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C COUNCIL PROPOSAL
Date File Number Subject Amendment to City Code Provisions Concerning Taxicab
3/11/99 207 Franchises
Proposed by City Man ger's Review
Clyde Picht Page—L_of 3_
RECOMMENDATION
It is proposed that the City Council take the following action:
Direct the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance amending Sections 34-115 and
34-118 of the Fort Worth City Code to modify the current provisions which preclude
competition in the franchising of taxicabs in Fort Worth; and add provisions
requiring taxicab franchisees and franchise applicants to be prepared to
demonstrate compliance with all regulatory requirements on demand by the City
Council.
BACKGROUND
� a) Current text:
The applicable portion of Section 34-115 of the Fort Worth City Code
currently reads:
"...If the City Council finds the public need and necessity and convenience
of the operation of the number of taxicabs applied for, or of a lesser number, and
the applicant is fit and qualified, morally and financially, to conduct the business,
and that the general welfare of the citizens of the city will best be served by
addition of more taxicabs, an that all other requirements of this chapter have been
fully complied with by the applicant, it shall notify the applicant and all holders of
franchises or grants made under this article of its finding. In the event of such a
finding, the then holders of franchises or grants made under the terms of this
article shall be given a period of thirty (30) days within which to add a sufficient
number of taxicabs to their operating fleets to take care of the need found to exist
by the City Council. If the City finds that within the thirty-day period, such taxicabs
are added and so located as to fill adequately the need found to exist, then the City
Council shall forthwith refuse the application and no grant shall be made to such
applicant; however, if the City Council finds that the then holders of franchises or
❑ LEGALITY
C I] FISCAL NOTE
E CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS
❑ CITY POLICIES MANUAL
CIT FO WO , TEXAS
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Q° 3lO
COUNCIL PROPOSAL
Date File Number Subject Amendment to City Code Provisions Concerning Taxicab
3/11/99 207 Franchises
Proposed by City Manager's Review
Clyde Picht Page—1—of 3
grants made under the terms of this article failed to obtain the additional taxicabs
needed and to so locate them as to adequately fulfill the need found to exist within
the thirty-day period, then the City Council shall, by ordinance, grant to the
applicant a franchise or grant of privilege authorizing him to operate the number of
taxicabs within the City specified by the City Council."
b. Suggested Text Amendment (Sec. 34-115)
It is proposed that the above provision be amended to read as follows:
"...If the City Council finds the public need and necessity and convenience
require the operation of the number of taxicabs applied for, or of a lesser number,
and the applicant is fit and qualified, morally and financially, to conduct the
business, and that the general welfare of the citizens of the City will best be served
by addition of more taxicabs, and that all other requirements of this chapter have
been fully complied with by the applicant, it shall grant to the applicant a franchise
or grant of privilege authorizing the applicant to operate the number of taxicabs
within the City specified by the City Council."
b. Purpose of Amendment
The current code as written restricts any competition in the taxicab industry within
the City of Fort Worth. Should the suggested amendment be adopted, market
forces will enhance the opportunity for more efficient and reliable service.
C. Suggested Text Amendment (Sec. 34-118)
It is proposed that the above provision be amended to begin as follows:
"A franchise holder shall at all times be prepared to demonstrate that he is a
fit and proper person to operate taxicabs in the city of Fort Worth upon demand by
the city council or by person or persons designated by it."
❑ LEGALITY
❑ FISCAL NOTE
❑ CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS
❑ CITY POLICIES MANUAL
CIT FO 7WO , TEXAS
JILr
� o 0
COUNCIL PROPOSAL
Date File Number Subject Amendment to City Code Provisions Concerning Taxicab
3/11/99 207 Franchises
Proposed by City Manager's Review
Clyde Picht Page hof 3
C. Purpose of Amendment
Will require franchise holders to demonstrate compliance with all regulatory
requirements on demand by the city council.
LEGALITY
The City Attorney has reviewed the above proposal and there are no legal
impediments to approval of this proposal.
FISCAL NOTES
None
CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The City staff had previously been requested to review the current method of
taxicab franchising with the Governmental Relations Committee at its April
meeting. Because this is a complex matter, staff would benefit from additional time
to develop a thorough briefing paper that would explain all of the ramifications of
changes to our current franchising system. Staff would prefer to work this issue
through the committee process and then take any committee-endorsed changes
for taxicab franchising to the full City Council for action.
❑ LEGALITY
l C FISCAL NOTE
' CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS
C CITY POLICIES MANUAL