(A) Any person, firm or corporation that desires to have an application considered for the operation of a taxicab business within the corporate limits must first apply to the City Council through the City Manager in writing on a form prescribed by the city and make proper oath to all the information and matters therein contained and have the same approved by the City Council.
(B) In deciding whether or not to grant the franchise, the City Council shall consider the public need for additional service, the increased traffic congestion, parking space requirements and whether or not the safe use of the streets by the public, both vehicular and pedestrian, will be preserved by the granting of an additional taxicab franchise. In no event shall the number of taxicabs exceed one per 400 population within the corporate limits according to the last official census. Those persons already operating taxicabs when this code is adopted shall not be required to make applications under this section, but shall be required to comply with all of the other provisions hereof.
(1989 Code, § 9-402)