CAPTIONING
MAY 10, 2006
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION



***This is not an official, verbatim transcript of the 
***following meeting.  It should be used for informational 
***purposes only.  This document has not been edited; 
***therefore, there may be additions, deletions, or words 
***that did not translate.

>>KEVIN WHITE:  GOOD MORNING, AND WELCOME TO THE MAY 10th 
EDITION OF THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MEETING.
IF WE'D ALL RISE AND STAND FOR THE INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF 
ALLEGIANCE, PLEASE.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH 
FOR THIS DAY, FATHER.
WE'RE GRATEFUL TO BE HERE TO DELIBERATE THE ISSUES, TO TRY 
TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE.
FATHER, PLEASE GIVE US WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, AND UNDERSTANDING 
AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND TACKLE THE ISSUES IN FRONT OF US.
FATHER, WE PRAY FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS IN THIS COMMUNITY, 
THAT YOU WOULD ANSWER THEIR PRAYERS AND STAY WITH THEM.
KEEP US SAFE, FATHER, AND WE PRAY FOR THE CHILDREN WHO WERE 
FOUND LATELY IN DUMPSTERS AND JUST PRAY THAT YOU WOULD KEEP 
THEM SAFE AND SMARTEN UP SOME OF THESE YOUNG PARENTS AND BE 
WITH THEM, PLEASE, FATHER.
EVERYBODY'S STRUGGLING SOMEHOW SOMEWHERE IN THIS COMMUNITY
[INAUDIBLE]
WE JUST PRAY THAT YOU WOULD COMFORT THEIR SOULS.
FATHER, WE PRAY FOR THE MILITARY THAT ARE FIGHTING FOR OUR 
FREEDOM, BOTH HERE AND ABROAD, AND WE PRAY FOR ALL THE 
PEOPLE IN PUBLIC SAFETY.
I PRAY FOR OUR COLLEAGUES.
I PRAY THAT THIS WOULD BE A WONDERFUL DAY.
IN YOUR NAME, LORD, WE PRAY.
AMEN.
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
>>KEVIN WHITE:  AT THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE OUR SWEARING-IN.
IF THERE'S ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT PLANS TO SPEAK ON 
ANY ITEM THAT'S SCHEDULED ON THE AGENDA, WOULD YOU PLEASE 
STAND AND BE SWORN IN AT THIS TIME.
DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR TO TELL THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, 
AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, SO HELP YOU GOD?
>> I DO.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  THANK YOU.
WE'LL GO TO OUR AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION.
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD CARE TO SPEAK ON 
ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA?
IF SO, PLEASE COME UP AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, 
AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
>> I'M BOB VALLEE, FLORIDA TAXI.
YOU KNOW, I'M BACK HERE, I'M A REAL PAIN IN THE YOU-KNOW-
WHAT ABOUT THE RULE CHANGE YOU'RE HAVING ABOUT CHANGE 
PROPOSAL NUMBER 3, WHERE YOU WANT TO KEEP THE CAP AS IT IS.
WHAT IT'S DOING, YOU'RE HURTING THE SMALL INDIVIDUALS BY 
CONSTANTLY DOING THAT.
THAT CAP WAS NEVER ANY REAL JUSTIFICATION OF HAVING IT IN 
THE FIRST PLACE, AND GREG COX CANNOT COME UP WITH ANY 
NUMBERS OR FIGURES OR ANYTHING ELSE OF WHY THE CAP IS 
THERE.
IF YOU DID REMOVE THE CAP OR ADJUST THE CAP, THERE'S NOT 
GOING TO BE A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE RUNNING UP TO GET 
TAXICABS AND SO FORTH LIKE THAT.
IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
IT'S TOO COSTLY.
IT HASN'T BEEN DONE BEFORE, AND I DON'T SEE IT BEING DONE 
IN THE FUTURE.
SO WE NEED TO USE A LITTLE COMMON SENSE, WHAT I CALL COMMON 
SENSE, THAT COULD MAKE THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE CAP SO THE 
LITTLE COMPANIES LIKE US CAN GROW.
THIS IS RIDICULOUS, TWO YEARS RIGHT THERE, AND THEN WE'VE 
GOT TO GO INTO A LOTTO SITUATION WHERE WE'VE GOT TO ROLL 
DICE IN ORDER TO SEE IF WE GET MAYBE EXTRA CABS OR WE DON'T 
GET EXTRA CABS?
THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
I'D JUST LIKE THE BOARD, FOR ONCE, THINK ABOUT IT.
THE REASON WHY SOME OF THESE RULES AND EVERYTHING ELSE WERE 
PUT IN PLACE WAS FOR THE BIG COMPANIES.
I KNOW THAT, AND I THINK ALL OF YOU WHO USE COMMON SENSE 
WILL KNOW THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED IN THE BEGINNING.
[INCOMPREHENSIBLE] AT THE AIRPORT, SAME THING WITH THIS GUY 
THERE, TRYING TO STOP US AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
HE DOESN'T KNOW.
AND THIS -- YOU KNOW, I'M GETTING TO A POINT WHERE WE'RE  
TRYING TO DO SOMETHING.
I'M TRYING TO ORGANIZE SOME OF THE OTHER DRIVERS RIGHT 
THERE.
YOU THINK EVERYBODY, IF YOU REMOVE THE CAP OR ADJUST THE 
CAP, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A WHOLE SLEW OF PEOPLE GOING UP 
AND GOING FOR TAXICABS?
NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
YET YOU GO UP ON THE LUXURY CARS, KEEP ON ADDING, ADDING, 
ADDING, MORE LIMOUSINES, MORE EVERYTHING.
IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
I WANT YOU ALL TO THINK ABOUT IT AND USE COMMON SENSE ON 
THESE RULES RIGHT HERE, AND THAT'S TO GET SOMEBODY THAT'S 
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FENCE AND JUST JUMPING UP AND DOWN.
THANK YOU.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  THANK YOU.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD CARE TO SPEAK?
PLEASE COME FORWARD.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
FRANK DUNN WITH TRIPLE L LIMOUSINE.
I THANK BOB FOR KIND OF SEGUEING INTO WHAT I WANT TO SPEAK 
ABOUT THIS MORNING, AND THAT'S THE -- THERE'S A SYSTEMIC 
PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE HERE NOW WITH MORE PERMITS BEING 
ISSUED ON TAXIS, AND THAT IS THE LOTTERY SYSTEM, AND I 
BELIEVE -- DERELICT IS A HARD WORD, BUT I BELIEVE YOU'VE 
BEEN DERELICT IN YOUR DUTY TO THE RESIDENTS OF HILLSBOROUGH 
COUNTY BY REMOVING THE QUALITATIVE JUDGMENT AND REPLACING 
THEM WITH THIS LUCK OF THE DRAW LOTTERY.
NOW, I FULLY UNDERSTAND WHY MR. COX CHOSE THIS APPROACH.
THE LOTTERY'S BEEN USED IN NUMEROUS OTHER FLORIDA CITIES.
BUT THE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IS THOSE OTHER CITIES DON'T 
HAVE A PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION.
AS MEMBERS OF THIS COMMISSION, YOU'RE THE COUNTY'S 
EXECUTIVE DECISION-MAKERS, AND BUSINESS DOESN'T RELY -- YOU 
DON'T RELY ON LUCK TO MAKE DECISIONS.
THE PROCESS OF ISSUING PERMITS SHOULD BE BASED ON THE 
QUALITY OF THE PROOF OF CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE TIME, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE THE 
AUTHORITY TO RELY ON MR. COX AND THE HEARING MASTERS TO 
MAKE THE DECISION OF WHICH APPLICANTS RECEIVE THE PERMITS 
AND IN WHAT QUANTITY.
RELYING ON LUCK IS NOT FAIR TO THE RESIDENTS OF 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, IT'S NOT FAIR TO THOSE APPLICANTS WITH 
SUPERIOR PROOF OF CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY, AND IT'S AN 
INSULT TO THE JUDGMENT OF MR. COX AND THE HEARING MASTERS, 
WHO ARE CLEARLY CAPABLE OF MAKING GOOD JUDGMENT CALLS.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS PUT ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT MONTH, 
AND I'LL ASK MR. COX TO DO THAT, SO WE CAN DISCUSS IT 
FURTHER AT THIS TIME.
THANK YOU.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  THANK YOU, MR. DUNN.
NEXT.
>> DAVE SHAW, PARADISE LIMOUSINES OF TAMPA BAY.
I HAVE A RECOMMENDATION ON THE RULE CHANGE ON PROPOSAL 
NUMBER 6.
THAT STATES THAT A PERMANENT COMPANY NAME IDENTIFICATION BE 
DISPLAYED WITH ONE-INCH LETTERS.
WE ALREADY HAVE THOSE ON OUR VEHICLES, BUT THE LETTERS ARE 
NOT ONE INCHES.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT ON THE SIZE OF 
THE LETTERS ON THE VEHICLES.
RIGHT NOW I BELIEVE OURS ARE ABOUT 5/8 OF AN INCH, AND SOME 
OF THE OTHER COMPANIES EXISTING THAT HAVE IDENTIFICATION 
ALSO HAVE LETTERS THAT ARE A LITTLE LESS THAN ONE INCH.
THANK YOU.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  YOU WOULDN'T HAPPEN TO HAVE ANY PHOTOGRAPHS 
THAT YOU CAN SHOW THE COMMISSION?
>> I DIDN'T BRING THEM, NO.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  OKAY.
THANK YOU.
ANYONE ELSE?
>> CHARLES SMALLING, 3108 NORTH ADAMS, TAMPA, FLORIDA, 
YELLOW CAB DRIVER.
THE PTC HAS HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS CONCERNING THE $20 FLAT 
RATE.
IT'S CHANGED TO $22 IN SOME AREAS, [INCOMPREHENSIBLE] AND 
OTHERS WAS GOING TO BE DISCUSSED SIX MONTHS AGO.
NEVER WAS.
WHILE WE, THE DRIVERS, HAVE BEEN WAITING, GAS PRICES HAVE 
GONE PAST $3 A GALLON.
DRIVERS HAVE ASKED ME TO ASK YOU TO ELIMINATE THE FLAT 
RATE.
GAS RATES, COSTS -- GAP COSTS AND THE COSTS OF LIVING HAVE 
EXCEEDED SUCH A RATE THAT IT MAKES THESE FLAT RATES 
IMPRACTICAL.
THE DRIVERS ALSO WANTED ME TO ASK THIS BOARD THAT IF EVERY 
TIME THEY WALK INTO THEIR OFFICE SOMEONE PENALIZED $2 OR $5 
OUT OF YOUR POCKET, WOULD YOU BE HAPPY?
I DON'T THINK SO.
THINK ABOUT IT.
THIS IS WHAT IS HAPPENING TO CABDRIVERS.
EVERY TIME WE GO DOWNTOWN, WE LOSE $2 TO $5.
NOT EVERYONE THAT IS A CABDRIVER IS ECSTATIC OVER THE FLAT 
RATE.
THE PORT, THE AIRPORT, THE TOURISTS ALL SAY IT'S WONDERFUL.
SOMEWHERE IN ALL REVELRY, SOMEONE FORGOT THE TAXI DRIVER.
THEY LOSE $2 TO $5 EVERY TIME WE GO DOWNTOWN OR OTHER 
AREAS.
THE GENTLEMEN WHO CHECK THE METER TO DOWNTOWN AND OTHER 
AREAS TO FIND OUT WHAT THE METER WOULD RUN WAS NOT A 
CABDRIVER AND DID NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT DRIVING CONDITIONS, 
TIPS AT FULL METER, AND I ASSURE YOU THE FLAT RATE 
PRESENTLY OR THE ONE THAT IS PROPOSED IS NOT FAIR.
THIS CITY HAS OVER 600 CABDRIVERS.
WHILE THOSE IN AUTHORITY SAY EVERYONE SAYS IT IS A GREAT 
THING FOR THE TOURISTS, BUSINESS PEOPLE, THEY FORGOT THAT 
MONEY IS COMING OUT OF THE TAXI DRIVERS' POCKETS, AND WHILE 
SOME WILL SAY WE'RE NOT LOSING, AS A TAXI DRIVER, I SAY WE 
ARE.
IN CONCLUSION, WHILE SOME DOWNTOWN DRIVERS LIKE THE $3-A-
HEAD RULE, BE SURE THAT IS NOT WHAT I AM DISCUSSING.
I AM TELLING YOU THE DRIVERS WANT THE METER BACK FROM THE 
$20 ZONE.
PLEASE CORRECT THE IMPOSSIBLE DILEMMA CALLED A "FLAT RATE," 
AND MAKE 600 CABDRIVERS THINK SOMEONE IS LISTENING AND 
CARES.
GIVE US OUR METER BACK.
THE PEOPLE THAT WANT THESE FLAT RATES ARE NOT LOSING MONEY.
600 CABDRIVERS ARE.
PLEASE ACT ON THIS TODAY.
THE DRIVERS HAVE WAITED LONG ENOUGH.
BUSES ARE $18 A HEAD, VANS $11 A HEAD.
TWO PEOPLE, IT'S $22.
NOW, THAT'S MORE THAN THE $20 FLAT RATE.
YOU CAN TELL THE TOURIST AND BUSINESS PEOPLE THAT A RIDE IS 
APPROXIMATELY $22 TO DOWNTOWN AND APPROXIMATELY $25 TO YBOR 
CITY, AND YOU WOULD STILL BE ADVERTISING THE CABS' 
EXCELLENT RATES.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  MR. SMALLING.
>> YES, SIR.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  $20 FLAT RATE, DOES THAT INCLUDE ALL -- IF 
THERE'S THREE PEOPLE, DO YOU STILL CHARGE THE PER HEAD?
>> NO, WE DON'T CHARGE PER HEAD, WE CHARGE BY THE CAB.
IT'S $20 DOWNTOWN.
NOW, IF YOU TOOK THREE PEOPLE AND PUT THEM IN A VAN, IT 
WOULD BE $33.
FOUR PEOPLE, IT WOULD BE $44.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  NOW, IF THE FLAT RATE WASN'T IN EXISTENCE, 
THEN YOU CHARGE PER HEAD, THEN START THE METER?
>> NO.
NO.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  OKAY.
>> YOU WOULD CHARGE STRICTLY THE METER.
NOW, WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE'RE LOSING $2 TO $5 EVERY TRIP.
NOW, THEY -- MR. COX SAYS THAT --
>>KEVIN WHITE:  I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE PER HEAD 
COMES IN.
>> PER HEAD IS WITH LIMOUSINES AND TOWN CARS AND -- AND -- 
AND BUSES.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  OKAY.
SO WITH TAXIS, THERE IS NO --
>> THERE'S NO PER HEAD.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  SO WE CAN FILL THE TAXI UP --
>> WITH EIGHT PEOPLE OR SEVEN PEOPLE, WHATEVER THE VAN -- 
WHATEVER THE TAXI PEOPLE HOLDS, AND IT WOULD STILL BE $20.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  OKAY.
WHETHER IT'S THAT OR THE METER, WHETHER YOU'RE IN THAT ZONE 
OR NOT?
THAT'S WHAT I'M GETTING AT.
>> IF YOU'RE GOING -- IF YOU'RE GOING FROM THE AIRPORT --
>>KEVIN WHITE:  IF YOU'RE GOING TO THE AIRPORT FROM NEW 
TAMPA --
>> NEW TAMPA.
IT'S GOING TO BE $50.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  WHAT I'M SAYING, IF YOU HAVE FOUR PEOPLE IN 
THE CAB --
>> $50.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  -- IS IT STILL JUST THE METER?
>> METER, YES, SIR.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  OR IS THERE A PER-HEAD CHARGE?
>> NO PER-HEAD CHARGE.
IT'S STRICTLY THE METER.
BUT WE WOULD LIKE THE METER TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
IF WE GO FROM THE AIRPORT TO DAVIS ISLAND, YOU'RE LOOKING 
AT $27.
NOW, THE AVERAGE PERSON, IF THEY GO IN A CAB, THEY'RE GOING 
TO PAY $30, $35.
FOR $20, WE'RE LOSING, WHAT, $10, AND PEOPLE WILL SAY WE'RE 
NOT LOSING $10, BUT WE DEFINITELY ARE, AND --
>>KEVIN WHITE:  ALL RIGHT.
>> THE DRIVERS HAVE ASKED ME TO COME HERE TO ELIMINATE -- 
JUST GET RID OF THE $20 FLAT RATE, GET RID OF THE $22 FLAT 
RATE, GET RID OF ANY KIND OF A FLAT RATE DOWNTOWN, LET US 
HAVE THE METER BACK.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING TODAY.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  MR. COX.
>>GREG COX:  JUST AS A SUGGESTION -- WE'RE GOING TO BE 
DISCUSSING -- AND I'VE GOT MAPS TO SHOW YOU THIS -- WE'RE 
GOING TO BE DISCUSSING THIS MORE IN DEPTH, SO IT MIGHT BE 
BETTER TO WAIT TO PRESENT TO YOU WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE, AND 
THEN WE CAN GET INTO THIS DISCUSSION.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  THAT'S FINE.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD CARE TO 
SPEAK?
>> GOOD MORNING.
BROOKE NEGUSEI, CAB PLUS 
[INCOMPREHENSIBLE].
