SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 7
P&E COMMITTEE AGENDA
DECEMBER 14, 1995
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: November 16, 1995
TO: Standing Committee on Planning and Environment
FROM: Director of Finance and
Director of Permits & Licenses
SUBJECT: 1996 Fees for Vehicles for Hire
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT license fees for Vehicles for Hire, contained in
Schedule A of By-law No. 6066, be increased for 1996,
reflecting a general increase of 7.0% except for dual
taxicabs and taxicabs which will increase from $250 to $350,
as outlined in Appendix I.
B. THAT the Director of Legal Services be instructed to prepare
the necessary By-law to implement the revised Fee Schedule
on January 1, 1996.
GENERAL MANAGERS COMMENTS
The General Managers of Corporate and Community Services
RECOMMEND approval of A and B.
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 bring the license fees to current
cost recovery levels, the Directors of Finance and Permits & Licenses
recommend that the fees be increased by 7.0%, recognizing that the
last increase took place in 1992. This fee increase reflects cost
increases for negotiated wage increases and other operating costs, and
is consistent with Council policy to maintain cost recovery. The
proposed 1996 fees for all classes of vehicles for hire are set out in
Appendix I.
DISCUSSION
The proposed 1996 fees for Vehicles for Hire will result in a 7.0%
increase (rounded to the nearest dollar), to ensure cost recovery.
Exceptions to the 7.0% increase are discussed below.
Dual Taxicab & Taxicab
Currently in the City of Vancouver there are 30 dual taxicabs (i.e.,
vans that can accommodate both people and wheelchairs) and 418 sedans.
The administrative costs associated with licensing dual taxicabs and
taxicabs has risen significantly in recent years. There are two
principal functions carried out by the City of Vancouver with respect
to taxicabs.
1. The Department of Permits & Licenses issues each taxicab a
business license at the beginning of the year. This requires
City staff to inspect, twice a year, the physical condition of
each vehicle; examine the fare meter; and ensure that each
taxicab is being maintained on a regular basis. With respect to
the fare meter, City staff may be required to undertake several
inspections during the year for each vehicle, for example, after
major repairs or if the meter is believed to be malfunctioning.
The City s administration maintains a detailed record on each
taxicab operating in the City.
The 1995 business license revenues for all taxicabs is $112,000.
2. The Vancouver Police Department has a Taxi Detail which issues
each of the 3,171 taxicab drivers in the City a chauffeur s
permit. For a new applicant this includes a criminal records
check; written test; and fingerprinting. Each year thereafter a
taxi driver must renew the permit. This requires the Police
Department to undertake a criminal records check and update its
filing system.
Provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act, Section 32.(4), prohibit
fees being levied for chauffeur permits.
It is the recommendation of both the Directors of Finance and Permits
& Licenses that the business license fee for taxicabs be raised from
$250 to $350 for two reasons: (i) to adjust for the true
administrative costs associated with issuing a license for taxicabs,
and (ii) to reflect the average consumer price index for metropolitan
Vancouver 1992 - 1996, which is being applied to all Vehicles for Hire
business licenses.
The proposed fee increase, beyond the adjustment for the negotiated
wage increase from 1992 - 1996, will generate an additional taxicab
business license revenue of $36,960. It is anticipated that total
revenue for taxicab business licenses in 1996 will be $156,800. This
will offset the cost of administering and regulating the taxicab
industry in the City of Vancouver.
The present and proposed Vehicle for Hire license fees are detailed in
Appendix I.
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APPENDIX I
Page 1 of 2
Current and Proposed (1996) Vehicle for Hire License Fees
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Current Proposed
Class of Vehicle Fee Fee
Airport Shuttle Bus,
for each vehicle $ 47.00 $ 50.00
Airport Transporter,
for each vehicle 100.00 107.00
Antique Charter Limousine,
for each vehicle 100.00 107.00
Charter Bus, for each vehicle 100.00 107.00
Charter Limousine,
for each vehicle 100.00 107.00
Charter Van, for each vehicle 100.00 107.00
Courier Bicycle, for each vehicle 11.00 12.00
Driver Instruction Vehicle,
for each vehicle 100.00 107.00
Dual Taxicab, for each vehicle 250.00 350.00
Funeral Cab, for each vehicle 100.00 107.00
Handicapped Cab, for each vehicle 100.00 107.00
Horse-Drawn Carriage 330.00 355.00
Luxury Limousine, for each vehicle 100.00 107.00
Motor Stage, for each vehicle 100.00 107.00
Pedicab, for each vehicle 100.00 107.00
for each person operating a leased
vehicle on a daily basis 7.00 8.00
School Cab, for each vehicle 100.00 107.00
Appendix I
Page 2 of 2
Current and Proposed (1996) Vehicle for Hire License Fees
______________________________________________________________
Current Proposed
Class of Vehicle Fee Fee
Taxicab, for each vehicle 250.00 350.00
if used also for displaying advertising
material, for each vehicle so used,
additional fee 20.00 21.00
Tow Truck, for each vehicle 100.00 107.00
U-Drive, for each vehicle with
4 or more wheels 27.00 29.00
for each other vehicle 8.00 9.00
Cost of Transfer of License 65.00 70.00
License fee to operate a vehicle
licensed for one purpose, each
additional purpose authorized
by this By-Law 47.00 50.00
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