Title
Downtown Shared Electric Scooter Pilot Program Extension (Ordinance G-6823)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to approve a 12-month extension of the Downtown Shared Electric Scooter Pilot Program and to amend Ordinance G-6602 to extend the sunset provision by an additional six months, to allow shared electric scooters to continue to operate within the Downtown Shared Electric Scooter Pilot Program area.
Report
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 Ordinance G-6676, extending 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. Ordinance G-6676 also amended Ordinance G-6602 to extend the sunset provision until Dec. 31, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the start of the second six-month pilot program was delayed. Therefore, on Dec. 2, 2020, City Council approved Ordinance G-6772, extending the second six-month Pilot Program through March 31, 2021, and amending Ordinance G-6602 to extend the Phoenix City Code sunset provision to Dec. 31, 2021.
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 requested action will permit Street Transportation Department (Streets) staff to issue twelve-month permits to extend the Pilot Program through March 31, 2022. This update represents the first four months of the second phase of the Pilot Program (October 2020 through January 2021).
Streets has been working to ensure the Downtown Shared Electric Scooter Pilot Program is cost neutral to the City. In order to ensure the Program is cost neutral, Streets has prepared to modify the Program fees by posting proposed fee increases applicable to the Pilot Program on Feb. 1, 2021. The proposed fees are a $500 application fee (unchanged), a $7,500 six-month permit fee (increase of $2,500), $0.25 surcharge fee per trip (increase of $0.15), and a relocation parking fee of $100 per scooter (increase of $20). Based on the posting time requirements for proposed fee increases, the proposed fees may be acted on by City Council no earlier than its April 7, 2021, meeting.
Based on emerging micro-mobility trends, Streets will also evaluate opportunities for a comprehensive micro-mobility program, which could include scooters, electric bikes, and pedal bikes. Staff anticipates providing potential options on a comprehensive micro-mobility program to City Council later this year.
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; and
- Reviewed this item on June 25, 2019.
The Transportation, Infrastructure and Innovation Subcommittee:
- Was provided with a three-month update on the Pilot Program on Jan. 7, 2020;
- Recommended approval of the Pilot Program extension on Feb. 5, 2020, by a vote of 4-0;
- Was provided with an update on the Pilot Program extension on Feb. 3, 2021, and requested the item be brought back to the March 3, 2021, meeting; and
- Was provided with an update on the second six-month extension and recommended approval of a twelve-month extension on March 3, 2021, by a vote of 4-0.
The Planning and Economic Development Subcommittee:
- Provided information on the initial Pilot Program on Feb. 5, 2019; and
- Received an update for information and discussion on June 4, 2019.
The Workforce and Economic Development Subcommittee:
- Provided with a summary of the second six-month extension on Feb. 24, 2021.
The City Council approved:
- The Pilot Program (Ordinance G-6602) on June 26, 2019;
- A Pilot Program extension (Ordinance G-6676) on Feb. 19, 2020; and
- An Ordinance amendment (Ordinance G-6772) on Dec. 2, 2020.
Location
The main boundaries of the Pilot Program are from 7th Avenue to 7th Street and from Buckeye to McDowell roads. 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 and Central avenues.
Council Districts: 4, 7 and 8
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua and the Street Transportation Department.