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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 9136/ ~4~ i, n a. *-~e°~in "z ORDINANCE NO. /~~p AN ORDINANCE GRANTING THE PRIVILEGE APPLIED FOR BY THE AMERICAN CAB COMPANY TO USE THE STREETS, ALLEYS AND PUBLIC THOROUGHFARES OF THE CITY IN THE CONDUCT OF ITS TAXICAB BUSINESS WITH UP TO 30 TAXICABS FOR A PERIOD OF TWO (2) YEARS; SPECIFYING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE GRANT; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the City of Fort Worth, Texas, as a modern, growing metropolitan center with a population in excess of 400,000 persons, has a demonstrated need for adequate taxicab service; and WHEREAS, a substantial portion of that need exists in the taxicab service requirements of the minority citizens of the Community who have an expressed preference for service by a minority owned and operated taxicab service; and WHEREAS, the grant of privilege of the minority owned taxicab service previoiusly approved by City Council action expired on February 29, 1984; and WHEREAS, a ninety-day extension beyond the normal expiration date expired on May 29, 1984; and WHEREAS, there presently exists no minority taxicab service in Fort Worth; and WHEREAS, the previously franchised minority-owned and operated taxicab service has neglected, failed and refused to maintain a reasonable and adequate level of financial responsibility to the citizens its serves, contrary to their general welfare and the best interests of all citizens of the City; and WHEREAS, the minority-owned AMERICAN CAB COMPANY has filed a proper application to furnish taxicab service on the public streets, alleys and thoroughfares of the City generally but with particular emphasis on supplying the taxicab service needs of the minority citizens of the community; and WHEREAS, due inquiry has been made into the application of AMERICAN CAB COMPANY, and, after a thorough consideration of all the facts made available to it, the City Council finds that: •IRrw' ' t ~" Z 5 1. American Cab Company has submitted its application for a grant of privilege in due form and in substantial technical compli- ance with the provisions of Section 34-3, Code of the City of Fort Worth, Texas (1964), as amended. 2. The probable permanence and indicated~`quality of service to be offered by the applicant and the operating experience of its corporate officials all favor granting the application. 3. The financial ability of the applicant to respond to claims for damages or judgments resulting from the operation of the applicant's taxicabs is to be assured by adequate liability insur- ance coverage of and as a condition to their operations. 4. The maximum taxi rate structures applicant proposes to charge for services is in accordance with the rates established by City Ordinance No. 8986 in December 1983, as set forth in Section 34-12, Code of the City of Fort Worth, which rates probably will support the rendition of adequate and dependable service. 5. The character, type and safe condition of the taxicabs proposed to be used appears to be satisfactory; the proposed cars will be a mix of new cars and one to two year old late-model autos. 6. The character, fitness and past record of the corporate officers and shareholders warrants the conclusion that the company and its personnel merit the opportunity to demonstrate that they will conduct their taxicab business in consonance with the business mores of the community and in an exemplary manner. 7. The public convenience and necessity support granting the application of American Cab Company to provide public taxicab ser- vice to the citizens and visitors of and to the City with up to 30 taxicabs the company seeks the privilege to operate on and over the public streets, alleys and thoroughfares of the City. 8. The general welfare of the community will be best served by granting the privilege sought in the application of Fort Worth's American Cab Company; and that -2- ~~, ~ ~ ~~ 5 ~, F ~i 9. All prerequisities to a Grant of Privilege by the City Council as contained in Chapter 34, Code of the City of Fort Worth, Texas (1964), as amended, have been met; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS: CF('T T(1T7 l That the AMERICAN CAB COMPANY, a Texas Corporation, with its principal place of business and its headquarters at 1020 Stayton Street in the City of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas, hereinafter referred to as "Company," is hereby granted the PRIVILEGE to use the present and future streets, alleys and public thoroughfares of the City of Fort Worth, Texas, in its business of providing public taxi- cab service within the said City's municipal limits with 30 taxicabs for the period commencing with the acceptance of the terms of this ordinance by the Company on or after July 1, 1984, and expiring two years later, on June 30, 1986. cFr'mTn~.T ~ That the privilege herein granted shall be and remain subject to said Company's full, complete and satisfactory continuing compli- ance with all Federal, State and local laws and ordinances including but not limited to the Charter of the City of Fort Worth, Texas (1964), as amended, and such other ordinances as may be adopted by the City Council governing and regulating the operation of taxicabs in the City of Fort Worth. CF'(`T T(17~T Z That the Company acknowledges the City assumes no liability in making this grant and by acceptance does agree to hold the City harmless from all expense or liability for any act or neglect in exercising the privilege granted. SECTION 4. That the Company acknowledges its property and operations shall be and remain subject to such reasonable regulation by the City as -3 - ~. f~ ~ ~ ~ ~ , i G is or may be necessary to protect