3. REVIEW OF TAXI bY-LAW – VARIOUS AMENDMENTS

EXAMEN DU rEglementS Municipal sur les taxis – PLUSIEURS MODIFICATIONS

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

That Council:

1. Re-enact the Taxi By-law (By-law No. 2005-481, as amended), as well as approve specific amendments thereto, as summarized below and detailed in Document 1, to take effect September 1, 2012:

a) increase the maximum age limit for a taxicab from seven (7) to eight (8) model years, and the maximum age limit for replacement vehicles from four (4) to five (5) model years;

b) require that all taxicabs be inspected in the Fall and that those taxicabs which are older than five (5) model years be inspected in both the Spring and the Fall;

c) permit all accessible plate holders to transfer or sell their plates after five (5) years from the date of initial issuance or from the transfer date, and repeal the requirement for them to be the primary driver on the plate;

d) not issue any additional accessible taxicab plates until the plate/population ratio warrants it and, when that is the case, authorize the Chief License Inspector to re-commence issuance accordingly;

e) replace the requirement for all licensed taxicab drivers to attend a refresher course with enhanced customer service training for drivers where the Chief License Inspector deems it appropriate and that delegated authority be granted the Chief License Inspector to so require;

f) reflect the requirements and language used in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and Regulations under the Act, (e.g. the prohibition from charging a fee for the storage of mobility aids or mobility assistive devices);

g) require that the vehicle identification number on all taxicabs be in Arial 600 font;

h) require that all accessible taxicab drivers be required to provide accessible taxicab service in all areas of the City of Ottawa with the following stipulations:

i. service is to be provided for disabled persons who are registered with Para Transpo or with a community support agency;

ii. the transport of passengers is between the unregulated (rural) area and the regulated area, and vice versa, only; and

iii. the fare will be the amount shown on the meter or $30.00, whichever is greater;

i) establish a License Transfer Fee of $3800 per plate upon the death of a plate holder with two or more plates to be transferred;

j) require, as a condition of issuance or renewal of a license, that all applicants and licensees have duly paid all fines imposed under the Provincial Offences Act;

k) effect various administrative and minor policy amendments, and clarifications, including the addition of definitions and of the ability of the Chief License Inspector to impose such additional conditions with respect to the issuance or renewal of a license, as he or she deems necessary to ensure public safety (including passengers and drivers) and consumer protection; and

Delegate authority to staff to prepare a new, consolidated by-law, including the above-noted amendments, to place on the Agenda of a future Council meeting.

2. Direct staff to:

a) review the licensing and regulation of companies which transport both the person and the person’s vehicle for a fee;

b) review the current limousine licensing regulations to ensure that limousine operators do not operate as illegal or “bandit” taxicabs;

c) partner with the City’s Public Works Department to develop amendments to the Traffic and Parking By-law to permit occupied taxicabs to park in spaces adjacent to fire hydrants in order to increase the number of taxi stand spaces, particularly in the city’s core areas;

d) consider, the inclusion of a prohibition on the advertising or promotion of illegal taxicabs by businesses licensed under that by-law. as part of the Business Licensing By-law review

RecommandationS DU Comité

Que le Conseil :

1. Rétablisse la version modifiée du Règlement sur les services de taxi (Règlement municipal n^o 2005-481) et d’approuver les modifications précises résumées ci-dessous (décrites dans le document 1), lesquelles entreront en vigueur le 1^er septembre 2012 :

a) Repousse l’âge limite des taxis de sept (7) à huit (8) années modèle et l’âge limite des véhicules de rechange de quatre (4) à cinq (5) années modèle.

b) Exige que tous les taxis soient inspectés en automne et que les taxis de plus de cinq (5) années modèle soient inspectés au printemps ainsi qu’à l’automne.

c) Permet le transfert et la vente de plaques d’immatriculation pour taxis accessibles cinq (5) années modèle après la date d’octroi ou de transfert précédente et supprimer l’obligation selon laquelle le propriétaire de la plaque doit être le conducteur principal.

d) Suspens l’octroi de nouvelles plaques pour taxis accessibles jusqu’à ce que la proportion de taxis par résidents l’exige et lorsque ce sera le cas, permettre à l’inspecteur en chef des permis de relancer l’octroi de plaques.

e) Supprime l’obligation pour tous les chauffeurs de taxi autorisés de suivre des cours de recyclage et donner à l’inspecteur en chef des permis le pouvoir d’exiger que les chauffeurs qui, selon lui, en ont besoin, suivent des formations approfondies sur le service à la clientèle.

f) Tiens compte des exigences ainsi que des termes de la Loi de 2005 sur l’accessibilité pour les personnes handicapées de l’Ontario et de ses règlements (ex. : l’interdiction d’exiger des frais pour le rangement d’une aide à la mobilité ou d’un appareil ou accessoire fonctionnel de mobilité).

g) Exige que le numéro d’identification de tous les taxis soit en Arial 600.

h) Exige que les chauffeurs de taxis accessibles se rendent disponibles dans tous les secteurs de la ville d’Ottawa, selon les stipulations suivantes :

i. Le service sera offert aux personnes handicapées inscrites à Para Transpo ou à un organisme de soutien communautaire.

ii. Le transport se fera entre la région non règlementée (rurale) et la région règlementée seulement.

iii. Les tarifs correspondront soit au montant indiqué au compteur, soit à 30,00 $ (c’est-à-dire, le montant le plus élevé).

i) Établisse des frais de transfert de licence de 3 800 $ par plaque lors du décès d’un propriétaire de deux plaques ou plus.

j) Exige, comme condition à l’octroi ou au renouvellement d’un permis, que tous les demandeurs et les propriétaires de permis aient payé toute amende imposée en vertu de la Loi sur les infractions provinciales.

k) Apporte des clarifications ainsi que de légères modifications administratives aux politiques, comme ajouter des définitions et autoriser l’inspecteur en chef des permis à imposer les conditions supplémentaires à l’octroi ou au renouvellement du permis qu’il jugera nécessaire afin d’assurer la sécurité de la population (y compris les passagers et les chauffeurs) et la protection des consommateurs; et

Donner au personnel la responsabilité de rédiger un nouveau règlement regroupant les modifications citées ci-dessus, lequel serait soumis à l’ordre du jour d’une prochaine réunion du Conseil.

