FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION

 

 

 

 

 

TO:

Mayor and Members of Council

 

 

 

 

FROM:

Sheila Birrell, Town Clerk

 

 

 

 

PREPARED BY:

William Wiles, Manager, By-Law Enforcement & Licencing

 

 

 

 

DATE OF MEETING:

2004-Mar-22

 

 

 

 

SUBJECT:

Taxi Licencing By-Law Amendments

 

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

That By-Law No. 2002-308 “A By-Law for Licensing, Regulating and Governing Owners and Drivers of Taxicabs and Taxicab Brokers” be amended, to:

 

Increase the initial tariff rate for fares from $2.50 to $2.75 and that the tariff rate be further increased by 5 cents for each additional 235 metres or part thereof travelled;

 

Provide for an initial establishment of taxi stands at seven locations with a total twenty-four spaces within the Town as illustrated on Schedule ‘A’;

 

And that staff review and consider the input from the March 2, 2004 Public Meeting on Taxi Licencing and report back to Council on the following- Safety Equipment, Single Colour/ Vehicle Identification, Police Screening Process, Safety Inspections/ Blitzes, Additional Premiere Plates, Mandatory Driver Training, and Administrative By-Law Amendments.

 

PURPOSE:

To recommend an immediate tariff rate increase for taxis, the implementation of taxi stands, and to direct staff to consider public meeting submissions and report back to Committee. This report will also review the progress of the Wheels Unit Program.

 

BACKGROUND:

A public meeting was held on March 2, 2004 to obtain input from the public and the taxi industry on proposed amendments to the Taxi Licensing By-Law. The proposed amendments were in response to Council’s May 2002 approval of a report on Taxi and Limousine Licencing. Approval of that report resulted in the formation of the Wheels Licencing Unit and the mandate to implement the following ten initiatives:

 

BACKGROUND:  (Cont’d.)

 

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

Tariff Fare Increase

The last tariff fare increase was in 1997. Since then increased costs of fuel, oil, and insurance have impacted profitability within the industry. Representatives of the industry reported the immediate need to increase the initial tariff rate by 25 cents to $2.75 for the first 235 metres travelled and increasing the fare for subsequent distance travelled from 25 cents to $0.30 for each additional 235 metres or portion travelled.

 

The proposed initial tariff rate aligns with the current rate in the City of Toronto. The York Region starting fare at $3.00 was considered; however, the majority of taxicabs meters in use by Markham Taxicabs cannot be programmed to charge $3.00. The industry advised they would prefer the $2.75 and $0.30 distance travelled option, avoiding the cost of replacing metres.

 

Taxi Stands

Staff worked with the owners of identified properties to establish taxi stands in Markham. With the stands being new to Markham and having to be established on parking lots already built and laid out, staff were only able to come to agreement at a limited number of locations at this time. Future locations will be established in conjunction with Planning Staff and through the Site Plan Approval Process (including Markham Centre) and in conjunction with Roads Department Staff for municipal road locations. Staff will also continue to seek agreements with existing property owners, including locations at Steeles Avenue and Kennedy Road, and at Buttonville Airport.

 

Wheels Unit Program Review

The Wheels Unit was established in May 2002.  Staffing (one Senior Provincial Offences Officer and one Provincial Offences Officer II) was achieved in August of 2003.  Difficulties were encountered in the recruitment process and re-evaluation of the position of Senior Officer was necessary to ensure the salary would attract appropriate candidates.  Once the two Officers were in place, they began the task of preparing for all of the initiatives directed by Council:

 

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:  (cont’d.)

 

Unfortunately, there was an eight month period in 2003 where vacancies in the Department occurred that negatively affected the Wheels Unit.

 

The Wheels Unit associated costs of the additional personnel, vehicles, cell phones and uniforms were all offset by revenue generated through charges not only to the taxi industry but to the limousine, tow truck, refreshment vehicle and driver education industries.   Consequently, resources were not focused 100 per cent on the taxi industry.

 

The following table lists the initial ten programs and their status:

 

Activity Table (May 2002 Mandate)

#

Program

ProgramTiming

Completed

Target

1

Dedicated and Enhanced By-Law Administration and Enforcement

Yes

 

2

Issuance of 20 Premiere Taxicab Plates

Yes

 

3

Designated Taxi Stands

 

Spring/ 04

4

Alignment of Licencing Program Expenditures and Revenues

Yes

 

5

Mandatory Taxi Driver Training

 

Fall/ 04

6

Three Year Driver Licences

 

05 Renewals

7

Town Facilitated Police Clearance Process

 

(1)

8

Complaint Hot Line

Yes

 

9

Photo Identification Licences and Tariff Rate Display Cards

 

(2)

10

Cleaner and Safer Vehicles (Model Year Restrictions)

Yes

05 Renewals

 

(1)     Business Case with ITS for approval and advisement of timing for hardware/ software installation

(2)     ITS resolving file import issues with application vendors; awaiting advisement of timing

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

None at this time

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS

The Manager, Environmental Leadership provided comments for consideration regarding annual emissions testing, alternative fuel/ hybrid vehicles, and use of newer and more environmental friendly vehicles.

 

ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS

Already included in By-Law

 

ENGAGE 21ST CONSIDERATIONS

None

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED

Planning and Street Services Departments regarding Taxi Stands

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sheila Birrell

 

Andy Taylor

Town Clerk                                                                                 Commissioner, Corporate Services