BURLINGTON TAXI LICENSING BOARD BURLINGTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT MINUTES OF MEETING

Transcription

1 MINUTES SUBJECT TO CORRECTION BY THE BURLINGTON TAXI LICENSING BOARD. CHANGES, IF ANY, WILL BE RECORDED IN THE MINUTES OF THE NEXT MEETING OF THE TAXI LICENSING BOARD. BURLINGTON TAXI LICENSING BOARD BURLINGTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT MINUTES OF MEETING November 14, 2012 APPROVED 12/12/12 MEMBERS PRESENT: Jeff Munger Vince Dober Bill Keogh Shawn Burke MEMBERS NOT PRESENT: Norm Blais Max Tracy ADMINISTRATION: Kristin Jones, Taxi Administration Office Isaac Trombley, Taxi Administration Office Sheila Edwards, Airport Ambassador STAFF ATTORNEY: OTHERS PRESENT: Gregg Meyer, Assistant City Attorney Juan Carlos Vallego, A Taxi Corp David Foss, JJ Transit Sarmad Abdulrazak, AliBaba Taxi Farkad Abdulrazak, 89 Taxi Youness Jamil, Star Cab Donald Corbett, New England Taxi Jim Podrasky, Blazer Transportation Ted Corbett, 4 Season Taxi Mohomed Abdalla, Promise Taxi Marianne Riordan, Recording Secretary 1.0 CALL TO ORDER and AGENDA The meeting was opened at 10:41 AM on November 14, Agenda Action: The Board voted unanimously on a motion by Bill Keogh, seconded by Jeff Munger, to approve the agenda as presented. 2.0 PUBLIC FORUM Juan Carlos Vallego, A Taxi Corp, expressed concern about the following: There are private cars working as taxicabs in the city and at the airport. Pictures have been taken of the drivers parking inside the parking lot and soliciting passengers at the airport. There are two men and two women who wave to people at the gates and say taxi, taxi, taxi. Airport ambassador, Sheila Edwards, has been informed about the matter. Vouchers from airlines are given to only a few taxi companies. All the taxi companies with good cars in good condition should have the same opportunity to receive a voucher from the airlines. Drivers taking credit card payments for taxi service without having the credit card device. There is a cost to have the credit card reader, but some companies do not have the device yet still take credit cards for payment. This is an unfair situation.

2 MINUTES OF MEETING November 14, 2012 PAGE 2 David Foss, JJ Transit, mentioned he has held a taxi license since 1990, starting at Benways and then working independently, driving passengers in New England, Canada, and Florida. Mr. Foss made the following comments: The taxi community gets along, but the system is now broken because there are too many drivers and not enough passengers or fares to make a living. In the past a taxi driver would have four or five fares a day, but now may only have one or two fares. The quality of service is weakened because there are too many drivers, inexperienced drivers, and drivers who do not know the area which results in higher fares and inconsistent fares. There should be an emergency moratorium on the licensing of taxicabs in the city until a solution is determined. There should also be a residency requirement of living in the area for six months or a year or working for an established company for a year before being licensed at the airport. Taxi drivers are ambassadors to the city. Passengers often ask advice on a good place to eat or sites to see. Sarmad Abdulrazak, AliBaba Taxi, said he has had an airport taxi license for three years and commented as follows: Drivers are coming from out of state and getting an airport taxi license. These people are also receiving assistance for housing and food. These drivers will only take long fares and ask passengers if they will be using a credit card. Some drivers are over age and receiving social security and benefits while the other drivers are paying taxes and trying to make a living, but are getting very few fares. Some taxi companies have more than four cars in the airport queue and hire drivers who do not know the area. A limit should be set on the number of taxis at the airport so drivers can make a living. Farkad Abdulrazak, 89 Taxi, said he has had an airport taxi license for three and a half years and noted the following issues: There is no parking for taxicabs in the city downtown area. The police will not allow taxis to be in the space by Church Street and Main Street. A limit is needed on the number of taxicabs. Passengers have complained about drivers not knowing where they are going. Most drivers have a GPS, but the system does not work in all places. There should be a requirement of six months experience driving in the area before taking passengers. Youness Jamil, Star Cab, stated he took the initiative to get licensed the proper and legal way. Mr. Jamil noted the following: There should be a limit on the number of taxicabs at the airport because supply exceeds demand. There is not enough queue space and if a driver has to loop around then his spot in line is lost. This has caused altercations.

