Council approves ride-sharing operations

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Transportation network companies (TNCs) such as Uber and Lyft can now operate within the city limits of Vestavia Hills. The city council unanimously approved the ordinance at its Dec. 28 meeting.

City attorney Patrick Boone said he modeled the city ordinance on the one in operation in Mobile. However, Mobile city officials inspect all TNC drivers' vehicles, which Mayor Butch Zaragoza said Vestavia does not have the manpower to do. Instead, Vestavia's ordinance just requires that drivers' cars are kept "in good order." The city also amended its ordinance so that TNCs must receive a business license, not a permit, to begin operation.

The cities of Birmingham, Homewood, Mountain Brook and Trussville have already approved similar ordinances, and Hoover is set to consider it at an upcoming meeting.

Council member Steve Ammons expressed concern with the background checks for drivers working with TNCs. The ordinance included a multi-state, multi-jurisdictional criminal background check and a check with the sex offender registry. The way these data are gathered, Ammon said, would leave out offenses in some smaller cities and counties. At his suggestion, the council amended its ordinance to include a state-wide background check as well.

"It's what we do for our parks and recreation employees and I would not expect us to do any less," Ammon said.

Council member George Pierce noted that while Uber inspects the vehicles of its drivers, other TNCs may not, which could lead to unsafe experiences for residents using the services. City Manager Jeff Downes said the ordinance includes a clause that the city can fully inspect a TNC's records, including inspection history, at any time. Zaragoza said that it was possible for the city to revise its ordinance in the future to respond to new needs.

"We're going to have to learn it and we may have to revisit it," Zaragoza said, adding that the police department will also be monitoring TNC activity and safety.

Council member John Henley also addressed the audience, warning them that any interested in driving for a TNC would likely need a new insurance policy to cover accidents while driving a customer.

The council also:

  • Approved annexation and rezoning for several properties to enter Vestavia Hills from Jefferson County: 3579 Valley Circle, 3527 Valley Circle, 2615 Alta Vista Circle, 2720 Alta View Drive and 4670 Caldwell Mill Road.
  • Rezoned 3112 Blue Lake Drive from residential to office district. The property is on a road that is shifting from residential to small office space, Downes said, and approval came with the condition of resurveying the property for shared parking with a neighboring building.
  • Approved 2565 Mountain Woods Drive to keep up to six chickens on the property. This approval is limited only to the current owner and location. It requires that there be a permanent chicken coop, no roosters on site and no commercial use of the hens or eggs. If the residents cease keeping chickens for a year or the chickens are seen to draw predator animals to the area, the council can revoke this permission.
  • Approved 1793 Shades Crest Road to build a guest house, provided that the guest house is not leased separately.
  • Approved 1836 and 1842 Shades Crest Road to build a front security gate and fence, which will be about 40 feet from the edge of pavement on Shades Crest Road.
  • Approved repairs to the surface of the Wald Park pool and shallow pools. Clearwater Pools will completely strip the pools and install a new Diamond Bright surface fir $116,400. The city expects project completion by April 1, and Downes said the new surface will be an improvement for swimmers' health and safety.
  • Held a first reading on authorizing $599,000 in funding for phase II of the Sicard Hollow Athletic Complex project.
  • Delayed discussion of selling the city public works facility on Highway 31 until the Jan. 11 meeting.