BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL MULLING DEREGULATION OF TAXI FARES

  

Cab fare regulation in Brenham could soon be a thing of the past.

Brenham City Councilmembers at their meeting Thursday met in workshop to discuss vehicles-for-hire ordinance, and whether or not to set maximum rates.

Councilmembers previously met in April to discuss similar matters, in addition to potentially using technology other than taxi meters for determining drive distance.

While the city does not currently have a taxi service, an operator from Bryan/College Station has shown interest in setting up shop in Brenham.

Deputy City Secretary Karen Stack said Brenham’s current maximum rate—including a $3.50 drop fee, $3 for the first quarter mile, and 60 cents afterwards for each quarter mile—is in line with prevailing market rates, at least when compared to Bryan/College Station companies.

The city’s vehicle-for-hire ordinance was last updated ten years ago. Stack referenced a letter from a cab company that used to operate in Brenham, which specifically mentioned the maximum rates as a reason the company operator could not turn a profit.

Stack said city staff are recommending to remove maximum fares from the ordinance, replacing them with language that would allow the city a “veto power”.

Stack said this would allow a city manager designee to review a proposed fare rate provided at the time of permit application. Once approved, that would be the max rate that vehicle-for-hire operator could charge.  She said this would prevent “price gouging”, while still allowing businesses the needed flexibility to run in Brenham.

While there was no official vote on removing max fares, as it was a work session, both Councilmembers Andrew Ebel and Susan Cantey expressed their approval of the matter.