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Greenfield council continues taxi permit decision amid insurance and voucher questions
Summary
Council continued a public hearing on USA Taxicab's permit application to March 24, asking staff to clarify insurance levels and whether the operator will seek qualification for the regional MST voucher program.
The Greenfield City Council on March 10 voted to continue consideration of a taxi permit for USA Taxicab and operator Eduardo Bravo Gomez to its March 24 meeting, citing unanswered questions about insurance levels and participation in a regional voucher program.
Brent Slama, a consultant planner for the city, presented the application and recommended the council support the permit, saying, "From a staff perspective, anything that improves transportation options for the community is something we seek to approve." He explained the city's taxi ordinance requires council approval of a permit and that individual drivers and vehicles would be screened by staff and the police department.
Council members pressed staff and each other on two related concerns: whether the applicant's insurance meets the higher limits required to participate in the MST voucher program and whether the city's long‑standing taxi ordinance allows conditioning a permit on additional insurance or voucher participation. One council member said the provider "has been asked by King City... to provide that extra insurance for over a year to qualify for that program," and urged staff to check whether the applicant intends to pursue qualification.
Chair (presiding) moved to continue the item and "encourage him to look into the insurance situation," and the council approved the continuance by voice vote. Council directed staff to research the ordinance language and discretionary authority to impose conditions and to invite the applicant to the March 24 meeting.
Why it matters: Council members said access to reliable transportation would benefit seniors and others in town, but several urged caution until the insurance and program participation questions are resolved. The continuance gives staff and the applicant time to report back and for the council to consider whether ordinance updates are needed.
What happens next: The item is continued to March 24. Staff will investigate insurance differences with MST (the regional transit authority) and whether the city can lawfully condition a permit on certain insurance levels or voucher acceptance.
