It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a taxicab within the city unless such person shall have been granted a franchise to do so in accordance with the terms of the charter of the city and this article.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 30, Sec. 30-10)
Any franchise required by the preceding section will be subject to forfeiture and cancellation upon conviction for violations of this article or upon proper showing that the holder has substantially breached the terms of the franchise.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 30, Sec. 30-11)
The franchise will become subject to forfeiture and cancellation upon the holder thereof becoming delinquent in the payment of ad valorem taxes upon any vehicle, equipment or other property of the holder used or operated directly or indirectly in connection with the taxicab service, and no holder will use or permit to be used any vehicles, equipment or other property directly or indirectly in connection with taxicab service for which the ad valorem taxes due and owing from all said properties are not paid.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 30, Sec. 30-12)
Every person desiring to operate a taxicab service in the city shall make application in writing to the city; and said application shall be verified under oath, shall be filed with the city secretary and shall furnish the following information:
(1) 
Name and address of the applicant, together with the form of business under which the taxicab or taxicabs will be operated and the full identification including citizenship of all persons directly interested in the requested franchise. If the proposed form of business is a partnership or corporation, a copy of the partnership agreement or articles of incorporation must be attached.
(2) 
A complete balance sheet showing all of the assets and all of the liabilities of the applicant, including the amounts of all unpaid judgments against the applicant and the nature of the transaction or acts giving rise to said judgments.
(3) 
The past experience, if any, that the applicant has had in rendering taxicab service or in the transportation of passengers and whether or not said applicant has ever had any permit or franchise issued to him that has been revoked and, if so, circumstances of such revocation.
(4) 
The number of vehicles proposed to be operated by the applicant under the requested franchise. A complete description of the taxicabs proposed to be operated together with a description of the proposed operation; including location of terminals, sub-terminals, etc.
(5) 
Any additional facts which the applicant believes will tend to prove that public convenience and necessity require the granting of the requested franchise.
(6) 
Such further information as the city manager or city council may require.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 30, Sec. 30-13)
Before any franchise to operate taxicabs in the city will be granted by the city council, the city council shall hold a hearing to consider whether the public convenience and necessity require the proposed taxicab service for which application is made. If the public convenience and necessity do not require the proposed taxicab service, as finally determined from investigations and from the hearing, no franchise for such additional taxicab service will be granted by the city council.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 30, Sec. 30-14)
Upon the filing of an application, the city council shall fix a time and place for the hearings on the application. Notice of such hearing shall be given in writing to the applicant and to all persons holding franchises for taxicab services in the city. Due notice shall be given to the public by publication in the newspaper published in the city not less than ten (10) nor more than twenty (20) days prior to the date of the hearing. The city council may receive any evidence, hear testimony and may call witnesses as in its discretion it may deem advisable in order to make its determination of whether a franchise should be granted or denied.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 30, Sec. 30-15)
In the hearing provided for herein, the burden of proof shall be upon the applicant to establish by clear, cogent, and convincing evidence that the public convenience and necessity require such operation of the taxicab service for which application has been made and that the applicant is fit, able, and willing to perform such transportation of persons and property by taxicab as proposed in the application.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 30, Sec. 30-16)
If the city council finds that the request for additional taxicab service in the city is required by the public convenience and necessity and that the applicant is fit, willing and able to perform such public transportation and to conform to the provisions of this chapter and the rules established by, the city manager, then the city council shall issue a franchise to the applicant; otherwise, the application shall be denied. In making the above findings the city council may take into consideration:
(1) 
The number of taxicabs already in operation;
(2) 
Whether existing transportation is adequate to meet the public need;
(3) 
The probable effect of increased service on local traffic conditions;
(4) 
Whether the increased service would result in ruinous competition;
(5) 
The effect on working conditions and wages paid to drivers of taxicabs;
(6) 
Whether the additional service requested cannot best be rendered by the existing taxicab operators;
(7) 
The resulting effect upon the business of the existing taxicab operators and upon the existing agencies of mass transportation, if any; and
(8) 
The character, experience and responsibility of the applicant, and such other relevant facts as the city council may deem advisable, pertinent or necessary to aid in determining whether public convenience and necessity require the issuance of the requested franchise.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 30, Sec. 30-17)
Any person holding a taxicab franchise in the city is required to comply with all the applicable terms and provisions of this article, and all amendments hereafter made during the term of the grant.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 30, Sec. 30-18)
Every holder will keep and maintain complete records of all physical properties, daily records and revenues segregated by drivers and vehicles and daily manifests of all drivers.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 30, Sec. 30-19)
Every holder will own, lease, contract for or otherwise legally control every taxicab used in the service for which the franchise is authorized.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 30, Sec. 30-20)
No grant, right or privilege, whether by franchise or otherwise, afforded any person under the terms and provisions of this article shall be transferable to any other person without written application to the city for such transfer and approval thereof by action of the city council.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 30, Sec. 30-21)
Each holder of a taxicab franchise under the provisions of this article shall pay to the city a fee as set by the city council and on file with the office of the city secretary; which fee shall be payable by holder to the city for each year, or any lesser part thereof. Each holder shall file with the city secretary on or before the 10th day of January of each year a statement in writing, under oath, signed by said holder showing the make, model, motor number, and state license number of each vehicle being operated by him as a taxicab under the terms of this article, along with the appropriate annual fee.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 30, Sec. 30-22)