HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-14-0259City of Miami
Legislation
Resolution: R-14-0259
City Hall
3500 Pan American
Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 14-00600 Final Action Date: 7/10/2014
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION URGING THE MIAMI-DADE
COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO REFORM ITS EXISTING
REGULATIONS UNDER CHAPTER 31 OF THE CODE OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY,
FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING DIGITAL DISPATCH PROVIDERS OF FOR -HIRE
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AND THEIR DRIVERS TO OPERATE IN
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF
THIS RESOLUTION TO THE OFFICIALS AS STATED HEREIN.
WHEREAS, new technology platforms and social tools have enabled citizens to connect with
each other in order to access new economic opportunities by sharing their underutilized assets; and
WHEREAS, in recent years, the communications revolution in wireless service, smartphones, and
on-line applications has facilitated the development and adoption of peer -to -peer rideshare services
where passengers seeking transportation can be readily connected with drivers willing to provide
transportation in their private vehicles; and
WHEREAS, Lyft and Uber are innovative providers of rideshare software that use an
online -enabled platform to connect passengers with drivers who utilize their personal, non-commercial
vehicles; and
WHEREAS, the transportation service model employed by Lyft and Uber does not fit neatly into
the conventional characterizations of either for -hire services of taxis or limousines and therefore, it is
unclear where Lyft and Uber fit under the regulations promulgated in Chapter 31 of the Code of
Miami -Dade County, Florida ("County Code"); and
WHEREAS, the City of Miami ("City") understands the Miami -Dade County Board of County
Commissioners' ("County Commission") obligation to public safety and consumer protections in the
for -hire transportation industry; and
WHEREAS, the City is confident in the County Commission's ability to create and adopt rules and
regulations for online -enabled transportation providers, referred to as a Digital Dispatch Providers
("DDP"), to ensure that its obligations are not compromised by the operation of this transportation
model; and
WHEREAS, Lyft, Uber, and other DDPs are mission -driven and also have strong incentives to
protect the trust and safety of their communities and the public; and
WHEREAS, Lyft, Uber, and other DDPs have demonstrated their intent and commitment to work
collaboratively with state and local agencies to avail themselves of jurisdictional transportation
regulations to address and ensure standards of safety and customer service; and
City of Miami
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File Number: 14-00600 Enactment Number: R-14-0259
WHEREAS, California's Public Utility Commission created a new regulatory category of
companies that use online -enabled platforms to connect passengers with drivers identified as
"transportation network companies" ("TNCs") which include Lyft, Uber and their competitors; and
WHEREAS, the State of California implemented regulations allowing TNCs that comply with
criminal history background checks and zero -tolerance drug policies for drivers, minimum liability
insurance requirements for the companies, and vehicle safety inspections to operate throughout the
state; and
WHEREAS, the City of Seattle has implemented regulations allowing an unlimited number of TNC
vehicles to operate at any time; and
WHEREAS, the City of Detroit entered into a two (2) year agreement with Lyft, allowing the
company to operate as long as insurance requirements are met and its drivers pass background
checks; and
WHEREAS, the City of Jacksonville has authorized Uber to operate after it eliminated minimum
charges and pre -arrangement requirements for luxury -car rides; and
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago has enacted an ordinance that would allow TNCs to operate
within safety, licensure, and insurance requirements, as well as regulations on fares including
oversight over demand pricing; and
WHEREAS, the City of Austin recently passed a resolution directing its City Manager to convene
a stakeholder working group to make recommendations on a pilot program authorizing TNCs to
operate in some capacity; and
WHEREAS, staff of the Federal Trade Commission's Office of Policy Planning, Bureau of
Competition, and Bureau of Economics, recently commented that applications for arranging
transportation using personal vehicles may expand transportation options, better satisfy consumer
demand, increase competition, and promote a more economically efficient use of personal vehicles;
and
WHEREAS, the City urges the County Commission to reform its regulations pertaining to for -hire
transportation services with a focus towards public safety and ensuring that the new regulations
reflect changing technology, current ways of doing business, fair competition, and enforcement in the
process to improve the lives of residents throughout the County;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are adopted by
reference and incorporated as fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The City urges the County Commission to reform its regulations under Chapter 31 of
the County Code that authorizes DDP's of for -hire transportation services and their drivers to operate
in the County.
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File Number: 14-00600 Enactment Number: R-14-0259
Section 3. The City further directs the City Clerk to transmit a copy of this Resolution to Mayor
Carlos Gimenez and to the County Commissioners.
Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective upon its adoption and signature of the Mayor.
{1}
Footnotes:
{1} This Resolution shall become effective as specified herein unless vetoed by the Mayor within ten
days from the date it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Resolution, it shall become
effective immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission or upon the effective date
stated herein, whichever is later.
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