I BROUGHT UP AN ISSUE AS FAR AS THE INSURANCE RATING ISSUE 
LAST MONTH.
WE DISCUSSED IT, AND THANKS FOR MR. COX.
HE BROUGHT IT UP AT THE MEETINGS.
WE HAD A WORKSHOP, AND WE DISCUSSED IT.
AND I THINK WHEN I BROUGHT IT UP, I HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE 
ABOUT FEW YEARS AGO -- TO BE EXACT, ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO.
INSURANCE COMPANY CAME INTO TOWN WITH NO RATINGS, SOLD 
INSURANCE TO MY COMPANY, AND WITHIN ABOUT A FEW MONTHS, 
THAT NONRATED COMPANY WENT OUT OF BUSINESS, AND I LOST SOME 
MONEY.
AND AT THIS TIME, ABOUT A FEW MONTHS AGO, ANOTHER INSURANCE 
COMPANY SOLICITED MY BUSINESS, AND WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THE 
RATINGS, THEY SAY, WELL, BROOKE, YOU DON'T NEED IT, AND WE 
DON'T HAVE NO RATINGS.
AND I SAY, I SEEN THIS BEFORE, AND THAT'S WHAT I CAME IN 
FRONT OF YOU LAST -- LAST MONTH, AND I KIND OF BROUGHT THAT 
BEFORE YOU, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, ALL I ASKED WAS TO HAVE 
SOME RATINGS.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE TO -- I JUST DON'T WANT TO BE KNEE-
JERK REACTION AND GO FROM, YOU KNOW -- A HUNDRED MILES 
APART FROM NO RATINGS TO A-MINUS, B-PLUS, OR WHATEVER.
THAT WOULD PROBABLY -- IN MY -- RIGHT NOW, THE 
RECOMMENDATION, AS I READ IT ON THE AGENDA, IT'S B-PLUS, 
AND I JUST WANT TO ASK IF WE CAN MAKE IT -- AT LEAST START 
SOMETHING, C-PLUS OR A "B" OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THEN, AS WE NEED IT, WE CAN GO FORWARD.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE NO RATINGS, AND I JUST 
WANT -- IF ANYBODY ASKS -- YOU KNOW, WANTS TO ASK 
QUESTIONS, AND -- I'M HERE, BUT I BROUGHT THAT ISSUE -- I'M 
SORRY.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  COMMISSIONER BLAIR.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  HOW MANY COMPANIES -- IS THERE A LOT OF 
COMPANIES IN THE POOL THAT INSURE TAXIS?
IS THERE SEVERAL COMPANIES, OR IS THERE LIKE STATE FARM OR 
THE COMPANIES THAT WE KNOW ARE GOOD COMPANIES?
>> I APPRECIATE YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.
THERE'S NO COMPANY EXCEPT PROBABLY -- YOU MIGHT HAVE TWO OR 
THREE THAT -- TO CHOOSE FROM TO INSURE TAXIS -- ESPECIALLY 
TAXIS.
YOU HAVE ABUNDANCE OF INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT INSURE 
LIMOUSINES AND SEDANS, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO TAXIS, VERY 
NARROWED.
IT'S -- THE MARKET IS, LIKE -- YOU PROBABLY WILL BE LUCKY 
TO HAVE ABOUT TWO OR THREE.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  SO THAT'S SLIM PICKINGS.
AND WHAT YOU'RE ASKING IS THAT THE -- MR. COX AND HIS STAFF 
REVIEW THOSE TWO OR THREE CAB COMPANIES TO GIVE YOU A 
RATING?
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR?
>> THE -- THE INSURANCE COMPANY -- EXISTING INSURANCE 
COMPANY THAT I'M DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW HAVE B-PLUS.
I DO NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH B-PLUS, BUT GOING FORWARD, 
THAT -- YOU ARE NARROWING THE GAP THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT 
HAVE A "B" COMPANY COMING IN, WHICH IS -- AND BEST 
EXPLAINED IT AS AN ADEQUATE.
THEY DESCRIBED IT AS AN ADEQUATE.
IF IT FALLS BELOW THAT, YOU MIGHT HAVE A PROBLEM.
>> MR. CHAIR.
>>GREG COX:  ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE KIND OF GETTING THE CART 
BEFORE THE HORSE.
I'M GOING TO EXPLAIN IT ALL AND GIVE YOU SOME RATIONALE.
THAT MIGHT EXPLAIN WHAT DIRECTION WE'RE HEADING.
>> THANK YOU.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  IS THERE ANYONE ELSE?
AND MIGHT I ADD, IF SOMEONE ELSE IS GOING TO BE SPEAKING 
ON -- ON SOMETHING THAT'S COMING UP ON THE RULE CHANGES, IF 
YOU WOULD, LET'S JUST TRY AND WAIT TILL THAT PARTICULAR 
TIME.
THAT WAY WE CAN KEEP ALL THE CONVERSATIONS IN CONCERT 
TOGETHER.
GO AHEAD.
>> OKAY.
WELL, I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE THREE, WHERE THEY SAID 
LEAVE THE CAP ALONE.
IS THAT OKAY?
>>KEVIN WHITE:  WELL -- WELL, THAT'S COMING UP ON THE -- SO 
IF YOU WOULD, LET'S HEAR THE -- THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S 
REPORT ON EACH ONE OF THE RULE CHANGES, THEN IF SOMEBODY 
WANTS TO SPEAK TO IT, THAT WAY WE DON'T HAVE FOUR AND FIVE 
DIFFERENT DIALOGUES, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
YOU'LL GET AN OPPORTUNITY.
>> THANK YOU.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  OKAY.
SEEING NO ONE ELSE, MIGHT I GET A MOTION TO MOVE THE 
CONSENT ITEMS.
>> SO MOVE.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  SECOND.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR.
[CHORUS OF AYES]
OPPOSED, NAY.
THE ATTORNEY'S REPORT, MR. JOHNSON.
>>GREGG JOHNSON:  NOTHING REALLY TO REPORT, BUT I DID WANT 
TO POINT OUT -- AND PERHAPS IT MIGHT BE A BETTER TIME TO 
BRING IT UP DURING THE RULE CHANGES, BUT THERE IS CURRENTLY 
A BILL, I THINK IT IS A SENATE BILL, BEFORE THE FLORIDA 
STATE LEGISLATURE RELATING TO INSURANCE FOR TAXICABS, AND 
WHAT IT DOES, AT LEAST FROM MY READING OF IT RIGHT NOW, IS 
IT SEEMS TO REQUIRE THAT TAXICABS ACTUALLY MAINTAIN A 
CERTAIN LEVEL OF INSURANCE; WHEREAS, BEFORE THERE MAY HAVE 
BEEN A LOOPHOLE ON THAT.
NOW, IT PROBABLY WOULD NOT AFFECT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TOO 
MUCH BECAUSE WE HAVE A PTC AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY AND WE 
HAVE, IN FACT, SET OUR OWN INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS, BUT 
WHAT -- ONE OF THE EFFECTS OF THIS BILL MAY BE THAT THERE 
MIGHT BE ADDITIONAL INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT MAY BE ABLE TO 
COME INTO FLORIDA.
IT'S HARD TO TELL RIGHT NOW.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE EXACT STATUS OF THIS BILL IS GOING TO 
BE, WHETHER IT'S GOT A CHANCE OF PASSING, BUT I DID WANT TO 
POINT IT OUT BECAUSE IT COULD POSSIBLY HAVE SOME EFFECT ON 
THE NUMBER OF INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY 
PRACTICING IN FLORIDA FOR TAXICABS.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  GREAT.
THANK YOU.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR OLD BUSINESS, RULE CHANGE DISCUSSIONS.
MR. COX, I GUESS WE'LL START ON THE RULE CHANGES.
>>GREG COX:  ALL RIGHT, SIR.
IN FRONT OF YOU IS A PACKAGE.
IT'S IN YOUR AGENDA, BUT WE ALSO -- WE UPDATED THE RULE 
CHANGE PROPOSALS, AND THERE'S A SEPARATE PACKAGE BESIDES 
YOUR AGENDA THAT HAS THE -- THE NEW AND IMPROVED PROPOSED 
LANGUAGE, SO I ASK IF YOU PLEASE REFER TO THOSE AND IGNORE 
THE ONES THAT WERE IN YOUR AGENDA.
THERE WERE SOME MINOR CHANGES.
WHAT I WANT TO DO IS -- IS RUN THROUGH EACH ONE OF THE 
PROPOSED RULE CHANGES AND SOME OF THEM VERY QUICKLY AND 
SOME OF THEM A LITTLE MORE IN DEPTH SO YOU UNDERSTAND THE 
RATIONALE.
WE'RE NOT INTENDING FOR YOU TO VOTE TO ADOPT ANY RULES 
TODAY.
THIS IS JUST AN UNDERSTANDING-TYPE PRESENTATION SO THAT IN 
JUNE YOU'LL -- SHOULD BE ABLE TO COME BACK AND MAKE AN 
INFORMED DECISION ON WHETHER TO APPROVE THESE RULES 
CHANGES.
THE FIRST PROPOSAL, NUMBER 1, IS TO INCLUDE A DEFINITION OF 
THE WORD "OPERATE."
THE REASON WE'RE DOING THAT IS BECAUSE THROUGHOUT OUR LAW 
AND OUR RULES, WE USE THAT TERM, AND WE HAVE SEVERAL 
UNDERSTANDINGS OF HOW THAT -- WHAT THAT RULE MEANS AND HAVE 
FOR YEARS USED THAT TERM.
WE WANTED TO PUT SOME LANGUAGE IN THERE THAT CLARIFIED FOR 
EVERYBODY EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE INTENDING OR WHAT WE 
UNDERSTAND WHEN WE SAY A PUBLIC VEHICLE IS OPERATING ON THE 
STREETS OR HIGHWAYS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
AND THERE'S SOME OTHER LANGUAGE IN THERE THAT -- THAT 
CLARIFIES WHAT IS NOT OPERATING ON THE ROADS OF 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
NOT OPERATING ON THE ROADS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AS 
DEFINED IN HERE WOULD BE IF A PUBLIC VEHICLE BRINGS A 
PASSENGER FROM OUTSIDE THE COUNTY AND BRINGS THEM IN AND 
STAYS WITH THAT CUSTOMER THE ENTIRE TIME THEY'RE HERE AND 
THEN RETURNS THEM -- OR DOESN'T EVEN NECESSARILY HAVE TO 
RETURN THEM.
THEY CAN BRING THEM INSIDE THE COUNTY, STAY WITH THEM, AND 
IF THEY DO TAKE THEM BACK, THEN THAT'S NOT A LICENSING 
REQUIREMENT.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE REGULATED BY US.
AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S CLEAR IN THE TERM OF 
"OPERATING."
AND ALSO, ANYBODY WHO BRINGS A PASSENGER FROM OUTSIDE THE 
COUNTY, BRINGS THEM IN AND DROPS THEM OFF IN HILLSBOROUGH 
COUNTY DOES NOT NEED TO BE LICENSED, SO THEY ARE NOT 
OPERATING IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PER THE DEFINITION.
SO WE WANTED TO PUT THAT IN THERE.
PROPOSAL NUMBER 2 IS JUST A -- AN ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGE AS 
A RESULT OF ADDING THE DEFINITION OF "OPERATING" BECAUSE IT 
TAKES LANGUAGE OUT OF SECTION 2 THAT'S GOING TO BE PUT INTO 
THE DEFINITION, SO THERE'S -- IT'S JUST ADMINISTRATIVE.
SECTION 3 OR PROPOSAL 3 -- EXCUSE ME.
THIS IS -- THESE ARE THE RULES THAT ADDRESS THE ISSUE ON 
THE -- THE RATIO OF ONE PER 2,000 TAXICAB PERMITS -- ONE 
PERMIT FOR EVERY 2,000 INHABITANTS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY 
RATIO AS -- AS IN OUR RULES TODAY.
THIS IS THE RULE THAT SETS THE CAP ON THE NUMBER OF TAXICAB 
PERMITS.
WE ADDRESSED THIS RULE IN FRONT OF THE ADVISORY COUNCIL 
AT -- AT LENGTH, AND WE'VE HAD SEVERAL WORKSHOPS TO DISCUSS 
IT, AND THE -- THE OVERWHELMING FEELINGS OF BOTH THE 
ADVISORY COUNCIL AND AT THE WORKSHOPS WERE THAT WE DON'T 
HAVE ENOUGH ARGUMENT IN PLACE YET TO ADJUST THE CAP.
THERE'S -- WE JUST DON'T FEEL IT'S READY TO BE ADJUSTED.
AND THAT'S GOING TO BE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
AND I KNOW THERE'S SOME PEOPLE THAT FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT 
WANTING TO ADJUST IT, BUT WE LOOKED AT IT FROM EVERY ANGLE, 
WE THOUGHT, AND FELT AT THIS TIME IT'S NOT READY.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  MR. COX.
>>GREG COX:  YES, SIR.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ON THAT, NOT PRO, 
CON, OR ANYTHING, JUST LOOKING AT IT FROM THE OUTSIDE.
I JUST GOT BACK FROM MIAMI, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY DO 
IT, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S 20 DIFFERENT CAB COMPANIES, 
20 DIFFERENT PHONE NUMBERS.
EVERY TIME A DIFFERENT CAB -- THEY'RE ALL YELLOW, BUT AS 
SOON AS -- YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME A CAB PASSES BY, IT'S 
THEIR -- IT'S THEIR OWN NUMBER, 444-4444, 888-8888.
IT'S ALL DIFFERENT CAB COMPANIES.
ARE THESE INDEPENDENT OWNERS, OR IS THERE NO CAP DOWN 
THERE, OR ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THAT JURISDICTION, AS WELL 
AS EVEN IF WE WERE LOOKING AT INCREASING THE CAP, IF WE 
CHOSE TO LOOK AT THAT FOR SOME RATIONALE, HOW WOULD WE 
POSSIBLY GO ABOUT INITIATING THAT AS WELL?
IS THAT THE LOTTERY SYSTEM, OR IS THAT THE HONOR SYSTEM?
HOW -- YOU KNOW, HOW HAS THIS -- HOW HAS THIS BOARD 
HISTORICALLY DONE THAT?
>>GREG COX:  OF INCREASING THE CAP OR --
>>KEVIN WHITE:  WELL, I MEANT HOW -- WHAT PROCEDURE WOULD 
THAT TAKE, OR DO YOU HAVE ANY INKLING ON THAT SINCE WE'VE 
NEVER DONE IT?
>>GREG COX:  IF -- IF YOU MADE A DECISION TO CHANGE THE CAP 
THAT WOULD RESULT IN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PERMITS, 
THE PROCESS WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN OUR RULES IS THAT WE 
WOULD -- WE WOULD TAKE APPLICATIONS FOR THOSE PERMITS, AND 
THEN WE WOULD DIVVY THEM OUT VIA THE LOTTERY SYSTEM.
THAT'S HOW THE RULES READ NOW.
IF YOU INCREASED IT AND, SAY, ADDED 100, 200 TAXICABS, WE 
WOULD STILL GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
IF -- IF THE APPLICATIONS EXCEEDED THAT NUMBER -- IN OTHER 
WORDS, IF THERE WERE APPLICATIONS THAT ASKED FOR ALL 100 
PERMITS, THEN WE WOULD TAKE THOSE APPLICATIONS, AND IF WE 
EXCEEDED THAT NUMBER, WE WOULD USE A LOTTERY SYSTEM TO 
DIVVY THEM OUT.
IF THEY DID NOT EXCEED, IN OTHER WORDS, APPLICATIONS ONLY 
CAME IN FOR 50, THEN YOU WOULD HEAR THE MERITS OF THOSE 
APPLICATIONS, IF THEY ASKED FOR FIVE OR TEN, YOU WOULD 
CONSIDER THAT AT YOUR MEETING.
SO THERE IS A PROCESS FOR DOLING THOSE OUT IF THE CAP WERE 
CHANGED.
IN MIAMI, THEY DO HAVE A SET NUMBER.
THEY DON'T HAVE A PROCESS LIKE WE HAVE.
THEY HAVE A FIXED NUMBER, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, OF TAXICABS 
THAT ARE ALLOWED, AND EVERY SO OFTEN AT A MEETING SUCH AS -
- SOMETHING LIKE THIS, AT THE REQUEST OF INDIVIDUALS, THEY 
THINK ABOUT ADJUSTING IT, THEN THEY MAY ADJUST THE NUMBER 
AND MOVE IT UP AND ADD MORE, AND THEY ISSUE THOSE OUT BY 
LOTTERY TOO.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  WELL, IN THE SPIRIT OF FAIRNESS, I GUESS, 
PLAYING -- IT'S NOT EVEN DEVIL'S ADVOCATE, JUST ON BOTH 
SIDES, WHAT WOULD BE -- OR WHY WOULD THIS BOARD BE AGAINST 
THE FAIR TRADE, IF YOU WILL, JUST SAYING, WELL, OPEN IT UP 
TO EVERYBODY, LET ANYBODY OPEN AS MANY CAB COMPANIES AS 
THEY'D LIKE --
>>GREG COX:  UH-HUH.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  -- WITH REGULATIONS -- THE SAME REGULATIONS 
THAT WE HAVE NOW --
>>GREG COX:  UH-HUH.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  -- BUT IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD IT, YOU WON'T 
STAY IN BUSINESS.
