Columbus, Georgia

TAXICAB COMMISSION

November 6, 2002







A meeting of the Taxicab Commission was held on Wednesday , November 6, 2002 in

the City Manager?s Conference Room, Sixth Floor, Government Center, Columbus,

Georgia.



MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Wallace Archie, Mr. James Brooks, Mr. Gerald

Ludwig, Ms. Diane Quick, Julius Ross, and Mr. Mark Oropeza





MEMBERS ABSENT: Mr. Charles D. Pattillo and Mr. Darren Phillips.



ALSO PRESENT: Mr. James Smith, Chattahoochee Taxicab Association.





This meeting was called to order at 3:07 p.m.



MINUTES:



Chairman Archie called the meeting to order and asked for a motion to accept

the minutes. The motion to accept the minutes of October was made by Mr.

Oropeza and seconded by Ms. Quick.



FIRST SPEAKER:



At this time, Mr. Archie recognized Mr. Smith , with the Chattahoochee Taxicab

Association as the speaker and reminded all who were present that the allotted

time of the speaker would be ten minutes.



Mr. James Smith came forward and advised the members that he is here to

discuss the rules , regulation and some of the proposals which have been drawn

up. He said that he should be allowed to discuss anything listed on the agenda

and be allowed to input into this commission, which Chairman explained to Mr.

Smith that since we meet twelve (12 )hours per year, there is no time to

discuss every detail with everyone. He then explained that once the ordinance

is presented in a draft form, then it would be given out , so that anyone whose

interested can make their input regarding the ordinance. Until such time, Mr.

Archie invited Mr. Smith to attend the monthly meetings; but advised him that

the meeting would not become a public forum. He also offered another option to

Mr. Smith by recommending him to e-mail any suggestions to the secretary and

she could send those suggestions to the other members for viewing.



RECOMMENDATIONS:



? Mr. Brooks said based on this discussion and in order to complete this draft,

we could meet one more hour a month or discuss a way to interact with one

another on - line; so that, when we assemble for the meeting, we will know

exactly what subjects we will cover.



? Lt. Ross concurred with Mr. Brooks by suggesting the Commission establish an

eight hour Work Session. He said one full day would allow us to be meet

uninterrupted as he said he is willing to arrange his schedule to meet this

need.



Chairman Archie reminded the members of the need to discuss the terms of the

committee members. He said a vote was made to amend the ordinance to state the

terms would be two 4 ? year terms instead of two 2 -year terms. He said when

this was done, he thought the ordinance would be in the hands of the Council,

but it is not. He continued to explain that four of the member?s terms expire

on February 2003 and unless we change this part of the ordinance, which he said

there, are only seven at this time, and with four gone, the commission will

only have three persons. He then said he is in agreement with scheduling a

four or eight hour meeting.



After continued discussion on this matter, the members agreed to schedule an

eight - hour Work Session whereby Mr. Smith?s concerns could be addressed

and we could move things along ; also at this time we could address all the

considerations he brought up and if they have not been implemented into the

changes in the ordinance, then as a group we could discuss them during an open

meeting.



Mr. Brooks made the motion based on the availability of Secretary Gloria Carey,

a specified date would be announced for a four - hour Work Session. Seconded

by Mr. Ludwig and carried unanimously by the members present.





OLD BUSINESS:





MR. BROOKS? LETTER:



Mr. Archie asked if everyone read the letter passed out by Mr. Brooks at the

last meeting. At this time Mr. Brooks commented on the letter dated October 1,

2002, addressed to the members of the Taxicab Commission. (The complete letter

is on file in the Clerk?s Office). He raised questions question on two (2)

issues relating to inspections:



(1) Why is it that when someone changes companies and they repaint

their car , but have not changed any one of the safety items on the

vehicle, why does the car have to be re ? inspected?



(2) If I say something to someone as a rule, and will punish them for not being

within that rule, but there were things I didn?t say that?s implied, that is

not fair to any one.



Responding to Mr. Brooks? concern, Mr. Archie advised him to go to the

specific portion of the ordinance, find out what is wrong with it and as a

member of the commission, you can make a recommendation to fix it.



At this point, as he apologized for being absent from last month?s meeting, Lt.

Ross said in essence he is agreement with Mr. Brooks on everything, in that you

want to clarify much of the confusion, but would stand by the fact that the

interpretation of the current ordinance that explicitly states that inspections

can be conducted at any time, by orders of the Chief would probably fit this

situation. He also pointed out that many issues could be clarified and

accomplished by scheduling a four-(4) hour meeting to discuss the ordinance.



