Transportation, Technology & Legislative Affairs - Senate

Thank you Mr chair Tippi McCullough state representative district thirty three. Today I have a house bill seventeen oh to that myself and Senator Irvin are sponsoring this is a bill to right now in Arkansas we have so many mountain biking trails all over the state I know here in Little Rock where I live we have pinnacle out west that's it that's extremely popular we also have mount Nebo out Dardanelle we have Northwoods in hot springs and then just a multitude of places in northwest Arkansas and what this bill this bill is being brought by the chair of the Arkansas governor's council Advisory Council on cycling and what this bill does right now if you're on a bicycle and you go across the crosswalk what the law says is that you are supposed to get off your bicycle and walk across that crosswalk what this bill does And it's particularly important for the places in for their mountain bike trails because lot amount bike trails go from one side of somewhere and you come out of the trail and then you have to cross the crosswalk and you go to the other side of the trail so all this does is allow you to ride your bike across that crosswalk and have the same rights as anybody in a crosswalk here in Arkansas as a pedestrian or anybody else now I do wanna bring your attention to a person operating a bicycle has to yield the right of way to pedestrians given audible signal that you're passing someone and But you also have all the rights and duties of anybody else in the crosswalk there also at the end of this change their some speed restrictions this is not to stop anybody speed on a trail or anything like that this is just to say as you go across the crosswalk and I don't know about you guys but I I am have walked across many crosswalks and I've cycled across many crosswalks and I don't just go across the crosswalk thinking everybody's going to stop for me always slow down and I look to see if anybody's there or not but right now cyclist are going across these crosswalks anyway but cycling so important right now to the state we just wanna make it a safer area for anybody in a crosswalk including that cyclists going from one side of the trail to the other and to make sure that it's done in a safe way for everyone. No questions the members. Senator garner. Mr in that last part kind of concerns me because you're not really put the standard for what the speech should be yours kind of leading up to each individual I'm assuming person on the ground the officer represent fortune is kind of decide what that's going to be a mean I say very wide swath between. I don't like this person is the way they look I will pull it off because going to fast not reasonable versus this person I know that Joe he rides a bike all time leading through shouldn't be defined standard you're from the sentence be restriction we don't do that for other things that we don't have a speed limit for if it's reasonable you go sixty seventy eighty whatever you want do we have a strict speed limit that does that why would we change that in for for bicycle thank you senator garner will be I think there are so many different levels of cyclist from a very beginner level and even children and all the way up to really experience cyclists that are adults and I certainly don't want to have to start we don't want to we don't want to cost any money and start putting up some kind of real speed restriction on that I think this is just for you know it at a speed greater than is that shall not operated speed greater than is reasonable and prudent and the intent of this was just simply to say be safe slow down don't write run over anybody no matter what level you're at everybody's at the same level the crosswalk so it's just more to educate the community that you don't have the right just to apply through cross walking because anybody else in the any danger since you are on a bike and not on the fate I guess that opens up in a lot of questions because you mentioned the level of skill of the rider me I don't I don't know me professional bicycle or is on a Lance Armstrong you don't know he's pretty discredited now if you got him on a bike versus me what's reasonable program for me be completely different reason for the for him that two different standards right there so now you're getting me to a judicata I guess and and whatever the court or whatever has happened it no actually me going twenty miles an hour my bikes reason proved immerses Lance Armstrong go thirty miles per hour I know the date that McGraw just it said it in balance with the nations legal structure in a way that I I don't think is is a good way to set a couple of personal. Yes Sir and I appreciate that I think it's once again if if we were on the trail and trying to restrict speeds and there are so many different levels I I agree with you on that but in a crosswalk I think that it's that people that are I think people should doesn't say a person operating a bicycle on the sidewalk paths ruled you committee that before I missed it because it does not just say crosswalks as a sidewalk path trail across the driveway or point across for yes Sir and that's just meant to to be the same thing it's when you're crossing from say on the greenway trail and say it for you you don't just cross the crosswalk but you're right about that you also have to cross some streets and you also have to cross and pass and you also have to cross some driveways and that's just to say you still have to be a reasonable and reasonable speed because you don't know there may be cars coming there may be people backing out of their driveway it's just to try to to make sure that you're safe so you're saying that the whole trail. You can isn't the condition of reasonable because that's the way it reads here doesn't say just