EXPLAIN THAT RATIONALE TO ME AS FAR AS -- AS OPPOSED TO 
JUSTIFYING THE CAP.
IF 20,000 -- OR 20 PEOPLE -- 20 DIFFERENT CAB COMPANIES 
WANTED TO START UP TOMORROW OR THEY CAN AFFORD IT OR THEY 
THINK THEY CAN AFFORD IT OR THEY THINK THERE'S THE BUSINESS 
HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND THEY WANT TO OPEN THEIR 
FREE ENTERPRISE BUSINESS, AND WE JUST OPEN IT UP WITH NO 
CAP, AND, OKAY, WELL, HAVE AT IT, AND IF YOU GET THE 
CUSTOMERS, YOU GET THE CUSTOMERS.
IF NOT, YOU DON'T.
>>RICK LOTT:  MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT'S MY QUESTION.
I'M GLAD YOU'RE ASKING THAT.
TO ADD ON TO THAT, IF I COULD ASK --
>>KEVIN WHITE:  ABSOLUTELY.
I JUST WANTED TO ASK.
>>RICK LOTT:  -- BECAUSE I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE -- WHY 
WON'T FREE MARKET WORK IN THIS SCENARIO?
>>GREG COX:  WELL, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF STUDIES AND 
EXAMPLES OF WHERE THAT'S BEEN EXPERIMENTED WITH, AND I'LL 
TRY AND SUMMARIZE IT FOR YOU.
THERE WAS A MAJOR EXPERIMENT IN SEATTLE, WHERE THEY HAD A 
BIG DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS, AND THE FREE MARKET PEOPLE WON, 
AND SO THEY OPENED UP THE MARKET.
THE -- THE THOUGHT WAS SUPPLY AND DEMAND, MORE SUPPLY 
WOULD, YOU KNOW, INCREASE -- WOULD LOWER THE PRICES AND SO 
FORTH, THAT EVERYBODY SAW THIS AS AN ECONOMIC DECISION THAT 
WOULD BE BETTER FOR THE CONSUMERS.
EVERYTHING I'VE READ IN THE SUMMARY OF THAT EXPERIMENT, 
WHICH THEY HAVE SINCE REVERSED THAT DECISION, WAS THAT 
BECAUSE THERE'S SUCH A LOW EASE OF ENTRY INTO THE MARKET, 
IT'S CHEAP TO PUT A TAXICAB -- RELATIVELY CHEAP TO START A 
TAXICAB BUSINESS COMPARED TO OTHER BUSINESSES, A LOT OF 
PEOPLE FLOODED INTO THE MARKET.
THE END RESULT WAS THERE WASN'T AN INCREASED DEMAND, BUT 
THERE WERE MORE TAXIS, SO EVERY TAXI, IN ESSENCE, LOST 
MONEY, STARTED LOSING MONEY.
THERE WERE TOO MANY TAXIS, AND SO EVERYBODY LOST MONEY.
SO WHEN THEY STARTED LOSING MONEY, INSTEAD OF LOWERING THE 
PRICES, THEY STARTED INCREASING THE PRICES.
THEY WERE MAKING FEWER TRIPS.
THEY SAW THE NEED TO INCREASE THE PRICE SO THEY MADE MORE 
MONEY PER TRIP.
SO OPPOSITE OF WHAT YOU MIGHT THINK, PRICES ACTUALLY WENT 
UP IN THOSE TAXICAB INDUSTRIES, AND THE QUALITY OF SERVICE 
WENT DOWN BECAUSE THEY WERE CUTTING CORNERS, THEY WERE NOT 
PUTTING MONEY INTO MAINTENANCE OF THEIR VEHICLES.
SO THEY EXPERIENCED THE REVERSE OF WHAT A LOT OF ECONOMISTS 
THOUGHT THEY WOULD EXPERIENCE.
THEY EXPERIENCED HIGHER PRICES AND LOWER SERVICE.
A SIMPLE VERSION OF THAT IS -- I USE THE ANALOGY DUCKS ON A 
POND.
IF YOU'VE GOT A LIMITED NUMBER OF -- A LIMITED DEMAND OR 
KIND OF A FIXED DEMAND, RELATIVELY FIXED, AND YOU THROW A 
BUNCH MORE DUCKS IN THERE, THEY'RE ALL GOING TO STARVE, AND 
THAT'S WHAT DRIVERS WILL COMPLAIN ABOUT.
MOST OF YOUR DRIVERS I TALKED TO SAY WE DON'T NEED ANYMORE 
TAXIS OUT HERE.
WE'RE ALREADY STRUGGLING TO MAKE MONEY AS IT IS.
SO THAT'S THE CONCERN.
WOULD OVER TIME -- I THINK OVER TIME -- IT MAY TAKE A 
COUPLE YEARS -- THAT MIGHT WORK ITS WAY OUT, SOME PEOPLE 
WOULD GO OUT OF BUSINESS.
SOME PEOPLE, THE STRONG, WOULD MAKE IT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH SUFFERING WE WOULD GO THROUGH FOR 
THAT TWO OR THREE YEARS THAT IT WOULD TAKE TO ADJUST THAT.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  MR. COX, I AGREE WITH THAT ANALOGY IN 
THEORY, BUT I THINK ONE OF THE -- THE MAIN ARGUMENTS, I 
GUESS -- I'M NOT FOR IT OR AGAINST IT.
IT'S WHAT THE MAJORITY WANT AND WHAT WILL -- WHAT THIS 
COUNTY WILL SUPPORT, BUT IT APPEARS TO ME THAT ON THAT 
RATIONALE, IF I WANT TO GO OUT AND INVEST MY MONEY, 
HOPEFULLY I WOULD HAVE DONE MY HOMEWORK AND FOUND OUT WHAT 
THE MARKET IS, AS WELL AS IF I DO -- IF I BECOME KEVIN 
WHITE TAXI AND I WANT TO COMPETE AGAINST YELLOW, UNITED, 
AND THE OTHER BIG ORGANIZATIONS, I THINK I SHOULD TAKE THAT 
INTO CONSIDERATION.
ONE OF THE -- ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT REALLY -- THAT -- 
THAT EASTERN -- I'M SORRY -- THE WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTY 
WHERE WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT 
THEY DON'T GET CAB SERVICE OUT THERE.
IF THERE WAS JUST A -- YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY THAT WANTED TO 
START A TEN-CAB CAB COMPANY FOR EAST COUNTY, WESTCHASE TO 
DERBY LANE, WHATEVER THAT SPORTING EVENT OUT THERE IS THAT 
THEY COMPLAIN SOMETIMES THAT THEY CAN'T GET SERVICE.
IF I'M GOING TO INVEST -- AND I DON'T SEE HOW IT CAN BE 
CHEAP TO BUY TEN VEHICLES AND INSURANCE, AND NOW I'VE GOT 
TO HIRE DRIVERS AND INSURANCE AND THEN HAVE TO DEAL WITH 
THE REGULATIONS THAT WE HAVE THAT THIS BOARD PLACES -- I 
MEAN, THE VEHICLE CAN'T BE ANY MORE THAN "X" -- "X" AMOUNT 
OF YEARS OLD.
I MEAN, WE PLACE SOME PRETTY STRINGENT RULES ON THESE GUYS.
SO I JUST DON'T -- I JUST -- I'M JUST THROWING THAT OUT.
I JUST -- I JUST DON'T SEE WHERE -- WHERE THAT WOULD REALLY 
BE ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE FOR SOMEBODY TO JUST ARBITRARILY 
SAY I'M GOING TO, YOU KNOW, START A CAB COMPANY, AND I WANT 
50 PERMITS, YOU KNOW, TO COME IN AND TRY AND OVERTAKE A 
MARKET SHARE THAT -- THAT THE GREAT MAJORITY HAVE BEEN 
ENJOYING FOR YEARS --
>>GREG COX:  RIGHT.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  -- AS WELL AS WE SET THE RIGHTS, SO NOBODY 
CAN COME IN AND START SAYING, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO BE 
CHEAPER.
YOU KNOW?
SO THERE'S -- THERE'S TWO SIDES TO EVERY ARGUMENT, AND 
UNFORTUNATELY, AS CHAIRMAN, I HAVE TO HEAR BOTH SIDES --
>>GREG COX:  RIGHT.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  -- AND AS EQUAL REPRESENTATION, WE HAVE TO 
THROW ALL OF THE -- ALL OF THE SCENARIOS OUT AND THEN -- 
THEN MAKE THE BEST DECISION POSSIBLE, BUT THAT WAS -- I 
DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS ANY COMMENTS.
>>RICK LOTT:  I HAVE ONE MORE.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY.
WHEN IT WAS A REGULATED INDUSTRY, LOOK AT THE PRICES, AND 
IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN SOME ROUGH YEARS, OKAY, BUT IT'S 
DEFINITELY EASIER TO GET AROUND THE COUNTRY USING 
SOUTHWEST'S AIRLINE THERE THAN IT WAS BACK IN THE EARLY 
'80s.
SO IT SOUNDS TO ME THE CONCERN IS THE TWO- TO THREE-YEAR 
PERIOD THAT IT WOULD GO THROUGH WHEN NEW BUSINESSES GOT 
INTO THE BUSINESS, OVERMAXED THE MARKET, AND THEN IT 
ADJUSTS BACK DOWN TO -- YOU KNOW, TO WHERE IT WORKS TO 
WHERE EVERYBODY IS INVOLVED.
WOULDN'T FREE MARKET -- BECAUSE IN EVERY INDUSTRY THAT'S 
THE CASE, YOU KNOW.
WHETHER IT'S IN THE INSURANCE BUSINESS OR YOU NAME A 
BUSINESS, THERE'S -- PEOPLE ARE GETTING IN AND GETTING OUT 
BECAUSE THERE'S A FINE LINE BETWEEN EVERYONE MAKING MONEY 
AND THE CERTAIN ONES THAT CAN'T -- CAN'T BE SUCCESSFUL.
BUT IF I'M A BUSINESSMAN OUT THERE, IT SEEMS TO ME I'D HAVE 
A HARD TIME WAITING TO GROW MY BUSINESS EVERY YEAR SIMPLY 
WAITING FOR A LOTTERY.
I'D HAVE -- I'D STRUGGLE WITH THAT.
YOU KNOW?
>>GREG COX:  WELL, THERE'S -- I'M SORRY.
I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU.
>>RICK LOTT:  GO AHEAD.
>>GREG COX:  THERE'S A COUPLE -- A COUPLE OTHER CONCERNS 
FROM THE EXISTING PROVIDERS.
IF YOU INCREASE THE -- IF YOU WERE TO CHANGE THE PERMIT CAP 
TO ADD SOME MORE PERMITS OUT THERE FOR EXISTING COMPANIES 
TO GROW, FOR EXAMPLE, OR IF YOU TOOK THE CAP OFF ENTIRELY -
- AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THIS IS GOOD OR BAD, BUT YOU 
CERTAINLY HAVE SOME COMPANIES IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY 
THAT ARE -- WOULD BE WAITING TO COME INTO THIS MARKET FROM 
OTHER COUNTIES AROUND HERE, LARGE COMPANIES, QUALITY 
COMPANIES WOULD PROBABLY JUMP IN HERE AS WELL AND TRY TO 
GET INTO THIS MARKET.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S GOOD OR BAD.
THE ADVISORY COUNCIL DID NOT NECESSARILY SAY IT WAS A BAD 
DECISION TO CHANGE THE CAP.
THEY JUST -- AFTER WE TALKED ABOUT IT AT LENGTH, THIS KIND 
OF DISCUSSION, THEY JUST FELT THEY JUST COULDN'T GET ENOUGH 
INFORMATION TO -- TO -- TO MAKE A RATIONAL RECOMMENDATION 
OF WHETHER TO CHANGE IT OR NOT.
THERE WASN'T -- THERE'S NOT ENOUGH EXACT DATA AND 
INFORMATION TO KNOW WHAT -- HOW -- HOW BAD THAT WOULD BE 
FOR THE ECONOMY, SO THAT'S THE REASON THEY DIDN'T GO FOR 
ANY CHANGE RIGHT NOW.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  I GUESS THE LAST COMMENT I REALLY HAVE ON 
IT, IF -- IF WE ARE GOING TO THINK ABOUT RAISING IT, I 
THINK THAT THERE'S ENOUGH INTEREST THAT -- THE SMALLER 
COMPANIES SAYING, I DON'T HAVE ROOM TO GROW -- I THINK 
THERE'S ENOUGH INTEREST.
THE LARGER COMPANIES ARE SAYING, WELL, I'D LIKE 15, 20, 30 
MORE PERMITS AS WELL.
I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME SORT OF MECHANISM.
IF WE HAVE ONE PER 2,000 NOW, MAYBE IF WE'RE GOING TO DO 
ONE PER 1700, ONE PER 1800, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE WHEN 
WE ACTUALLY GET READY TO MAKE THIS DECISION -- I DON'T KNOW 
IF THERE'S A BETTER DECISION THAN THE LOTTERY SYSTEM.
I JUST THINK IT NEEDS TO BE SOME SORT OF FAIR SHAKE BASED 
OFF MAYBE THE PERCENTILE OF THE MARKET SHARE YOU HAVE NOW.
MAYBE YOU CAN AT LEAST INCREASE BY THAT PERCENTILE OF THE 
MARKET SHARE.
BUT I THINK EVERYBODY THAT WANTS TO BE ABLE TO GROW AND 
EXPAND AND HAS THE FINANCIAL CAPABILITY SHOULD HAVE THAT 
OPPORTUNITY.
IF YELLOW WANTS 25 MORE CABS, IF UNITED WANTS 25 MORE CABS, 
CAB PLUS WANTS FIVE MORE CABS, I DON'T KNOW -- I FORGOT THE 
NAME OF BOB VALLEE AS ORGANIZATION, TAMPA TAXI, I BELIEVE 
IT IS -- IF HE WANTS FIVE MORE CABS -- IF THEY HAVE THE 
FINANCIAL WHEREWITHAL AND THEY THINK WHATEVER THEIR MARKET 
NICHE AND THEIR PORTION OF THE COUNTY OR IF THEY SERVE THE 
ENTIRE COUNTY, I THINK THEY OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO AT LEAST 
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO -- TO TRY TO GROW.
SO -- AND THAT'S THE WAY I WOULD LIKE THE ADVISORY BOARD 
TO -- TO LOOK AT THAT AND MAYBE SOME SORT OF FAIR MECHANISM 
TO -- TO GIVE EVERYONE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW RATHER THAN 
JUST MAYBE IF -- MAYBE, AND IF I'M GOOD, OR IF I GET THE 
LUCK OF THE DRAW THIS YEAR, I CAN EXPAND, IF IT'S BASED 
OFF, YOU KNOW, OF JUST LUCK.
>>GREG COX:  WE HAVE ONE MORE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING 
BEFORE THE JUNE MEETING, SO I'LL BRING THIS UP AND EXPLAIN 
YOUR DISCUSSION AND THE CONCERNS YOU HAVE TODAY AND SEE IF 
THEY HAVE ANYMORE INPUT THEY CAN PROVIDE.
>>RICK LOTT:  PERSONALLY, MR. COX, I'D LIKE TO GET A LOT 
MORE INFORMATION ON THIS THAN I CURRENTLY HAVE, THE PROS 
AND CONS.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE A LOT MORE INFORMATION ON THAT.
>>GREG COX:  OKAY.
I'LL DO THAT.
>>RICK LOTT:  ALSO I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND IF WE ARE GOING 
TO STICK WITH THE ONE PER 2,000, WHAT'S THE RATIONALE 
BEHIND THAT?
HOW DID WE COME UP WITH THE 2,000?
IS THERE A FORMULA WE HAVE OR WHAT JUSTIFICATION?
IS IT JUST A PERSONAL JUDGMENT?
IF THAT'S IT, I JUST WANT TO KNOW.
>>GREG COX:  I THINK MY REVIEW OF THE TAPES OF WHEN THAT 
WAS PUT IN, I DIDN'T SEE ANY CLEAR, SCIENTIFIC RATIONALE OF 
ONE PER 2,000.
IT WAS JUST SORT OF A NUMBER THEY PULLED OUT THAT SOUNDED 
GOOD AT THE TIME, MADE SENSE AT THE TIME.
THERE WAS A LOT OF ROOM UNDER THE CAP WHEN THEY PUT THAT IN 
THERE, AND IT'S ONLY BEEN IN THE RECENT YEARS THAT WE'VE 
HIT THAT CAP.
>>RICK LOTT:  OKAY.
>>GREG COX:  SO AT THE TIME, THAT CREATED -- IT WOULD BE 
LIKE TODAY IF WE SAID, CHANGE IT TO ONE PER 1,000, IT 
CREATES 500, 600 MORE CABS OR WHATEVER.
IT DIDN'T REALLY MATTER AT THE TIME.
>>RICK LOTT:  NOW WE'RE HITTING IT.
>>GREG COX:  NOW WE'RE HITTING THAT, AND IT'S LIKE -- YEAH.
>>RICK LOTT:  OKAY.
THANK YOU.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  ALL RIGHT.
NEXT RULE.
>>GREG COX:  OKAY.
