Section 16-504. Powers and duties

The powers and duties of the commission
  shall include but not be limited to:
    a. To issue and establish standards for the issuance,  suspension  and
  revocation  of  licenses  and registrations authorizing the operation of
  businesses engaged in the  collection,  removal  or  disposal  of  waste
  within  the city and trade waste broker businesses, provided that unless
  otherwise provided herein, the commission may by resolution delegate  to
  the  chair  the  authority  to make individual determinations regarding:
  issuance, suspension and revocation of such licenses and  registrations;
  investigations  of background and determinations of fitness in regard to
  employees of licensees; and the appointment of independent auditors  and
  monitors in accordance with the provisions of this chapter;
    b. To establish maximum and minimum rates for the collection, removal,
  or disposal of such waste;
    c. To investigate any matter within the jurisdiction conferred by this
  chapter  and  to  have  full power to compel the attendance, examine and
  take testimony under oath of such persons as it may  deem  necessary  in
  relation  to such investigation, and to require the production of books,
  accounts, papers and other evidence relevant to such investigation;
    d. To establish standards for  service  and  for  the  regulation  and
  conduct  of  businesses licensed or registered pursuant to this chapter,
  including but not limited to requirements governing the level of service
  to be provided by licensees, contracts for trade waste removal,  billing
  form  and  procedures,  the  maintenance  and inspection of records, the
  maintenance of appropriate insurance, and  compliance  with  safety  and
  health measures;
    e.  To  appoint,  within  the  appropriations available therefor, such
  employees  as  may  be  required  for  the  performance  of  the  duties
  prescribed  herein.  In  addition  to  such  employees  appointed by the
  commission,  the  commissioners  of  business  services,  investigation,
  consumer   affairs,   transportation,   sanitation,   health,   finance,
  environmental protection and police may, at the request  of  the  chair,
  provide  staff  and  other  assistance  to the commission in all matters
  under its jurisdiction;
    f. To conduct studies or investigations into the needs  of  commercial
  and  other enterprises for waste removal and the trade waste industry in
  the city and  other  jurisdictions  in  order  to  assist  the  city  in
  formulating  policies  to  provide for orderly and efficient trade waste
  removal at a fair and reasonable cost to businesses;
    g. To establish programs for the education of customers, including but
  not limited to education of customers in the accurate assessment of  the
  types  and  volume  or  waste  and  the  rights  of  such  customers  in
  relationship to contracting, service and customer  complaint  procedures
  established pursuant to this chapter;
    h.  To  establish  special  trade  waste removal districts pursuant to
  section 16-523 of this chapter; and
    i. To establish fees and promulgate rules as the commission  may  deem
  necessary  and appropriate to effect the purposes and provisions of this
  chapter.