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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-005 Taxicab Rates ORDINANCE NO 2004- 05 AN ORDINANCE relating to licenses and business regulations, regulating taxicabs and vehicles for hire, increasing the rates for taxicab services, and amending Section 5 78 100 of the City of Yakima Municipal Code BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF YAKIMA. Section 1 Section 5 78 100 of the City of Yakima Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows "5 78 100 Taxicab rates and zones A. Taxicab Rates The following rate schedule of taxicab rates is established and adopted as the maximum rates that may be charged for taxi fare in the city of Yakima, and it shall be unlawful for any person driving or operating, or engaged in the business of operating, any taxicab to charge any greater rate for taxicab fare than that specified therein TAXICAB RATES For one passenger for the first one - fifteenth mile or fraction thereof $2.00 3.00 Thereafter for each additional one - fifteenth mile or fraction thereof 42 .14 For each additional passenger (per trip) 50 (No charge shall be made for children under six years of age when accompanied by an adult.) For each twenty seconds of waiting time after the first three minutes 20 B Posting Notices of Rates (1) Maximum Rates A copy of the schedule of maximum rates specified by this section shall be posted in each taxicab so as to be plainly visible to every passenger seat in the vehicle, and it shall be unlawful for any person to drive or operate a taxicab unless a copy of such rate schedule is so posted (2) Annual Rates In the event uniform rates lower than the maximum rates provided by this section are charged by any taxicab driver or operator of any taxicab business, a schedule of those actual uniform rates shall be posted in each taxicab so as to be plainly visible to every passenger seat in the vehicle, and, in such event, it shall be unlawful for any person to drive or operate a taxicab unless a copy of such actual uniform rate schedule is so posted Page 1 (Ik)ord /taxi rates 2004 j (3) Contract Rates No provision of this section shall preclude any taxicab driver or operator of a taxicab business from charging a reduced fare, based on rates Tess than those posted in the taxicab, to any passenger pursuant to an agreement for such a reduced fare, provided, in the event such reduced fares are charged by any taxicab driver or taxicab business operator, the schedule of actual rates charged, posted in each taxicab, shall include the phrase `other rates by contact,' or other language of similar import. (4) Discounted Fares The person charging the fares authorized in this section shall reduce the total fare charged to any physically, sensory or mentally handicapped person or person sixty -two years of age or older a minimum of ten percent. It shall be the obligation of the person benefited by this subsection to request the discount and offer proof of such disability or age to the person charging the fare Provided, that, each taxicab shall have posted in its passenger section a sign which shall read substantially as follows 'Physically, sensory or mentally handicapped passengers or persons sixty -two years of 'age and over may receive a minimum of ten percent fare discount. This subsection shall not be applicable to contract fares ' C Zones (1) Zone Map and Schedule The city of Yakima is zoned into nine zones numbered Zone 0 through Zone 8, as depicted on a map entitled 'Taxicab Zone Rate Map,' dated and filed in the office of the city clerk. In addition to the taxicab rates set forth in subsection A of this section, a zone fare may be charged per trip as follows Zone 0 $ 0 00 Zone 1 50 Zone 2 1 00 Zone 3 1 50 Zone 4 2 00 Zone 5 2 50 Zone 6 3 00 Zone7 350 Zone 8 4 00 If the passenger's point of origin or destination is in Zone 0, no additional zone fare shall be charged If the passenger's point of origin and point of destination fall within the same zone, the zone fare for that zone may be charged If the passenger's point of origin and point of destination fall in different zones, neither of which is in Zone 0, the zone fare for the higher rate zone may be charged, regardless of whether the point of origin or point of destination falls within the higher rate zone Page 2 (Ik)ord /taxi rates 2004.jw (2) Posting Zone Map A copy of the zone map referred to in this subsection shall be posted in each taxicab so as to be plainly visible to every passenger seat in the vehicle, and it shall be unlawful for any person to drive or operate a taxicab unless a copy of such map is so posted " Section 2 This ordinance shall be in full force and effect 30 days after its passage, approval, and publication as provided by law and by the City Charter PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, signed