RULE NUMBER 4, ONCE AGAIN, WE ARE PROPOSING TO INCREASE THE 
INSURANCE -- THE INSURANCE MINIMUMS FOR LIMOUSINE SERVICE 
SEVEN PASSENGERS OR LESS.
WE PROPOSED THIS A FEW RULE CHANGES AGO, AND AT THAT TIME 
WE INCREASED THE LIMOUSINE OVER SEVEN PASSENGER VEHICLES UP 
TO A MILLION DOLLARS COMBINED SINGLE LIMIT EACH ACCIDENT, 
AND BECAUSE AT THE TIME IT WAS -- A LOT OF PEOPLE CAME 
FORWARD AND SAID IT WOULD BE TOO EXPENSIVE FOR THE SEDAN-
TYPE SERVICES TO GO UP TO A MILLION, THE COMMISSION DECIDED 
TO GO AHEAD AND LEAVE IT BACK AT THE CURRENT 300,000 OR THE 
100,000/300,000/50,000 SPLIT.
WE'RE PROPOSING NOW THAT WE DO INCREASE THE SEDANS BACK UP 
TO A MILLION.
WE CHECKED WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANIES.
WE HAD AN INSURANCE REP AT OUR WORKSHOP THAT EXPLAINED TO 
EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM THAT IT REALLY IS A RELATIVELY 
MINIMAL COST TO INCREASE IT TO THAT LEVEL, 10% 
APPROXIMATELY IS WHAT THE NUMBER THEY PUT OUT, AND WE FEEL 
THAT THE 1,000 -- THE MILLION-DOLLAR COVERAGE WOULD BE MUCH 
MORE BENEFICIAL TO THE TRAVELING PUBLIC FOR THAT KIND OF 
SERVICE.
ALMOST EVERY AIRPORT IN THE -- IN THE COUNTRY REQUIRES A -- 
AT LEAST A MILLION, AND MOST, PROBABLY, I'D SAY, 90% OF OUR 
CURRENT PROVIDERS CARRY AT LEAST A MILLION, SOME UP TO FIVE 
MILLION, SO WE FEEL THAT THAT -- FOR LIMOUSINE SERVICE, 
THAT'S TOO LOW RIGHT NOW.
SO WE WANT TO TAKE IT UP TO THE -- WHAT'S PROPOSED, AND 
THERE'S A ONE-MILLION CSL FOR SEDAN SERVICE.
RULE NUMBER 5, AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE WAS A -- A 
DISCUSSION THAT THIS -- AT ONE OF THESE MEETINGS.
I WAS NOT HERE, BUT I WATCHED IT ON TV.
THERE WAS CONCERN ABOUT THE INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT WE 
ALLOW NOT HAVING ANY MINIMUM -- MINIMUM -- I'M SORRY -- 
RATINGS.
THE MOST COMMON RATING SYSTEM IS AM BEST.
AM BEST RATES INSURANCE COMPANIES FOR THEIR FINANCIAL 
SOLVENCY, THEIR -- HOW VULNERABLE THEY ARE FINANCIALLY, ET 
CETERA.
WE -- WE LOOKED AT THAT ISSUE, AND I AGREE, THERE PROBABLY 
SHOULD BE A MINIMUM IN THERE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE REALLY 
HAVE NO STANDARDS ON WHAT THEIR RATINGS ARE.
I TALKED TO SOME OF MY PEERS AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT 
CURRENTLY HAVE RATINGS, AND THE AIRPORT HAS RATING 
MINIMUMS.
INITIALLY WE WERE GOING TO GO WITH AN AM, A-MINUS, RATING, 
WHICH MEANS IT'S AN EXCELLENT COMPANY, IT'S VERY SECURE.
AS A RESULT OF THE WORKSHOPS WE HAD, I -- I AGREED THAT WE 
PROBABLY SHOULD START OUT AT LEAST AS A B-PLUS RATING AS A 
MINIMUM INSURANCE RATING.
ON THE AM BEST RATING GUIDE, A B-PLUS IS THE BOTTOM RATING 
THAT IS CONSIDERED SECURE.
IT'S CONSIDERED AS A VERY GOOD COMPANY.
ANYTHING BELOW THAT ENTERS INTO A VULNERABLE RATING.
B-MINUS, ET CETERA ON DOWN IS CONSIDERED VULNERABLE 
FINANCIALLY.
VULNERABLE MEANS THEY MIGHT BE SUBJECT TO FINANCIAL 
PROBLEMS AND COULD CREATE PROBLEMS FOR THEM.
THE AIRPORT CARRIES AN A-MINUS MINIMUM FOR ALL THEIR 
INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS.
WE ONLY HAVE -- OF ALL THE COMPANIES THAT CURRENTLY RATE OR 
INSURE OUR COMPANIES RIGHT NOW, THE LOWEST RATING IS A B-
PLUS, SO WE HAVE NOBODY BELOW A B-PLUS RIGHT NOW WITH THE 
EXCEPTION OF ONE COMPANY THAT'S INSURING A COUPLE TAXICAB 
COMPANIES, AND IT HAS A NO RATING, AND THE REASON IT HAS NO 
RATING IS BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO -- 
TO GET A RATING.
THE COMPANY, I UNDERSTAND, WILL EVENTUALLY GET A VERY HIGH 
RATING ONCE IT HAS ENOUGH TIME DOING THIS TYPE OF WORK, SO 
I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE AN IMMEDIATE PROBLEM.
WE ALSO ARE RECOMMENDING THAT THIS NOT GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL 
SEPTEMBER 30th.
THAT WOULD GIVE ANY OTHER COMPANIES POSSIBLY A CHANCE.
IF THEY NEEDED TO GET A HIGHER RATING, THEY MIGHT BE ABLE 
TO DO IT BY THEN.
BUT I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY -- ANY COMPLAINTS FROM ANYBODY 
ON THIS PROPOSAL THAT THAT'LL KICK THEM -- KICK COMPANIES 
OUT OF BUSINESS OR KICK -- OR HURT THE TAXI COMPANIES OR 
THE LIMOUSINE COMPANIES, SO -- WE ARE CURRENTLY REQUESTING 
A B-PLUS OR HIGHER RATING.
THE SECOND PART OF THIS IS THAT WE ARE ALSO ASKING THAT IF 
A CERTIFICATE HOLDER HAS NUMEROUS PRIVATE OWNERS THAT HAVE 
INSURANCE POLICIES, THAT THEY ALL EXPIRE ON THE SAME DATE.
THAT'S A SIMPLE -- IT'S A RELATIVELY SIMPLE ADMINISTRATIVE 
REQUIREMENT THAT WOULD MAKE ENFORCEMENT OF THE INSURANCE 
RULES MUCH SIMPLER.
CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW THEIR POLICIES EXPIRE ALL THROUGHOUT 
THE CALENDAR.
IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TRACK.
AND WITH INSURANCE POLICIES BEING CANCELED LEFT AND RIGHT, 
WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE THEIR POLICIES INTACT.
SO BY PUTTING THEM ALL ON THE SAME EXPIRATION DATE, WHICH 
IS VERY DOABLE, WE THINK IT WILL HELP US, SO WE WANT TO ASK 
FOR THAT IN THE RULES AS WELL.
CHANGE 6, THE SAME LIMOUSINE COMPANIES THAT HAVE A LOT OF 
PRIVATE OWNERS, WE WANT TO PUT A REQUIREMENT OUT THAT THERE 
IS SOME PERMANENT MARKING ON THE VEHICLES THAT IDENTIFY 
THAT THAT VEHICLE IS OPERATING FOR THAT CERTIFICATE HOLDER, 
AND -- AND MOST OF THE LARGER COMPANIES DO THIS NOW, AND -- 
AND IT'S SIMPLY -- WE'RE ASKING JUST FOR A SMALL NAME ON 
THE SIDE OR THE BACK OF THE COMPANY.
NOT A MAGNETIC SIGN, NOT SOMETHING TEMPORARY, BUT THAT WAY 
WHEN WE SEE THE VEHICLE OR THE CUSTOMER SEES THE VEHICLE, 
THEY KNOW IT'S THE COMPANY THEY HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH AND 
IT'S EASILY IDENTIFIABLE AS A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE.
I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WAS MADE TO 
MAKE THAT LESS THAN ONE INCH.
WE JUST MADE ONE INCH BECAUSE IT SEEMED KIND OF SMALL AND 
NOT TOO OBTRUSIVE, BUT 5/8 OR 1/2 AN INCH, I HAVE NO 
PROBLEM WITH IF WE WANT TO CHANGE THAT TO A HALF AN INCH 
VERSUS ONE INCH.
THE WHOLE THING IS CAN WE SEE THE MARKINGS, IN MY OPINION.
NUMBER 7, THIS IS GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE EXPLAINING, SO I 
THINK I PROBABLY NEED TO MOVE UP TO THE -- LET ME MOVE UP 
TO THE PODIUM UP HERE.
OKAY.
IF WE COULD TURN ON THE -- THE OVERHEAD HERE SO PEOPLE 
COULD SEE IT IN THE AUDIENCE AND THE COMMISSIONERS.
COMMISSIONERS, THIS IS A -- A CHART THAT WE PUT IN THE 
WINDOW OF THE TAXICABS RIGHT NOW.
I HOPE YOU CAN READ THIS.
I'LL EXPLAIN IT.
THIS IS ALSO -- LANGUAGE IN OUR RULES EXPLAINS THIS AS 
WELL.
WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW -- IF YOU RECALL, A COUPLE YEARS 
AGO, WE WERE INTERESTED IN TRYING TO IMPROVE THE REVENUE 
CAPABILITY OF THE TAXICAB OPERATORS.
IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA -- AND IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE RIGHT 
SIDE OF THE CHART, THIS YELLOW AREA ON THE CHART IS CALLED 
THE "IN-TOWN ZONE."
WE CALL IT THE "IN-TOWN SHORT RIDE ZONE" BECAUSE THESE ARE 
AREAS OR -- WITHIN THIS ZONE THAT TAXI DRIVERS WERE 
AVOIDING SHORT RIDES, AND OUR TRAVELERS AND TOURISTS 
DOWNTOWN WERE HAVING DIFFICULTY GETTING GOOD TAXI SERVICE, 
SO WE TRIED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM BY CREATING AN IN-TOWN 
ZONE WHERE IF A DRIVER PICKED UP PASSENGERS -- MORE THAN 
ONE PASSENGER INSIDE THIS ZONE TO DELIVER SOMEWHERE INSIDE 
THE ZONE, THEY COULD CHARGE PER HEAD.
THIS IS THE ONLY AREA -- ONLY TIME ANYPLACE IN THE COUNTY 
THAT A PERSON CAN CHARGE PER HEAD IS INSIDE THIS YELLOW 
ZONE IF THEY PICK UP AND DROP OFF THERE.
AND IF IT'S ONE PASSENGER, THE OPERATOR WOULD BE ABLE TO 
EITHER CHOOSE THE TAXI METER OR CHARGE THE $3 RATE.
WE THINK -- IN ALL MY TALKINGS WITH THE DRIVERS THAT COME 
THROUGH OUR DRIVERS CLASS, IT SEEMS TO BE VERY SUCCESSFUL.
THE DRIVERS ARE VERY PLEASED.
THEY'RE MAKING MORE REVENUE.
THEY'RE PROVIDING MUCH MORE SERVICE.
IT'S BEEN -- IT'S BEEN A BIG SUCCESS SO FAR, IN MY OPINION, 
AND THE PEOPLE THAT TAKE -- ARE HAPPY TO GET THE TAXIS, SO 
THEY DON'T SEEM TO MIND PAYING THE $3 PER HEAD.
IT'S BEEN A WIN-WIN.
ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CHART, THAT SAME ZONE IS SHOWN 
THERE IN A SMALLER SCALE, AND THIS IS THE FLAT-RATE ZONE TO 
AND FROM THE AIRPORT.
THE INTENT OF THIS DESIGN IS IF YOU PICK UP SOMEBODY IN THE 
DOWNTOWN IN-TOWN ZONE THERE AND YOU GO TO THE AIRPORT TO 
TAKE THEM TO THEIR -- TO THEIR FLIGHT, IT'S A $20 FLAT 
RATE.
THE SAME THING IN REVERSE.
IF YOU PICK THEM UP AT THE AIRPORT AND BRING THEM TO THE 
DOWNTOWN IN-TOWN ZONE THERE, IT'S $20 FLAT RATE.
WHAT WAS HAPPENING PRIOR TO THAT -- AND UNDERSTAND, THIS -- 
THIS INCLUDES -- THIS ZONE INCLUDES THE CRUISE TERMINALS, 
MOST OF YOUR MAJOR DOWNTOWN HOTELS, HYDE PARK, AND YBOR 
CITY AREA.
WE WERE HAVING SOME ISSUE OF DRIVERS WERE TAKING NUMEROUS 
LONGER ROUTES TO GET TO SOME OF THOSE PLACES.
WE WERE GETTING A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT ROUTE -- FARES 
BEING $26, $27, $28, WHEN A NORMAL RATE WOULD HAVE BEEN 
MAYBE $18 OR $17.
THAT WAS ONE PROBLEM.
WE ALSO TALKED TO THE DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP FOLKS, THE 
HOTEL/MOTEL ASSOCIATION FOLKS, THE VISITORS BUREAU FOLKS.
EVERYBODY AGREED THAT A $20 FLAT RATE, WHICH WAS SLIGHTLY 
HIGHER THAN MOST OF YOUR TRIPS AT THE TIME, WOULD BE A BIG 
MARKETING TOOL FOR THE TAXI INDUSTRY.
THEY WOULD GET MORE BUSINESS -- AND WE HAVE GOTTEN MORE 
BUSINESS FOR THEM BECAUSE IT'S A NICE, EASY NUMBER TO WORK 
WITH.
THE $20 BILL, IT'S REAL EASY FOR THE CUSTOMERS.
THEY LIKE SEEING THE FLAT RATE, NO QUESTION IN THEIR MIND, 
THERE'S NO ANXIETY.
IT'S WORKED.
AND WE THINK -- WE DON'T HAVE IT MEASURED, BUT WE THINK 
THAT THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY HAS GOTTEN MORE BUSINESS TO AND 
FROM THE AIRPORT BECAUSE OF THIS NICE, EASY FLAT RATE.
WELL, THAT WAS ALL WORKING VERY WELL, EVERYBODY WAS HAPPY, 
UNTIL WE INCREASED THE METER RATE LAST SEPTEMBER TO $2.25.
WHEN WE INCREASED THE METER RATE TO $2.25, THE $20 FLAT 
RATE STARTED LOOKING LESS ATTRACTIVE TO SOME OF THE DRIVERS 
BECAUSE IF -- AND WE MEASURED THE DISTANCES FROM THE 
FURTHEST POINT IN THE AIRPORT TO SOME OF THE LOCATIONS IN 
THE DOWNTOWN AREA, AND SOME OF THE METERS' RATES DID GO 
OVER $20, SOME CASES $1.20, SOME CASES TWO OR THREE -- ONE 
CASE, FROM PETER O. KNIGHT AIRPORT, IT WAS AS HIGH AS $20 
FROM THE TERMINAL TO THE PETER O. KNIGHT AIRPORT.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TRIPS THEY MAKE FROM THAT 
DESTINATION, NOT VERY MANY, BUT ANYWAYS, THE COMPLAINT WAS 
THERE.
SO AS A RESULT OF SEVERAL WORKSHOPS, ADVISORY COUNCIL 
MEETING, TALKING TO DRIVERS, TALKING TO OWNERS, AND TALKING 
IN FRONT OF THIS COMMISSION, WE ARE PROPOSING A CHANGE, AND 
I'M -- IF YOU TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT THAT MAP, YOU'LL SEE THE 
CHANGE WOULD LOOK SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE IS WE'VE INCREASED FLAT RATE TO $22 
INSTEAD OF 20, AND WE HAVE REMOVED DAVIS ISLANDS AND 
HARBOUR ISLAND FROM THE YELLOWED AREA.
IN OTHER WORDS, THEY HAVE BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THE IN-TOWN 
SHORT RIDE ZONE.
THE IMPACT OF THAT IS THIS:  NOW A DRIVER WHO PICKED UP AT 
THE AIRPORT AND WAS DELIVERING SOMEBODY TO DAVIS ISLANDS OR 
HARBOUR ISLAND WOULD NOT CHARGE THE FLAT RATE ANY LONGER, 
THEY WOULD CHARGE THE METER RATE, SO THEY WOULD GET MORE 
MONEY.
THAT WOULD BE A MORE COSTLY TRIP FROM THOSE TWO AREAS GOING 
TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE REMOVED FROM 
THE ZONE.
THE OTHER -- ON THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT, WHEN YOU TAKE THOSE 
TWO LOCATIONS OUT OF THE ZONE, THEY ARE ALSO REMOVED FROM 
THE $3 PER-HEAD RATE, SO NOW RESIDENTS WHO LIVE ON DAVIS 
ISLANDS WHO HAVE BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO PAYING $3 A HEAD WHEN 
THEY GO TO YBOR CITY OR DOWNTOWN OR HYDE PARK NOW WILL HAVE 
TO BE ON THE METER.
