This agenda item requests that the City Council contemplate removing the public hearing requirement for taxicab licenses.  Council approval of new and renewing taxicab licenses would continue to be required.

In 2009 the City Council passed an ordinance amendment (memo attached) clarifying that a public hearing was not required for renewal of taxicab licenses, but retained the requirement for a public hearing upon a new application for a taxicab license.  

The proposed ordinance amendment would not change the requirements that taxicab service in the city is "desirable for the public convenience and necessity and that the applicant is fit, willing, and able to perform such public transportation" (City Code 110.029).  Taxicab businesses and taxicab drivers would continue to require licensing and thorough background checks in accordance with the provisions of the existing ordinance.  Taxicab businesses and drivers that do not pass background would not be presented to the City Council for licenses.

The modification being proposed is primarily procedural; deleting the requirement that a public hearing be noticed by staff and held by the City Council.  New taxicab business licenses are infrequent, most recently there was such a public hearing held on January 3, 2017; there were no attendees at the public hearing and no comments received from the public.

The city currently issues three taxicab business licenses and 10 taxicab drivers licenses. Staff does not anticipate that removal of the public hearing requirement has any impact on the frequency or number of taxicab business or drivers licenses, or on public safety.