4. TAXI BY-LAW -
AMENDMENTS REGLEMENT SUR LES
SERVICES DE TAXI - MODIFICATIONS |
Committee Recommendations as amended
1) That Council approve amendments to By-law
Number 2005-481, being the Taxi By-law, to:
a) allow the proposed (approximate 10% increase)
taxi meter rate adjustment as detailed below to be effective June 1, 2008,
despite existing regulations requiring the adjustment be effective October 1st
:
- $3.20 for the drop rate including the first
110 meters of part thereof,
- $0.16 for each 93 meters or part thereof,
- $0.15 for each 23 seconds of waiting time,
and
that subject to approval of the
above taximeter rate adjustment to allow for an additional 10 cent surcharge on
the drop rate to $3.30 from June 1, 2008 to October 1, 2010 to offset the cost
of the required in-cab cameras;
b) amend the existing Police Record Check (PRC) requirements as a
condition for renewal of a standard and accessible taxicab driver license to:
-
change
the effective date from March 1, 2008 to January 1, 2009,
-
require
the licensee to provide the PRC information every three years instead of two
years,
-
provide
that the date of the last accepted PRC be used as the start date to calculate
the three years,
-
provide
that only a third of the licensees will be required to submit a PRC each year, (the Chief License Inspector to
require that the 800 licensees with the most seniority be required to provide a
new PRC in 2009, and the 800 licensees with the next most seniority be required
to provide their new PRC in 2010, with the rest having to submit their new PRCs
in 2011),
-
in
the case of license renewals that a PRC dated less than 180 days from the date
of the license renewal be considered valid, and
-
in
the case of applications for new driver licenses, that a PRC dated less than 90
days from the date of the license renewal be considered valid;
c) amend the Taxi By-law Fee Schedule “C” to:
- Impose a $35 surcharge on all Taxicab
Driver and Taxi Plate Holder license fees (new and renewals - standard cabs and
accessible cabs) in 2009, 2010 and 2011,
- Impose a surcharge on all Taxicab Broker
license fees in 2009, 2010 and 2011, as follows:
$140 for Taxicab Brokers having 1 to
24 taxicabs;
$1,000 for Taxicab Brokers having 25
to 99 taxicabs;
$7,255 for Taxicab Brokers having 100
and more taxicabs,
- increase the Taxi Plate Holder to Taxi
Plate Holder transfer fee from the current $3,800 to $4,800 to be effective
April 30, 2009 until April 30, 2012 or until such time the camera financing
cost recovery exercise is complete.
2) That Council direct staff to report back on
existing standards for taxicabs that will, in part, identify measures available
to encourage the use of more fuel efficient vehicles (e.g. Hybrid
vehicles).
3) That the Chief License Inspector be required
to work with the Taxi Stakeholders Consultation Group and the Taxi Industry to
identify and implement a communications and enforcement strategy to eradicate
the use of illegal underground taxicab services (e.g. Bandit Cabs).
Recommandations
modifiées du comité
1) Que le
Conseil approuve les modifications au règlement sur les services de taxi,
numéro 2005-481 afin de :
a) permettre
le rajustement proposé des tarifs de taximètre (augmentation d’environ
10 %) comme il est indiqué ci‑dessous, à compter 1er juin 2008,
malgré le règlement actuel qui stipule que les rajustements doivent prendre
effet le 1er octobre :
- 3,20 $ pour la
course, y compris les premiers 110 mètres ou une partie de ceux‑ci,
- 0,16 $ pour chaque
93 mètres, ou partie de ceux‑ci,
-
0,15 $ pour chaque
23 secondes ou partie de celles‑ci; et
que, sous réserve de l’approbation de la recommandation 1(a), le tarif de taximètre soit rajusté une
autre fois pour percevoir des droits supplémentaires additionnels de
10 cents a 3,30 $ pour la course a compter du 1er juin 2008 au
1er octobre 2010 seulement afin de compenser le coût d’achat des
caméras de sécurité pour les taxis.
b) modifier
les actuelles exigences de vérification du casier judiciaire (VCJ) comme
condition de renouvellement de permis de chauffeur de taxi normal et
accessible, c’est‑à-dire :
-
changer la date d’effet du 1er mars 2008
au 1er janvier 2009,
-
exiger que les détenteurs de
permis fournissent les renseignements du VCJ tous les trois ans plutôt que tous
les deux ans;
-
prévoir que la date de la
dernière VCJ acceptée serve de date de départ afin de calculer les trois
années;
-
prévoir que seul un tiers des
détenteurs de permis sera tenu de fournir une VCJ chaque année; (autoriser
l’inspecteur en chef des permis à exiger que les 800 détenteurs de permis ayant
le plus d’ancienneté présentent leur nouvelle VCJ en 2009, et d’exiger que les
800 détenteurs suivant soient tenus de fournir leur nouvelle VCJ en 2010, et le
restant des détenteurs de permis auront à presenter leur nouvelle VCJ en 2011),
-
dans le cas d’un renouvellement
de permis, qu’une VCJ présentée moins de 180 jours à compter de la date de
renouvellement du permis soit jugée valide;
-
dans le cas de demandes de
nouveaux permis de conduire, une VCJ datée de moins de 90 jours à compter
de la date de renouvellement du permis soit jugée valide.
c) modifier
le barème des tarifs « C » du règlement sur les services de taxi afin
de :
-
percevoir des droits
supplémentaires de 35 $, en 2009, 2010 et 2011 seulement, sur tous les
droits d’immatriculation des chauffeurs de taxi et des détenteurs de plaque de
taxi (nouveaux et renouvellements – taxis standard et taxis accessibles),
-
percevoir des droits
supplémentaires pour les permis de concessionnaire de taxi en 2009 et 2010
seulement, c’est‑à-dire :
- 140 $
pour les concessionnaires de taxi qui possèdent 1 à 24 taxis;
- 1 000 $
pour les concessionnaires de taxi qui possèdent 25 à 99 taxis;
- 7 255 $
pour les concessionnaires de taxi qui possèdent 100 taxis et plus;
-
Augmenter les frais de transfert
de détenteur de plaque de taxi à un autre détenteur de plaque de taxi de
l’actuel montant de 3 800 $ à 4 800 $, à compter du
30 avril 2009 au 30 avril 2012 ou jusqu'à ce que l’exercice de
financement des cameras soient completé.
