Agenda wording delays decision
By Robert Cloud
A near-certain vote to select Brown Cab Service as Waupaca’s taxi service was tabled because the agenda for the Dec. 5 meeting listed the vehicle lease agreement but not the service contract.
At the Dec. 5 meeting, Finance Director Stephanie Reif said the shared ride taxi service is subsidized by state and federal funds. The city is required to bid the service every five years.
Waupaca distributed requests for proposals in September and received bids from Brown Cab and LIR Transportation–Fox Valley Cab.
The service is provided under an initial two-year contract with optional three-year extensions.
The first two years are based on a fixed hourly rate, with rate increases for following years based on the Consumer Price Index.
Brown Cab’s proposed hourly rate was $39.96 for the first two years, rising to $40.36 in year 3, $40.76 in year 4 and $41.17 in year 5.
Fox Valley Cab’s proposed hourly rate was $47 for the first two years, rising to $47.47 in year 3, $47.95 in year 4 and $48.44 in year 5.
Reif said a Need Valuation Committee met on Oct. 17 and scored the two competing services on professional competence, capacity, experience and price.
Brown Cab earned a total score of 89.75 out of a maximum of 100 points. Fox Valley Cab received 37.62 points.
“With the proposed Shared Ride Taxi Contract, the prices will increase from $36.36 to $39.96 or about 10%,” Reif noted in a memo to city council.
According to the proposed contract, the maximum amount of funding provided by the city for each contracted year is set at $683,316 based on an estimated 17,100 annual hours of service at the rate of $39.96 per hour.
City funding during each of the option years 3-5 is based on the previous years’ CPI.
Brown Cab is expected to increase its fares by 50 cents per ride for adults and 25 cents of all other riders in 2024, Reif said.
A public hearing on the proposed taxi fares will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 2, in council chambers.