Minutes 10/14/2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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October 14. 2008 . Staff conducted a survey of surrounding localities to ascertain taxi rates charged by neighboring cities and to determine when their respective City Councils last issued taxi rate increases. Discussion: . Portsmouth's current rate consists of a drop charge of $1.95 for the first one-sixth mile and $.35 for each additional one-sixth mile or fraction thereof for a first mile total of $3.70. The rate for each succeeding mile after the first mile is $2.10. The waiting time hourly rate is $15 per hour. City Council has not approved a taxi rate increase since January of 2006. . Chesapeake, Norfolk and Virginia Beach all approved taxi rate increases in July of this year. . Chesapeake has established a $3.00 drop charge for the first one-sixth mile and $.40 for each additional mile for a first mile total of $5.00. The rate for each succeeding mile after the first mile is $2.40. The waiting time hourly rate is $18 per hour. . Norfolk now charges a drop rate of $3.00 for the first one-seventh mile and $.30 per each additional one-seventh mile for a first mile total of $4.80. The rate for each succeeding mile after the first mile is $2.10. Norfolk also charges $15 for each hour spent waiting. . Virginia Beach has changed its drop charge for the first one-eighth mile to $3.25 and $.30 per each additional one-eighth mile for a first mile total of $5.35. The rate for each succeeding mile after the first mile is $2.40. Virginia Beach also charges $18 for each hour spent waiting. . Safeway Cabs requests and staff recommends that City Council raise the Portsmouth drop charge rate to $2.15 for the first one-sixth mile and $.40 for each additional one-sixth mile for a first mile total of $4.15. The rate for each succeeding mile after the first mile would be $2.40 per mile. Additionally, Safeway is requesting that the waiting time hourly rate be increased to $18 per hour. . If the proposed increase is adopted, Portsmouth's rates would still be generally lower than the rates charged by its surrounding cities. Financial Impact: . The increase in rates would act to offset the rising costs faced by cab companies. Any increase in revenues realized by cab companies resulting from the increase would lead to more tax dollars for the City. Staff Recommends: Staff's preliminary recommendation was that no rate increase was warranted. Upon further review of the information, staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance increasing rates to those requested. The Police Department has stated that the proposed rate increases would have no discernable impact on the Department. Vision Principle: A Robust and Prospering Economy. Next Steps Following Council Action: . None. 1. Barry Shepherd, 2000 Atlantic Avenue, spoke in support of this item. Motion by Ms. Randall, and seconded by Ms. Psimas, to adopt the following ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: "ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 37 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA (2006) BY AMENDING SECTION 37-132 THEREOF TO INCREASE CERTAIN RATES FOR THE USE OF TAXICABS." Ayes: Moody, Psimas, Randall, Smith, Whitehurst, Holley Nays: None