the interests of the general pub- lic, that payment of an annual "street rental" fee as specified in Section 34-9, Chapter 34 of the Code of the City of Fort Worth, Texas (1964), as amended, is a requisite to exercising the privilege granted herein, and that suspension and/or revocation of the priv- ilege granted herein may be accomplished under the provisions of Chapter 34 of said City Code. c~nmTnrT c That the Company shall be obligated to discharge any claim or judgment against it finally established by law, and the failure so to do for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days shall, ipso facto, terminate all authority under this grant. It is a specific condition of this Grant of Privilege that the Company shall, for each taxicab it places in service pursuant to the authority granted, procure and maintain in force throughout the term of this Grant public liability insurance pertaining to its services and operations hereunder. Insurance is to be provided by a respon- Bible company licensed in the State of Texas and satisfactory to the City. Certificates of current coverage shall be maintained on file with the City Public Utilities Office throughout the term of this Grant of Privilege. Coverage shall be in the minimum amounts of $50,000.00 bodily injury each person; $100,000.00 bodily injury each accident; and $25,000.00 property damage. The minimum amounts specified may be revised upward at the City's option, upon suffi- cient notice to the Company. CL'(~m Tl1TT G That nothing herein contained shall ever be held or construed to confer upon the Company exclusive rights or privileges of any nature whatsoever. c~nmTnrT '~ That the terms and provisions of this ordinance are severable and shall be governed by Section 1-4 of Chapter 1 of the Code of the City of Fort Worth, Texas (1964), as amended. -~ _:,~, g .. ~ Er yu SECTION 8. That the provisions of this ordinance shall be and are hereby declared to be cumulative of all provisions of the Code of the City of Fort Worth, Texas (1964), as amended, with respect to the regula- tion of public taxicab service within the City's municipal limits, and, in the event of conflict between the provisions of this ordi- nance and such Code, the provisions of the Code shall govern and prevail. c~v~nmTnn-r n That, within ten days after the adoption of this ordinance, grantee herein shall file with the City Secretary written acceptance of the terms and provisions hereof. c+c~r.mr~wT i n That this ordinance shall be in f ull force and effect from the date of its adoption and acceptance as hereinabove provided. APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY: City Attorney Date: Adopted by City Counci 1 a~O -~7' -5- J f + _ ~+%`sr~€R TILE ~: ~:11.:2~~ ®~ 1L' ~~"d~ ~~O~t~~ ~~~~~ CITY MANAGER 1 n~r/~°~J ~p ~J ~ n ~1 ACCOUNTING•2 J ~'1L`~1,,((~ ~~tU IlAli~~ ~®ILi1V~(~L.i (L~ ~®~~~SV~'~IL~.IL~ IL®'U TRAMSPORTATIONIPUBLIC.WORK3:a RAnnocr of A.,..,,-~,..... /~,.t_ n..-._.____ PUBLIC l LAW 1 GATE REFERENCE - °r~- v SUBJECT fOr a Certificate Of Convenience PAGE ILITIES•1 NUMBER and Necessity t0 Operate Taxicab 1 6-26-84 G-(;035 Service in Fort Worth '°f Background - - - On February 24, 1984, American Cab Company filed an application (Attachment A) with the City Council to provide taxi service in Fort Worth, and the application subsequently was referred to the Department of Law, for investigation. American Cab Company ("American") was chartered as a Texas corporation on February 13, 1984. Its four officers and directors are local citizens. Directors Archie Clark and Robert L. Cooper are veteran taxi driver-owners and were formerly officers of Fort Worth's Poor Boy Cab Company, Inc., and its predeces- sor, United Taxicab Company of Fort Worth, Inc. Ike Dubose has been a taxi driver-owner (Fort Worth 'Cab) and is a personnel consultant. His son, Dwight D. Dubose, has conducted a driver-owner taxi operation in Houston for ten years and will relocate to Fort Worth. The application requests no specific term of years, but asks for 30 taxicab permits. American plans to start the taxi operations with ten full-size sedans, ranging in age from;. 1977 to 1984, and to order ten new 1985 Mercury Marquis sedans. Fleet colors will be white, with blue stripes and stars, and all cabs will be -_ equ:p„~ed w,yth Argo electronic meters and two-channel radios. :" ,: ~ ~f .. Y+S~n"Y.. A-rr~angetuer%ts,~have been made between American and Fort Worth Cab & Baggage ~ C~p~ny '(:"~~ort Worth Cab") for Fort Worth Cab to provide the following services n to Amercant:`' .• 1) Leasing land and buildings at 1020 Stayton Street for American's oper- ations and fleet maintenance headquarters, 2) Furnishing radio taxi-dispatching service, Staff has reviewed the proposed operation and is of the opinion that public taxicab service will be improved and enhanced by American's entry into the market. An ordinance has been prepared, authorizing theo r ~~e ation of thirty __ __ ~ taxicabs for an initial term of two years, and generally p~~E~o~~adequate protection of the public. (-1TV >r+oi fAif-1~ lrl l ! tr LJIYt~I Recommendation JUN 26 964 1 It is recommended that the City Council: ~~ ~~=e-~~~ 1) Conduct a public hearing on the request of Amman Cab Cam;--~+ City Seoie:ary of the 2) Approve the attached ordinance authorizin~'tY 2sF~~~ai'~h~ of the American Cab Company with certificate-of-Convenience and Necessity for thirty taxicab permits for an initial term of two years. WA:igq Attachments SUBMITTED FOR THE CITY MANAGER'S DISPOSITION BY COUNCIL. PROCESSED BY fIFFICE BY ^ APPROVED ORIGINATING ^ OTHER (DESCRIBE) DEPARTMENT HEAD Wade Adk1nS CITY SECRETARY FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Adopted Ordnance No. ~„~~~ corlrACT Richard Aughinbaugh Ext 679 DATE