Columbus, Georgia

Georgia's First Consolidated Government

Post Office Box 1340
Columbus, Georgia, 31902-1340
(706) 653-4013
fax (706) 653-4016

Council Members

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE

TAXICAB COMMISSION OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

July 11, 2007



MEMBERS PRESENT:

Mr. Wallace Archie, Lt. Julius Ross, Mr. James Brooks, Mr. David Cassell, and

Ms. Diane Quick.



MEMBERS ABSENT:

Mr. James E. Nash and Mr. Robert Kidd



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

and called the July 11, 2007 meeting to order at 3:15 p.m.



Approval of Minutes:

The minutes of the January 3, February 7, and April 4, 2007 meeting were tabled

at the request of Chairman Archie.



New Business:



A) Inspections:



Chairman Archie informed the Commission that he and Lt. Ross had some

discussion concerning the two inspections per month conducted by the Columbus

Police Department. He explained that he would like for the Commission to

discuss the issue and based on the discussion, a recommendation be given and

taken to the appropriate person in the Police Department. Chairman Archie said

the reason he is so concerned is because there is a driver who has had his car

ready since July 5th and he cannot work until July 17th because the inspection

is not until the July 17th. He stated that he thinks this is totally unfair.



Mr. Brooks suggested that drivers who pass the White?s inspection be allowed to

drive under White?s inspection only until the Police Department conducts their

inspection rather than miss two weeks of work. He clarified that if a driver is

pulled over he/she should present a copy of the White?s inspection and inform

the officer of when he/she is scheduled for the inspection given by the

Columbus Police Department. Mr. Brooks then asked if it was written in the

ordinance how often cab drivers should be inspected and if not how is it

determined without it going through the Commission. Chairman Wallace said he

does not think the Council or Columbus Police Department has to ask the

Commission?s permission to do anything.



Mr. Cassell read the ordinance as it pertains to inspections. Mr. Cassell said

the only thing the ordinance states is ?inspections for taxicabs newly placed

into service may be accomplished at any time as set forth by the Columbus

Police Department.?



Lt. Ross stated the Police Department has been doing this forever; there are

hiring cycles in the private industry. He then said the company is probably

the one that?s doing the newly hired driver an injustice by hiring him/her

without telling him/her that there will be a two-week delay on him/her being

able to work.



Chairman Archie explained as a driver, he would know of the two-week inspection

because there is a list that is sent out, but as a new driver with no job, with

a family, with a car, that wants to go to work is being kept from working. The

individual is ready go to work but cannot because the Police Department only

inspects every two-weeks.



Mr. Brooks said he thinks the reason for the two-weeks is to give the Police

Officers more space between inspections due to the number of officers on

patrol. Lt. Ross stated it?s definitely a manpower issue. Mr. Brooks said

this is exactly the same reason we talk about the cost of doing business.



Lt. Ross said he recognizes what is being said and if the Police Department had

the people to do it he doesn?t think they would hesitate to do it. He said the

Police Department?s point of view is known and he does not object to the

proposal. He also stated he has argued the commission?s side at the Police

Department and they know the commission?s point of view.



Chairman Archie asked Lt. Ross what is wrong with taxi drivers having their own

inspection, why can?t they inspect their own cars? Can it be someone appointed

by the Police Department to inspect cabs? Ms. Quick added why couldn?t White?s

do it? Lt. Ross responded by saying he does not think the City can pass that

liability on. Ms. Quick asked what kind of liability is it. She said we pay

them to inspect the cars and they have to sign off on it. She also said they

do the same thing the Police Department does except check the meter.



Lt. Ross said in our book we call this an inspection/registration the decal is

the registration on the car. He also said the safety inspection is something

that we do depend on White?s for, which is confirmed during our inspection. He

advised that the Commission could make that recommendation.



Chairman Wallace asked if the Commission was in agreement and asked if someone

would give a motion that the Commission write a letter to the Police Department

informing that, as a Commission, we don?t think it is right for a driver to

have to wait two weeks to go to work. He said the letter should also state that

the driver should be able to work under the White?s inspection until the next

Police inspection.



Chairman Archie said this is totally unfair and the Commission should vote on

it to inform the Police Department that we think it is unfair. Ms. Diane Quick

made a motion for the Commission to write a letter to inform the Police

Department that the Commission feels it is unfair that inspections are done

only twice a month and also state the reason why this is an issue. The letter

should also include a suggestion of having inspections once a week preferably

Tuesday; if it rains on Tuesday the inspection should be postponed until

Thursday. We suggest that the driver is permitted to work with the White?s

inspection until the next Police inspection with the understanding if he/she

misses the Police inspection he/she cannot work until the next Police

inspection, motion second by Mr. James Brooks. Mr. Cassell said he did not

like the verbiage of the letter stating, ?it is unfair? and said he does like

the verbiage of the letter stating, ?we recommend?. The motion was approved by

a vote of four to one with members Wallace Archie, Diane Quick, James Brooks,

and David Cassell voting yes and Lt. Ross voting no. Chairman Archie assigned

the duty of writing the letter to Mr. James Brooks.



Note: Without departing, Chairman Wallace Archie turned the meeting over to

Lt. Ross to give research results concerning 24-hour dispatch.

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Old Business



A) 24-hour Dispatch:



Lt. Ross read from his notes of the work session he attended with the Council

stating; let?s resubmit the request of Mr. Jeffery Johnson to eliminate the

24-hour dispatch service requirement back to the Taxicab Commission and ask

them to substantiate the reasons for requiring this 24-hour dispatch service.

Also ask them to provide a written recommendation along with some justification

with respect to the 24-hour dispatch service. Lt. Ross informed the Commission

that Council also wanted the Revenue Department to look at the fee structure,

an overview of the industry and they also wanted copies of Atlanta and Macon?s

ordinances.



Discussion went on between Commission members providing different views and

ideas concerning 24-hour dispatch. Chairman Wallace Archie said right now we

are not considering changing the ordinance we are simply making a

recommendation to the Council of if we want to lose 24-hour dispatch there

would be stipulations:



If 24-hour is advertised by a cab company they must provide 24-hour service.



If a company has a minimum of four cabs they will not be required to have

24-hour dispatch.



If a company possesses five cabs or more they will be required to have 24-hour

dispatch.



If 24-hour is not required hours of operation should be advertised and also

placed on your answering service



B) Home-Based Business:



Lt. Ross informed the Commission that Council would like a recommendation on

home-based business as it pertains to the taxicab industry. He said they would

like some research to be done to justify the recommendation. Lt. Ross said he

had done some research himself and Savannah does allow home-based business. He

then said apparently several other cities have the home-based business option.

Lt. Ross said it seems as if everyone at the table is against home-based

operation. Mr. Cassell said he does not know if he likes it but he can?t say

that he is against it. Mr. Brooks pointed out the fact that there can only be

one cab allowed in the driveway and if the business grows it would have to be

moved to a commercial approved area. Discussion went on about this matter for

about twenty minutes.



Lt. Ross said if we were to recommend approval for a home-based business to

Council, there would be two conditions and probably some other related things.

The two conditions are:



Neighborhood Approval

Only one cab per residence, which is stated in the ordinance



Lt. Ross said the Council asked if we would revisit the price on the door. He

said the City Attorney suggested that what is on the meter should also be on

the doors. He said we would need to have this information together by July 21,

2007.



Meeting adjourned @ 5:05 p.m.







________________________________

Tameka J. Colbert

Recording Secretary

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