTER 61 - LIVERY VEHICLES

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� , � DECATUR POLICE DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM#04-65 November 5,2004 , TO: Mayor Paul Osborne and City Council , Steve Garman, City Manager FROM: Mark Barthelemy, Chief of Police Wendy Morthland,Corporation Council �., �,�./ Ronald Neufeld,Director of Financial Management �� SUBJECT: Amended City Ordinances for Taxi and Livery Operation and Licensing SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that Council approve the suggested amendments to Chapters 60 and 61 of the City Code. BACKGROUND: Many years ago, strict regulation of the taxi and livery services of the City of Decatur were crucial to controlling vice and crime. As a result,the ordinances required the police to conduct regular inspections of the taxi services,the cleanliness of the cabs,the accuracy of the meters and the licensing of firms and drivers. Along similar lines,the police department had a licensing officer that inspected weights and measures on grocery and butcher shop scales,a traffic officer that painted parking lines and crosswalks, and personnel that handled parking meter enforcement,truancy and health issues. As time went on,these functions were clearly recognized as tasks that could be handled by civilian personnel and were necessary to assign elsewhere to apply the police manpower on the streets where it was needed. It simply is no longer practical or economical for the police department to be intricately involved in the supervision, inspection or licensing of taxi and livery firms and drivers. As reflected in the amended ordinances,the police chief will still be responsible for the criminal background checks on all license applicants, approving the licenses prior to issue. Other minor changes in the amended ordinance assign responsibility for mechanical inspection of the vehicles to certified mechanics with the taxi owners responsible for providing the Financial Management Dept. with evidence of such inspection at the time of licensing. There are also some word changes and reassignment of responsibilities contained within the amendments. Any complaints about the operation of the taxis or livery vehicles could still be taken and investigated by the police department, although such complaints are very rare. POTENTIAL OBJECTION: None anticipated. STAFF REFERENCE: Mark Barthelemy, Chief of Police,telephone 424-2741 E-mail mark.barthelemy@decaturnet.org Chief Barthelemy will be attending the meeting BUDGET/TIME IMPLICATIONS: None