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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-05-23 05-168 ORDINANCECOUNCIL Item No. 05-1" Date: 5-23-03 Item/Subject: Ordinance, Amending Chapter 278, Taxicabs, Sections 3, 3.1 and 4, to Implement Certain Procedural Changes Responsible Department: City Clerk The purpose of these amendments is to implement certain procedural changes and clarifications to the taxicab ordinance. Changes include clarifying application procedures, specifying that application fees are non-refundable, reducing to two the number of driver lists that must be submitted to the police department each year, allowing for 13 month licenses for new applications filed within a month of the renewal date, and reducing the submission requirements for application renewals. The amendments also impose a background check fee for new drivers and prohibit new drivers from driving until the backgpeund check is approved. artment Head City Manager Assocurbi Information: u fl. Budget Approval Finance Director _ Passage _L First Reading page _ of X Referral to Government Operations 05-188 k dcaimad to Couvclloo Creme Nay 23, 2005 CITY OF BANGOR (TITLE.) Ordinance, Amending Chapter 278, Taxicabs, Sections 3, 3.1 and 4, to Implement Certain Procedural Oranges M II ORDAINBD BY CITY COUNCILOAT CM OPBANGOR TRAT Chapter 278, Taxicabs, §§ 3, 3.1 and 4, be amended as follows: § 278-3. Taxicab license. - A. A taxesof license shell be issued for eaehons icab upon compliance with the following. (l) FIs pro vkedbyf an9 Amlicants shall*Win 1' 11glas firm the Ban Police Deomanme (24 Applicants of We' and glomms. 9their own inen =team 69 l wingear muM1lled in the todeals far which 00 haticals litems is sought aomdiss with she tom emenuofsubxxtion(B). below. Ne Chief of Polise, QE his or her designee, a written aggsial Oat an n has here mane of the taxicab for who a the What license is sought AM the our has been figund as be smo d suitable for taxicab cery with subuctio Woof Ann] ih AMI submit to the Cant Clear 1thromis3 ideang. the gang cm Does in lixs as mi 4, and roof of insurance from Cannabis modules mouts, rating that de taxicab for which the tax' license is emagnis nomad in wcorasnee with subsestion Mg below. (a"a Seftler of eh lfi� mutual areae Bea 01IWe 6h 1 oons5 is sought Be IN CITY COMM May 23, 2005 Picot Reading Referred to Coversoust Operation Committee IN CITY COONCn Ione 13. 2005 Motion Rade and seconded far Passage 4oUgtilo[e eating yes: Allen. Caabmlk. ➢•Rufen. Farrington, Tremlck. Greene, Nsvae. Stuns. Tremble Coast bra voting m. None Pem mIT4 CLNRR p 05-1" 0RDI'll AIN CB Cpapter 239. Taxicabs, s iaoas.3. 3.1 and 4.. to Impl "meat Ce[tibs Assigned W Councilor We 05-168 B. Taximeters. [urindam ] C. inspection oftaxicabs. [unchanged] D. humorous. [unchanged) E. Temiwt ne =pimtionofteximblimnm Unlarmvakedwaspadedunder§278-9Aofshis chapw,achaxiablicens"lapimmdce3ladayofMaymxta shedaceofis m. rovided howevear, Oaten new applicationMay 1 andbilavill shall beveliduntil MaY31 ofthe followina year, §278-3.1. Dispatch center lista*ic=b mnm-vlia 9,_Evoy dispatch center shll, m the flrstdayoHanum and July ofemh w.arwebmbndnnrenM, file ween rhe ChiefofPolice acurrent list ofall owners krwhom tls dispatch canna provides dispetehing axwab company at romershat,a she fimde of'Jismijary and July ofeach vism. file with the Ch'efofPolice a cannot list ofall of its taxicab driven. §2784, Taxicab drivers license. Itshallbeupawfolfwm permsmpperatemyaalabfwhimwiNutfirstobtainingataxicabdrivels license A. New trApplication and issuance New stApplications for a taxicab driver's license shall be made upon farms furnished by the City Clerk and be signed by the mill'wnt The application aM shall requiro the applicant to set out such information as the City Council may require. Applications for license that have expired for more than thirty 001 days shall be considered new applications Before such license shall be sued by the City Clerk, the application must be approved by the Chief of Police, and the applicant must: (1) Dmnansnele he the City Clerk shm he or she an Buerdly, rad, woke mid speak the English lagaaga. (2) Present valid Same of Maia drivers; license. (3) Present a valid letter from a reputuhle physician stating shat the a"] least has no physical or annual coMhia which wall affect his or her ability a function as a aickab driver aM thereby impair the safety of himself, herself or that of his or her paangers; howwaer, this requirement may be waived at Ne divination ofthe Chief of Police, (a) Prams sufficient evidence that he or aha is at least 18 years of age. (5) Have his or her photograph taken a a place, time and dace designated by the City Ckrkfor Ciry irboaideal fcat on to he dis s avaf as provided in (Bk bebw, (() The non-refundable annual fee for a Taxicab driver's license shell be as provided in§854. (7) Demonstrate as do CMefofPolice Net rhe applicant is competent to operate a tenter vehicle safely end in accordance with all applicable tralfic laws end mdimnces. (8) Satisfy the Chiefofpollee dent the appliomt is d present of such good mond charter Nat the aw antran M vested with the mfeare w custady of taxicab pesiengem (9) Pay a non refundableI backwmund chock for of $25 This ha k round check will be conducted N h the Sat Burrau ofl fSBll N sell be sued until N I of the SBI b k d check ed df d be etabl by the Cnefof Police. A Renewal amlicadionsd issuance RenevaA atailications;for amicabdrivers license sball be made n forma furnishedb the Cit lerkandbesi ed byflued licant. neasirldcationghalrounilrethe applivant to set out such-fo n City Council may reattim, Before such feese shall be issues by the Ctv Clmk the application mug be amnved by the Chief ofPofice. and the aoahcant must: fn Present a valids of Maine drivers I' Orr