2) Que le
Conseil demande au personnel de signaler en partie les normes actuelles
concernant les taxis qui permettront de désigner une mesure disponible afin de
favoriser l’utilisation de véhicules plus éco-énergétiques (c.‑à‑d.
les véhicules hybrides).
3) Que
l’inspecteur en chef des permis soit tenu de collaborer avec le groupe
consultatif des intervenants du taxi et avec l’industrie du taxi dans le but
d’élaborer et mettre en œuvre une stratégie des communications et d’application
dans le but de faire échec à l’utilisation de services de taxis clandestins
illégaux.
Documentation
1. Deputy City Manager's report (Community and
Protective Services) dated 14 May 2008
(ACS2008-CPS-BYL-0024). This report
replaces the copy originally printed in the agenda (ACS2008-CPS-BYL-0022
refers).
Report to/Rapport au :
Community and Protective Services Committee
14 May 2008 / le 14 mai 2008
Submitted by/Soumis
par : Steve Kanellakos,
Deputy City
Manager/Directeur municipal adjoint,
Community and Protective
Services/ Services communautaires et de protection
Contact Person/Personne
ressource ; Susan Jones,
DirectorBy-law and
Regulatory Services/Directrice, Service des reglements municipaux
(613) 580-2424 x25536, susan.jones@ottawa.ca
SUBJECT :
|
TAXI BY-LAW – AMENDMENTS
|
|
|
OBJET :
|
-
$0.15
for each 23 seconds of waiting time, and
that
subject to approval of the above taximeter rate adjustment to allow for an
additional 10 cent surcharge on the drop rate to $3.30 from June 1, 2008 to
October 1, 2010 to offset the cost of the required in-cab cameras;
b)
amend
the existing Police Record Check (PRC)
requirements as a condition for renewal of a standard and accessible taxicab
driver license to:
-
change
the effective date from March 1, 2008 to January 1, 2009,
-
require
the licensee to provide the PRC information every three years instead of two
years,
-
provide
that the date of the last accepted PRC be used as the start date to calculate
the three years,
-
provide
that only a third of the licensees will be required to submit a PRC each year, (the Chief License Inspector to
require that the 800 licensees with the most seniority be required to provide a
new PRC in 2009, and the 800 licensees with the next most seniority be required
to provide their new PRC in 2010, with the rest having to submit their new PRCs
in 2011),
-
in
the case of license renewals that a PRC dated less than 180 days from the date
of the license renewal be considered valid, and
-
in
the case of applications for new driver licenses, that a PRC dated less than 90
days from the date of the license renewal be considered valid;
c)
amend
the Taxi By-law Fee Schedule “C” to:
-
Impose
a $35 surcharge on all Taxicab Driver and Taxi Plate Holder license fees (new
and renewals - standard cabs and accessible cabs) in 2009, 2010 and 2011,
-
Impose
a surcharge on all Taxicab Broker license fees in 2009, 2010 and 2011, as
follows:
$140
for Taxicab Brokers having 1 to 24 taxicabs;
$1,000
for Taxicab Brokers having 25 to 99 taxicabs;
$7,255
for Taxicab Brokers having 100 and more taxicabs,
-
increase
the Taxi Plate Holder to Taxi Plate Holder transfer fee from the current $3,800
to $4,800 to be effective April 30, 2009 until April 30, 2012 or until such
time the camera financing cost recovery exercise is complete.
2) That the Community and Protective Services
Committee receive Document 1 entitled:
“Implementation of Taxi Security Cameras and Protocol ” for information.
3) That the Community and Protective Services
Committee recommend that Council direct staff to report back on existing
standards for taxicabs that will, in part, identify measures available to
encourage the use of more fuel efficient vehicles (e.g. Hybrid vehicles).
4) That the Chief License Inspector be
required to work with the Taxi Stakeholders Consultation Group and the Taxi
Industry to identify and implement a communications and enforcement strategy to
eradicate the use of illegal underground taxicab services (e.g. Bandit Cabs).
-
0,15 $ pour chaque
23 secondes ou partie de celles‑ci; et
-
que, sous réserve de l’approbation
de la recommandation 1(a), le
tarif de taximètre soit rajusté une autre fois pour percevoir des droits
supplémentaires additionnels de 10 cents a 3,30 $ pour la course a compter
du 1er juin 2008 au 1er octobre 2010 seulement afin de
compenser le coût d’achat des caméras de sécurité pour les taxis.
b) modifier les actuelles
exigences de vérification du casier judiciaire (VCJ) comme condition de
renouvellement de permis de chauffeur de taxi normal et accessible, c’est‑à-dire :
-
changer la date d’effet du 1er mars 2008
au 1er janvier 2009,
-
exiger que les détenteurs de permis
fournissent les renseignements du VCJ tous les trois ans plutôt que tous les
deux ans;
-
prévoir que la date de la dernière
VCJ acceptée serve de date de départ afin de calculer les trois années;
-
prévoir que seul un tiers des
détenteurs de permis sera tenu de fournir une VCJ chaque année; (autoriser
l’inspecteur en chef des permis à exiger que les 800 détenteurs de permis ayant
le plus d’ancienneté présentent leur nouvelle VCJ en 2009, et d’exiger que les
800 détenteurs suivant soient tenus de fournir leur nouvelle VCJ en 2010, et le
restant des détenteurs de permis auront à presenter leur nouvelle VCJ en 2011),
-
dans le cas d’un renouvellement de
permis, qu’une VCJ présentée moins de 180 jours à compter de la date de
renouvellement du permis soit jugée valide;
-
dans le cas de demandes de nouveaux
permis de conduire, une VCJ datée de moins de 90 jours à compter de la
date de renouvellement du permis soit jugée valide.
c) modifier le barème des
tarifs « C » du règlement sur les services de taxi afin de :
-
percevoir des droits
supplémentaires de 35 $, en 2009, 2010 et 2011 seulement, sur tous les
droits d’immatriculation des chauffeurs de taxi et des détenteurs de plaque de
taxi (nouveaux et renouvellements – taxis standard et taxis accessibles),
-
percevoir des droits
supplémentaires pour les permis de concessionnaire de taxi en 2009 et 2010
seulement, c’est‑à-dire :
140 $
pour les concessionnaires de taxi qui possèdent 1 à 24 taxis;
1 000 $
pour les concessionnaires de taxi qui possèdent 25 à 99 taxis;
7 255 $
pour les concessionnaires de taxi qui possèdent 100 taxis et plus;
-
Augmenter les frais de transfert de
détenteur de plaque de taxi à un autre détenteur de plaque de taxi de l’actuel
montant de 3 800 $ à 4 800 $, à compter du
30 avril 2009 au 30 avril 2012 ou jusqu'à ce que l’exercice de
financement des cameras soient completé.