Mr. Brooks then called attention to an omission in the letter and asked if

someone is pinpointed to have an additional inspection within that twelve (12)

month period, at whose cost? Responding to Mr. Brooks, Lt. Ross explained

there is a starting over process that goes on, and said the City nor the

Police Department requires a driver to pay for inspections of their vehicle.

He said the City does require the Cab Company to register and inspect their

vehicle. He pointed out if the driver changes to another company, for example,

within a month, then to meet that requirement the owner is required to register

that cab with the police department as he pointed out our concern is with the

cab company and the inspection of the vehicle.



Chairman Archie said based on the assumption that all members have a copy of

the proposed ordinance, he suggested everyone to review the ordinance page by

page, paragraph by paragraph and make a list of concerns dealing each

paragraph; so that, when that times becomes available for the four (4) hour

meeting, we can go through the ordinance and at that time, make additions or

deletions necessary for that paragraph, and put it in stone until it is

presented to the City Council.



Seeking clarification, Mr. Archie noted the suggestions made in Mr. Brooks?

letter to include:



Subject: Definitions



1. Add the following definitions:



? Taxicab company Business owner.

? Taxicab Driver . . . A person that operates a taxicab for profit

? Add this or something to the effect. An ordinance: A set of

policies, and rules adopted by the City Council. This ordinance is written to

regulate the taxicab business in Columbus, in such a way that the public and

those charged to enforce this ordinance need not guess nor have to figure out

what is intended, nor the way it is to be enforced.





Mr. Archie then asked if this is a part of the commission?s statement or a

definition of an ordinance, to which Mr. Brooks replied it is open for

discussion. At this point, Mr. Archie said if it is to be discussed, then we

can work with it during the four-hour Worksession.



Continuing with the contents of the letter, he pointed out the other concern as

being inspections. He then read:



SUBJECT: INSPECTIONS:



There are three (or four times) when a taxicab should be inspected. All

inspections conducted by the Chief of Police will be announced in writing. (how

far in advance) stating what kind of inspection will be conducted, the date,

times, and places that the inspection will begin and end. The Chief of Police

can also conduct random inspections unannounced for cleanness of a vehicle due

to a complaint of a customer or . . . .



He pointed out that the letter stated indicated there are three or four times

a taxicab should be inspected, he then asked Mr. Brooks to name those four

inspection times. Mr. Brooks' response was: (1) Annual and (2) Random.

(There was no third of fourth one offered by Mr. Brooks)



Lt. Ross attempting to clarify the statement advised that the word (method )be

substituted (for times) that a cab could end up being inspected.



Under the heading , Random Inspections for Certain Violations, Mr. Archie

said the ordinance should include that ?nothing in the ordinance shall

prohibit the random inspection of vehicles for hire, or the drivers of such

vehicle of by such personnel of the Columbus Police Department where possible

violations of the ordinance or other violations of law regarding the

conditions of vehicles for hire are evident by visual inspection.?



No Taxicab shall have less than three doors - To be discussion)

Using a doughnut tire - ( To be discussed)



After a lengthy discussion on the previous subject, Chairman Archie reminded

the members of two (2) issues to be discussed : (1) submitting the proposal

to extend the Commission?s terms to the Council before the end of the month

as he pointed out that Councilor Suber has agreed to sponsor this amendment.

He then asked for a motion to submit the proposal to the Council.



Mr. Oropeza then pointed out there is an ordinance in place which states that

members of all boards are allowed to serve only two consecutive terms.



Sec. 21-14. Columbus Taxicab Commission. Upon discussion, Mr. Oropeza moved

that members of the commission shall serve for four (4) years and shall be

eligible to serve two (2) full terms, which may extended with approval of the

Columbus Council. Seconded by Ms. Quick and carried unanimously by the member

present. (Subject to review by the City Attorney)





APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRPERSON



Chairman Archie referred to the second issue as appointing a chairperson of

the Commission with Mr. Oropeza nominating Mr. Archie as Chairman of the

Taxicab another year. Since there were no other nominations, Mr. Oropeza moved

to appoint Mr. Archie as Chairperson of the Taxicab Commission for an

additional year. Seconded by Mr. Ludwig and carried unanimously by the members

present.



LETTER TO PEACHTREE MALL:



The members then reviewed the letter to be sent to Ms. Debbie Bailey ,

General Manager at the Peachtree Mall. Mr. Ludwig moved that the letter be

sent to Ms. Bailey at the Peachtree Mall for her review and decision. Seconded

by Mr. Brooks and carried by the members present.



There being no further business to discuss, this meeting adjourned at 4:22 p.m.







Gloria Carey

Recording Secretary