2. Demande au personnel :

a) de réviser les processus d’octroi des permis et la réglementation visant les entreprises qui transportent, pour un prix, des personnes ainsi que leurs véhicules;

b) de réviser les présents règlements sur la délivrance de permis pour les limousines, afin d’empêcher les chauffeurs de se servir des limousines comme taxis illégaux ou « pirates »;

c) d’entrer en partenariat avec les Service des travaux publics de la Ville pour modifier le Règlement sur la circulation et le stationnement, de façon à permettre aux taxis transportant des passagers de se stationner à proximité des bornes‑fontaines, ce qui augmentera le nombre d’espaces de stationnement dans les stations de taxis, surtout dans les régions centrales de la ville;

d) d’envisager, au cours de la révision du Règlement sur les permis d’entreprise, la possibilité d’interdire aux entreprises assujetties à ce règlement de faire la publicité ou la promotion de taxis illégaux.

Documentation

1. Deputy City Manager, City Operations’ report dated 22 March 2012 (ACS2012-COS-EPS-0018).

2. Extract of Draft Minutes, Community and Protective Services Committee meeting of 22 March 2012.

Report to/Rapport au:

Community and Protective Services Committee

Comité des services communautaires et de protection

and Council / et au Conseil

22 March 2012/le 22 mars 2012

Submitted by/Soumis par : Steve Kanellakos, Deputy City Manager/Directeur municipal adjoint, City Operations/Opérations municipales

Contact Person/Personne ressource : Linda Anderson, Chief, By-law and Regulatory Services / Chef, Services des règlements municipaux

Emergency and Protective Services/Services de protection et d'urgence

(613) 580-2424 x29257, Linda.Anderson@ottawa.ca

City Wide/à l'échelle de la Ville

Ref N°:ACS2012-COS-EPS-0018

SUBJECT:	REVIEW OF TAXI bY-LAW – VARIOUS AMENDMENTS
OBJET :	EXAMEN DU rEglementS Municipal sur les taxis – PLUSIEURS MODIFICATIONS

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

That the Community and Protective Services Committee recommend that Council:

1. Re-enact the Taxi By-law (By-law No. 2005-481, as amended), as well as approve specific amendments thereto, as summarized below and detailed in Document 1, to take effect September 1, 2012:

a) increase the maximum age limit for a taxicab from seven (7) to eight (8) model years, and the maximum age limit for replacement vehicles from four (4) to five (5) model years;

b) require that all taxicabs be inspected in the Fall and that those taxicabs which are older than five (5) model years be inspected in both the Spring and the Fall;

c) permit all accessible plate holders to transfer or sell their plates after five (5) years from the date of initial issuance or from the transfer date, and repeal the requirement for them to be the primary driver on the plate;

d) not issue any additional accessible taxicab plates until the plate/population ratio warrants it and, when that is the case, authorize the Chief License Inspector to re-commence issuance accordingly;

e) replace the requirement for all licensed taxicab drivers to attend a refresher course with enhanced customer service training for drivers where the Chief License Inspector deems it appropriate and that delegated authority be granted the Chief License Inspector to so require;

f) reflect the requirements and language used in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and Regulations under the Act, (e.g. the prohibition from charging a fee for the storage of mobility aids or mobility assistive devices);

g) require that the vehicle identification number on all taxicabs be in Arial 600 font;

h) require that all accessible taxicab drivers be required to provide accessible taxicab service in all areas of the City of Ottawa with the following stipulations:

i. service is to be provided for disabled persons who are registered with Para Transpo or with a community support agency;

ii. the transport of passengers is between the unregulated (rural) area and the regulated area, and vice versa, only; and

iii. the fare will be the amount shown on the meter or $30.00, whichever is greater;

i) establish a License Transfer Fee of $3800 per plate upon the death of a plate holder with two or more plates to be transferred;

j) require, as a condition of issuance or renewal of a license, that all applicants and licensees have duly paid all fines imposed under the Provincial Offences Act;

k) effect various administrative and minor policy amendments, and clarifications, including the addition of definitions and of the ability of the Chief License Inspector to impose such additional conditions with respect to the issuance or renewal of a license, as he or she deems necessary to ensure public safety (including passengers and drivers) and consumer protection; and

Delegate authority to staff to prepare a new, consolidated by-law, including the above-noted amendments, to place on the Agenda of a future Council meeting.

2. Direct staff to:

a. review the licensing and regulation of companies which transport both the person and the person’s vehicle for a fee;

b. review the current limousine licensing regulations to ensure that limousine operators do not operate as illegal or “bandit” taxicabs;

c. partner with the City’s Public Works Department to develop amendments to the Traffic and Parking By-law to permit occupied taxicabs to park in spaces adjacent to fire hydrants in order to increase the number of taxi stand spaces, particularly in the city’s core areas;

d. consider, the inclusion of a prohibition on the advertising or promotion of illegal taxicabs by businesses licensed under that by-law. as part of the Business Licensing By-law review

RECOMMANDATIONS DU RAPPORT

Que le Comité des services communautaires et de protection recommande au Conseil :

1. De rétablir la version modifiée du Règlement sur les services de taxi (Règlement municipal n^o 2005-481) et d’approuver les modifications précises résumées ci-dessous (décrites dans le document 1), lesquelles entreront en vigueur le 1^er septembre 2012 :

a) Repousser l’âge limite des taxis de sept (7) à huit (8) années modèle et l’âge limite des véhicules de rechange de quatre (4) à cinq (5) années modèle.

b) Exiger que tous les taxis soient inspectés en automne et que les taxis de plus de cinq (5) années modèle soient inspectés au printemps ainsi qu’à l’automne.

c) Permettre le transfert et la vente de plaques d’immatriculation pour taxis accessibles cinq (5) années modèle après la date d’octroi ou de transfert précédente et supprimer l’obligation selon laquelle le propriétaire de la plaque doit être le conducteur principal.

d) Suspendre l’octroi de nouvelles plaques pour taxis accessibles jusqu’à ce que la proportion de taxis par résidents l’exige et lorsque ce sera le cas, permettre à l’inspecteur en chef des permis de relancer l’octroi de plaques.

e) Supprimer l’obligation pour tous les chauffeurs de taxi autorisés de suivre des cours de recyclage et donner à l’inspecteur en chef des permis le pouvoir d’exiger que les chauffeurs qui, selon lui, en ont besoin, suivent des formations approfondies sur le service à la clientèle.

f) Tenir compte des exigences ainsi que des termes de la Loi de 2005 sur l’accessibilité pour les personnes handicapées de l’Ontario et de ses règlements (ex. : l’interdiction d’exiger des frais pour le rangement d’une aide à la mobilité ou d’un appareil ou accessoire fonctionnel de mobilité).