and approved this 17th day of February , 2004 e /21- ATTEST Paul P George, Mayor City Clerk Publication Date 2 -20 -2004 Effective Date 3 -21 -2004 Page 3 (Ik)ord /taxi rates 2004.1w ORDINANCE NO 2004 - AN ORDINANCE relating to licenses and business regulations, regulating taxicabs and vehicles for hire, increasing the number of allowable traffic infractions for taxicab drivers from three in five years to four in three years, and amending Section 5 78 190 of the City of Yakima Municipal Code BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF YAKIMA. Section 1 Section 5 78 190 of the City of Yakima Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows 5 78 190 City driver's license -- Qualifications. Each applicant for a city driver's license provided for in this chapter shall 1 Be at least twenty -one years of age, 2 Be duly licensed to operate a motor vehicle for hire under the laws of the state of Washington, 3 Submit with the application a certification from a medical doctor, or the Yakima County health district, certifying that applicant is free from any infirmities of body or mind likely to render him unfit to drive a for -hire vehicle, and specifically that applicant is free from epilepsy, vertigo or heart trouble, 4 (a) Not have been convicted, within ten years preceding the time of making the application, of committing any felony directly related to the applicant's ability to operate a motor vehicle for hire, (b) Not have been convicted or forfeited bail within five years of any crime, other than the aforementioned felonies, reasonably related to the applicant's ability to operate a motor vehicle for hire, (c) Not have committed, forfeited bail or paid a penalty within the past five three years on-three four or more moving motor vehicle traffic violations, except that the city council may deem this requirement to be satisfied, if, after reviewing the motor vehicle traffic record of an applicant, the chief of police recommends to the city council that the five three year- threefour violation criterion of this subsection should be waived, on the grounds that one or more of the violations appearing on the applicant's driving record should be disregarded either because of the age or because of the relatively minor character of such violation(s) Page 1 (Ik) ord.taxi lie qualifications (w 5 Demonstrate to the satisfaction of the chief of police the applicant's ability to operate and control a for -hire vehicle and his familiarity with traffic regulations Section 2 This ordinance shall be in full force and effect 30 days after its passage, approval, and publication as provided by law and by the City Charter PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, signed and approved this day of , 2004 ATTEST Paul P George, Mayor City Clerk Publication Date Effective Date Page 2 (Ik) ord.taxi lic qualfications.jw , BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT Q Item No 1 I For Meeting of .2 - ITEM TITLE A. An ordinance relating to licenses and business regulations, regulating taxicabs and vehicles for hire, increasing the rates for taxicab services, and amending Section 5 78 100 of the City of Yakima Municipal Code B An ordinance relating to licenses and business regulations, regulating taxicabs and vehicles for hire, increasing the number of allowable traffic infractions for taxicab drivers from three in five years to four in three years, and amending Section 5 78 190 of the City of Yakima Municipal Code SUBMITTED BY Jeff B West, City Prosecutor CONTACT PERSON/TELEPHONE Jeff B West 575 -6033 SUMMARY EXPLANATION Local taxicab operators have requested an increase in taxicab fares to reflect increased operations costs A copy of that request, a memorandum from the police department concerning the request to increase the allowable number of traffic infractions and a memorandum from the Finance Department comparing the requested rate increase with regulations in other cities are attached hereto Taxicab rates in the City of Yakima were last increased in July of 1996 The taxicab operators are also requesting that the maximum number of infractions that an individual may receive and remain eligible for a taxi driver's license be increased from three in five years to four in three years Based upon the City's financial analysis included herein, the rate adjustments requested by the taxicab operators appear reasonable and justified Resolution Ordinance X Other (Specify) Contract Mail to (name and address). Phone Funding Source APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL. �� `' City Manager STAFF RECOMMENDATION Approve proposed rate increase request and pass ordinances BOARD /COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION COUNCIL ACTION A) Ordinance passed. ORDINANCE NO. 2004-05 B) THE ORDINANCE DID NOT PASS due to 3 -3 vote on motion to pass the ordinance; Council