2010-003 ORD EXTENSION OF FRANCHISE USE FOR LONE STAR CABORDINANCE N0. 2010-003
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS,
GRANTING TO DAVID THOMPSON, DBA LONE STAR CAB COMPANY, AN
EXTENSION OF AN EXISTING FRANCHISE TO USE THE PUBLIC STREETS,
ALLEYS, AND HIGHWAYS OF THE CITY OF PARIS FOR THE PURPOSE OF
TRANSPORTING PASSENGERS FOR HIRE IN MOTOR VEHICLES FOR A PERIOD
OF ONE (1) YEAR, BEGINNING JANUARY 11, 2010 AND E111DING JANUARY 10,
2011, UPON THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS HEREINAFTER PRESCRIBED;
PROVIDIIVG FOR THE REGULATIOIV OF SAID BUSI111ESS; PROVIDIIVG FOR THE
PAYMENT OF A FRANCHISE FEE FOR SUCH PRIVILEGE AND USE OF SUCH
STREETS, ALLEYS, AND HIGHWAYS; PROVIDING FOR THE TERMIIVATION OF
SUCH GRANT UPON SPECIFIED CONDITIONS; PROVIDING FOR TAXICAB
STANDS FOR USE OF SAID GRANTEE; PROVIDIIVG FOR MINIMUM LIABILITY
INSURANCE REQUIRED FOR GRANTEE; PROVIDING FOR THE SUPERVISIOIV OF
SAID BUSINESS A1VD INSPECTION OF ITS VEHICULAR EQUIPMENT BY THE
OFFICIALS OF THE CITY OF PARIS; AND PROVIDING A1V EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS:
Section 1. That there is hereby granted to David Thompson, dba Lone Star Cab
Company, hereinafter called Grantee, an extension of an existing right, privilege, and franchise
for a period of one (1) year, beginning January 11, 2010 and ending January, 10 2011, to operate
a taxicab service in the City of Paris and on the streets, alleys, and public ways within the city
limits of said city for the transportation of passengers for hire. The Grantees herein shall
maintain their principal office and place of business within the corporate limits of the City of
Paris, where the headquarters of said business shall be maintained.
Section 2. That the right, privilege, and grant herein contained shall not be transferred
or assigned by Grantees without first obtaining the formal action and written consent of the City
Council of the City of Paris, and any attempted assignment or transfer of said rights and
privileges by the Grantees without first having had and obtained such consent and permission
from the City Council of the City of Paris shall operate, ipso facto, as a termination of the rights,
privileges, and grant herein contained.
Section 3. That the taxicabs operated or maintained under this franchise shall be used
for the purpose of the transportation of passengers and the personal luggage of such passengers.
Section 4. That all automobiles or vehicles used in connection with this taxicab service
shall be maintained and operated in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas and
ordinances of the City of Paris, and any amendments thereto, or either of them, relating to or
regulating the maintenance and operation of motor vehicles upon streets or highways.
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Section S. That the City of Paris, in granting this franchise, fully retains and reserves all
the rights, privileges, and immunities that it now has under the law to fully use, patrol and police
the public streets, alleys, and right-of-ways within the City, and the granting of this franchise
shall in no way interfere with the rights of the City of Paris to fully use said streets, alleys, and
right-of-ways for any other public utility or public purpose, nor shall this franchise in any way
interfere with the City's right to improve or maintain any streets, alleys, or right-of-ways in the
City of Paris, and the rights of the Grantees herein to use said streets shall, at all times, be
subservient to the right of the City Council of the City of Paris to fully exercise its rights or control
over said streets, alleys, and public ways.
Section 6. That the Grantees shall, prior to the effective date of this franchise
agreement, pay to the City of Paris, at the office of the City Clerk of the City of Paris, 150 1st
Street S.E., Paris, Texas, in lawful money of the United States, a sum equal to $50.00 per vehicle
used in the operation of said taxicab business. This payment shall represent the franchise
payment due the City of Paris and failure to pay said franchise fee when due may result in
forfeiture of this taxicab franchise. No reimbursements will be made to Grantee if Grantee
reduces the number of taxicabs during the franchise year.
Section 7. That the City of Paris expressly reserves the right to modify, amend, alter,
change, or eliminate any of the provisions of this franchise, during the life of the same, for the
following purposes, to-wit:
(1) To eliminate or delete from the same such conditions as then prove
obsolete or impractical; and,
(2) To impose such additional conditions or requirements upon the
Grantees as may be deemed necessary and reasonable, such conditions or
requirements to be those as may be deemed necessary for the purpose of insuring
adequate service to the public or protecting the health, safety and general welfare
of the citizens of Paris.
