Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance amends Chapters 585, 587, 591, 592, 593 and 594 and enacts a new section in Chapter 593 in the City's Vehicle for Hire Code specifically relating to livery vehicles and the introduction of mobile application-based transportation services to the livery industry in Columbus.
Earlier this year, the State Legislature changed State law so that livery services were no longer required to charge an hourly rate. This change opened the door for a new transportation model to enter the Ohio market: mobile application-based transportation services. This fall, mobile application-based transportation companies expressed interest in working with the City to become part of Columbus' vehicle for hire industry. Through discussions with the administration and the Vehicle for Hire Board, it was determined that the best course of action would be to amend sections of the code to allow for mobile application-based transportation companies to operate in the City's livery industry. The changes also will allow current livery companies to be dispatched by phone or mobile applications.
One of the changes in Chapter 593 will make the location of the decal on livery vehicles be determined by rules and regulations, rather than in code. This same change will be made to Chapters 591, 592 and 594 so that they are consistent with Chapter 593. This is the only change being made to Chapters 591, 592 and 594.
Following consideration of this legislation, City Council and the Department of Public Safety will continue to work to address the introduction of mobile application-based transportation services in other areas of Columbus' vehicle for hire industry.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
Title
To amend various sections in Chapters 585, 587, 591, 592, 593 and 594 of the Columbus City Code and to enact new Section 593.06 of the Columbus City Code in order to allow for the operation of mobile application-based transportation services relating to livery vehicl...
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