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PVAC Minutes 08/04/2008 R August 4, 2008 MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE COLLIER COUNTY PUBLIC VEHICLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE Naples, Florida, August 4, 2008 LET IT BE REMEMBERED, that the Collier County Public Vehicle Advisory Committee in and for the County of Collier, having conducted business herein, met on this date at 9:30 A.M. in REGULAR SESSION at the Collier County Community Development Services Division Conference room #609,2800 N. Horseshoe Drive, Naples, Florida with the following members present: CHAIRMAN: Tony Marino (excused) Russ Berghuis Reg Buxton Tom Lugrin Randall Smith (excused) Steven Quinn ALSO PRESENT: Diane Flagg, Director, Code Enforcement Kitchell Snow, Investigator, Code Enforcement Jeff Wright, County Attorney Steve Williams, Assistant County Attorney Colleen Davidson, Administrative, Code Enforcement COLLIER COUNTY PUBLIC VEHICLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AGENDA Date: August 4, 2008 at 9:30 A.M. Location: Collier County Community Development Services Building, 2800 N. Horseshoe Dr, Naples, FL, Conference Room # 609 I 610 NOTICE: PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK AT THE MEETING NEED TO COMPLETE A "REQUEST TO SPEAK" FORM. SPEAKERS MAY BE LIMITED TO THREE (3) MINUTES FOR DISCUSSION UNLESS ADDITIONAL TIME IS GRANTED BY THE COMMITTEE. ALL PARTIES PARTICIPATING IN THE PUBLIC MEETING NEED TO SPEAK ONE AT A TIME AND STATE THEIR FULL NAME AND COMPANY THEY REPRESENT, IF APPLICABLE, SO THAT THE COURT REPORTER CAN RECORD ALL STATEMENTS BEING MADE. ANY PERSON WHO DECIDES TO APPEAL A DECISION OF THIS BOARD WILL NEED A RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS PERTAINING THERETO, AND THEREFORE MAY NEED TO ENSURE THAT A VERBATIM RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS IS MADE, WHICH RECORD INCLUDES THAT TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE UPON WHICH THE APPEAL IS TO BE BASED. PLEASE ENSURE ALL PAGERS AND CELL PHONES ARE OFF OR IN A QUIET POSITION. 1. CALL TO ORDER A. Roll Call 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: July 14, 2008 4. COMPLAINT REPORT -- Michaelle Crowley 5. NEW BUSINESS A. New Applications 1. Wheelchair Transport Services, Inc. - New CTO 2. William A. Lakman Services - New CTO 6. OLD BUSINESS A. Proposed Taxi Cab Rate Increase 7. SPEAKERS 8. NEXT MEETING DATE: September 8,2008 9. ADJOURN August 4, 2008 1. Call to Order: Vice Chairman Reg Buxton called the meeting to order at 9:30 A.M. A. Roll Call Colleen Davidson called the roll and a quorum was determined. 2. Approval of Agenda Russ Berghuis moved to approve the Agenda as submitted. Second by Tom Lugrin. Carried unanimously, 4-0. 3. Approval of Minutes Reg Buxton requested the July 14, 2008 minutes reflect members; Russell Berghuis and Reg Buxton be changed to excused absences. Russ Berghuis moved to approve the minutes of July 14, 2008 as amended. Second by Tom Lugrin. Carried unanimously, 4-0. 4. Complaint Report - Michaelle Crowley Jeff Wright noted Michaelle was on vacation and due to problems with the computer system he was unable to gain access to the spreadsheet on the complaint report information. He reported the outstanding issues on the enforcement of citations that had not been paid are waiting on an opinion from the County Legal Department. 5. New Business: A. New Application: Colleen Davidson presented the following application packages. (See attached) 1. Wheelchair Transport Services, Inc. - Request is for a New CTO Tim McLendon, Compliance Manager, Wheelchair Transport Services Inc. representative, stated the company is based out ofPinealles County and they have a contract with the Veterans Administration and part ofthe renewal process on the contract requires providers be certified in Counties where Veterans Administration service will be provided. Staff recommended approval on the name change stating application and insurance was in order. Russ Berghuis moved to recommend approval of the application. Second by Tom Lugrin. Carried Unanimously, 4-0. 2. William A. Lakman Services, Inc. - Request for a New CTO William A. Lakman was the applicant and was present. Staff reported the application packet was in order with all items in compliance, including proper insurance and recommended approval. 2 August 4, 2008 Russ Berghuis moved to recommend approval of the application. Second by Tom Lugrin. Carried unanimously, 4-0. 3. Fancy Cab, Inc. - Request for a name change. Vilger Louis was the applicant and was present. The name change requested was from Fancy Cab to Fancy Cab Inc. Staff recommended approval on the name change, stating application and insurance was in order. Russ Berghuis moved to recommend approval of the application. Second by Steve Quinn. Carried unanimously, 4-0. 