TITLE
Recommendation to request City Manager to work with the Public Works Department and the City Attorney to evaluate the feasibility of including a Third-Party vendor as part of the future electric scooter program agreements with operators.
DISCUSSION
INTRODUCTION:
In 2019 the City Council finalized an ordinance related to the Shared-Micro-Mobility Program, which is primarily comprised of the private vendors who make up the Electric Scooter Program. The intent of this program has been to create transportation options for residents and visitors to reduce vehicle traffic congestion, limit pollution, and replace short distance point to point trips taken by vehicle with mobility options that supplement other transportation options, and/or create new opportunities to accommodate mobility needs.
Although there have been positive contributions to Long Beach from the scooter program, there has been ongoing concerns from residents, community groups and council districts on the efficiency, responsiveness, and follow through of vendors on their responsibility to pick up, rebalance, and adequately maintain their scooters in the public right of way. The City is currently considering options to include scooter related issues in the Go Long Beach app, which would assist this situation, but more needs to be done.
With this issue in mind, it is appropriate to ask City staff to evaluate the feasibility of including a third-party vendor to supplement the scooter operators’ with improved sidewalks management and retrieval efforts without impound fees for compliant operators as part of any new agreements established with those businesses operating under the City’s Electric Scooter Program.
This matter was reviewed by Budget Manager Grace H. Yoon on August 2, 2021.
FISCAL IMPACT
This recommendation requests the City Manager to work with the Public Works Department and the City Attorney to evaluate the feasibility of including a Third-Party vendor as part of the future electric scooter program agreements with operators. The requested action is anticipated to have a moderate impact on staff hours beyond the budgeted scope of duties and is expected to have moderate impact on existing City Council priorities.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
SUZIE PRICE
COUNCILWOMAN, THIRD DISTRICT
MARY ZENDEJAS
COUNCILWOMAN, FIRST DISTRICT
CINDY ALLEN
COUNCILWOMAN, SECOND DISTRICT