SO -- AND THIS WILL TAKE SOME EDUCATION FOR BOTH THE PUBLIC 
AND -- AND THE DRIVERS, AND THERE WILL BE SOME UNHAPPY 
PEOPLE ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE USED TO PAYING THAT RATE, 
THEY'RE USED TO PAYING THE $20 FLAT RATE TO THE AIRPORT.
NOW WE'RE TAKING IT BACK AWAY FROM THEM BY PUTTING THEM 
BACK ON THE METER.
SO IT WILL TAKE A LITTLE TIME, A LITTLE EDUCATION.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  MR. COX.
>>GREG COX:  YES.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  THAT'S THE METER AND $3 A HEAD FOR 
EVERYBODY THAT'S IN THE CAR?
>>GREG COX:  NO, SIR.
WHEN -- IT SAYS RIGHT ON THE CHART -- IT SAYS, WE DO NOT 
ALLOW THE TAXI METER OPERATION IF THEY'RE USING THE FLAT 
RATE.
SO WHEN YOU MOVE IN AND AROUND DOWNTOWN ZONE --
>>KEVIN WHITE:  NO, I MEAN FROM DAVIS ISLAND TO DOWNTOWN?
>>GREG COX:  NO, SIR.
IT'S SIMPLY A FLAT RATE, NO METER OPERATION.
AND WE STATE ON THE LEFT SIDE, NO TAXI METER OPERATION.
IT'S A FLAT $22 TO THE AIRPORT PLUS TIP.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  I GOT THAT, BUT WHERE'S THIS $3-A-HEAD RATE 
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT?
>>GREG COX:  IF YOU ARE -- ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CHART, 
IF A TAXI OPERATOR PICKS UP A PASSENGER IN HYDE PARK, FOR 
EXAMPLE, AND TAKES THEM TO YBOR CITY --
>>KEVIN WHITE:  OKAY.
>>GREG COX:  -- THEY STAY WITHIN THE YELLOW ZONE, THEY CAN 
CHARGE $3 A HEAD.
IT'S MEANT TO BE FOR TRANSPORTATION IN THE DOWNTOWN IN-TOWN 
AREA ONLY.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  OKAY.
SO PERIOD, JUST $3, TAKE ME THERE.
>>GREG COX:  $3 A HEAD.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  OKAY.
>>GREG COX:  NORMALLY, IF THEY RAN THE METER -- IF THIS 
DIDN'T EXIST, FOUR PEOPLE COULD PILE INTO A TAXI, THEY 
WOULD TAKE THEM TO YBOR CITY, THEY'D RUN THE METER, GET $4 
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  SO I CAN PICK UP A TAXI AT THE HYATT, IT'S 
THREE BUCKS?
>>GREG COX:  IF YOU'RE ONLY BY YOURSELF.
IT STATES ON THE CHART IF IT'S ONE PASSENGER, THE OPERATOR 
CAN CHOOSE THE METER OR THE FLAT RATE IF IT'S ONE 
PASSENGER.
THAT GIVES THEM THE BENEFIT EITHER WAY.
IF IT'S TWO PEOPLE DOING THAT SAME TRIP, IT'S $6.
AND THAT'S BEEN A VERY CLEAN -- CLEAN OPERATION FOR MOST OF 
THE DRIVERS.
EVERYBODY'S ENJOYED THAT.
IT'S BEEN BENEFICIAL TO THEM, AND WE THINK IT'S INCREASED 
THE SERVICE.
I DO UNDERSTAND THEIR COMPLAINT ABOUT GOING FROM THE 
AIRPORT TO DAVIS ISLANDS AND TO HARBOUR ISLAND.
IT'S MUCH LONGER AND THEY'D MAKE MORE MONEY OFF THE -- OFF 
THE METER.
SO OUR RECOMMENDATION WITH THIS IS TO CHANGE THE FLAT RATE 
TO $22 AND TO TAKE DAVIS ISLANDS AND HARBOUR ISLAND OFF OF 
THE IN-TOWN SHORT RIDE ZONE.
THE LONG VERSION OF EXPLAINING THAT.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS ON THAT?
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  YEAH.
ARE YOU SAYING, THEN, THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE TRIPS ARE IN 
THESE AREAS, PEOPLE DON'T GO TO, LIKE, WESTSHORE, WHICH IS 
THE LARGEST BUSINESS AREA IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, BUSINESS 
DISTRICT IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY?
>>GREG COX:  THEY DO.
FROM WHERE?
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  FROM WHEREVER, THE AIRPORT, WHERE --
>>GREG COX:  WE HAVE SOME OTHER RATES THAT -- THAT -- AND 
FOR EXAMPLE, ON THIS CHART UP HERE, THE SECOND BULLET, IT 
SAYS -- I'M SORRY.
FOR THE BOTTOM BULLET, IT SAYS, FOR ALL OTHER TRIPS, A $10 
MINIMUM RATE TO AND FROM THE TAMPA AIRPORT.
SO IF SOMEBODY WERE LEAVING THE WESTSHORE AREA GOING TO THE 
AIRPORT OR VICE VERSA, WE'VE PUT A $10 MINIMUM RATE IN 
THERE, SO WE DO HAVE A RATE THAT ADDRESSES THAT.
MOST TRIPS NOW THAT WE HAVE A $2.25 PER-MILE RATE, MOST 
TRIPS EXCEED $10 NOW, SO THAT'S NOT MUCH OF AN ISSUE ANY 
LONGER, BUT YES, WE DO ADDRESS THAT WITH THESE OTHER RATES 
IN THE WESTSHORE AREA.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  I MEAN, I WAS THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, 
LIKE IN BRANDON OR THE BRANDON/VALRICO AREA, THERE'S -- I 
DON'T KNOW WHO OPERATES CABS -- EVERYBODY OPERATES CABS, I 
ASSUME, THAT'S OUT THERE.
IN THOSE AREAS, IS THERE A LOT OF THAT SAME TYPE OF 
SCENARIO?
WOULD ANYBODY -- DO YOU KNOW THAT?
>>GREG COX:  WHAT MAKES ZONES DIFFICULT -- AND -- AND WE 
LABORED WITH THIS ZONE FOR QUITE A WHILE, THIS IN-TOWN 
SHORT RIDE ZONE.
IN ORDER TO HAVE A ZONE, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE EASILY 
DEFINABLE, ENFORCEABLE BOUNDARIES.
IN THIS AREA, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO FIX BOUNDARIES THAT WORK 
FOR EVERYBODY.
THIS IS -- WE'VE HAD THE MOST SUCCESS WITH THIS -- THESE 
BOUNDARIES AROUND THE IN-TOWN SHORT RIDE ZONE BECAUSE WE'RE 
SORT OF -- ON ONE SIDE YOU HAVE YBOR CITY, ONE SIDE HYDE 
PARK, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE DOWNTOWN.
IT MADE IT KIND OF EASY TO DEFINE.
BUT WHEN YOU START GETTING OUT IN THE BROADER AREAS, THE 
BOUNDARIES FOR ZONES START TO BECOME HARDER TO DEFINE WAY 
OUT IN THE RURAL AREAS.
OKAY.
NUMBER 8 IS ALSO IN THE RATES, AND WE HAVE SIMPLY 
RECOMMENDED THAT WE ADD LANGUAGE TO THE MINIMUM LIMOUSINE 
RATES, WHICH I'M SURE MOST OF YOU REMEMBER THE $40-PER-HOUR 
MINIMUM RATE THAT WE'VE -- WE HAVE IN HERE.
BUT WE'VE ADDED THE LANGUAGE "EXCLUSIVE OF GRATUITIES AND 
OTHER RATES OR CHANGES."
WHAT WE WERE FINDING WAS HAPPENING WAS SOME LIMOUSINE 
OPERATORS WERE AVOIDING THE INTENT OF THIS MINIMUM RATE BY 
ADVERTISING $30, $25 AN HOUR, SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT, AND 
THEN IN VERY SMALL PRINT, THEY WOULD ADD "HOWEVER, THERE 
WILL BE GRATUITIES AND SERVICE CHARGES ADDED," AND SO WHEN 
WE QUESTIONED THEM ABOUT THEIR ADVERTISED RATE, THEY SAID, 
NO, WE REQUIRE 15% GRATUITY, WE ADD $10 SERVICE -- THE 
TOTAL AMOUNT ADDS UP TO MORE THAN $40 WHEN THEY SUMMARIZED 
IT TO US.
WE DIDN'T HAVE A RULE THAT PREVENTED THEM FROM DOING IT 
THAT WAY.
THEY WERE ADVERTISING A RATE LOWER THAN WE WERE INTENDING.
SO THIS LANGUAGE SHOULD PREVENT THAT.
AND LASTLY, PROPOSAL NUMBER 9, WE ARE ADDING A -- A RULE 
THAT WE HAVE -- THE RULE SAYS -- IT'S A -- IT'S ACTUALLY 
A -- A CITATION FOR CAUSING OR ALLOWING THE OPERATION OF A 
PUBLIC VEHICLE BY A DRIVER WITHOUT A PUBLIC VEHICLE 
DRIVER'S LICENCE.
WE'VE DONE THIS IN SOME OTHER AREAS IN OUR RULES.
THIS WOULD COME INTO EFFECT WHEN A COMPANY OWNER SENDS A 
DRIVER OUT WHO DOESN'T HAVE A LICENSE, AND THE DRIVER MAY 
OR MAY NOT BE AWARE OF THAT.
THE COMPANY -- WE FEEL THE COMPANY OWNER HAS, IN EFFECT, 
CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN KNOWINGLY, AND SO IF THEY HAVE 
KNOWINGLY DONE THIS TO THIS DRIVER, WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A 
PENALTY FOR THAT, SO WE'VE ADDED THAT -- THAT FINE IN 
THERE.
OKAY.
THOSE ARE THE -- THOSE ARE THE RULES THAT WE ARE PROPOSING.
THIS MIGHT BE THE TIME IF YOU WANT TO TAKE SOME DISCUSSION 
ON THIS.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD 
CARE TO SPEAK ON THIS?
PLEASE COME ON UP AND LINE UP.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO SPEAK, GO AHEAD AND LINE UP, THAT WAY WE 
MAY EXPEDITE THIS A LITTLE.
GO AHEAD, SIR.
PUT YOUR NAME ON THE RECORD, PLEASE.
>> TOM SMITH, OWNER OF OLDSMAR TAXI.
I'VE BEEN IN FRONT OF YOU-ALL A FEW TIMES BECAUSE I -- 
WELL, LAST YEAR I GOT ONE PERMIT, NOW I MANAGED TO GET 
ANOTHER ONE, I HAVE TWO.
I'M TRYING TO COVER THE ENTIRE NORTHWEST COUNTY WITH TWO 
PERMITS.
I HAD TO LEASE A COUPLE MORE FROM NANCY.
NOW I HAVE FIVE OF NANCY'S PERMITS, TWO ABC'S AND THREE 
TAMPA BAY'S IN ORDER TO FILL SOME OF THE GAP ON THE 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SIDE.
ANYWAY, I HAD A SUGGESTION.
I TURNED IT IN TO MR. COX AND E-MAILED IT, SENT IT OUT TO 
EACH OF THE MEMBERS HERE.
THE LAST THING IN THE WORLD WE NEED IS LONGER LINES 
DOWNTOWN.
IF YOU WERE TO TALK TO CHARLIE HERE, HE'D TELL YOU WHAT 
HE'D THINK OF HAVING 30 MORE CABS SITTING IN FRONT OF HIM 
AT THE MARRIOTT, AND HE'LL TELL YOU HE DOESN'T LIKE THAT.
NONE OF THE CABDRIVERS WANT THAT BECAUSE IT'S CUTTING INTO 
THEIR POCKETS.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S SAD WE HAVE 50 CABDRIVERS TO 
RUSH DOWN TO THE PORT TO GET A BOAT, BUT A GUY IN ODESSA 
CAN'T GET A CAB BECAUSE ALL THE CABS HAVE GONE DOWNTOWN TO 
GET A BOAT.
SO WHY NOT CHANGE THE CAP TO ONE IN 1900, WHICH WOULD ADD 
50 CARS, ONLY RESTRICT THEM FROM THE CITY OF TAMPA.
NOW, THAT'LL DO A NUMBER OF THINGS.
IT'LL KEEP THEM OFF THE STANDS AND THE HAIR OF THE OTHER 
DRIVERS.
IT WILL MAKE THEM STAY OUT IN THE COUNTY, WHICH NEEDS MORE 
CABS.
IT ALSO WILL STOP ANY COMPANY FROM PUTTING DRIVERS AND CARS 
AND TELLING THEM, WELL, GO OUT TO THE STAND AND WE'LL CALL 
YOU IF WE HAVE ANY NEW BUSINESS FOR YOU.
THEY'LL HAVE TO INVENT OR CREATE NEW BUSINESS IN ORDER TO 
SUPPORT THOSE PERMITS.
ANYWAY --
>>KEVIN WHITE:  NOVEL IDEA.
I JUST DON'T -- I JUST DON'T KNOW IF THIS BOARD CAN 
REGULATE SAYING THAT YOU STAY IN ONE PORTION OF 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY OR -- OR NOT, AND -- AND EVEN IF WE 
CAN, I DON'T KNOW HOW -- HOW WE WOULD REGULATE THAT.
I MEAN, IT'S HARD ENOUGH NOW.
WE HAVE GYPSY TAXIS AT THE -- AT THE AIRPORT AND EVERYWHERE 
ELSE, UNLESS YOU -- UNLESS YOU PUT A BIG, YOU KNOW, SIX-
INCH LETTER -- SIX-INCH LETTERING ON THERE THAT SAYS 
"HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ONLY" OR "COUNTY ONLY," AND THEN IF 
YOU DID THAT, AND THEN YOU HAVE, WELL, I NEED TO GO TO THE 
AIRPORT AND THEN YOU'RE ON THE WAY TO THE AIRPORT AND 
YOU'RE DROPPING OFF AT THE AIRPORT, AND, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE 
SOMEWHERE IN THE CITY LIMITS, AND NOW ENFORCEMENT FROM 
MR. PADILLA'S OFFICE OVER HERE.
YOU KNOW?
I MEAN, IT JUST BECOMES A -- I JUST SEE IT AS A DEBACLE AS 
AN ENFORCEMENT ISSUE.
BUT --
>> WELL, IT WOULD BE IF THEY WERE OVERREGULATED.
IF YOU JUST KEEP THEM OFF THE STANDS OR NOT ALLOW THEM TO 
SOLICIT -- IN OTHER WORDS, THEY COULDN'T EVEN SIT IN FRONT 
OF A PRIVATE HOTEL BECAUSE IF THEY SAT IN FRONT OF A HOTEL, 
THEY'RE SOLICITING.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  SURE.
>> DON'T OVERREGULATE THEM.
I MEAN, IF THEY TAKE SOMEBODY TO THE MARRIOTT AND THAT 
PERSON WANTS THEM TO COME BACK AND GET THEM, THAT SHOULD BE 
THE CUSTOMER'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE.
LET THEM GO.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  ABSOLUTELY, BUT FROM THE ENFORCEMENT 
STANDPOINT, WE DON'T -- WHEN WE SEE THEM COMING BACK TO 
PICK UP, IF MR. PADILLA'S OUT THERE OR ONE OF HIS 
INSPECTORS, EVEN IF IT'S MARKED "COUNTY ONLY," AND NOW 
THERE'S A "COUNTY ONLY" CAB COMING UP OR THE 20 OTHER 
DRIVERS IN LINE ARE SAYING, WAIT A MINUTE, HOW'S HE GOING 
UP HERE?
LIKE I SAID, IT'S A GREAT IDEA IF IT CAN BE ENFORCED, IF 
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT, AND, I MEAN, THAT'S 
A -- IT'S ANOTHER OPTION.
>> WELL, IF HE COMES BACK, HE'D HAVE TO HAVE A NAME OF THE 
PERSON HE'S PICKING UP.
IF HE DOESN'T, HE DOESN'T HAVE A RIGHT TO DO IT.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  THAT'S FOR AN INSPECTOR.
BUT WHEN YOU'VE GOT 20 OTHER ANGRY CABDRIVERS IN LINE THAT 
HAVE BEEN WAITING THERE ALL DAY, ONE CABDRIVER DOESN'T HAVE 
TO FEEL COMPELLED TO GIVE JUSTIFICATION TO A COLLEAGUE, SO 
TO SPEAK.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
SO THAT ONLY WORKS IF THERE'S AN ACTUAL INSPECTOR THERE OR 
SOMEONE IN AUTHORITY THAT CAN ACTUALLY YANK THEIR LICENSE.
MR. COX, WOULD YOU CARE -- MAYBE THERE'S SOME OTHER --
>>GREG COX:  WELL, I THINK THAT EVERYTHING WAS SOUNDING 
FAIRLY REASONABLE UNTIL HE TALKED ABOUT COMING BACK IN AND 
PICKING THEM UP.
THAT WOULD BE AN ISSUE, YOU'RE RIGHT, ENFORCEMENT ISSUE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IF THE COMMISSION DIRECTED US TO CREATE 
THESE RESTRICTED PERMITS, I MEAN, I THINK WE COULD DO IT.
IT WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE MORE RESTRICTIONS THAN -- THAN -- 
THAN I THINK HE'S MENTIONED, BUT --
>>KEVIN WHITE:  WELL, THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO 
TAKE BACK TO THE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING NEXT MONTH.
