The Biloxi City Council on Tuesday morning will hear comments from taxicab drivers and others about proposed regulations that would be administered by a new authority involving the cities of Biloxi, Gulfport and D’Iberville.
The public hearing, which begins at 10:30 a.m. at Biloxi City Hall, is the first of two meetings the council has scheduled for Tuesday. In their regular meeting at 1:30 p.m., councilmembers will face an agenda of 22 measures, including the purchase of five new police vehicles, and the approval of two subdivision plats that could account for more than 100 single-family homes.
During the 10:30 meeting, speakers will be limited to three minutes during the hour-long hearing, but written comments are encouraged and welcomed to be submitted.
Under the new plan, fees would be reduced sharply and the regulatory process would be streamlined. Currently, the Motor Vehicle for Hire Commission regulates 152 drivers. That figure includes 139 taxicabs, four limousines and two shuttles. As many as two dozen limousines are not regulated by the commission because they have U.S. Department of Transportation certification, and an unknown number of non-emergency transport vehicles are exempt because they are said to have Medicaid contracts.
During the 1:30 p.m. meeting, the council will be asked to OK two preliminary subdivision plats, one for 21 lots near Fearn Court, and one for 87 lots off Old Highway 67. Also on the agenda is the proposed purchase of five new police vehicles for $127,800 and a proposed agreement for maintenance of the Beau Rivage employee parking garage at MGM Park.
See background on the cab issue
See the agendas for both Tuesday meetings
News and notes
Cemetery tours: If you were not among the dozens who turned out on the crisp Sunday afternoon for the annual Biloxi Cemetery Tours, fret not. There’s an encore of the free presentation Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. To see dozens of photos from the re-enactments Sunday, click here.
Fire prevention month: Fire Chief Joe Boney says the response to this past weekend’s smoke detector giveway has been overwhelming. Litterally. More 243 smoke detectors were installed in homes citywide as part of Fire Prevention Month, an undertaking by the Biloxi Fire Department, the American Red Cross, Firehouse Subs and other volunteers. Another 800 detectors are expected to be installed over the next few weekends. For background on the project, click here.
Financially speaking: The city’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the FY 2014, that period from Oct. 1, 2013 to Sept. 30, 2014, is now available in the Financial Reports section of the city website. To go directly to the CAFR, click here.
Development report: To see the weekly community development report from Friday, click here.
