WILMINGTON — It has been about 30 years since the first horse-drawn carriage tour was licensed in Wilmington and, since then, only one company has been permitted to operate these tours in town — but that could soon be changing.
City Council is ready to decide on an amendment to the current ordinance to allow for a system of medallions that would permit different companies to operate; the system would offer six medallions, as well as a temporary single-day medallion.
In theory this would allow for more than one operator to conduct these tours throughout the city, but there is a catch. The medallions are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis, but not whoever is first to apply, instead, they are offered to whichever company began operating first in the city. There is a four-medallion limit to the number of medallions a company can purchase.
“There are seven standard operating medallions available for operation of horse-drawn vehicles for hire within the city, and they will be awarded by the city manager or his designee on a first-come, first-serve basis, based upon the date on which each horse-drawn carriage company began to legally operate within the city,” according to the proposed ordinance.
The issue first came to the attention of City Council last year when Wilmington resident Sarah Grugen was told she would not be able to apply for a permit to operate her own tours since one company holds all of the current permits issued by the city.
The updated ordinance would also designate appropriate loading and unloading zones for carriages and clarify appropriate business practices. The ordinance would also include language to help protect the animals including the prohibition of operating in temperatures exceeding 95degrees or below 32 degrees (actual or wind chill factor).
The new rules would also prohibit tour operators from handing out brochures unless specifically asked for materials; the use of hawkers is explicitly prohibited by the new rules.
City Council will vote on the ordinance at its upcoming meeting on Tuesday.
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