HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-22-11 Health & Public Safety and Personnel & Finance Commitee ���
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°��-���`� HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY AUGUST 22. 2011
Health and Public Safety Committee Members Present: Ann Puzzello; Tim Rouse
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�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.
Councilmember Oliver Davis, with a second from David Varner and with consensus from all had
moved to eliminate the cab color requirement.
Wanting to see the revisions in their final form and to allow further input at the public hearing
Councilmember Rouse moved the bill go to Council without recommendation. Councilmember
seconded and all supported.
There being no further business to come before the committee at this time,Vice-Chairperson
Puzzello adjourned the meeting at 5:08 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ann Puzzello, Vice-Chairperson
Health and Public Safety Committee