4.73.020   TAXICAB FRANCHISES - PURPOSE AND DECLARATIONS.
   .010   It is declared and determined that the operation of taxicabs affects the health, safety and general welfare of the residents of the City. The operation of taxicabs requires that a high level of trust and confidence by the traveling public be established and maintained in the equipment, personnel and procedures used for providing taxicab service. Such services are determined to be necessary for the use of residents who do not drive personal vehicles for obtaining the necessities of life and for the efficient movement of guests and visitors about the City. Maintaining the vital role of taxicabs in the overall transportation assets of the City requires that only those taxicab owners and drivers who have demonstrated that they possess the facilities, control systems and knowledgeable personnel to protect the interests of the City and the traveling public be authorized to provide taxicab service within the City. Therefore, it is a purpose of this chapter to adopt procedures to regulate this service to the community as authorized pursuant to Section 1400 of the Charter of the City.
   .020   It is also recognized that the City is required to adopt and implement a mechanism to promote the safe and efficient transportation of residents and visitors and that the City may impose fees to fund the cost of this effort and to augment the funds available for assuring the quality of taxicab service and enforcing the standards promulgated by the City.
   .030   The electors of the City, by the adoption of Article XIV of the City Charter, elected to implement the home rule provisions of Article XI of the Constitution of the State of California as to municipal affairs and, because the granting of nonexclusive franchises of the nature referred to herein are within the class of actions designated as municipal affairs, the City Council hereby declares that the provisions of this chapter, together with the provisions of the Charter of the City, shall constitute the exclusive procedure for the granting of franchises for the operation of taxicabs and shall supersede any otherwise applicable provisions of this Code. (Ord. 5765 § 1; April 24, 2001: Ord. 6456 § 1 (part); January 15, 2019.)