Columbus, Georgia

TAXICAB COMMISSION

September 4, 2002







A meeting of the Taxicab Commission was held on Wednesday , September 4, 2002

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

Columbus, Georgia.



MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Wallace Archie, Mr. Darren Phillips, Mr. Gerald

Ludwig, Ms. Diane Quick and Lt. Julius Ross.



MEMBERS ABSENT: Mr. James Brooks, Mr. Charles D. Pattillo and Mr. Mark

Oropeza.





This meeting was called to order at 3:05 p.m.



MINUTES:



Chairman Archie called the meeting to order and said due to a lack of a quorum

from the last meeting, there are no recorded minutes.



OLD BUSINESS:



SECTION 21-8. DUTIES OF TAXICAB DRIVERS (Proposal)



In accordance with the format already established, Chairman Archie advised the

Commission that we are still dealing with inspections. He then asked for

statements and comments on the proposed draft of this section as he passed the

copy around the table, and asked them to read and review it. ( A copy of

the draft was filed with the Clerk) . He explained that we only recommend the

rules and regulations, the City Council decides whether to pass or not to pass,

and it is not up to this body to enforce those rules. (The members read the

proposal silently)



Lt. Ross said although he is in favor of the wording, at this point, he is

concerned with placing the responsibility on the owner and not the driver.

He said in the past, it has been lacking for owners to put their names on the

taxicabs and thus the cab driver has been at fault for everything that happened

and due to previous issues that have come with inspections, this is the time

to place these issues on the cab company owner.



At this point, Mr. Ludwig asked about the possibility of a joint

responsibility, between the owner and the driver, to which he replied we

could change the wording in the Section 21-8 to cover the duty of driver to be

a joint responsibility. He then pointed out the duties of the taxicab owner is

lacking in the current ordinance and this is one we would have to create as a

new section.



The members concurred with Lt. Ross to have a portion of the ordinance

dedicated strictly to owners.





SEC. 21-8 (4) DUTIES OF TAXICAB OWNERS (Proposal):



? Responsibility of the Taxicab Owner - New Section to include covering the

responsibility of the taxi owner.



? Enforcement Clause ? Add the words ?failure to have an annual inspection

sticker is a violation of the City ordinance.? Lt. Ross will research this

Section and bring the proposed changes back to the next scheduled meeting.

(Owner and driver?s responsibility)





DUTIES OF THE DRIVERS (Section 21-8 (4).



?Taxicab shall be maintained in such proper mechanical condition so as to be

operated safely. Taxicabs shall also be maintained in a state of cleanliness.?

(Lt. Ross recommended to leave this sentence in tact and remove all language

in red from updated version of the Revision from July 11, 2002.)



However, Mr. Archie recommended leaving the paragraph, but instead changing the

name from the Inspections of Taxicabs to Operations of a Taxicab.





SECTION 21-8. Operations of Taxicabs



After a lengthy discussion on this category, the members decided to have dual

paragraphs in Section 21-8 (4) to include the following:



1. MECHANICS

2. REQUIRED INSPECTIONS.



Note: Again, Lt. Ross indicated that he would work on this paragraph and

submit a draft to the members for their review at the next scheduled meeting.





INSPECTION STATION:



Chairman Archie advised the members that Councilor Suber said he would be

willing to support us if we recommend to the Council to have more than one

inspection station. He said the contact person would be Ms. Andrea

McCorvey, with the Purchasing Department to check on the status of the

bidding. However, Mr. Archie reported that he followed up on this matter,

and discovered the bid has gone out. He said it was advertised in the newspaper

during the month of June with a notification of a deadline for a response. He

said the deal would be finalized this month as the whole process could be

changed, but it is not an easy thing to do.



Continuing to seek clarity, Chairman Archie asked if the bid specified only one

vendor, to which he responded no, the reason being is that the low bid is

based on idea that he has the whole city of 200 cabs; therefore, if he were

bidding with someone, his price would be different and he reiterated that this

whole process would have to be changed.





TAXICAB INSPECTION:



Referring to Section 21-8 (4), Ms. Quick pointed out that she was not aware

that one has 60 days to get a taxicab inspected before the May 31 deadline .

She said there were cars inspected sitting on the line and had to have them

re-inspected and they failed within that 60 day period. However, Lt. Ross

informed her that this section is not in effect, at this time.



Responding to her question what is the time frame from White?s until the

time she inspects it, which Lt. Ross replied there is no set time frame .

He continued to explain that theoretically from February to May, you should

have been able to inspect the car for the next year. He said January 1, we

have a current year decal and you have from January to April to get your car

inspected, i.e. a new car that came on line in December is issued a 2001

decal , but as of January a 2002 decal will be issued and with that in

mind, he said the owner has a 3 - month grace period to get the car inspected.



? ISSUING DECALS ACCORDING TO BIRTHDAYS: (Chairman Archie)



Chairman Archie said the answer is to spread the time out and by using this

approach, it would not cost you any more manpower because she (Roz)inspects

everyday, anyway. He said to pattern it after the license plates. ( Lt. Ross

said he would explore the idea)



E-MAIL ADDRESSES:



At this time , Chairman Archie asked for all members e-mail addresses; so

that, the secretary can type a list and distribute to the members of the

commission.



DRIVER CITED:



Chairman Archie reported that a driver was cited for an untidy taxicab and

wearing short /shorts.



? He said to pencil this in for the next meeting.



NUMBER OF MEMBERS:



Lt. Ross, inquired about the number of members on the commission, Chairman

Archie replied there are eight members at this time. He then asked Secretary

Gloria Carey if the letter requesting Mr. Pattillo?s resignation has been

drafted, which she stated at this time one has not been drafted, but one would

be drafted by the next meeting.



There was a brief discussion regarding a recommendation for the at - large

member , Ms. Quick commented that Councilor Henderson asked her for a

recommendation to fill the position, but she could not provide one at this time.



There being no further business to discuss, this meeting adjourned at 4:10

p.m.







Gloria Carey

Recording Secretary