§ 13-2-404. RECOMMENDATION ON FRANCHISE APPLICATION.

(A)

The city manager shall recommend to the council that the council grant or deny the taxicab franchise application. In evaluating a taxicab franchise application, the city manager may consider the following:

(1)

the service proposed;

(2)

the number, kinds, and types of equipment to be used by the applicant;

(3)

whether the applicant has demonstrated the public necessity and convenience for the taxicab franchise;

(4)

the effect of the proposed taxicab service on existing taxicab services;

(5)

the applicant's financial ability to provide the proposed service;

(6)

the ground transportation service experience of an applicant and of any partner or person having an interest in the business if a partnership, and all officers, directors, and majority stock holders if a corporation;

(7)

convictions, if any, of applicants, their officers, shareholders, or partners, for misdemeanor or felony crimes that directly relate to the duties and responsibilities of operating a taxicab business;

(8)

whether a holder has continued to employ, contract with, or sponsor an individual that is not a safe and reliable driver as reflected by the official Texas Department of Public Safety records, other applicable traffic enforcement agency records, if applicable, or by the individual's criminal record;

(9)

whether a previous operating authority or taxicab franchise has been revoked; and

(10)

for the transfer of a franchise permit, the requirements of Section 13-2-402(B) ( City Council Approval Required; General Standards; Franchise Permit Transfer ).

(B)

In evaluating a taxicab franchise application, the city manager must consider the following:

(1)

the accuracy of the applicant's data reports;

(2)

the quality of dispatch services;

(3)

the applicant's compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990;

(4)

the fuel efficiency of the applicant's fleet; and

(5)

any and all fees the applicant charges to drivers;

(C)

The city manager may not recommend that the council grant a franchise application unless the requirements of this chapter have been met.

(D)

If the city manager recommends denial of a taxicab franchise application, the city manager shall include the reason for that recommendation. A copy of the recommendation shall be provided to the applicant.

Source: 1992 Code Section 8-13-304; Ord. 031106-13; Ord. 031211-11; Ord. 20070405-013; Ord. No. 20141106-054, Pts. 15, 16, 11-17-14 ; Ord. No. 20150604-055, Pt. 11, 6-15-15 .