Photoidenlfafon and the taxicab license to be renewed. PINMIA a valid leader a reatatile arvskimadd ePhysical or amended perdition wich his or ha abilitynon=m ver ant thodary mosir Ole safety ofhimeelf, baCindfathatofhis or her Mere remme avMwav atthedia ign ofthe Chkfof Pol'a (3) Per, a raw-reflandable ficeme fee as avoided' 6854 d tithe Chief of Police Inattive anionsk cormartaten rastralt AM= 35ibicle saalv and in amandemrs'th all wril' til ff laws end ordinances (51 Satisfy Has Chief of Mine India, alrolicant is at Inamoto oral elmaJiMthat appliandeen be trusted with Na oftad B. Identification tag. Upon the ismma of the taxicab drivers liana, the City Clerk shell also deliverin the license m identification rte csmreining the aft photograph. The identificam tag shall be conspicuous place on the Iieensas uniform in all times while operating a taxicab within tlm metalBmgm. P l d' I th 'd 'fid' I cast all times constitutes mount for license revout'm C. Expiration oftaxicab drivers license. Unless suspeMed or revoked under §278-9B ofthis cMpter, all taxicab drivels Imam all continue in force until the fund day of July next after Ne date of isomer mvided. ho�. this env new Illation filed tgavan June Ind July Ishall be valid until the first dev of la Iv of the RI lowim vev. thJd Ciry of Bir Maine www.hangnrmaine gov May 18,2004 To: Honorable City Councilors From: Patti Dubois Re: Taxicab License Policy Changes 05-168 30/1992-4220 tax 29!19454449 parn.auboisQh9rme.org CITY CLERK'S OFFICE Pant aubola, Gly Clark The procedures for handling new applications and renewal applications for Taxicab Drivers Licenses have been reviewed. Several discussions have taken place with all the various people involved in this licensing process. The following changes are being suggested in an attempt to make this process more efficient, while covering the costs associated with the process. Although most of the changes will affect new applicants, some will affect existing license holders when applying for license renewals. It is recommended that these procedural changes, if approved, become effective on the same date that the new license fees become effective, July 1. The proposed changes for new applicants are as follows: • A non-refundable fee of $25 will be charged to cover Me cost to perform a criminal background check through the State Bureau of Investigation (this is the amount that the city is charged from SBl). This means that new applicants will pay the $25 SBI fee along with the $30 license fee prior to the application being processed. Both of these fees will be non- refundable, in an effort to cover the administrative coats of processing the applications, whetherthe license is approved or denied. This SBI process was originally a free service for the City; a fee of $8 per search was established, and shortly thergafter the fee increased to $25. Since the fees have been charged, the Police Department has only been performing a background check in the local database. Passing this SBI fee on to the applicants would allow us to perform the most thorough check on all applicants. • New applicants will not be issued a license until the results are received from SBI; most results are received within approximately 3 — 4 days. Applicants will be contacted as soon as the results are available. 73 Harlow Street • Bangor, Maine 04401 05-168 • The application will he signed by the applicant,and will detail the reasons for potential denial to ensure that the applicant understands the licensing criteria; therefore, all fees will be non-refundable. If applicants are unsure as to whether they qualify for a license, they will be encouraged to contact the Police Department for clarRcation prior to paying the fees. • The application process for drivers will be performed by the City ClerKs office, rather than the Police Department. The license for taxicab owners will continue to originate at the Police Department, because each vehicle must be inspected by the police department and the sealer of weights & measures prior to licensing by the ClerKs office. • Individuals who make application for a taxicab drivers license during the month of June will receive a 13 -month license (all licenses expire on June 30). Taxicab owners who make application in the month of May will recelve a 13-morch license (all licenses expire on May 31). Proposed changed for renewals are as follows: • Licenses that have expired more than 30 days will be considered new, and will be subject to the SBI processing fee and waiting period to receive the results of the SBI background check prior to license issuance. • Application fees will be non-refundable, which will allow us to recover the administrative costs associated with processing the applications, whether the license is issued or denied. • In an effort to enforce the requirement that all drivers wear their photo I.D. badge, renewal applicants must present the taxicab license photo I.D. issued from Bangor International Airport along with their drivers license. These proposed changes will be included in an ordinance for first reading on May 23, with a referral to Government Operations on May 20. 1 regret that I will be unable to attend the City Council meeting on May 23, and the Government Operations Committee meeting on May 24; however, I am proud to say that I am fortunate to be chaperoning my daughters Odyssey of the Mind Team as they travel to Boulder, CO for the word finals. Sue Mitchell, Deputy Clerk, and John Roach of the Police Department will both be on hand to answer any questions or concerns. Be advised that all current taxicab drivers have received notice of the proposed changes and the meeting dates. I will be available to discuss any questions or concerns until Friday afternoon at 9924218; otherwise, feel free to contact Sue Mitchell or John Roach.