COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

 

 

 

 

 

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-30

 

 

 

 

SUBJECT:

Taxi Licencing By-Law Amendment Clarification

 

 

 

 

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 to $2.75 from $2.50;
  • Increase the fare charged for distance by reducing the distance increment to 190 metres from 235 metres;
  • Increase the fare for waiting time while under engagement by reducing the increment period to 31 seconds from 38 seconds;

§         Provide an initial creation of taxi stands at seven locations with a total twenty-four spaces, as shown on Schedule A;

  • To provide for an automatic review of the taxi by-law and tariff rate every two years;

 

And that staff 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 clarify issues raised by the taxi industry at the March 22, 2004 Finance & Administrative Committee Meeting regarding an increase to the taxi tariff rate.

BACKGROUND:

On March 22, 2004, Finance & Administrative Committee considered a report entitled “Taxi Licencing By-Law Amendment. The Committee discussed the report and considered issues raised by the industry that were not discussed at the Public Meeting. Committee then adopted the following resolutions:

 

  1. Increase the initial tariff fare rate from $2.50 to $2.75;
  2. That the deputastions made by Mr. Benny Banipal, Mr. Vasilios (Bill) Sakorafas, and Mr. Anis Khalaf, be received;
  3. That staff meet with representatives of the taxi industry to obtain clarification on the following issues raised on this date and report back to Committee of the Whole on March 30, 2004:

§         Alignment with City of Toronto rates

§         Distance travelled

§         Waiting time in gridlock, and

§         Taxicab metres

 

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

 

Meeting with Representatives of Taxicab Industry

The Town Clerk and Manager, By-Law Enforcement & Licencing and interested individuals of the taxi industry held a meeting to clarify issues raised at the Finance & Administrative Committee Meeting. The following clarifications were made:

 

  • Almost all taxicab metres are reprogrammable with a cost incurred each time they are reprogrammed. The industry prefers only a single change occurs in 2004;
  • Alignment of fares with the City of Toronto;
  • The industry advises the most appropriate comparator is Toronto due to the length of trips and types of customers;
  • Travel distance of trips in Markham are different than in surrounding municipalities within the Region and using the same model as those municipalities does not adequately compensate the industry; whereas, the Toronto model does;
  • Waiting time charges while under engagement (Based on elapsed when vehicle is stopped or moving at low speed when in traffic) should be adjusted to reflect current Markham traffic conditions;
  • Identification of future locations for taxicab stands;
  • Last fare increase for Markham was in 1997.

 

Fare Comparison Table

Municipality

First Drop Rate

First Drop Distance

Travel Rate

Travel Distance

Waiting Time Rate

Wait Time Increment

Markham (existing)

$2.50

235m

$0.25

235m

$0.25

38 seconds

York Reg. South (proposed)

$3.00

200m

$0.25

200m

$0.25

30 seconds

Toronto (existing)

$2.75

190m

$0.25

190m

$0.25

31 seconds

Markham (proposed)

$2.75

190m

$0.25

190m

$0.25

31 seconds

 

 

Trip Cost Table

From Markville Mall

Current Fare

Proposed Fare

Fare Increase

Buttonville Airport

$16.68

$22.24

24.98%

Toronto City Hall

$41.15

$50.61

18.70%

Lester B. Pearson Airport

$52.59

$55.23

18.73%

Average % Increase

20.80%

Average % Increase per year since last increase in 1997

2.97%

 

Recommendation to Align with City of Toronto Fares

Staff considered the information provided by the industry and are recommending alignment with City of Toronto fares. Markham’s pattern of development makes Toronto the more appropriate comparator for fares rather than the southern York Region municipalities. With the build out of Markham Centre, the comparison with Toronto will be even more appropriate.

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

None at this time

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS

Under consideration.

 

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