Form revised March 16, 2004

 

FISCAL NOTE FOR NON-CAPITAL PROJECTS

 

Department:

Contact Person/Phone:

DOF Analyst/Phone:

Executive Administration

Mel McDonald/3-0067

Tyler Running Deer/4-8075

 

 

Legislation Title:

AN ORDINANCE relating to taxicabs; increasing the taxicab regulatory license fees, processing fees, and penalty fees; providing for a new license year period; providing additional requirements for taxicab association reports; providing standards for the use of taxicab zones and requiring industry supervisors to regulate the use of taxicab zones; requiring new safety equipment for taxicabs and establishing notification requirements for crimes against for-hire drivers; enhancing safety operating procedures; increasing the minimum underinsured motorist insurance coverage; requiring a raised letter and Braille passenger information notice in all taxicabs; requiring receipt-issuing taximeters; addressing the transferability of licenses; clarifying for technical purposes the Director’s approval authority for advertising on taxicabs; establishing operating standards and training requirements for wheelchair accessible taxicabs; requiring for-hire driver’s license applicants to include their driving record with their application; expanding training and testing requirements for for-hire drivers; adding standards of conduct for drivers; adding a new section to the Seattle Municipal Code relating to violation classifications; and amending sections 6.310.110, 6.310.150, 6.310.230, 6.310.300, 6.310.320, 6.310.330, 6.310.340, 6.310.350, 6.310.400, 6.310.415, 6.310.420, 6.310.425, 6.310.450, 6.310.455, 6.310.460, 6.310.465, 6.310.470, 6.310.475, 6.310.500, 6.310.510, 6.310.605, 6.310.635, 6.310.700, and 6.310.710, respectively, of the Seattle Municipal Code.

 

·        Summary of the Legislation:

The attached proposed Council Bill would amend numerous provisions of Chapter 6.310 of the Seattle Municipal Code, which regulates the taxicab industry.  Key changes improve taxicab driver personal safety by enhancing safety operations, equipment and training.  The legislation establishes operating requirements for wheelchair accessible taxicabs (WAT) in consideration of the WAT Demonstration Project 2005–2006.  Other proposed revisions improve numerous operational standards for taxicab licensees and drivers, as well as administrative procedures.  A briefing paper outlining the proposed revisions in detail is included as an attachment to this fiscal note.

 

·        Background: (Include brief description of the purpose and context of legislation and include record of previous legislation and funding history, if applicable):

 

Safety concerns for taxicab drivers have become of increased concern to the industry as well as the general public in recent years.  This concern is further supported by taxicab safety concerns expressed by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.  In response to these concerns, and following the homicide of a taxicab driver earlier this year, the Taxicab Advisory Group’s Committee on Driver Safety recommended that the City require installation of digital security cameras in all taxicabs, and that the City consider requirements for silent alarm and global position systems.  Additional training and crime reporting requirements were also recommended and included in this proposed legislation.

 

The Seattle Taxicab Code underwent a complete rewrite in 1996.  The last significant amendment to the code occurred in 2000.  In June of this year, the City Auditor’s office issued a report which indicated that Seattle’s taxicab regulatory program was not generating enough revenue to cover its expenses.  In an effort to provide for revenues equal to the cost of the City’s taxicab regulatory program, this Council Bill proposes increases to licensing and regulatory fees, and the monetary penalties provided for in SMC Ch. 6.310.  In addition, the regulatory license year period is being changed from September through August to July through June. 

 

·        Please check one of the following:

 

___      This legislation does not have any financial implications. (Stop here and delete the remainder of this document prior to saving and printing.)

 

_X_     This legislation has financial implications. (Please complete all relevant sections that follow.)

 

Appropriations:  This table should reflect appropriations that are a direct result of this legislation.  In the event that the project/ programs associated with this ordinance have appropriations that were, or will be, received because of previous or future legislation or budget actions, please provide details in the Notes section below.

 

Fund Name and Number

Department

Budget Control Level*

2004

Appropriation

2005 Anticipated Appropriation

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

 

 

 

 

*See budget book to obtain the appropriate Budget Control Level for your department.

Notes: 

 

Anticipated Revenue/Reimbursement: Resulting From This Legislation: This table should reflect revenues/reimbursements that are a direct result of this legislation.  In the event that the issues/projects associated with this ordinance/resolution have revenues or reimbursements that were, or will be, received because of previous or future legislation or budget actions, please provide details in the Notes section below the table.

