City Poised to Get Two More Cab Companies

Update: City Council OK'd the two additional cab companies Tuesday night.

The City Council tonight will hear proposals from two taxicab companies who want to operate in Rohnert Park. If approved by elected officials and the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety, the number of cab companies here would jump to six.

Companies currently operating here include Sam's Taxi, Ace Taxi, Checker Yellow Cab and Freedom Cab, running a total of roughly 12 cabs in the city, according to Sgt. Dave Welch, who gives the final OK for any cab company to begin operations here.

Operators for Petaluma Green Taxi and Luxury Taxi have applied for certificates of convenience — the license necessary to pick up passengers here — and will be heard at tonight's council meeting. Each company would add five more cabs.

Officials said there's no indication that current service needs aren't being met.

While there "have been no complaints by citizens to the Department of Public Safety that the four permitted taxi companies ... are not meeting their obligations for service," Welch said in a report, there is no reason public safety should object to more service providers, or reject the applicants' request to run a business here.

The process is complex: if approved by the City Council, and following a public hearing, applicants are required to get a business license, must show proof of having $1 million in auto insurance, cars and meters must be inspected to meet county safety and accuracy standards, and finally drivers must pass a background and fingerprint check, complete drug screening and driver license check and present a DMV printout within the last 30 days.

Read the full city ordinance here.

"If I determine they are a viable business, they've met all the requirements and the drivers are safe, I'll then contact the [police] chief and city manager and they'll be allowed to operate," Welch said.

Police said though other cities, such as Santa Rosa, don't have strict permitting processes, here it's a priority.

"There are a lot of elderly and college-aged students here who take cabs," Welch added. "We want to make sure the company is reputable and of good moral character — it's for the good of the public, and to ensure they get to their destination safely."

ABC Cab Co. applied in March, but has not yet completed the permitting process, officials said. Welch said cab companies in Rohnert Park also serve Cotati.

Taxi contact info:

• Sam's: 707-588-8282
• Ace: 707-585-0211
• Yellow: 707-544-4444
• Freedom: 707-526-2222