Title
Ordinance No. 14-77 amending Part 10 (Taxicabs) of Article 3 (Sales of Goods and Services) of Chapter 2 (Business Licensing, Liquor Regulation and Taxation) of the Code of the City of Colorado Springs 2001, as amended, pertaining to taxicab licenses
Body
From:
Sarah Johnson, City Clerk
Summary:
As part of an ongoing effort to make the City of Colorado Springs a more business friendly community, and as one of the City Clerk's 2014 Breakthrough Strategies, the City Clerk conducted a thorough review of all general and specific business license types, requirements, and fees to ensure they are relevant and necessary to regulate activities related to health, safety or other protective purposes. This review includes proposals for removal/clarification of requirements for standardization across all general business license types. These updates to our City code eliminate unnecessary steps and requirements for a business to operate in our great city, while also aiding the future creation of an online application/renewal business licensing system.
A summary of the proposed changes to the Taxicab License Ordinance, effective as of January 1, 2015, is as follows:
1. Modify the expiration date for licenses from January 31 of each year to one (1) year from the date of issuance;
2. Replace the requirement of a "Colorado class C driver's license" with only a "Colorado driver's license" to reflect changes in the classifications of Colorado driver's licenses;
3. Maintain the requirement for applicants be physically fit to safely operate a taxicab but eliminate the requirement that applicants submit a physical examination report to the City Clerk's Office;
4. Delete place of birth, social security number, race, gender, height, weight, eye color, hair color, and duplicative application requirements and incorporate simplified general application requirements from section 2.1.403;
5. Eliminate photo and fingerprint requirements; Modify grounds for denying an initial or renewal application to align with the disqualification grounds under the Colorado Public Utilities Commission rules governing taxi cab companies; and
6. Clarify that license and registration fees are "as established by the City Council under article 1, part 5 of this chapter".
Previous Council Action:
No previous Council action.
Background:
As part of an ongoing effort to make the City of Colorado Springs a more business friendly community, and as one of the City Clerk's 2014 Breakthrough Strategies, the City Clerk conducted a thorough review of general business license ("general business license") types, requirements, and fees to ensure they are relevant and necessary to regulate activities related to health, safety or other protective purposes. This review includes proposals for removal/clarification of requirements for standardization across all general business license types. These updates to our City code eliminate unnecessary steps for a business to operate in our great city, while also aiding the future creation of an online application/renewal business licensing system.
The Clerk worked closely with City Attorney's Office, and CSPD during the review process. Taxicab licenses have special concerns for the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the City, and these changes are intended to align this license type with the standardized requirements across all general business license types, while eliminating unnecessary requirements.
Financial Implications:
N/A
Board/Commission Recommendation:
N/A
Stakeholder Process:
The City Clerk worked closely with City Attorney's Office and CSPD staff during the review process. The Deputy City Clerk contacted representatives from the current taxicab licensees to discuss the proposals and took into consideration any comments and requests received from those licensees into the proposed ordinance.
Alternatives:
Not approve the ordinance.
Recommended Action
Proposed Motion:
Motion to approve an ordinance amending Part 10 (Taxicabs) of Article 3 (Sales of Goods and Services) of Chapter 2 (Business Licensing, Liquor Regulation and Taxation) of the Code of the City of Colorado Springs 2001, as amended, pertaining to taxicab licenses on first reading.
Ordinance Language
N/A