CITY OF
City Hall - 101 N. Court Street
Minutes
TAXICAB COMMISSION MEETING
9:00 a.m.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006, room 212 - City Hall
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Present: Alderman
Donna Kuzemchak Ramsburg; Alderman Paul Smith; Lt. Tom Chase, Kelly Russell,
William Bowie, Mason Bowie, Daniel Mahone, Rachel Depo, Jonathan Smith, Jerry
Wood,
Item
1: Approval of the minutes from the
meeting of November 29, 2006
Minutes were approved as written. Vote 2-0 in Favor.
Alderman Hall not present
Alderman Smith asked that the order of the agenda be changed to move Item (2) to the
end of the agenda. Alderman Smith then
moved to discuss Item (2) at the end of the agenda and Alderman Ramsburg
seconded.
Item
2: Discussion regarding changes to
Taxicab Ordinance
This item was moved to the last item on the agenda.
Item
3: Discussion regarding Taxicab
operator’s license for Mr. Mason
Mr. Bowie was not present and was also not present
at the November 29th 2006,
meeting, therefore, the decision was to not hear this agenda item.
Motion: Alderman Ramsburg moved to
deny the license for Mr. Bowie and noted that Mr. Bowie was eligible to reapply
at a later date.. Seconded by Alderman
Smith.
Item
4: Discussion regarding taxicab
operator’s license for Shirley Ann
Alderman Ramsburg closed the meeting due to the
confidentiality of this information. Ms.
Holston was not present and after discussion the following motion was
made.
Motion: Alderman Smith moved to table this discussion until the January
commission meeting with the acknowledgement that the commission will contact
Ms. Holston and allow her the ability to come before the commission to discuss
her application. Vote 2-0 in favor.
Mr. Mason Bowie
entered the meeting at this time.
Motion: Alderman Smith moved to allow
Mr. Bowie to make a presentation and for the commission to hear Item (3) on the
agenda. Seconded by Alderman
Ramsburg. Vote 2-0 in favor.
Alderman Ramsburg closed the meeting again due to
the confidentiality of this information regarding Mr. Mason’s application for a
license.
Motion: Alderman
Ramsburg moved for the approval upon the receipt of a positive recommendation
from the parole officer and that the Commission would have the discretion to
determine what a positive recommendation would be.
Seconded by Alderman Smith.
Vote 2-0 in favor.
Alderman Ramsburg re-opened the meeting to public
comment at this time.
Mr. Jonathan Smith of Dapper Limousine spoke to the
Commission regarding pedacycles that he would like to see used in the City of
Alderman Ramsburg noted that Kelly Russell will be
the Special Vehicles Coordinator and will work with the Administrative Agency.
Item
2: Discussion regarding changes to
Taxicab Ordinance
Ms. Rachel Depo stated that the existing Taxicab
Ordinance is being repealed and reenacted it from scratch. The following are sections that were
discussed for possible changes:
Section 23-2. Applicability (this section
will apply to pickups within the city. Section 23-4 Taxicab
Commission (appeals. Hear and decide appeals from decision of
the agency). Section 23.7 Taxicab
Permits – Maximum number to be issued. Alderman Smith is in favor of
limiting the number of permits and stated that assuming a good number is set
now, the Commission should not have the burden of having to reset the number
every year. Alderman Ramsburg stated
that due to Alderman Hall being absent, this item should wait until the January
meeting for further discussion. Section
23-8 – Renewal of Taxicab Permits. (g)
Forfeiture. Alderman Smith asked if
the Commission should retain the power to waive this provision for good
cause. Alderman Ramsburg then asked if
it should state that the Taxicab Commission has the ability to suspend any of
the rules. Discussion continued as to the
possibilities of inconsistency. (f)
Issuance. Lt. Chase stated that the
word “mail” presents a problem for the agency and Alderman Ramsburg stated that
the word should be changed to “provide” a permit card to each applicant for a
renewal permit who meets the requirements of this section..Section 23-9
Process for issuance of new permits. (a) Public notice -
Alderman Smith would like this section to say if the city proposes to issues
new permits instead of on or before June 1 of each year. Ms. Depo suggested that it might say that
this section applies if and when the city decides to issue new permits. Section 23-10 Eligibility and
Applications. Alderman Smith suggested that the section regarding fees
in section 23-9 be included in this section.
Alderman Smith also suggested that some specific criteria should be
added that would be the same for both permit holders and licensed drivers. Ms.
Kelly Russell asked about the ability to enforce the l-9 form to prove a person
is legally required to work in the
Alderman
Ramsburg stopped the discussion on the ordinance at this point and opened the
meeting to public comment.
Public Comment:
Mr. Jerry
Wood of City Cab stated that he has employees that he has required proof of a
work card from the Immigration offices before he will employ. Mr. Wood also stated that too many permits in
the City will hurt the businesses and requested that a limit on permits be
set. Mr. Wood also suggested that rather
then stagger the permits every year, have the permit expire in four years.
Alderman
Ramsburg stated that the next meeting would be held on Wednesday, January 3rd
at 9:00 am in room 212 at City Hall.
Minutes
submitted by Eileen S. Farrar