2) Que le Comité des services communautaires et de protection reçoive le document 1 intitulé : « Renseignements concernant la mise en service de caméras et de protocole » à titre d’information.
3) Que
le Comité des services communautaires et de protection recommande que le
Conseil demande au personnel de signaler en partie les normes actuelles
concernant les taxis qui permettront de désigner une mesure disponible afin de
favoriser l’utilisation de véhicules plus éco-énergétiques (c.‑à‑d.
les véhicules hybrides).
4) Que l’inspecteur en chef des permis soit tenu de collaborer avec le groupe consultatif des intervenants du taxi et avec l’industrie du taxi dans le but d’élaborer et mettre en œuvre une stratégie des communications et d’application dans le but de faire échec à l’utilisation de services de taxis clandestins illégaux.
This report is to process a request by the Taxi
Industry for a taximeter rate increase of approximately 10% to offset rising
fuel, insurance and other operational costs; to address concerns related to the
Criminal Record Check requirement by pushing the implementation date back 10
months and reducing the frequency from 2 to 3 years, and to address concerns
related to the implementation of the taxicab security camera requirement by
offsetting a portion of the cameras’ cost at the time of installation and
imposing an additional license and tariff fee over a defined period to recover those costs. This report is also
recommending that staff be directed to undertake a review of the existing
regulations for taxicabs to identify potential changes for vehicle standards
that could encourage the use of more fuel efficient vehicles and that staff
identify and implement an effective education and enforcement campaign to help
eliminate the use of illegal taxicab services. Information related to the
implementation of the in-cab cameras and related privacy protocols are also
being presented. Public consultation included several meetings with industry
representatives and the publication of a Notice in the Ottawa Citizen, the
Ottawa Sun and Le Droit on May 9th, 2008, notifying the general
public of the date, time and location of the Community and Protective Services
Committee meeting at which the recommendations will be considered and staff
contact information for people wishing to obtain more information, provide comment
or wishing to attend the meeting in person.
Le présent rapport vise à répondre à une demande de l’industrie du taxi qui souhaite une augmentation du tarif de taximètre d’environ 10 % afin de compenser l’augmentation des coûts du carburant, de l’assurance et d’autres frais d’exploitation, de régler les préoccupations qui se rapportent à l’exigence de vérification du dossier criminel, en reculant la date de mise en œuvre de 10 mois et en réduisant la fréquence de deux à trois ans, et régler aussi les préoccupations qui se rapportent à la mise en place de caméras de sécurité dans les taxis en compensant une partie des coûts des caméras au moment de l’installation et en percevant des droits supplémentaires sur les coûts de permis et les tarifs pendant deux ans afin de compenser les coûts en question. Le présent rapport recommande également que l’on demande au personnel d’examiner le règlement actuel sur les services de taxi, afin de cerner les modifications éventuelles des normes concernant les véhicules qui pourraient favoriser l’utilisation de véhicules plus éco-énergétiques, et que ce même personnel désigne et mette en œuvre une campagne efficace de renseignements et d’application pour aider à éliminer les services de taxi illégaux. Les renseignements qui se rapportent à la mise en place des caméras de sécurité et des protocoles connexes du respect de la vie privée ont aussi été présentés. La consultation publique comptait un certain nombre de réunions avec des représentants de l’industrie et la publication, le 9 mai 2008, d’un avis dans l’Ottawa Citizen, l’Ottawa Sun et Le Droit, avisant le grand public de la date, de l’heure et de l’endroit de la réunion du Comité des services communautaires et de protection où des recommandations seront prises en compte et où il sera possible d’obtenir des renseignements sur les personnes-ressources pour ceux et celles qui souhaitent obtenir d’autres renseignements, formuler des commentaires ou qui souhaitent participer à la réunion en personne.
Section 151 of the Municipal Act, 2001, as
amended, empowers municipalities to license and regulate any business wholly or
partly carried on within a municipality even if the business is being carried
on from a location outside the municipality and includes the sale or hire of
goods or services on an intermittent or one-time basis. Section 156 (1) of the Act relating to
taxicab licensing, empowers a municipality to establish the rates or fares to
be charged for the conveyance of property or passengers; provide for the
collection of the rates or fares charged for the conveyance; and limit the
number of taxicabs or any class of them.
Recommendation 1 a) – Taximeter Rate
Adjustment
-
$0.15 for each 23 seconds of waiting time,
-
with a temporary $0.10 drop charge increase to $3.30
from June 1, 2008 to October 1, 2010
On April 21, 2008, two Taxi Unions (CAW –
Canada, Local 1688 and Local 6056) requested a ten (10%) percent increase in
the taximeter rates charged to passengers.
The request for a taximeter rate increase was made in accordance with
Section 55 of By-law 2002-481, as amended (the Taxi By-law) which requires that
applications for an adjustment to the taximeter rate be submitted to the Chief
License Inspector prior to June 1st of the year in which the
adjustment is to take effect.
The most recent taximeter adjustments are as
follows:
2001 November 6%
2003 May 10%
2004 October 7%
2005 October ($0.05
increase in the drop rate for Camera costs)
Taximeter Rate Adjustment - Calculations and
Consultation
Taximeter rate adjustments are set by City
Council in accordance with the Taxi By-law.
When the Taxi By-law was adopted in 2005, it revised the Taxi Cost Index
(TCI) based on research by Hara Associates.
The updated formula incorporates new categories and adjusts percentages
to more accurately reflect the true operational costs affecting the Ottawa Taxi
Industry.
In that the last meter rate increase occurred
in the fall of 2005, the Department calculated the annual TCI increases from
April 2005 to April 2007 to reflect the TCI increase during the past year. The
Statistic Canada information required to calculate the TCI variation between
April 2007 and April 2008 was not available at the time the report was drafted. It is reasonable to expect the TCI increase
over that time period to justify an increase in the taximeter rate of 10%. The following chart illustrates the impact
of the recommended taximeter rate on various trip distances.
