08-22-11 Health & Public Safety and Personnel & Finance Commitee

Home Browse Search

�� � �� - m °��-��`� HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY AUGUST 22. 2011 Health and Public Safety Committee Members Present: Ann Puzzello; Tim Rouse ,-� � � � �w�PERSONNEL AND FINANCE Personnel and Finance Committee Members Present: Tom LaFountain; Oliver Davis; David Varner Other Councilmember's Present: Derek Dieter; AI Kirsits Other's Present: Kathy Cekanski-Farrand; Rita Kopala; Kyle Chamberlin; Gregg Zientara; Murray Miller; Phil Byrd; Gary Gilot; Chuck Leone; Ann-Carol Nash; Marco Mariani; John Schalliol; Mary Wisniewski Agenda: Bill No. 48-11 Taxi Cabs This joint committee hearing began at 4:13 p.m. Vice-Chair Ann Puzzello, conducting the meeting called upon Deputy City Attorney Ann-Carol Nash to make the Taxi Cab Rules, Bill No. 48-11, presentation. Ann-Carol used a handout(attached)and slide presentation to explain the revisions in the licensing bill. She explained this bill nearly 2 years in the making had three goals from the start. One and foremost was the safety consideration for passengers, drivers and the general public. Tow, reliability and consistency of service standards, and enforcement. Finally, the third goal was enhancing the quality of life in South Bend. She also prefaced the detail of the presentation by crediting Kathy Cekanski-Farrand, John Schalliol, and the cab owners and drivers for their collaboration on the proposed bill. For the next 40 minutes, using 38 slides found in the attached handout, Ann-Carol painstakingly described the difficult process of achieving consensus on the proposals. Subsequently, the public was asked for comment. Airport Director John Schalliol enthusiastically endorsed the effort and work product up for consideration. Cab owner-operator Christina Huff spoke in support of the changes with two exceptions. One being the requirement for each cab company to have the same color of cab and two, that no cab be older than seven years. Council discussion did away with the age of cab requirement, feeling that vehicle inspections covered concerns. Mary Wisniewski from Central Services provided a copy of the inspection form to be used. (See Attachment) The uniform color requirement was waived for distinctive logo or marking identifying each company. Ann-Carol Nash agreed to drafting the revisions before the public hearing at 7:00 p.m.