Columbus, Georgia

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE

TAXICAB COMMISSION OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

May 5, 2004





MEMBERS PRESENT

Chairman Wallace Archie, Mr. Mark Oropeza, Lt. Julius Ross, Mr. Robert Kidd,

Mr. James Brooks and Ms. Diane Quick.



MEMBERS ABSENT

Mr. David Cassell, Mr. James Nash and Mr. Lorenzo Landrum.









A meeting of the Taxicab Commission was held in the Ground Floor Conference

Room of the Government Center. Chairman Archie, noted that a quorum was

present, called the May 5, 2004 meeting to order at 3:05 p.m.



Minutes:



Chairman Archie said that we have been presented with the minutes of the

November 5, 2003 and December 3, 2003 meetings. There being no comments made,

Chairman Archie entertained a motion of acceptance. Mr. Kidd moved the

approval. Seconded by Ms. Quick and carried unanimously by those members

present.



Deputy Clerk of Council Davis called attention to the September 3, 2003 minutes

that were also ready for action by the commission. Once it was determined that

the chairman and some of the other members did not have an opportunity to

review those minutes, each member took a moment to peruse the document

presented. After a few minutes had passed, Chairman Archie stated that if

everyone has had an opportunity to review the minutes, he would entertain a

motion. Mr. Oropeza moved approval of the September 3, 2003 minutes. Seconded

by Lt. Ross and carried unanimously by those members present.



City Attorney?s Office revised amendments:



Section 21-3.4. Registration/Inspection of Vehicles Required.

Chairman Archie asked if there were any comments or questions regarding the

proposed document that was received by the commission members at the last

meeting with revisions incorporated by Assistant City Attorney Jamie DeLoach.

Mr. Kidd pointed out what appears to be duplication in Section 21-7(5) (a-d)

Duties of taxicab drivers. and 21-8 (1-5) Inspection/Registration of Taxicabs.

Mr. Kidd suggested deleting subsection (a-d) in Section 21-7(5) and the

commission members concurred.



Mr. Kidd recalled the comments at the last meeting regarding Section 21-3.4

Registration/Inspection of Vehicles Required. He then asked if the commission

wanted to amend the language to make it clearer and offered some suggested

changes. There was some discussion on this matter, but no motion for

amendments was made.



In the same section 21-3.4(a)(2), Chairman Archie asked for some clarification

on the ?Safety Certification?. Lt. Ross agreed that more information should be

provided and suggested including a definition of ?Safety Certification?.



Chairman Archie also called attention to Section 21-3.4(b) regarding the

issuance of Registration/Inspection Permits. He asked to whom would the

permits be issued to and expressed his concerns in that the language suggests

that that Registration/Inspection Permit would be issued to the taxicab owners

instead of to the taxicab drivers. Lt. Ross reiterated his previous comments

that the owner is responsible for making sure that the taxicabs are

registered. Mr. Kidd pointed out that this is the reason that he suggested

changing the language.



Section 21-3.3(c) Insurance:

Lt. Ross asked that the commission clarify the language to read the ?business

owner? and not just the vehicle owner where ?owner?s certificate? is

mentioned. The sentence reads ?Continued operation of the taxicab associated

with the cancelled insurance shall result in the immediate suspension of the

owner?s certificate?.



Section 21-4(a)(5). Taxicab Driver Permits

This section reads ?Written statement that the Driver is at least 18 years of

age. Chairman Archie wanted to know what would be considered an acceptable

written statement. Lt. Ross replied that this would just require an individual

putting their date of birth on the application. He pointed out that if an

individual does not provide a true statement regarding their date of birth,

this would be reason for it to be a false application. To make the statement

clearer, Lt. Ross determined that he could change the wording from ?written

statement? to ?proof?. The amended Section 21-4(a)(5) would then read ?Proof

that the driver is at least 18 years of age.? Mr. Brooks suggested reversing

the order of 21-4(a)(5) and 21-4(a)(6). Section 21-4(a)(6) reads ?Proof of a

valid state driver?s license, which is not to be limited as defined in

O.C.G.A. ? 40-5-64.?



Section 21-4(a)(7). Taxicab Driver Permits

Requesting some additional information, Chairman Archie questioned item #7,

which reads ?Proof that the applicant is a citizen of the United States or an

alien admitted for permanent residence or otherwise granted employment

authorization by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service.?

Lt. Ross responded by identifying items that could be used as proof of

citizenship and are as follows: social security card or VISA. Lt. Ross

pointed out that in the application, the police department would identify items

that could be used as proof.



Section 21-4(a)(4). Taxicab Driver Permits

Chairman Archie made a comparison in the language for Section 21-4(a)(4) which

reads, ?Written statement from a licensed physician that the applicant has no

physical infirmities that would adversely affect the applicant?s ability to

drive.? to Section 21-4.1(b) which reads ?Every fourth year after obtaining the

initial Driver?s Permit, the Driver shall submit with his application for

renewal a physician?s certificate certifying that the Driver has no disease or

mental or physical infirmity that adversely affects the Driver?s ability to

drive?. He then asked about the written statement from a physician versus the

physician?s certificate, at which time, Lt. Ross agreed that the term used

should be the same and suggested using ?written statement?.



Section 21-7(2). Duties of taxicab drivers.

