Passenger Vehicle for Hire Board Special Meeting - September 24, 2026

The Passenger Vehicle for Hire Board held a special meeting on September 24, 2026, to address items not completed due to a lack of quorum at the September regular meeting. The board approved routine driver permits, renewals, and vehicle inspections for taxi and tow companies, and deferred a vote on Uptown Taxi's application to the next regular meeting on October 1, 2026, due to public notice timing concerns.

Consent Calendar

• New driver temporary permit: Mark or D. Shoe from NUGA Taxi approved.
• Driver permit renewals: Willie Kitchens (Mercury Cab), Mario Rivera (NUGA Taxi), and Anthony Duggard (Mercury Taxi) approved.
• Updated taxi inspections and vehicle insurance: Mercury Cab #221 (Barbara Slater) and Mercury Taxi #204 (Vernard Owens) approved.
• Updated tow company inspections: Goodell's Record (64-3 Middle Valley Road, District 6), Marstiller's Record (6808 Connor Lane, District 5, secondary location; 2105 East 24th Street Place, main location) all approved. All consent items were approved unanimously by voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mr. Easter addressed the board regarding the Uptown Taxi public hearing notice requirements. He stated that under Section 35-48, a seven-day notice must be given to the public via newspaper, and that since the previous hearing was cancelled due to lack of quorum, the public may not be aware of the new hearing date. He noted that the current meeting (September 24) falls within a 6-7 day window for the next board meeting on October 1, requiring immediate action to meet notice requirements.
• Mr. Anderson responded, gently correcting that Tennessee courts have held that public notice via the board's website and city posting is also acceptable, not just the Chattanooga Times Free Press. He thanked the board for holding the special meeting to address the previous quorum issue.
• Janie Parker (representing Marstiller's Record) thanked the board for allowing her tow company to relocate. She noted that her company had paid approximately $12,000 in rent on a location they could not use while waiting for approval and appreciated the board's assistance in moving forward.

Discussion Items

• Uptown Taxi Public Hearing and Vote: The board discussed the status of Uptown Taxi's application. A public hearing had been scheduled for the previous meeting (September) but was not held due to lack of quorum. The board confirmed that a notice for this special meeting was sent to the newspaper on September 15, 2026, and also posted on the board's website. The deputy city attorney verified the notice date. Board members debated whether to proceed with a vote today or postpone to the next regular meeting on October 1 to ensure proper public notice. It was noted that August's meeting minutes were not yet approved pending transcription, and the previous attorney had handled the matter. Ultimately, the board chose to hold the vote until the October 1 meeting to allow sufficient notice and potential appearance by the applicant.
• Meeting Minutes: The board discussed that August 2026 meeting minutes needed transcription and would be presented for approval at a future meeting.

Key Outcomes

• All consent calendar items (driver permits, renewals, vehicle inspections, tow company inspections) were approved unanimously by voice vote.
• The board voted to hold (defer) the vote on Uptown Taxi's application until the October 1, 2026 regular meeting. The motion passed by voice vote.
• The board confirmed that the next regular meeting is scheduled for October 1, 2026, at the same time.
• The meeting was adjourned by motion.