Laserfiche WebLink
Public Hearing re: <br />Taxi Increase <br /> <br /> this request and report. <br /> <br /> A public hearing was held on this date on a proposed ordinance <br /> <br /> to increase the taxi fares in the City. The City Manager stated that <br /> a request had been received from the two major taxi companies in the <br /> City requesting to increase the rate they may charge as follows: 80¢ <br /> for the first one-fourth mile, 20¢ for each additional one-fourth mile, <br /> 20¢ per ~minutes waiting time and 25¢ additional per trip between 10 p.m. <br /> and 6. a.m. <br /> <br /> Mr. Joseph Johnson representing the Blue Ridge Foundation for <br /> <br /> the Blind addressed the Council and stated that they feel the <br /> proposed rate increase is unjust. He stated that they would not be <br /> opposed to a smaller increase, but they felt this much increase is <br /> not justified, that it is above the president'~.s wage ~and price <br /> guidelines and that the cab companies do not give adequate service to <br /> warrant this increase. He also stated that the proposed increase would <br /> cause undue hardship on the handicapped, elderly and low income <br /> residents who must depend on this service. He presented a petition <br /> containing approximately 200 signatures in protest of the increased <br /> rates. <br /> <br /> Mr. Henderson B. Beavers, Mr. Melvin Montgomery, Mr. Richard <br /> <br /> Zenzell and Miss Charlene Martin who are handicapped, addressed the <br /> <br /> Council in opposition to the proposed increase and also complained about <br /> <br />· ..~t, he ~service rendered by the cab companies. They stated that they <br /> depend on the cab companies for service, it is a necessity but they <br /> can not afford this amount of increase. <br /> <br /> Mrs. Madeline Manley, President of the Ridge Street Neighborhood <br /> Association also addressed the Council in opposition to the increase. <br /> <br /> Mr. Kenneth Nuckols a high school student suggested that cab <br /> <br /> companies use compact car~. <br /> <br /> Mr. Herbert Beskin an attorney with the Charlottesville-Albemarle <br /> <br /> Legal Aid Society, representing Jimmy and Edith Morris, the Blue <br /> <br /> Ridge Foundation of the Blind, the Ridge Street Neighborhood Assocation, <br /> some tenants at the Garrett Street Housing Site and residents of the <br /> High Rise for the Elderly. He stated that the opposition was not <br /> that they were unthinkingly opposed to any increase, but the opposition <br /> is that the information Council has before it tonight is inadequate <br /> to make a decision at this time and requested Council to postpone <br /> its decision and require the cab companies to submit up-to-date and <br /> audited~financial statements and present other financial information <br /> which the Council needS to reasonably evaluate the need for a fare <br /> increase. He stated the major issues which need to be addressed are: <br /> is the fare increase justified? what will the impact be on the public <br /> of such an increase? are there other, less drastic alternatives <br /> available to remedy the economic problems of the cab companies? what <br /> kind of service are the cab companies presently providing the public? <br /> will the quality of service change if such a fare increase is granted? <br /> what use will the cab companies make of the increase revenues? Questions <br /> <br /> <br />