COMMISSIONER BLAIR.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  WELL, EVERYTHING'S SUPPLY AND DEMAND.
IS THERE DEMAND FOR THAT NOW?
DO THE OWNERS GET CALLS DURING THESE TIMES FOR TAXIS THAT 
THEY CAN'T FULFILL?
I MEAN, ARE THERE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WAITING ON TAXIS 
BECAUSE ALL THE TAXIS, AS YOU JUST MENTIONED, ARE AT THE --
>> CRUISE TERMINAL.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  -- TOM, ARE AT THE CRUISE SHIP TERMINAL?
>> THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANCES I'VE HEARD ON THE RADIO WITH 
UNITED WHERE THE DISPATCHER HAS SAID TELL THE GIRLS NOT TO 
TAKE ANY CALLS IN BRANDON OR LUTZ OR WHEREVER BECAUSE WE 
DON'T HAVE ANY CABS OUT THERE.
IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, BUT IT DOES HAPPEN ON 
OCCASION.
I KIND OF VOICED THE NEED AT TAMPA BAY DOWNS.
OF COURSE, I THINK A COUPLE PEOPLE HAVE TALKED TO THE 
COMMISSIONERS SINCE THEN, AND THEY JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHO TO 
COMPLAIN TO.
>> SURE.
>>GREG COX:  MAY I INTERJECT ON THAT?
I HAVE THIS DISCUSSION QUITE OFTEN WITH THE -- WITH THE 
TAXI COMPANIES, AND HISTORICALLY -- MY UNDERSTANDING, 
HISTORICALLY, THE LARGER COMPANIES HAVE EXPERIMENTED IN THE 
PAST WITH PUTTING TAXIS OUT IN SOME OF THESE OUTLYING AREAS 
AND -- JUST TO SEE IF THEY CAN SERVE THEM BETTER, AND 
THERE'S A LOW DEMAND, AND IT'S NOT A FIXED DEMAND, IT'S NOT 
A SOLID DEMAND, AND SO THE DRIVERS DON'T MAKE MUCH MONEY 
OUT THERE.
THE PROBLEM WE HAVE IS THE OCCASIONAL CALL FROM -- SINCE 
MOST OF THE TAXIS ARE OPERATING IN THE MORE HIGH-DEMAND 
AREAS, WHEN A CALL COMES IN FROM, SAY, BRANDON OR SOME OF 
THE OUTLYING AREAS, SUN CITY, THEY HAVE TO MAKE A LONG-LEG 
TRIP DOWN THERE FOR POSSIBLY A VERY SHORT TRIP WHEN THEY 
GET DOWN THERE, SO THEY'RE VERY RELUCTANT TO MAKE THAT 
TRIP.
THE RESTRICTION MIGHT REQUIRE THAT THEY SET UP AND OPERATE 
DOWN IN THOSE AREAS AND STAY DOWN THERE.
IF THEY WERE GOING TO BE RESTRICTED, THAT'S THE WAY IT 
WOULD HAVE TO WORK SO THAT THEY'RE THERE AND CAN MAKE THOSE 
TRIPS.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  AND BEING ON THE HARTLINE BOARD, THIS IS 
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE WRESTLING WITH RIGHT NOW IS 
SERVING THE OUTER COUNTY BETTER BECAUSE IF YOU EVER TALK TO 
JIM HOSLER IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THE WAY YOU SEE THE 
DENSITIES NOW, BY 2025 WILL HAVE FLIP-FLOPPED, COMPLETELY 
FLIP-FLOPPED.
ALL THE MAJOR -- EVERYTHING THAT YOU SEE NOW WITH THE 
DENSITIES IN THE CITY OF TAMPA -- EXCUSE ME.
I HOPE SOMEBODY'S OKAY THERE.
BUT ANYWAY, WILL HAVE FLIP-FLOPPED.
AND IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY TO START PLANNING, AND SHOULD 
SOMEBODY -- AND WE'RE GOING TO START TALKING ABOUT 
CIRCULATOR ROUTES BY EVEN PERHAPS PRIVATE COMPANIES IN, 
LIKE, A SUN CITY CENTER AREA.
SO THEREFORE, IF A BUS WAS NEEDED, IT WOULD SEEM TO ME LIKE 
THE POTENTIAL FOR A TAXI ON CALL MAYBE IN PLANT CITY, WHERE 
RICK'S VERY FAMILIAR WITH THAT AREA, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW 
IT WORKS THERE, COMMISSIONER LOTT, BUT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO 
OPINE ON THAT AS WELL.
IS THERE -- HOW DO YOU GUYS DO THAT THERE?
>>RICK LOTT:  I THINK A LOT OF IT IS THE MORE ACCESSIBLE 
SOMETHING IS, THE MORE --
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  -- PEOPLE WILL USE IT.
>>RICK LOTT:  RIGHT.
THE LESS ACCESSIBLE, THE LESS YOU THINK THAT'S AN OPTION TO 
BE ABLE TO USE.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  RIGHT, BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE A TIME WHEN 
SOMEBODY NEEDS TO GET TO THE DOCTOR, AN EMERGENCY, THEY 
DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION, THERE'S NO BUS.
WHAT DO THEY DO?
THAT'S ALMOST A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY OF OURS TO PROTECT 
THE PUBLIC IN THAT MANNER.
I MEAN, I'M JUST THROWING UP STUFF FOR DISCUSSION.
THERE'S A LOT OF WISE MINDS RIGHT HERE, AND YOU KNOW, YOU 
SPARK THE FIRE, AND OF COURSE, WE DON'T -- WE WANT TO MAKE 
SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS TREATED FAIRLY AND CAN MAKE A 
LIVING, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW HEAVILY THOSE AREAS AND HOW 
READILY ON-TIME SERVICE THERE IS, BUT IT'S A GOOD THOUGHT.
I MEAN, THE WHOLE -- THE WHOLE PROCESS OF HAVING PEOPLE IN 
DIFFERENT AREAS, APOLLO BEACH, THOSE AREAS -- I COULD SEE 
WHERE DRIVERS DON'T WANT TO GO FROM THE AIRPORT DOWN TO 
APOLLO BEACH OR SOMEWHERE LIKE THAT, SO IF THERE WERE 
CERTAIN VICINITIES WHERE THIS PERSON HAD THIS AREA OR -- 
THEY COULD COMPETE WITH UNITED OR YELLOW OR WHATEVER.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  AND THEY COULD GET TIMELY SERVICE.
COMMISSIONER CHILLURA.
>>FRANK CHILLURA:  THIS MAY GO HAND IN HAND WITH HOW WE PUT 
CAPS ON AND WE RESTRICT CERTAIN PERMITS OR LOTTERY SYSTEMS.
OBVIOUSLY, THE MORE PERMITS THAT ARE GOING TO BE OUT THERE, 
THE -- THE MORE ABILITY THAT WILL BE GIVEN TO THESE 
INDEPENDENT COMPANIES TO SERVICE AREAS THAT DO NOT HAVE 
SERVICE.
IF CHANNELSIDE IS VERY COMPETITIVE, VERY BUSY, AND I'M A 
LITTLE COMPANY WITH FIVE CABS, I MAY CHOOSE TO GO TO 
BRANDON OR SOUTH COUNTY, SOMEWHERE WHERE THERE'S NOT -- 
THAT MIGHT BE MY LITTLE NICHE.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  RIGHT.
>>FRANK CHILLURA:  SO THAT MAY BE AN ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
AND I NEED SOMEBODY TO EXPLAIN TO ME A LITTLE BIT -- THE 
GENTLEMAN UP HERE SPOKE ABOUT LEASING PERMITS.
>>GREG COX:  UH-HUH.
>>FRANK CHILLURA:  THAT -- I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WAS 
AVAILABLE, OR I NEED TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, 
BECAUSE I --
>>GREG COX:  WELL, HE -- YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO MOVE PERMITS 
FROM ONE COMPANY TO ANOTHER.
WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT -- YOU KNOW, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, 
UNITED CAB, PEOPLE COME IN AND RENT A CAR, THEY LEASE A CAR 
FOR A WEEK, A DAY, WHATEVER THEIR ARRANGEMENTS ARE, AND 
THAT -- THE DRIVER THEMSELVES PAYS A LEASE TO THE COMPANY 
TO DRIVE THAT TAXI, AND HE THEN BECOMES AN INDEPENDENT 
CONTRACTOR DRIVING THAT UNITED CAB, FOR EXAMPLE.
WHAT MR. SMITH HAS DONE IS HE HAS RENTED AN ABC TAXI AND 
HE'S RENTED A COUPLE OTHER TAXIS --
>> TAMPA BAYS.
>>GREG COX:  -- THAT ARE OUT THERE TO BE LEASED.
HE'S OPERATING THEM NOT AS OLDSMAR TAXI, HIS CONTRACTORS 
ARE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS DRIVING AN ABC TAXI OR THEY MAY 
BE DRIVING A UNITED TAXI, A UNITED CAB.
>>FRANK CHILLURA:  SO THERE IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF LIMITING 
ONE COMPANY WITH A CAP AND THAT COMPANY HAVING TO SEEK OUT 
OTHER SOURCES TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE BUSINESS BECAUSE IT 
DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH PERMITS.
SO THE COMPANY -- IF I'M ABC COMPANY AND I JUST APPLY FOR 
TEN PERMITS EVERY TIME AROUND, AND IF I GET THEM I GET 
THEM, IF I DON'T, I DON'T.
I HAVE PLENTY OF PERMITS TO KEEP ME GOING AND ADDITIONAL TO 
LEASE OUT.
I'M AHEAD OF THE GAME, AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR TO THE 
SMALL GUYS.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO USE A CAB, A CAB SHOULD BE UTILIZED IN 
A -- IN A MANNER THAT THE -- THE COMPANY THAT IS REQUESTING 
THE PERMIT ACTUALLY HAS A NECESSITY FOR THAT PERMIT, NOT TO 
USE THAT PERMIT AND LEASE IT TO THIS GENTLEMAN AND MAKE 
MONEY IN THE PROCESS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S FAIR TO THE SMALL GUY OR -- OR TO 
THE BIG GUY, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.
>>GREG COX:  JUST AS A REMINDER, EVERY COMPANY THAT 
CURRENTLY APPLIES -- THE LOTTERY SYSTEM IS A SECONDARY 
MEANS.
EVERY COMPANY THAT APPLIES RIGHT NOW HAS TO SHOW PUBLIC 
CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY.
THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH A HEARING OFFICER.
IT COMES BEFORE THIS COMMISSION, WHERE THEY HAVE 
TECHNICALLY SHOWN A NEED FOR THOSE PERMITS, AND THE HEARING 
OFFICER MAKES A RECOMMENDATION, YES OR NO.
SO THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH A PROCESS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW STRICT THE PROCESS HAS BEEN, BUT THEY'VE 
GONE THROUGH A PROCESS TO SHOW THAT THEY NEED TEN MORE 
PERMITS.
>>FRANK CHILLURA:  WELL, OKAY, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I 
DON'T BUY THAT BECAUSE IF THAT'S THE CASE, HOW IS A 
PARTICULAR COMPANY LEASING PERMITS TO THIS GENTLEMAN?
>>GREG COX:  WELL, EVERY COMPANY THAT HAS -- AND I'M NOT 
TRYING TO DEFEND THEM.
I'M JUST SAYING, LIKE YELLOW CAB OR ANYBODY ELSE, THEY HAVE 
200 PERMITS.
THOSE PERMITS ARE LEASED OUT TO WHOEVER, THE DRIVERS THEY 
HAVE WHO COME IN AND LEASE THEM.
SO IF THEY'RE A QUALIFIED DRIVER FROM WHEREVER, THEY CAN 
COME IN AND -- THAT'S THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS IS LEASING THE 
CARS OUT TO PEOPLE, NOT -- YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE WAY IT'S 
BECOME.
THEY'RE MORE LIKE LEASING COMPANIES TO -- TO LEASE THESE 
CARS OUT TO DRIVERS.
>>FRANK CHILLURA:  I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT I 
DON'T NECESSARILY -- RESPECTFULLY, I DISAGREE WITH IT, BUT 
I CERTAINLY THINK THIS IS GOING TO GO HAND IN HAND WITH THE 
AMOUNT OF THE CAP AND THE LOTTERY.
I JUST DON'T THINK THAT -- YOU KNOW, I'M -- I'M NOT GOING 
TO GIVE -- I DON'T LIKE TO GIVE MYSELF AS AN EXAMPLE, BUT 
I'M IN THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS.
NOBODY TELLS ME HOW MANY APARTMENTS I CAN GO BUY OR HOW 
MANY SHOPPING CENTERS I CAN GO BUY.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, FREE TRADE, FREE ENTERPRISE, AND I CAN GO 
OUT THERE AND DO WHAT I WISH.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  CAPITALISM.
>>FRANK CHILLURA:  SO I THINK THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED 
AT IN THE SAME MANNER HERE BECAUSE WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE 
MORE -- YOU KNOW, COMPETITION IS GOOD.
YEAH, WE MAY HAVE -- AS DISCUSSED, MAY HAVE SOME SHAKE-UPS 
FOR TWO OR THREE YEARS, BUT IN THE LONG RUN, IT MAY BENEFIT 
SOME OF THE AREAS WHERE THERE'S NOT MUCH SERVICE IN SOUTH 
COUNTY.
AGAIN, THE EXAMPLE I USED EARLIER IS IF THERE'S -- IF I'M A 
THREE-CAR -- THREE-CAB COMPANY AND IT'S TOO COMPETITIVE, I 
MAY GO DOWN THERE AND MAKE THAT MY NICHE AND BE ABLE TO 
FILL THOSE SMALL GAPS.
I THINK IT'S SOMETHING CERTAINLY WORTH LOOKING MORE INTO, 
BUT THE LEASING SITUATION I'M NOT OVERLY COMFORTABLE WITH.
>>RICK LOTT:  MR. CHAIR, ASK I ASK MR. SMITH A QUESTION?
>>KEVIN WHITE:  OKAY.
>>RICK LOTT:  OKAY.
DO YOU -- OBVIOUSLY, YOU HAVE A NEED FOR FIVE PERMITS 
BECAUSE YOU WENT OUT AND LEASED FOUR MORE PERMITS?
>> ORIGINALLY I HAD ONE.
I'VE BEEN AN OWNER/OPERATOR WITH UNITED -- I'VE BEEN WITH 
THEM 33 YEARS.
>>RICK LOTT:  OKAY.
DID YOU APPLY AND JUSTIFY TO OUR COMMISSION THAT YOU NEEDED 
ADDITIONAL PERMITS?
OR WHY DID YOU HAVE TO GO OUT AND LEASE THEM VERSUS GETTING 
THE ADDITIONAL PERMITS?
>> WELL, WHEN I FIRST STARTED, I WENT RIGHT OUT AND LEASED 
MORE CABS OR MORE -- I BOUGHT SOME CARS AND PUT THEM ON 
NANCY'S FLEET BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE A CERTIFICATE.
>>RICK LOTT:  OKAY.
>> DIRECTOR COX -- I CAME IN TO INSPECT THOSE CARS -- 
SUGGESTED I PUT IN FOR A CERTIFICATE, AND I MANAGED TO GET 
ONE PERMIT FOR EACH YEAR.
BUT I COULD USE A LOT MORE OUT THERE.
IT'S A BIG, VAST AREA, AND I'VE CREATED A NICHE BY USING 
OLDSMAR AND THE NORTHWEST COUNTY TOGETHER.
I'M GETTING BUSINESS FROM OLDSMAR AND BUSINESS -- AND THAT 
WAY I KEEP THE CARS AROUND THE COUNTY LINE, AND THAT'S THE 
WAY THAT WORKED.
>>RICK LOTT:  OKAY.
THANK YOU.
>> BUT I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE ONES I'VE LEASED.
YOU KNOW, I -- I JUST NEED MORE OF THEM.
AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, I MAKE LESS MONEY OFF OF THE ONES 
I HAVE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO SPLIT THE PROFIT.
I DON'T GET -- YOU KNOW, WHERE MINE I GET MORE PROFIT OFF 
OF THEM.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  THANK YOU, MR. SMITH.
>> OKAY.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS HAVE QUESTIONS?
>>GREG COX:  MAY I EXPLAIN ONE THING, SIR?
>>KEVIN WHITE:  YES.
>>GREG COX:  THE LOTTERY -- JUST SO EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS, 
IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE CAP, THE LOTTERY WOULD NOT BE 
NEEDED.
WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE PAST, BEFORE WE HAD THE LOTTERY AND 
THERE WERE, SAY, TEN PERMITS AVAILABLE.
THREE OR FOUR COMPETING COMPANIES WOULD ALL APPLY FOR THOSE 
PERMITS, ALL SUCCESSFULLY APPLY WITH THE HEARING OFFICER 
FOR THEM, AND THEN THIS COUNCIL WOULD HAVE TO WRESTLE WITH 
HOW DO WE DIVIDE UP TEN PERMITS.
IT WAS TOUGH.
THAT'S WHEN WE ELECTED TO GO WITH, WELL, EVERYBODY'S 
QUALIFIED FOR THEM.
LET'S JUST DO A LOTTERY AND DIVVY THEM OUT THAT WAY.
THAT'S WHY THE LOTTERY.
