[Archived] Taxi Industry Work Group Report Topic of May 25 Public Hearing

City Press Release


	City of Alexandria, Virginia Office of the City Manager Alexandria City Hall 301 King Street, Suite 3500 Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3211 www.alexandriava.gov Telephone: 703.838.4300 Fax : 703.838.6343

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 18, 2004
PIO 115-04

Taxi Industry Work Group Report
Topic of May 25 Public Hearing

The Alexandria City Council will hold a pubic hearing on May 25, starting at 5 pm, on various proposed changes to the City’s regulation of the taxicab industry in Alexandria. A Taxi Industry Work Group presented a report to the Council earlier this month which recommended a revised framework for the regulation of taxi operations. This and other proposals for changing the regulation of the taxicab industry in Alexandria will be the subject of the public hearing.

Following the public hearing on May 25, the City Council is expected to endorse a set of changes to the City’s taxicab regulations which will then be referred to the City Attorney’s Office for placement in ordinance form.

Members of the public are invited to attend this May 25 public hearing and comment on one or more of these proposals, as well as on the taxi industry in general, the quality of taxi service in Alexandria, and the need for changes in the way the City regulates this industry.

The Taxi Industry Work Group was formed as directed by Council and originally consisted of five owner-operator/driver representatives and five company owner representatives. The group was chaired by the City’s consultant, Bruce Schaller, with support from City staff. The Work Group met four times and reviewed issues, regulatory frameworks and proposals. Eventually, the Work Group (without the owner-operator/driver representatives who had withdrawn from the group) reached a consensus on a framework for taxi industry changes.

These changes are discussed in the Work Group report.

Also, the report contains a number of alternative proposals to change the regulation of taxicabs in the City. The report, along with the alternative proposals, is available in the City Clerk’s Office, Room 2300 in City Hall, 301 King Street, or online under City Government, City Dockets, at www.alexandriava.gov.

A comparison and analysis of the different proposals is being prepared by the City’s consultant. It will be available by the close of business this Friday, May 21. Individuals wishing to access this document may contact the City’s Clerk (703.838-4550; Room 2300, City Hall, or visit the City’s web site at www.alexandriava.gov).

To sign up to speak at the public hearing, call 703.838.4550, or visit the City Clerk’s Office. The public hearing will be held in the Council Chambers, 2nd floor of City Hall.

###