Explanation
The purpose of this ordinance is to eliminate the moratorium for taxicabs in the City of Columbus, removing the limit on the number of taxicab licenses that can be issued by the Department of Public Safety. Section 585.08 of the Columbus City Codes mandates that the Vehicle-for-Hire Board make recommendations to City Council as to the number of taxicab, livery, and pedicab licenses that the City is permitted to issue. City Council then must vote on the recommendation provided.
There are 530 taxicab licenses that been approved by City Council, per Ordinance No. 0400-2013. Of those 530, only 437 are currently being used. With the presence of transportation network companies, such as Uber and Lyft, as well as other alternative types of public transportation, there is currently a lack of demand for taxicab licenses. On February 2, 2018, the Vehicle for Hire Board met to discuss the unclaimed taxicab licenses and the proliferation of alternative transportation. The Board voted to eliminate the moratorium for taxicabs. On February 14, 2018, the Vehicle for Hire Board made the formal recommendation to Council for removing the limit on the number of taxicab licenses that can be issued by the City.
Title
To repeal Ordinance No. 0400-2013, which limits the number of taxicabs permitted to operate in the City; to remove the limit on the number of taxicabs permitted to operate in the City; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, Section 585.08 of the Columbus City Codes requires that the Vehicle for Hire Board annually recommend to City Council the total number of taxicabs which may be licensed; and
WHEREAS, the Board has not recommended any change to the number of licensed taxicabs currently set forth in Ordinance No. 0400-2013 since it was passed on February 11, 2013; and
WHEREAS, currently, there are 530 taxicab licenses that have been approved by City Council, 437 of which are currently licensed; and
WHEREAS, the License Section recently conducted a lottery for 93 taxicab owner licenses, only 16 of which were claimed; and
WHEREAS, the License Section has determined that due to the presence of transportation network companies and other alternative forms of public transportation, there is low demand for taxicab licenses at this time; and
WHEREAS, at a public meeting of the Vehicle for Hire Board on February 2, 2018, as well as at previous meetings, the Board discussed the continued availability of taxicab licenses and the public demand for services. The Board voted in favor of eliminating the moratorium on taxicabs; and
WHEREAS, on February 14, 2018, on behalf of the Vehicle for Hire Board, Chair Ramona Patts sent a letter to Columbus City Council recommending that moratorium be eliminated, removing the limit on the number of taxicab licenses issued by the Department of Public Safety; and
WHEREAS, on March 1, 2018, the recommendation was presented at a public hearing held by City Council’s Public Safety Committee; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to repeal the existing Ordinance No. 0400-2013 in that the provisions of that ordinance are no longer applicable; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Safety in that it is immediately necessary for a Council vote on this ordinance as an emergency measure to comply with Section 585.08 of the Columbus City Codes, and to ensure the preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That Ordinance No. 0400-2013, adopted February 13, 2013, be and is hereby repealed.
SECTION 2. That the moratorium on the number of taxicabs be eliminated, removing the limit on the number of taxicab licenses that can be issued by the Department of Public Safety.
SECTION 3. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its adoption and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after adoption if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.