Columbus, Georgia

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE

TAXICAB COMMISSION OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

September 1, 2004





MEMBERS PRESENT

Chairman Wallace Archie, Mr. Mark Oropeza, Lt. Julius Ross, Mr. David Cassell

and Mr. Robert Kidd.



MEMBERS ABSENT

Mr. James Brooks, Ms. Diane Quick, 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 September 1, 2004 meeting to order at 3:05 p.m.



Minutes of Previous Meetings:

Chairman Archie immediately called attention to the January 7, 2004 Minutes.

After no one raised any discussion regarding the minutes, Chairman Archie

proceeded to summarize some points of the previous meeting (August 4, 2004) and

posed questions about the recently revised Taxicab Ordinance (04-69) which he

stated; he was approached by some drivers and 2 owners who questioned the date

the ordinance was effective.



Ordinance Issues:

Chairman Archie explains the various parties he inquired of to gain the answers

to the effective date of the Ordinance, this concluded with Lt. Ross stating

that the effective date would occur 10 days after it?s signed by the Mayor, at

noon the next day. (August 23, 2004-Noon). Lt. Ross then went through the

booklet line-by-line to explain the details, and the following information was

shared: (Copy on file in the Clerk of Council?s office)



Part One ? Affiliation and Certificate of Employment (instruction section):

Lt. Ross shares the other challenges and changes that confront the Commission

and his office based on the permits, old ordinance requirements, licensing and

the renewal process. In response to Lt. Ross? concern for the effects that will

take place for certain cab drivers birthday; which is subject to the old

ordinance, Chairman Archie stated he is hopeful that consideration would be

placed on the overall effects to the Taxicab drivers, not getting hurt

(referring to the additional $10.00). He then suggested that Lt. Ross? office

should review the ordinance a section at a time, stating that some portions may

have to become effective prior to making corrections to the other areas. At

this time, Lt. Ross handed out pamphlets to everyone, which was a detailed City

of Columbus Taxicab Drivers permit application instruction booklet. Each member

spent several minutes in silence reading through the booklet. Lt. Ross then

shared that the objective is to place more responsibility on the Taxicab owners.



Part Two ? Applicant Information (instruction section):

Lt. Ross covered the importance of this application and referred to the

physician certification requirement which he states is prior to issuance of a

permit and he further outlined an example of what occurs when an applicant

transfers to another company; which he explains that the ordinance requires

another physical.



Part Three - Criminal History & Background Information (instruction section):

Lt. Ross shares about the criminal history requirements, as far as state and

national regulations affecting Columbus? criminal history checks. He then

stated that based on the ordinance he cannot review the traffic history of any

applicant and said that this part is subject to change in the future.



Applicant declaration:

Lt. Ross states that any inaccurate information given on the application form

is considered a felony, which he states, can be punishable for up to 5 years.

He further stated that the cab owner also has a greater degree of

responsibility because he is certifying the information submitted by the cab

driver; therefore he suggested in order to avoid some possible

misunderstanding, the cab owner could keep control over the licenses by

requesting the new cab drivers to get a criminal history. He then shared that

the form was shared with the city attorney and was given an ok, though he

stated this is just a rough draft.



*** *** ***



Permits:

Lt. Ross shared that he is in the process of working on the most appropriate

method to correct the concerns with the permits, such as; copying, lamination,

color enlargement, etc.

Chairman Archie suggested some options, to which Lt. Ross stated his concern

for duplication of an official document (counterfeiting), he then referred to

the requirements within the ordinance that he stated says that the permit will

be displayed, and he elaborated that a copy is not sufficient.



*** *** ***



Ordinance:

Lt. Ross passed out a copy of the Taxicab Ordinance #04-69 created by his

office in booklet form. He then shared that he has submitted this booklet to

the Council for approval and he also stated his intention would be to have

copies available for all the patrol officers.

(Copy on file in the Clerk of Council?s office)



*** *** ***



Owners Application:

Lt. Ross briefly shared that there is a few changes within the requirements for

the owners, with exception to the criminal history and drivers history on all

parties associated with the company (owners, partners, drivers, etc.). He then

explained the difference between the owner?s application and the driver?s

application, which as he stated eliminates certain information because the

Council has to sign this document. He then shares that the biggest challenge

that he envisions will affect the owners at this point, will be the logs.