when you cross the trail it said the person operated bicycle sidewalk path trail to the site any kind of crossing as you're describing it I'm just reading that I don't know that you miss reading it I mean to me it was only on those little crossing places that's that's what it's meant to be actually this part was taken from a can't remember the state this part was taken from a different state and intent was just to to make sure that it covered to those at those other areas I mean there are crosswalks but they're also those other areas when you're crossing on the when you're especially mountain biking but also road cycling but and it was once again the intent was just to to make that as safe as possible not to expand any thank you ma'am thank you. Senate Chesterville. Thank you Mr chair and thank you representative Garner. If we start saying that your speed is going to be this on the sidewalk a speed is going to be this on a path your speed is going to be that on a trail it's going to be this on a drug in a driveway or in this on across law. We're going to have a little speed signs all of god's little acre which will then create clued us from having to beauty. Of the area in which were traveling it'll be then full of the scent and I think that would be unfortunate When we when we look at the At the by cycling and it has become phenomenally important in this in this state. When one is traveling on a highway. And there is no speed limit for bicycles isn't. No. I don't believe that there is one for a public road is there no ma'am so it's going to be very difficult for us to the staff image. Anything other than reasonable improvement if we're going to continue to deal with riding bicycles because I've never seen one that given that delineates what that speed would be. Are you familiar with one that does. No in and the reasons once again I I don't I don't think it's been surprising that that people have been worried about this because we put this in there because we were worried that people would be worried that we would be giving too many rights to cyclist and they can just fly through however they wanted to wherever they wanted to so that was that was the intent of this. Senator hill. All right along with what the Senator Garner civil go I don't I don't like to worry on that but we've already already already answered that. My question is you know it says here that they can up by these bicycles on the sidewalk and stuff we not building. Spots on the road already for under rather bicycles allow the on the sidewalk where the the pedestrians walking I could still run over someone hit him from behind someone we know they're coming yes Sir it in if that happens. liabilities that yes senator the this is once again not to expand this is just on a crossing this is not giving anyone a right although I do see the cyclist on. A person operating a bicycle on a sidewalk. Right I understand what you're saying but most most I think most city laws don't allow cyclists to ride a bike on a sidewalk here in Little Rock you're not supposed to I see it occasionally majority not supposed to ride on that and this was just meant if you're crying this is meant to be if you're just crossing a sidewalk and I agree with you we we have by passed we had bike trails if you don't have those you should stay as far right it's possible I mean I I agree with what you're saying but this is not to expand that I would really like to see that cleaned up so be honest with you. Thank you. Any other questions from members. Senator Eads. The representative is there some communities where I know that's the way it is when Springdale where we have built wider sidewalks that is a designated bike path it's just happens to be the sidewalk on that side of the road and specific area down as the is that true for this part of the state as well I haven't seen I mean we have down river trail we have our our trails like that I think what I'm talking about is you know our city sidewalks or even or neighborhood sidewalks the you'll see kids and stuff too and that nobody minds any of that stuff but as far as I know I'm trying to think and the rock I don't think we have any designated sidewalk pass yeah. Okay thank you thank you. The the. They have all the rights and duties of a motorist whenever they're on the street or at yes Sir. Now we're going to give them those rats on our sidewalks. No Sir I mean that's not that's not the intent intent is just when you're crossing from one trailer one bike path to another. The. General questions from the members. Seeing none would you like close your bill. Yes Sir I would like to to just say that cycling is a once again a big part of our what's Ark bringing a lot of tourism and in business and Arkansas lot economic development this did go through our house committee and house floor has Senator Irvin support governor support I the governor's Advisory Council on cycling and I would just ask for a good vote thank you representative what's the will of the committee. The whole leases or anybody. Nobody to speak for against Nadia is there anybody here nobody what's will of committee. Motion do pass second by Senator Clark. Okay discussion. Thank you up I think we should with the attended this is set up the right of way you kind of how you go through a crosswalk I really no problem with that section if that's the intent to put the speed in there I think just greatly expands this in a lot of different ways records lot of problems so as long as that section there I don't think I can vote for but if your intentions to cross walk regulations I think the reason why I think that's fair so I won't be voting in the affirmative for this this just because of that section with speed not the crosswalk and if if it does fail don't know the will of committee I was just you bring that with