Chart
#1 |
|||||||||
Weighting for 10% Taximeter Rate Increase |
|||||||||
|
Drop Rate |
Incremental Distance rate |
Waiting time |
Trip Cost (without waiting time) |
|||||
|
Rate |
First x
Meters |
Rate |
Per x
meters |
Rate |
Per x seconds |
5 km |
10 km |
35 km |
Existing |
$2.90 |
101m |
$0.15 |
95m |
$0.15 |
23 sec |
$10.55 |
$18.50 |
$57.95 |
Selected |
$3.30 |
110m |
$0.16 |
93m |
$0.15 |
23 sec |
$11.71 |
$20.32 |
$63.30 |
Includes
an additional $0.10 charge on drop rate for installation/maintenance cost of
camera |
Increase Surcharge for Taxi Cameras
In addition to the
proposed 10% tariff increase, the CAW has also requested that the current
surcharge of five cents that is being collected to offset the cost of
installing the camera be increased by 10 cents on the drop rate for a two year
period only, beginning June 1, 2008. While staff had previously reported that
the industry had collected sufficient funds to pay for and replace the cameras
over a 7 year period, the Taxi Union has indicated that the revenues generated
since 2005 were redirected to offset increased fuel, maintenance and insurance
costs. In recognition that the proposed
fare increase will get the Taxi industry to the appropriate tariff structure,
the Department is in support of the requested increase on the surcharge
provided it is in place for only two years and would end on October 1, 2010.
Worthy
of note is the fact that the City of Ottawa is the only municipality in Canada
that has provided incentives to its taxi industry to help reduce the price of
the camera to $700. Similar cameras
installed in other cities have been entirely paid for by the plate holder and
currently range from $975 in Windsor, $1,200 in Toronto to $1,280 in
Vancouver.
Under this
unique and progressive proposal, it is believed that the taxicab service
providers will agree to co-operate and make every reasonable effort to equip
all taxicabs with cameras within the July 2, 2008 time frame.
Chart #2 |
|||||||||||||||||
Taxi
Metre Rates-Canadian Cities ( January 2008) |
|||||||||||||||||
City |
|
Initial Drop |
|
|
Incremental Distance Charges |
|
|
|
|
Waiting
Time |
|
Trip |
|||||
|
|
Rate |
Distance (m) |
|
Rate |
Per |
Distance (m) |
|
|
Rate |
per |
Time(sec) |
5
Km |
||||
Calgary
|
|
$3.00 |
150 |
|
20¢ |
Per |
150 |
|
|
20¢ |
per |
30 |
$9.40 |
||||
Winnipeg |
|
$3.30 |
79.65 |
|
10¢ |
Per |
79.65 |
|
|
10¢ |
per |
13.18 |
$9.40 |
||||
Toronto |
|
$3.00 |
190 |
|
25¢ |
Per |
170 |
|
|
25¢ |
per |
31 |
$10.00 |
||||
Edmonton |
|
$3.60 |
150 |
|
20¢ |
Per |
150 |
|
|
20¢ |
per |
26.7 |
$10.00 |
||||
Mississauga |
|
$3.25 |
170 |
|
25¢ |
Per |
170 |
|
|
25¢ |
per |
33 |
$10.25 |
||||
Regina |
|
$3.40 |
120 |
|
10¢ |
Per |
70 |
|
|
25¢ |
per |
30 |
$10.30 |
||||
Halifax |
|
$3.00 |
54 |
|
12¢ |
Per |
80 |
|
|
15¢ |
per |
24.5 |
$10.32 |
||||
Montreal |
|
$3.15 |
0 |
|
$1.45 |
Per |
1000 |
|
|
55¢ |
per |
60 |
$10.40 |
||||
Montreal Proposed |
|
$3.00 |
0 |
|
$1.45 |
Per |
1000 |
|
|
55¢ |
per |
60 |
$10.25 |
||||
Red Deer |
|
$3.20 |
92 |
|
10¢ |
Per |
67 |
|
|
|
|
|
$10.50 |
||||
Vancouver |
|
$2.75 |
62.51 |
|
10¢ |
Per |
62.51 |
|
|
10¢ |
per |
12.58 |
$10.55 |
||||
Ottawa Existing |
|
$2.90 |
101 |
|
15¢ |
Per |
95 |
|
|
15¢ |
per |
23 |
$10.55 |
||||
Edmonton Proposed |
|
$3.60 |
135 |
|
20¢ |
Per |
135 |
|
|
20¢ |
per |
26.7 |
$10.80 |
||||
Saskatoon |
|
$3.50
|
66 |
|
10¢ |
Per |
66 |
|
|
10¢ |
per |
15 |
$10.90 |
||||
Victoria |
|
$2.95
|
60.14 |
|
10¢ |
Per |
60.14 |
|
|
10¢ |
per |
10.05 |
$11.15 |
||||
St. John's |
|
$3.25 |
143 |
|
25¢ |
Per |
143 |
|
|
25¢ |
per |
34.6 |
$11.50 |
||||
Ottawa Proposed |
|
$3.30 |
110 |
|
16¢ |
per |
93 |
|
|
15¢ |
per |
23 |
$11.71 |
||||
Taximeter Rate Adjustment – June 2008 Effective
Date – By-law Amendment Required
Union representatives have requested that the
taximeter rate adjustment be made effective June 2008. Community and Protective Services has no
objection to a meter rate adjustment in June 2008, however, Section 55 (2) of
the Taxi By-law stipulates that the date of the adjustment, if any, shall be
October 1st .
As such it is therefore necessary for this
Section of the By-law to be amended to reflect the new implementation date, and
the Department so recommends given that there will be only one meter check this
year taking place in July.
Proposed Taximeter Rate Adjustment – Exceeds
Taxi Cost Index Increment – By-law Amendment Required
Section 55. (5) of the Taxi By-law states: “The amount of the adjustment shall not
exceed the percentage annual increment in the Taxi Cost Index as set out in
Schedule “E” from April 30th of the previous year to April 30th
of the current year that the rate is to take effect.”
The provision was intended to encourage the
Taxi Industry to request taximeter rate adjustments on a regular (annual) basis
rather than infrequent larger rate increases.
Smaller increases allow the public to more readily adjust their
commuting relative to the related costs and are more likely to be accepting of
smaller annual increases rather than larger adjustments occurring every three
to four years.
In that the last meter rate increase occurred
in the fall of 2005, the Department calculated the annual TCI increases from
April 2005 to April 2007 to reflect the TCI increase during the past year.
