HomeMy WebLinkAbout5601-06.01.2021Prepared by LeAnn M. Even, Deputy City Clerk, City of Waterloo, 715 Mulberry Street,
Waterloo, IA 50703, (319) 291-4323.
ORDINANCE NO. 5601
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY OF WATERLOO CODE
OF ORDINANCES BY CREATING A NEW CHAPTER 8, SHARED
MOBILITY DEVICE LICENSE, TITLE 3, BUSINESS LICENSE
AND REGULATION.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WATERLOO,
IOWA AS FOLLOWS:
That Title 3, Business License and Regulations, of the City of Waterloo, Code of
Ordinances be amended by creating a new Chapter 8, as follows:
3-8-1: DEFINITIONS:
3-8-2: POLICY STATEMENT AND PURPOSE:
3-8-3: SCOPE:
3-8-4: OPERATING AREA:
3-8-5: APPLICATION PROCEDURE, FEE, AND DURATION OF LICENSE:
3-8-6: ISSUANCE OF LICENSE:
3-8-7: OPERATING REGULATIONS:
3-8-8: RIDER REGULATIONS:
3-8-9: RIDER PROHIBITED ACTS:
3-8-10: DATA SHARING:
3-8-11: INDEMNIFICATION:
3-8-12: INSURANCE:
3-8-13: APPEAL:
3-8-14: DENIAL, SUSPENSION, OR REVOCATION OF LICENSE:
3-8-15: PENALTY:
3-8-16: SEVERABILITY:
3-8-1: DEFINITIONS:
For the purposes of this Chapter, certain terms and words are hereby defined:
A. Electric -Assist Bicycles: Electric -Assist Bicycles as defined by Section 6-2-1.
B. Operator: Any individual or business engaged in shared mobility device business regardless
of whether the operator has received a license. An operator shall include employees, managers,
officers, principals, directors, owners, contractors, representatives, or agents.
C. Rider: Any individual that pays to operate a Shared mobility device.
D. Shared Electric Scooter: A device weighing less than 150 pounds, which has (i) has
handlebars and an electric motor, (ii) is solely powered by the electric motor and/or human
power, and (iii) has a maximum speed of no more than 20 mph on a paved level surface when
powered solely by the electric motor.
E. Shared Mobility Device: Shall mean any self-service vehicle made available by an individual
or business for a fee, for shared use to individuals on a temporary basis that is displayed, offered,
or placed for use on any public property and returned at the end of use on any public property.
Shared Mobility Devices may include, but are not limited to, shared electric foot scooters. A
"shared mobility device" shall not include a vehicle in service for a Transportation Network
Company or a taxicab as regulated by Article 3-5A of this code, a shared mobility device rented
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from and returned to a brick and mortar business. Shared Mobility Devices may include, but are
not limited to, shared electric scooters and electric bicycles, as defined by Subsection A of
Section 6-2-1.
3-8-2: POLICY STATEMENT AND PURPOSE:
The purpose of this Chapter is to establish rules and regulations governing shared mobility
device operators and riders within the City of Waterloo (the "City") and to ensure that such
mobility sharing systems are consistent with the safety and well-being of bicyclists, pedestrians,
and other riders of the public rights -of -way.
3-8-3: SCOPE:
This Chapter applies to any proposed deployment of a shared mobility device within the City's
jurisdictional boundaries.
3-8-4: OPERATING AREA:
The city may, by resolution, establish boundaries for operating shared mobility devices and set
maximum speed limits within those boundaries. Operators shall be required to conduct business
within this operating area.
3-8-5: APPLICATION PROCEDURE, FEE, AND DURATION OF LICENSE:
A. Any entity or individual seeking to operate a shared mobility device program within the City
shall first obtain a shared mobility device license ("License") from the City conditioned on
compliance with the provisions of this ordinance and any other conditions (including insurance,
indemnity, and performance bond) established by the city clerk. No entity shall operate a shared
mobility device program within the City except pursuant to such license and provisions (each
such operator, a "Licensee").
B. Contents of Application: Applicants for a license under this chapter shall complete and
submit to the city clerk an application, fee, and supporting documentation, all of which shall
include but not be limited to the following information:
1. The name, address, and phone number of the applicant, along with at least one form of
identification that includes a photograph of the applicant. The name, address and phone
number of the business. The name and contact information of the local manager if the
local manager is not the applicant.
2. The type and number of shared mobile devices to be used.
3. A certificate of insurance and indemnification agreement as required in Sections 3-8-
11 and 3-8-12 of this Chapter.
