The City Council’s Public Safety Committee voted 4-1 Wednesday to approve the San Antonio Police Department’s recommendations on how to regulate ride-share companies here, moving the controversial issue forward for the first time in months.

The full council is now slated to deliberate the proposed policy during a briefing session in December. It appears unlikely, however, that the council will vote on a new ordinance in 2014.

Police Chief William McManus, who led a task force this summer populated by stakeholders and members of the public, presented recommendations from the group along with further staff suggestions to the committee Wednesday. Those recommendations would amend the city’s vehicles-for-hire ordinance to legalize ride-sharing in San Antonio.

At issue is whether tech firms such as Uber and Lyft — which connect nonprofessional drivers with passengers — should be included in the city’s vehicles-for-hire ordinance. As it stands now, the ordinance doesn’t regulate the companies, which this year received cease-and-desist letters from Police Chief William McManus soon after they began operating here.

Key issues that have surrounded ride-sharing here is compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, background checks of the nonprofessional drivers, insurance requirements and vehicle inspections.

Nearly 70 people signed up to address the committee, many of whom were cabbies and others from the taxi industry. Though they didn’t appear to speak in the same numbers, dozens of Uber supporters were also in chambers, wearing navy shirts with the company’s logo.

Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales lamented the fact that Uber and Lyft have ignored McManus’ letter directing them to cease operations until a new ordinance can be crafted.

“It’s disappointing that the Uber and Lyft companies have not stopped operating. It makes it very difficult for us to be supportive of industries that won’t cooperate,” Gonzales said. “Even when we want to be supportive and cooperative and find ways to work together, it makes it very difficult when one side really just refuses to play by the rules.”

She voted, however, with colleagues Cris Medina, Mike Gallagher and Rebecca Viagran to send the issue to the full council. Ray Lopez, the District 6 councilman, tried, to no avail, to send the proposal back to the Transportation Advisory Board, which includes several members from the vehicle-for-hire industry but no one from ride-sharing.

Gallagher, who made the motion to send the ordinance to the full council, said he’s pleased that staff’s recommendations are “even tougher” than those proposed by the task force because he wants “people following the law” and residents to be protected.

“I really do appreciate that this was a very difficult process that everybody had to go through, and the one thing that’s the most difficult when you do this is that you’ve got to make concessions,” he said. “I think we’ve seen that occur, and I’m pleased with it.”

T.C. Calvert, a community activist who supports the taxi industry, implored the committee to consider the number of Uber and Lyft drivers who could enter the San Antonio market. The number of taxicab permits issued in San Antonio are tied to the city’s population.

“How many permits are you going to allow Uber and Lyft? Because this market is already overflooded, brother Lopez. How many permits are you going to put out? ’Cause it’s going to put somebody out of business,” Calvert said. “Somebody’s not going to be able to bring beans and potatoes to the family. Somebody’s going to go without a Christmas or a Thanksgiving. So this council needs to be very careful, Mr. Gallagher, on how many permits you’re going to give Uber and Lyft.”

Others spoke on behalf of the ride-sharing firms. One man told the council his mother lives on the North Side and couldn’t get a taxi to pick her up so that she could make a wedding downtown. She made the event, he said, because of the ride-sharing service in San Antonio. Others said they felt safer and more cared for in Uber and Lyft vehicles.