CITY OF FREDERICK

City Hall - 101 N. Court Street

 

Minutes

TAXICAB COMMISSION MEETING

12:00 Noon

Monday, January 24th, 2005 – City Hall, room 214

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Present: Alderman Dave Lenhart, Alderman Bill Hall, Alderwoman Donna Kuzemchak Ramsburg, Kenny Shapiro, Lt. Tom Chase, Jerry Wood, Tammy Wood, Eileen Farrar 

 

Item 1: Approval of the minutes from the meeting of November 22nd, 2004.

The minutes were approved as written.

 

Item 2:  Discussion regarding temporary taxicab driver permits.

Mr. Shapiro stated additions made to the Taxicab Ordinance - section 23.21.5 entitled Temporary Taxicab Driver’s License.  Mr. Shapiro stated that he researched Montgomery County’s ordinance and said that they would be removing the temporary license language as of July 2006 due to wanting more control over who actually applies and get licenses.  Montgomery County feels that by giving temporary licenses for 90 days they are relinquishing some control for 90 days.  Mr. Shapiro explained where he added one line to section 23-14 to include temporary driver’s license in the wording as well section 23.22.  Mr. Shapiro stated that in order to get a temporary license you cannot have had a license revoked, suspended, or withdrawn in the last ten years or not had a serious motor vehicle violation. All temporary permits must be displayed and shown to be temporary as well as date of issue. Alderman Lenhart asked about complaints lodged during the temporary period and Mr. Shapiro stated that he could add more language stating that a sustained complaint could result in immediate forfeiture. Alderman Lenhart asked about the administrative process.  Lt. Chase stated that the issue time is the amount of time it takes to do the criminal checks. The turnaround time can be 24 – 48 hours for a yes or no from fingerprints. Mr. Shapiro stated that before a person can apply a person has to bring full driving records from every state in which they drive.  Alderman Ramsburg inquired about fees and what fees would be required at the time of application.  Alderman Lenhart reminded the commission that the purpose of the temporary permit was to allow drivers to start immediately after the background check and pay other fees such as the physical while earning an income and that by the end of the 90 day temporary period all fees would be paid. This would make it less expensive for applicants initially and enable more people to apply.  Lt. Chase explained the process for new applicants to the commission and the turnaround time for a records check.  Alderman Ramsburg and Alderman Bill Hall agreed that it would be better to do a background check and have a waiting period of at least 72 hours before handing out the permit rather than giving it out on the same day.  Lt. Chase stated that this would be consistent with what the process is now.  Lt. Chase included that if all paperwork is in place and fees are paid, there could be a shorter turnaround time, however, if personnel is not available it could take longer.  Alderman Ramsburg stated that she wanted to make sure that all fees are paid even if an applicant is not approved or disqualified from obtaining a temporary permit.  Alderman Bill Hall stated that the applicant should be liable for the fees.  Alderman Lenhart stated that he believed that more people will be accepted into the system then turned down. 

 

Public comment:

Mr. Wood stated that money and time for getting drivers on the road is still an issue.  Mr. Wood stated that permits are only issued on the first Tuesday, 8:00-11:00 am and the third Tuesday 8:00 – 11:00 of the month.  If someone came to apply on a Wednesday, the process could take a month.

 

Discussion:

More discussion continued as to how fees would be collected if applicants falsify information to the administrative agency.  Alderman Ramsburg asked if fees could be made for falsification and Mr. Shapiro said yes. 

 

Alderman Ramsburg asked if we could issue every Tuesday.  Lt. Chase stated that he thought direction from the commission is to make permits available from staff on a more frequent basis to the best of their ability with staff available. 

 

Mr. Shapiro stated once a permit is issued, and a bad record comes back, there is no way a permit can be revoked unless sustained complaints come back, but issuing a temporary permit makes it possible to revoke it before a permanent permit is issued.  Alderman Lenhart asked Mr. Shapiro to change the language in the ordinance to allow for revocation. 

 

Lt. Chase stated that he would like to see language included that would give the administrative agency the ability upon gaining information that would justify that a temporary permit being revoked. 

 

Mr. Shapiro stated that he would make the changes in the ordinance in the appropriate sections. 

 

Motion:  Alderman Ramsburg moved to take the changes to the Taxicab ordinance regarding temporary taxicab permits to a Mayor and Board of Alderman public meeting.   Alderman Bill Hall seconded.  Vote 3-0 in favor.

     

Item 3:  Discussion regarding an amendment to Taxicab Ordinance regarding registration and renewal language

Mr. Shapiro spoke to the commission about section 23-8 subsection( b). and section 23-10.  regarding the renewal fees.

Motion:  Alderman Bill moved to remove subsection (b) from section 23-8 of the Taxicab Ordinance and to be brought to a Mayor and Board of Alderman public meeting .  Alderman Ramsburg seconded.  Vote 3-0 in favor. 

 

Item 4:  Discussion on Taxicab vehicle compliance inspections per (Section 23-32(a) of the Taxicab Ordinance

Mr. Shapiro stated that he has observed some vehicles with only the words “Taxi” on the car and suggested a field trip with the use of a digital camera.  Mr. Shapiro stated that these vehicles might be from other jurisdictions.  Lt. Chase stated that every cab should have a number that can be used to identify which company this cab belongs to. Lt. Chase explained to the commission how the process for random vehicle inspections is established.  Alderman Lenhart made suggestions as to how the commission could do their own inspections and relay this information to the police department. 

 

Item 5:  Consideration and review of City Cab’s proposed new vehicle color and signing per section 23-32 (a) of the Taxicab Ordinance

Mr. Shapiro stated that this section of the ordinance allows for a distinctive color and markings. Alderman Lenhart stated that this must be registered with the commission for approval.  Mr. Wood of City Cab distributed pictures of the new color that he would like to use on the company cabs.  Alderman Bill Hall stated that uniformity was important.  Mr. Wood stated that he preferred the white color to the new yellow but he had a lot of customers say the white color was not noticeable. Mr. Shapiro stated that every cab company should register their own distinctive color with the administrative agency. 

Motion:  Alderman Ramsburg moved to approve the new color scheme for City Cab Company.  Alderman Bill Hall seconded.  Vote 3-0 in favor.  Mr. Shapiro noted that Mr. Wood had until June 2005 to have the proper signing in place on the cabs. 

 

Alderman Ramsburg asked that consideration be given to the amount of time allowed for a complete color scheme change of  a cab company. 

 

The next meeting will be held on Monday, February 28th, 2005.

 

Minutes submitted by Eileen Farrar