Drafter
Clerk 07/13/2017
Title
A MOTION requesting that the executive enter into negotiations with the city of Seattle to allow taxi license holders reciprocal operating rights between both the city and the county, requiring the executive to develop an ordinance to conform to adopted city of Seattle legislation if adopted and requiring letters updating the status of negotiations.
Body
WHEREAS, King County benefits from a healthy spectrum of transportation choices. Currently, the region is served by taxis, for-hire vehicles, and limousines, and
WHEREAS, new entrants in the region's transportation market competing with taxis offer opportunities for private citizens to use smartphone application-based technology to pick up rides for fares or suggested donations. These new entrants have come to be known as transportation network companies, and
WHEREAS, state law allows cities, towns, counties and port districts to license, control and regulate privately operated taxicab transportation services operating within their respective jurisdictions, and
WHEREAS, in 1979, King County, the city of Seattle and the Port of Seattle embarked on a program to regionalize taxicab regulations and licensing by developing consistent regulations and services across jurisdictions. That effort promoted public safety and customer service by standardizing fees, regulations, enforcement and rate review procedures throughout King County, and
WHEREAS, in 1995, King County entered into an interlocal agreement with the city of Seattle for taxicab and for-hire regulation in both jurisdictions. King County also has interlocal agreements with the Port of Seattle and sixteen cities to provide taxicab and for-hire licensing services. Generally, the King County Code and the Seattle Municipal Code contain consistent provisions, thus allowing for continued joint regulatory efforts, and
WHEREAS, taxis licensed in Seattle may pick up passengers, known as "hailing rights," anywhere within...

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