HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 05-14-2002 SpecialAdopted Minutes
Special Council Meeting
May 14, 2002
A Special Meeting of the Plymouth City Council was called to order by Deputy Mayor
Johnson at 5:35 p.m. in the Public Safety Training Room, 3400 Plymouth Boulevard, on
May 14, 2002.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Deputy Mayor Johnson, Councilmembers Hewitt, Harstad, Black
arrived at 5:40 p.m.), Slavik, and Stein.
ABSENT: Mayor Tierney.
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Johnson, Assistant City Manager Ahrens, Police Chief
Gerdes, Public Works Director Faulkner, Public Services Manager Qvale, Acting Transit
Administrator Bentley, Park and Recreation Director Blank, and City Clerk Paulson.
Taxicab Service to Supplement Plymouth Dial -a -Ride
Acting Transit Administrator Bentley stated at the April 9 Council meeting, the Council
discussed a proposed one-year agreement between the City and Airport and Airline Taxi -
Cab Corporation and Triad Transportation, Inc. During the Council discussion, the
Council requested further information on the need and/or possibility of competitive
bidding on the agreement, and whether the service could be provided exclusively to
seniors. He stated staff has reviewed this proposal further and has outlined three options
for the Council to consider:
1. Revise the request to specify that service would be provided only to seniors and would
be operated for a six month period, after which there would be a further recommendation
to the Council to either discontinue the program or to request competitive bids for an
extended service period.
2. Revise the request as indicated in Option No. 1 but provide the service to the general
public not just to seniors.
3. Withdraw the request and monitor the need for a possible future reintroduction of the
proposal.
He stated regarding option No. 1, it is the City Attorney's legal opinion that there is no
legal issue with a cab service that would provide service only to individuals over the age
of 59. He indicated that if the Council approved this option, after an initial six-month
trial period, a recommendation would be made to the Council to either discontinue the
program or to request bids from cab services to provide the service for an extended
period of time. He stated the Plymouth Metrolink would subsidize the trips as follows:
1. The first $2 would be paid by the rider.
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Special Meeting of May 14, 2002
Page 2 of 3
2. Up to $20 of the remaining fare would be paid by Plymouth Metrolink as a subsidy to
the taxicab company.
3. The rider would pay any remaining fare.
He stated currently, the Plymouth Dial -a -Ride is experiencing very few incidents of trip
denials to those requesting service. He indicated that from February 1 through April 30
there have only been 30 trip denials when Dial -a -Ride could not provide the trip. During
the same period, there were additional 49 trip requests for which Dial -a -Ride dispatch
provided alternate times, and the person making the trip request did not want an alternate
time. He stated for comparison purposes, Dial -a -Ride provided approximately 12,000
rides during the same three-month period, which equates to a 0.25% denial rate.
He stated the proposed supplemental taxicab service was not specifically considered as a
replacement for the Plymouth Flyer, but was viewed as a "value added" service to the
community by providing opportunities for residents to make trips to and from
destinations further away than previously offered though the Plymouth Flyer in addition
to providing backup and supplemental service to Dial -a -Ride.
Councilmember Harstad considers the supplemental taxicab service to be a "safety net,"
and he wouldn't want to limit it just to senior citizens. He stated if there isn't a demand
for the extra service, it could be discontinued. He stated at this time there is uncertainty
as to what the demand would be.
Councilmember Slavik stated she would support Option No. 1 with the addition of
disabled individuals.
Acting Transit Administrator Bentley commented that Metro Mobility is also still an
option for people who are disabled. He stated he is unsure if the proposed taxicab
company would have vans to transport individuals with disabilities.
Deputy Mayor Johnson asked if the City would lose the $72,000 in funding if this service
isn't utilized. Acting Transit Administrator Bentley replied no.
A representative from Suburban Taxi stated they would be interested in preparing a
proposal for the City if the Council chooses Options No's. 1 or 2. He stated they have
several vans that are used to transport individuals with disabilities.
Councilmember Stein stated he would support Option No. 3, as there doesn't appear to be
a great demand for the service at this time, and the City wouldn't lose the $72,000 in
funding.
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1 Special Meeting of May 14, 2002
Page 3 of 3
Councilmember Slavik stated she could agree with that viewpoint if the Plymouth Flyer
hadn't been discontinued. However, there could be senior citizens who are without
transportation services.
Acting Transit Administrator Bentley commented that those senior citizens who have a
high need for the Dial -a -Ride service, such as for dialysis, are given top priority.
Councilmember Hewitt stated she supports Option No. 1 with the addition of disabled
individuals, and this could be reviewed in six months.
Acting Transit Administrator Bentley stated he would recommend Option No. 3 in order
to monitor the need. He would meet with senior citizens to determine what transportation
needs, if any, aren't being met.
Deputy Mayor Johnson stated she would support a competitive bidding process if it were
determined that the taxicab service is needed. She stated she would also favor a "sliding
scale" for the rates.
1 Motion was made by Councilmember Slavik, and seconded by Councilmember Black, to
gpprove Option No. 3. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried.
Schedule Future Study Sessions
Motion was made by Councilmember Slavik, and seconded by Councilmember Harstad,
to schedule a Quarterly Check -In with the City Manager on May 21 immediately after the
7:00 p.m. Special Meeting. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried.
There being no further discussion, Deputy Mayor Johnson declared the meeting
adjourned at 6:15 p.m. /
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Sandra R. Paulson, City Clerk