Drafter
Clerk 10/26/2009
Title
AN ORDINANCE related to the establishment of a Seattle-King County taxicab advisory commission; authorizing the executive to enter into an interlocal agreement related thereto; and adding a new chapter to K.C.C. Title 2.
Body
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
1. The city of Seattle has authority to issue taxicab licenses and to regulate taxicabs and drivers for the city.
2. King County has the authority to issue taxicab licenses and to regulate taxicabs and drivers for unincorporated King County, and through interlocal agreements, for some cities within King County.
3. In recent years, the city of Seattle and King County have changed their codes to modify how taxicab licenses are issued and modified regulations regarding taxicabs and drivers.
4. It is in the public interest that an advisory commission be formed to advise elected officials with the city of Seattle and King County regarding the rational provision of taxicab services throughout the county, and to help ensure the provision of high-quality taxicab service while ensuring the economic viability of owning and driving taxicabs.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Sections 2 through 6 of this ordinance should constitute a new chapter in K.C.C. Title 2.
NEW SECTION. SECTION 2. There is established a Seattle-King County taxicab advisory commission. The purpose of the commission is to study regulations, rules, policies and issues relevant to the provision of high-quality taxicab service in the city of Seattle and King County while ensuring the economic viability owning and driving taxicabs, and to make recommendations to the city of Seattle and King County on these matters. Recommendations to those jurisdictions shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
A. Changes in governmental taxicab regulations;
B. Changes in administrative rules;
C. Changes to the city of Seattle and King County taxicab codes and legislation that would affect the taxicab industry;
D. The setting of taxicab fares;
E. Taxicab licensing;
F. Ways to increase the availability of taxicab service in Seattle and King County. Recommendations on this subject shall be included in the commission's first annual report to King County and the city of Seattle; and
G. Evaluating current taxicab regulations, including making recommendations to each jurisdiction's respective executive and legislative bodies.
NEW SECTION. SECTION 3. The Seattle-King County taxicab advisory commission shall have the following members:
A. Three who represent taxicab license owners, which shall be positions one, two and ten;
B. Three who represent taxicab drivers but are not taxicab license owners, and who have not been a license owner within the previous five years, which shall be positions three, four and nine;
C. Three from the hospitality industry, tourism industry or medical facilities, representing patrons who use taxicabs, which shall be positions five, six and eleven;
D. One who is a person with a disability or a person who represents persons with disabilities, which shall be position eight; and
E. One who is a person who represents individuals over the age of sixty, which shall be position seven.
NEW SECTION. SECTION 4.
A. Individuals shall be appointed specifically into each of the numbered positions. Members in odd-numbered positions from position one to position nine shall be appointed by the city of Seattle. Individuals in even-numbered positions from position two to position ten shall be appointed by the King County executive and confirmed by the King County council. Position eleven shall be appointed by the other members of the commission.
B.1. Initial terms for the each appointment to the positions shall be as follows:
a. Positions one, two and five shall serve one-year terms that begin January 1, 2010;
b. Positions three, four, nine and ten shall serve two-year terms that begin January 1, 2010; and
c. Positions six, seven, eight and eleven shall serve three-year terms that begin January 1, 2010.
2. At the conclusion of the initial term of each appointment, all subsequent terms of each position shall be for three years. A commission member whose term has expired may continue to serve into the following term until a successor has been appointed by the appropriate authority to complete the term. A member shall not serve more than two consecutive terms. A vacancy for an unexpired term shall be filled by the appropriate appointing authority.
NEW SECTION. SECTION 5. King County shall provide written notice to the Seattle-King County taxicab advisory commission, no more than fifteen days following any proposed changes to county ordinances or rules that pertain to the setting of taxicab fares, taxicab licensing and other legislation regarding the taxicab industry or its customers. Such written notice shall also occur no less than thirty days in advance of adoption of proposed ordinances, rules or other legislation so that the commission will have sufficient time to review proposed changes and report its recommendations to King County and the city of Seattle. The commission shall issue and deliver an annual report to the city of Seattle and King County that outlines the work of the commission during the prior calendar year as well as its anticipated work program for the following calendar year. The report shall be filed with the executive and clerk of the council, in the form of eleven copies for distribution to all councilmembers, by February 15 of each year.
NEW SECTION. SECTION 6. The Seattle-King County taxicab advisory commission shall convene as necessary, but at least quarterly, to perform the duties outlined in section 2 of this ordinance. The county shall provide an executive department employee to staff the committee. The appropriate appointing authority may remove any member who is absent without excuse from three consecutive commission meetings. Commission meeting locations shall rotate between city of Seattle and King County facilities. Commission members shall serve without compensation.
SECTION 7. The executive is authorized to enter into an interlocal agreement with the city of Seattle to implement commission responsibilities and procedures as set
forth in this ordinance.
SECTION 8. Section 5 of this ordinance takes effect January 1, 2010.