COUNCIL COMMUNICATION

 

     DATE:

 

  02/03/2003

 

SUBJECT:  FINAL READING OF AN ORDINANCE 2003-O-032

AMENDING CHAPTER 32, VEHICLES FOR HIRE, ARTICLE II, TAXICABS, OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF LAREDO BY SPECIFICALLY AMENDING THE FOLLOWING SECTION, SECTION 32-78 ADVERTISING ON TAXICABS, ALLOWING ADVERTISING ON THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS OF TAXICABS.

 

 

 

INITIATED BY:                                                        STAFF SOURCE:

Larry Dovalina, City Manager                                      Roberto Murillo, P.E., Traffic Safety Director

 

 

PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION: On January 27, 2003 city council introduced an ordinance amending  Chapter 32, Vehicles for Hire, Article II, Taxicabs, and passed a motion for final reading of this ordinance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BACKGROUND:  On January 28, 2002 city council approved resolution 2002-R-009 adopting the Vehicles for Hire ADHOC committee’s charge.  The charge holds the committee responsible to review Chapter 32, Article II, Taxicabs, and propose amendments for review and recommendation by the Transportation and Traffic Safety Advisory Committee and approval by city council.  Section 32-78 Advertising on Taxicabs has not been reviewed by the Transportation and Traffic Safety Advisory Committee, and the committee has not made a recommendation on the proposed amendment as required by the ADHOC committee’s charge.  City council on January 27, 2003 introduced this ordinance and passed a motion for final reading.

 

 

FINANCIAL IMPACT:  

NONE

 

 

                                                                                                                                                

 

 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:

The Vehicles for Hire ADHOC committee recommends approval but the Transportation and Traffic Safety Advisory Committee has not reviewed or made a recommendation on the proposed amendment.

 

 

STAFF RECOMMENDATION:

Staff recommends final reading of this ordinance.

 

 

CITY OF LAREDO ORDINANCE NO. 2003-0-032                                     

 

 

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 32, VEHICLES FOR HIRE, ARTICLE II, TAXICABS, OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF LAREDO BY SPECIFICALLY AMENDING THE FOLLOWING SECTION THEREIN,  SECTION 32-78 ADVERTISING ON TAXICABS.

 

WHEREAS, the City of Laredo is the second fastest growing city in the United States, and said growth will require an efficient system for the transportation of people and commerce.

 

WHEREAS, the monitoring and regulation of vehicles for hire is necessary to provide an efficient transportation system for our community.

 

WHEREAS, the changes effectuated by this ordinance are in the best interests of the citizens of the City of Laredo.

 

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAREDO THAT: 

 

 

SECTION 1.  Amending Chapter 32, Vehicles For Hire, Article II, Taxicabs, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Laredo by specifically amending the following section:

Section 32-78. 

 

Sec. 32-78. Advertising on Taxicabs.

 

Subject to requirement of identification and provisions of this division, this Code and any other ordinance of the city of regulating the use of the public streets, holders may not advertising matter to be installed providing the following requirements are met:

 

(a)                Advertisements will not be controversial, offensive to the general public.

 

(b)               Advertisements will not promote the use of liquor and tobacco products.

 

(c)                Advertisements will be installed on commercially procured taxicab and carriers.

 

(d)               Advertising is permitted providing the requirements of (a) and (b) above are met and said advertising be placed on the rear passenger doors, letters/numbers shall be removable vinyl letters/numbers not greater than three (3) inches in height and greater than ˝ inch in width.  Lettering/numbers must be clear, legible and in colors contrasting number and designs shall be kept legible at all times or the ad must be removed.  

 

(e)         Taxicab ad carriers will not block the view of the “vacant” lights or any

required identification.

 

(f)          Bumper stickers will not be affixed to the taxicabs in any way, shape, or

manner, and window decals shall not be affixed to the windshield, side windows, and rear windows of the taxicab other than those required by state law or city ordinance.

                                                                                                            

(g)         The city manager or his/her authorized representative reserves the right

     their sole discretion to prohibit advertising they may deem inappropriate or         

     offensive.

 

SECTION 2.  Severability

 

If any provision, section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance, or

the application of the same to any person or set of circumstances is for any reason held to be unconstitutional, void or invalid, the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance that no portion thereof or provisions, or regulation contained herein, shall become

 inoperative or fail by reason of any unconstitutionality of any other portion hereof and all provisions of this ordinance are declared to be severable for that purpose.

 

SECTION 3.  Effective Date

 

This Ordinance shall become effective Sixty (60) days after its passage in accordance with the provisions set forth in Section 6.10 of the City Charter.

 

SECTION 4. 

 

This Ordinance shall be published once in accordance with the provisions set forth in Section 2.09 (d) of the City Charter.

 

 

            PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND APPROVED BY THE MAYOR ON THIS _____ DAY OF                          2003.

 

                                                                        ________________________

                                                                        ELIZABETH G. FLORES

                                                                        MAYOR

 

 

ATTEST:                                                         APPROVED AS TO FORM:

                                                                        JAIME L. FLORES

                                                                        CITY ATTORNEY

 

________________________                        BY :_____________________

GUSTAVO GUEVARA                                         ALLAN McGRAW

CITY SECRETARY                                             ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY