§ 46-61. Definitions.

As used in this division, the following words and terms shall have the meanings assigned to them in this section:

Airport taxicab usage adjustment factor means the percentage increase or decrease between the mean annual airport taxicab usage and the base year airport taxicab usage.

Available permit number means the number of permits made available for distribution, if any, as computed for a permit computation year pursuant to section 46-63 of this Code.

Base year airport taxicab usage means either (1) the mean annual airport taxicab usage for the last preceding permit computation year in which the issuance of permits was considered, or (2) the mean annual airport taxicab usage calculated for any preceding permit computation year in which the issuance of permits was considered, wherever is greater. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the base year airport taxicab usage for permit computation year 2011 shall be 600,270.

Base year population means the mean annual population of the city for the last preceding permit computation year in which the issuance of permits was considered. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the base year population for permit computation year 2011 shall be 2,076,189.

Mean annual airport taxicab usage means the combined number of taxicab passenger trip starts commenced at George Bush Intercontinental Airport/Houston and William P. Hobby Airport during the three calendar years preceding each permit computation year as counted and compiled by the department of aviation and provided to the director. By example, the formula for determining the mean annual airport taxicab usage for permit computation year 2011 is expressed as follows:

Mean annual airport taxicab usage = (airport taxicab usage 2008 + airport taxicab usage 2009 + airport taxicab usage 2010)/3

Mean annual population means the mathematical average of the population for the city published by the United States Census Bureau as of June 30 for the three years preceding the permit computation year, whether a decennial census population or an interim estimated population. The published Census Bureau data shall be utilized without adjustment unless the planning and development director advises the director that the Census Bureau has not included territory added to the city by annexation, in which case the director of planning and development shall provide to the director an adjusted population to include, based upon Census Bureau data, the population in the annexed territory. By example, the formula for determining the mean annual population for permit computation year 2011 is expressed as follows:

Mean annual population = (Population estimate 2008 + population estimate 2009 + population estimate 2010)/3

New entrant applicant means a permit applicant who is not a permittee or principal of a permittee.

Operator means the person who is or will be principally in charge of the day-to-day operations of a permittee or applicant for a permit.

Other applicant means any permit applicant who is not a new entrant applicant.

Permit computation year means a year in which the issuance of taxicab permits shall be considered. The first permit computation year shall be 2007. The next permit computation year shall be 2011, and subsequent permit computation years shall occur at three year intervals (2014, 2017, 2020, etc.).

Permit computation year base permit number means the total number of city taxicab permits then authorized on June 1 of a permit computation year.

Permit computation year base permittee number means the number of permittees that exists as of June 1 of a permit computation year.

Permit distribution year means the calendar year immediately following the permit computation year. The first permit distribution year shall be 2008. The next permit distribution year shall be 2012, and subsequent permit distribution years shall occur at three year intervals (2015, 2018, 2021, etc.).

Population adjustment factor means the percentage increase or decrease between the mean annual population and the base year population.

Principal means the operator and also includes in the case of a proprietorship the proprietor and proprietor's spouse, in the case of a partnership each partner, and in the case of a corporation each corporate officer or director. For any other form of entity, the term shall include the equivalent persons as determined by the director.

Taxicab permit adjustment factor means the mean average of the population adjustment factor and the airport taxicab usage adjustment factor.

(Ord. No. 2014-754, § 2(Exh. A), 8-6-2014)