Grant or denial of franchise/permit; appeal of a permit.
Riverside Municipal Code § 5.66.060
in effect5.66.060 - Grant or denial of franchise/permit; appeal of a permit.
A. For a franchise, the Council may initiate proceedings under the City Charter and this Code to grant an ambulance service franchise for a period of up to five years. The Council shall consider: the financial responsibility of the applicant; the number, kind and type of equipment proposed for use; the schedule of rates proposed to be charged; and such other factors as the Council considers relevant. At the hearing the applicant shall have the burden of proof to present facts necessary to support the Council's findings. No franchise shall be granted by the Council unless and until the Council has determined applicant has followed the franchise procedures set forth in this chapter and the City Charter.
B. For a permit, the Administrator may issue a permit under this Code for a period of up to five years. The Administrator shall consider: the financial responsibility of the applicant; the number, kind and type of equipment proposed for use; the schedule of rates proposed to be charged; and such other factors as the Administrator considers relevant. The applicant shall have the burden of proof to present facts necessary to support the Administrator's findings. No permit shall be granted by the Administrator unless and until the Administrator has determined applicant has followed the franchise/permit procedures set forth in this Code.
C. The Council or Administrator, as per their respective duties above, may deny a franchise or permit application or revoke or suspend an existing franchise or permit if the applicant or franchisee or permit holder or any partner, officer, or director thereof:
1. Was previously the holder of a franchise or permit granted by the Council or Administrator which was revoked or not extended and the circumstances upon which the revocation or non-extension was based have not been corrected;
2. Is committing or has committed any act, which, if committed by any franchisee or permit holder, would be grounds for the suspension or revocation of that franchisee's franchise or permit holder's permit;
3. Has committed any act involving dishonesty, fraud, or deceit whereby another person was injured or the applicant has unjustly benefited;
4. Has provided or is providing ambulance service within the City without having a franchise or permit therefor as required by this chapter; or
5. Has entered a plea of guilty to, been found guilty of, or been convicted of a felony, or a crime involving moral turpitude, and the time for appeal has elapsed or the judgment of conviction has been affirmed on appeal, irrespective of any order granting probation following such conviction or suspending the imposition of sentence, or of a subsequent order under the provisions of § 1203.4 of the Penal Code allowing such person to withdraw his or her plea of guilty and to enter a plea of not guilty, or setting aside the plea or verdict of guilty, or dismissing the accusation or information.
D. Appeal. Any applicant under this chapter who has been denied a permit or who has had his, her or its permit revoked or suspended, may, within 15 days of notification of the denial or revocation or suspension of such permit, pay a nonrefundable fee as set by resolution and file an appeal in writing with the City Clerk. The applicant shall set forth in writing the grounds for the appeal. The City Clerk shall set a time not less than 30 but no more than 60 days thereafter for the hearing of the appeal before the Safety, Wellness and Youth Committee of the City Council, and shall give notice to the applicant or permit holder of the time set for hearing at least ten days before the date of such hearing, by mail, at the address set out in such application or permit. At the time set for hearing of such appeal, the Safety, Wellness and Youth Committee shall receive from the Administrator and the applicant or permit holder information regarding the denial or revocation or suspension of the permit. The Safety, Wellness and Youth Committee shall make a determination whether to uphold or reverse the denial or revocation or suspension. The determination of the Safety, Wellness and Youth Committee shall be a final determination of the matter.
E. Liability insurance.
1. Every franchisee/permit holder shall obtain and keep in force during the term of the franchise/permit comprehensive general liability insurance issued by a company authorized to conduct insurance business in the State of California which insures the franchisee and names the City as an additional insured against loss by reason of injury or damage that may result to persons, patients or property from negligent operation or defective maintenance of the franchisee's ambulances, negligent acts or omissions of the franchisee's employees in the performance of their duties, and negligent violation of this chapter, local EMS Agency protocols or any other law of the State of California or the United States pertaining to ambulance operations. The liability insurance policy shall be in the amount determined by City's Risk Manager for personal injury to or death of any one person or destruction of property in any one accident. The franchisee/permit holder shall also obtain and keep in force Workers' Compensation insurance covering all employees of the franchisee. Before the Council/Administrator grants a franchise/permit, copies of the policies, or certificates and endorsements confirming the existence of such policies, shall be filed with the City's Risk Manager. All policies shall contain a provision requiring that a 30-day written notice be given to the Administrator prior to cancellation, modification, or reduction in limits.
2. Public ambulance providers shall show evidence of liability protection in the form of copies of insurance policies, official action of their governing body or other legal documents.
3. The failure to obtain, maintain or keep in force at all times the insurance required in this subsection shall be cause for Council/Administrator suspension or revocation of a franchise/permit.
(Ord. 7757, § 125, 2026; Ord. 7531 §9, 2020; Ord. 7345 § 7, 2016; Ord. 7232 § 1, 2013; Ord. 5761 § 1, 1989)
Source: City of Riverside, California, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ca/riverside/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_TIT5BU_CH5.66AM_5.66.060GRDEFRPEAPPEFetched: 11/1/2026