The Statistic Canada information required to calculate the TCI variation
between April 2007 and April 2008 was not available at the time the report was
drafted. It is reasonable to expect
the TCI increase over that time period to justify an increase in the taximeter
rate of 10%. Despite the prescribed
7.7% staff recommends that a 10% increase be approved to account for the anticipated
fuel increases (expected to exceed $1.50 per liter) before winter 2008.
The Department recommends that the provision of
Section 55. (5) be amended by Council to allow the proposed increases.
The June implementation date will allow taxicab
plate holders time to have their taximeters re-calibrated and adjusted to
reflect the new rates before the July license renewal and meter check date.
Recommendation 1 b) - Police Record Check
Requirements (PRC) – By-Law Amendments Required
Taxi Industry representatives
recently expressed concerns that the requirement for a Police Record Check for
drivers every two (2) years, approved by Council in 2005 with an effective date
of March 2008 was too expensive and created uncertainty for their drivers as
many would not be able to obtain the results of their PRC back from the Ottawa
Police Service in time for the 2008 license renewal period.
The Ottawa Police Service recently reported
that applications for PRC increase substantially over the Spring and Summer
months due to an increase in volunteers seeking PRC for summer employment. The increase in PRC requests has resulted in
longer delays.
The Department deems it is necessary to amend
the existing requirements of the By-law to allow for additional flexibility and
so recommends the following amendments to the Taxi By-law:
(a)
Modify
the effective date from March 1, 2008 to January 1, 2009;
(b)
Require
the licensee to provide new PRC information every three years instead of two
years;
(c)
Provide
that the date of the last PRC accepted by By-law Services staff be used as the
start date to calculate the three years;
(d)
Provide
that only a third of the licensees be required to provide their new PRC each
year; (the CLI to require that the 800 licensees with the most seniority be
required to provide a new PRC in 2009, and the 800 licensees with the next most
seniority be required to provide their new PRC in 2010, with the rest having to
submit their PRCs in 2011),
(e)
In the
case of license renewals, that a PRC dated less than 180 days from the date of
the license renewal be considered valid;
(f)
In the
case of applications for new driver licenses, that a PRC dated less than 90
days from the date of the license renewal be considered valid.
Recommendation
1 c) – Security Camera Implementation – Surcharges - Fee Schedule Amendments
On November 5, 2005, City Council approved the
City’s Taxi By-law (By-law No. 2005-481) for the licensing, regulating and
governing of taxicabs, taxicab drivers, taxi plate holders and taxicab
brokers. As part of this By-law, City
Council approved the requirement for all taxicabs to be equipped with a
security camera system approved by the Chief License Inspector by March 1,
2008. The benefit of such camera
systems has been proven in other jurisdictions to enhance safety for both
drivers and members of the public.
A number of issues related to the
implementation of this requirement resulted in a taxi service disruption in
March 2008. Subsequently, Council
amended the implementation date for the taxi cameras to July 2, 2008, and
directed staff to consult with the industry and to address related privacy
issues. By-law and Regulatory Services
staff has met with various taxi industry representatives over the past two
months in an attempt to facilitate the implementation of the security camera
and to resolve other matters. The
attached Document 1 entitled: “Implementation of Taxi Security Cameras and
Protocol” summarizes the issues discussed and the manner by which they will be
resolved subject to the approval of the recommendations and undertakings listed
in the summary. Privacy issues have
also been addressed and will ensure that taxi images are downloaded by Ottawa
Police Services only for the purpose of criminal investigations and the process
is in compliance with the requirements of privacy legislation.
This
recommendation deals with the cost of the security camera and a unique
financing package that will allow the security camera to be installed and
operational at a significantly reduced initial cost to the taxi plate holder.
The Taxi Industry had expressed concern over the initial proposed installed
cost of $1,280.
VerifEye
Inc. was the successful vendor that won the bid to install cameras in taxis for
the City of Ottawa. VerifEye’s cameras are in place in many cities across North
America including Toronto, Windsor, New York, Chicago and Seattle. VerifEye was
one of the few companies that could actually meet the specifications required
to ensure its cameras could accommodate both the taxi industry and City’s
mutual objective to enhance driver and public safety.
After
several meetings of negotiations, VerifEye has agreed to reduce the installed
cost of the camera system to $1,185 provided the cameras are purchased by July
31, 2008. Because of the financial
losses incurred by the vendor who had increased its inventory in anticipation
that the cameras were to be installed by March 2008, the vendor has advised
that the cost of cameras purchased after July 31, 2008 will increase by
$50. To help further minimize the
financial impact that the initial purchase of these cameras will have on the
taxi plate holder, the City has agreed to offset these costs by reducing the
price of each camera by an additional $485 plus taxes. Therefore all taxi cameras purchased before
July 31, 2008, will cost $700 plus tax or $750 plus tax if purchased after that
date. The reduced price is only for the
initial installation of cameras in the City’s existing taxi fleet or for any
new plates that are issued for accessible taxicabs in 2008. All replacement cameras as well as cameras
for new taxicab plates that may be issued in 2009 and beyond will be subject to
the higher vendor rate.
The
City will recover the difference per camera of $485 plus related taxes (x 1091
cameras = $575,000 approx.) by imposing a temporary $35 licensing fee surcharge
during the 2009, 2010, and 2011 license periods only, on all taxicab driver
licenses (new and renewals / standard and accessible). The proposed surcharge is expected to
increase revenues by $360,000 that will be used to recover the cost of
providing temporary financing.
A
portion ($110,000) of the remaining costs to be recovered will be raised by
imposing a surcharge on the broker license fees in 2009, 2010 and 2011 as
follows:
License
Fee Surcharge
Taxicab Broker with 1 – 24
Taxicabs $140
Taxicab Broker with 25 to 99
Taxicabs $1,000
Taxicab Broker with 100 or more
Taxicabs $7,255
Finally,
the remaining $105,000 (approx.) will be recovered by increasing the Taxicab
Plate Holder transfer fee from the existing $3,800 transfer fee to $4,800. Thirty-Five such transfers are expected
each year resulting in a projected increase in additional revenues
approaching $105,000 over a three-year
period beginning April 30th of 2009. The transfer fee will be in effect for three years or until the
cost recovery has been achieved.
Recommendation 2 - That the Community and
Protective Services Committee receive Document 1 entitled: “Implementation of Taxi Security Cameras and
Protocol ” for information.