Members McClure, Place & Whitman voting nay (Ik) agenda4azi o4jw MEMORANDUM February 11, 2004 To Dick Zais, City Manager From. Rita Anson, Finance Director Subject. Taxi Fare Increase Request We have contacted Kennewick, Pasco, Richland, Olympia, Walla Walla and Wenatchee to identify how these cities regulate taxi fares and to compare their fares to the current and requested fares in Yakima. This process turned out to be somewhat enlightening in itself as we found one city that stated they did not enforce their regulations and another city that agreed to find out who handled this for their city and get back to us — they never did. The other four cites stated that they do not establish maximum taxi fares but that they do require fare information to be submitted on an annual basis. Additionally, they require fares to be posted in vehicles and to be updated with the city as needed. We were able to obtain the current taxi fares charged by Tri City Taxi (per Mr Bassford of J.R.'s Taxi in Yakima) and have shown a comparison to the City of Yakima's rates below (rates shown are for one passenger) Current Tri- Cities Current Yakima Proposed Yakima Rate Rate Rate First Mile $6 90 $3 68 $4 96 Additional Miles $1 95 $1 80 $2 10 As you can see from the above comparison, the requested fares within the City of Yakima are substantially lower than those currently being charged in the Tri City area for short to medium distance trips. The higher charge for each additional mile in Yakima would make longer trips comparable, or possibly higher, in price to the fares charged in the Tri Cities YAKIMA POLICE DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM DATE: February 10, 2004 To Yakima City Council, Chief Granato, Assistant City Attorney J West From J Belton #1244, Traffic Investigations Subject- Taxi Cab Proposal I received a request from Chief Granato to prepare a report in regards to the proposed changes in the taxi ordinance it applies to the police department. I talked with Assistant City Attorney Jeff West and he advised that the proposal was not to delete 5 78 190 totally but to change 5 78 190 (c) He advised that the proposed change is to change the requirement from "Not have committed, forfeited bail or paid a penalty within the pasta five years on three or more moving violation" to "Not have committed, forfeited bail or paid a penalty within the past three years on four or more moving violations." I checked with the City of Vancouver and the requirements there are three moving violations in a three year period or ten moving violations in a five year period. Bellingham Municipal Code has a requirement of three or more convictions within a one year period. Federal Way has no requirements in regards to the number of violations in a certain time period. Copies of these ordinances are available upon request. The Police Department has no objections to the proposed ordinance changes. J Belton #1244 Traffic Investigations To: Mayor and Yakima City Council CrTY OF YAKF YAK, 4A SUBJECT JAN 2 ?004 Y.M.C. Chapter 5.78 TAXICABS and VEHICLES FOR HIRE OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL Y.M.C. 5.78.100 A. Taxicab Rates Y.M.C. 5.78.190 4(c) City Drivers License_Qualifications REQUEST 1'.,Rate Increase Y:1 4:C. 5.78.100 A. be amended to: For one passenUer foil the first one- fifteenth mile or fraction thereof $3.00 Thereafter for each additional one - fifteenth mile or fraction thereof $ .14 2. Change in City drivers license - Qualifications 4 (C) Y.M.C. 5.78.190 4 (C) be amended to: Not have committed, forfeited bail or paid a pJdnaity within the past three years on four or more moving motor vehicle traffic violations. The reasons for our rate increase are: 11 Increase in operating cost, fuel, repairs, insurance, ect. 2. Cost of living has increased in last eight years. 3. When the rate was last increased Diamond Cab had the Dial -A -Ride contract. The Dial -A -Ride contract was in a way the city subsidizing the cab company. When Diamond lost the contract they went out of business. 4. Competition from another company that doesn't have the rate restraints we do. The reason for amendment to 5.78.190 4(C) is: We the cab company owners of Yakima believe the rule is un- reasonable considering we each drive 60,000 miles or more most inside city limits. tT =• , t JAN 2 ci .21-10,Q, In conclusion, We the cab company owners ofa Yakima, espect- fully ask the Mayor and City Council to grant phis request for rate increase and change in city drivers license- Qualif- ications 4(C). G'' ii • , --------yo-7 0 Cam ,- ,a . d ( 7 W / ,,,,,,___ i .. „_r: -- - 7-* Zi 7---- r- ---- € ---- ( _ 71., 44: f„,,e_,. "A ,,5(,-- ikixad I/ 4 i Ai c i ei 0 ,f 1 J Z.:k AAA Sty Q, 1 ,,,,,,A,,,,,,,_''' 3 . ,,i'' , " ft *4; -' A .,.,`.` :, ',;,_ , . 5,55 ' 's p r ,- V i s e cL l fh�s ! ue �. "h 5 a /i r sr�d 40 l 17