HomeMy WebLinkAbout7. Application for Taxicab License-Randy Busch
CITY OF SHAKOPEE ~.
Memorandum
TO: Mayor and City Council
Mark McNeill, City Administrator
FROM: Judith S. Cox, City Clerk
SUBJECT: Application for Taxicab License - Randy Busch
DATE: January 2, 2009
INTRODUCTION:
City Council is asked to hold a public hearing and take action on
an application from Randy Busch (doing business as Southwest Metro
Transportation) for a taxicab license to operate three vehicles.
BACKGROUND:
In 2008, Mr. Busch held a taxicab license under the name of Tri
Taxi, Inc. , for one vehicle, which expired on December 31, 2008.
On August 5, 2008, City Council tabled a request from Mr. Busch,
to increase the number of licensed taxicabs to three, in order to
give him additional time to obtain a certificate of insurance in
compliance with the City Attorney's requirements. Mr. Busch did
not provide an acceptable certificate and the two additional
taxicabs were never licensed.
On November 24, 2008, Mr. Busch made application for a 2009
taxicab license in the name of Randy Busch dba/Southwest Metro
Transportation. On December 16, 2008, City Council held the
required public hearing, denied the application and directed staff
to prepare a resolution setting forth the reasons for denial.
That resolution is on the January 6, 2009 agenda, also.
On December 17, 2008, Mr. Busch submitted a second application for
a 2009 taxicab license.
Pursuant to the City Code, notice of the required public hearing
has been given to the applicant and to all licensees (Oscar Salas
dba Shakopee Taxi and Timothy R. Dressen, Jr. dba TNT Taxi) and
notice has been published in the City's official newspaper.
Mr. Busch's application is in order including an acceptable
certificate of insurance for automobile coverage. Attached, for
the City Council's information, are the rate sheets provided by
Mr. Busch in connection with his 2009 and 2008 applications.
Application for Taxicab License - Randy Busch
January 2, 2009
Page 2
In the December 12, 2008 memo from Captain Jeff Tate, the police
department does not recommend the approval of a taxi license for
Mr. Busch, as a result of the repeated taxi code violations by Mr.
Busch's company - memo attached. Nothing has changed since that
memo was written.
ALTERNATIVES:
l. Approve the application and grant a taxicab license
2. Approve the application and grant a taxicab license with
conditions, i. e. :
a. the license shall be revoked if there are any code
violations relating to the operation of a taxicab
during 2009,
b. make license effective February I, 2009 - or some
other date
3. Table the application
4. Deny the application and the granting of a taxicab license
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
After holding a public hearing and if Council concurs with the
staff recommendation, the City Council should deny the taxicab
application from Randy Busch dba/Southwest Metro Transportation
and direct staff to prepare a Resolution setting forth the reasons
for denial.
h:\licenses\TaxiLicense-Randy BuschOl 02 09
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CITY OF
SHAKOPEE MEMO
POLICE DEPARTMENT
DATE: December 12, 2008
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
Mark McNeill, City Administrator
FROM: Captain Jeff Tate
SUBJECT: Tri Taxi Inc. License Violations
In response to complaints that Tri Taxi was violating Shakopee City Ordinances, the Shakopee
Police Department conducted multiple compliance checks to see if Tri Taxi was in compliance
with city taxi requirements in 2008.
On February 13, 2008 Shakopee Officers conducted a check ofTri Taxi and subsequently cited
a Tri Taxi driver with three citations: Failure to display vehicle ID tag, failure to display taxi
license, and failure to operate taxi meter. The cited driver has since pled guilty to these
charges.
On August 28, 2008 Shakopee Officers again conducted a compliance check of Tri Taxi and
again found them to be in violation ofthe city code. Randy Busch, the owner ofTri Taxi was
cited for driving a vehicle that was not licensed as a taxi in Shakopee. The case is still pending
in court.
Most recently, The Shakopee Police Department conducted a third license check on Tri Taxi on
November 22,2008. During this particular check, a Tri Taxi driver was cited for failure to
display license, failure to operate taxi meter, failure to display a rate schedule, and for driving
an unlicensed vehicle. Those charges are alsopending in court.
During three routine license checks Shakopee Officers cited Tri Taxi drivers for eight
violations from February 13,2008 to November 22,2008. Tri Taxi's owner, Randy Busch, has
met with Sergeant Forberg and City Clerk, Judy Cox regarding Taxi ordinances. Sergeant
Forberg has spoken multiple times throughout the year with Mr. Busch. During those
conversations, expectations and compliance requirements with City Code were made clear to
Mr. Busch yet, the violations persisted.
Tri Taxi Inc. License Violations
December 12,2008
Page 2
As a result of the repeated taxi code violations by Mr. Busch's company, the police department
does not recommend the approval of a taxi license for Mr. Busch.
City Code Section 6.06, Subd. 5. "Refusal, Suspension and Revocation. The Council may, for
any reasonable cause, refuse to grant any application, or revoke any license. No license shall
be granted to a person of questionable moral character or business reputation. ..."
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