(A) No permit to operate a taxicab or limousine shall be issued by the City Secretary until the Council shall, after a hearing, find that the public convenience and necessity require the proposed taxicab or limousine service for which application for permits is made; provided, however, that such declaration of public necessity shall not be necessary in the following instances:
(1) For the authorizing of the same number of taxicabs or limousines authorized for the operation and operated by the applicant under the same name on the date of the passage of this chapter, or the renewal of the same number of permits annually thereafter, provided that such permits as have become invalid for nonuser, as hereinafter provided, shall not be renewed.
(2) For the renewal of permits to the applicant for the number of taxicabs or limousines which the Council shall have approved at any time prior to the application for such renewal, after a finding of public convenience and necessity; provided, however, such taxicabs or limousines shall have been duly authorized and operated by such applicant during the year next prior to that for which such renewal is sought and such permit has not become invalid for nonuser.
(B) In determining whether public convenience and necessity require the authorizing of taxicabs or limousines for which application may be made, the Council shall take into consideration whether the demands for public convenience and necessity require such proposed or additional taxicab or limousine service within the city; the financial and moral responsibility and character of the applicant, the number, kind, type, and ownership of equipment, and the color scheme to be used by the applicant, if applicable; the increased traffic congestion of the streets of the city which may result and whether the safe use of the streets of the city both vehicular and pedestrian, will be unduly endangered by the granting of such additional permit; and such other relevant facts as the Council may deem advisable or necessary which may throw light on the public necessity and convenience.
(Ord. 94-36, passed 8-23-94)