Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Dale V.C. Holness
Department: County Commission
Information
Requested Action
title
MOTION TO ADOPT Resolution No. 2021-466, the title of which is as follows: (Commissioner Holness)
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA, PERTAINING TO MOTOR CARRIERS; WAIVING PERMIT FEES AND ABANDONMENT OF CERTIFICATES UNDER CHAPTER 22½ OF THE BROWARD COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES; MODIFYING THE TERM OF CERTIFICATES AND PERMITS; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
body
Why Action is Necessary
A Resolution is necessary to waive or modify the fees for motor carriers and to modify the term of certificates and permits for driver-owned taxicabs issued pursuant to Chapter 22½ of the Broward County Code of Ordinances (“Code”).
What Action Accomplishes
Enables the adoption of the above Resolution waiving fees and modifying the term of certificates and permits for driver-owned taxicabs issued pursuant to the Code.
Is this Action Goal Related
No
Previous Action Taken
Summary Explanation/Background
Chapter 22½ of the Broward County Code of Ordinances (“Code”) provides that motor carriers, including taxicabs, that operate motor vehicles upon the streets of Broward County must obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity and a valid permit. The Code provides for a term of one year for such certificates and permits, at fees set by the Board of County Commissioners (“Board”) by Resolution. The Code provides that the Board, by Resolution, may waive or modify the fees for motor carriers and modify the term of certificates and permits issued pursuant to Chapter 22½ to address the impacts of a declared state or local emergency.
This Resolution, if adopted, will, only for certificates and permits owned by current taxicab drivers, (i) extend the terms of permits and certificates that expired on June 30, 2021, until June 30, 2022; (ii) waive annual permit fees and penalties for late renewal of permits until June 30, 2022; (iii) extend the period of time that certificates not in use are deemed abandoned from 180 days to 360 days; and (iv) waive the abandonment of any certificates that occurred from March 30, 2020, through the date the Resolution is adopted. The proposed waivers would only apply to certificates and permits owned by current taxicab drivers, as they have been particularly impacted by the pandemic. In addition, the proposed Resolution directs the County Administrator to allocate funding to the Consumer Protection Division equal to the amount of revenue that the division will lose as a result of the waivers and extensions in the Resolution.
Source of Additional Information
Heidi Richards, Chief of Staff, District 9, 954-357-7009
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
The loss in revenue is estimated at $58,600. This includes funds that would need to be refunded for those fees already paid for a 2021-2022 permit as well as lost revenue for those that have yet renewed their 2021-2022 permit. A fiscal impact cannot be determined regarding extending the abandonment period from 180 days to 360 days. However, extending the abandonment period will delay making the certificates available to new owners who pay a fee to the Division for those certificates, thus delaying potential revenue for the Division.