Section. 8. That, notwithstanding what may be said in any other portion of this
instrument with reference to the termination hereof, this right is granted subject to the
provisions of Article I, Sections 17 and 26 of the Constitution of the State of Texas, all applicable
state laws, City Charter provisions, and any other laws that may be enacted in the future by the
Texas Legislature, or amendments to the Constitution and the Charter of the City of Paris.
Furthermore, the City Council of the City of Paris reserves the absolute right, upon notice and
hearing, which said notice shall be given to the Grantees not less than ten (10) days before such
hearing, to absolutely terminate this grant and franchise for any violation of the terms and
provisions of this ordinance.
Section 9. That it shall hereafter be unlawful for the Grantees, their agents or
employees, while operating any automobile for hire within the City of Paris, to cruise. Cruising
shall consist of seeking, searching, or soliciting employment while operating an automobile for
hire by repeatedly and persistently driving such automobile for hire to and fro on the public
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streets of the city of Paris and offering accommodations thereof to prospective passengers,
whether by signal, word of mouth, or by carrying a sign with the word "Vacant" thereon, or some
other word of similar import, or otherwise, or in any manner whatsoever operating said vehicle
upon the public streets of the city of Paris for the purpose of soliciting passengers, or driving an
automobile for hire upon the public streets while unoccupied by a passenger without having a
fixed destination thereof.
Section 10. That Grantees shall, at all times during the effective period of this franchise,
keep and maintain, in full force and effect, a policy or policies, of automobile liabiliry insurance
coverage which fully meets or exceeds the State of Texas minimum financial responsibility
requirements for operators of motor vehicles in the state. The insurance policy shall also
provide coverage for bodily injury to passengers and/or property damage and shall indemnify
the City of Paris, its elected officials, officers and employees from and against any and all
damages, personal injuries, or property damages sustained as a result of the negligent operation
of any motor vehicle by the Grantees, their agents or employees, and shall pay all premiums due
thereon when due. Said policy shall also list the City of Paris, its elected officials, officers and
employees as additional insured under the required coverage. It is expressly provided that
such insurance policy, or policies, shall, and must, be written and issued by a reputable insurance
underwriter, or underwriters, authorized to do business in the State of Texas, subject to approval
by the Ciry Attorney of the City of Paris; and the Grantees, or their insurance carrier or carriers,
shall deliver a copy of any such policies to the City Clerk of the City of Paris, 150 1st Street S.E.,
Paris, Texas 75460, or furnish to said City Clerk a current letter or certificate from such company,
or companies, evidencing the fact that such insurance is in full force and effect at all times during
the effective period of this franchise. All such policies shall be written so that the City of Paris
will be notified of cancellation or of any material change to the policies at least thirty (30) days
prior to the effective date of such cancellation or amendment. Notice shall be by certified mail,
return receipt requested, addressed to the City of Paris at the following address: City Clerk,
City of Paris, P. 0. Box 9037, Paris, Texas 75461-9037.
The Grantees shall promptly respond to all claims filed against them for injury or damage
to property arising from the operator of their taxi-cabs; and well and truly pay directly to every
judgment creditor who has been injured through the negligent operation of any motor vehicle by
the Grantees, their agents or employees, or whose property has been damaged, any amount, or
amounts, of money that shall have been awarded by final judgment of any court of competent
jurisdiction against such Grantees on account of any such injury or damage.
Section 11. That in the event Grantee fails to provide the City with a current Certificate
of Insurance with appropriate insurance coverage for all vehicles operated under this Franchise
Ordinance and/or Grantee fails to fully discharge any claim for damages established by final
judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction within sixty (60) days after the same has been so
established, such failure shall constitute grounds for termination of this franchise.
Section 12. That every taxicab operated by Grantees under this franchise shall, at all
times, have painted, or otherwise impressed upon the front doors thereof, easily visible signs
bearing proper identification of the company operating under this franchise. All such vehicles
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shall be owned by and registered in the names of the Grantees, and no other vehicle may be used
or operated by Grantee on the streets of the City of Paris under this Franchise Ordinance. Each
of such vehicles shall be registered with the City Clerk of the City of Paris by motor vehicle in
numerical order, beginning with the number 1, which number shall, at all times, be displayed at
some convenient location on both sides of said vehicles.
Section 13. That in accepting this Franchise, Grantee agrees that they shall not
discriminate against or refuse taxicab service to any person on the basis of race, color, creed, sex,
or national origin. Any proven violation of this section of the Franchise may result in an
immediate suspension or forfeiture of this taxicab franchise.
