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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1965-03-01 Council Minutes - Special MeetingMINUTES OF SPECIAL KENAI CITY COUNCIL NIEF.TING UV TAXICABS I 'MARCH 196S Roll call at 7:15: Present - Cnester Cone, dilly McCann, Roger Meeks, Gene % rin and Homer Swires; Absent - Bud Lofstedt and Mayor Dye. Vice Aayor Swires requested Trooper Allen to report on the Cabs that were operating as of Saturday 20 Feb., 1905. Allen stated they have been correct according to the Ordinance; that he had heard good reports on some of them; that no chauffeur's permit was issued to Stan's Cab, but they are all in order; inquired what the phrase "in operation means?"; said he thought the deadline was too short, and not a fair deadline; some of the applicants didn't have their Cabs, etc. But Showalter Eaton and Boyer were actually ready to drive by Saturday the 20th. At the request of the Vice Mayor, each applicant was asked to state the reasons he thought he should be in business, and to limit the talk to 10 minutes each. Dave Boyer, Kenai City Cab, said he thought the City was in need of a Taxi Co. that would give good service; that he had applied for this reason; that he had ful- filled all the requirements of the Ordinance, and was in operation by 10 a.m. on the morning of the 20th. Harold Deering, Ace Cab, said he was the first one to apply for a permit and had pointed out to Council there would be a need for more than one Cab in the coming years because of the oil development, etc.; he intends to operate all year by himself --that he might be out of town for a day or so, but he would be back; that he has an advantage by being an owner-onerator as there isn't enough money in it to hire drivers. Ward Showalter, Northway Cab, said he had complied with State and City Code; that he was in operation by the 20th; that lie hopes to give the City the same good i service he had in the past. Les Eaton, Rainbow Cab said he has done all that was required; that he doesn't i think all the applicants have done what was asked, and that they should not be granted permits. A.O.Werner, Stan's Cab, said he bought the business from Stan Wolfe, thinking he would be able to operate on a self -paying basis, and that he had bought Grandfather Rights; that he had invested $10.000 in the business, but the best month he had was $1,000; that he had not seen any money other than that; he had paid the sales tax out of his own pocket as well as many other debts incurred by the company; that his problem was in getting a good man he could depend on; that he had a friend brought up from the States, Mr. Rhodie, who was with him tonight, and that he could depend on him to run the business as the City required. Cone moved, McCann seconded, any and all Cab Companies that the Trooper considered in operation on the 20th Feb. be allowed to continue as such and that the others are out. The names of those named by the Trooper were: Northway Cab, Kenai City Cab and Rainbow Cab. In discussion: Morin said all four applicants present at R the hearing on 17 Feb. agreed there was a need for only two companies --that Werner's. Co. was eliminated because of lack of service. Deering said Werner has invested a lot and he should be given first preference --that Council should decide how many Companies should operate and then select them in order of priority of application. Council wanted to rule according to who was in operation on the 20th. Meeks said Deering had produced a letter showing it was not his fault he couldnt get his car off the boat --that Werner's not having a chauffeur's license was a minor matter, : and he thought they all ought to operate. The Clerk said there were several who had not purchased a chauffeur's license; Eatons and Boyers; Some of them were not aware they needed to do so. I Minutes, Special Meeting, Taxis 1 Mar 65 Page two Roll call vote on the question: Affirmative - Cone, AcCann, Swires; Negative - Meeks and Morin. Morin said he had no kicks on any Cab, but if he hears anything against any of them, he will go strictly by the Ordinance from now on; that Council will ask a periodic report from the Trooper and that they have all been given fair warning. Boyer presented four points for consideration: 1. The public liability insurance required by the City was excessive and more than that required by any other City. 2. Consider aaending the Ordinance making it a misdemeanor for a false Cab call, with malicious intent, punishable by heavy fine and/or imprisonment, etc. --that he had such a call from the Rainbow after the hearing at Council meeting on 24 Feb. 3. That each person calling should state their name, destination and-tel. no. they were calling from. 4. That persons failing to pay the cab fare were guilty of a misdemeanor and would be subject to appropriate penalties. The Clerk was instructed to write the City of Anchorage about the liability re- quired of Taxis there. Council did not want to get in the Cab business and thought it was up to the individual how they ran their business, collected fares, etc. That each business had its hazards to cope with. They agreed complaints on Taxi service; should be in writing, that they wanted facts, not hear -say. In the event a Cab has mechanical trouble, calls can be referred to another Cab Co. or the owner can apply to Council for an additional car, according to the Code. There is to be no more than one Cab on one permit without Council approval. Meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m. With consent of all Council members except Cone who left at 8 p.m., it was de- cided to meet on the matter of the letter to the Air Force regarding the fuel drums at the Airport. McCann moved, Meeks seconded, to authorize Swires to sign the letter to the Air Force. Passed unanimously. Clay Lyons distributed R.W.Beck's report on a Commercial Rate change for KCL to the Councilmen remaining. lkkCann, Meeks, florin and Swires. Deering and Werner served notice of re -application for a Taxi Service in Kenai. Council dispersed at 8:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, -I ✓C 4,V� ✓it. Frances Torkilsen City Clerk �T //hart Y'- aft � ��.�c