Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Jonathan Douglass, City Clerk/Assistant to the City Manager
DATE:	October 30, 2013
RE:	Taxicab license

Background

The Taxicab License for Christopher Turner, doing business as Party on Wheels, was to be considered on the City Commission’s consent agenda on 10/22/13. Representatives of two competing taxicab companies appeared before the City Commission and requested that the investigation called for in Section 6-605 of the City Code be conducted, and that the license be denied. They expressed concern that the city is issuing too many taxicab licenses. There are currently 5 taxicab companies, with a total of 18 vehicles, licensed by the City of Lawrence. Section 6-605 reads as follows:

6-605                INVESTIGATION BY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. 

In determining whether or not a license shall be issued to an applicant hereunder, the Board of Commissioners shall take into consideration the systems of transportation already operating, the probable congestion of traffic with an additional system of transportation, the question of whether or not the existing systems of transportation are rendering the services required to meet the needs of the public and all other facts which are necessary to determine whether or not public convenience and necessity require the operation of additional taxicab service within the corporate limits of the City.  The Board of Commissioners shall likewise make such investigation as it may deem advisable as to the moral and physical fitness of such person to operate such taxicabs.

No application shall be denied without first giving the applicant an opportunity to be heard before the Board of Commissioners or a duly appointed committee.

Rather than deny the license, the Commission deferred its consideration in order to allow the applicant to be notified and have the opportunity to appear before the City Commission.

Conclusion and Recommendation

City Clerk’s Office and City Attorney’s Office staff are currently rewriting this code regarding taxicabs, which dates back to at least 1957. In staff’s opinion, the purpose of city licensing should be to protect public health, safety, and welfare, not to regulate the number of businesses or limit competition. Any potential changes to the City Code regulating taxicabs would be considered by the City Commission at a future date. In the meantime, staff recommends approval of the taxicab license for Christopher Turner, doing business as Party on Wheels.