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STATE OF NEVADADEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY
TAXICAB AUTHORITY
1785 E. Sahara Avenue, Suite 200Las Vegas Nevada 89104Telephone (702) 668-4000
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Fax (702) 668-4001http://taxi.state.nv.us
 
GORDON L. WALKER
Administrator 
STACIE TRUESDELL MICHAELS, ESQ.
Chairman 
SUSAN CARRASCO, ESQ.
Vice chairman Members 
DR. EDWARD E. GOLDMANCAROLYN M. SPARKSROBERT FORBUSS
JIM GIBBONS
Governor 
DIANNE CORNWALL
Director 
Nevada Department of Business&Industry
Financial Services Team Licensing & Regulatory Services Team Natural Resources Services Team Consumer & Labor Services Team 
BEFORE THE STATE OF NEVADA TAXICAB AUTHORITYBOARD MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING MINUTESDecember 16, 2008
The Board Meeting and Public Hearing of the State of Nevada Taxicab Authority was held onTuesday, December 16, 2008, scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. The meeting was held at theTaxicab Authority, 1785 E. Sahara Avenue, Suite 200, Las Vegas, Nevada 89104. The BoardMeeting began at 9:33 a.m.Present were: Chairman Stacie Truesdell Michaels, Vice Chairman Susan Carrasco, MemberCarolyn M. Sparks, Member Edward E. Goldman and Member Robert Forbuss. Others present:Administrator Gordon L. Walker, Legal Counsel, Deputy Attorney General Kimberly A. Arguello,and Legal Secretary, Barbara A. Webb.
1. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
The Pledge of Allegiance was lead by Member Sparks.
2. Compliance with Open Meeting Law.
Administrator Gordon L. Walker advised the Board that the Notice of the Meeting was dulyposted at the time and places as prescribed by law.
3. Approval of the October 28, 2008 Board Meeting Minutes.
Chair Stacie Truesdell Michaels motioned to approve the October 28, 2008 Board Meeting Minutes;Member Forbuss seconded; passed unanimously.
4. Public Comment
Steve Lanett a driver for Whittlesea Blue. He commented that the top floors of all the hotels are beingclosed; there is no room on cabstands for cabs to stage; the handicap vans that the companies havecurrently are servicing those that are in need of a handicap van no matter what is said; taking 10 cabsoff the road for the next few days, he thought, was a good idea and thanked the companies for doingthat; the next few days will be running rampart with rides due to the holidays and drivers will be able tomake more money. He also commented that a driver was injured at In ‘n Out Burger and the PDA gavehim $500 to help him out.Public Comment ended.
 
Board Meeting MinutesDecember 16, 2008
2
Nevada Department of Business&Industry
Financial Services Team Licensing & Regulatory Services Team Natural Resources Services Team Consumer & Labor Services Team 
At this point, Chair Truesdell Michaels commented that Agenda Item 10, Handicab, LLC, would be thelast item taken as 2 board members have recused themselves from this issue.
5. Discussion with Stephen Patterson, Traffic Manager for LVCVA regarding the taxicab serviceduring the months of October and November.
Mr. Patterson reported that Cowboy Christmas was in town and taxicab service was excellent as it wasfor SEMA. He said that due to traffic on the last day, that was the only time it was difficult to get service.This weekend will be the Las Vegas Bowl with a projected 30,000 people in town. In January, he saidthat CES has a projected attendance of 140,000 which is lower than last year because there are fewerexhibitors. The people from CES were impressed as to how much better cab service was this year. Hefeels that is because the companies are sending their representatives to the convention center to makesure their cabs are available for better service. International Home Builders Show hasn’t been here in4 years. The last time they were here they were not happy with the cab service. The traffic pattern hasbeen revised since then and will remain the same as it always is for large conventions which make theflow of cabs much better and service was better.The Chair asked if there will be any special loading areas for these shows in January and he said no,but some time in 2009 they may start some construction to correct that. Member Sparks asked himabout the 190,000 people that are projected over the next 6 months and he said that was the BowlingCongress that is at Cashman for 9 months. He said there are smaller shows during that time.Member Forbuss asked him if LVCVA coordinated with Public Works with regard to the constructionsituation when there are big conventions there and he said yes they work at night. He suggested thatMr. Patterson pursue the issue with Public Works and perhaps have them come to a meeting so theywould know what is going on. Member Sparks asked we had the authority to ask Public Works to attenda meeting and Administrator Walker said he can ask them to come.The Chair questioned Metro’s presence during the conventions and Mr. Patterson explained that theyare mandated by the county and do help them out during the big conventions. They direct traffic and ifthere’s an accident they are right there to take care of it. He said that there will be 15 officers thereduring CES and the Home Builders Show, for which LVCVA pays, depending on where they are.Member Sparks asked if there was any improvement with the pedestrian crossing and Mr. Pattersonsaid that by the end of 2009, LVCVA will be installing an escalator.Administrator Walker asked Mr. Patterson to talk about when the Home Builders were here 4 years ago.Mr. Patterson said that they had major complaints about the long waits for a cab and he feels the cabindustry has taken huge strides in improving that situation since they had been here.Mr. Patterson said that CES people have come to the M.A.G.I.C., NAB and other big shows to see howthe service was and they were very impressed at how much better it has gotten.Member Forbuss asked him if the trade shows tell him the real numbers they are expecting becauseSEMA was off 20%. Mr. Patterson said they are different elements of people, different dynamics; CESprotects their numbers until after the show. The Chair asked if the people that come for CES go out toshows and dinner or just come for the convention. Mr. Patterson said that the major companies wineand dine them. He commented that also during the CES show, Jeopardy will be here filming.
 
