Taxi cab drivers in Lawrence may soon have to pass a criminal background check before they can operate in Lawrence.

A majority of city commissioners expressed interest in adding the background check to a new city ordinance that will govern taxi cab operators.

“We’re here to help promote the safety of the public, but there is no assurance that the person driving a cab hasn’t had a DUI,” said City Commissioner Terry Riordan.

The new ordinance would allow the city to deny a taxi cab license to any person who has any of the following convictions within the past five years: a felony; crime of dishonesty; crime against a person; driving under the influence; or driving with a suspended license. Anyone who has an outstanding warrant also would be denied a license.

City commissioners stopped short of approving the ordinance at their regular weekly meeting Tuesday. Instead they referred the ordinance back to staff members for more research on additional issues. A representative with Ground Transportation Services, one of the larger taxi cab companies in Lawrence, asked the city to consider provisions that would require cab companies to be of a certain size before they could receive a city license. The company recommended cab companies have at least two vehicles in operation. The company also asked that cab companies be required to have a commercial place of business and operate a certain number of hours per week.

“This is not to stifle competition,” said Tim Riling, an attorney for Ground Transportation Services. “It is to ensure that people operating a taxi cab business are serious about it and are accountable. If we just allow one person who has a car, a cellphone and a house, that is basically everyone.”

Commissioners said they wanted more information on what other communities do in regard to regulating the size of taxi companies. The item is expected to come back for further discussion in the next several weeks.

In other news, commissioners:

• Rejected bids for a new sewer treatment plant south of the Wakarusa River. Commissioners set a new bid date of April 7 for the project. The city received bids from only two contractors, and the low bid of $50 million came in about 10 percent higher than the engineer’s estimate. Engineers now will look for ways to cut back on some of the features in the plant in an effort to attract lower bids.

• Rejected bids for a new storm water pump station slated for Maple Street in North Lawrence. The $5.9 million low bid came in about $1.8 million above the engineer’s estimate. Engineers will work to redesign the project. A date for a new bid opening was not set, but City Manager David Corliss said he still intends for the project to begin construction in 2015.