08-22-11 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 22, 2011 Councilmember Dieter made a motion to recommend this substitute bill favorably, as amended to the full Council. Councilmember Kirsits seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of seven (7) ayes and two (2) nays (Councilmember’s Varner, Oliver Davis.) BILL NO. 18-11 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AMENDING VARIOUS ARTICLES AND SECTIONS OF CHAPTER 6 OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO BUILDING FEES Councilmember Dieter made a motion to continue this bill indefinitely at the request of the petitioner. Councilmember White seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. BILL NO. 48-11 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AMENDING CHAPTER 4 OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE TO REVISE PROVISIONS FOR LICENSING OF TAXICAB COMPANIES, VEHICLES AND DRIVERS nd Councilmember Dieter made a motion to consider the 2 substitute version of this bill. Councilmember White seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. Councilmember White, Chairperson, Health and Public Safety Committee, reported that this committee met on this bill this afternoon and voted to send it to the full council with no recommendation. th Ann-Carol Nash, Assistant City Attorney, 14 Floor County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, Indiana, made the presentation for this bill. Ms. Nash advised that they identified three goals that they would like to meet with this ordinance. The first is safety for passengers, drivers, and general public. Second, reliability of enforcement, consistent service and knowledge of the general public, drivers and the companies of what the standards are for this type of service. Thirdly, the quality of life. They want to promote tourism and encourage people to bring their businesses here, to come here to live and they want city residents who depend on this service to enjoy consistent quality service. As a part of the committee meeting this afternoon, they discussed removing from this bill, the provision of the age of taxi cabs. She stated that the cabs would not be any older than seven (7) years old. If a vehicle is older than 7 model years old and can still meet all of the strenuous guidelines that they have then they would be able to pass that and retain it as a vehicle in a company’s fleet. She stated that they do want to have a re-inspection fee. She noted in the past they have had companies not being very careful about meeting the appointments that they had. She stated that they would like to charge a $25.00 fee for a missed appointment or if a vehicle does not pass inspection. She stated that one question that was brought up and kept this bill from a completely favorable recommendation was the question of the uniform appearance of taxi cabs. She stated that is one thing in her 16 years of enforcing the licensing ordinances of the city has become a very obvious problem for her. If a vehicle goes from one company to another to another to another and the vehicles in an individual company’s fleet all differ from each other it is very difficult for them to first all determine which company a vehicle and a drive belong to and then to go from there to investigate a complaint. She stated that they think it would be much more professional and easier for the general public and the enforcement people and the companies themselves if all of the vehicle in a fleet of an individual company look similar to each other, so you could tell that was a yellow cab or a Smith Company Cab or some other kind of cab. She stated that she spoke at length at the committee meeting and doesn’t want to monopolize the Council’s time. She stated that she did provide the Council with a PowerPoint that summarizes the changes. 11