6. Old Business Colleen Davidson provided reports on Taxi Cab Rates in nearby Counties and Taxi Meter Rate Proposals by Certificate Holder prepared by Michealle Crowley reflecting Collier County Certificate Holders suggestions. (See attached) Diane Flagg noted the request was for the Ordinance to be revised to accommodate an increase on taxicab rates. She stated based upon reviewing the Ordinance there are several items to be discussed. She said without holding up the rate increase, a rate study required by the Ordinance was completed and provided by Michealle Crowley. The Committee is required to make a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners on what the rate should be. This recommendation will be presented to the Board at the September 9, 2008 meeting. Jeff Wright noted the Proposed Resolution was only a draft and was intended to accomplish a taxi rate increase and move all the fees that are related to public vehicles into one separate fee schedule. The Ordinance states that the Public Vehicle Advisory Committee will make rate change recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners. (See attached) Colleen Davidson reviewed the taxicab rates from Collier, Broward, Hillsborough, Lee and Miami-Dade Counties. Discussion revolved around the meter rate increase requested by the taxi industry due to the rising costs of fuel. Diane Flagg pointed out the Taxi Cab Rates and Taxi Meter Rate Proposal Reports were provided to assist the Committee in making a recommendation between Drop Rates or a Fuel Surcharge increase and meter rates. Reg Buxton asked for comments and recommendations from the public vehicle sector. 3 August 4, 2008 Speaker Ken Mastrodomenico, Taxi Time suggested that the "Flag Drop" rate be increased to coincide with the price of a gallon of gas. Later, if necessary, the "Flag Drop" rate could be increased with the approval of staff. He also recommended a 20% mileage increase. Ken expressed concern in a market that is down 30% any rate increase stands to alienate the customer. He pointed out the Ordinance states that the taxicab driver is prohibited from charging any amount different from the meter rate. He suggested the Ordinance be revised to state they do not have to charge the meter rate. Jeff Wright stated the meter rate change can be added to the Proposed Resolution. Reg Buxton asked how enforceable a "Fuel Surcharge" is. Diane Flagg stated Miami-Dade taxi drivers have implemented the increase of the fuel surcharge by placing a sign in their cab windows reflecting a fuel surcharge will be added in lieu of adding to the pickup rate. Tom Lugrin suggested the recommendation made on the Proposed Resolution being presented to the Board of County Commissioners be clean and simple or it will be sent back to the Committee. This would cause a delay in reaching a solution for the public vehicles for hire until October or later. Diane Flagg stated once the Proposed Resolution moving the fees out of the resolution and moving them into a separate fee resolution would allow the revision on fees for a vehicle for hire to be more efficient. Once Resolution is approved, it would only require writing an Executive Summary and taking it to the Board of County Commissioners at the next meeting. No advertising would be required. The Committees' recommendation will be added to the bottom of the Resolution reflecting a "Drop Rate" or a "Fuel Surcharge" to be presented to the Board on September 9, 2008. Russell Berghuis moved to increase Collier County Taxi Rates and adopt the Miami-Dade and Broward Fuel Surcharge Schedule. Second by Steve Quinn. Carried with, 3-Yes -1- No (Tom Lugrin voted No.) Diane Flagg stated the current Ordinance does not allow a taxi driver to take less then what is in the Fee Resolution. The Ordinance would have to be changed to allow up to a maximum amount and then they could charge less. Jeff Wright suggested the Committee vote on the Ordinance to revise the verbiage that states thou shall not be greater or lesser than the amount shown. Tom Lugrin moved to change the Ordinance to read the meter rate is the maximum not a minimum. Second by Russell Berghuis. Carried unanimously 4-0. 4 August 4, 2008 B. PV AC Vacancies Colleen Davidson announced the four Committee Members with terms expiring in January 2009 are Tony Marino, Russ Berghuis, Randy Smith and Steve Quinn. Five applications received for these positions are Tony Marino, Russ Berghuis, Steve Quinn, Ronald Doino and Victoria DiNardo. (See attached) Tom Lugrin moved to approve to reinstate applicants; Tony Marino, Russ Berghuis, Steve Quinn to a permanent member and add Ronal Doino. Second by Steve Quinn. Carried unanimously, 4-0. The above names will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners for approval. 7. Speakers: None. 8. The next scheduled meeting date will be September 8, 2008. There being no further business for the good of the County, the meeting was adjourned by order of the chair at 10:45 A.M. COLLIER COUNTY PUBLIC VEHlCI~E ADVISORY COMMITTEE Vice Chairman, Russell Berghuis These minutes approved by the Board/Committee on as presented or as amended 5