Passenger Vehicle for Hire Board Meeting - February 5, 2026
Passenger Vehicle for Hire Board Meeting - February 5, 2026
On February 5, 2026, at 3:35 PM, the Passenger Vehicle for Hire Board convened. The board approved minutes from the January meeting, discussed driver permit renewals, and received updates on pending rate increase recommendations and a legal case involving Mercury Cab. Public comment highlighted frustration over delays and a request for the mayor's office to attend future meetings.
Consent Calendar
- The board approved the minutes from the January meeting.
- Driver permit renewals for Mercury Taxi and Nouga Taxi were approved after confirming all fees and paperwork were complete.
- The yearly fee for horse-drawn carriages was paid by Chattanooga Carriage Company.
- New driver permits and temporary permits issued: zero.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Mark Shackle (Chakram Recovery) expressed frustration that the board has repeatedly recommended a rate increase with no action from the city council. He requested that Chris Anderson (mayor's office) attend board meetings to provide answers, noting that the zoning representative typically attends other board meetings but not this one. The board agreed to email the city attorney's office to request Chris Anderson's presence at the next meeting.
Discussion Items
- Rate Increase Recommendation for Taxi and Tow Companies: The chair reported that a recommendation for a 3% rate increase for taxi and tow companies had been sent to Chris Anderson for the city council agenda but had not yet been scheduled. Jonathan Easter (Nuga Taxi) clarified that the taxi companies did not request a 3% increase; rather, they sought rates aligned with other major Tennessee cities (Nashville, Knoxville, Memphis) and surrounding states (Alabama, Georgia). He noted that the 3% figure appeared to come from the tow companies' inflation-based adjustment. The board discussed the need to ensure the recommendation accurately reflects the taxi industry's proposal.
- Update on Mercury Cab and Murdering Transportation Lawsuit: The board noted that the lawsuit remains pending, with discovery motions and continued hearings. No action can be taken until a court outcome is reached.
- Request for Chris Anderson to Attend Meetings: Following public comment, the board agreed to formally request that Chris Anderson appear at future board meetings to provide updates and answer questions directly.
Key Outcomes
- The board approved a motion to keep the rate increase recommendation on its agenda until the item is added to a city council agenda. The motion carried.
- The board will contact the city attorney's office to request Chris Anderson's attendance at the next meeting.
- No other action was taken on the pending lawsuit; the board will wait for further court developments.
Meeting Transcript
Yes, I'm gonna open up a lot of their ways to make the walls and uh you do, right? Four they want to show. I thought it was five. I'm not sure about the floor that can tell you. So they'll have to go to city council anyway. All right. So yes. So yeah. So at least I got a caller about something too. I'm having about my own. Nothing, nothing bad. Okay. Just about the uh still judge. You all ready? All right, it's 3 35 Thursday, February 5th, calling to order the passenger vehicle for higher board. I'd like to welcome everyone. Um I can remind everyone that the application of the sunshine law is in effect. Uh we have uh the minutes from the January meeting for everyone to uh take a look at and um do we have a motion to approve the meeting the minute called uh January meeting from the you have a second second all in favor say aye? Aye motion carries second all right. So under new driver's permits and temporaries issued, we have zero. Uh that's number uh strip station inspectors report. That's A under number four, B request for driver permit renewals. We have two, one for Mercury Taxi and the one for Nouga Taxi. Number five, all fees and paperwork have been paid and completed. Uh yearly fees for the horse drawn carriages uh paid by one of the companies, Chetnega Carriage Company. Uh all the fees and paperwork are paid and complete. Uh I don't have any old business and I don't have any new business. Do we have a motion to approve the permit renewals? Make that motion. The second second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. All right. We have uh guess we're waiting on an update from the uh city council, the recommendation from this board to city council in regards to the three percent rate increase for taxi companies. Uh we are also uh on an update for the three percent rate increase for toll companies. And then um we have an update on the mercury cab and murdering transportation uh situation, legal situation. Um I spoke with Chris Anderson regarding the um at least the towing um I I can reach out to him about the uh the taxi rate increase uh hopefully we can get those on the city council again soon. Um as far as the the law suit, um I looked up yesterday on the the clerk website and they are still pending there's a discovery motion stop meeting that um keep being continued, so I assume that case is still moving forward. Um I spoke with uh one of the attorneys after last after the last meeting was sold. The case is still moving forward. So at this point, it's my understanding that the case is still presenting and we don't have an outcome yet that you can take action based on it. So the case this isn't a fluid list. Yes. Okay. I believe they have a that motion set to come up on Monday again, but I I don't know if uh the trial date is that or not. Does anyone on the board have anything to add? Do we need to uh make another motion to add the rate increase for the taxing to the city council's agenda? Can we even add something to their agenda? Uh well no, I mean we can't directly add things to their agenda as this board.
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