Columbus, Georgia

TAXICAB COMMISSION

December 2, 2002

(Work Session)





A Special called meeting of the Taxicab Commission was held on Monday, December

2, 2002 in the Conference Room on the Ground Floor of the Government Center,

Columbus, Georgia.





MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairperson Wallace Archie, Mr. Gerald Ludwig, Mr. Mark

Oropeza, Mr. Darren Phillips, Ms. Diane Quick, Lt. Julius Ross, and Mr. James

Brooks (arrived at 12:50 p.m.)



MEMBERS ABSENT: None







This meeting was called to order at 12:40 p.m.



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Chairperson Archie advised the purpose of this Work Session is to work on the

city ordinance. At this point, he turned the meeting over to Mr. Oropeza for

his direction and guidance by explaining the process which has taken place up

to this point.



Mr. Oropeza responding to the request made by Mr. Archie, explained that the

members who have been on the commission for some time have covered the various

sections of this ordinance several times. However; he said the newer members

may have changes or have questions regarding the wording of the ordinance

because they did not understand what was done at the time.



Referring to the Proposed Ordinance, he called attention to the Section 21.1

Definitions as being new. He continued to explain once you get beyond the

definitions, any text written in black is from the original ordinance which

indicates no changes were made, but text written in red was added by the

Commission and for the benefit of all the members present, he recommended

that they go once again, ?page by page ?through the proposed ordinance.

The members agreed to start with Section 21-1 as suggested by Mr. Oropeza

to revise the following sections of Taxicab Ordinance as indicated below:



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Sec. 21-2 ? DECLARATION OF POLICY

This section changes to 21-1 ? DECLARATION OF POLICY



Sec. 21-2 - DECLARATION OF POLICY

This section changes to Sec. 21- 1 DEFINITIONS



- Business License (No recommended changes)

- Chairman ?Chairman? changes to ?Chairperson?



Ms. Quick suggested that the word ?Chairman? be changed and the word

?Chairperson? be substituted in this sentence. (All members were in agreement

by common consent)



- Commission (No recommended changes)

- Company (No recommended changes)

- Company Lot (No recommended changes)

- Controlled Substance No recommended changes)

- Driver (No recommended changes)

- Extended Limousine ( Delete this definition in its entirety because

limousine and limousine service definitions are already in place).

- Fees - (No recommended changes)

- Highways (No recommended changes)

- Limousine ( Delete . . . . ?for no more than nine

passengers? ( All other wording remains the same.)

- Limousine Service (Delete the phrase . . . ?or extended

limousines? ( All the other wording remains the same.)

- Permit (No recommended changes)

- Shuttle (Propose a definition for shuttle.)



Ms. Quick suggested to appoint someone to come up with a definition for

shuttle; then, send the definition to Secretary Carey who would e-mail it to

all the members for their review.( The members agreed, but there was not a

motion).





- Shutttle Service (Add the definition below:)

Lt. Ross paraphrased a definition of shuttle service which

states? Transportation for hire prearranged over established

routes and schedules or by contract or other pre-arrangement for special

event?.



The members continued to offer various viewpoints defining the types of

vehicles used to provide shuttle service, Mr. Ludwig suggested that the

verbiage shuttle/van be made one word to apply to both. Lt. Ross responded

that this could apply to the definition of shuttle, but not to the shuttle

service.



Since there was no indication of resolving this matter at this time,

Chairperson Archie advised the members to leave the proposed definition of

Shuttle Service as it is, until such time we agree on a definition of a

shuttle which is sufficient ; but he added that the way it is written at this

time is not confusing the matter.



- Taxicab (There were no recommended changes).



There was considerable discussion regarding adding the word ?hack light ? to

this section; however, Mr. Oropeza pointed out that the last paragraph of

Section 21-10 refers to the hack light? as an on/off switch. He read as

?Taxicab means a motor vehicle for hire including vans with three or more

passenger doors as further defined in this ordinance which seats fourteen (14)

or fewer passengers . . ..?



After some additional discussion regarding the phrase ? including vans which

seats 14 or fewer passengers?, a motion to limit the number of passengers

carried by taxis based on the average size of the average existing van was made

by Mr. Brooks. Seconded by Mr. Ludwig and carried unanimously by the members

present.