3 MINUTES OF MEETING November 14, 2012 PAGE 3 A signed petition in support of restricting the number of taxicabs was submitted to the Taxi Board, but no information on what will happen was ever communicated. Donald Corbett, New England Taxi, mentioned the base charge of $2.50 at the airport while the city allows different rates on the meter. Mr. Corbett also stated all taxi companies should have the opportunity for airline vouchers because some of the drivers receiving vouchers are overcharging the airlines. Jim Podrasky, Blazer Transportation, noted there is one company not using meters in downtown Burlington. Vince Dober stated there is a formal complaint process that can be invoked to report violators. Ted Corbett, 4 Season Taxi, asked about Taxi Board meeting notices. Vince Dober stated all meetings are posted on the airport and city websites. Mr. Corbett asked when meters do not have to be used. Vince Dober stated a fare outside the airport or city does not need a meter, but if a fare starts in the city or at the airport and ends outside the area then the meter must be used. Mohomed Abdalla, Promise Taxi, stated parking in the queue overflow pit at the airport and the method of first come, first serve is a problem. Any altercations can result in the police sending a driver home for the day which means loss of income. Mr. Abdalla suggested a number system be used to reserve a space. Also, area hotels should be asked to provide space for taxis to serve their guests. The Board acknowledged the comments and noted the following: The problem of parking for taxicabs in downtown Burlington has been exasperated by recent construction in the area. Lower Church Street has been designated as a taxi stand, but the construction has decreased the available parking to three spaces. There has been discussion of converting loading areas to taxi stands after 6 PM. The Board will check on the status of the matter. Taxi Board meetings are open to the public and the agenda includes time for public comment. The issue of too many taxicabs is acknowledged. The city attorney is investigating the legality of limiting the number of taxis. The Board is aware of one taxi company with multiple base charges that were in place when metered fares were instituted. Their first rate is $2.50 and that is the one that should be used or else they are in violation of the ordinance. Violators will be caught. There will be ghost riders taking taxicabs to check on the metered fares. At the next licensing season all meters will be calibrated to one rate. A signed form will be required from companies outside of the metered jurisdiction for any deviation from the base rate. A training class will be scheduled at the airport to review the new ordinance and address questions. Vince Dober will facilitate the class.

4 MINUTES OF MEETING November 14, 2012 PAGE DISCUSSION 3.01 Approval of Administrative Rule 116 Action: The Board voted unanimously on a motion by Jeff Munger, seconded by Shawn Burke, to adopt Administrative Rule 116 as read Meter Changes/Calibration There was discussion of different metered rates in vehicles. Gregg Meyer suggested as a condition of licensing at the airport or in the city the taxi owner must agree to charge the appropriate rate for the airport and city as distinguished from service out of the jurisdiction. Taxi services outside the metered areas (i.e. Stowe, Middlebury) will have to sign a document indicating they will use the appropriate rate for the area. An internal audit will be done to determine who is metered differently. There will be no cost to remove the rates if done now rather than at the next licensing season when there will be a charge. Kristin Jones, Sheila Edwards, and Isaac Trombley will be trained to calibrate meters. There was brief discussion of tire diameter impacting the calibration on the meter. It was suggested the factory tire size as noted on the door of the vehicle should be required to be on the vehicle for proper meter calibration Queue Line Limits/Overflow Jeff Munger noted per legal advice the Airport Commission can limit the number of permits at the airport, but cannot control the number of taxis operating in downtown Burlington. Implementing an immediate moratorium on the number of queue permits and issuing no more permits until further notice will be discussed at the next Airport Commission meeting (11/14/12 at 4 PM). It was also suggested that the number of queue permits issued to an individual company be limited to two permits. 4.0 APPROVAL OF MINUTES 4.01 Taxi Licensing Board 10/17/2012 Action: The Board voted unanimously on a motion by Vince Dober, seconded by Jeff Munger, to approve the October 17, 2012 minutes as written. 5.0 OTHER BUSINESS 5.01 Next Meeting(s) November 28, 2012 December 12, Meeting Agenda Items Meter Changes/Calibration Queue Line Limits/Overflow Training Date (on new ordinance) Probationary Period for Drivers Taxi Administrator Job Description 6.0 ADJOURNMENT

5 MINUTES OF MEETING November 14, 2012 PAGE 5 Action: The Board voted unanimously on a motion by Jeff Munger, seconded by Vince Dober, to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 11:55 AM. RScty: MERiordan

6 MINUTES OF MEETING November 14, 2012 PAGE 6 To Do List from 11/14/12 Taxi Board Meeting: 1. Check on the status of converting loading areas to taxi stands after 6 PM. 2. City attorney to check on the legality of limiting the number of taxis. 3. Schedule training class at the airport on the new ordinance (Vince Dober to facilitate the class).