Exh B

Exhibit
.
Port Commission 5 Prat-16.1
December 14, 2009
MeetingMW
Bill Bryant
Seattle Port Commission President
Port of Seattle
Pier 69
Seattle, WA 98191

Re: Proposed On-Demand Taxi Service Contract

Dear President Bryant

I am writing to recommend that the Commission defer further review and
approval of the OnDemand Taxi Services contract until the arrival of the newly-elected
Commissioners in January. I understand from the recent agenda that a nal vote is
scheduled for Tuesday, December 15, though prior Commission discussions had
indicated that the decision would await the new Commission. I am writing in my
personal capacity in light of the short time frame

A signicant issue in the recent elections involved the reduction of taxicab
deadheading, a problem that arises from taxi regulations that often require a taxi carrying
a fare-paying passenger to or from the airport to return empty. Deadheading
unnecessarily increases air pollution, fuel consumption, trafc congestion, taxi operating
costs and fares.

I question whether the proposed ve year contract adequately reduces
deadheading. The staffmemorandum fails to explain why the proposed reduction in
deadheading is so meager and what alternatives may be available. It would be interesting
to know the magnitude ofthe carbon footprint under the current contract and the extent of
the reduction under the proposed bids. I believe that the Port of Seattle should be able to
do better than the proposed 6% reduction in deadheading in the rst contract year,
increasing to only 11% in the second.

Since the newly-elected Commissioners campaigned on this issue, they should
participate in the Commission's nal decision. Conducting a Commission vote before
the new Commission is seated appears to be a maneuver around the election results.
Waiting until January is the right message to send to voters.

Sinc

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3012 West Eaton Street
Seattle, WA 98199

Cc: All Commissioners

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