[Amended 2-25-1991 by Ord. No. 535]
A. Application for a taxicab license to operate one or
more taxicabs shall be made in writing to the City Clerk upon forms
furnished by him and shall state the business name, the address from
which the business is conducted, the name of the owner and, if owned
by a corporation, the names of the principal officers thereof, the
make, ownership, engine number and license number of each vehicle
to be operated and its seating capacity.
[Amended 4-13-1992 by Ord. No. 554]
B. In the event that the applicant is not the owner of
any vehicle which is to be operated as a taxicab, then the application
shall be accompanied by a copy of the written agreement authorizing
said vehicle's use as a taxicab.
C. The application shall be submitted by the City Clerk
to the legislative body at its next regular meeting. The legislative
body may approve such application if it is determined that public
convenience and necessity require the operation of the taxicab as
proposed in the application. In determining such public convenience
and necessity, the legislative body shall consider the number of taxicabs
then operating in the City and whether the demands of the public require
additional taxicab service; the financial responsibility of the applicant;
the number, kind, type and equipment of those taxicabs for which licenses
are asked; the traffic conditions in the City; whether the additional
taxicab service will result in a greater hazard to the public; and
such other relevant facts as the legislative body may deem advisable
or necessary.
Before any owner's license for a taxicab shall
be issued, the owner shall file with the City Clerk an insurance policy
issued by an insurance company licensed to do business in the state,
which shall be approved by the Mayor and the City Attorney, providing
insurance coverage for each and every taxicab owned, operated or leased
by the applicant. This policy of insurance shall be in the sum of
at least $50,000 for the injury or death of one person in any one
accident and $100,000 for the injury or death of more than one person
in any one accident, and $20,000 for damage to property of others
in any one accident through the operation of the taxicab of the applicant.
Such policy of insurance shall contain a provision for a continuing
liability thereunder to the full amount thereof, notwithstanding any
recovery thereon, and that until the policy is revoked as herein provided,
the insurance company will not be relieved from liability on account
of nonpayment of premium, failure to renew the license at the end
of the year or any act or omission of the named insured. Any insurance
company whose policy has been so filed pursuant to this section may
file a notice with the legislative body of its intention to terminate
and cancel such policy and give notice thereof to the named licensee;
whereupon, after 10 days after such filing, such licensee or owner
shall cease to operate or cause to be operated within the City such
taxicab for hire, and the license issued therefor shall be automatically
revoked and liability on such policy shall cease and terminate, provided
that the liability of the insurance company thereon for any act or
omission of the licensee or owner occurring prior to the effective
date of cancellation shall not be thereby discharged or impaired.
[Amended 4-13-1992 by Ord. No. 554]
All owner-licensees shall make the taxicab business
their principal occupation and shall on all secular days, unless good
cause shall be shown therefor, furnish regularly scheduled service,
it being the purpose of this provision to ensure to the City the operation
of taxicabs by licensees who will make the operation of taxicabs their
principal occupation and to prevent the operation of taxicabs by persons
who operate taxicabs as a sideline or additional occupation to their
chief occupation. All owner-licensees shall permit examination of
their employment and work records when necessary for any investigation.