Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutBYL 03-24Report to Council Report Number: BYL 03-24 Date: October 28, 2024 From: Paul Bigioni Director, Corporate Services & City Solicitor Subject: Deferral of Implementation of Accessible Service Supplement Fees -Vehicle for Hire By-law -File: L-2200-002-24 Recommendation: 1.That Report BYL 03-24 respecting a deferral of the implementation of the Accessible Service Supplement enacted in the Vehicle for Hire By-law 7739/20 be received; 2.That the implementation and collection of the Vehicle for Hire Accessible Service Supplement be deferred until January 1, 2026; and, 3.That appropriate City of Pickering officials be authorized to take the actions necessary to implement the recommendations in this report. Executive Summary: The purpose of this report is to request that Council defer the implementation of the Accessible Service Supplement to allow City staff to work with a Regional Working Group regarding accessible taxicab service. The City’s Vehicle for Hire By-law was enacted on February 24, 2020. Included in the By-law is an Accessible Service Supplement to be paid by all vehicle for hire license holders that do not provide accessible service. Based on the economic challenges that have faced the taxicab industry, including the lingering decrease in ridership caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the introduction of Personal Transportation Companies, staff have recommend deferring collection of the Accessible Service Supplement each year since its implementation. In early 2024, the Region of Durham and the local Durham municipalities created an Accessible Taxicab Working Group. This group is looking at ways to address accessible service across the entire Region. The deferral of these fees will allow the Working Group to complete its work. Then a recommendation to permanently keep or remove the Accessible Service Supplement will be presented to Council for consideration. Financial Implications: None. The Accessible Service Supplement was not budgeted as revenue generated for the City. -C0)of- P1CKER1NG BYL 03-24 October 28, 2024 Subject: Deferral of Implementation of Accessible Service Supplement Fees Page 2 Relationship to the Pickering Strategic Plan: The recommendations in this report respond to the Pickering Strategic Plan Priority of Advocate for an Inclusive, Welcoming, Safe & Healthy Community. ______________________________________________________________________________ Discussion: The purpose of this report is to request that Council defer the implementation of the Accessible Service Supplement to allow staff to work with a Regional Working Group regarding accessible taxicab service. The Vehicle for Hire Licensing By-law prescribes an Accessible Service Supplement fee to be applied to all vehicles for hire that do not provide accessible services. Fees charged in relation to the Accessible Service Supplement are as follows: 1.Personal Transportation Companies (PTCs) are subject to a seven cent per trip fee; 2.Taxicab Brokerages that do not have at least ten percent of their fleet as accessible vehicles must pay $2,500.00 per year; and 3.Individual Taxicab Plate Licensees that are not affixed to an accessible vehicle must pay $75.00 annually. The funds raised through the Accessible Service Supplement are to be used to fund an Accessible Taxicab Incentive Program. Section 93 of the Vehicle for Hire By-law indicates that the Accessible Taxicab Incentive Program may include, but is not limited to: i)requirements for grant or incentive eligibility; ii)criteria for receiving any incentive or grant; iii)the amount and frequency of the disbursement of any incentive or grant, including pro-rated or discretionary amounts; iv)sanctions, including reductions in the amount of any incentive or grant for non- compliance with the conditions of the program; and, v)reporting or auditing requirements for brokerages, PTCs, and Taxicab Plate Licensees. The Accessibility Advisory Committee and Municipal Law Enforcement staff have been part of a working group with the Region of Durham and the other local municipalities. The purpose of the Working Group is research and recommend possible ideas to assist in the delivery of accessible taxicab service within the Region. The taxicab industry in the City of Pickering has changed drastically since the introduction of Personal Transportation Companies and the COVID-19 pandemic. If the Accessible Service Supplement were to be implemented it would cause extreme financial hardship for the taxicab industry. Deferring the implementation of the Accessible Service Supplement is a reasonable measure to assist in mitigating the financial hardship being experienced by the taxicab industry. It BYL 03-24 October 28, 2024 Subject: Deferral of Implementation of Accessible Service Supplement Fees Page 3 will also allow an opportunity to propose solutions to assist with accessible taxicab service. Currently, there is a drastically lower number of Taxicab Plates attached to vehicles providing accessible service in the City. City staff will continue to monitor and review the industry conditions. The deferral of the Accessible Service Supplement will allow the industry to continue to operate without any additional costs for 2025. This will provide all members of the industry an opportunity to expand their business models without any additional costs. Only very large municipalities have had success with this type of program. Many municipalities the size of Pickering have eliminated this type of supplement as there is no reasonable ability to implement and utilize any funds without larger programs. It is seen as an additional burden to the taxicab industry which is already suffering greatly. This deferral will also allow staff to work on options to increase accessible service in conjunction with the Regional Working Group. Staff are of the view that the Accessible Service Supplement should be removed from the By-law, but the Regional Working Group should first be permitted to complete its work. At that point, the Accessible Service Supplement can be permanently revoked or modified based on the recommendations of the Working Group. Attachment: None. Prepared By: Approved/Endorsed By: Jason Litoborski, CPSO Paul Bigioni Manager, Municipal Law Enforcement Services Director, Corporate Services & City Solicitor JL:ks Recommended for the consideration of Pickering City Council Marisa Carpino Chief Administrative Officer Original Signed By:Original Signed By: Original Signed By: