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<br /> Don Loomis, attorney, 825 East Park Street, spoke for Harold Harsch, owner of the <br /> Rolladium Skating Rink in Springfield. He said his clients are in private business <br /> and have plans for purchasing property in the River Avenue area for the purpose of <br />.- building a roller rink. He felt Council endorsement of the roll-on rink proposal <br /> would jeopardize not only their position in negotiations for property purchase and <br /> financing arrangements, but also their application for conditional use permit to <br /> allow the facility in the location chosen. <br /> James Kreklau, owner of a roller skating rink at 5300 Fox Hollow Road, commented on <br /> plans for improvement and expansion of his rink and the possibility of purchasing <br /> property in the Highway 99 North area for construction of another one. He said he <br /> had been told by his attorney that the City should not endorse a competitive type <br /> business. <br /> Dorothy Moore, 1710 Fircrest Drive, objected to the endorsement by the Council on the <br /> basic concept of its being public vs private enterprise. <br /> Manager explained that it was the intent of the Council to table consideration of offi- <br /> cial endorsement of this proposal. Then individual members of the Council would be <br /> free to do as they wished in supporting the project. <br /> Councilwoman Campbell noted Council endorsement of White Bird Clinic. She felt this <br /> was similar. She thought if the proponents had the initiative to develop this type <br /> facility with interest 'of the community in mind they should be supported. She said it <br />e was a nonprofit organization. Councilman McDonald noted that White Bird endorsement <br /> was for one year only. Also that the Parks Department charges fees for some of its <br /> programs. <br /> It was understood a letter would be prepared for endorsement of the roll-on skating rink <br /> proposal concept only by individual Council members desiring so to do. <br /> I. ]Request for Increased Taxicab Rates, Terminal Taxi Service - Request was received <br /> from Donald F. Bach, attorney, on behalf of Terminal Taxi Service for increase in <br /> taxicab rates. Manager noted that the last increase in rates was in February 1973 <br /> ,after a ~tudy by Finance Department staff only. There was question at that time <br /> . whether a Council subcommittee should be involved. If staff is charged with the <br /> present investigation, there would be some concern about timing because of the <br /> workload. In answer to questions from Councilmen Williams and Beal, Manager said <br /> the request was from the same concern requesting the previous increase and that <br /> there had been no contact from other taxi companies. If Council feels the matter <br /> I can be delayed until after the first of the year, he said, staff can work out ar- Comm <br /> .rangements for looking into the matter. 10/17/73 <br /> See <br /> -Mr. McDonald moved seconded by Mr. Hershner to postpone consideration of the rate Council <br /> ,increase request until after January 1, 1974. Motion carried unanimously. action <br /> ,-,'-- ..--..-. ......-.. .....~-rc.... ,,-., - ..'- .-". ,,---- <br />. below. <br /> Donald Bach, attorney representing Terminal Taxi and Eugene Taxi, said the rate increase <br /> request was to meet a survival situation. Taxi operators in the Eugene/Springfield area <br /> are experiencing drastic economic problems at this time, he said, and something will have <br /> to be done if taxi service is to be maintained in the area. He noted the last rate in- <br /> I crease granted in March 1973, but said cost-of-living increase has had the most direct <br /> effect on the companies' financial situation. He urged the Council to reconsider and <br /> adopt a procedure at this time for investigation on whatever basis would give an honest <br /> evaluation of the situation. He added that unless the taxi operators receive a reason- <br /> able rate the City would no longer have that important part of the transportation system <br /> in existence. <br /> Councilman Williams suggested that it was no more appropriate for the Council to set taxi- <br /> cab rates than to set the price of other commodities in the City. Aside from that he didn't <br /> feel the Council wanted to be faced with consideration of new rates every six months which <br /> would seem probable in an inflationary society. Councilman McDonald said he thought it was <br /> the Council's responsibility under Charter or ordinance provisions to set rates for both <br /> taxis and ambulances. <br /> In answer to Councilwoman Beal, Mr. Bach said that in his letter requesting the increase he <br /> stated he represented the Terminal Taxi Service only. As it is, he represents both the <br />- Terminal Taxi and Eugene Taxi. He said he had had no response from Springfield with regard <br /> to their action on the request. <br /> Councilman Hershner said that he was not prepared to judge Mr. Williams' suggestion. <br /> Neither did he doubt Mr. Bach's representation that taxi service was vital to this com- <br /> munity. He wondered whether staff could go ahead with gathering information from other <br /> cities with regard to current rates. Manager replied it would take time; the latest in- <br /> formation was gathered in February 1973 with no update since that time. Mr. Bach said <br /> ~\~ 10/23/73 - 9 <br />