Document
1 entitled : “Implementation of Taxi Security Cameras
and Protocol ” provides a brief summary of measures the City has tentatively
reached with the Taxi Industry Union representatives.
Recommendation 3 – That the Community and Protective
Services Committee recommend that Council direct staff to report back on
existing standards for taxicabs that will, in part, identify measures available
to encourage the use of more fuel efficient vehicles (e.g. Hybrid
vehicles).
Since amalgamation,
Council has approved a number of changes to taxi vehicle standards to enhance
taxi service to the public. Some of
these changes included minimum size requirements for trunk space and vehicle
length to ensure adequate room for customers and sufficient room to store
luggage. In addition, lower licensing
fees were introduced for Natural Gas Vehicles.
In recognition that fuel prices are on the rise, vehicle standards have
changed, and that cities are more cognizant of the need to reduce green house
gas emissions, it is recommended that staff undertake a review of its existing
regulations to identify measures that would encourage the use of more fuel
efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles.
Recommendation 4 - That
the Chief License Inspector be required to work with the Taxi Stakeholders
Consultation Group and the Taxi Industry to identify and implement a
communications and enforcement strategy to eradicate the use of illegal
underground taxicab services (e.g. Bandit Cabs)
The proliferation of underground illegal
taxicab services has become a serious issue for many cities across the
world. Ottawa’s licensed taxicab
industry has expressed concern about a number of local bandit operations and
would like to see additional measures put in place that will permanently
eradicate this potentially unsafe illegal business practice. In the past few years, the By-law
Enforcement and Regulatory Services Branch has laid several hundred charges and
has closed several illegal businesses.
In addition, a “Don’t Let The
Bandit Take You For a Ride” campaign was implemented in 2006 to educate the
public and businesses about the problems associated with taking illegal
taxis. Staff agrees that additional
measures need to be put in place, which includes assigning a dedicated
enforcement unit and a Bandit Taxi Hotline to report violations. It is further recommended that consultation
with both the Taxi Industry and the soon to be formed “Taxi Stakeholders
Consultation Group” be undertaken to identify and implement a new
communications and enforcement strategy to eradicate the use of illegal
underground taxicab services.
Public consultation included several meetings
with industry representatives. While
the publication of a Notice in the Ottawa Citizen, the Ottawa Sun and Le Droit
on May 9th, 2008, notified the general public of the date, time and
location of the Community and Protective Services Committee meeting at which
issues related to the Taxi By-law will be considered, together with staff
contact information for people wishing to obtain more information, provide
comment or wishing to attend the meeting in person. The specific recommendations of this report were not finalized in
time to be included in the above-noted public notices. Therefore, a waiver of the public notice
requirements is being sought by staff for the purposes of this report.
There are no financial implications associated with this report other
than with Recommendation 1(c).
The total one-time cost of $575,000 will be funded by additional 2008
program revenue in the By-law and Regulatory Services Branch.
The By-Law and Regulatory Services Operating Budget will have a one-time
adjustment of $195,000 in 2009, $190,000 in 2010 and $190,000 in 2011 for the
additional revenue arising from the temporary surcharges in taxi licensing
fees. These additional one-time revenues will be
contributed to the Tax Stabilization Reserve Fund.
This report
has no direct impact on the City’s Strategic Directions.
Document 1
– Information Related to the Implementation of Taxi Security Cameras
Legal Services in consultation with By-law and
Regulatory Services to process the amending By-law to Council for enactment.
Document
1
Implementation of Taxi Security Cameras
and Protocol
Privacy Issues with
Cameras
|
|
|
||
City
Recommendation |
Taxi
Industry Response |
City
Response |
||
Chief License Inspector to be responsible for
downloading photos for by-law violations and forwarding photos to police for
criminal investigations. |
Union has requested that Taxi Camera pictures
are only to be downloaded by police for criminal investigations only. |
Taxi
Camera pictures to be downloaded by Police for criminal investigations only. |
||
Camera Costs / Specifications / Installation |
|
|
||
City Recommendation |
Taxi Industry Response |
City Response |
||
Verifye Dual Lens Camera with 4GB of memory
to allow for 15 days of storage and a G-Force Trigger to record additional
images when Taxi is in an accident or makes sudden moves such as swerving and
braking. Cost is $1,280 installed. |
Consider cost of cameras excessive Want more
than two vendors to install cameras Do not
want the G-Trigger Do not
want the GPS capable feature Only want
a week worth of memory |
Agree to
remove G-Trigger. Agree to
reduce memory from 4GB to 2GB (7 days). Agree
that GPS to be kept inactive. Vendor
has reduced price of camera to $1,185 from $1,280 if camera purchased before
July 31, 2008. Price of
the camera to increase $50 after July 31 to $1,235. Cost at
installation to be $700 plus tax. The
difference ($485 plus taxes) to be funded over a 3-year period through
temporary surcharges added to license fees.
The City
will pay the vendor the shortfall up front and recover costs from the taxi
industry over three years. Cost
recovery – Annual
surcharges to be imposed during the 2009, 2010 and 2011 license periods as
follows: -Drivers/Owners
to pay an annual $35 license fee surcharge, -Brokers
with 1-24 cabs to pay an additional $140 annual surcharge, -Brokers
with 25 to 99 cabs to pay an annual fee surcharge of $1000, -Brokers
with 100 or more cabs to pay an annual fee surcharge of $7,255. Increase
in transfer fees from $3800 to $4800 April 30, 2009 to May 1, 2011 or until
full cost recovery has been achieved. |
||
Police Record Check for the Vulnerable Sector
|
|
|
||
City Recommendation |
Taxi Industry Response |
City Response |
||
Beginning in 2008, all taxi drivers are
required to submit a police record check every two years to renew license. |
Union wants to delay the implementation of police record checks until 2010 for renewal of
licenses. Beginning
in 2010, licensees would only require a check every three years. In the
interim, reinstate the form that licensees sign at renewals indicating that
they do not have any outstanding criminal charges or convictions. |
Because of high volume of work for Ottawa Police Service
to process 3200 applications; it is recommended that police record checks be
deferred to 2009 with a third of the licensees to be done each year. Any licensees who have already received their clearance
for this year will be accepted and will not have to submit a new check until
2011. Each renewal
period licensees will continue to sign forms confirming that they have no
outstanding convictions or charges against them. |
||
Other Recommendations
|
|
|
||
City Recommendation |
Taxi Industry Response |
City Response |
||
Fare Increase |
Taxi Union has initially
requested 10% fare increase. To help recover costs
to pay for the installation of cameras, the Taxi Union has requested that the
five cents surcharge added in 2005 to the drop rate be increased by 10 cents
for a two year period only. |
Taxi Cost
Index calculated to the beginning of April 2007 indicates Taxi Industry is
eligible for a 7.7% increase. City
will support a 10% increase in anticipation of rising fuel costs. In addition the City agrees to a temporary
increase of 10 cents in the drop rate beginning June 1, 2008 and ending
October 1, 2010. |
||
TAXI
BY-LAW - TAXIMETER RATE ADJUSTMENTS AND VERBAL UP-DATE ON THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF TAXI CAMERAS
REGLEMENT SUR LES SERVICES DE TAXI - RAJUSTMENTS
DES TARIFS DE TAXIMETRE ET PRESENTATION VERBALE CONCERNANT L’INSTALLATION DES
CAMERAS ABORD LES TAXIS
ACS2008-CPS-BYL-0022 CITY WIDE / À L'ÉCHELLE
DE LA VILLE
Moved by C. Leadman
WHEREAS staff from
By-law and Regulatory Services have recently confirmed information regarding
the recommended Taxi By-law amendments, including information concerning the
proposed rate adjustments and surcharges,
AND WHEREAS this information was not available
to staff in time to finalize the details of this new report, or to provide
public notices as required under the City’s Public Notice By-law,
THERFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Committee:
1.
