Vancouver City Council

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: September 26, 2003
Author/Local: A. Straka/6427
RTS No. 03610
CC File No. 2801
Meeting Date: October 23, 2003

TO:

Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets

FROM:

Chief License Inspector in consultation with the Director of Finance

SUBJECT:

Year 2004 Vehicles for Hire License Fee Amendments and Re-definition of "Stretch Limousine"

RECOMMENDATION

A. THAT the license fees for Vehicles for Hire, contained in Schedule "A" of By-law No. 6066, be increased by approximately 5.5 percent (when rounded) for Year 2004.

B. THAT the license transfer fee be increased from $95.00 to $100.00 for Year 2004.

C. THAT the fee for bicycle courier testing be increased from $25 to $26 for Year 2004.

D. THAT the definition of Stretch Limousine be amended to allow the use of sport utility motor vehicles as stretch limousines, and to clarify that a four-door sedan motor vehicle and sport utility motor vehicle may be stretched.

E. THAT the Director of Legal Services be instructed to prepare the necessary By-law amendments to the Vehicles for Hire By-Law to implement the revised Fee Schedule and other proposed changes, to be effective January 1, 2004 and the amendment to the Stretch Limousine definition to be effective on the date of the enactment of the by-law.

GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

The General Managers of Corporate and Community Services RECOMMEND approval of A, B, C, D and E.

COUNCIL POLICY

On January 17, 1991, Council resolved that every department/board review services for which fees are now charged to ensure full cost recovery, or that fees are equivalent to competitive charges where the fee is of a market nature.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to update the Vehicles for Hire license fees for 2004. This includes increasing the license transfer fee, the bicycle courier examination fee and the license fees for all classifications of vehicles for hire by approximately 5.5 percent (when rounded). The report also proposes amending the definition of Stretch Limousine to allow the use of stretched sport utility motor vehicles as stretch limousines.

DISCUSSION

Licensing Fees and Administrative Costs

This report recommends that license fees for Vehicles for Hire, contained in Schedule "A" of By-law No. 6066, be increased by approximately 5.5 percent (when rounded) for year 2004. This amount recognizes that fees were last increased in 2002 by 7.5 percent. The proposed 5.5 percent increase represents the cumulative inflationary rate of adjustment over 2003 and 2004. This amount is required to achieve cost recovery for the various services required under the Vehicles for Hire By-law.

The administrative cost of license transfers and bicycle courier testing has also risen over the past year, providing justification for the proposed fee increases to recover expenses.

The following table outlines the fee increases for 2004:

Current and Proposed (2004) Vehicles for Hire License Fees (Schedule "A"):

Class of Vehicle Current Proposed (2004)

Airport Shuttle Bus, for each vehicle $55.00 $58.00
Airport Transporter, for each vehicle 118.00 125.00
Antique Limousine, for each vehicle 150.00 158.00
Charter Bus, for each vehicle 118.00 125.00
Charter Van, for each vehicle 118.00 125.00
Courier Bicycle, for each vehicle 14.00 15.00
Driver Instruction Vehicle, for each vehicle 118.00 125.00
Dual Taxicab, for each vehicle 296.00 312.00
Funeral Cab, for each vehicle 118.00 125.00
Handicapped Cab, for each vehicle 118.00 125.00
Horse-Drawn Carriage, for each vehicle 391.00 413.00
Luxury Limousine, for each vehicle 150.00 158.00
Motor Stage, for each vehicle 118.00 125.00
Pedicab, for each vehicle 118.00 125.00
For each person operating a leased
vehicle on a daily fee basis 10.00 11.00
School Cab, for each vehicle 118.00 125.00
School Shuttle Van, for each vehicle 118.00 125.00
Sedan Limousine, for each vehicle 150.00 158.00
Sport Utility Limousine, for each vehicle 150.00 158.00
Stretch Limousine, for each vehicle 150.00 158.00
Taxicab, for each vehicle 296.00 312.00
if used also for displaying advertising material,
for each vehicle so used, additional fee 24.00 25.00
Tow Truck, for each vehicle 118.00 125.00
U-Drive, for each vehicle with 4 or more wheels 32.00 34.00
For each other vehicle 11.00 12.00

License fee to operate a vehicle licensed
for one purpose 52.00 55.00

Administrative costs not in Schedule "A"

Cost of Transfer of License 95.00 100.00
Cost of Bicycle Courier Testing 25.00 26.00

Licensing Stretched Sport Utility Vehicles as Stretch Limousines

Recently, the Provincial Motor Carrier Commission approved the use of stretched sport utility vehicles as stretch limousines on the condition that passenger seating capacity is restricted to a maximum of ten. Although the City has no particular concerns with the use of stretched sport utility vehicles along with sedans as stretch limousines, it has had to refuse recent requests for the licensing of four sport utility stretch limousines due to the lack of a suitable definition in the Vehicles for Hire By-Law. Therefore, this report recommends that the current definition of Stretch Limousine be amended similar to the following:

"Stretch Limousine", which means a stretched four-door sedan motor vehicle or a stretched sport utility motor vehicle having the combined features of a sedan and truck and identified as a sport-utility vehicle by the manufacturer, with a closed body, a minimum seating capacity of six passengers, and a maximum seating capacity of 10 passengers, not equipped with a meter, and hired only by prior reservation for an extended engagement or special purpose.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

This report has no financial implications other than to adjust the current cost recovery fees to the current rate of inflation.

CONCLUSION

License fees for vehicles for hire were last increased in 2002. As a result, a 5.5 percent increase for Year 2004, reflecting the cumulative inflationary rate of adjustment over 2003 and 2004, is being proposed for all vehicles for hire license fees and license transfer and bicycle courier testing fees.

It is also proposed that the definition of Stretch Limousine be amended to allow the use of stretched four-door sedan motor vehicles and stretched sport utility motor vehicles as stretch limousines.

* * * * *


TO:	Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets
FROM:	Chief License Inspector in consultation with the Director of Finance
SUBJECT:	Year 2004 Vehicles for Hire License Fee Amendments and Re-definition of "Stretch Limousine"