g) Exiger que le numéro d’identification de tous les taxis soit en Arial 600.

h) Exiger que les chauffeurs de taxis accessibles se rendent disponibles dans tous les secteurs de la ville d’Ottawa, selon les stipulations suivantes :

i. Le service sera offert aux personnes handicapées inscrites à Para Transpo ou à un organisme de soutien communautaire.

ii. Le transport se fera entre la région non règlementée (rurale) et la région règlementée seulement.

iii. Les tarifs correspondront soit au montant indiqué au compteur, soit à 30,00 $ (c’est-à-dire, le montant le plus élevé).

i) Établir des frais de transfert de licence de 3 800 $ par plaque lors du décès d’un propriétaire de deux plaques ou plus.

j) Exiger, comme condition à l’octroi ou au renouvellement d’un permis, que tous les demandeurs et les propriétaires de permis aient payé toute amende imposée en vertu de la Loi sur les infractions provinciales.

k) Apporter des clarifications ainsi que de légères modifications administratives aux politiques, comme ajouter des définitions et autoriser l’inspecteur en chef des permis à imposer les conditions supplémentaires à l’octroi ou au renouvellement du permis qu’il jugera nécessaire afin d’assurer la sécurité de la population (y compris les passagers et les chauffeurs) et la protection des consommateurs; et

Donner au personnel la responsabilité de rédiger un nouveau règlement regroupant les modifications citées ci-dessus, lequel serait soumis à l’ordre du jour d’une prochaine réunion du Conseil.

2. Demander au personnel :

a) de réviser les processus d’octroi des permis et la réglementation visant les entreprises qui transportent, pour un prix, des personnes ainsi que leurs véhicules;

b) de réviser les présents règlements sur la délivrance de permis pour les limousines, afin d’empêcher les chauffeurs de se servir des limousines comme taxis illégaux ou « pirates »;

c) d’entrer en partenariat avec les Service des travaux publics de la Ville pour modifier le Règlement sur la circulation et le stationnement, de façon à permettre aux taxis transportant des passagers de se stationner à proximité des bornes‑fontaines, ce qui augmentera le nombre d’espaces de stationnement dans les stations de taxis, surtout dans les régions centrales de la ville;

d) d’envisager, au cours de la révision du Règlement sur les permis d’entreprise, la possibilité d’interdire aux entreprises assujetties à ce règlement de faire la publicité ou la promotion de taxis illégaux.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Municipal Act, 2001 empowers municipalities to license and regulate any business carried on within the municipality (even if the business is being carried on from a location outside the municipality), and includes the sale or hire of goods or services on an intermittent or one-time basis. The Act, as it relates to taxicab licensing, also empowers a municipality to: establish the rates or fares to be charged for the conveyance of property or passengers; to provide for the collection of the rates or fares charged for the conveyance; and, to limit the number of taxicabs or any class of them.

In 2001, and for those former municipalities where the taxi industry was regulated, their existing taxi by-laws were each amended to establish vehicle standards (including age of vehicle), driver standards, driver safety, accessible taxicab initiatives, inspection schedules, a plate/population ratio, and other post-amalgamation initiatives to streamline and improve the industry. Subsequently, Council approved the purchase of the City of Toronto’s Ambassador and Accessible Taxicab Training Courses and directed staff to adapt it to meet the needs of the City of Ottawa, Algonquin College and the Ottawa’s Taxi Industry. Council also approved a process by which plates should be issued for accessible taxicabs

In 2005, the existing by-laws were harmonized into one, with further enhancements including: a requirement that all new taxicab plates issued be for accessible taxicabs only; the establishment of 40 new accessible taxicab plate holder licenses to be issued each year until the end of 2009; an update of the plate/population ratio; the introduction of in-vehicle security cameras to take effect in 2008; a requirement that all taxicabs display their plate number on both sides of the vehicle and on the roof sign; commencing in 2006, a requirement that all new taxicab drivers successfully complete training courses to be eligible for a taxi driver license. In subsequent years, Council approved amendments to the Taxi By-law related to a variety of other aspects of the regulation.

As a result of on-going discussions with the taxi industry and given changes in legislation (e.g. Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005t and its Regulations) as well as advancements in vehicle manufacturing, it is both reasonable and timely to bring forward amendments to the Taxi By-law as outlined in the recommendations. If approved, the amendments are expected to result in better business conditions for taxi drivers and improved taxi service to the public and visitors.

As well, Council approval in principle is being sought by staff to pursue a number of related initiatives that, while not impacting on the Taxi By-law itself, may ultimately have a positive impact on the taxi industry and on taxi service generally.

Sommaire

La Loi de 2001 sur les municipalités donne aux municipalités le pouvoir d’octroyer des permis et de réglementer tout commerce exploité sur son territoire (même si ce commerce a son point d’attache ailleurs). Ce pouvoir s’applique à la vente ou à l’achat de biens ou de services, de façon intermittente ou unique. La Loi, en ce qui touche l’octroi de permis de taxis, donne également aux municipalités le pouvoir de déterminer les tarifs pour le transport de biens ou de personnes, de prévoir la perception de ces tarifs et de limiter le nombre ou les catégories de taxis.

En 2001, les règlements sur les services de taxi des anciennes municipalités où l’industrie du taxi était déjà réglementée ont tous été modifiés afin d’établir des normes pour les véhicules (entre autres, par rapport à l’âge des véhicules), les chauffeurs et leur sécurité, les initiatives de taxis accessibles, les horaires d’inspection, la proportion de taxis par habitant ainsi que pour d’autres initiatives ayant fait surface après la fusion, dans le but de simplifier et d’améliorer l’industrie. Le Conseil a ensuite approuvé l’acquisition des cours de formation sur les catégories de permis de propriétaire de taxi Ambassador et Accessible Taxicab de la Ville de Toronto et a orienté le personnel pour adapter les cours afin de mieux répondre aux besoins de la Ville d’Ottawa, du Collège Algonquin et de l’industrie du taxi de la Ville d’Ottawa. Le Conseil a également approuvé le processus par lequel les plaques de taxis accessibles doivent être octroyées.