Waive
the Rules of Procedure (Section 84(3) of the Procedure By-Law (being By-Law No.
2006-462) to permit the introduction of this late report; and,
2.
Waive
the requirements for the provision of public notice for the amendment of a
licensing by-law, as provided in Schedule “A” of By-law 2002-522 (the Public Notice
By-law).
CARRIED
The Committee received the revised
report entitled “Taxi By-law Amendments (ACS2008-CPS-BYL-0024). Also received was a memo dated 14 May from
the Director which provided an update on recent discussions between staff and
the taxi unions.
Susan
Jones, Director, By-Law and Regulatory Services, Community and Protective
Services Department provided a detailed overview of the new report through a
PowerPoint presentation. Copies of the
presentation and the aforementioned memo are held on file.
Yusef Al Mezel, President, Canadian
Auto Workers (CAW) Local 1688, stated the taxi industry had not sought an increase in meter rates
over the last three years, partly because of a fear of losing business to
illegal, or “bandit” cabs. However, he
noted that this year, rising gas prices and an increase in insurance premiums
and related operational costs had forced the industry to apply for a 10% meter
rate increase.
He then outlined some additional
concerns:
·
Cameras - Mr. Al Mezel asked for a commitment
from Committee and Council not to force the industry to buy new equipment, as
he believed the industry was in a better position to find equipment at a good
price.
·
Camera
installation -
He said the industry wished to save the City any disruption of taxi service or
from lawsuits by the equipment supplier, as he was aware a contract had already
been signed.
·
Increased
cost of camera installation after 31 July 2008 - The speaker noted the cost of camera
installation would rise by $50 after 31 July 2008, but felt that with three
installers working with 1,100 taxicabs, there would be insufficient time to
accomplish installation in all cabs, resulting in a deadline the industry could
not meet. He asked that the $50 penalty
be removed.
·
G-Force
Triggers (devices
that record additional images when a taxi is in an accident or makes sudden
moves such as swerving and braking) - Mr. Al Mezel asked that the requirement for
the installation of these devices be removed, and that taxicabs be treated the
same as any other vehicle.
·
Increasing
the age of cars introduced as taxicabs by one year - Referring to a clause in the
By-Law not allowing the introduction of cars to be used as taxicabs more than
four years old, the speaker asked that this be increased by one year, to five
years, which could amount to a cost savings to drivers of between $2,000 -
$3,000, to help offset the cost of purchasing required equipment, such as
cameras, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), etc.
·
“Bandit”
cabs - Despite
assurances that bandit cab drivers were being caught and charged, Mr. Al Mezel
said he had yet to see any cases being completed, and asked that more work be
done on this issue.
Acknowledging the Taxi By-law
stipulated that no car used as a taxi could exceed seven years of age,
Councillor Cullen asked for clarification as to why the industry was seeking to
raise the age at which a car could enter into service as a taxi from four to
five years, given that it had a two-year lifespan remaining as a taxicab. Mr. Al Mezel reiterated that the cost
savings to drivers would help defray the cost of installing cameras, GPS
systems, related operational costs and maintenance.
Responding to a query from
Councillor Cullen as to why staff did not support relaxing the prescribed age
limit for taxicabs, Ms. Jones noted that a significant amount of time since
amalgamation had been committed to studying issues related to vehicle
quality. She explained that prior to
amalgamation, the average age of a vehicle in the City of Ottawa had been 15
years, and that inspectors often encountered unsafe situations related to
excessive vehicle age. Ms. Jones stated
that a best practices review undertaken by a consultant had indicated a good
vehicle should have an earlier entry level, pointing out the Committee had
reluctantly agreed to go from a recommended two years to four. She noted the maximum age of vehicles
in Toronto was five years, with two being the maximum in New York City. Ms. Jones said that staff’s intent was to
ensure that customers had excellent service, further noting that a significant
number of studies had recognized the age of a vehicle impacted on its overall
quality over time.
Ms. Jones also outlined for
Councillor Cullen that the existing standards had first been reviewed in 2001,
revisited in 2005, and would not likely need further revision unless a specific
issue arose that would require examination.
She offered that the current By-Law, the end product of several years’
hard work, might need tweaking in future, but she believed it had achieved
Council’s objectives of ensuring a great taxi service for Ottawa.
At this point in the meeting, Chair
Deans acknowledged the presence of the McCarthy family in the audience and
recognized the family as an important reminder that taxis were regulated for
safety and consumer protection. She
thanked the McCarthy family for being in attendance.
Responding to a question from
Councillor Leadman as to when taxi meters actually started running,
particularly in the case of someone who might need assistance and require the
use of an accessible cab, Ms. Jones explained that the charges started when a
customer actually entered the vehicle, unless a customer had pre-arranged to
book a cab for a specific time, in which
case, the meter should be allowed to run from the point for which the
appointment was made.
