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Committee forwards staff proposal on limousines, horse‑drawn carriages and pedicab insurance to next council session (3–1)
Summary
Staff recommended redefining limousine permits to include vans and buses, create a transition pathway from horse‑drawn carriages to electric carriages, and lower some insurance minimums for pedicabs and bike‑share; the committee voted to move the recommendations to Session B for further drafting, 3 in favor, 1 opposed.
The Transportation & Infrastructure Committee on June 2 heard staff recommendations to amend Chapter 33 rules for limousine permits, horse‑drawn carriage transitions and insurance requirements for pedicabs and share‑bike operators.
Brigh Riley (identified in the transcript as the assistant director at SAPD) presented the staff packet. Staff proposed changing the definition and permit requirements for limousines to allow combinations of limousines, buses and vans; authorizing a phased transition for existing carriage permits as horse operations are reduced; and adjusting insurance minimums for certain services. For carriage transition staff recommended authorizing up to 21 new electric vehicles to enable operators to exchange horse carriage permits for electric carriage permits during the phase‑out; staff also described a mechanism to allocate additional electric vehicles to existing owners as horse carriage permits are retired.
On insurance, staff proposed removing the $1,000,000 vehicle damage requirement for some permit classes while preserving commercial insurance and adding a personal‑injury coverage figure presented in the staff briefing as $202,000; for pedicabs and shared bikes the presentation recommended lowering property‑damage coverage from $1,000,000 to $350,000 to better align with taxi and shared‑bike industry practices (figures taken from the staff presentation).
Councilmembers discussed timelines, equity and business support for operators who may need to buy electric carriages. Staff said electric carriages are available but may take roughly 3–6 months to procure and estimated a per‑unit cost "around $20,000" in the briefing. Councilmembers expressed interest in financial support options, phased permit limits (examples discussed included temporary higher caps that decline over time), and whether the Department of Transportation or SAPD should oversee aspects of the transition.
Motion and vote: A committee member moved to forward the staff recommendations to the next council session (Session B) for additional drafting and review. The motion was seconded and passed with a tally reported in the transcript as 3 in favor and 1 opposed.
Why it matters: The package affects small operators, tourism services and mobility in the downtown core and raises questions about cost burdens on small businesses during a mandatory transition away from horse‑drawn operations.
What’s next: The recommendations will be drafted for the full council (Session B) with the committee’s direction; staff and councilmembers signaled interest in exploring financial assistance and clearer operational rules before the item returns for a formal council vote.