En 2005, les différents règlements municipaux en vigueur ont été réunis en un seul, auquel se sont rajoutées d’autres améliorations : entre autres, l’obligation selon laquelle les plaques de taxis accessibles devront être les seules octroyées; l’octroi de 40 nouvelles plaques pour des taxis accessibles chaque année, et ce, jusqu'à la fin de 2009; une mise à jour de la proportion de taxis par habitant; l’intégration de caméras de sécurité à l’intérieur des véhicules, à compter de 2008; l’obligation selon laquelle les numéros de plaque devront apparaître sur les deux côtés du véhicule et sur l’enseigne sur le toit; ainsi que l’obligation selon laquelle, à compter de 2006, tout nouveau chauffeur de taxi devra réussir le cours à l’intention des chauffeurs de taxi, avant de pouvoir recevoir le permis correspondant. Dans les années qui ont suivi, le Conseil a approuvé des modifications au Règlement sur les services de taxi, en lien avec plusieurs autres aspects.

Par suite des négociations continues avec l’industrie du taxi et compte tenu des changements dans la législation (ex. : la Loi de 2005 sur l’accessibilité pour les personnes handicapées de l’Ontario et ses règlements) ainsi que des percées dans le domaine de la fabrication de véhicules, il est à propos de faire valoir les modifications proposées dans les présentes recommandations. Si elles sont approuvées, ces modifications devraient améliorer les conditions du marché du taxi et permettre aux chauffeurs d’offrir de meilleurs services aux résidents et aux visiteurs.

En outre, le personnel demande l’approbation de principe du Conseil afin d’entreprendre un certain nombre d’initiatives connexes qui n’influenceront pas le Règlement sur les services de taxi en tant que tel, mais qui pourraient bien avoir des répercussions positives pour l’industrie du taxi et ses services.

BACKGROUND

Section 151 of the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended, empowers municipalities to license and regulate any business wholly or partly carried on within the municipality even if the business is being carried on from a location outside the municipality and includes the sale or hire of goods or services on an intermittent or one-time basis. Subsection 156(1) of the Act, relating to taxicab licensing, empowers a municipality to establish the rates or fares to be charged for the conveyance of property or passengers; provide for the collection of the rates or fares charged for the conveyance; and limit the number of taxicabs or any class of them.

In June 2001 and for those former municipalities where the taxi industry was regulated, their existing taxi by-laws were each amended to establish: vehicle standards (including age of vehicle); driver standards; driver safety; accessible taxicab initiatives; inspection schedules; a plate/population ratio; and other post-amalgamation initiatives to streamline and improve the industry. Later that year, among other initiatives, Council approved the purchase of the City of Toronto’s Ambassador and Accessible Taxicab Training Courses and directed staff to adapt it to meet the needs of the City of Ottawa, Algonquin College and the Ottawa’s Taxi Industry. In November 2002, Council gave final approval to a process by which plates should be issued for accessible taxicabs

In 2005, these by-laws were incorporated into one harmonized by-law, with some further enhancements including: a requirement that all new taxicab plates issued be for accessible taxicabs only; the establishment of 40 new accessible taxicab plate holder licenses to be issued each year until the end of 2009; an update of the plate/population ratio; the introduction of in-vehicle security cameras to take effect in 2008; a requirement that all taxicabs display their plate number on both sides of the vehicle and on the roof sign; and, commencing in 2006, a requirement that all new taxicab drivers successfully complete training courses to be eligible for a taxi driver license.

In subsequent years, Council approved amendments to the Taxi By-law related to a variety of aspects of the regulation such as: the issuance of accessible taxi plates on a specified time schedule; the reconstitution of the taxi advisory committee; the frequency of police record checks for drivers; taxi fare and licensing fee adjustments; and the update of the Taxi Cost Index.

The following taxi reforms enacted by Council have resulted in improvements to taxi service:

· a move to one zone to ensure a sufficient number of taxicabs in specific areas of the City when required (e.g. entertainment areas when bars close);

· the requirement for Police Record Checks (Vulnerable Sector) every three years to ensure public safety;

· the introduction of security cameras in all taxicabs for the safety of drivers and passengers;

· the introduction of accessible taxicab service, including the establishment of a training course for accessible drivers and the requirement for all new drivers to successfully complete both the basic and accessible courses; the requirement for Brokers to have a minimum of one accessible taxicab on duty at all times; the requirement for Brokers to maintain a specific percentage of their fleet as accessible taxicabs; the requirement for Brokers to forward a request for accessible service to another Broker if they are unable to respond to the request at the time it is made;

· the requirement for accessible taxicabs to be in service a minimum of ten hours per day, five days per week;

· a mandate that all new taxi plates be issued as accessible plates;

· the requirement that all accessible taxicabs have a Global Positioning System linked into the Brokerage Dispatcher;

· the requirement that, for safety, all vans be equipped to alert the driver if an object or person is behind the van;

· the requirement for the taxi vehicle identification number to be a minimum of fifteen centimetres high and to appear on both sides of the vehicle adjacent to passenger doors to ensure that the vehicle may be easily identifiable; and

· the requirement for all taxicabs to be equipped with Wireless Point of Sale devices for payment by debit or credit cards for customer convenience.

As a result of on-going discussions with the taxi industry – drivers, owners, brokers and the taxi union – and given changes in legislation as well as advancements in vehicle manufacturing, it is both reasonable and timely to bring forward amendments to the Taxi By-law related to issues such as age of vehicles, number of plates issued, and requirements related to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) and its Regulations. As well, Council approval in principle is being sought by staff to pursue a number of related initiatives that, while not impacting on the Taxi By-law itself, may ultimately have a positive impact on the taxi industry and on taxi service to the public.

DISCUSSION

Given the extent of the amendments made to the Taxi By-law since 2005, including those being proposed in this report if approved, it is recommended that the existing by-law be re-enacted for clarity and ease of reference to create an updated regulatory instrument that is easy to use by the taxi industry, members of the public, and City staff.

Recommendation 1a) – Age of Taxicab Vehicles and Replacement Vehicles

Municipalities regulate the age of taxicab vehicles to ensure that they have up-to-date safety features and that the cars are reasonably new and in good condition. This approach is effective, easily understood and simple to enforce. The current City of Ottawa vehicle standards for taxicabs were first established in 2001. At that time, Council approved a vehicle upper age limit of seven (7) model years, consistent with the airport standard, recognizing that the airport fleet was considered to have the best vehicle standards. Additionally, to ensure relatively new vehicles are brought into service as taxicabs, a vehicle upper age limit of four (4) model years was established for any replacement taxi vehicles.

