Vehicle for Hire Licensing Board

Regular Meeting

Burlington, VT · October 23, 2024

Minutes

BURLINGTON VEHICLE FOR HIRE LICENSING BOARD SHARON BUSHOR CONFERENCE ROOM, CITY HALL, GROUND FLOOR, 149 CHURCH ST. BURLINGTON, VT 05401 OR VIA ZOOM MINUTES OF MEETING October 23, 2024 Members present: Paul Hines Stephen Hamlin Youness Jamil Also present: Tenzin Chokden Hayley McClenahan, Assistant City Attorney Scot Barker, Chief Innovative Office Meeting start time: 5:35 PM 1. Agenda 1. Agenda 1.1. Motion to amend/adopt agenda Motion to approve by Stephen Hamlin. Seconded by Youness Jamil. Passed unanimously. 2. Approval of previous minutes 2. Approval of previous minutes from 09/12/2024 Motion to approve by Stephen Hamlin. Seconded by Youness Jamil. Passed unanimously. 3. Public Forum 3. Public Forum No members of the public spoke. 4. Curb Presentation - Taxi App Michael Mintz, Business Development Director lead the presentation remotely, joined by his two colleagues Lisa Fornatora, Director of Call Center & Dispatch and John Moccia, Director of Dispatch and Media. Two taxi drivers attended the presentation, Hussein and Mohamed Garib. Michael Mintz stated Curb is a technology company that primarily serves the taxi industry. They provide a variety of services, including: • GPS Digital meters: For accurate fare calculation • Payment processing: To handle credit card transactions • Dispatch systems: To manage driver and passenger requests • QR code-based payments: For added convenience and efficiency Curb operates in both highly regulated markets like New York City and less regulated markets. They adapt their services to meet the specific requirements of each market, including compliance with local regulations and providing the necessary hardware and software. Michael Mintz demonstrated Curb's technology from a driver's perspective. The system includes a tablet, a receipt printer, and a payment device. The tablet can be purchased outright or through a 12-month payment plan. The drivers can purchase their own tablet. A monthly airtime fee of $10 applies. The drivers can purchase their own tablet that works with Curb system as well. The dispatch system sends ride requests to drivers, who can then accept or decline them. Once a ride is completed, the payment is processed through Curb and then disbursed to the driver, minus a credit card processing fee of 2.95% plus a 20-cent transaction fee. Customers can pay via credit/debit card, cash, or a pair and payment method. Paul Hines asked if there is mobile version that works with Curb application instead of the current setup. Michael Mintz replied that they're currently working on Curb 1, which is expected to be released in January 2025. This version will allow drivers to use their phones to accept rides and send electronic receipts to customers. Youness Jamil asked if Curb will provide 1099 forms for tax purposes. Michael Mintz responded Curb is only required to report credit card transactions to the IRS. Mohamed Garib asked if drivers can set their own work hours. Will drivers get paid if a trip is canceled after arriving at the pickup location? John Moccia replied yes. Lisa added some clients require pre-authorization for pickups outside their service area. This ensures drivers are paid for out-of-service area trips, even if the customer cancels. Michael Mintz stated Curb offers QR codes for easy pickups. Customers can scan the code, enter their destination, and pay by card. Local businesses can be partnered with to promote this. Curb also offers a call center for dispatching rides. John Moccia said Curb provides a user-friendly platform for drivers to manage their work and communicate with passengers and dispatch such as: • Driver visibility: Drivers can see available trips and locations. • Communication: Drivers can send and receive messages through the app. • Safety features: Keyboard is disabled when driving over 5 miles per hour. • Predefined messages: Drivers can use pre-written messages for common requests. • Centralized communication: Drivers can communicate with the central dispatch. Michael Mintz mentioned Curb records detailed information about every trip, including driver, passenger, route, and payment details. The city could potentially access this data if needed for regulatory or operational purposes. All these could be a valuable resource for the city in terms of understanding taxi operations and ensuring compliance with regulations. Mark Barlow suggested sharing the recorded presentation with all drivers via email and requesting feedback. Tenzin Chokden replied that the meeting recording will be posted on Civic Clerk and he can share it with the drivers. Mohamed Garib mentioned that many drivers have language barriers and might struggle to understand the presentation just by watching the video. Youness Jamil said he can share this Curb presentation with other drivers and talk to the drivers. Paul Hines mentioned potentially scheduling another meeting with drivers after gathering feedback. 5. Recent Ordinance Changes 4. Recent Ordinance Changes Tenzin Chokden updated the progress of posting the notices about credit/debit card payments and taxi meter usage at the airport queue line. Both notices are now posted at the airport queue line. Paul Hines suggested improving the signage at the airport queue line to better guide customers on the taxi information. Hayley McClenahan reminded that cash-only drivers must have a sign on their car windows stating "Cash Only." Starting January 1, 2025, they must also have a credit/debit card payment system. Tenzin Chokden will determine how many drivers are cash-only and offer assistance with signs if needed. 6. New Business 5. New Business The next meeting is set for 12/17/2024 at 5:30 PM. 7. Adjournment 7.1 Motion to adjourn Stephen Hamlin motioned to adjourn. Youness Jamil seconded. Unanimously approved.