Referring to Section 21-7. Duties of taxicab drivers ? Refusal to carry orderly

persons, Chairman Archie asked for some clarification on the beginning of the

first sentence, which reads ?No Driver shall refuse or neglect to convey an

orderly person upon request?? He then asked if ?convey? has the same meaning as

?carry?. Lt. Ross confirmed that this was the meaning of that portion of the

sentence.



Section 21-7(11). Duties of taxicab drivers.

Continuing to refer to various sections, Chairman Archie asked about Section

21-7(11). Duties of taxicab drivers ? Property left in taxicab. He then read

excerpts of this section with particular emphasis on the words ?any articles of

value?. He pointed out what may be valuable to one person may not necessarily

be of value to another person. Ms. Quick suggested removing the word ?value?.

Lt. Ross informed the members that regarding lost and found items, eventually

these items should be turned into the government if no one claims them. He

briefly explained the proper manner in handling lost items is for the drivers

to turn them into the owners of the taxicab company, who would then turn the

items over to the Police Department.



There was some discussion regarding the size of the taxicab permit and the use

of the social security number on the permit. Chairman Archie pointed out that

the taxicab permit is not visible to the customers, because it is the same size

as a driver?s license. Lt. Ross advised that he does not believe that the

ordinance addresses the size of the permit; therefore, making the permit a

larger size could be done administratively. He said that he believes the

listing of the social security number on the permit is no longer a requirement

but would check to be sure. Mr. Kidd suggested that if the ordinance reads

that the social security number must remain on the permit; then, the ordinance

could be changed to state that the permit number remain in clear view, but

blank out the social security number.



Inspection Sheet:



Mr. Brooks passed around a document relative to the pricing of taxicab

inspections, at which time, Chairman Archie said that Mr. Brooks had forwarded

a question of when does the bid for inspection services go out. He advised

that if Firestone wants to bid on the inspection, they could do so. Lt. Ross

added that the current contract was let in November 2002 and expires in two

years, which would be November 2004. He advised that the process usually puts

out the information for bidding approximately thirty days before November

17th. Providing further information on the process, Lt. Ross advised that the

company would need to sign up for the bid list with the Purchasing Department.

He reminded everyone that in 2002, the City sent out a list to approximately 20

- 30 businesses, and only one business responded, which was White?s

Automotive. He advised that since that time, several businesses have inquired

about getting into the bid process. He said that this year, he would ask the

City to put a provision in there to allow more than one company to do the

inspections for taxicabs.



Inspection date:



Mr. Brooks asked about the implementation of the taxicab driver?s birthday as

the date of inspection. Chairman Archie added that he does not know why the

drivers cannot get their permits and inspections on the same date.



At this time, several commission members expressed their views regarding

inspections being conducted according to the taxicab drivers? birthday. Lt.

Ross maintained that the Police Department prefers to have the May 31st

deadline for inspections, which frees up the staff to look at other traffic

issues during the remainder of the year.



*** *** ***



Dispatch Logs:



While there was active communication regarding the dates for inspection, Ms.

Quick posed an unrelated question regarding the call logs. She inquired about

how companies that don?t have twenty-four hour dispatchers could keep up with

these calls, at which time, Chairman Archie replied that someone could write

them down. She also questioned the twenty-four hour dispatch service that is

required. Chairman Archie explained that a person could be a dispatcher with a

cellular phone, as long as, that individual has a two-way phone communication.

Mr. Kidd then directed the members to Section 21-3(f) that reads ?Assurance of

ability to provide dispatch taxi service twenty-four (24) hours per day, 365

days a year?.



Inspection stickers:



Lt. Ross said that Mr. Brooks had expressed another concern in his email, which

was the inspection sticker. Lt. Ross advised that if a taxicab was inspected

in January it should have 2004, which means that the sticker is valid until the

driver gets a new one for 2005 and individuals have from January through May to

get a new one.



Mr. Brooks expressed concerns in that he believes that he has an incorrect

sticker. After a brief discussion, Lt. Ross determined that he would get with

Mr. Brooks to make sure that he has the correct decal sticker.



Contingency Plan:



Planning for anticipated upward spiral, Chairman Archie raised concerns

regarding the gas prices, which have continued to climb. He then reminded

everyone of the current taxicab rates. He asked the members to consider the

following proposal:



Drop fee is currently $150 ? Raise to $2.00

Leave fares per mileage as it is currently

Additional Passenger from .50 to $1.00



Chairman Archie then explained the rationale for the suggested changes. Mr.

Brooks suggested a fractional increase per mile after the gas reaches a certain

dollar amount. Chairman Archie said that he wanted the members to think about

the proposal for some type of contingency plan; therefore, if the gas prices

continue to go up, we would not have to rush anything in. He explained that if

we already have a plan in place, we would just have to bring it to the table

for a vote.



In response to questions from Mr. Kidd, Chairman Archie replied that any rate

increase would have to be presented to Council and approved by them; therefore,

it would be a good idea to already have a plan in place and be able to submit

it to the Council.



There was some additional discussion on this matter with various commission

members expressing their views and asking questions regarding the number of

miles the drivers can obtain per gallon of gas.



*** *** ***



There being no further business to come before the commission. Chairman Archie

then entertained a motion for adjournment. Mr. Kidd so moved, which was

seconded by Ms. Quick and carried unanimously at 4:31 p.m.







By: _____________________________

Sandra T. Davis, Recording Secretary