SR-9B (10)
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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