Number
130172
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. WITKOWSKI AND HINES
Title
Substitute resolution creating a study subcommittee of the Public Transportation Review Board to investigate and report on the regulation and licensing of taxicab operators, taxicab vehicles and taxicab service throughout the city.
Analysis
This resolution creates a study subcommittee of the Public Transportation Review Board to investigate and report on taxicab service provided throughout the city and related licensing and permitting of taxicabs, taxicab companies and affiliations.
The study subcommittee shall consist of the following 7 members:
1. The Chair of the Public Safety Committee.
2. The Chair of the Public Transportation Review Board.
3. Four members of the Public Transportation Review Board who are not taxicab owners or operators or otherwise affiliated with the taxicab industry, appointed by the Chair of the Board.
4. The City Attorney or designee.
The study subcommittee will submit a written report to the Public Safety Committee on or before November 7, 2013. The investigation and report shall include:
1. Matters relating to the provision of taxicab service in the city and the licensing and permitting of taxicabs and taxicab companies and affiliations in the city.
2. Identification of practices, programs and regulation for improving taxicab service and recommendations for the implementation of improvements and the licensing and permitting of taxicabs, taxicab companies and affiliations.
3. Recommendations about increasing the numbers of taxicab permits issued by the City, addressing proposals to increase the numbers of current permits by a minimum of 100, or by removing limitation on the number of permits that may be issued, and providing a detailed proposal relating to the manner in which the recommended increase may be accomplished.
The study subcommittee shall be dissolved upon presentation of its written report to the Public Safety Committee and the Common Council.
Body
Whereas, Legislation currently before the Public Safety Committee in File Number 111222, introduced on December 20, 2011, addresses changes to the public passenger vehicle permitting process relating to taxicabs including:
1. Issuance of public passenger vehicle permits for taxicabs in greater numbers than the 320 permits currently authorized.
2. Restrictions and requirements for transfer and leasing of taxicab permits.
3. Placing responsibility for inspection of public passenger vehicles with the Department of Public Works rather than the Police Department, and increasing the numbers of inspections of taxicabs.
4. Requiring future taxicab vehicles to comply with new equipment standards including provision of electronic credit card swipe equipment and minimum passenger compartment size.
5. Taxicab driver dress standards and requirements.
6. Increases in permit fees.
7. Annual reporting by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
8. Development of a policy promoting use of alternative fuel-efficient vehicles.
; and
Whereas, In a decision by the Circuit Court of Milwaukee County announced from the Bench by the Honorable Judge Jane Carroll, Branch 39, on April 16, 2013, the ordinance provisions at s. 100-50-2 of the code prohibiting the issuance of new taxicab permits were held to be unconstitutional in the matter of Ibrahim, et al. v. City of Milwaukee (Case No. 11-CV-15178); and
Whereas, A final written order is expected to be rendered by the end of May, 2013, in the Ibrahim litigation; and
Whereas, The Wisconsin legislature, in s. 349.24, Wis. Stats., has authorized city councils to regulate and license taxicab operators, and to regulate and license the taxicab business by licensing taxicabs used for hire; and
Whereas, The Common Council established a task force to study the issues of taxicab vehicle and driver standards with the adoption of Resolution File Number 040768 on October 11, 2004, which issued a report in March of 2005 resulting in revision of vehicle and driver standards; and
Whereas, The Common Council created a Taxicab Review Board by adoption of Resolution File Number 080563 on September 16, 2008, which met continuously to review matters related to taxicab service until succeeded by the Public Transportation Review Board established in Common Council File Number 101220 adopted February 8, 2011; and
Whereas, The reports of the Taxicab Improvement Task Force and the Taxicab Review Board in Communication File Numbers 041679, 081523, 091418 and 101426 include extensive information, reports and analyses conducted and compiled by the Legislative Reference Bureau and the License Division of the Office of the City Clerk; and
Whereas, The Legislative Reference Bureau continues to compile information useful for evaluating and fashioning policies for the regulation and licensing of taxicab operators and businesses; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that a study subcommittee of the Public Transportation Review Board shall be created to investigate and submit a written report on taxicab service provided throughout the city and related licensing and permitting of taxicabs, taxicab companies and affiliations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the study subcommittee shall be composed of the following 7 members:
1. The Chair of the Public Safety Committee.
2. The Chair of the Public Transportation Review Board.
3. Four members of the Public Transportation Review Board who are not taxicab owners or operators or otherwise affiliated with the taxicab industry, appointed by the Chair of the Board.
4. The City Attorney or designee.
; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the study subcommittee shall submit its written report to the Public Safety Committee on or before November 7, 2013; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the investigation and written report of the study subcommittee shall include:
1. Matters relating to the provision of taxicab service in the city and the licensing and permitting of taxicabs and taxicab companies and affiliations in the city.
2. Identification of practices, programs and regulation for improving taxicab service and recommendations for the implementation of improvements and the licensing and permitting of taxicabs, taxicab affiliations and companies.
3. Recommendations about increasing the numbers of taxicab permits issued by the City, addressing proposals to increase the numbers of current permits by a minimum of 100, or by removing limitation on the number of permits that may be issued, and providing a detailed proposal relating to the manner in which the recommended increase may be accomplished.
; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the study subcommittee shall be dissolved upon presentation of its written report to the Public Safety Committee and the Common Council.
Drafter
LRB146724-3
Richard L. Withers
Teodros W. Medhin:lp
5/21/2013