that not be supportive so just wanna say that for the record. Senator you I'm I'm one of the things or I don't. Senator Johnson may I say something yes ma'am I am. If I if I. Once again we thought that would be the problem with we didn't have that so that's really not an issue for me to take that out I think my issue is do I have time to amend that section and get it back and get it through all the proper channels I think that's the question here. Go ahead. Thank you I don't I don't know what kind of meat is restructuring to have but if the committee is fine with that we have discussion if you amend that out and we can sign it out you run on the four I'd be more than willing to do that since we all had a discussion there's no opposition out there I think doing that would be proving this last time and only thing you'll have to discern what's concurrent on your end but I think you'll be able to do it if you talk people recently that's that's my condition on okay. Representative of the there's nothing I like about the sidewalk being in this all right thank you senator Chesterfield yes. I will send it out as well I just need to know specifically what you ask you also get to. Our yes timely fashion get it done thank you for me on page two star line six line ten strike that whole time the whole section with this be restrictions if that's out I'm good with the rest of and may I ask the same thing senator you saying. So we receive we strike lines six through June. You're good with the bill on the consent. Senator Tucker. Considering that's pretty clean amendment to strike line six or ten on page to represent because good with that sure the first bill on the agenda I would be surprised if you could give that a minute over here in the next few minutes. For weaving adjourned okay yes. You will you will what we will if you want to pull it down and see if you'd Amendment back before we and we will consider at the end of there's no objection yes Sir I appreciate that right thank you thank you Committee. I wish we could do a verbal but we've done rules so I understand I appreciate that thank you. Will move on to House Bill fourteen eighteen. Representative back. Senator Johnson. Just introduce yourselves and and you're welcome to proceed thank you Mr chairman mark Johnson Senate district fifteen I'm joined by representative Rick Beck. It may not be on Clark said. Rick Beck represented district sixty five. Just one second. Thank you very much. today we're gonna talk about house bill fourteen eighteen. Today in Arkansas if you're operating out of. The maximum height for Rick on the roads are is fourteen Skippy thirteen feet six inches this bill does nothing other than change out to fourteen so we're going to fourteen for a couple reasons it aligns us more with the other states is about sixty one percent states have fourteen or higher on there we have ourselves with some of our bordering states that are also fourteen feet or higher we first brought this out the Department. Are not brought this to me we first filed that there were some people had some concerns the the rail companies had some concerns and we would be able to address that and some the city's had some concerns were able to address that so really had no There's there's no one against it that that I know a lot so I think. With that record would like to say we're going to fourteen feet if you're. Existing right now in the state there's no costs associated with this because every overpass it's below fifteen feet is already marked as low clearance and also as what its height is at this point so there's really nothing out there I will say that there are nine structures in in Arkansas that are below the fourteen foot that does well are all marked as low clear structures so if you were to be about fourteen feet then you would obviously there's actually some architectural but the savings associated with this because now I raising it up to fourteen they would have to get the extra permit when they come from an out of state with a fourteen foot loved with an alternate path and just be able to travel. Thank you with that I'll do everything that. Mister chairman I want to add is that to we we put it in the in the bill that they would take the only R. dot would if there were financing would be sitting by rule we would put it in statute it would be they come back to they'll see to prove a rule to forty one point if they said any changes in the files SSL there really at. Any questions from members. Question Sir Chesterfield thank you senator Johnson gave me something that took my attention away. Is this going to be all is that apartment of us transportation okay with this bill. Yes ma'am and it's all going to be okay as far as federal law is not going to impact us as far as federal funds are concerned ma'am not at all question. It the only thing we're actually be more consistent our neighboring states and is represented by a glued to it would simplify the process of someone is bringing a lot of that had to go through more than one state including Arkansas would they complying in one stay Arkansas would have the same rule and it simplifies things for everyone including the regulators we're not gonna be. Our infrastructure is all we can we accommodate these we don't have to raise any bridges we're already because the we already allow for the point sixty inches is that we're sign that's alright we can already do that without yes ma'am and is is represented back mention they're only nine overpasses or bridges in the state that would not currently meet that rule fourteen feet and they're clearly marked so anyone would know and on the sauce on the directory that if you're going this route you got anything in that twenty thirteen six and fourteen you know you might wanna go a different route okay all right so we're and you