The city council finds as follows:
A. Taxicabs provide an essential component of the public transit system that serves the city. A well functioning taxi system can help the city's efforts to spur downtown and transit oriented development by making it realistic to live and work without a private automobile or a second car. Taxi service can be a valuable resource for visitors, business people, and patrons of bars, clubs, restaurants and stores. At the same time, taxis can also assist those who do not have a car for reasons of income, age, disability or simply personal choice.
B. Taxicabs are operated by private companies that utilize the public rights-of-way to advertise and deliver their services. Left unregulated, the competitive and transient nature of the business can result in predatory, discriminatory, fraudulent and dangerous conduct. Therefore, appropriate regulation of taxicab companies, taxicab drivers and their operations must be in place to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.
C. The city's administration of taxicab regulations should not unduly burden the taxicab industry; however, the protection of the public health, safety and welfare shall be deemed paramount in the enforcement and interpretation of taxicab regulations. (Ord. 2010-028 § 2)