Loading...
SR-9B (10) q-e , Z-I11q7 JM GP F \RESOURCE\USERS\GWEN\PEDICABS\STFRPT2 WPO Santa Monica, Callforma Council MeetIng December 2. 1997 TO Mayor and City Council FROM City Staff I SUBJECT Recommendation to Approve In Concept the Establishment of a Pilot PedIcab Program and to DIrect City Attorney to Prepare an Ordinance to Amend CertaIn Sections of the Santa Monica MUnicipal Code to Authorize the Establishment of a Pilot Program for Pedicabs as Non-Motorized VehIcles For Hire and Authorizing the Inclusion of Pedicabs Under Tax Rate Group III Business Classification, and Recommendation to Direct City Manager to Prepare Rules and Regulations for Such a Pilot Program INTRODUCTION ThiS staff report recommends that the City Council approve In concept the establishment of a pIlot pedicab program and direct the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance to amend 1) Section 6 48 020 of the MUnicipal Code to authoflze a pilot program for pedicabs that would exempt them from certaIn rules and regulations for taxicabs, and 2) Section 6 08 150 of the MunIcipal Code to create Inclusion of pedicabs In the listing of services Included Within Tax Rate Group III business classificatIon The staff report also recommends that the City Council direct the City Manager to prepare rules and regulations regarding pedicabs to be used for the duration of such a pilot program A pedIcab IS a non-motorized, three-wheeled, open-air vehicle for hire that IS powered and operated by a human being rather than some form of mechanical engine. The person would be an Independent contractor or employee of the owner and has wheels 1 q-I?J 14J1J'i7 ------- sImIlar to a bicycle or motorcycle and a bench or other seating arrangement at the rear for passengers BACKGROUND CIty staff has received a number of InquIries about the POSSibility of establishing pedicab systems In Santa Momca, partIcularly along MaIn Street PedIcab systems currently operate In a number of cIties. IncludIng San DIego, Seattle, New York City, Albuquerque. Denver. Honolulu, and San FrancIsco, where they are popular wIth resIdents and tOUrists alike City staff determIned that allowIng pedicabs to operate In a speCified area of Santa Momca such as Main Street could be beneficial to residents and VIsitors A pedicab can be accommodated within Main Street's Class II bike lanes (5 feet wide) as defined In the Bicycle Master Plan (January, 1995) Accordingly, the Economic Development DIvIsIon met with representatives from Plannrng, Parking & Traffic, Police, Risk Management, and the City Attorney's Office The TransportatIon Department and Business LIcense Office were also consulted Mem bers of thiS group reviewed proposed eqUIpment, routes. traffiC considerations, Insurance requIrements, busIness license and police requirements Research was conducted on the pedicab programs In other Cities, IncludIng their fees and experience WIth pedicabs 2 CIty staff determined that the Santa MonIca MUnicipal Code treats all non-motonzed vehicles for hire as taxicabs (SMMC Section 6.48 020), whIch IS substantially dIfferent from all other Cities surveyed Additionally, some of the prOVIsIons of the sections regarding taxIcabs may be Inappropriate to non-motorized vehicles such as pedicabs City staff determined that a limited pilot program with slmphfled ordinance changes would be advantageous to work out the details of any pedIcab program before making longer and more extensive changes In procedures and ordinances DISCUSSION PedIcabs create a speCial ambience wIthout the problems attendant with horse-drawn carnages They are non-pollutIng, attractive, prOVide jobs, and would be of benefit to a retail district such as the MaIn Street area The pedicabs' relatively slow speed shows them to be sightseeing vehicles rather than vehIcles used for pOlnt-to-polnt transportatIon . Staff IS recommending a pilot program for pedicabs In order to determine If there are any Impacts on blcychsts who use the Class II bike lane and with vehicles traveling on the street Main Street IS an appropnate street to test the program due to the Width of the street, the volume of vehIcles, and the utIlizatIon of the bIke lane Staff WIll evaluate the pilot program after SIX months and return first to the Planning CommiSSion and then to the City CounCil wIth recommendations on whether or not to continue the program or If the program should be expanded to other areas of the CIty Under no circumstances 3 would pedicabs be allowed on the Beach Bike Path In Its present configuration Since Santa MOnica MUnicipal Code Section 6 48020 treats non-motorized vehicles for hire as taxicabs, with all of the restnctlons and priVileges, thiS Section should be amended for two reasons 1) Under S M M C 6 48 120. taxicabs are to take the most direct route to the destination selected. whereas staff wishes to confine the pedicab routes substantially to certain bike lanes, and 2) several prOVIsions of thiS Code pertaIning to taxicabs are Inappropnate for pedicabs, such as fees and certain phYSical requirements relating to automobiles Instead of pedlcycles, Including extensIve slgnage, electncal "vacane signs, and taximeters Under S M M C 6 48 050, the City Manager has the authonty to create rules and regulatIons for taxicabs "as are necessary for the service and safety of the operators, the public, and the owners of the vehIcles used herein." Creating a Similar set of regulations for pedicabs which are consistent with their mechanical nature would allow City Staff to control route, Insurance and IndemnIfication reqUirements, slgnage, and equipment specrficatlons for a trial penod before making long-term changes In the MUniCipal Code Taxicab fees are set at $250 per year per vehicle by S M M C 6012 010(g) Taxicab Firms are classIfied as a Tax Rate Group VII bUSiness by S M M C 6 08210 City Staff recommends reclassification of pedicabs for hire as a Tax Rate Group III bUSiness In 608150, conSistent With the nature and economics of a pedicab service, more nearly a 4 sightseeing vehicle service than a means of pOint to pOint transportation This approach IS consistent with the approach taken by other cities, whose administrative procedures treat pedIcabs under classifications other than taxIcabs Staff aJso determIned that It would be advantageous to create the specIfic gUidelines and legal structure and then allow a limited number of pedicab operators to apply for the necessary perm Its rather than select and support a specifIC operator More than one pedIcab operator could apply, however, the total number of pedicabs would be limIted due to the mlntmal route beIng proposed under the pilot program BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT There are no dIrect budgetary and fmanclallmpacts generated by the proposed ordinance changes beyond modest Income from bUSIness license fees and permits, estimated not to exceed $800 00 RECOMMENDATIONS It IS recommended that the CIty CounCil approve In concept the establishment of a pilot pedicab program and direct the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance and set a date for a publIC hearing to amend 1) SectIon 6 48 020 to allow the CIty Manager to approve a pilot program for pedicabs that would exempt them from certain rules and regulatIons for taxicabs, and 2) Section 608 150 to create specific InclUSion for pedicabs In the listing of servIces Included Within Tax Rate Group III bUSiness claSSIfication The staff report also 5 - ----- - - ---- - recommends that the CIty Council direct the City Manager to prepare rules and regulations regarding pedicabs for such pilot programs Prepared by Jeff Mathieu, Director of Resource Management Howard Robinson, EconomiC Development Manager Gwen Pentecost, Sr Admin Analyst, EconomiC Development 6 -- --- --