Over the past decade however, studies by a number of sources report a trend of significant improvements in the quality of vehicles, specifically:

· The J.D. Power and Associates 2011 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study reports that “…automakers continue to make steady gains in long-term vehicle quality across the board”;

· A Canadian source article entitled “Observations – Trends in Vehicle Longevity” by Dennis DesRosiers, DesRosiers Automotive Reports, indicates “…improved long term durability – regardless of nameplate origin, country of manufacture, or class of vehicle”;and

· Research by Polk, a global automotive intelligence firm, shows that in 2011, owners of cars and light trucks kept their vehicles an average of 11.1 and 10.4 years, respectively (ref. Figure 1).

Figure 1:

While these reports do support the improved quality of vehicles, it is not unusual for an Ottawa taxicab to be driven 100,000 km annually – significantly more than a personal vehicle. One would anticipate therefore, that a taxicab driver could not realistically expect his vehicle to remain operational and mechanically sound for as long as a personal vehicle. This information does however, indicate it would not be unreasonable to anticipate that taxicabs can remain in reasonably good condition for an additional year.

Based on the foregoing and recognizing that replacement of a taxicab vehicle, to ensure compliance with the age of vehicle standards, is one of the most significant costs for a taxicab driver, it is proposed that the maximum age limit for a taxicab be increased from seven (7) to eight (8) model years, and that the maximum age limit for replacement vehicles be increased from four (4) to five (5) model years.

Recommendation 1b) – Taxicab Inspections

Historically, all City of Ottawa taxicabs are inspected twice annually – in the Spring and the Fall. These inspections are intended to confirm that the vehicles are mechanically sound and that the taximeter is correctly calibrated to ensure the correct fare is charged. At each inspection, drivers must present a current valid Ontario Ministry of Transportation Safety Standards Certificate obtained at their own cost. All taxi meter rate increases and vehicle replacements are tied to the Fall inspection.

Given that the inspections are expensive and time consuming for both the By-law and Regulatory Services Branch and for the taxicab drivers, and in light of the aforementioned data demonstrating that vehicles are built better and are more durable currently, the requirement for two annual inspections for newer taxicab vehicles would appear to be unnecessary.

Therefore, it is recommended that all taxicab vehicles require an annual inspection in the Fall at a minimum, but that those taxicab vehicles which are five (5) model years or newer be exempted from the annual Spring inspection. Taxicabs which are older than five (5) model years would continue to require both the Spring and the Fall inspections to ensure safety.

The By-law and Regulatory Services Branch will continue to conduct random inspections of taxis throughout the year and can conduct vehicle inspections in response to a complaint from the public.

Recommendation 1c) – Accessible Taxicab Plate Transferability

In 2001, Council approved the release of 25 accessible taxicab plates in Ottawa. In 2002, the process – lottery and Accessible Priority List – for the allocation of said plates was approved resulting in the release of the first accessible taxicab plates in 2003. The holders of these accessible taxicab plates were permitted to transfer/sell the license after five years and have additional drivers share the plate. In 2005, Council approved the issuance of 40 additional accessible taxicab plates annually, starting in 2006 until the end of 2009, for a total of 185 accessible taxicab plates to be in service by 2010. By the end of 2006, a total of 65 accessible taxicab plates had been released and were in service.

In 2007, further amendments to the Taxi By-law were enacted to ensure reliable on-demand accessible taxicab service to persons with mobility challenges. Amendments approved at that time required that all future accessible taxicab plate holders be the primary driver and prohibited the transfer/sale of those taxicab plates, the rationale at that time being that these requirements would create commitment to and therefore improve service.

Currently, of the 185 accessible taxicab plates approved for release, 173 have been claimed by qualified drivers and are in service. Based largely on a very low number of complaints, Ottawa’s on-demand accessible taxicab service appears to be meeting the community needs. As well, business partnerships with Para Transpo are augmenting public transportation options for persons with disabilities while creating efficiencies for the City. Further, amendments to the Taxi By-law in 2007, which placed a greater onus on the taxi brokers to ensure reliable accessible service, have served to significantly improve the reliability of accessible taxicab service.

It is acknowledged that holders of accessible taxicab plates bear significantly higher costs than holders of standard plates, such as higher insurance, vehicle and maintenance costs, among others. That is, they make a large financial investment in their business. Further, it appears that the requirements of having the accessible plate holder be the primary driver and not permitting this plate holder to transfer/sell the plate are no longer required to ensure an enhanced level of service than that provided by those plate holders to whom these regulations do not apply. For those drivers who were issued their plates after 2007, there is no ability to recover the large capital investment that they make in their business. However, the prohibition on an accessible taxicab plate holder transferring their plate before five (5) years from the date of issuance will be retained to ensure commitment to the service. It is also appropriate that the five-year retention period of the plate apply from the date of transfer of the plate.

Based on the foregoing, it is proposed that the Taxi By-law be amended to permit all accessible taxicab plate holders to transfer/sell their plates after five years from the date of initial issuance or from the transfer date and, further, to not require them to be the primary driver on their plate.

Recommendation 1d) – Number of Accessible Taxicab Plates

When the harmonized Taxi By-law was enacted in 2005, a ratio of taxicab plates per population was established as one taxi plate for every 784 residents in the “regulated area”. The regulated area is defined as those former municipalities that regulated taxicab service prior to amalgamation in 2001. The Planning and Growth Management Department estimates the current population in the regulated area of Ottawa to be 816,473. Based on the plate/population ratio, Ottawa would require 1,041 taxicabs to provide an effective level of service. There are a total of 1,001 standard plates and 173 accessible plates for a total of 1174 plates currently in service. Council had previously determined that any new plates issued in future would be accessible plates as opposed to regular plates.

Based on the foregoing, it is proposed that the Chief License Inspector issue no additional accessible taxicab plates until such time as the plate/population ratio, as prescribed in the by-law, warrants. A provision will be added to the by-law to authorize the Chief License Inspector to commence issuing new plates in accordance with the requirements of the by-law once the Council-approved ratio has been met.

Recommendation 1e) – Refresher Course

The requirement for all licensed taxicab drivers in the City of Ottawa to attend a mandatory refresher course every two years arose from recommendations approved by Council in 2005 to provide enhanced training for drivers who require it. As a result of delays in obtaining appropriate course materials from the City of Toronto however, the commencement date for the course was extended to 2012.

Worth noting however is that licensed City of Ottawa taxicabs complete an estimated 10 million trips each year with just 800 complaints (.008% of trips) with only 10% of complaints resulting in charges being issued. This suggests that the majority of drivers are safe and courteous. In terms of mechanisms to address those few drivers who are not, the City’s License Committee, which meets periodically as necessary, has authority to suspend or revoke a taxicab driver’s licence and further authority to require a driver to attend additional, specific training when behaviour or actions warrant.

