Columbus, Georgia

TAXICAB COMMISSION



JANUARY 9, 2002





A meeting of the Taxicab Commission was held on Wednesday, January 9, 2002 in

the Council Chamber Conference Room, Plaza Level, Government Center, Columbus,

Georgia.



MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Tom Dobson, Mr. John Golden , Mr. Mark Oropeza, Mr.

Charles D. Pattillo and Lt. Julius Ross.



MEMBERS ABSENT: Chairperson Wallace P. Archie and Mr. Darren Phillips



ALSO PRESENT: Asst. City Attorney Jamie B. Deloach.





This meeting was called to order at 3:25 p.m.





MINUTES:



The minutes were not approved at this time.





BRIEFING:



Due to the lack of a quorum, the meeting did not officially begin until

twenty five minutes later. At this time, there was a sufficient number of

members present to conduct a meeting, Lt. Ross served as Acting Chairperson.

He then briefed the members and Asst. City Attorney Jamie Deloach ( who

was present for this meeting)

on the following issues below:



? Moral Turpitude

? Appeal Process

? Shuttle Situation







Referring to the shuttle situation, he said that he received a copy of the

codes from State Revenue System. He referred to the codes that appear on the

company?s business license as : 485310 ( Taxi Service) ; 48 -599 (Other

ttransit and Ground passenger Transportation) ? Shuttle Service and 28-599 .(

A copy was provided to the Clerk for the )



Responding to Mr. Dobson?s question, do we as the Taxi Commission have to be

involved in the formulation of the shuttle service ordinance. Mr. Golden

explained that several individual taxicab driver (owner/operated) want to

become shuttle services; however, the question is how to police seventy ?

five (75) one - man shuttle services.



Lt. Ross pointed out this is not a taxicab ordinance; but a Vehicle for Hire

Ordinance, that does include shuttle and limousine services. He stated that

in the first part of our revision, we said limousine service would be defined.

He said when the ordinance is continued, we will address shuttle and

limousine issues. But, emphasized now we are addressing a specific situation

with the E& J Transportation which the City has licensed as a shuttle service.



Several members continued discussing ways to define the code to alleviate this

problem, with a recommendation from Lt. Ross to ?piggyback? as the State has

done requiring applicants to provide established routes when applying for

this service.



For clarity purposes, Ms. Deloach asked how the shuttle services would file

their established routes with the Commission. Lt. Ross response was that

since they don?t fit under the State definition and the Police Department is

not involved in the licensing process, they should be filed with the City?s

licensing office.



To highlight the concerns raised by the members, Ms. Deloach then asked if a

definition for shuttle service would solve the problem stating these businesses

must provide an established route for their services and any deviation from

the established routes would constitute a violation of the taxicab ordinance.



At this point, Mr. Oropeza asked why is it necessary to define a shuttle

service,

he said the Business License Department should be informed in that , if the

applicant was not issued a PFC Number from the State, then this vehicle is

operating as a taxicab and not a shuttle service.



Mr. Golden then read the current the Vehicle for Code, Chapter 21, Section

21.1. Definitions. Taxicab : ?A motor vehicle for hire, including vans or

limousines which seats fourteen (14) or fewer passengers which operates on call

or demand and transports passengers and their luggage, if any, between two(2)

points designated by the passenger.?



Mr. Golden explained if a company pays for the service, it is a shuttle

service but if an individual pays, then it is a taxicab service.



Continuing to ask for clarification, Ms. Deloach commented there is more

involved in the taxicab ordinance besides the rates charged to passengers which

Lt. Ross responded this is true, that in addition to the rates, the ordinance

covers price gouging, maximum fees to be charged and the moral turpitude

issue. She asked if there should be a fixed rate for a fixed route included in

the ordinance. Responding to her question, Mr. Golden said if there are 14 or

fewer passengers. He said anyone who transports citizens should be

investigated by the police department and go through the same requirements as a

taxicab driver.



Lt. Ross informed the members the police?s intent is to place this issue in

the hands of the Special Department or the City Councilors. He added that as we

revised the code, we decided to include limousines three - wheel - bicycles

into the Vehicle for Hire Code due to the changes taking place in the city.



Ms Deloach asked if other cities comparable to the size of Columbus were

surveyed, Mr. Golden replied that Savannah and Macon, were surveyed and

the City of Birmingham, Alabama, also was surveyed.



Concluding with the discussion, Lt. Ross focused on the main issues of

discussion. He said these are the things to be addressed when the definitions

are proposed. (2) Clarify the shuttle and (3) Define the rates.



At this time, he said due to Mr. Archie?s absence from this meeting, he

informed the members that this meeting was conducted as a Work Session with no

actions voted upon. Due to this reason, he then extended another invitation to

Ms. Deloach to attend the next scheduled meeting, at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday,

February 6, 2002.



With there being no other business to discuss, this meeting adjourned at 4:20

p.m.













Gloria A. Carey

Recording Secretary