Cross references—Refusal to restore service upon request considered grounds for revocation of license, § 26-6.
No person shall engage in the business of operating a taxicab within the city without first obtaining a license in writing to do so from the city.
(Code 1957, § 6611; Ord. No. 96-36, § 3, 11-20-96)
An applicant for a license required by this article shall file with the city a verified statement setting forth the following information:
(1) 
The nature of the business the applicant wishes to conduct.
(2) 
The number, condition, capacity, description and safety of the vehicles intended to be operated.
(3) 
Such additional information as the city deems proper as a basis for consideration of applications and the responsibilities and qualifications of applicants.
(Code 1957, § 6613; Ord. No. 96-36, § 4, 11-20-96)
The city may refuse to issue a license required by this article to any applicant whose responsibilities, qualifications or methods of operating its business does not comply with the standards and requirements as determined by the city.
(Code 1957, § 6614; Ord. No. 96-36, § 6, 11-20-96)
No license required by this article shall be issued unless the applicant's taxicabs conform with the provisions of this chapter or unless such taxicabs have been licensed to operate prior to the effective date of this section.
(Code 1957, §§ 6612, 6624.1(a); Ord. No. 96-36, §§ 2, 8, 11-20-96)
(a) 
Before a license required by this article is issued, the owner of the taxicabs for which the license is requested shall deliver the taxicabs to a place designated by the city manager for inspection.
(b) 
The city manager shall designate agents to make inspections of the taxicabs, their equipment and taximeters to ascertain whether such taxicabs comply with the provisions of this chapter.
(Code 1957, § 6624.2(a))
(a) 
A licensee shall, at all times during the duration of the license, provide and maintain, at its own cost, insurance against claims for injuries to persons or damages to property, which may arise from or in connection with the licensee's operation and use of a taxicab. The following insurance coverage is required:
(1) 
General Liability Insurance. Occurrence basis with minimum limits of one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) each occurrence and two million dollars ($2,000,000.00) general aggregate; and
(2) 
Automobile liability insurance of $350,000 combined single-limit per accident for bodily injury and property damage; and
(3) 
Workers' compensation and employer's liability insurance as required by the California Labor Code, as amended, or certificate of sole proprietorship.
(b) 
Each insurance policy above must be acceptable to the city attorney.
(c) 
Each policy must provide for written notice within no more than 30 days if cancellation or termination of the policy occurs. Insurance coverage must be provided by an A.M. Best's A-rated, class V carrier or better, admitted in California, or if non-admitted, a company that is not on the Department of Insurance list of unacceptable carriers. All non-admitted carriers will be required to provide a service of suit endorsement in addition to the additional insured endorsement.
(d) 
Both the general liability and the automobile liability policies must name the city specifically as an additional insured under the policy on a separate endorsement page. The city includes its officials, employees, and volunteers. The endorsement must be ISO Form CG 20 10 11 85 edition or its equivalent for general liability endorsements and CA 20 01 for automobile liability endorsements.
(e) 
The general liability policy must be as broad as ISO Form CG0001 and protect the city against liability for loss or damages for personal injury, death and property damage arising from or in connection to the licensee's operation and use of the taxicab.
(f) 
The general liability policy must be primary and noncontributory and any insurance maintained by the city is excess.
(g) 
The auto liability policy must cover all owned, non-owned, and hired auto and must provide coverage as broad as ISO Form CA0001.
(Code 1957, § 6624(b); Ord. No. 78-13, § 1, 4-12-78; Ord. No. 85-60, § 4, 8-21-85; Ord. No. 2008-31, § 3, 11-19-08; Ord. No. 2018-10, § 1, 5-9-18)
Licenses issued in accordance with the provisions of this article shall be restricted to the applicant to whom such license is issued and shall not be subject to transfer to any other person, firm, entity, or corporation.
(Code 1957, § 6617; Ord. No. 96-36, § 10, 11-20-96)
After the service for which a license is granted is discontinued, or if the person sells or discontinues the business, the license granted shall be automatically canceled and shall be reissued only in accordance with the provisions of this article.
(Code 1957, § 6618; Ord. No. 96-36, § 11, 11-20-96)
Licensees shall pay to the city an annual primary license fee of $50 and an additional annual license fee of $20 for each additional taxicab operated by him under the provisions of this article. Such fees shall be payable annually in advance.
(Code 1957, §§ 6631, 6632)
In the event of any license issued pursuant to this article is revoked under any provisions herein, or a licensee ceases operation under his license, no part of the license fees so paid in advance shall be refunded or repaid by the city to the licensee for any unexpired term covered by the revoked license or by reason of such cessation of operation.
(Code 1957, § 6633)