Section 14. That it shall be the duty of the City Council of the City of Paris, by and
through its City Manager, to enforce the provisions of this ordinance and all applicable
regulations, which, when approved by the City Council, shall become binding upon the Grantees
herein. Among other things, the City Council shall, from time to time during the term of this
franchise, have the power and authority to promulgate effective regulations concerning the
following, to-wit:
(1) To make reasonable orders respecting character, extent, quality,
safety and standard of service of Grantees to be provided under this franchise;
(2) To fix such rates for service to the public as are not in conflict with the
express provisions hereof and as will provide for Grantees a reasonable and fair
rate of return upon the fair value of the property used and useable in connection
with the rendering of service to the public under this franchise; and,
(3) To make such other rules and regulations as may be reasonably
necessary to facilitate clean and professional taxicab service to be rendered to the
public under this franchise, any such rules and regulations, when adopted, to be
binding upon the Grantees herein.
Section 15. That motor vehicles operated by Grantees under this franchise shall be
known as "taxicabs" and, when not in use in the exercise of the privileges granted herein, shall be
stationed or parked at the headquarters of the Grantees, which headquarters shall be located on
private property.
Section 16. That the word "taxicab," as used in this ordinance, shall mean any
passenger vehicle with not more than three rows of seats and a normal capacity not in excess of
seven passengers which is not operated over a fixed route or routes and which is engaged for the
purpose of carrying a passenger, or passengers, by special trips to and from specified addresses
as designated by any such passenger or passengers.
Section 17. That the Grantees shall promptly pay all lawful ad valorem taxes and such
other levies and assessments, if any, that may be lawfully imposed upon them. Failure to pay
any of such charges, or either of them, shall be deemed a breach of the privilege granted herein,
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and the City, upon the happening of such event, may declare the rights of the Grantees hereunder
forfeited for such breach.
Section 18. This grant is made upon the express condition that the non-exercise of the
power to regulate rates and charges which the Grantees may charge to the public in the
operation of their business shall never be construed as an acquiescence or recognition of the
justness or correctness of said Grantees' established rate, and that, so long as the City Council of
the City of Paris does not exercise its legislative and governmental power to fix and regulate the
rates that the Grantees shall charge to the public, the question of property values used and useful
in the rendering of the service prior to rate regulation shall never stop the City from determining
the real or actual value of property used or useful in rendering such service. If, and when, the
City Council or other governing body shall exercise the power to fix the rates to be charged for
such service in the City of Paris, no allowance in the way of said rate shall be made as
compensation for any property used or consumed in rendering the service by the Grantees for
such service. If, and when, the City Council decides to regulate rates, then, at such time, the
Council will fully exercise its rate regulatory power under the provisions of law applicable
thereto, and the failure to provide under this ordinance the machinery for the administration,
legislative, or executive control of such matter shall not preclude the Council from fully
exercising that power and providing suitable provisions to enforce such power.
Section 19. That any unwarranted and intentional neglect, failure, or refusal of the
Grantees to comply with any of the conditions and stipulations contained in this franchise shall
thereupon immediately, ipso facto, effect a forfeiture hereof, and the City Council may,
thereupon, declare this franchise forfeited and may exclude the Grantees from further use of the
streets of the city under this franchise, and the Grantees shall thereupon and immediately
surrender all rights in and to the same, and this franchise shall become null and void and of no
effect.
Section 20. That the grant of this franchise shall be and is hereby expressly conditioned
upon the right of the City Council to adopt an ordinance or ordinances regulating the activities
authorized herein, and upon adoption of said ordinance or ordinances, the City Council reserves
the right at its discretion to supersede this ordinance with the requirements of said regulatory
ordinance or ordinances, even if the term of this ordinance has not expired.
Section 21. That within ten (10) days after the passage of this ordinance by the City
Council, the Grantees herein shall file with the City Clerk, in writing, the acceptance of the terms
and provisions of this grant.
Section 22. That this taxicab franchise ordinance was introduced, read, and passed on
first reading on November 9, 2009, at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Paris;
read and passed on second reading on December 14, 2009, at a regular meeting of the City
Council of the City of Paris; and, read and passed on third and final reading on January 11, 2010,
at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Paris, the same being three (3) separate
regular meetings of the City Council of the City of Paris, and the last reading being not less than
thirty (30) days from the first.
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Section 23. That all provisions of the ordinances of the City of Paris, Texas in conflict
with the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed, and all other provisions of the
ordinances of the City of Paris not in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance shall remain in
full force and effect.
Section 24. That, should it be determined that any clause, condition, or covenant of this
franchise is, for any reason, illegal or unenforceable, such clause, condition, or covenant shall be
disregarded, and the existence of the same shall not affect the remaining clauses, conditions, or
covenants of this franchise.
Section 25. That this ordinance shall become effective in accordance with the terms
and provisions of the City Charter of the City of Paris, and shall be effective for a period of time as
stated herein.
PASSED AND ADOPTED on third and final reading this 11Lh day of January, 2010.
J!
f...
sse Jam Freelen, Mayor
ATTEST:
,
ice Ellis, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
W. Kent c ity Attorney
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