City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JANUARY 2, 2013
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: RASHAD M. YOUNG, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage of an Ordinance for a Proposed Amendment to the Taxicab Code to Change Taxicab Fares and to Receive the Taxicab Biennial Review Report. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
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ISSUE: The City Manager's Biennial Report on the Taxicab Industry and a Recommendation to Amend Ordinance and Change Taxicab Fare rates.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council: (1) receive the City Manager's Biennial Report on the City of Alexandria's Taxi Industry (Attachment 1); (2) hold the public hearing on Saturday, January 12, 2013 on the proposed changes to the taxicab fares; and (3) amend the ordinance to reflect changes to taxicab fares.
DISCUSSION: On November 26, 2012, the Traffic and Parking Board held its biennial taxicab review as mandated in Section 9-12-31 of City code. The review was conducted in consultation with the City's taxi industry and resulted in a series of recommendations including simplifying the fee structure and increasing fare rates.
The most recent adjustment to the City's taxicab fares was in 2008. Since that time, the cost of living has increased by nearly 10 percent. The proposed rate increase is expected to increase driver income by three to four percent. This adjustment attempts to balance driver needs against community needs. The present $0.75 per trip fuel surcharge will terminate once these proposed fares are enacted. A more detailed analysis of the fare proposal can be found in Attachment 3.
The Board with consideration of input from City staff and representatives of the taxicab industry makes the following recommendations -
1. Simplify the taxi fare structure by combining the suite case and trunk charges into a luggage handling fee;
2. Eliminate the charge for animals and grocery bags;
3. Increase the drop charge from $2.75 to $3.00;
4. Increase the mileage charge from $2.04 per mile to $2.16 per mile; and
5. Increase the waiting charge from $22.50 per hour to $25.00 per hour.
Current and Proposed Fares
Service Current Fare Proposed Fare
Drop $2.75 $3.00
Mileage $2.04/mile $2.16
Waiting $22.50/hour $25.00/hour
Passengers $1.25 $1.25
Suitcase $0.50 Subsumed by Luggage Handling Fee
Trunk $2.00 Subsumed by Luggage Handling Fee
Grocery Bags $0.33/bag Eliminated
Animals $1.00 Eliminated
Snow $5.00 $5.00
Luggage Handling Fee --- -- $0.50/bag Max $5.00
Tenants and Workers Proposal: Last summer Tenants and Workers United contacted the Mayor, Vice Mayor, and City Council concerning a proposal to lift the prohibition against drivers transferring into noncompliant companies. Staff will make this proposal an agenda item for the Traffic and Parking Board in the first quarter of 2013.
FISCAL IMPACT: The proposed taxi fare adjustments are expected to cost the City an additional $50,000 per year: $17,000 for senior taxi service and $33,000 for DOT Para-transit taxi service.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: City Manager's Biennial Taxi Industry Review
Attachment 2: November 26, 2012 Docket Memorandum: Biennual Review of the Alexandria Taxicab Industry
Attachment 3: November 26, 2012 Docket Memorandum: Renewal and Amendment of Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity
Attachment 4: November 26, 2012 Traffic and Parking Board Annual Review Findings and Recommendations
Attachment 5: PowerPoint Presentation - Biennial Taxi Review January 8, 2013
STAFF:
Mark Jinks, Deputy City Manager
Richard J. Baier, Director, P.E., LEED AP, Director, T&ES
Chris Spera, Deputy City Attorney
Jerome Fletcher, Special Assistant to the City Manager
Sandra Marks, Acting Director, Transportation Planning, T&ES
Bob Garbacz, Division Chief, Transportation, T&ES