An application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity shall be filed with the City Clerk upon forms provided by the clerk. Such applications shall be verified under oath or affirmation and shall include the following information:
(a) 
Name, street and mailing address, and driver's license number of individual and partnership applicants who are natural persons; the legal name, agent for service of process and street address of the agent for applicants who are legal persons;
(b) 
For each vehicle proposed for use as a taxicab:
(1) 
Make, model, year, and vehicle identification number;
(2) 
Name, street and mailing address and driver's license number of the owner;
(3) 
Insurance policy or original endorsements evidencing the requirements of this chapter, and referencing the vehicle by make, model, year and vehicle identification number;
(4) 
A report from the Chief of Police evidencing that the vehicle has been issued a current vehicle inspection "pass" sticker;
(c) 
For each person the applicant intends to use as a taxicab driver:
(1) 
The person's name, street and mailing address, and driver's license number;
(2) 
A completed copy of the person's application for driver's permit;
(3) 
A report from the Chief of Police evidencing that the driver has, within the past year, successfully completed the requirements of Government Code §53075.5, pertaining to controlled substance and alcohol testing;
(4) 
A statement that the applicant has offered employment in Santa Maria to the person.
(d) 
Any facts which the applicant believes tend to prove that public convenience and necessity require the granting of a certificate;
(e) 
The location of any proposed depots, terminals and offices, together with a statement from the Community Development and Public Works Departments approving the depots, terminals and offices;
(f) 
Taxicab insignia and color scheme, including a color photograph depicting such insignia and color scheme;
(g) 
The applicant's experience in operating a taxicab service, including, but not limited to, the names and addresses of any taxicab or transportation service businesses the applicant has owned or managed, and whether the applicant has had a permit or license to operate such a business denied, revoked or suspended in any jurisdiction, and the reasons therefor;
(h) 
The applicant's knowledge of Santa Maria and plans to promote the city as a destination for travelers, businesses and families;
(i) 
Copies of all current licenses the applicant holds which were issued by the California Public Utilities Commission;
(j) 
The name, address and telephone number of all owners and leasing companies of any taxicab vehicles which the applicant seeks to operate on City streets under a certificate;
(k) 
Service standards proposed to be provided in the city, including the estimate of response time between placement of a telephone order and the arrival of the dispatched taxicab as well as the method applicant proposes to record and evaluate actual performance under the service standards;
(l) 
Applicant's operating procedures (including training, record keeping, safety standards, maintenance schedules, dispatching procedures, and disciplinary rules);
(m) 
A policy of motor vehicle liability insurance or an original endorsement thereof, as follows:
(1) 
Insuring the owner and any other person using or responsible for the use of any such vehicle, with the consent, express or implied, of the owner against loss from the liability imposed upon such owner by law for injury to or death of any person, or damage to property, growing out of the maintenance, operation or ownership of any public motor vehicle to the amount or limit of $750,000 per accident for bodily injury and property damage.
(2) 
The motor vehicle liability policy shall inure to the benefit of any and all persons suffering loss or damage either to person or property as herein provided, and the liability of the insurance carrier shall be in no manner abrogated or abated by the death of the tortfeasor or the owner.
(3) 
Every endorsement evidencing the insurance required under the provisions of this section shall certify that the motor vehicle liability policy or policies evidenced shall not be canceled except upon 30 days' prior written notice thereof to the Director of Finance.
(4) 
All motor vehicle liability policies and all certificates thereof shall be subject to the approval of the Director of Finance or his/her designee in any and all matters and if at any time, in the judgment of the Director, the motor vehicle liability policies are not sufficient for any cause, the Director may require the owner of such public motor vehicle who filed the same to replace the motor vehicle policies within 10 days with other policies in accordance with the provisions of this section. If the owner fails to replace the motor vehicle policies within the ten-day period with good and sufficient policies, as set out in this section, then at the termination of the period the City may proceed in the manner set out in this chapter to determine whether the owner's certificate should be suspended until the requirement is complied with.
(n) 
Such further information as the City Clerk may require; and
(o) 
If any of the above information changes after the filing of the application, an applicant or holder shall within 24 hours notify the City Clerk in writing of any such changes and provide correct, replacement documentation. The City Clerk shall forward updated information to the Finance Director and the Police Chief, or their delegates.
No application for certificate shall be processed by the City unless the applicant submits complete information from each category set out above. The City shall return incomplete applications by mail to the applicant at the address listed by the applicant. The Clerk shall forward complete applications to the Director of Finance for action.
(Ord. 91-20, eff. 9/5/91; Ord. 2003-20, eff. 9/16/03; Ord. 2003-21, eff. 11/7/03; Ord. 2004/02, eff. 3/18/04; Ord. 2017-01 § 53, eff. 3/9/17)
The application shall be accompanied by a fee in an amount no greater than the cost to process the application, as specified by resolution of the City Council.
(Ord. 91-20, eff. 9/5/91; Ord. 2003-20, eff. 9/16/03; Ord. 2003-21, eff. 11/7/03; Ord. 2004/02, eff. 3/18/04)
Unless otherwise prohibited by law, no certificate shall be issued or continued in operation unless the holder has paid an annual license tax of $20 for the right to engage in the taxicab business and $12 each year for each vehicle operated under the certificate. Such license taxes shall be for the fiscal year and shall be in addition to any other license charges established by proper authority and applicable to the holder or the vehicle under the holder's operation or control; provided, however, that whenever any vehicle is placed in service after the beginning of the fiscal year, the tax for the vehicle shall be prorated on a monthly basis.
