Jonathan Bach

Statesman Journal

Pam Kniffin says she has four twenty-something-year-olds who like to spread money around downtown Salem in the evenings.

"They have no way to get home safely," she emphasized at Monday's city council meeting.

"I am the cab," she later insisted. "They call me."

Kniffin was one in a flurry of people who came to council chambers supporting transportation network companies that let users call up a ride with their smartphones.

City councilors heard the latest in a string of testimony on proposed city code changes that would attract companies like Lyft and Uber to the capital city.

While testimony on Monday evening largely favored the companies, not all people speaking in front of the city's elected officials lobbied for them.

Officials from Willamette Valley Yellow Cab sat on the outskirts of the council chambers as person after person took to the two microphones. During his turn, Al Wakefield, the company's owner, said city staff had to reach out to taxi companies on the matter to make sure changes were equitable.

He argued city staff hadn't contacted Willamette Valley Yellow Cab.

Councilor Tom Andersen asked City Manager Steve Powers to have city staff reach out to the "old-style transportation companies" before a public hearing.

A new group made their voices heard in the debate over whether ride-hailing services should be allowed in Salem: students.

Elizabeth Gill, a student body president at Willamette University, spoke in favor of the so-called transportation network companies.

"This would really benefit the students of Willamette getting to and from campus in an affordable way," she said during brief remarks.

Jim Bauer, Vice President for planning, facilities and external affairs with Willamette University, said students ask all the time why Uber and Lyft don't operate in the area. He wanted councilors to move forward with a larger community conversation on the matter.

"For Willamette, for people who are coming here from outside of our area, they expect this," he said. "They don't understand why we don't have it."

Andersen brought up legislation that state lawmakers are currently considering: House Bill 3246 would help transportation network companies work statewide.

"It's a mistake to base our actions on any kind of legislative action between now and July," Mayor Chuck Bennett responded, later adding: "I really think the bill's not going anywhere, I'll just be honest with you."

Councilors voted to conduct a public hearing on the proposed transportation network company code changes. A hearing is expected April 24.

Also on Monday:

City attorney Dan Atchison swore in Chris Hoy as Ward 6's city councilor, meaning all council seats are now full following a months-long deficit.

Councilors voted to schedule a public hearing for an ordinance bill that would make short-term rentals through companies like Airbnb easier in Salem.

Proclamations by Chuck Bennett tackled National Child Abuse Prevention Month, Arbor Week and recognition of the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation's 35-year anniversary.

Send questions, comments or news tips to jbach @statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6714. Follow him on Twitter @JonathanMBach.