Agenda

Packet

Vehicle for Hire Licensing Board Wednesday, October 23, 2024, 5:30 PM, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, City Hall, Ground Floor, 149 Church St. Burlington, VT 05401 or via Zoom https://zoom.us/j/92987637467?pwd=J2E1S7s64q2O4gdp129cbb0TL4sBmm.1 1. Agenda 1.1. Motion to amend/adopt agenda File Attachments 2. Approval of previous minutes 2.1. Approval of previous minutes 09/12/2024 File Attachments 1. VFH 09.12 Minutes Draft (002) VFH 09.12 Minutes Draft (002).pdf 3. Public Forum 3.1. PUBLIC FORUM - Verbal Comments 4. Curb Presentations - Taxi App 4.1. Curb Presentations File Attachments 1. CurbPay CurbPay.pdf 2. RiderApp RiderApp.pdf 5. Recent Ordinance Changes 5.1. Credit/Debit card payment & Airport Queue line meter requirement Page 1 of 16 File Attachments 1. Signed CC Ordinance Certain Updates to Appendix Signed CC Ordinance Certain Updates to Appendix E E of the Burlington Code of Ordinances Regarding of the Burlington Code of Ordinances Regarding Taxi Taxi Fares on Rides Originating from the Patrick Fares on Rides Originating from the Patrick Leah.pdf Leah 2. Signed CC Ordinance Updates to Chapter 30 of the Signed CC Ordinance Updates to Chapter 30 of the BCO to Update to the Vehicle for Hire Board BCO to Update to the Vehicle for Hire Board Compostion; Require Vehicle for Hire Operators to Compostion; Require Vehicle for Hire Operators to Accept Accept.pdf 6. New Business 6.1. New Business 7. Adjournment 7.1. Motion to adjourn Page 2 of 16 BURLINGTON VEHICLE FOR HIRE LICENSING BOARD BUSHOR CONFERENCE ROOM, CITY HALL, 149 CHURCH ST. BURLINGTON, VT 05401 MINUTES OF MEETING September 12, 2024 DRAFT Members present: Paul Hines Stephen Hamlin Youness Jamil Also present: Tenzin Chokden Scot Barker, Chief Innovative Officer Meeting start time: 5:32 PM 1. Agenda 1.1. Motion to amend/adopt agenda Stephen Hamlin made a motion to approve. Youness Jamil seconded. Passed unanimously. 2. Approval of Previous Minutes 2.1. Previous Minutes Stephen Hamlin made a motion to accept the previous minutes. Youness Jamil seconded. Passed unanimously. 3. Public Forum No members of the public spoke. 4. Update from Chief Innovative Officer on Curb 4.1. Future options for taxi metering and dispatch Scot Barker, the Chief Innovation Officer of the City of Burlington, addressed the Vehicle for Hire Licensing Board to share insights gathered from Curb. Curb is a technology company that provides services for taxi drivers, including digital meters, payment processing, and dispatch systems. They have a large customer base of 100,000 drivers and 20 million riders per month. Key features and benefits of Curb:  Digital meters: Provides accurate and efficient fare calculation.  In-car payments: Allows for convenient payment options like tap, swipe, or QR code.  Dispatch system: Offers centralized management of driver and passenger requests. Page 3 of 16  Cost-effective: Provides competitive pricing for services like credit card processing and digital meters. Potential challenges and considerations:  Minimum transaction volume: There may be a minimum number of credit card transactions required to qualify for the lowest processing rates.  