4. Application fee as listed in Subsection E of this Section.
C. Filing: Applications shall be filed with the city clerk's office. No application shall be
accepted for filing and processing unless it conforms to the requirements of this chapter. This
includes a complete and true application, all of the required materials and information prescribed,
and the appropriate application fee.
D. Timely Filing: An application must be filed at the office of the city clerk not less than fifteen
(15) business days prior to the first day of operation for a new license or the expiration date of a
shared mobile device license. The city reserves the right to reject any application not filed in a
timely manner
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E. Fees: The license shall last two years, have an initial annual cost of $500, and have a renewal
cost of $200 per year thereafter. Application fees are due at the time of filing the application and
are not refundable. Once the license is issued, the licensee shall be required to pay to the city
$0.05 per ride purchased by a rider on a quarterly basis. All outstanding fees owed to the city
must be paid in order to receive and maintain a license.
F. Change in Application Information: Upon any change in any of the information required to be
submitted as part of the application, the licensee shall, within five (5) business days of such
change, notify the city clerk in writing and provide the updated information.
3-8-6: ISSUANCE OF LICENSE:
A. Issuance and Licensee Limits: If the city clerk finds the application is complete and made in
conformance with Section 3-8-4 of this chapter, and upon investigation of the facts stated therein
are correct, a license shall be issued. All outstanding fees owed to the city shall be paid prior to
issuing the license. The city clerk shall issue a license to no more than three (3) shared mobility
device licenses.
B. Term of License: An initial license shall be issued for a period of two years. Following the
initial license period, a new license may be issued for a period of one year.
3-8-7: OPERATING REGULATIONS:
A. Except as otherwise provided herein, City shall regulate the operation of shared mobility
devices in a manner no more restrictive than its regulation of shared bicycles.
B. Licensees shall provide easily visible contact information, including toll -free phone number
and/or e-mail address on each shared mobility device for City employees and/or members of the
public to make relocation requests or to report other issues with devices.
C. Fleet Size/Caps: Licensees shall target an initial fleet size of an amount similar to other cities
with comparable population. The City shall allow Licensees to increase their fleet size on a
weekly/monthly basis in the event that Licensees provide data that supports increases in certain
areas to meet rider demand for service.
D. Licensees shall maintain 24-hour customer service for customers to report safety concerns,
complaints, or to ask questions. Licensees shall maintain a multilingual website, call center,
and/or mobile app customer interface that is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a
week. The aforementioned shall be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
E. In the event a safety or maintenance issue is reported for a specific device, that shared
mobility device shall be made unavailable to riders and shall be removed within the timeframes
provided herein. Any inoperable or unsafe device shall be repaired before it is put back into
service.
F. Within Licensees' zone of operation, Licensees shall respond to reports of incorrectly parked
shared mobility devices, shared mobility devices continuously parked in one location for more
than 72 hours, or unsafe/inoperable shared mobility devices by relocating, re -parking, or
removing the shared mobility devices, as appropriate, within 24 hours of receiving notice, except
that Licensees shall respond within 4 hours of receiving notice in emergency situations.
G. In the event a Licensee does not timely respond, and the condition of the shared mobility
device cannot be easily remedied, such shared mobility devices may be removed by City crews
with notice to Licensee and taken to a City facility for storage at the expense of the licensee, not
to exceed $20 per shared mobility device.
H. Licensees shall provide notice to all riders that:
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1. Shared mobility devices are to be ridden on streets, and where available, in bike lanes
and multi -use recreational trails;
2. Shared mobility devices are to stay to the right of street lanes and to offer the right-of-
way to bicycles on bike lanes and multi -use recreational trails;
3. Helmets are encouraged for all riders;
4. Riding responsibly is encouraged, and Licensee will notify riders if repeated
irresponsible riding is reported and recorded with identifying rider information.
I. Licensees shall provide education to shared mobility device riders on the City's existing rules
and regulations, safe and courteous riding, and proper parking.
J. Licensees shall ensure service meets rider demand, and shall not be required to deploy in areas
or zones where average ridership is below 1.5 rides/day.
K. Licensee shall take reasonable steps to ensure that all riders understand the requirements of
ADA accessibility and the importance of leaving ADA paths of travel clear and accessible.
L. A Licensee may stage its shared mobility devices in certain permitted parking areas. To the
extent a Licensee desires to stage shared mobility devices in areas other than the public right-of-
way, the Licensee must first obtain the right to do so from the appropriate City department,
property owner, or public agency. All staging areas must be approved by the City.
3-8-8: RIDER REGULATIONS:
A. Shared mobility devices shall be ridden on streets, and where available, in bike lanes and
multi -use recreational trails.