Drivers Examination:

Lt. Ross shared optional methods to submit the examination to the Owners of the

Cab companies. He further stated some concerns about the test, questions, and

the way in which the test is administered. In response to those concerns

Chairman Archie stated that the test consist of the ordinance and some of the

landmarks within the city, he then made several recommendations in reference to

the ride-along period consisting of 1 to 2 page letter(s); he recommended

making a VHS tape; educating the drivers on non-smoking; not playing the radio

loud and slowing down. Lt. Ross then interjected that he suggests a test

booklet with a letter of recommendation; he also enlightened the Commission

that these are unenforceable by him. Mr. Cassell then suggested that because

the system is based on an honor system, that they submit the information to the

owners and have a training session that will give the owners options on the

method to administer the information. Lt. Ross further states that he would

prefer to separate the letter and the test exam and reiterates his concern with

the exam questions. (Copy on file in the Clerk of Council?s office)



View of Test Exam:

Lt. Ross then reviews the concerns for the specific test questions and his

concerns with the redundancies. Chairman Archie then questions the specifics of

his concerns and the Commission decided to go through the questions that posed

a concern, and they are as follows:



#2 No permit shall be issued nor renewed to any applicant who has been

convicted of:

a. DUI. (Add 3 years)

b. Road rage. (Add 3 years)

c. Bad checks. (Add 1 year)

d. All of the above.



Lt. Ross and Mr. Cassell suggested adding time limits for each conviction, and

then each member agreed that this would suffice.



#6 Where is the Columbus Civic Center?

a. At the corner of Veterans Parkway and Manchester Highway.

b. At the corner of Victory Drive and Veterans Parkway.

c. In the 900 block of Broadway.

d. At the corner of Veterans Parkway and 4th Street.



After much discussion, the members agreed to think over the answer and decided

to return to that later.



#8 One minute after you pick up a passenger a second person ask can they join

you to the same destination. How should you charge the two passengers?

a. Charge them both the meter fair.

b. They will be allowed to divide the fair, plus fifty cents, in half.

c. They each will be charged one fair plus fifty cents.

d. Tell the second person to take the next taxicab to avoid confusion.



Lt. Ross said he could easily correct this one by changing the information to a

dollar.



#11 Which is not a way into Phenix City, Alabama

a. 13th Street Bridge.

b. Dillingham Street Bridge.

c. Chattahoochee River Bridge.

d. 14th Street Bridge.



Lt. Ross then stated that the answer to this one is c, but should be changed to

say the Oglethorpe Bridge because this is the name by which this bridge is

known.



Lt. Ross shares his concerns about the questions on the exam and Chairman

Archie responds with the purpose, which he states is to reinforce the answers

he wants them to remember.



*** *** ***

Storage time of Logs:

Chairman Archie request that the Commission ponder until the next meeting the

issue of how long the cab companies are required to maintain the logs; he

stated that this information is not covered in the ordinance.



*** *** ***



Recent Cab driver altercation before Council:

Lt. Ross advised the Commission on a recent matter that had been brought to the

Council by a Mr. John Griffin, who he continued sharing that he had only

received bits and pieces but was made aware that this is suppose to be

submitted to the Commission for review in reference to Mr. Griffin being

charged under the old ordinance, back in July 29, 2004 for overcharging a

passenger and wearing short pants. He continued to state that the judge

dismissed the short pants case because they are authorized to wear them now.

Then he stated that he was found guilty in Recorders Court this last Friday of

overcharging the passenger. He continued stating that the explanation given to

the Council was that his charges were for waiting time. He also stated that he

believes that Mr. Griffin?s complaint was that this involves a conviction on

his record; which he stated that under the old ordinance he can have 2

convictions on his record and still apply for his license, yet he stated under

the new ordinance he can only have 1 conviction. Then he states that the

problem he will have is subject to renewal in March; under the new ordinance,

because he will possibly have a conviction on his record.



Lt. Ross says that the challenge is the new versus the old ordinance, and

requested the Commission to ponder some possible revisions to the ordinance

based on this situation.



The Commission discussed some scenarios and advantages to the old versus the

new ordinance, waiting time as well as the possible options available to Mr.

Griffin.



*** *** ***

Chairman Archie applauded Lt. Ross? effort in creating the documents submitted

before the Commission and entertained a motion for adjournment. Lt. Ross so

moved, which was seconded by Mr. Cassell and carried unanimously at 4:28 p.m.





By: _____________________________

Triena Sharpe, Recording Secretary