OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Passenger Vehicle Record Board Meeting - August 7, 2025

City Council & City Boards — Thursday, August 7, 2025
BodyChattanooga, Tennessee
SessionCity Council & City Boards
DateThursday, August 7, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 47:40

Transcript — Verbatim
23:15

Like to call to order the passenger vehicle record board for Thursday, August seventh.

23:21

It is now three forty-nine PM.

23:23

I do want to remind that the sunshine law is in effect.

23:37

Do we have a second?

23:38

Second.

23:40

All in favor say aye.

23:41

Aye.

23:43

All opposed.

23:45

Motion carries.

23:55

Tempest issued as one.

23:57

That's for uh Richard Bridgman of Nouga Taxi.

24:00

All fees and paperwork paid and completed.

24:16

All fees and paperwork paid and completed.

24:28

And that's all we have.

24:29

All right.

24:31

Do we have a motion to approve the transfer of privileges T ninety eight from Mr.

24:36

J.

24:36

Easters or Mr.

24:37

Richard Bridgeman?

24:41

Do we have a second?

24:42

Second.

24:44

All in favor say aye.

24:46

Aye.

24:47

Opposed.

24:48

Motion carries.

25:00

Do we have a motion to uh approve Mr.

25:01

Richard Bridgman's uh temporary uh permit?

25:07

Make the motion.

25:08

Do we have a second?

25:09

Second.

25:10

All in favor?

25:12

Aye.

25:13

Aye.

25:13

Opposed?

25:15

Motion carries.

25:20

Is there anyone that has anything to uh speak to the board about?

25:33

Jonathan Easter and New Gita Taxi.

25:35

I just want to confirm the violations that are pending as well, review based on the lawsuit.

25:41

Are those going to be is that encompassed in this lawsuit that's pending?

25:47

Well, we're waiting for the uh outcome of the lawsuit before we bring um Mercury uh transportation before the board.

25:58

I got you.

25:58

I just I just want to know the the any assessment or discussion of violations are pending due to a name lawsuit between Mercury and Mercury.

26:11

That is true.

26:12

Gotcha.

26:13

Yeah.

26:13

I just want to know is there any way to update like the monthly board meetings that this is encompassing not just a name lawsuit but also violation pending lawsuit, which I don't see where the lawsuit has anything to do with accompanying violations.

26:38

Yeah, Mr.

26:39

East, I believe that um right now it just says it's still pending the court uh ruling from the court case.

26:45

Uh but yeah, at the I think at the last meeting we said that we would withhold any um further until that is resolved.

26:59

How you doing, sir?

27:01

Guys, uh Mark Shackleford, Shacklebert Tower and Recovery.

27:05

Um also I'm vice president of the Tennessee Tow Association, and with that appointed position there, I've I've been able to work with some of the legislators in Nashville, some lobbyists uh in the state, and ultimately uh some of our local uh Senate House members to uh to get some clarification on state law that has changed and things that are coming through the pipe, some of the things that just changed January, sorry, July 1, and some things that are coming next July 1 that will kind of have some uh some things to do with the towing and recovery uh reporting of motor vehicles that are towed in the state and and the big change of of how we're doing that today versus how we're gonna be doing that uh next next year, and it's a transition that we're we're all gonna have to do as owners as tow owners, but uh in some of that new legislation that was passed and signed off on.

28:05

There's a lot of things that would you know affect private property tolling and how that's reported, and kind of want to take a stab to see if we could look at our private property ordinance in the city, uh work with council or city attorneys to get some new updated revision of that of that ordinance as it's I think 15 years old and has a lot of antiquated requirements to it.

28:32

Uh I don't think you guys want to hear all those right now, but I mean I think if we sat down and talked about it at some point, you guys would agree.

28:39

And the last time you know I had the opportunity to work with the beer and record board.

28:43

I think Miss Coleman was probably uh the only one that was that was here back then, and and they appointed uh us to one of the city council members to work in a legislative session to kind of get some of that stuff straightened out.

28:56

So I don't know if the board has to make a recommendation or if the you know regulatory bureau can work something out for us, but there's definitely some things in the in the ordinance that you know affects the citizens and and us as towers that that needs a cleanup on.

29:13

Okay.

29:22

Look at as a board, or would it be more for the attorney's office?

