A. The rates charged by a ground transportation company for taxicab service shall be set by the city council. The department shall review submittals by taxicab companies for taxicab rates and the department director shall recommend to the city council the rate structure and extras allowed to be charged for taxicab service.
1. Unless otherwise provided for in a department contract, each taxicab business may file with the department periodically, but no more often than every three (3) months, a statement regarding the adequacy of the existing maximum rates. Said statement shall state whether, in the opinion of the person submitting the statement, the existing maximum rates are at an appropriate level, or whether such rates should be increased or decreased. If the statement indicates existing rates should be increased, the person submitting the statement shall supplement the statement with documentation in support of such increase, such as evidence of increased operating costs, insurance costs, costs of living, fares charged for competing ground transportation services, and any other relevant information.
2. Upon receipt of a statement regarding the adequacy of existing rates, the department director may authorize a temporary increase in rates, not to exceed six (6) months, to account for increased operating costs, insurance costs, costs of living, fares charged for competing ground transportation services, or other factors documented in a rate statement.
3. If the department director authorizes a temporary rate increase, the statement and other information justifying the increase shall be submitted to the city council for review and consideration of a permanent rate increase.
B. Every taxicab shall have printed on the outside of the cab, in a conspicuous place and of sufficient size, legibility, and in such manner as to be plainly visible to all prospective passengers, all rates and extras in effect for such taxicab. All such rates and extras shall also be posted on the inside of the taxicab in such a manner as to be plainly visible to all passengers.
C. No taxicab or taxicab business shall charge any fee or payment for the use of a taxicab within the city without the prior approval of the city council or department director, as provided in this chapter.
D. The driver of any taxicab shall render to every passenger a receipt for the amount charged, on which shall be the name of the taxicab business, taxicab number, the date and time the fare was initiated and completed, the miles charged, extras added to the fare, and the total amount of meter reading or charges. (Ord. 67-14, 2014)