REQUEST FOR DECISION
DATE: November 2, 2018 Report No. ADM-18-029
TO: Laurie Hurst, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Anja Nurvo, Director of Corporate Services
SUBJECT:
Title
Taxi Applications
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That Council provide any comments on the Taxi Applications or on the taxi services in general, as set out in Staff Report ADM-18-029, and direct staff to forward the comments to the Passenger Transportation Board for consideration.
Body
RELEVANT POLICY:
Not applicable.
STRATEGIC RELEVANCE:
This Request for Decision does not directly relate to any specific Council priority.
BACKGROUND:
The Township has been provided with a copy of several Municipal Notices from the Passenger Transportation Board (PTB) relating to applications from local taxi companies. The Notices state that the PTB is allowing taxi companies the opportunity to increase fleets by up to 15%, and is providing for taxi companies with a small number of vehicles to obtain an additional plate.
The following applications were received, a copy of which are attached:
1. 437222 B.C. Ltd. (ESQ Taxi) - to increase its fleet size from 2 to 3
2. Bluebird Cabs Ltd. - one application to increase its fleet from 38 to 44 for Affiliates and another to increase its regular fleet from 56 to 64
3. Victoria Taxi Transportation Ltd. (Victoria Taxi) - to increase its fleet from 33 to 38, including increasing accessible taxis from 1 to 2
4. City & Country Taxi Service Limited (Yellow Cab of Victoria) - to increase its fleet from 101 to 116
5. Esquimalt Saanich Taxi Ltd. - to increase its fleet from 12 to 13
6. Peninsula Taxi (2008) Ltd. - to increase its fleet from 4 to 5
In addition to the above applications to increase fleet sizes, we have received a Municipal Notice, copies attached, of the following applications:
1. Yellow Cab of Victoria - to operate their “5 weekend taxis 24/7”; and
2. Sukhdev S. Randhawa (Weekend Cab) - to operate its one taxi “24 hours 7 days a week.”
The PTB is inviting comments from the municipality about the applications or the taxi services in general. They recommend that comments be provided within 30 days of receipt of the Notice; however, with the recent Local Government Election, it was not possible to provide the Notices to Council within the 30 day period. Staff recommends that Council provide any comments relating to these applications to staff for forwarding to the PTB, despite being beyond the requested 30-day commenting period.
ISSUES:
1. Rationale for Selected Option
Council has the opportunity to provide the Passenger Transportation Board with comments relating specifically to the applications or to taxi services in general, which the Board will consider prior to determining whether to approve the application.
2. Organizational Implications
There are no organizational implications.
3. Financial Implications
There are no financial implications.
4. Sustainability & Environmental Implications
There are no sustainability or environmental implications.
5. Communication & Engagement
There is no requirement for the Township to undertake public consultation relating to these applications. The PTB provides a Notice to the affected municipalities and invites comments and publishes applications to their website for public input.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. That Council provide any comments on the Taxi Applications or on the taxi services in general, as set out in Staff Report ADM-18-029, and direct staff to forward the comments to the Passenger Transportation Board for consideration.
2. That Council receive Staff Report ADM-18-029 for information.
3. That Council request further information from staff.