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Council committee proposes moving taxi regulation to utilities commission, shifting licensing to city inspector
Summary
Staff recommended eliminating a dormant taxi-cab commission, transferring regulatory authority to the Public Utilities Commission, and moving driver and vehicle licensing from police to the city inspector; the change applies only to traditional taxis, not ride-hailing companies.
Mount Vernon staff told a council committee they plan to retire the separate taxi-cab commission and transfer its duties to the city’s Public Utilities Commission, while assigning driver and vehicle licensing to the city inspector.
"The legislation before you today basically kills off the taxi cab commission," the utilities presenter said, explaining that the taxi commission has not been active for years and that the Public Utilities Commission meets regularly and can absorb the duties. The presenter clarified that state law preempts cities from regulating ride-hailing firms, so the changes would apply only to traditional taxi operators and drivers.
Staff said the move would modernize licensing and registration by consolidating oversight and by placing driver licensing under the city inspector together with other similar permits.
Committee discussion included a request to expedite the item: one member moved to suspend rules to speed consideration because of a local inquiry from someone looking to start a taxi service; another member objected to suspending the rules. The transcript does not record a formal vote on the rule-suspension motion.
What’s next: The ordinance was on its second reading that evening and will continue through the readings process before final action.
