There are currently seven valid taxicab companies franchised to operate within the City of Sunnyvale. They are Santa Clara Cab, Yellow Cab Co. Peninsula, Green Cab, Net Cab.com, USA Express Cab, Silicon Valley Checker Cab and Apple Cab. West Valley Cab Company previously operated with a valid franchise agreement, which expires on May 30, 2003.

The term "non-exclusive franchise" as used in the Sunnyvale Municipal Code means that the City does not limit the number of like franchises in operation at one time. If an applicant meets the provisions as outlined in the Municipal Code, then the franchise to operate a taxicab service should be issued.

The City’s non-exclusive franchise requirements are derived from Municipal Code Chapter 5.36. It is unlawful to operate any taxicab in the City unless the owner applies for and obtains a franchise to do so. The City Council may deny a franchise to any applicant if it appears to its satisfaction that

1. The applicant has been convicted of certain criminal offenses.
2. The proposed color scheme or other insignia may tend to confuse the identification with other franchises already operating within the city.
3. Any other reasonable cause exists which, within the City Council’s sound discretion would render the proposed operation undesirable to the City of Sunnyvale.

The owner of West Valley Cab Company has submitted information and documentation to demonstrate compliance with each of the criteria identified in Municipal Code Chapter 5.36, as outlined below.

1. Sunnyvale Business Address – The local business address required by the code is 510 Lawrence Expressway Suite #217, Sunnyvale. This office will be open to the public from 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday. The telephone number for this office is (408) 773-2700. Available at this office will be public taxi trip complaint forms and applications for taxicab drivers. Dispatching is done from a main office in Milpitas.
2. Vehicles – West Valley Cab Company is the registered owner of 4 company owned vehicles, which have been identified for operation under this franchise. The taxicabs are dark green on the bottom half of the vehicle, gold on the top half with the company name and phone number in white or gold lettering on sides of the vehicles. Each vehicle is also identified with a specific number that is printed on the front fender on both sides.
3. Taximeter – Each taxicab, which has been identified for operation under the franchise, is equipped with a taximeter which must be inspected annually by the Santa Clara County Sealer of Weights and Measures. Staff has been provided with the reports for the vehicles identified for this franchise agreement.
4. Insurance – A letter of valid insurance has been provided from AASK Insurance Service in the amount of $1,000,000 for bodily injury and $1,000,000 for property damage. This insurance remains in effect and will remain so. The City of Sunnyvale is also named as additional insured with a 30-day prior notice of cancellation clause as required and the company understands that it may not operate without proper insurance.

The City’s Risk and Insurance Manager, Barbara Coats, has reviewed and found that the letter meets the requirements of the municipal code.

5. Criminal History – A criminal history check of the applicant was conducted as required by code. The applicant has not been convicted of any felonies, narcotic violations, or crimes of moral turpitude as referenced in the Municipal Code.
6. Experience of Owner – The investigation has revealed that the applicant, Balbir Singh is the owner of West Valley Cab Company established in January 1999. The applicant provided satisfactory service under this last Franchise Agreement with the City of Sunnyvale.
7. Personnel – Individual drivers were not identified in the application, but each will be required to obtain a taxicab driver’s permit issued by the Department of Public Safety. Currently this company has fourteen (14) drivers with valid permits. There is nothing to indicate that the future applicants for taxicab driver permits will not meet the permit requirements. The applicant is also adhering to the random drug testing requirements as established by State Law and is utilizing Schlim, McCabe & Associates for his Medical Review Officer Services.
8. Fees – The applicant has paid the required franchise application fee of $314.00. They are aware of the quarterly vehicle fees that are due during the month following the quarter the agreement is signed.
9. Fare Schedule – West Valley Cab Company will adopt the City’s maximum fare schedule.

Granting a taxicab franchise should have only minor fiscal impact on the cost of monitoring the franchise for compliance. The revenue generated from this franchise due to application fees, quarterly vehicle fees, and the business license fee would be approximately $5,200 during the term of the agreement. This does not include the amount of revenue generated by the driver permits issued.