Vehicle for Hire Licensing Board

Regular Meeting

Burlington, VT · March 12, 2025

Minutes

BURLINGTON VEHICLE FOR HIRE LICENSING BOARD CITY HALL, 149 CHURCH ST. SHARON BUSHOR CONFERENCE ROOM, FIRST FLOOR MINUTES OF MEETING March 12, 2025 Members present: Paul Hines (Chair) Stephen Hamlin Youness Jamil (Remotely) Also present: Tenzin Chokden Meeting start time: 5:30PM 1. Agenda 1. Agenda 1.1. Motion to amend/adopt agenda A motion to approve was made by Stephen Hamlin and seconded by Youness Jamil. The motion passed unanimously. 2. Approval of Previous Minutes 2. Approval of Previous Minutes 2.1. Previous Minutes from 10/23/2024 Stephen Hamlin made a motion to approve, which was seconded by Youness Jamil. The motion passed unanimously. 3. Public Forum 3. Public Forum No members of the public spoke. 4. Survey on CURB 4. Survey on CURB Of the 37 surveys sent to business owners on February 5th, Tenzin Chokden reported that only 5 responses were received, with one owner explicitly declining. The survey details are included in the attached report within the agenda packet. Tenzin asked Youness if he had any luck reaching out to drivers to gauge their interest in CURB. Youness Jamil said he responded to the survey. Having seen the presentation from the owners and managers, he was convinced CURB would be a good addition to the taxi service, especially given the low traffic volume at the airport and in the city. Paul Hines asked Youness what his your intuition on this was. Should the board move forward? He said it would be a significant undertaking and that he believes the taxi owners would need to cover the costs. It appears there would be an upfront expense, followed by approximately $40 per month. He asked if people would be willing to pay that amount. Youness Jamil responded that he thinks so. He stated that especially if they get more traffic and business, he's sure they'll definitely use it. Therefore, he doesn't really mind paying $40 a month, particularly if it brings in more business. Paul Hines asked If the cost were $40-$50 per month, how many drivers do you estimate would sign up? Youness Jamil reported that while he did not have an exact number of interested drivers, many were in favor of the proposal. Concerns were raised regarding tracking, with some drivers preferring cash transactions and expressing hesitation about government monitoring of their earnings. This was cited as a primary reason for some drivers' reluctance to participate. Paul Hines noted that, although drivers are required to accept credit cards, consistent adherence to this policy is lacking. Recent incidents, including drivers failing to use meters or record passenger information, were cited, indicating a need for improved policy enforcement. Stephen Hamlin stated that he was disappointed with the survey results, noting that only 5 of 37 recipients responded, despite the efforts made to distribute it. Tenzin Chokden mentioned Michael from CURB contacted Scot Barker to inquire about next steps. Scot Barker informed Michael that the board's decision would be communicated following the meeting. The board discussed whether to proceed with CURB and determined to inform Michael of their decision. Tenzin Chokden asked if the board members had any follow-up questions for CURB regarding the next steps for moving forward. Paul Hines stated he would be supportive of moving forward with CURB, and because the City does not have the budget to pay for dispatch services, the costs would fall on the drivers. Stephen Hamlin stated that some drivers might resist the proposal. This could be because they prefer cash transactions. They might also want to avoid tracking of their earnings. He also noted that the low survey response was disappointing with only 5 out of 37 business owners responding. Paul Hines agreed. Youness Jamil strongly recommended scheduling one or two driver meetings to educate them about CURB and persuade them to join. Stephen Hamlin asked if seeing CURB drivers get more rides would encourage others to join. Youness Jamil asked if CURB could begin with five interested drivers. Tenzin Chokden agreed to seek clarification from Scot Barker on CURB's policy regarding this. Paul Hines suggested adding a question to the survey regarding the total package cost of CURB for drivers and their interest level. Tenzin Chokden agreed to revise the survey for simplicity and effectiveness in order to gather more information. Based on survey results, the board will determine whether to invite Michael from CURB to the next meeting which will be held on April 16th, 2025. 5. New Business 5. New Business The board discussed airport vehicle-for-hire regulation enforcement, prompted by an incident involving Paul Hines where a driver refused meter use, leading to him taking another taxi. Youness Jamil suggested Tenzin Chokden conduct on-site inspections of the taxi queue to ensure driver compliance. Tenzin Chokden stated that due to his workload, he could not perform regular inspections but would inquire if airport ambassadors could assist. 6. Adjournment 6. Adjournment 6.1. Motion to adjourn Stephen Hamlin moved to adjourn at 6:06PM. Youness Jamil seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Agenda

