CITY OF SEATTLE
RESOLUTION __________________
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A RESOLUTION relating to the for-hire transportation industry; establishing a work program for the City Council to review the administrative rules and regulations to improve customer service and lower costs to participants, and to explore ways to ensure equal market access to all participants.
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WHEREAS, the City Council passed Ordinance 124524 on July 14, 2014, establishing minimum operating requirements for transportation network companies (TNCs) and affiliated drivers; imposing industry-wide vehicle inspection and driver training standards; imposing insurance requirements for transportation network companies and affiliated vehicles; altering insurance requirements for taxi and for-hire vehicles; requiring rate transparency across the industry; establishing and altering licensing fees; establishing an accessibility service charge; raising the maximum number of taxicab licenses issued by the City; granting hailing rights to for-hire vehicles; and establishing a property right in the license for taxi and for-hire vehicle license holders; and
WHEREAS, the City Council passed Ordinance 124968 on December 23, 2015, establishing a framework that would require companies that hire or contract with for-hire drivers licensed to operate in the City to bargain the terms and conditions of work with a Driver Representative if enough such drivers chose to be represented; and
WHEREAS, the City Council, over the last several years, has worked on new policies to create a competitive and fair environment for taxis, for-hire vehicles, and TNCs, allow new market entrants and technologies, and improve customer convenience and safety; and
WHEREAS, industry participants have requested the City Council enact legislation to establish a minimum fare for all segments of the industry that ensures equal market access and establishes an industry aligned with the City’s values of fairness, shared prosperity, and transparency; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE THAT:
Section 1. The City Council requests that taxicab companies, for-hire vehicle companies, and transportation network companies (TNCs) work collaboratively with designated City staff to develop a list of data that they will voluntarily share with the Council through a secure mechanism, that will be responsive to the Council’s need to have a clear understanding of the current state of the for-hire industry as it formulates policies. City staff will include and consider the distribution of: 1) the hours the driver worked, or in the case of TNCs, the hours active on the companies’ platform, 2) the number of trips the drivers completed, the distance traveled with the passenger in the vehicle, the distance traveled to pick up the passenger, and, in the case of the TNCs, the distance traveled while logged onto the company’s app. 3) the value of the fares charged, and 4) the compensation to drivers for calendar year 2017. The data shared should be anonymous and provided to the City by no later than May 31, 2018. If the requested information is not provided to the Director of Finance and Administrative Services by May 31, 2018, the Council will consider legislation requiring the data from all market participants, including possibly drivers, to support the formation of City Council policy for the industry. In drafting such legislation, the City Council will consider defining what constitutes an operating hour and will explore creative ways to address the concerns of market participants about the release of data.
Section 2. The City Council will consider legislation to establish a set of minimum charges across all segments of the for-hire transportation industry to ensure fair market access to all participants. Options could include setting a minimum base fare rate of $2.40.
Section 3. Additional issues the City Council will examine and review to improve the for-hire transportation industry in Seattle include, but are not limited to:
1. Transition to regional license system for all market segments. The City would continue to coordinate with King County in establishing and administering consistent rules, regulation, and fare structures;
2. Consolidation and leveling of operating fees in Seattle Municipal Code Section 6.310.150;
3. Options for conversion of for-hire vehicles to metered taxicab for those choosing to convert;
4. Flexibility in licensing tenures to allow drivers time to travel to visit family overseas, and to accommodate the seasonality of the market;
5. Flexibility in the financial obligations on drivers and owner-operators in the taxi industry;
7. Flexibility in insurance standards to lower driver costs;
8. Establishing a bill of rights for drivers and passengers;
9. Expanding the Seattle-King County Taxicab Advisory Commission to include all for-hire transportation industry segments; and
10. Addressing issues specific to Wheelchair Accessible Taxi.
Section 4. The City Council will introduce preliminary policy recommendations by the end of the second quarter of 2018 and final recommendations with legislation by the end of the third quarter 2018.
Adopted by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2018, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this ________ day of _________________________, 2018.
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President ____________ of the City Council
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2018.
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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)