B. Shared mobility devices shall stay to the right of street lanes and to offer the right of way to
bicycles in bike lanes and on multi -use recreational trails. Riders of shared mobility devices shall
be eighteen (18) years of age or older.
C. Riders of shared mobility devices shall park devices upright on hard surfaces in the furniture
zone of the sidewalk, beside a bicycle rack or in another area specifically designated for bicycle
parking, or on the street next to an unmarked curb. A furniture zone is defined as the outer four
foot section of a sidewalk along the curb.
D. Riders may park shared mobility devices in on -street parking spaces in the following
circumstances:
1. When marked parking spaces are officially designated stations for such devices;
2. Where the furniture zone is less than three feet wide;
3. Where there is no furniture zone;
4. In neighborhoods with rolled curbs, or with inadequate sidewalk space;
5. In marked parking spaces designated for motorcycles.
E. Riders may park shared mobility devices on blocks without sidewalks only if the travel
lane(s) and 6-foot pedestrian clear zone are not impeded.
F. Riders may park shared mobility devices on blocks without sidewalks only if the travel lane(s)
and 6-foot pedestrian clear zone are not impeded.
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3-8-9: RIDER PROHIBITED ACTS:
A. Shared mobility devices shall not be ridden on sidewalks.
B. Riders shall not park shared mobility devices in such a manner as to block the pedestrian
clear zone area of the sidewalk; ADA paths of travel including accessible ramps, any fire
hydrant, call box, or other emergency facility; bus bench; or utility pole or box.
C. Riders shall not park shared mobility devices in such a manner as to impede or interfere with
the reasonable use of any commercial window display, outdoor seating area, or access to or from
any building entrance/exit doorway.
D. Riders shall not park shared mobility devices in such a manner as to impede or interfere with
the reasonable use of any bicycle rack.
E. Riders shall not park shared mobility devices in the landscape/furniture zone directly adjacent
to or within the following areas, such that access is impeded:
1. Transit zones, including bus stops, shelters, passenger waiting areas and bus layover
and staging zones, except at existing bicycle racks;
2. Loading zones;
3. Disabled parking zone;
4. Street furniture that requires pedestrian access (e.g., benches, parking pay stations, bus
shelters, transit information signs, etc.);
5. Curb ramps;
6. Entryways; and
7. Driveways.
3-8-10: DATA SHARING:
A. City may require Licensees to provide anonymized fleet and ride activity data for all trips
starting or ending within the jurisdiction of City on any vehicle of Licensee or of any person or
company controlled by, controlling, or under common control with Licensee, provided that, to
ensure individual privacy:
1. Such data is provided via an application programming interface, subject to Licensee's
license agreement for such interface, in compliance with a national data format specification
such as the Mobility Data Specification;
2. Such data shall be safely and securely stored by City which shall implement
administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect, secure, and, where appropriate,
encrypt or limit access to the data;
3. Such data shall be subject to publicly -available aggregation, retention, and privacy
policies of Licensee and City;
4. Any such data provided shall be treated as trade secret and proprietary business
information, and shall be exempt from public records requests and requests by third parties
except with the consent of Licensee; and
5. Such data shall not be shared with law enforcement except pursuant to valid legal
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Page 6
process.
B. City shall require Licensee to provide such data to validate the quarterly completed ride fee
payment listed in Subsection E of Section 3-8-5.
3-8-11: INDEMNIFICATION:
Apart from and separate from any insurance required under this Chapter, the licensee and its
Company agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless City (and its officials, employees,
officers, agents, contractors, insurers, or assigns) from and against all actions, damages or claims,
including reasonable attorneys' fees, (collectively, "Claims") brought against City for personal or
bodily injury or death to any person, or damage or destruction of any property, arising out of or
resulting from performance or breach regarding any activity related to a Shared Mobility Device
license provided that such claim, damage, loss, or expense is: (1) attributable to personal injury,
bodily injury, sickness, death, or destruction of property, including the loss of use resulting
therefrom, or breach of contract, and (2) not caused by the negligent act or omission or willful
misconduct of the City or its elected and appointed officials and employees acting within the
scope of their employment. City's right to indemnification shall be contingent on City notifying
Company promptly following receipt or notice of any Claims; Company shall have sole control
of Company's defense, including the ability to choose counsel; and City shall not consent to the
entry of a judgment or enter into any settlement without the prior written consent of Company.