Board Meeting MinutesDecember 16, 2008
3
Nevada Department of Business&Industry
Financial Services Team Licensing & Regulatory Services Team Natural Resources Services Team Consumer & Labor Services Team 
6. Discussion with Harry Waters, Assistant Director of Aviation for Landside Operations atMcCarran Airport.
Mr. Waters did not attend the meeting.
*7. Discussion and Possible Decision regarding a temporary allocation of medallions for 2008 NewYear’s Eve.
Brock Croy, Management Analyst, made his presentation with staff’s recommendation as follows – 
Monday, December 29, 2008 – 8 medallions per company; 12:00 pm to 2:00 am, any 12 hours; Tuesday, December 30, 2008 – 8 medallions per company, 7:00 am to 7:00 pm and 8 medallions per company, 12:00 pm to 2:00 am, any 12 hours; Wednesday, December 31, 2008 – 8 medallions per company, 7:00 am to 7:00 pm and 20 medallions per company, 4:00 pm to 6:00 am, any 12 hours; Thursday, January 01, 2009 – 8 medallions per company – 7:00 am to 7:00 pm and 8 medallions per company, 12:00 pm to 2:00 am, any 12 hours.Staff requests that the Board allow the Administrator the discretion to remove any of these special event medallions if the demand for service is such that the medallions are no longer needed.
Intervenors were Western Cab Company, Desert Cab Company, Frias Holding Company, WhittleseaBlue/Henderson Taxi, Nellis Cab Company, United Steelworkers Union, Yellow/Checker/Star CabCompanies, ITPE Union, A Cab, LLC, and Lucky Cab Company.Desert, YCS, Nellis, Lucky, Frias, A Cab, Whittlesea Blue/Henderson Taxi all support staff’srecommendation. United Steelworkers Union and ITPE Union feel there is no need for additional cabs.There was much discussion about the specific hours and the any 12 hours for the special eventmedallions to be on the road. Member Forbuss asked if anyone tracks the 12 hours and which hoursare the busiest. Mr. Croy stated that the companies run their shifts different and know when themedallions are most needed on the road. Member Forbuss asked if any determination can be made asto whether service is being provided or it there are any delays in service. Mr. Croy said only ifcomplaints are lodged with the TA. Mr. Croy said if the trips per shift are at 35, then there is a need formore cabs. Staff sends their recommendation to the companies for feedback and that is why on NewYear’s Eve the time was changed because the companies felt that the medallions would be betterutilized from 4:00 PM to 6:00 AM and his recommendation was changed to reflect that. MemberForbuss asked with regard to complaints, what if no one complains and Mr. Croy said you can tell by thetrip sheets. He said the companies will pull the cabs off the road if they see there is no need for them.He asked if TA officers monitor different locations and Mr. Croy said the companies have some of theirstaff out monitoring that, even though TA officers are out there also.George Balaban of Desert Cab feels that more people will be driving into Las Vegas now that gas pricesare down and room rates are lower and feels that cab service will increase also. Mark James of Friascommented that even with hard times, cabs are needed or people will go to other modes oftransportation and we will lose the market share.Member Sparks asked about the NTA and the problems with limos taking cab rides and theAdministrator told her that he has a meeting Friday with them for that particular discussion and decision.
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