Morro Bay Municipal Code Ch. 5.14 Trolley Operations and Maintenance Fee

A. The city council did on the 9th day of May, 1994 conduct a duly noticed public hearing to consider the staff report and testimony of all interested persons.

B. Based on such staff report and testimony, the city council has determined that certain areas of the city's waterfront district suffer from a shortage of parking and related congestion problems and would therefore benefit from the operation of a trolley which would permit tourists and others to visit the waterfront without their vehicles.

C. The city council has further determined that certain areas of the city's uptown area do not have access to the city's waterfront district due to the parking shortage and related congestion problems and would therefore benefit from the operation of a trolley which would permit persons in the uptown area to visit the waterfront district without their vehicles.

D. The city council has further determined that tourists visiting the city's waterfront district often do not visit the city's uptown area because of lack of access thereto and/or lack of knowledge as to the many commercial establishments located in the uptown area and further determines that the uptown area would therefore benefit from increased business activity due to the operation of a trolley connecting the waterfront district with the uptown area.

E. In order to confirm the economic feasibility of the trolley, the city council has established a pilot program, whereby a trolley will operate along certain designated routes within the city during the summer and early fall months of 1994. The routes and dates of operation shall be set by the city council by resolution.

F. In consideration for the benefits conferred upon them by the operation of the trolley as set forth above, those businesses within one lineal block walking distance of the designated routes shall pay a fee to cover a portion of the actual costs of operating and maintaining the trolley.

(Ord. 438 § 2 (part), 1994)

Every person transacting and carrying on a business within one lineal block walking distance of the designated routes shall pay a fee for operation and maintenance of the trolley in accordance with the master fee schedule as modified from time to time by resolution of the city council. All such trolley operations and maintenance fees shall be due and payable in advance of the first day of July.

(Ord. 438 § 2 (part), 1994)

A separate fee must be paid by each branch establishment or location within one lineal block walking distance of the designated routes. If two or more businesses are conducted on the same premises by one person, and the employees are employed by and serve all businesses so located, only one trolley operations and maintenance fee shall be levied.

(Ord. 438 § 2 (part), 1994)

The provisions of this chapter shall not be deemed or construed to require the payment of a trolley operations and maintenance fee by any charitable or nonprofit organization, as described in Section 5.04.090 of the code, or any disabled veteran, as described in Section 5.04.100 of the code. Any person claiming an exemption pursuant to this section shall file a verified statement with the collector stating the facts upon which the exemption is claimed. The collector, after giving notice and a reasonable opportunity for hearing to such person, may require payment of the trolley operations and maintenance fee upon information that such person is not entitled to the exemption as provided in this chapter.

(Ord. 438 § 2 (part), 1994)

The provisions in this chapter shall expire at midnight on June 30, 1995, unless renewed or extended by action of the city council.

(Ord. 438 § 2 (part), 1994)