Additional fees: If individual drivers don't meet the minimum transaction volume, they may incur extra charges. Overall, Curb presents a comprehensive solution for taxi drivers, offering various features to improve efficiency and convenience. Youness jamil asked how it works. If you have Curb, do you have to sign in? And if a customer has the QR code and wants to call you directly, can they bypass the dispatcher? Scot replied whoever is logged in when a customer scans a QR code can accept the fare. If you're not working, you won't be logged in. Youness Jamil asked how it works if a customer at the airport wants a ride from the airport to downtown. Scot replied passengers should go to the airport queue to request a taxi instead of using the Curb app. We may need to work with Curb to prevent direct requests. A temporary taxi stand could be set up if needed. Stephen Hamlin asked if the Curb application has the ability for customers to a schedule a ride. Scot Barker believes that ride scheduling could be done using a QR code or phone call. However, he will verify this information. Paul Hines discussed the potential cost of a monthly fee for drivers, which they estimate to be between $30 and $50. He suggests that more research is needed to determine the exact amount. Youness Jamil believes that a $30 monthly fee for drivers is reasonable as long as there is sufficient traffic and business for them to earn income. He believes that many drivers will be willing to pay this fee to avoid waiting in long lines at the airport for fares. He believes that a meeting with all drivers and a representative from Curb could be beneficial in encouraging the adoption of this new technology. Scot Barker agreed and will schedule a meeting with Curb for October. Tenzin Chokden will confirm with the City Attorney whether the Curb presentation would be considered an official Vehicle for Hire meeting or just an event 5. New Business The next meeting is set for 10/23/24 at 5:30 PM. 6. Adjournment 6.1. Motion to adjourn Stephen Hamlin motioned to adjourn. Youness Jamil seconded. Unanimously approved. Page 4 of 16 PAYMENT SOLUTIONS CurbPay Lightest-weight complete taxi solution package The lowest card processing rates in the taxi market  mPOS Most compact device with screen and keypad for PIN input  Swipe card or use or tap & pay BEST  QR Code Payments RATES No hardware necessary! IN THE  Riders just scan the QR code on MARKET drivers phone and pay with any TODAY! credit card stored in their phone wallet  Curb Driver App Connect to millions of rides with your Android or iPhone  Loaded with a nationally certified GPS meter and syncs with our consumer booking app For more information scan the QR code or email sales@gocurb.com gocurb.com Page 5 of 16 CONSUMER SOLUTIONS Curb Rider App Increase driver earnings through the #1 taxi app in the US Access millions of Curb rides at no cost to you  No need to change dispatch systems with Curb Driver App  Upfront pricing  Seamless, paperless and instant payments – no signature required  Hi-tech, hi-spec to rival challenger brands For more information scan the QR code or email sales@gocurb.com gocurb.com Page 6 of 16 Page 7 of 16 Page 8 of 16 Page 9 of 16 Page 10 of 16 Page 11 of 16 Page 12 of 16 Page 13 of 16 Page 14 of 16 Page 15 of 16 Page 16 of 16