29:27

Um city council.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Transportation█████████████████████████████████████████████61%
Public Works██████████████████████████35%
Pending Litigation███4%
Summary of Proceedings

Passenger Vehicle Record Board Meeting - August 7, 2025

The Passenger Vehicle Record Board convened on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at 3:49 PM. The meeting began with approval of a temporary permit transfer and a temporary permit for Richard Bridgman of Nouga Taxi, followed by public comments and discussion on pending lawsuits, towing rate increases, and ordinance updates.

Consent Calendar

  • Transfer of Privileges T98: Approved from Mr. J. Easters to Mr. Richard Bridgeman. Motion carried unanimously.
  • Temporary Permit: Approved for Mr. Richard Bridgman. Motion carried unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Jonathan Easter (Nouga Taxi): Asked to confirm that pending violations related to a lawsuit involving Mercury transportation are encompassed in that lawsuit. He expressed concern that the lawsuit's scope might not include violations and requested updates at monthly board meetings. The board responded that they are awaiting the court ruling before bringing Mercury before the board.
  • Mark Shackleford (Shackleford Tower and Recovery, Vice President of Tennessee Tow Association): Described recent and upcoming state law changes (effective July 1, 2025 and next July 1) affecting towing and recovery reporting, and private property towing. He requested the city review and update its 15-year-old private property towing ordinance. He also expressed frustration with a two-year delay in receiving a response on a rate increase that was supposed to be addressed at the meeting. He asked for a formal meeting to discuss these issues and receive a response.

Discussion Items

  • Lawsuit and Pending Violations: The board confirmed that Mercury transportation matters are on hold pending a lawsuit outcome. Mr. Easter questioned whether violations should be treated separately.
  • Towing Rate Increase: Discussion centered on a rate increase that has been pending for two years. Mark Shackleford noted that the last rate adjustment based on inflation was supposed to occur annually under the ordinance (Section 35-160). There was confusion about whether the board must recommend increases to city council. The city attorney (unidentified) said they will look into the inflation data and the ordinance language.
  • City Ordinance Update: The board agreed to put Mr. Shackleford on the September agenda to formally hear his concerns and recommendations regarding towing ordinance updates and rate increases. They will allow him adequate time to present without the usual 2-3 minute limit.
  • Legislative Changes: Discussion about how the city monitors state law changes; an attorney noted they try to stay on top of changes but there is no clear trigger. Jonathan Easter added context about Uber/Lyft regulations being preempted by state law as precedent.

Key Outcomes

  • Scheduled September Presentation: Mark Shackleford will be placed on the September regular agenda (September 4, 2025 at 3:30 PM) to present his proposals on towing ordinance updates and rate increases. The board will receive written materials in advance.
  • City Attorney Follow-Up: The board will reach out to Chris Anderson in the mayor's office to obtain an answer on the rate increase and to review the inflation-based adjustment mechanism.
  • Adjournment: Motion to adjourn carried.

Meeting Transcript

Like to call to order the passenger vehicle record board for Thursday, August seventh. It is now three forty-nine PM. I do want to remind that the sunshine law is in effect. Do we have a second? Second. All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed. Motion carries. Tempest issued as one. That's for uh Richard Bridgman of Nouga Taxi. All fees and paperwork paid and completed. All fees and paperwork paid and completed. And that's all we have. All right. Do we have a motion to approve the transfer of privileges T ninety eight from Mr. J. Easters or Mr. Richard Bridgeman? Do we have a second? Second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed. Motion carries. Do we have a motion to uh approve Mr. Richard Bridgman's uh temporary uh permit? Make the motion. Do we have a second? Second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Is there anyone that has anything to uh speak to the board about? Jonathan Easter and New Gita Taxi. I just want to confirm the violations that are pending as well, review based on the lawsuit. Are those going to be is that encompassed in this lawsuit that's pending? Well, we're waiting for the uh outcome of the lawsuit before we bring um Mercury uh transportation before the board. I got you. I just I just want to know the the any assessment or discussion of violations are pending due to a name lawsuit between Mercury and Mercury. That is true. Gotcha. Yeah. I just want to know is there any way to update like the monthly board meetings that this is encompassing not just a name lawsuit but also violation pending lawsuit, which I don't see where the lawsuit has anything to do with accompanying violations. Yeah, Mr. East, I believe that um right now it just says it's still pending the court uh ruling from the court case. Uh but yeah, at the I think at the last meeting we said that we would withhold any um further until that is resolved. How you doing, sir?

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