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Council reviews overhaul of taxi ordinance to accommodate ride‑hail services
Summary
City staff proposed repealing and replacing Baker City's taxi ordinance to incorporate transportation network companies (TNCs) such as Uber, clarifying licensing, fees and insurance requirements for drivers while seeking council feedback on fee structure and vehicle licensing.
Baker City staff on Feb. 11 recommended a full repeal and replacement of the city's taxi ordinance to permit ride‑share operations and clarify licensing and fee rules for transportation network companies (TNCs).
The draft ordinance draws from the City of Corvallis model but strips provisions not applicable to Baker City, staff said. Key changes flagged for council discussion included whether to license vehicles or drivers, a reduced or per‑driver licensing fee rather than a company fee, and minimum insurance requirements that align with TNC practices.
Councilors and staff discussed specific items the draft needs to clarify: the proposed per‑driver license (staff suggested a smaller fee given the likely small number of drivers), vehicle licensing where spouses might share one car but two drivers operate it, and how to reference insurance obligations for TNCs and for personal policies that operate in tandem with a company policy when drivers are logged into an app.
Staff said two drivers are already operating in Baker City under TNC platforms and stressed the need to adopt ordinance language that allows TNCs to operate legally under local regulation. Councilors asked staff to clarify language about license fees and whether the city would set fares or include a blank fee line in the city's fee resolution for future adjustment.
No formal action was taken; staff will revise the draft to make licensing of the driver (rather than the vehicle) clearer, to capture an appropriate fee schedule and to include consistent insurance language for TNC coverage.
