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Rules Committee

MINUTES

Conference Room 421

September 24, 2007 at 10:00 A.M.

City Hall,1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place

 

Present:  Breslin, Gillespie, Oneto

Absent:   0

Commission called the meeting to order at 10:10 A.M.

ATTENDENCE:  Deputy Director Jordanna Thigpen, Executive Secretary Tamara Odisho – Taxi Commission, John Lazar- Luxor, Marty Smith- Delta, Mark Gruberg- Green Cab,  Vlad – United, Tom Stanghellini- Luxor Cab, Rich Hybels- Metro, Hal Melligard- Yellow, Jim Gillespie- Yellow, Public: Carl Macmurdo Charles Rathbone, Hansu Kim, Mike Spain, Frank Fehey

1.       Call to Order/Roll Call

2.      General Public Comment (Please limit public comment to items not on the agenda)

3.      Consideration of Requests for Changes to or Verification of Current Taxicab/Ramped Taxi Rules & Regulations, Housekeeping & General Matters [DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION; EXPLANATORY DOCUMENTS]

  • Charles Rathbone: (speaking on his own behalf) Rule 9- suggests adding language on waybills to move away from paper to electronic. Companies with dispatch shouldn’t be required to fill out waybills. Electronic information is more accurate.  Waybills have no business function.
  • Jim Gillespie: Under the impression CS required to store waybill up to 6 years.
  • Hansu Kim: Would like to discuss triplicate waybills at later time.
  • Tom Stanghellini: Recommends checking with District Attorney’s office on waybill issue.
  • Marty Smith: Rule 4a9- Changing on lot is safety issue.
  • Rich Hybels: No problems in 30 years to shift-change off lot.
  • Com Breslin: 4a9 has 2 parts will both be on the next agenda.
  • Jim Gillespie: 4a10- drive your own medallion rule doesn’t sever public.
  • Hal Melligard: 80% of owners driver their own medallion.
  • Peter Witt: Driver for 20 years. Top lights are issues for drivers and passengers. Ramp incentives are not there for drivers, there is a difference between ramp and regular medallions.
  • Mark Gruberg: 5g- Inspections should also include carbon monoxide in the interior of the taxi. 5a7- Commission needs to enforce this rule. Payment to dispatchers of $5- 20 denominations language needs to be strengthened. 6c10-impartial should be reviewed. 
  • Frank Fehey: Waybills to be given to drivers upon request. Handwriting bad on waybills.
  • CarlMacmurdo: 4c1 &6a10- What’s he point of the medical exam?  Should there be an exam?
  • Rich Hybels: 4a10- Reporting when using a spare.
  • Com Breslin: Jordanna, could you please make me copies of any memos or rules that are being enforced that are not in the book.
  • Mark Zorgy: Rule 6c8 – requiring badge number on waybill, no place on our waybill.  Should look into unifying waybills.
  • Com Oneto: Would like copies of all the waybills; paper and electronic.
  • John Lazar: 60% of driver’s do not fill out waybills correctly. DPT hassles driver’s with tickets for double parking. Keeping up waybills risky for drivers.
  • Com Breslin: Would it be difficult to streamline waybills for the companies?
  • John Lazar: What are the priorities?
  • Marty Smith: Training at least 1 week on cities geography and at least 8 hours of sensitivity training.
  • Hansu Kim: Clarification of workers’ compensation rules and regulations.
  • Rich Hybels: Tracy case required Yellow to include language in their contract.
  • Barry Korngold: Wasn’t aware spares could be used in cab is out of service. Some spares are in bad condition. Drive your own medallion rule not feasible. Shift changing a lot is pointless. Top light issues and radio calls 1/ hour are not practical.
  • Hansu Kim: Gate cap between big and small companies that have different services should be discussed.
  • Charles Rathbone: Electronic forms are generated by computer no real forms. Shift changing rule inefficient.
  • Com Breslin: Can we also get copies of NY electronic waybills?
  • Carl Macmurdo: Standardizing waybills should not be difficult.
  • Mike Spain: Shift changing at home has been convenient for years. Bigger company lots are crowded. Drive your own cab rule is intruding on business practices. Waybills are used for criminal cases by sfpd.
  • Marc Gruberg: Gate cap is not an issue for this forum.
  • John Lazar: Shift changing off lot is an issue, since we do not know who the drivers are or what the cab looks like.
  • Marty Smith: Top lights should be secured by drivers before the taxi is taken out.  Dispatch companies should be on computer not on paper. Long term lease pay less than gas and gate and are able to afford and make money for them.
  • Rich Hybels: Shift change at different times, hours and places.  No problems with 32 taxis in fleet. Finger-printing would avoid fraud.
  • Tom Stangellini:  E1- Mandate to take ride, 6eg- If driver cannot life luggage, should not be driving taxi. Off lot changing issue.  Waybills need to unify.  Some drivers do not allow dogs in their taxi because of religious reasons, it can be an issue. 
  • Jim Gillespie:  Opposing comments from Metro and Luxor on issues. Can see both sides, 80-90% of drivers operating properly, but 10-20% that are not are ruining the system. Shouldn’t change rules because of them. Options to lease or gate and gas good for drivers.
  • Richard Wordly: Top light issue can be solved with a 3 wire solution.  One radio call per hour is an issue for drivers picking up dead /no-show calls. Conducted an informal survey at airport and many drivers like the option to lease.
  • Peter Witt: Shift changing and long term lease issues: Getting a taxi during shift change is difficult at 4pm. Long-term leasing is better because driver can change off the lot. Fog-City’s color scheme is not contrasting. Cannot be seen at night.
  • Charles Rathbone: Takes MUNI and bus drivers shift change while on their route.

 

Commissioner Follow-up:

  • Com Oneto:  Charter Reform group will be meeting and should address the driving requirement issues.  Since it is not in the rule book it shouldn’t be before this committee. Role here is to listen to all comments, make it efficient to all color schemes and at the same time ensuring drivers do not get taken advantage of.
  • Pres Gillespie: Permits are property of City and County of San Francisco. Park and Recreation’s rule to not be able to pick up in Golden Gate Park should be looked at.  Rule 6e2- complying with all requests if drivers should be reviewed.  Prop K driving requirement should be left to the Charter Committee.
  • Com Breslin: Went through the Rule books and has comments on all of them and suggestions for others. Equal responsibility between color schemes and drivers.  Some rules that are not in the book but are being enforced.  No resolutions at the next meeting.
  • Jordanna Thigpen: Will try to arrange next agenda into Rule sections.
  • Pres Gillespie: Also to include DPT tickets at Pac Bell Park.

4.      Adjournment at 12:11 P.M.

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