Public Services Committee Meeting

Note: Minutes are considered ‘draft’ until approved at the next meeting. MINUTES Tuesday, January 8, 2013 Public Services Committee *5:20 PM Carnegie Town Hall 235 West 10th Street Members Present: Council Member Kenny Anderson Jr., Council Member Sue Aguilar, Council Member Michelle Erpenbach, and Council Member Dean Karsky Members Absent: None Staff Present: Tamara Jorgensen, CMC, Assistant City Clerk; Lorie Hogstad, CMC, City Clerk; David Bixler, Budget Analyst; and Jim David, Legislative/Operations Manager 1. Call To Order Committee Chair Kenny Anderson Jr. called the meeting to order at 5:20 p.m. 2. Review and approval of minutes dated December 11, 2012 A motion was made by Council Member Michelle Erpenbach and seconded by Council Member Sue Aguilar to approve the minutes. Anderson Jr. called for a voice vote and all members present voted yes. Motion Passed. 3. Project T.r.i.m. by Kelby Mieras, Park Operations Manager Don Kearney, Director of Parks and Recreation, provided an update on Project T.R.I.M. covering the following points: city ordinances placing the maintenance responsibility of street trees on the abutting property owner, which is allowed by state law; the current program has a 97% compliance rate; staff is not recommending having the city contract or perform the trimming due to budget concerns and the preferences of the property owners; and an update was given on the free branch drop-off sites and landfill passes. After discussion, Anderson Jr. asked if the form letters sent to the citizens could be improved. The committee asked if the letters could include which specific tree needs to be trimmed or include a checkbox on the form letter that would indicate the location of the tree. Council Member Sue Aguilar asked the Parks and Recreation Department to review the program to see if the costs can be reduced. She indicated that $150.00 is a lot of money for elderly people and asked if this could be made a more citizen friendly program. Kearney stated there have been improvements to the program throughout the years. He stated they will re-evaluate the program to see if additional improvements can be made. 4. Taxi Cab Ordinance by Jim David, Legislative/Operations Manager; and Jamie Palmer, Licensing Specialist Jim David, Legislative/Operations Manager, reviewed a PowerPoint presentation regarding the Taxi Cab Ordinance(s) in the city of Sioux Falls and other cities of similar size. The following slides were reviewed and discussed: the Vehicle for Hire ordinance; the licensed taxicabs in the city of Sioux Falls; the frequency of Inspection; the Vehicle Inspection Form; taxicab rates; taximeter; Vehicle for Hire form and decal; insurance required; revocation; drivers; carrier license; and regional comparisons between Lincoln, NE, St. Paul, MN and Des Moines, IA. Input was received from Jamie Palmer, Licensing Specialist, and Lorie Hogstad, City Clerk and former Licensing Specialist, regarding the revocation process for licenses for Vehicles for Hire. Public testimony was received as follows: Allen Olson spoke regarding a friend who is a taxi driver who drove customers to Indianapolis, Indiana and Chicago, Illinois. Olson was wondering how far we let the drivers travel. Brent Kinsley and Natalie Kinsley, Yellow Cab Company, Inc. spoke regarding the ordinance and licensing process. They stated they have concerns regarding the following: not having taxpayer identification numbers on the licensing form; use of independent (subcontractors) as drivers; keeping accurate records; insurance coverage on drivers; and vehicle inspections and meters. Brent Kinsley discussed taxi drivers being able to sell alcohol in the taxi cabs. Todd Slade, Quicksilver Taxi, spoke regarding single driver cab companies; record keeping; passengers consuming alcohol in the taxi cabs; and city inspections of vehicles for hire. Tom Werner, First Choice Taxi, spoke regarding meter regulations; gas prices; insurance changes; mandatory drug testing; innovations in technology affecting GPS and record keeping; and liquor sales in taxi cabs. He provided background information on the process and the alcohol training program they use. Werner stated that there should be a mandatory limit on the number of hours a driver can work. He stated that if there are limitations on how long a truck driver can drive, there should be limits on taxi cab hours as well. He also stated a CDL level physical should be done. Anderson Jr. stated that this item will be continued at the Public Services Committee Meeting in February. The Public Services Committee Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 15, 2013, but may be rescheduled for a different date in February. Anderson Jr.  advised the audience that if there are questions or suggestions, the Council Members can be reached at www.siouxfalls.org. or by calling the City Clerk’s Office at 367-8080. Jim David, will be providing additional information regarding the laws referencing consuming alcohol in vehicles at this meeting. 5. Open Discussion There was none. 6. Adjournment A motion was made by Council Member Sue Aguilar and seconded by Council Member Michelle Erpenbach to adjourn the meeting at 6:45 p.m. Anderson Jr. took a voice vote and all members present voted yes. Motion Passed. Tamara Jorgensen, CMC Assistant City Clerk