(A) No certificate shall be issued to any owner or operator of a taxicab by the city for operation within the city unless such owner or operator shall operate a minimum of two five-passenger vehicles in such business; provided, however, that the minimum number imposed by this section will not apply to those owners and operators who were licensed before September 21, 1953, and whose certificates have been continuously renewed since that date.
(B) No certificate shall be issued to any owner or operator of a taxicab by the city for operation within the city without a finding that the public convenience and necessity warrants such issuance. The City Council shall be charged with making a finding of public convenience and necessity and directing the City Clerk to issue such certificate if it is found that the circumstances warrant. Such finding shall be made at any meeting of the City Council.
(C) The City Council may deny an application for a certificate for any of the following reasons:
(1) Whenever in its sole judgment based on the facts and circumstances, a determination is reached that issuance of the certificate would not be in the best interest of the public or that any increase in the number of authorized taxicabs would be detrimental to the public welfare.
(2) Whenever an applicant has submitted incomplete or false information on an application for a certificate.
(3) Whenever it is determined that an applicant or any principal in the applicant's company or any officer or manager within the company:
(a) Has been convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere to the violation of any law involving a sex offense, soliciting for prostitution, or the manufacturing or distribution of any drug classified as a controlled substance; or
(b) Has been convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere to the violation of any law involving illegal drugs or controlled substances other than those offenses listed in division (C)(3)(a) above, gambling, or a crime involving moral turpitude in the five years preceding the application; or
(c) Is on parole or probation for a criminal offense.
(D) Certificates may be suspended or revoked as follows:
(1) The City Council, or its designee, may suspend certificates of public convenience and necessity for such period of time as is necessary for the correction of a violation any failure of duty or obligation arising under this chapter.
(2) The City Council, or its designee, shall revoke all of the certificates held by any individual or entity whenever reliable information is discovered which was not available at the time of approval of the issuance of the certificate, if such information would have provided grounds for denial of the application pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
(3) The City Council, or its designee, shall revoke all of the certificates held by any individual or entity whenever it is discovered that, subsequent to the issuance of the certificate, events have occurred which would provide grounds to deny a future application for a permit.
(‘90 Code, § 22-8) (Ord. passed 3-12-79; Am. Ord. 2010-17, passed 12-13-10)