(Ord. 91-20, eff. 9/5/91; Ord. 2003-20, eff. 9/16/03; Ord. 2003-21, eff. 11/7/03; Ord. 2004/02, eff. 3/18/04)
(a) 
Upon receiving a complete application, the Director of Finance shall conduct an investigation to determine whether the public convenience and necessity requires the issuance of a certificate, taking into account public demand for taxicab service, adequacy of existing public transportation service, the proposed equipment and color scheme, the applicant's qualifications as set out in the application, and other relevant facts. If the Director determines that the public convenience and necessity require a certificate then s/he shall issue a certificate stating the name and address of the applicant, the number of vehicles authorized under the certificate and the date of issuance, and designating the color and insignia which must be used on such vehicles; otherwise, the application shall be denied. A certificate shall be issued for up to one year.
(b) 
The Director shall maintain current files pertaining to applications, certificates, and updated information.
(Ord. 91-20, eff. 9/5/91; Ord. 2003-20, eff. 9/16/03; Ord. 2003-21, eff. 11/7/03; Ord. 2004/02, eff. 3/18/04; Ord. 2017-01 § 54, eff. 3/9/17)
No certificate may be sold, assigned, mortgaged or otherwise transferred without first obtaining and having the prior consent of the City Council.
(Ord. 91-20, eff. 9/5/91; Ord. 2003-20, eff. 9/16/03; Ord. 2003-21, eff. 11/7/03; Ord. 2004/02, eff. 3/18/04)
All persons engaged in the taxicab business in the City under this chapter shall render an overall service to members of the public desiring to use taxicabs, as follows:
(a) 
Each holder shall maintain a central place of business and keep this business open twenty-four hours per day for the purpose of receiving calls and dispatching cabs.
(b) 
Each holder shall cause all requests received for taxicab service within the City limits to be filled as soon as reasonably possible, and shall cause prospective passengers to be notified how long it will be before service will be provided. If a holder refuses or permits refusal to provide taxicab service within the limits of Santa Maria, the holder shall forthwith deliver a written statement indicating date, time and reason for refusal to the City Clerk.
(c) 
The certificate of any holder who refuses or permits refusal to accept a call anywhere within the corporate limits of the City at any time when the holder has available cabs may be suspended or revoked by the Director of Finance after providing the holder notice and an opportunity to be heard as provided in this chapter.
(Ord. 91-20, eff. 9/5/91; Ord. 2003-20, eff. 9/16/03; Ord. 2003-21, eff. 11/7/03; Ord. 2004/02, eff. 3/18/04; Ord. 2017-10 § 9, eff. 8/31/17)
(a) 
A certificate issued under the provisions of this Chapter may be denied, revoked or suspended by the City Director of Finance if the holder or applicant has:
(1) 
Violated any of the provisions of this Chapter;
(2) 
Discontinued operations for more than 30 days within a period of one year;
(3) 
Violated any of the ordinances of the City, or the laws of the United States or of the state, the violations of which reflect unfavorably on the fitness of the owner to provide public transportation.
(4) 
Failed to meet the requirements of the City Municipal Code or any regulations promulgated by the City Council.
(5) 
Provided incomplete or untruthful information when applying for a certificate or permit under this chapter.
(b) 
Prior to suspension, denial or revocation, the owner shall be given notice of the proposed action to be taken and shall have an opportunity to be heard. Notice shall be given in the manner specified by Section 4-1.43 and the Director of Finance shall schedule a hearing within 30 days of the notification.
(c) 
Any person adversely affected by a decision of the Director of Finance may, within 14 days, appeal in writing to the City Manager, stating reasons therefor. A hearing before the City Manager shall be scheduled within 30 days of receipt of an appeal. The City Manager shall make its decision based on the evidence received, and that decision shall be final.
(Ord. 91-20, eff. 9/5/91; Ord. 2003-20, eff. 9/16/03; Ord. 2003-21, eff. 11/7/03; Ord. 2004-01, eff. 2/20/04; Ord. 2004/02, eff. 3/18/04; Ord. 2017-01 § 55, eff. 3/9/17; Ord. 2023-02 § 8, eff. 6/1/23)
Each holder shall maintain complete and accurate records of each taxicab call and trip on a daily trip sheet, showing the time and place of the call; origin and destination of the trip; the number of passengers carried; the mileage and the amount of fare collected; and the substance of, and action taken on, any passenger complaints received. Such records shall be submitted to the City Clerk upon request. Annually on a date and in a form prescribed by the clerk, each holder shall provide a report of taxicab operations to the City Council.
(Ord. 91-20, eff. 9/5/91; Ord. 2003-20, eff. 9/16/03; Ord. 2003-21, eff. 11/7/03; Ord. 2004/02, eff. 3/18/04)
A certificate shall be renewed annually. Any holder lawfully operating on the effective date of this chapter under a certificate without an expiration date shall, within one year of the effective date of this chapter, comply with all of the requirements of this chapter, and shall also comply annually thereafter. All certificates containing an expiration date shall expire on the date listed on the certificate.
(Ord. 91-20, eff. 9/5/91; Ord. 2003-20, eff. 9/16/03; Ord. 2003-21, eff. 11/7/03; Ord. 2004/02, eff. 3/18/04)