§ 22-31. Senior citizen taxi fare subsidy program.

(a)

Created. Subject to the annual budget authorization by the city council of funds sufficient for the operation of the program, a taxi fare subsidy program for the benefit of the senior citizens of the city is hereby created, which program shall be operated and administered according to the provisions of this section.

(b)

Eligibility. All senior citizens age 62 or older living within the corporate limits of the city shall be eligible to apply for and receive a program permit card upon satisfactory proof of age and residence to the administering authority.

(c)

Amount of subsidy. Subject to the restrictions set forth in this section, the city shall subsidize taxi rides for senior citizens holding a valid program permit card, at the rate of $1.50 per ride.

(d)

Restrictions. The following restrictions shall be applicable to the subsidy program created in this section:

(1)

In order to qualify for the taxi fare subsidy, taxi rides must be restricted to the corporate limits of the city, with the exception of rides to and from the county nursing home.

(2)

Each permit holder shall be restricted to two subsidized taxi rides on any calendar day, a round trip constituting two rides; provided, however, that there shall be no limit to the number of emergency taxi rides on any calendar day which may be subsidized.

(3)

The permit cards issued under this section shall not be transferable and shall be presented to the eligible carrier each time a permit holder takes a subsidized taxi ride.

(4)

The subsidy shall be payable only for taxi rides with an eligible carrier.

(e)

Eligible carrier defined. All common carriers whose vehicles are licensed pursuant to the provisions of this article shall be eligible carriers for the purposes of the subsidy; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, no carrier receiving any payment, subsidy or other tangible assistance directly or indirectly through or under any local, state or federal government program or agency other than the city shall be an eligible carrier for the purpose of this section.

(f)

Payment of subsidy. The taxi fare subsidy shall be payable directly to the eligible carrier providing the service, upon the filing of such reports and documentation as shall be required by the administering authority.

(g)

Administering authority. The city administrator shall be the administering authority for the purposes of this subsidy.

(h)

Disqualification of eligible carriers. Any carrier who is otherwise eligible to receive a subsidy under the provisions of this section and who is determined by the city council to be in violation has been prosecuted by court action, shall be disqualified from receiving the subsidy payments provided for by this section. Prior to disqualifying any otherwise eligible carrier, the city council shall cause a prior written notice to be given to the named licensee and holder of the license issued to the carrier under the provisions of section 22-27 of this code of the consideration by the city council of the disqualification of the carrier pursuant hereto and that the disqualification will be considered at a designated regular or special city council meeting occurring at least five (5) days after the service of such notice. Such notice shall include a statement showing the basis of the proposed disqualification including a listing of the ordinances allegedly violated. The carrier shall be entitled to attend the city council meeting, to present evidence, to be represented by counsel, and to cross examine witnesses. Upon a finding by the city council that the carrier is in violation of any city ordinance, the city council may disqualify the carrier from being an eligible carrier and from receiving any further subsidy payments under this section which have not been paid by the city at the time of the determination. Thereafter the disqualified carrier shall not be entitled to receive any further subsidy payments. In the event the disqualified carrier shall abate the violations, the disqualified carrier may petition the city council for reinstatement as a eligible carrier under this section, and the reinstatement shall be in the discretion of the city council and upon such terms as the city council shall direct. During the period of disqualification, no subsidies shall accrue in favor of the disqualified carrier and if the carrier is reinstated as an eligible carrier, the carrier shall not be entitled to receive any retroactive subsidy payments but shall only be entitled to receive payments for subsidies earned and accrued after the date of reinstatement. With respect to any carrier which is not an individual, the carrier may be disqualified hereunder if any officer, shareholder, partner, owner or other interested person having at least a five (5) percent ownership interest in the carrier would be disqualified hereunder if such person were the carrier.

(Code 1966, § 20.07; Ord. No. 82-O-030, § 1, 10-18-82; Ord. No. 85-O-010, § 1, 2-4-85; Ord. No. 91-O-16, § 1, 5-20-91; Ord. No. 95-O-007, § 1, 4-3-95)