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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Good morning colleagues and cohorts,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It has come to my attention that the Lawrence City Commission is considering a major overhaul of ordinance No. 9092 which sets forth a process and criteria for issuance of taxicab operator licenses. I bring this to your attention because it occurs to me this is truly a golden opportunity to make our voices heard as impoertant stakeholders as we have all been from time to time consumers of taxi services here in Lawrence. Forexample, there are talking taximeters which the city ordinance could require taxicab operators to install, thus enabling blind riders to have independent verification of the fare we will be asked to pay at destination. It also occurs to me that being found guilty of discrimination against blind persons and those with other disabilities could be added as grounds for denial of an application for taxicab operators license or for revoking an existing license.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am attaching FYI a detailed memorandum from Brandon McGuire to City Manager Dave Corlis. This memo provides a very thorough summary of proposed changes to Ordinance No. 9092. This memo does get rather deep in the weeds of taxicab operator licensing, so if you would like a simplified version to study I can create and distribute that as well. It should be noted that the only stakeholders which city staff consulted include currently licensed operators and pending applicants for taxicab licenses. This of course is a good thing to do, but consumers including those with disabilities are stakeholders as well and should be consulted before the city commission puts this item on the fast track and adopts the newly amended ordinance.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>**ACTION NEEDED**<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Contact at as many city commissioners as you can reach and request that action be deferred on the amendments to Ordinance 9092 while we work with city officials to develop language to address the needs and rights of consumers with disabilities including blindness in the taxicab licensing process. Contact information for all 5 city commissioners is listed at the end of this posting after my clising and name block.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>2.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Show up at the Lawrence City Commission meeting at City Hall, 6 East Sixth Street on Tuesday, March 10 at 5:45 pm.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It goes without saying we must move quickly to have a positive impact on the quality of taxicab services in our fare city. Thanks in advance to everyone for your contributions to this very important community endeavor.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Best regards,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Rob Tabor | president Jayhawk Chapter NFB of Kansas<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>7858413875 landline 7858659959 mobile<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Lawrence City Commissioners with Contact Information Mayor<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Mike Amyx<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>mikeamyx515@hotmail.com<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Home: (785) 843-3089<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Work: (785) 842-9425<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Vice Mayor Jeremy Farmer<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>voteyourselfafarmer@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> (785) 691-9100<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Commissioner Michael Dever<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>mdever@sunflower.com<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> (785) 550-4909<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Commissioner Dr. Terry Riordan<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>riordan346@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> (785) 842-1900<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Commissioner Bob Schumm<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>schummfoods@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Home: (785) 842-6729<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Work: (785) 842-7337<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>###<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>