BUT WERE THERE NOT A CAP OR WERE WE NOT MEETING THE LIMIT, 
YOU WOULDN'T NEED THAT LOTTERY SYSTEM.
THEY WOULD JUST GET WHAT THEY APPLIED FOR IF THEY NEEDED 
IT.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  ONE LAST QUESTION.
DID THE SEATTLE EXAMPLE YOU USED HAVE A PTC?
>>GREG COX:  THEY HAVE A REGULATORY AGENCY THAT WORKS FOR -
- IT'S A LICENSING AGENCY THAT REGULATES PROBABLY AS STRICT 
OR IF NOT STRICTER THAN WE DO.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  OKAY.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  MR. SMALLING.
>> YES.
TWO OR THREE THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, YOU WERE ASKING ABOUT THE RENTAL ON CABS.
THE RENTAL ON CABS IS 400 FOR ME, APPROXIMATELY $400 A WEEK 
PLUS MY GAS AND EVERYTHING, AND THAT'S MY EXPENSES BEFORE I 
MAKE A PROFIT.
SO IF I GO TO SUN CITY OR PLANT CITY AND I SIT THERE FOR 
THREE HOURS AND I GET A $10 RUN, I'M LOSING MY BUTT, EXCUSE 
MY LANGUAGE.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  WE UNDERSTAND.
>> SO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET PEOPLE IN THESE AREAS.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET PEOPLE IN PLANT CITY AND BRANDON 
AND SUN CITY BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GO THERE BECAUSE 
THEY LOSE MONEY.
NEW CAB COMPANIES, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE THE INSURANCE 
PROBLEMS.
THEY HAVE TO PAY THE INSURANCE.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE MONEY EITHER.
SO IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE MONEY IN THOSE AREAS.
WE GET NO BREAKS.
AS FAR AS INCREASING THE -- THE LIMIT OF CABS IN 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, THE NEW CAB COMPANIES THAT ARE -- THAT 
ARE IN EFFECT RIGHT NOW -- NOT ALL OF THEM, BUT MOST OF 
THEM ARE SITTING AT MONS VENUS, DOWNTOWN, AND THE NORMAL 
AREAS WHERE CABS SIT ANYWAY.
IT'S NOT HELPING THE BUSINESS AT ALL.
IT'S STILL THE SAME BUSINESS, JUST MORE CABS, AND THEY'RE 
NOT WORKING THOSE PLANT CITY AND BRANDON AREAS ANY MORE 
THAN ANYBODY ELSE, AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO.
IF YOU WANT TO LIMIT SOMETHING BESIDES CABS, YOU NEED TO 
LIMIT TOWN CARS AND LIMOUSINES.
I'VE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE.
METRO -- METRO CAB PICKS UP IN NEW PORT RICHEY AND PORT 
RICHEY AND TAXICABS AND BRING THEM TO TAMPA.
THEY CAN'T PICK UP IN TAXICABS, SO WHAT THEY DO IS THEY 
SEND THE METRO CARS TO PICK THEM UP.
IN PINELLAS COUNTY, YELLOW CAB WILL BRING PEOPLE OVER TO 
TAMPA.
THEY CAN'T PICK THEM UP IN YELLOW CABS, SO THEY'RE BRINGING 
THEIR TOWN CARS AND LIMOUSINES.
SO WE DO HAVE OTHER CAB COMPANIES IN TAMPA, BUT THEY'RE 
JUST NOT CAB COMPANIES, THEY'RE TOWN CARS AND LIMOUSINES, 
AND YOU-ALL SHOULD START LIMITING TOWN CARS AND LIMOUSINES 
BECAUSE THEY'RE TAKING THE BUSINESS AWAY FROM THE TAXIS IN 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND NOBODY SEEMS TO NOTICE THAT.
EVERY TIME SOMEBODY ASKS FOR A PERMIT THREE COUNTIES AWAY, 
THEY SAY, I NEED A PERMIT.
THEY BRING THEM UP FROM PORT CHARLOTTE OR BRING THEM UP 
FROM FORT MYERS, AND THEY PICK THEM BACK UP IN THE TOWN CAR 
OR LIMOUSINE.
THEY MAY BRING THEM UP BY CAB, BUT THEY PICK THEM UP IN A 
TOWN CAR OR LIMOUSINE.
AND NOBODY SEEMS TO NOTICE THIS.
THE CABDRIVERS ARE NOTICING IT.
YOU NEED TO START LIMITING TOWN CARS AND LIMOUSINES.
ON THE DOWNTOWN RATE AGAIN, YOU'VE GOT -- IT'S -- THE 
RATE -- THE DOWNTOWN -- THE METER RATE IS -- IS $2.25 DROP 
BUT $2 A MILE, NOT $2.25 A MILE.
IF WE -- WHEN WE GO DOWNTOWN, YOU'RE LOOKING -- SOMETIMES 
IT'S $23, SOMETIMES $24, AND YOU SAY YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE 
IT $22.
WE'RE STILL LOSING $2.
BUT YOU SEE, WHEN THEY COME BACK DOWNTOWN --
>>KEVIN WHITE:  LET'S WRAP IT UP, MR. SMALLING.
>> ALL RIGHT.
YOU'RE LOSING -- YOU'RE LOSING YOUR TIP TOO.
BECAUSE WHEN IT RUNS $24, YOU GET 26, 27, NOT 22.
WE'RE STILL LOSING MONEY WHEN WE COME DOWNTOWN.
>>FRANK CHILLURA:  THE LUXURY CAR AND THE LIMOUSINE, THEY 
HAVE A HIGHER RATE THAN THE REGULAR TAXICAB?
>>GREG COX:  WE HAVE A MINIMUM RATE THEY MUST CHARGE, SO WE 
SET THE MAXIMUM RATES THAT TAXIS MUST CHARGE AND WE SET THE 
MINIMUM RATE TOWN CARS CAN CHARGE, SO IT'S $40 AN HOUR, AND 
THAT'S INTENDED TO KEEP THE TWO INDUSTRIES APART.
>>FRANK CHILLURA:  SO SOMEBODY IN A CERTAIN LOCATION WHERE 
IT'S A FLAT RATE OF $20, OBVIOUSLY, IF THEY CALL A LUXURY 
SEDAN OR LIMOUSINE, IT'S GOING TO COST THEM $40?
>>GREG COX:  AND MOST COMPANIES THAT I HAVE TALKED TO 
CHARGE MUCH MORE THAN THAT EVEN, BUT THAT'S THE MINIMUM 
THEY WOULD CHARGE, YEAH.
>>FRANK CHILLURA:  AND ON THE LIMOUSINE OR THE LUXURY CARS, 
THERE'S NO TYPE OF CAP OR LOTTERY BECAUSE WE DON'T EXCEED A 
CERTAIN NUMBER, OR THERE'S JUST NOTHING IN PLACE?
>>GREG COX:  THERE'S NOTHING IN PLACE.
THERE'S NO CAP IN PLACE.
BUT MOST OF THOSE LIMOUSINES, THE GROWTH IS COMING FROM FAR 
OUTSIDE THE COUNTY.
IT'S -- WE SERVICE THE WHOLE REGION BECAUSE THESE 
LIMOUSINES WANT TO SERVICE THE AIRPORT, SO THEY COME FROM 
CITRUS COUNTY, SARASOTA COUNTY, ALL OVER THE PLACE SO THEY 
CAN GET LICENSED TO COME INTO THE AIRPORT AND TAKE THEM 
BACK TO THEIR -- TO THEIR AREA.
>>FRANK CHILLURA:  IS THERE A REASON --
>>GREG COX:  -- THAT THERE'S NO CAP?
>>FRANK CHILLURA:  YEAH, THAT WE HAVE A CAP ON TAXIS AND 
NOT ON --
>>GREG COX:  THE SPECIAL ACT SPECIFICALLY MENTIONS THAT 
THIS COMMISSION CAN PUT A LIMIT ON TAXIS.
IT DOESN'T GIVE THE AUTHORITY FOR ANY OTHER VEHICLE.
WHETHER THAT WAS PURPOSELY DONE OR NOT, THAT'S THE WAY -- 
THAT'S THE WAY IT READS NOW.
SO WE'VE LOOKED AT THAT BEFORE, AND WE DON'T HAVE THE 
AUTHORITY, ACCORDING TO OUR SPECIAL ACT, TO LIMIT WITH A 
CAP.
YOU CAN DO IT BY YOUR DECISIONS EACH APPLICATION TO APPROVE 
OR NOT APPROVE THOSE APPLICATIONS, BUT -- BUT AS FAR AS 
SETTING A SPECIFIC CAP --
>>FRANK CHILLURA:  DO YOU THINK IF THERE WAS CERTAIN 
LANGUAGE, THERE WOULD BE A NEED TO DO SO OR NOT?
>>GREG COX:  I HAVEN'T REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT IT FROM THAT 
PERSPECTIVE.
THERE'S MERIT TO LOOKING, JUST LIKE THERE ARE WITH 
TAXICABS.
THERE'S TWO ARGUMENTS TO THAT, WHETHER THAT WOULD BE 
BENEFICIAL OR NOT.
I THINK WHAT I'VE EXPERIENCED IS THE GROWTH IS SO 
TREMENDOUS UP AND DOWN THE VETERANS AND ALL THE WAY DOWN 
SOUTH, I MEAN, IT'S JUST TREMENDOUS BOOM OF THOSE AREAS.
I HAVE NOT BEEN CONVINCED THAT THEY'RE TAKING TAXI BUSINESS 
AWAY.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  THANK YOU.
MR. -- MR. SMALLING --
>> CAN I SAY ONE MORE THING?
>>KEVIN WHITE:  -- WE'VE GIVEN YOU TWO OPPORTUNITIES.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND MOVE ON.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>>KEVIN WHITE:  COME ON UP, SIR.
>> ON THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE, FIRST I WANT TO ADDRESS -- TALK 
TO MR. CHILLURA AND MR. WHITE AND MR. BLAIR.
KEEP ASKING THE QUESTIONS YOU'RE ASKING BECAUSE YOU'RE 
STARTING TO FIGURE THIS OUT.
PART OF THE PROBLEM WITH THESE HEARINGS WAS ADDRESSED IN 
THE OPPAGA REPORT OF '99, AND THEN IT WAS READDRESSED AFTER 
MR. COX'S RESPONSE TO THEM IN 2001.
AND WHAT THEY SPECIFICALLY RECOMMENDED IS, WE RECOMMEND 
THAT THE COMMISSION MORE STRICTLY ENFORCE ITS RULES 
REGARDING THE INTRODUCTION OF IRRELEVANT, IMMATERIAL, OR 
UNDULY REPETITIOUS EVIDENCE DURING THE HEARINGS.
WHAT HAPPENS IN THESE HEARINGS WITH THESE CAB COMPANIES IS 
THEY'RE NOT PROVING PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY.
THEY'RE PROVING THEIR NEED TO GROW AS A COMPANY.
SO THAT NEVER -- THE ISSUE OF WHAT IS ACTUALLY NEEDED IN 
THE UNINCORPORATED PARTS OF THE COUNTY THAT YOU'VE BEEN 
TALKING ABOUT NEVER COMES UP.
WHAT COMES UP IS -- NOW, SOME OF WHAT TOM, THE FELLOW FROM 
OLDSMAR TAXI -- WHICH, I MEAN, THAT OUGHT TO TELL YOU 
SOMETHING.
THE NAME OF THE COMPANY IS OLDSMAR TAXI, BEING LICENSED IN 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND HE SAYS, WELL, I DON'T THINK THERE 
SHOULD BE MORE PERMITS BECAUSE THERE'S ALREADY TOO MANY 
CABS ON THE STANDS DOWNTOWN.
IF HIS COMPANY IS OLDSMAR TAXI, WHY ARE HIS CABS DOWNTOWN?
I'LL TELL YOU WHY.
BECAUSE THERE'S A REGULATION THAT SAYS HE'S REQUIRED TO 
SERVICE ALL OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
NOW, HE'S COMING TO YOU SAYING I CAN'T POSSIBLY SERVICE ALL 
OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
NOBODY WITH TWO OR THREE CABS OR TEN CABS CAN.
BUT THAT'S A RULE CHANGE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE.
IT'S JUST LIKE THE 24/7 RULE, THAT YOU'RE REQUIRED TO 
OPERATE 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK.
IF YOU'VE GOT ONE CAB, THAT'S NOT HAPPENING, BUT THERE ARE 
ONE- AND TWO-CAB COMPANIES OUT THERE THAT ARE LICENSED.
AND AGAIN, THEY'RE WORKING THE HOTELS AND THE CRUISE SHIP 
TERMINAL.
OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE NOT WORKING AT THE AIRPORT BECAUSE THEY 
DON'T HAVE A 40-CAB MINIMUM, WHICH IF YOU'RE NOT AWARE, IS 
A REQUIREMENT TO BID AT THE AIRPORT.
NOW, ONE OF THE REASONS THAT YOU HAVE THIS CAP IS SO THAT 
OTHER COMPANIES OTHER THAN GULF COAST TRANSPORTATION AND 
YELLOW CAB CAN'T ACQUIRE 40 PERMITS, BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT 
THEY WOULD DO AS SOON AS THEY DID?
THEY WOULD BID ON THE AIRPORT.
SO THIS IS ALL A WAY OF KEEPING THE COMPETITION OUT.
AND I THINK YOU'RE KIND OF STARTING TO FIGURE THAT OUT NOW, 
SO PLEASE, KEEP ASKING YOUR QUESTIONS.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS IF THERE'S NO ONE ELSE 
IN THE AUDIENCE.
MR. COX, ON CROWN SEDAN & LIMOUSINE, INC.
>>GREG COX:  YES, SIR.
WE HAVE AN APPLICATION, CROWN SEDAN & LIMOUSINE, INC., OF 
TAMPA, HAS APPLIED FOR TWO ADDITIONAL LIMOUSINE PERMITS TO 
BE OPERATED UNDER THEIR EXISTING CERTIFICATE.
THEY CURRENTLY HAVE TWO VEHICLE PERMITS AND BOTH ARE IN 
SERVICE.
I HAVE REVIEWED THE APPLICATION AND RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE TO SPEAK ON CROWN 
SEDAN?
COMMISSIONER'S PLEASURE?
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  MOTION.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  SECOND.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
[CHORUS OF AYES]
OPPOSED, NAY.
NUMBER TWO, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY CRISIS CENTER, INC.
>>GREG COX:  THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY CRISIS CENTER D/B/A 
TRANSCARE AMBULANCE SERVICE HAS APPLIED FOR TWO ADDITIONAL 
BLS AMBULANCE PERMITS.
THEY CURRENTLY HAVE 11 BLS VEHICLE PERMITS AND ALL ARE IN 
SERVICE.
I HAVE REVIEWED THE APPLICATION AND RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
>> MOTION TO MOVE 
>> SECOND.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
[CHORUS OF AYES]
OPPOSED, NAY.
WE HAVE AN APPEAL HERE, MR. WALLACE MESSENGER WITH PETE'S 
LUXURY TOWNCAR.
IS MR. MESSENGER IN THE AUDIENCE?
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO COME UP AND ADDRESS THE BOARD AND 
GIVE US YOUR RENDITION.
HAVE YOU BEEN SWORN IN, MR. MESSENGER, OR DID YOU COME IN 
LATE?
>> I WAS SWORN IN.
I JUST WENT TO PUT MONEY IN THE PARKING METER.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  OKAY.
GREAT.
>> I SENT A LETTER TO THE COMMISSION --
>>GREG COX:  PLEASE SPEAK IN THE MIKE, PLEASE.
>> I SENT A LETTER TO THE COMMISSION'S OFFICE ABOUT THREE 
WEEKS AGO.
I WONDER IF YOU HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF YOU.
IT PERTAINS TO --
>>KEVIN WHITE:  YES.
>> SHOULD I READ THIS?
>>KEVIN WHITE:  YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
YOU DO WHATEVER YOU WISH TO DO WITH IT.
>> THIS IS DATED APRIL 3rd, 2006.
THE DUI I WAS TICKETED FOR FEBRUARY 1st, 2003, WAS DISPUTED 
BECAUSE THE BREATHALYZER TEST HAD TO BE ADMINISTERED THREE 
TIMES.
AT THE TIME, I COULD NOT AFFORD AN ATTORNEY, SO I FULLY 
PAID THE FINES, FEES, AND COSTS INVOLVED AS WELL AS 
ATTENDING DRIVING SCHOOL AND AA.
SINCE THAT TIME, I DEVOTED MYSELF TO MY FAMILY AND MY 
OCCUPATION IN THE PRINTING INDUSTRY.
THE ECONOMY AND NEW INNOVATIONS OF THE GRAPHIC AND COMPUTER 
FIELDS HAVE CHANGED COMMERCIAL PRINTING.
MANY OF MY LONGTIME CUSTOMERS CAN NOW PRODUCE EFFECTIVE 
MATERIAL ON THEIR OWN IN THEIR OWN HOUSE COMPUTERS AND 
USER-FRIENDLY PRINTING PROGRAMS.
THE DAYS OF REQUIRING A PRINTING SALESMAN ARE DISAPPEARING 
QUICKLY.