In the event however that a driver’s conduct warrants more expeditious corrective action, it is recommended that the Chief License Inspector be granted the authority to require that such drivers attend enhanced customer service training accordingly. Such training would be in the form of re-attendance of the customer service components of the driver training offered at Algonquin College, for example.

As such, the requirement that all licensed drivers – the majority of whom operate in a safe and courteous manner – to attend a refresher course every two years is no longer necessary. Therefore, it is proposed that requirement be replaced as noted herein to address issues with only those drivers who require additional training.

Recommendation 1f) – Accessible Taxicab Service and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005

Schedule “B” to the Taxi By-law currently provides that taxicab drivers are not permitted to charge a fee for the loading or unloading of a wheelchair. However, Section 80(1)(b) of Ontario Regulation 191/11 of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) provides that: “Any municipality that licenses taxicabs shall ensure that owners and operators of taxicabs are prohibited…from charging a fee for the storage of mobility aids or mobility assistive devices”. It is therefore appropriate that Schedule “B” be amended to reflect the specific language of the AODA.

As well, the AODA requires that any municipality that licenses taxicabs ensure that their owners and operators make available vehicle registration and identification information in an accessible format to persons with disabilities who are passengers. Currently, the Taxi By-law requires that the vehicle identification number appear on the bumper, roof sign and near all passenger door handles, with height specifications and with improvements recommended as part of this report. As well, the by-law also requires that the tariff (fare) card issued by the City, with content and format determined by the City, is prominently displayed in the taxicab at all times so that it is readable under daytime and night time conditions.

Recommendation 1g) – Display of Plate Number

In 2007, all replacement taxicab vehicles were required to have the taxi identification number, with a minimum height of 15 centimeters, appear near all passenger door handles. While complying with the height requirement, many taxicab service garages are applying the numbers in a font style that is too thin and/or too artistic to be easily identified by the public.

Based on font styles used as a City standard and on industry consultation, it is proposed that Arial 600 be used as the vehicle identification number. The Accessibility Office also confirms that this font style and size is appropriate for persons with disabilities and seniors.

Recommendation 1h) – Expansion of Accessible Taxi Service Area

Para Transpo provides accessible public transportation to the whole of the City of Ottawa and licensed accessible taxicabs are an integral part of that service. To date however, accessible service over and above that associated with Para Transpo has been limited to the regulated (urban) area. From the equity and service perspectives, among other factors, it would be reasonable and is proposed that all accessible taxicab drivers be required to provide accessible taxicab service in all areas of the City of Ottawa and not just in the “regulated area” as defined in the Taxi By-law.

To ensure service equity and quality to clients, and fair compensation to drivers, the requirements associated with this expansion of service to the unregulated (rural) area include:

a) service is to be provided for disabled persons who are registered with Para Transpo or with a community support agency;

b) the transport of passengers is between the unregulated (rural) area and the regulated area only; and

c) the fare will be the amount shown on the meter or $30.00, whichever is greater.

Recommendation 1i) – Transfer of Taxi Plate Holder Licences

In general, various municipal licensing fees are charged to offset the costs of administration and enforcement of the licensing regulations, and to avoid transferring those costs to the taxpayers. Currently, the fee associated with the transfer of a taxicab plate upon the death of the plate holder is significantly less than the fee for a regular plate transfer (i.e. $300 and $3800, respectively) even though the administrative review required in the case of the death of a plate holder is more involved than the regular transfers given the need to review additional legal documents such as death certificates and wills.

While it is recognized that the transfer of a single plate by a holder upon his death to his spouse or child is done to ensure continuing income and security for the family, the transfer of multiple plates represents a transfer of a large capital asset and is most complex administratively.

It is therefore recommended that Schedule “C” of the Taxi By-law be amended to require the payment of a Licence Transfer Fee of $3800 per plate upon the death of the plate holder when two (2) or more plates are being transferred.

Recommendation 1j) – Provincial Offences Act Fines

There are occasions when taxi drivers incur fines under the Highway Traffic Act or other regulations under the Provincial Offences Act. In part as a best practice of business, it would be appropriate that such fines are paid before applicants or licensees may be issued or may renew a taxi license, respectively. It is therefore proposed that the Taxi By-law be amended to require, as a condition of license issuance or renewal, that all outstanding Provincial Offences Act fines be paid. This would also be a reasonable mechanism through which the City may collect outstanding fines. Subsection 151(1) of the Municipal Act, 2001 provides the authority for this mechanism.

Recommendation 1k) – Administrative Amendments and Clarifications

There are currently a number of inconsistencies and anomalies in certain sections of the Taxi By-law, including those related to plate holder transfers, which warrant review. For example: the current regulations require that all dealings having to do with the transfer of a plate be done “at arm’s length”. Given that the majority of the plate transfers are between family members, meeting this requirement is not feasible from an operational perspective. Therefore, it is proposed to repeal from the by-law the sections referencing “at arm’s length”.

Further, the requirements for the issuance or the transfer of a standard or accessible plate license to the legal spouse or heir of a deceased licensee will be clarified to ensure that all requirements of the by-law for issuance of a license have been met. This would include the requirement that the transferee in these circumstances become a duly qualified taxicab driver of the appropriate category under the by-law within twelve (12) months of the death of the original license holder. In addition, the provisions referencing the granting of a continuance of a license where the original licensee is deceased will be removed and this circumstance will be addressed in the appropriate transfer provisions of the by-law.

As well and as an additional means by which to address any issues of concern with respect to taxi licensees, Subsection 151(1) of the Municipal Act, 2001 provides authority to the Chief License Inspector to impose such additional conditions with respect to the issuance or renewal of a license, as he or she deems necessary to ensure public safety (including passengers and drivers) and consumer protection. A similar provision applies to licensees regulated under the Business Licensing By-law and would seem to be an appropriate inclusion to the Taxi By-law.

To ensure clarity for taxi drivers, and for enforcement and Court staff, several definitions of terms currently undefined in the by-law are proposed to be added (such as the definition of “courteous” and “civilly”).

Further, to ensure continuity and transition between the by-laws, a provision will be added in the new by-law to continue all licenses duly issued or renewed under the old by-law (By-law 2005-481, as amended) as if issued under the new by-law. Similarly, all enforcement actions commenced under the old by-law shall be continued.

