Explanation
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this ordinance is to amend various sections of the City’s Licensing code pertaining to vehicles for hire and the operations of the Vehicle For Hire and Mobile Food Vending advisory boards. Several updates have been made to this code over the past decade, including revisions to include new modes of transportation such as micro-transit vehicles and pedal wagons. Currently, the City is proposing new minor changes to further update the code.
This ordinance will make the following changes:
• If a licensee is late renewing a license, the Code would now allow the Licensing Section the flexibility to consider extreme hardship as a reason to allow for the renewal, rather than having the licensee register for a new license.
• Alter the requirements for quorum for the Vehicle For Hire and Mobile Food Vending boards by allowing quorum to be half plus one of the current membership of the board, rather than a specific number representing full membership. This would make quorum more frequent, as there are times when not all board seats are filled.
• Change the frequency of Vehicle for Hire Board meetings to quarterly, rather than monthly. Additional meetings are still allowed to be called in situations where the board chair or members call for such.
Overall, these changes will further the City administration’s and Council’s efforts to update and streamline the Licensing Code and modernize regulations for the City’s businesses and residents.
Title
To amend various sections in Chapters 501, 573, and 585 of the Columbus City Codes to allow flexibility in license renewal and alter frequency of regular meetings and quorum for the Vehicle for Hire Board and Mobile Food Vending Advisory Board.
Body
WHEREAS, Title 5 of the Columbus City Codes pertains to business regulation and licensing, and Chapters 501, 573, and 585 pertain to the licensing generally and regulation of vehicles for hire and mobile food vending; and
WHEREAS, several updates have been made to this code over the past decade, including revisions to include new modes of transportation such as micro-transit vehicles and pedal wagons; and
WHEREAS, the City is now proposing minor changes to the code, including additional flexibility to consider license renewals and the quorum and frequency of meetings for the Vehicle for Hire Board and the Mobile Food Vending Advisory Board; and
WHEREAS, these changes will further the City administration’s and Council’s efforts to update and streamline the Licensing Code and modernize regulations for the City’s businesses and residents; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That sections 501.17, 573.168, 585.09, and 585.14 of the Columbus City Codes are hereby amended as follows:
CHAPTER 501 - LICENSING AND REGULATION GENERALLY
501.17 - Renewal of licenses.
(A) All applications for the renewal of licenses shall be submitted to the section no earlier than sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of the license and shall be upon forms approved by the license manager. License fees shall accompany all applications for renewal.
(B) Failure on the part of a licensee to submit the renewal application at least thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the license shall be cause for the section to delay the renewal of the license.
(C) Should a licensee submit a renewal application less than (30) days prior to the expiration of a license, or after the lapse of said license, the Licensing Section may allow for renewal if the licensee has been subject to an extreme hardship that rendered them unable to submit the application by the required date. Such hardships may include severe illness or debilitation to themselves or an immediate family member, public health emergencies, political unrest in current place of residence or any place in which they are temporarily located that would render them unable to freely travel domestically or internationally, or similar situation as designated by the Licensing Section. The Director shall promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate this subsection.
CHAPTER 573 - MOBILE FOOD VENDING
573.168 - Meetings; hearings; voting quorums.
(a) The board shall meet at least quarterly, at a time and place designated by the board chair. If a quorum cannot be assembled on the designated meeting date, then the meeting can be postponed until a time that a quorum can be assembled.
(b) All members of the board will be voting members. Eight (8) members of the board, or however so many sitting members of the board constitutes fifty percent (50%) of the total current members plus one, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and a majority vote of those members present at the annual review public meeting shall be necessary to recommend any changes to zones, designated spaces, or courts. The chair shall be counted as a vote if necessary to complete the requirements for a quorum, but otherwise will vote only in the event of a tie vote.
CHAPTER 585 - VEHICLE FOR HIRE BOARD
585.09 - Voting; quorum.
All members of the Board will be voting members. Eight (8) members of the Board, or however so many sitting members of the board constitutes fifty percent (50%) of the total current members plus one, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and a majority vote of those members present shall be necessary to approve or deny any application, or to enact any other item of business. The Director shall be counted as a vote if necessary to complete the requirements for a quorum, but otherwise will vote only in the event of a tie vote.
585.14 - Meetings; hearings.
The Board shall meet at least once every month quarterly, at a time and place designated by the Board chair. The Board shall perform all duties necessary to fulfill requirements assigned to the Board in Chapters 585 through 594. If a quorum cannot be assembled on the designated meeting date, then the meeting can be postponed until a time that a quorum can be assembled.
SECTION 2. That existing sections 501.17, 573.168, 585.09, and 585.14 of the Columbus City Codes are hereby repealed and replaced as provided herein.
SECTION 3. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.