PREVIOUSLY EMPLOYED AS AN AMBULANCE DRIVER, I DECIDED TO 
SEARCH FOR EMPLOYMENT AS A DRIVER, ALSO AS AN EMT, WHICH I 
WAS IN THE '70s.
WITH MY KNOWLEDGE OF THE AREA AND THE ABILITY TO NAVIGATE, 
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE PROFESSIONS AND BECOME A 
PROFESSIONAL DRIVER FOR AN OUTSTANDING COMPANY, WHICH WAS 
PETE'S TOWN LUXURY.
THAT COMPANY RELIED ON MY OBTAINING A PVDL AND HAS NOW LOST 
TO ME.
THE INSURANCE WAS FOR FIVE YEARS.
HE THOUGHT IT WAS FOR THREE.
HE ASSURED ME THAT HE WOULD HIRE ME ON A FUTURE DATE IF I 
HAD THE PVDL.
MOST OF THE JOBS I HAVE APPLIED FOR ARE REQUIRING THIS 
LICENSE.
I AM REQUESTING RECONSIDERATION AND AM WILLING TO DO 
WHATEVER IT TAKES TO APPEAL YOUR DECISION.
NOT BRINGING APPROVAL WILL AFFECT MY FUTURE AS WELL AS MY 
PERSONAL SELF-PRIDE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION WHEN REVIEWING MY 
APPLICATION.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  MR. MESSENGER, IS THERE ANYONE HERE FROM 
PETE'S LUXURY TO SPEAK ON YOUR BEHALF?
>> NO, SIR, BECAUSE HE COULD NOT HIRE ME DUE TO THE 
INSURANCE.
MY WIFE JUST GOT OUT OF THE HOSPITAL.
SHE COULD NOT HOME.
SO I'M JUST HERE REPRESENTING MYSELF.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  THANK YOU.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE TO SPEAK ON THIS 
PETITION?
COMMISSIONERS' PLEASURE?
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  THE ONLY RECENT ONE IS -- WHAT IS IT?
A DUI IN '03?
>>KEVIN WHITE:  FEBRUARY OF '03.
>> JUST FOR THE RECORD, I HAVE CONTACTED ATTORNEYS.
THERE ARE CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS GOING ON FOR THE 
BREATHALYZER MACHINES.
YOU PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW ABOUT THEM.
>>GREGG JOHNSON:  MR. CHAIRMAN --
>>KEVIN WHITE:  YES, SIR.
>>GREGG JOHNSON:  -- IF I COULD POINT OUT, JUST BASED ON 
THE RULES OF THE PTC -- AND THEY BASICALLY MIRROR WHAT THE 
SPECIAL ACT SAYS -- I THINK OF THE THREE ITEMS THAT ARE 
LISTED ON THE CRIMINAL HISTORY, THE FIRST TWO YOU REALLY 
CANNOT CONSIDER.
THE FIRST ONE THERE WAS NO CONVICTION, DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT 
THE CHARGE WAS.
THE SECOND ONE PROBABLY NOT AS WELL BECAUSE IT WAS A 
MISDEMEANOR.
THE THIRD ONE, BECAUSE IT WAS AN ALCOHOL-RELATED OFFENSE, 
YOU CAN CONSIDER.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DENY OR GRANT THE LICENSE.
IT'S WITHIN YOUR DISCRETION.
THERE ARE CERTAIN OFFENSES WHERE YOU HAVE NO CHOICE BUT YOU 
MUST DENY.
THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  IS THIS FIRST DUI?
>> PARDON ME?
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  YOUR FIRST DUI?
>> YES, SIR.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  WERE YOU OPERATING A CAB OR ANYTHING?
>> I WAS OPERATING THE VEHICLE, YES.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  YOU WERE OPERATING A VEHICLE?
>> YES, SIR.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  IF THIS WAS -- I WOULD TEND TO BE LENIENT 
HERE, BUT OPERATING A VEHICLE, I MEAN, PEOPLE IN IT, 
THAT'S -- THAT'S PRETTY TOUGH, BUT --
>> IT WAS MY MISJUDGMENT TO TURN OFF THE INTERSTATE WHERE I 
WAS SUPPOSED TO GO.
IT WAS RAINING, IT WAS IN WINTER.
IT'S, AGAIN, IRRELEVANT.
I JUST MADE A BAD TURN AND SLIPPED.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  HAVE YOU GONE INTO ANY REHAB OR ANYTHING?
>> I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING, SIR, YES.
I HAVE BEEN ALCOHOL FREE SINCE THAT DAY.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  YOU HAVE BEEN ALCOHOL FREE SINCE THAT DAY?
>> YES, SIR.
I JUST -- IN JANUARY I BROKE MY TIBIA.
THAT WAS CAUSED DUE TO EXCESSIVE USE OF ALCOHOL DURING MY 
LIFE THAT JUST REQUIRED THE BONES WERE SO BRITTLE.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  JANUARY WHEN?
>> PARDON ME, SIR?
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  JANUARY THIS YEAR?
>> JANUARY.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  YOU HAVEN'T BEEN DRINKING --
>> NO, SIR.
MY WIFE AND I, WE WERE GOING TO A RESTAURANT.
AGAIN, IT WAS RAINING.
I WENT TO PARK A CAR, RAN IN, AND THE LEG JUST GAVE OUT, 
COMPOUND FRACTURE OF THE TIBIA, WHICH AGAIN, IN MY FIELD 
RIGHT NOW OF BEING A PRINTING SALESMAN, REQUIRES A LOT OF 
WALKING AND -- WHICH I CAN'T DO ANYMORE.
I JUST GOT A DISABLED PARKING PERMIT.
SO DRIVING A LIMO OR EVEN AN AMBULANCE, IT COULD BE LESS 
STRESSFUL.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  MR. COX.
>>GREG COX:  JUST -- THIS MIGHT ASSIST A LITTLE BIT IF 
YOU'RE LABORING WITH THIS.
WE CANNOT ISSUE A PUBLIC VEHICLE DRIVER LICENSE IF THE 
GENTLEMAN DOES NOT HAVE A COMPANY TO WORK FOR.
IF YOU REMEMBER, WE HAD THIS SAME SITUATION WITH A LADY 
BEFORE THAT COULDN'T GET -- I THINK MOST COMPANIES IN THE 
FOR-HIRE INDUSTRY THESE DAYS ARE GOING TO HAVE GREAT, GREAT 
DIFFICULTY BEING ABLE TO HIRE ANYBODY WITH A DUI ON THEIR 
RECORD, ESPECIALLY ONE THIS CURRENT, BECAUSE OF INSURANCE 
REASONS.
INSURANCE COMPANIES WON'T -- SO I'M AFRAID HE'LL HAVE GREAT 
DIFFICULTY HOOKING UP WITH A COMPANY TO DRIVE FOR.
YOU MIGHT, AS AN OPTION, IF YOU WANT TO CONSIDER HAVING HIM 
COME BACK --
>>KEVIN WHITE:  THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST.
MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE HIM COME BACK, PUT IT ON NEXT MONTH'S 
AGENDA.
THAT WAY TWO THINGS WILL HAPPEN.
IF YOU WANT TO HAVE PETE'S LUXURY TO COME SPEAK ON YOUR 
BEHALF NEXT MONTH.
ALSO --
>> HE HAS OFFERED TO HIRE ME AS SOON AS THE FIVE-YEAR 
INSURANCE IS UP FOR THE DUI.
HE HAS TOLD ME THAT.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  WELL, THAT'S NOT FIVE YEARS NOW.
>> BUT I'M WILLING TO COME BACK AND SEE IF HE WILL COME 
WITH ME.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  WELL, IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN WE'RE 
STILL -- NEXT MONTH ISN'T GOING TO DO ANY GOOD IF IT'S A 
FIVE-YEAR RULE.
SO -- WELL, THEN, IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN EITHER WE NEED 
TO JUST SET THIS OFF OR MAKE A MOTION FOR DENIAL, AND HE 
CAN COME BACK AND APPROVE IN THE FIVE YEARS.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  BECAUSE IT DOESN'T DO ANY GOOD FOR HIM TO 
COME BECAUSE IT WON'T FALL OFF UNTIL '08 OR SOMETHING LIKE 
THAT, SO --
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  I'D MOVE FOR DENIAL UNTIL WHICH TIME HE'D 
BE ELIGIBLE FOR INSURANCE.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  SECOND.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND FOR DENIAL.
ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY AYE.
[CHORUS OF AYES]
NAYS.
MOTION PASSES.
WASN'T ANYTHING AGAINST YOU AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
IT'S JUST EVEN IF WE HAD APPROVED IT, YOU -- YOU DON'T HAVE 
A COMPANY TO WORK FOR AND NOT ELIGIBLE FOR EMPLOYMENT WITH 
THAT COMPANY FOR ANOTHER THREE -- TWO YEARS, ANYWAY.
>> IT WOULD BE HARD FOR ME TO GET THAT POSITION DUE TO THE 
LACK OF A PVL, BUT I UNDERSTAND.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  WELL, AT THAT POINT IN TIME, YOU CAN 
REAPPLY, HAVE YOUR EMPLOYER OR YOUR POTENTIAL EMPLOYER COME 
AND STAND BEFORE THE BOARD -- THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING IF 
ANYBODY WAS HERE TO SPEAK ON YOUR BEHALF -- STANDING THERE 
SAYING IF HE IS GRANTED A PVDL BY THIS BOARD, HE HAS A JOB 
AS SOON AS HE WALKS OUT THE DOOR.
>> I WILL SEE IF HE WILL COME WITH ME.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  GREAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT APPEAR, MR. GARY BASSLER.
IF MR. BASSLER IS IN THE AUDIENCE, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
>>GREG COX:  SIR, WE'VE HANDED OUT AN UPDATED VERSION OF 
THE SUMMARY BESIDES YOUR AGENDA.
WE FOUND SOME TYPOS IN THE ONE THAT'S IN YOUR AGENDA, SO 
USE THE SEPARATE ONE AS A REFERENCE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  ARE YOU MR. BASSLER?
>> YES, SIR, I AM.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, 
PLEASE, AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
>> MY NAME'S GARY STEVEN BASSLER.
I WORK FOR EXECUTIVE LIMOUSINE AND CHAUFFEUR SERVICE IN 
PINELLAS COUNTY.
MY APPLICATION FOR A PVDL WAS DENIED.
I UNDERSTAND IT TO BE BASED ON A CONVICTION THAT I HAD OVER 
13 YEARS AGO.
SINCE THAT TIME, YOU KNOW -- I GRANT THE FACT THAT I DID 
MAKE A MISTAKE IN MY LIFE AT THAT TIME, BUT SINCE THAT 
TIME, I'VE CHANGED MY LIFE AROUND, AND I WOULD LIKE YOU 
GUYS TO RECONSIDER AND GRANT MY PVDL.
I'VE SUBMITTED LETTERS FROM VARIOUS PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY 
THAT WOULD STAND UP FOR ME.
MY EMPLOYER IS HERE WITH ME TODAY.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  OKAY.
MR. BASSLER, WERE YOU SWORN IN BEFORE THE MEETING?
>> YES, SIR.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  OKAY.
WELL, LET'S SEE WHO'S HERE TO SPEAK NEXT, PLEASE.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS MR. [INCOMPREHENSIBLE].
I'M THE OWNER OF EXECUTIVE LIMOUSINE AND CHAUFFEUR SERVICE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  HAVE YOU BEEN SWORN IN?
>> YES, SIR, I HAVE.
MR. BASSLER'S BEEN WORKING FOR ME ABOUT TEN YEARS NOW -- A 
LITTLE OVER TEN YEARS.
HE'S BEEN A GOOD EMPLOYEE.
I'VE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH HIM.
HE'S CARRIED AN OCCUPATIONAL PERMIT IN PINELLAS COUNTY FOR 
TEN YEARS NOW.
HE'S NEVER HAD A PROBLEM, NEVER BEEN ARRESTED.
HE'S BEEN A GOOD EMPLOYEE, AND HE WORKS HARD FOR ME, AND I 
NEEDS HIM TO HAVE -- GET HIS PDL.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT 
WOULD CARE TO SPEAK ON THIS PARTICULAR PETITION?
ANY COMMISSIONERS WISH TO SPEAK OR ASK QUESTIONS?
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  MR. CHAIRMAN, LET ME -- THE OWNER, IF HE 
WOULD COME BACK.
LET ME HEAR FROM THE OWNER AGAIN FROM EXECUTIVE.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  THE OWNER, PLEASE.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  YES, SIR.
YOU SAID HE'S BEEN WORKING FOR YOU FOR TEN YEARS?
>> TEN YEARS, SIR.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  IN THOSE TEN YEARS, HE HAS HAD NO ARRESTS, 
HAVEN'T BEEN ANY PROBLEMS?
>> NO, SIR.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  SO WHAT DOES HE DO FOR YOU NOW?
>> HE IS THE MANAGER OF MY LIMOUSINE COMPANY.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  STILL ON PROBATION?
>> NO, SIR.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  I NOTICE THAT THE -- HE WAS CONVICTED OF 
THE -- DESTROYING PROPERTY; RIGHT?
IS THAT RIGHT?
AND HE GOT ARRESTED FOR ILLEGAL USE OF THE CREDIT CARDS, 
GRAND LARCENY.
WAS THAT THE SAME -- SAME INCIDENT?
>> YES, SIR.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  MR. COX, DID YOU LOOK AT THIS?
>>GREG COX:  YES.
THE 1998 CHARGE WAS -- WAS ARREST FOR PROBATION VIOLATION, 
AND THAT WAS -- THAT WAS RELATED TO THE 1992 CONVICTION FOR 
THE -- THE FRAUD, ILLEGAL USE OF CREDIT CARDS.
SO HE HAD A 1992 ARREST THAT INCLUDED THE GRAND LARCENY, 
ILLEGAL USE OF CREDIT CARDS, AND SO FORTH.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  WHAT WAS THE GRAND LARCENY?
>>GREG COX:  MY UNDERSTANDING IT WAS AS A RESULT OF THE 
ILLEGAL USE OF CREDIT CARDS.
THAT'S WHAT --
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO GET MY FINGER 
UPON WHAT IT WAS.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  SO THE TEMPTATION WOULDN'T BE GREAT AGAIN 
IF HE FOUND A WOMAN'S PURSE IN THE BACK SEAT OF A LIMO OR 
TAXI?
>> HE'S ACTUALLY HANDLED WELL OVER $100,000 A WEEK OF MY 
CASH IN MY BUSINESS IN CASH, CREDIT CARDS, AND CHECKS.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  AND THE '98 WAS A VIOLATION OF THE 
PROBATION; RIGHT?
>> YES, SIR.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  SO HE'S NO LONGER ON PROBATION?
>> RIGHT.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  SO IN ACTUALITY, THE LAST -- REALLY, THE 
LAST OFFENSE WAS IN 1992?
>> YES, SIR.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  AND THAT WAS FOR ILLEGAL USE OF CREDIT 
CARDS?
>> CORRECT.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  OKAY.
OKAY.
I'M INCLINED TO SUPPORT THIS SINCE IT'S BEEN SO LONG AGO, 
AND YOU SAY HE'S WORKED FOR YOU FOR TEN YEARS, RIGHT, HE'S 
WORKED FOR YOU NOW?
>> YES, SIR.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  OKAY.
I'M -- YOU CAUGHT ME IN A BETTER MOOD TODAY.
I MADE THE MOTION.
I CAN'T --
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  I'LL SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE IT.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, SIGNIFY BY AYE.
[CHORUS OF AYES]
OPPOSED, NAY.
MOTION PASSES 4-1.
THANK YOU.
YOU-ALL HAVE A GOOD DAY.
>>KEVIN WHITE:  THANK YOU.
MR. COX, I BELIEVE THAT'S ALL WE HAVE COMING BEFORE US.
ANY COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY COMMENTS?
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  YES.
I WILL --
>>KEVIN WHITE:  COMMISSIONER BLAIR.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  AT THE -- WHEN YOU HAVE THE NEXT STUDY OR 
WORKSHOP, I WOULD LIKE A DISCUSSION ON THE -- SOME CERTAIN 
ZONES FOR PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY.
I'D LIKE YOU TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THAT, LIKE THE APOLLO 
BEACH/RUSKIN AREA, BECAUSE SOMEBODY COULD POSSIBLY SET UP A 
NICHE SERVICE, ADVERTISE IT, AND, AGAIN, BRING PUBLIC 
CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY TO THAT COMMUNITY WITH A QUICKER 
RESPONSE TIME, AND IF THAT'S NECESSARY -- OR IF WE FIND 
THAT SOMEBODY WOULD BE WILLING TO DO THAT -- OF COURSE, THE 
OTHER COMPANIES COULD COMPETE AS WELL, BUT THERE WOULD HAVE 
TO BE SOME CERTAIN PARAMETERS SET THAT THEY WOULD BE ON-
SITE AND SOMEBODY RIGHT THERE, WHERE THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO 
WAIT A HALF HOUR OR 45 MINUTES FOR A TAXI.
SOMEBODY WOULD BE IN THAT AREA.
>>GREG COX:  ALL RIGHT, SIR.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  OKAY?
>>KEVIN WHITE:  ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS?
IF NOTHING ELSE TO COME BEFORE THIS COMMISSION, WE STAND 
ADJOURNED UNTIL NEXT MONTH.
THANK YOU.



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