At this point, the question was on the table to vote to change the number of

passengers as specified in the taxicab definition from 14 or fewer passengers

to 9 or fewer passengers. Mr. Brooks and Mr. Ludwig voted; yes) and Mr.

Phillips, Mr. Oropeza, Lt. Ross, Ms. Quick (voted; no).



- Taxicab Company Owner (No recommended changes)

- Taximeter (No recommended changes)

- Use of Narcotic Drugs (No recommended changes)

- Vans (Delete the phrase below)

?Vans operating as non-emergency medical transport vehicles shall be subject to

all regulations governing taxicabs, including vehicle requirements and fares

charged.?

- Vehicle For Hire (Delete the phrases below)

?Animal-drawn vehicle? and including, but not limited to medical patients?

- Waiting Time (No recommended change.)



DECLARATION OF POLICY - (Section 21-2 Changed to Section 21-1) (Mr.

Ludwig moved to change Section 21-2 to Section 21-1. The motion was never

seconded, but agreed upon by common consent.



Sec. 21-3 - TAXICAB OWNER?S BUSINESS LICENSE.

(1) (There were no recommended changes).

(a) (b) (c) (d) ( There were no recommended changes)

( e) Delete the word ?switchboard?.

(f) There was no recommended change)

(g) (Change the word ?cab? to? cab(s)?

(h) (There were no recommended changes)



(2) (There was no recommended change)

(3) (There was no recommended change)

(4) (Add ?on a yearly basis? to the end of this sentence.

(5) (The following shall be grounds for revocation of a Taxicab Business

.(Substitute ?may? for ?shall?.)

(a) (There was no recommended change)

(b) Substitute the word ?areas? for ? the word ?location?

(c) (There was no recommended change)

(d) (There was no recommended change)

(e) (Delete the words ?taxicab driver?s permit and substitute the words

?taxicab business license.)

(f) Insert the word ?contract? after ?employment).?

(g) Add the phrase ?within forty eight (48) hours ? after the last word in the

Sentence).

(h) (There was no recommended change)

(i) (Changed from Section 21-3, Subparagraph 5 (9) to Section

21-3 Subparagraph(i) ?Failure to train and test each new

driver?.?

(j) (Changed from 21-3 Subparagraph (11) to 21-3 Subparagraph (j)

(k) Changed from 21-3 Subparagraph (12) to 21-3 Subparagraph (k)





As the members continued to discuss this section, Mr. Phillips called attention

to a discrepancy in the numerical and alphabetical order of page 6, the

members agreed to renumber the following items as follows: (There were no votes

taken)



At this time Mr. Phillips left the meeting at approximately 3:00 p.m as the

members continued to revise the code..



Sec. 21-3 (12)) changed to 21-3 (k)

(a) changed to 21-3 (k) 1

(b) changed to 21-3 (k) 2

(c) changed to 21-3 (k) 3

(d) changed to 21-3 (k) 4

(e) changed to 21-3 (k) 5

(f) Changed to 21-3 (k) 6



Sec. 21-3 (l0) (Changed to Subparagraph ( l ) ? Failure to abide by any of

the??



Sec. 21-3 (13).- VIOLATIONS AND PENALTY ( This Section changes to 21-3

(6) (? No license of any taxicab business shall allow,

and on

employee/contractor thereof?. . . . (Insert the word ?/

contractor?after

the word employee)



Sec. 21-4. - TAXICAB DRIVER PERMITS

(Add the phrase ? and renewable yearly, 60 days prior to the

driver?s birthday? to the end of this paragraph.



Sec. 21-4 (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) ( There were no recommended changes)



Sec. 21-4 (h) (Add the letter ?d? to the word ?approve? in the second line

of the first sentence. Insert the word ?materials? on the fifth line after

the word training? and on the tenth line delete the word ?commission? and

insert the word ?company?



Sec.21-4 (i) No change at this time ( Proposal - The Police Department

would provide a copy of the Taxicab Ordinance

to the company

whereas the company owner would make copies for the drivers )



The members agreed to schedule the Regular Meeting on January 8, 2003 in the

City Manager?s Conference Room, at such time another Work Session would be

decided upon.



There being no further business to discuss, this meeting adjourned at 3:45 p.m.









Gloria Carey

Recording Secretary