Fund Name and Number

Dept

Revenue Source

2004

Revenue

2005

Revenue

General Fund 00100

DEA

Taxicab association annual fee

6 units at $900 yields $54,40500 in 2005 revenue

$   0

$  1,200

General Fund 00100

DEA

Taxicab or for-hire vehicle license fee

642 units at $250 yields $160,500

$   0

6,420

General Fund 00100

DEA

Late fee (taxicab vehicle license renewal)

5 units at $30 yields $150 in 2005 revenues.

$   0

30

General Fund 00100

DEA

Change of vehicle fee

191 units at $75 yields $14,325 in 2005 revenue.

$   0

$4,775

General Fund 00100

DEA

Change of vehicle licensee (full year)

30 units at $250 yields $7,500 in 2005 revenue. 

$   0

$   300

General Fund 00100

DEA

Change of vehicle licensee (half-year)

37 units at $125 yields $4,625 in 2005 revenue. 

$   0

$   185

General Fund 00100

DEA

Special Inspection Fee

99 units at $60 yields $5,940 in 2005 revenue. 

$   0

$2,970

General Fund 00100

DEA

Vehicle Re-inspection Fee

53 units at $25 yields $1,325 in 2005 revenue. 

$   0

$   265

General Fund 00100

DEA

Inspection Rescheduling Fee

29 units at $25 yields $725 in 2005 revenue. 

$   0

$  145

General Fund 00100

DEA

Taxicab Change of Association Fee

42 units at $60 yields $2,520 in 2005 revenue. 

$   0

$  420

General Fund 00100

DEA

Suspension Reinstatement Fee

86 units at $60 yields $5,160 in 2005 revenue. 

$   0

$  860

General Fund 00100

DEA

Taximeter registration fee (deleted)

642 units at ($5) yields a reduction of $3,210 in 2005 revenue. 

$   0

($ 3,210)

General Fund 00100

DEA

Monetary Penalty – Class A

$   0

$  935

General Fund 00100

DEA

Monetary Penalty – Class B

$   0

$1,640

TOTAL

 

 

 

$16,935

 

Notes:  Fees for late payment of taxicab association annual fee and replacement of taxicab plate are raised in the ordinance but do not regularly contribute revenue to the City.  The penalty for Class C violations is being raised, but these penalties are infrequently assessed and therefore forecasted revenue is not included above.  Finally, revenue associated with revisions SMC 6.310.150 accrues to King County under our partnership agreement, and therefore revenues from these fees are not included above.  Taxicab/for-hire vehicle license fees and taxicab association fees are renewed annually. 

Total Regular Positions Created Or Abrogated Through This Legislation, Including FTE Impact:  This table should only reflect the actual number of positions created by this legislation  In the event that positions have been, or will be, created as a result of previous or future legislation or budget actions, please provide details in the Notes section below the table.

Position Title and Department*

Fund Name

Fund Number

Part-Time/ Full Time

2004

Positions

2004 FTE

2005 Positions**

2005 FTE**

 

 

n/a

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*   List each position separately

** 2005 positions and FTE are total 2005 position changes resulting from this legislation, not incremental changes. Therefore, under 2005, please be sure to include any continuing positions from 2004

 

Notes:

 

·        Do positions sunset in the future?  (If yes, identify sunset date):

 

Spending/Cash Flow: This table should be completed only in those cases where part or all of the funds authorized by this legislation will be spent in a different year than when they were appropriated (e.g., as in the case of certain grants and capital projects).  Details surrounding spending that will occur in future years should be provided in the Notes section below the table.

Fund Name and Number

Department

Budget Control Level*

2004

Expenditures

2005 Anticipated Expenditures

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

 

 

 

 

* See budget book to obtain the appropriate Budget Control Level for your department.

 

Notes:

 

·        What is the financial cost of not implementing the legislation? (Estimate the costs to the City of not implementing the legislation, including estimated costs to maintain or expand an existing facility or the cost avoidance due to replacement of an existing facility, potential conflicts with regulatory requirements, or other potential costs if the legislation is not implemented.)

None.

 

·        What are the possible alternatives to the legislation that could achieve the same or similar objectives? (Include any potential alternatives to the proposed legislation, such as reducing fee-supported activities, identifying outside funding sources for fee-supported activities, etc.)

The City of Seattle has regulatory authority over the taxicab industry operating within the City limits.  Few of these provisions can be initiated without ordinance authority.  Some provisions could be addressed through voluntary compliance, but then the City would not be able to impose penalties for violations, nor exercise control over implementation and compliance.

 

·        Is the legislation subject to public hearing requirements:  No.

 

·        Other Issues (including long-term implications of the legislation):  None. 

 

 

 

Please list attachments to the fiscal note below:

Attachment A to Fiscal Note: 

2004 Revision of Seattle Taxicab Code [SMC Ch. 6.310] – Briefing Paper