Referring to Ms. Jones’ mention of
the 31 July camera installation deadline and Mr. Al Mezel’s contention that
installers might be unable to meet this deadline for the City’s entire taxi
fleet, Councillor Qadri wondered if there would be enough time to complete the
task. Ms. Jones said the vendor had
significant experience with camera installation in New York City and elsewhere,
and had added a third installer to complement the original two. She further noted that were the fare
increase to be approved, it would go into effect on the first of June; hence,
if taxi drivers needed adjustments to their meters, it would be an opportune
time to have cameras installed at the same time. Based on this two month period and on the vendors’ expertise, it
was felt the time allowed for the installation of cameras was sufficient. Additionally, staff had received assurances
from the vendor that if there were to be a backlog, additional personnel would
be hired to complete the task..
Councillor Qadri then referred to a
previous five-cent drop rate surcharge that had been approved two years earlier
to help offset operating costs. He
questioned what assurances or guarantees could be expected from the taxi
industry that the new ten-cent rate would not be similarly consumed rather than
be used to help offset the cost of the cameras. Ms. Jones responded that this was an area over which the City had
no control and could offer no assurances.
However, she noted the industry had previously indicated the earlier
five-cent surcharge had been diverted to offset fuel increases and similar
costs. Ms. Jones stated that the
request for the ten-cent surcharge had come from the industry, which had
committed to using this money to offset the cost of the cameras.
Responding to questions from
Councillor Qadri regarding GPS, Ms. Jones explained that the cameras to be
installed in the taxi fleet did not incorporate GPS, but were capable of
having GPS systems attached to them.
She noted all accessible cabs would have a GPS system beginning this
summer, and she believed the industry was currently working through its
collective agreement to negotiate a GPS system for all cabs. Ms. Jones said the industry could use either
a camera-ready GPS system or a separate one; the City simply wanted to ensure
that there would be one in place. She
also explained that it was the intent to eventually have access to the taxis’
GPS systems to ensure that vehicles were taking the most direct routes and to ensure
that accessible cabs were picking up fares.
Councillor Feltmate asked if the
City was charging interest on the money it was investing to make this
happen. Ms. Jones explained that in
essence, the City was up-fronting without additional costs, recognizing that
cameras in taxis would pay a dividend to the public and cab drivers in ensuring
their safety.
Chair Deans said the City had come a
long way in improving taxi service in Ottawa and she thanked all who had helped
to improve the industry standard, noting it was important to remember that the
City regulated for safety and consumer protection. She thanked members of the CAW who had met with staff to work
through contentious issues and had demonstrated leadership in bringing this
report before their membership to arrive at the present concurrence, and she
observed that this was a difficult issue to deal with, involving an industry
that was difficult to regulate, and with no single point of view.
The Chair also felt it would be an
appropriate time for the City to encourage the use of hybrid vehicles to ensure
a “greener” fleet of taxicabs for the Nation’s Capital. On the issue of bandit cabs, the Chair
stated that the City was doing all it could to ensure these unregulated taxis
would be charged and removed from service.
She believed getting cameras into taxicabs would be an important safety
consideration for all concerned parties.
Speaking to the issue of the requested 10% fare increase; the Chair
acknowledged the City had never seen an increase of this size in the past, but
noted there had been no increase in cab fares since 2005, and that this was
likely an economic inevitability. She
believed other municipalities across Canada would soon follow suit because of
the dramatic rise in fuel prices and costs associated with running a
taxicab. In conclusion, Chair Deans
believe staff had presented a good, supportable report.
The Committee then considered the
new staff report recommendations:
1) That
the Community and Protective Services Committee recommend that Council approve
amendments to By-law Number 2005-481, being the Taxi By-law, to:
a) allow
the proposed (approximate 10% increase) taxi meter rate adjustment as detailed
below to be effective June 1, 2008, despite existing regulations requiring the
adjustment be effective October 1st:
·
$3.20
for the drop rate including the first 110 meters of part thereof,
·
$0.16
for each 93 meters or part thereof,
·
$0.15
for each 23 seconds of waiting time, and
that
subject to approval of the above taximeter rate adjustment to allow for an
additional 10 cent surcharge on the drop rate to $3.30 from June 1, 2008 to
October 1, 2010 to offset the cost of the required in-cab cameras;
b) amend
the existing Police Record Check (PRC) requirements as a condition for renewal
of a standard and accessible taxicab driver license to:
·
change
the effective date from March 1, 2008 to January 1, 2009,
·
require
the licensee to provide the PRC information every three years instead of two
years,
·
provide
that the date of the last accepted PRC be used as the start date to calculate
the three years,
·
provide
that only a third of the licensees will be required to submit a PRC each year,
(the Chief License Inspector to require that the 800 licensees with the most
seniority be required to provide a new PRC in 2009, and the 800 licensees with
the next most seniority be required to provide their new PRC in 2010, with the
rest having to submit their new PRCs in 2011),
·
in
the case of license renewals that a PRC dated less than 180 days from the date
of the license renewal be considered valid, and
·
in
the case of applications for new driver licenses, that a PRC dated less than 90
days from the date of the license renewal be considered valid;
c) amend
the Taxi By-law Fee Schedule “C” to:
·
Impose
a $35.00 surcharge on all Taxicab Driver and Taxi Plate Holder license fees
(new and renewals - standard cabs and accessible cabs) in 2009, 2010 and 2011,
·
Impose
a surcharge on all Taxicab Broker license fees in 2009, 2010 and 2011, as
follows:
-
$140.00 for Taxicab Brokers having 1 to 24 taxicabs;
-
$1,000.00 for Taxicab Brokers having 25 to 99 taxicabs;
-
$7,255.00 for Taxicab Brokers having 100 and more taxicabs,
·
increase
the Taxi Plate Holder to Taxi Plate Holder transfer fee from the current $3,800.00
to $4,800.00 to be effective April 30, 2009 until April 30, 2012 or until such
time the camera financing cost recovery exercise is complete.
2) That
the Community and Protective Services Committee receive Document 1
entitled: “Implementation of Taxi
Security Cameras and Protocol”.
3) That
the Community and Protective Services Committee recommend that Council direct
staff to report back on existing standards for taxicabs that will, in part,
identify measures available to encourage the use of more fuel efficient
vehicles (e.g. Hybrid vehicles).
4) That
the Chief License Inspector be required to work with the Taxi Stakeholders
Consultation Group and the Taxi Industry to identify and implement a
communications and enforcement strategy to eradicate the use of illegal
underground taxicab services (e.g. Bandit Cabs).
CARRIED
as amended