Recommendation 2 – Other Related Initiatives

Council approval, in principle, is being sought by staff to undertake additional work with respect to a number of initiatives that, while not impacting directly on the Taxi By-law, may have a positive impact on the taxi industry and on taxi service to the public. These initiatives, which also serve to address issues of concern that have come to staff’s attention, are as follows:

· A review of the licensing and regulation of companies which transport both the person and the person’s vehicle for a fee;

· A review of the current limousine licensing regulations to ensure that limousine operators do not operate as illegal or “bandit” taxicabs;

· A partnership with the City’s Public Works Department to develop amendments to the Traffic and Parking By-law to permit occupied taxicabs to park in spaces adjacent to fire hydrants in order to increase the number of taxi stand spaces, particularly in the city’s core areas;

· Consider the inclusion of a prohibition on the advertising or promotion of illegal taxicabs by businesses licensed under that by-law as part of the Business Licensing By-law review,.

Upon approval of this recommendation, staff will initiate its review of the aforementioned topics.

Bandit Taxicabs-Update

In June 2011, direction was given by Council to make application to the Province of Ontario for amendments to the Highway Traffic Act to obtain additional enforcement powers for both municipal enforcement officers and police officers to more effectively deal with bandit (unlicensed) taxicabs. The Ontario election in the fall of 2011 precluded pursuing this initiative until recently.

Early in 2012, staff contacted the Minister of Transportation and members of his staff to confirm our intention of working with the Niagara Regional Police and Ottawa Police Services to get this matter before the Provincial Legislature as soon as possible.

The General Manager, Emergency and Protective Services and the Chief, By-law and Regulatory Services, met with a representative of the Tourism Board of Niagara Falls, the Niagara Region taxicab regulator and the President of the Taxicab Association, an owner of multiple taxicab companies in the Niagara Region, and an MPP who is amenable to assist with bringing this legislation forward in the Legislature. All parties acknowledged the growing problem of bandit taxicabs and were supportive of pursuing the proposed changes to the Highway Traffic Act.

RURAL IMPLICATIONS

The recommendations, if approved, would provide the City’s rural areas with on-demand accessible taxicab service.

ACCESSIBILITY IMPLICATIONS

The Accessibility Office was consulted on the recommendations relevant to accessibility issues and commented that the content of the report does not negatively affect people with disabilities or seniors. In fact, the proposed amendments would improve accessible taxi service as described in this report; for example, improvements would be made to increase the equitability of services. If the proposals are approved, all accessible taxicab drivers would be required to provide accessible taxicab service in all areas on the City of Ottawa and not just in the “regulated area”, as previously required.

The communications products and signage noted in the report will be made available in accessible formats and are compliant with the AODA standards. Further, the accessibility features outlined herein meet current legislative requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and its Regulations.

Staff will monitor and evaluate on-going feedback that is sensitive to accessibility issues through the enactment and implementation of the proposed amendments to the Taxi By-law.

CONSULTATION

The City of Ottawa Taxicab Brokers and members of the Taxi Union were consulted in the development of the recommendations and were provided a copy of the final report. As well, a copy of the report was circulated to the Taxi Stakeholders Consultation Group.

Staff consulted with a number of City Stakeholders including Para Transpo, Public Works, Environmental Services, and, Ottawa Fire Services.

Staff will be presenting the recommendations of this report to the Accessibility Advisory Committee at its meeting of March 21 and disposition from that meeting will be made available to Members of the Community and Protective Services Committee (CPSC) and Council prior to the CPSC meeting.

Notification of the consideration of the report by the Community and Protective Services Committee was also posted on the City’s website.

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no legal impediments to implementing the recommendations of this report.

RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

There are no risk management implications associated with the recommendations.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no financial implications to the City associated with the recommendations as the costs, if any, are included in the current budget for By-law & Regulatory Services. No incremental costs are anticipated.

TECHNOLOGY IMPLICATIONS

There are no technological implications associated with the recommendations.

CITY STRATEGIC PLAN

This report has no direct impact on the City Strategic Directions.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

Document 1 – Drafting Instructions – Taxi By-law (By-law No. 2005-481, as amended)

DISPOSITION

Upon approval of the recommendations, the City Clerk and Solicitor Department, together with the By-law and Regulatory Services Branch, will prepare the new by-law for re-enactment by Council, and such by-law will consolidate into one by-law all previous amendments approved by Council as well as the specific amendments approved as part of this report.

DOCUMENT 1

DRAFTING INSTRUCTIONS

TAXI BY-LAW

(By-law No. 2005-481, as amended)

1. Add the following definitions:

a) “Civilly” means with politeness in speech and behaviour

b) “Courteously” means respectfully and having consideration of others

c) “Decal” means the sticker provided by the Chief License Inspector

2. Amend all applicable and appropriate provisions to:

a) increase the maximum age limit for a taxicab from seven (7) to eight (8) model years, and the maximum age limit for replacement vehicles from four (4) to five (5) model years;

b) require that all taxicabs be inspected in the Fall and that those taxicabs which are older than five (5) model years be inspected in both the Spring and the Fall;

c) permit all accessible plate holders to transfer or sell their plates after five (5) years from the date of initial issuance or from the transfer date, and repeal the requirement for them to be the primary driver on the plate;

d) not issue any additional accessible taxicab plates until the plate/population ratio warrants the issuance of plates, and authorize the Chief License Inspector to commence issuing new plates in accordance with the requirements of the by-law once the Council-approved ratio has been met;

e) repeal the requirement for licensed taxicab drivers to attend a refresher course and replace it with the delegation of authority to the Chief License Inspector to require enhanced customer service training for drivers where he or she deems it necessary and appropriate;

f) reflect in Schedule “B” to the by-law the requirements of Section 80(1)(b) of Ontario Regulation 191/11 of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) which provides that: “Any municipality that licenses taxicabs shall ensure that owners and operators of taxicabs are prohibited…from charging a fee for the storage of mobility aids or mobility assistive devices;

g) require that all vehicle identification numbers on all taxicabs, other than on the roof sign, be in Arial 600 font;

h) require that all accessible taxicab drivers be required to provide accessible taxicab service in all areas of the City of Ottawa provided that:

i. service is to be provided for disabled persons who are registered with Para Transpo or with a community support agency;

ii. the transport of passengers is between the unregulated (rural) area and the regulated area, and vice versa, only;

iii. the fare will be the amount shown on the meter or $30.00, whichever is greater;

i) in Schedule “C” to the by-law, establish a License Transfer Fee of $3800 per plate upon the death of a plate holder with two or more plates to be transferred;

j) require, as a condition of issuance or renewal of a license, that all applicants and licensees have duly paid all fines imposed under the Provincial Offences Act.

