Title
Downtown Shared Electric Scooter Pilot Program - Amend Ordinance G-6602 to Extend the Sunset Provision (Ordinance G-6772)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to amend Ordinance G-6602 to extend the sunset provision until Dec. 31, 2021, to allow shared electric scooters to continue to operate within the Downtown Shared Electric Scooter Pilot Program area. This extension is necessary to accommodate the six-month extension of the Downtown Shared Electric Scooter Pilot Program (G-6676), which was delayed to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Summary
On June 26, 2019, City Council unanimously approved the Downtown Shared Electric Scooter Pilot Program, which allowed shared electric scooter vendors to obtain a permit to operate within the City of Phoenix. As part of the Pilot Program, City Council approved Ordinance G-6602, amending the Phoenix City Code to allow shared electric scooters to operate on public streets. The Ordinance amendment also included definitions for an electric scooter and authorized the City of Phoenix Police Department or peace officer to issue civil traffic citations for, among other things, speed limit violations, yielding the right-of-way, parking violations, and riding on the sidewalk. Additionally, the Ordinance amendment included a one-year sunset provision, which effectively would repeal the Code changes on June 25, 2020.
The initial six-month Pilot Program was to end on March 16, 2020. On Feb. 19, 2020, City Council approved extension of the Pilot Program for an additional six months and to open the permit application process to allow new vendors to apply for the Pilot Program. City Council also approved amending Ordinance G-6602 to extend the sunset provision until Dec. 31, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the second six-month pilot program was delayed.
In October 2020, staff issued permits for the second six-month Pilot Program to two electric scooter vendors: Razor and Spin. The second six-month Pilot Program commenced on Oct. 1, 2020, and is scheduled to end on March 31, 2021.
The amendment of Ordinance G-6602 is necessary to extend the sunset provision to Dec. 31, 2021, to allow adequate time for the second six-month Pilot Program and staff evaluation of the Pilot Program.
Financial Impact
There is no financial impact to the City of Phoenix to amend Ordinance G-6602 to extend the sunset provision.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
- The Aviation and Transportation Subcommittee recommended approval of the initial Pilot Program on Jan. 22, 2019, by a vote of 3-0.
- The Planning and Economic Development Subcommittee was provided information on the initial Pilot Program on Feb. 5, 2019, and also received an update for information and discussion on June 4, 2019.
- The Aviation and Transportation Subcommittee reviewed this item on June 25, 2019.
- City Council approved the Pilot Program on June 26, 2019.
- The Transportation, Infrastructure and Innovation Subcommittee was provided with a three-month update on the Pilot Program on Jan. 7, 2020.
- The Transportation, Infrastructure and Innovation Subcommittee recommended approval of the Pilot Program extension on Feb. 5, 2020, by a vote of 4-0.
- City Council unanimously approved the Pilot Program extension and amendment of Ordinance G-6602 on Feb. 19, 2020 (G-6676).
Location
The main boundaries of the Pilot Program are from 7th Avenue to 7th Street and from Buckeye Road to McDowell Road. The Pilot Program boundary includes an extension of the area bounded by Roosevelt Street and Grand Avenue, and a reduction of the northern boundary to Portland Street between 7th Avenue and Central Avenue.
Council Districts: 4, 7 and 8
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua and the Street Transportation Department.