HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 8942
CITY OF PALO ALTO OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
February 26, 2018
The Honorable City Council
Palo Alto, California
SECOND READING: Adoption of an Ordinance Amending Sections
4.42.190 (Taxi Meters) and 4.42.200 (Schedule of Rates, Display) of
Chapter 4.42 of Title 4 (Business and License Regulations) of the Palo
Alto Municipal Code to Allow Taxicab Service to be Prearranged by
Mobile Device Application and Internet Online Service (FIRST
READING: February 5, 2018 PASSED: 9-0)
This ordinance was first heard by the City Council on February 5, 2018 and it is now before you
for final approval. It was passed 9-0 with no changes.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A: Taxi Cab Ordinance (PDF)
Department Head: Beth Minor, City Clerk
Page 2
NOT YET APPROVED
ORD Amending 4.42.190 and 4.42.200
Ordinance No. _____
Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending Sections 4.42.190
(Taximeters) and 4.42.200 (Schedule of Rates, Display) of Chapter 4.42 of Title 4
(Business and License Regulations) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Allow
Taxicab Service to be Prearranged by Mobile Device Application and Internet
Online Service.
The Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as follows:
SECTION 1: The Council of the City of Palo Alto finds and declares as follows:
A. The City desires to encourage the taxicab industry to continue servicing City
residents; and
B. The City desires to encourage competition between the taxicab industry and the
transportation network companies by allowing taxicab service to be prearranged with the use
of mobile device applications and internet online services.
SECTION 1. Section 4.42.190 of Chapter 4.42 of Title 4 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code
is hereby amended to read as follows:
4.42.190 Taximeters.
(a) All taxicabs operated under the authority of this chapter, except as provided in
subsection (c), shall be equipped with taximeters of the type and design approved by the police
department, located in the vehicle so as to render the figures visible to the passengers at all
times, day and night. After sundown, the face of the taximeter shall be illuminated. Such
taximeter shall be subject to inspection from time to time by the police department and the
police department shall require the certificate holder to discontinue the operation of any
taxicab in which the taximeter is found to calculate inaccurately until such taximeter is replaced
by one approved by the police department or is adjusted accurately.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c), it is unlawful for a taxicab driver, while carrying
passengers, to display the flag or the device attached to the taximeter in such position as to
denote that the vehicle is for hire, to cause the taximeter to record when the vehicle is not
actually employed, to fail to cause the device on the taximeter to be placed into a nonrecording
position at the termination of each and every service, or to charge any fare other than that
recorded on the taximeter.
(c) Taxicab service may be prearranged with the use of a mobile device application or
internet online service. The fare charged shall not exceed the scheduled rate filed by the
certificate holder under Chapter 4.42.200. The application or internet online service shall
display the fare to the customer prior to booking in lieu of the posting as required under
Chapter 4.42.200. An “application” shall mean a self‐contained program or piece of software
application designed to fulfill requests for dispatch services that is downloadable by a user to a
computer or mobile device." Taxicabs providing prearranged service under this subsection are
exempt from the taximeter requirements stated in subsections (a) and (b).
NOT YET APPROVED
ORD Amending 4.42.190 and 4.42.200
SECTION 2. Section 4.42.200 of Chapter 4.42 of Title 4 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code
is hereby amended to read as follows:
4.42.200 Schedule of rates, display.
The certificate holder shall file, with the application for a certificate, a true and correct
schedule of rates to be charged for the transportation of passengers in any and all vehicles
operated by said certificate holder. Except for prearranged services as provided in Section
4.42.190(c), a schedule of such charges shall be posted conspicuously in each vehicle operated
by said certificate holder. The rates shall not be changed or modified in any manner without
first filing the changed or modified rates with the chief of police thirty days prior to the
effective date of such change or modification.
SECTION 3. Severability. If any provision, clause, sentence or paragraph of this
ordinance, or the application to any person or circumstances, shall be held invalid, such
invalidity shall not affect the other provisions of this ordinance which can be given effect
without the invalid provision or application and, to this end, the provisions of this ordinance are
hereby declared to be severable.
SECTION 4. CEQA. The City Council finds and determines that this Ordinance is not a
“project” within the meaning of section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) Guidelines.
SECTION 5. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be effective on the thirty‐first date after
the date of its adoption.
INTRODUCED:
PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
ATTEST: APPROVED:
______________________________ ____________________________
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: ____________________________
City Manager
NOT YET APPROVED
ORD Amending 4.42.190 and 4.42.200
______________________________
Chief Deputy City Attorney