3-8-12: INSURANCE:
Licensees shall provide City with proof of insurance coverage exclusively for the operation of
shared mobility devices including: (a) Commercial General Liability insurance coverage with a
limit of no less than $1,000,000.00 each occurrence and $2,000,000.00 aggregate; (b)
Automobile Insurance coverage with a limit of no less than $1,000,000.00 each occurrence and
$1,000,000.00 aggregate; and (c) where Licensee employs persons within the City, Workers'
Compensation coverage of no less than the statutory requirement. Licensees' insurance shall also
name City as an additional insured on a primary and non-contributory basis, including a waiver
of subrogation in favor of City. A certificate of insurance shall be delivered to the city clerk prior
to the issuance of a license. Licensees are required to maintain insurance coverage throughout
the duration of the license.
3-8-13: APPEAL:
A person may appeal a decision of the city clerk to deny an application by filing a written appeal
to the office of the city clerk within fourteen (14) days of the date of the decision. An
administrative fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) shall be paid at the time the appeal is filed. Failure to
file the appeal and pay the administrative fee shall constitute a waiver of the right to a hearing,
and the decision shall thereupon become final. If the written appeal and administrative fee are
filed in conformance with this section, a hearing shall be scheduled and conducted pursuant to 3-
8-14.
3-8-14: DENIAL, SUSPENSION, OR REVOCATION OF LICENSE:
A. Any application filed or license issued under the provisions of this chapter may be denied,
suspended, or revoked by the city clerk as follows:
1. Violation of any provision of this chapter or any other section of this code or has
otherwise conducted business in a negligent and or an unlawful manner
2. Fraud, misrepresentation, or false statements made in securing a license.
3. Fraud, misrepresentation, or false statements made in the course of the applicant's
business.
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Page 7
4. Failure to cooperate and with all reasonable requests of any official of the city.
5. Failure of any licensee to maintain the appropriate insurance, or county, state, and
federal licenses and permits, during the term of the license.
B. Upon receipt of information alleging grounds exist to suspend or revoke a shared mobility
device license, or a written appeal and administrative fee have been received at the office of the
city clerk, the city clerk shall cause a notice to be sent by ordinary mail to the applicant or
licensee at the address noted in the application. Said notice shall state that a hearing has been set
before the city council not less than thirty (30) days from the date of the notice. The notice shall
include the reason and grounds for the hearing, the date and time of the hearing, and the place
where the hearing will be conducted. The licensee shall have thirty (30) days from the date of the
notice to remedy such grounds for the denial, suspension, or revocation.
C. Upon such hearing, if the city council determines that one or more of such grounds do exist, it
may suspend or revoke an existing license or uphold a decision to deny a license. A suspension
shall constitute a minimum period of fourteen (14) calendar days from the date of the hearing,
during which period the licensee may not conduct any business. In the event such license is
revoked, no shared mobile device license shall be issued to the licensee for a period of one
calendar year from the date of the revocation. The licensee shall have thirty (30) days to remove
the licensee's fleet of shared mobility devices from the city's right-of-way.
3-8-15: PENALTY:
A. Licensee: Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a
municipal infraction and fined as provided in section 1-3-2 of this code. The provisions of this
chapter relating to Section 3-8-6 shall apply to all shared mobile device operators whether or not
they are a licensed mobile food business.
B. Riders: Shared mobility device riders who violate Sections 3-8-8 or 3-8-9 of this chapter or
any section of Title 6, Chapter 2 Bicycles, shall be guilty of a municipal infraction and fined as
provided in Section 1-3-2 of this code. The parent or guardian of any person under the age of
eighteen (18) who violates any of the provisions of this Chapter shall be responsible to pay the
fines. A violation of any provision of this Chapter by a person under the age of eighteen (18)
shall not affect any civil right or liability nor shall such violation be considered a criminal
offense.
3-8-16: SEVERABILITY:
If any section, provision or part of this chapter shall be adjudged invalid or unconstitutional, such
adjudication shall not affect the validity of this chapter as a whole or any section, provision or
part thereof not adjudged invalid or unconstitutional.
INTRODUCED: June 1, 2021
PASSED 1st CONSIDERATION: June 1, 2021
PASSED 2nd CONSIDERATION: June 1, 2021
PASSED 3rd CONSIDERATION: June 1, 2021
PASSED AND ADOPTED by this Council this 1st day of June 2021.
Qve'i--H 4,r'T
Quentin Hart, Mayor
Ordinance No. 5601
Page 8
ATTEST:
Ke//ee 1--e/c/ile
Kelley Felchle
City Clerk
CERTIFICATE
I, Kelley Felchle, City Clerk of the City of Waterloo, Iowa, do hereby certify that the
preceding is a true and complete copy of Ordinance No. 5600 as passed and adopted by the City
Council of the City of Waterloo, Iowa, on the 1st day of June 2021.
SEAL
Witness my hand and seal of office this 1st day of June 2021.
Kate, --e/chte
Kelley Felchle
City Clerk