Packet

Vehicle for Hire Licensing Board Wednesday, March 12, 2025, 5:30 PM, City Hall, 149 Church St. Sharon Bushor Conference Room, First Floor Topic: Vehicle for Hire Licensing Board Time: Mar 12, 2025 05:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/98955954598?pwd=9yWHm5D7nwNu1YEVxKAHCqgzLLaXmZ.1 Meeting ID: 989 5595 4598 Passcode: 960443 One tap mobile +13092053325,,98955954598#,,,,*960443# US +13126266799,,98955954598#,,,,*960443# US (Chicago) 1. Agenda 1.1. Motion to amend/adopt agenda 2. Approval of Previous Minutes 2.1. Previous Minutes from 10/23/2025 File Attachments 1. SM-VFH Minutes 10.23.24 draft SM-VFH Minutes 10.23.24 draft.doc 3. Public Forum 3.1. PUBLIC FORUM - Verbal Comments 4. Survey on CURB 4.1. Survey Responses File Attachments 1. CURB Survey responses CURB Survey responses.pdf 5. New Business 6. Adjournment 6.1. Motion to adjourn Page 1 of 6 BURLINGTON VEHICLE FOR HIRE LICENSING BOARD SHARON BUSHOR CONFERENCE ROOM, CITY HALL, GROUND FLOOR, 149 CHURCH ST. BURLINGTON, VT 05401 OR VIA ZOOM MINUTES OF MEETING October 23, 2024 Members present: Paul Hines Stephen Hamlin Youness Jamil Also present: Tenzin Chokden Hayley McClenahan, Assistant City Attorney Scot Barker, Chief Innovative Office Meeting start time: 5:35 PM 1. Agenda 1. Agenda 1.1. Motion to amend/adopt agenda Motion to approve by Stephen Hamlin. Seconded by Youness Jamil. Passed unanimously. 2. Approval of previous minutes 2. Approval of previous minutes from 09/12/2024 Motion to approve by Stephen Hamlin. Seconded by Youness Jamil. Passed unanimously. 3. Public Forum 3. Public Forum No members of the public spoke. 4. Curb Presentation - Taxi App Michael Mintz, Business Development Director lead the presentation remotely, joined by his two colleagues Lisa Fornatora, Director of Call Center & Dispatch and John Moccia, Director of Dispatch and Media. Two taxi drivers attended the presentation, Hussein and Mohamed Garib. Michael Mintz stated Curb is a technology company that primarily serves the taxi industry. They Page 2 of 6 provide a variety of services, including: • GPS Digital meters: For accurate fare calculation • Payment processing: To handle credit card transactions • Dispatch systems: To manage driver and passenger requests • QR code-based payments: For added convenience and efficiency Curb operates in both highly regulated markets like New York City and less regulated markets. They adapt their services to meet the specific requirements of each market, including compliance with local regulations and providing the necessary hardware and software. Michael Mintz demonstrated Curb's technology from a driver's perspective. The system includes a tablet, a receipt printer, and a payment device. The tablet can be purchased outright or through a 12-month payment plan. The drivers can purchase their own tablet. A monthly airtime fee of $10 applies. The drivers can purchase their own tablet that works with Curb system as well. The dispatch system sends ride requests to drivers, who can then accept or decline them. Once a ride is completed, the payment is processed through Curb and then disbursed to the driver, minus a credit card processing fee of 2.95% plus a 20-cent transaction fee. Customers can pay via credit/debit card, cash, or a pair and payment method. Paul Hines asked if there is mobile version that works with Curb application instead of the current setup. Michael Mintz replied that they're currently working on Curb 1, which is expected to be released in January 2025. This version will allow drivers to use their phones to accept rides and send electronic receipts to customers. Youness Jamil asked if Curb will provide 1099 forms for tax purposes. Michael Mintz responded Curb is only required to report credit card transactions to the IRS. Mohamed Garib asked if drivers can set their own work hours. Will drivers get paid if a trip is canceled after arriving at the pickup location? John Moccia replied yes. Lisa added some clients require pre-authorization for pickups outside their service area. This ensures drivers are paid for out-of-service area trips, even if the customer cancels. Michael Mintz stated Curb offers QR codes for easy pickups. Customers can scan the code, enter their destination, and pay by card. Local businesses can be partnered with to promote this. Curb also offers a call center for dispatching rides. John Moccia said Curb provides a user-friendly platform for drivers to manage their work and communicate with passengers and dispatch such as: • Driver visibility: Drivers can see available trips and locations. • Communication: Drivers can send and receive messages through the app. • Safety features: Keyboard is disabled when driving over 5 miles per hour. • Predefined messages: Drivers can use pre-written messages for common requests. • Centralized communication: Drivers can communicate with the central dispatch. Michael Mintz mentioned Curb records detailed information about every trip, including driver, passenger, route, Page 3 of 6 and payment details. The city could potentially access this data if needed for regulatory or operational purposes. All these could be a valuable resource for the city in terms of understanding taxi operations and ensuring compliance with regulations. Mark Barlow suggested sharing the recorded presentation with all drivers via email and requesting feedback. Tenzin Chokden replied that the meeting recording will be posted on Civic Clerk and he can share it with the drivers. Mohamed Garib mentioned that many drivers have language barriers and might struggle to understand the presentation just by watching the video. Youness Jamil said he can share this Curb presentation with other drivers and talk to the drivers. Paul Hines mentioned potentially scheduling another meeting with drivers after gathering feedback. 5. Recent Ordinance Changes 4. Recent Ordinance Changes Tenzin Chokden updated the progress of posting the notices about credit/debit card payments and taxi meter usage at the airport queue line. Both notices are now posted at the airport queue line. Paul Hines suggested improving the signage at the airport queue line to better guide customers on the taxi information. Hayley McClenahan reminded that cash-only drivers must have a sign on their car windows stating "Cash Only." Starting January 1, 2025, they must also have a credit/debit card payment system. Tenzin Chokden will determine how many drivers are cash-only and offer assistance with signs if needed. 6. New Business 5. New Business The next meeting is set for 12/17/2024 at 5:30 PM. 7. Adjournment 7.1 Motion to adjourn Stephen Hamlin motioned to adjourn. Youness Jamil seconded. Unanimously approved. Page 4 of 6 CURB Survey Responses Page 5 of 6 CURB Survey Responses Page 6 of 6