(a) Applications for certificates shall be filed with the Director on forms approved by him. Such application shall contain a statement of the name and address of the applicant, the character of the business to be transacted, the kind of equipment, the number of taxicabs to be used, the conditions of the equipment, and such other facts as may be required by the Director.
(b) Whenever any applicant for a certificate shall have complied with all conditions and regulations relative to the filing of the application, it shall be the duty of the Director to forward the application to Council at its next regular meeting. Such application may be granted by Council or referred to such committee of Council as the President of Council may determine for the purpose of having a hearing thereon to determine the public convenience and necessity as hereinafter set forth.
(c) Notice of such hearing as prescribed by the committee shall be given by mail or publication at least five days before the date set for such hearing.
(d) After such hearing before the committee of Council to which such application has been referred, the committee shall report its findings and recommendations to Council. If Council grants such application, the action of Council shall be communicated in writing by the Clerk to the Director. Upon receipt of such written communication, and upon compliance by such taxicab company with the requirements of this chapter, as hereinafter set forth, the Director shall issue a certificate.
(e) At the time of the issuance of such certificate and annually thereafter, or before December 31 of each calendar year, every taxicab company now operating or which shall hereafter operate in the City shall pay to the Director a fee as provided by ordinance for each taxicab to be operated by it for the ensuing year, which fee shall be in addition to the fee required to be paid on motor vehicles under the laws of the State, and in addition to the driver's license fee as required by the provisions hereof. Any taxicab company operating fifty cabs or more shall be entitled to a certificate to be known as a fleet certificate for a fee as provided by ordinance.
(f) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to mean that there shall be any refund of any license fee so paid in case any taxicab is taken off the street and not thereafter operated by such company.
(g) In the event an application for a certificate has been filed and considered by Council as hereinbefore provided and, in the further event such application for a certificate is rejected, then no application by the same taxicab company shall be considered or granted within a period of six months next following the date of such rejection. (Ord. 113-1959. Passed 10-12-59.)