3. Amend the applicable and appropriate provisions to give effect to the following administrative and minor policy amendments, and clarifications:

a) Repeal all words that appear after “at all times” in Section 25(4);

b) Repeal provisions relating to the transfer of standard and accessible plates required to be at arm’s length;

c) Clarify the provisions regarding the transfer of standard or accessible taxi plate licenses to the legal spouse or heir of a deceased licensee to ensure that the person to whom the plate licenses are being transferred meets the requirements of the by-law including becoming a duly licensed taxicab driver within twelve (12) months of the death of the original license holder;

d) Remove references to the granting of a continuance of a license in the event of the death of a license holder and address these circumstances within the transfer provisions of the by-law;

e) Add a provision to grant to the Chief License Inspector the ability to impose such additional conditions with respect to the issuance or renewal of a license, as he or she deems necessary to ensure public safety (including passengers and drivers) and consumer protection;

f) Add a provision to ensure the transition of licenses and renewals issued under the old Taxi By-law and to continue enforcement actions commenced under the old by-law.

4. General

a) Amendments to the above-noted by-law shall include any minor revisions necessary to give effect to the amendments noted and the repeal of redundant provisions, as appropriate.

b) The effective date of the re-enacted by-law, including the above-noted amendments, will be September 1, 2012.

REVIEW OF TAXI bY-LAW – VARIOUS AMENDMENTS

EXAMEN DU rEglementS Municipal sur les taxis – PLUSIEURS MODIFICATIONS

ACS2012-COS-EPS-0018 CITY WIDE / À l’Échelle de la ville

Susan Jones, General Manager, Emergency and Protective Services and Linda Anderson, Chief By-Law Officer gave a summary and brief PowerPoint presentation. A copy of the presentation is held on file with the City Clerk’s office.

Following the presentation Councillors questioned staff regarding various issues on taxis such as cost of plates, consultation and number of accessible cab plates available.

The Committee then heard from the following delegations:

1) Hanif Patni, President and CEO, Coventry Connections

2) Davinder S. Dhanga, Accessible cab driver

3) Guy Oweis, representative of cab owner

4) Ahmad Hreiche, cab driver and on list for accessible plate

5) Darren Burrowes, Responsible Choice Inc.

6) Chris Bradshaw, Member of Ottawa Seniors Transportation Committee

7) Paul Bendus, Taxi Stakeholders Group

8) Amrick Singh, Ontario Taxi Union – Ottawa Local President

The majority of the delegations spoke in favour of the report and its recommendations.

The Committee also received correspondence in regards to the report from; copies of which are held on file with the City Clerk:

1) Memorandum from the Accessibility Advisory Committee

2) Email from David Dunlop, Co-Chair, Taxi Stakeholders Committee

MOTION No. CPS 14/1

Moved by Councillor D. Holmes

That the “Review of the Taxi By-Law Various Amendments” report be deferred to the meeting of April in order to provide further public consultation.

The motion LOST on a division of 1 YEA to 5 NAYS as follows:

YEAS (1): Councillor D. Holmes

NAYS (5): Councillors E. El-Chantiry, R. Chiarelli, M. Fleury, K. Hobbs, M. Taylor

The report recommendation was then put to Committee and CARRIED, as presented with Councillor D. Holmes dissenting on recommendation 1. c)

That the Community and Protective Services Committee recommend that Council:

1. Re-enact the Taxi By-law (By-law No. 2005-481, as amended), as well as approve specific amendments thereto, as summarized below and detailed in Document 1, to take effect September 1, 2012:

a) increase the maximum age limit for a taxicab from seven (7) to eight (8) model years, and the maximum age limit for replacement vehicles from four (4) to five (5) model years;

b) require that all taxicabs be inspected in the Fall and that those taxicabs which are older than five (5) model years be inspected in both the Spring and the Fall;

c) permit all accessible plate holders to transfer or sell their plates after five (5) years from the date of initial issuance or from the transfer date, and repeal the requirement for them to be the primary driver on the plate;

d) not issue any additional accessible taxicab plates until the plate/population ratio warrants it and, when that is the case, authorize the Chief License Inspector to re-commence issuance accordingly;

e) replace the requirement for all licensed taxicab drivers to attend a refresher course with enhanced customer service training for drivers where the Chief License Inspector deems it appropriate and that delegated authority be granted the Chief License Inspector to so require;

f) reflect the requirements and language used in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and Regulations under the Act, (e.g. the prohibition from charging a fee for the storage of mobility aids or mobility assistive devices);

g) require that the vehicle identification number on all taxicabs be in Arial 600 font;

h) require that all accessible taxicab drivers be required to provide accessible taxicab service in all areas of the City of Ottawa with the following stipulations:

i. service is to be provided for disabled persons who are registered with Para Transpo or with a community support agency;

ii. the transport of passengers is between the unregulated (rural) area and the regulated area, and vice versa, only; and

iii. the fare will be the amount shown on the meter or $30.00, whichever is greater;

i) establish a License Transfer Fee of $3800 per plate upon the death of a plate holder with two or more plates to be transferred;

j) require, as a condition of issuance or renewal of a license, that all applicants and licensees have duly paid all fines imposed under the Provincial Offences Act;

k) effect various administrative and minor policy amendments, and clarifications, including the addition of definitions and of the ability of the Chief License Inspector to impose such additional conditions with respect to the issuance or renewal of a license, as he or she deems necessary to ensure public safety (including passengers and drivers) and consumer protection; and

Delegate authority to staff to prepare a new, consolidated by-law, including the above-noted amendments, to place on the Agenda of a future Council meeting.

2. Direct staff to:

a) review the licensing and regulation of companies which transport both the person and the person’s vehicle for a fee;

b) review the current limousine licensing regulations to ensure that limousine operators do not operate as illegal or “bandit” taxicabs;

c) partner with the City’s Public Works Department to develop amendments to the Traffic and Parking By-law to permit occupied taxicabs to park in spaces adjacent to fire hydrants in order to increase the number of taxi stand spaces, particularly in the city’s core areas;

d) consider, the inclusion of a prohibition on the advertising or promotion of illegal taxicabs by businesses licensed under that by-law. as part of the Business Licensing By-law review

CARRIED