know what those are what part of the state representative has a list of I have I don't know that I don't know that exceed this locations. Where those are out. This action given to are not. I don't have the actual locations for the night okay I I was just wondering if they were in a particular part of the its more than others the other thing that I was made aware of is that you know truckers that come to the state they're they're actually given a map that actually shows a clearance okay so it will be in effect thank you the information is out there in our all mark you think below fifteen feet is marked as local okay thank you. General questions from members. major Bickerstaff the. Your shake your head yes you're good yes no if you're mad okay. There we go I have a. You're a it no questions of your clothes your bill I think I'll close for the bill and we're close to pass thank you Mr so will the committee will the past by Senator Hill second by Senator Eads all in favor say aye. Any discussion. The nose like sign congradulations representative and senator past your first bill. Thank you will go on to the house bill seventeen eighty two. I'll start a Mr chairman committee of. House bill eighty two has to do with the distribution of the interest income on highway highway revenue interested waiting to do a project there's money earning interest this interest can go for specific purposes transportation research and other transportation related grants we have an opportunity to work with the in a public private partnership with with many entities in the Road construction. Field wanted specifically been brought to our attention is is a shortage of trained people for the asphalt paving industry and if you've ever watched him you're going to enroll in their care put an asphalt in a role in it and you know it's it's a real skill is not something that someone can just to you know graduate high school show up on the job and know how to do it it it does take specific training we're working with the asphalt paving association on on a project that will allow a specific training program and we get all the details worked out with them and with the the higher ed which there's opportunity to put in a training program at university of Arkansas community college at Morrilton to actually train and create a stream of skilled workers that would have a a job skill that would to help them develop a real career where there's a tremendous shortage in this particular industry and and course it could also be done and other crafts related to transportation but this is the driving force of why we're looking at this at this moment I'll turn over to a representative back for anything else. I think Senator English covered very well does the simple part about this is there's research money out there for for future transportation they'd be able to let to use some of that money to develop a workforce training to to help serve our citizens and there's obviously a need there at that at this point for that so. That's all I have. I have one question is this the same The Andy Davis began Adam are not. Has been given grief one given that money to the school federal and. I mean is this is just going to be able to spread that out too two other two year colleges. And smaller you know and and other things besides just engineering. I don't recall representive Davis's specifics I do remember those little bit of controversy that they were making a grant Of state money to the university of Arkansas engineering program which in and of itself not a bad thing in my opinion but on the other hand it was saying like you might have been outside their purview but it probably had something to do with that certainly this does spread it around Mr chairman I I think that no we're talking about paving site after the probably a bad metaphor but but it would it would give the flexibility for the kinds of things that like this asphalt paving training program and and any future thing that would actually. Fite workforce training to two people to develop a specific skill that's related to construction maintenance of our roads and highways they were they were forced to do that and took him two years in the you know one out of one year rather than one year at a time and and this is I thank you I mean if if somebody from are not wants to come down testified. The if the members would like to hear that I think this is the same program. I thank I think this is a the happy So. I just like to hear from them. I'll give up my seat to Mister Rogers Mr. Senator. This introduce yourself and you're welcome to. I'm bill Rodgers of the Arkansas department of transportation. This is the same grant program which the transportation related research grant program right now for the. Institutions of higher education allows them to request grandsons for research related to. Broadly transportation this would add a category to those grant applications of workforce development so we'll go it would be changed from the transportation related research grant program to transportation related research and workforce development program so you can go outside of the engineering schools to that's correct two other other in with gas stations yes okay center Chesterfield first and then Senator English. So you are all right with the absolutely yes acts of this correctly when you train more people in this state could do more things as far as transportation is concerned that's correct yes we have the funding available now that will make that happen that funding is available okay just would apply to different categories. That's not. That will not cut down on our ability to handle the original intent of the legislation no okay all right thank you Senator English. So are you know ma'am all that workforce training so give me a little bit better idea so we've got a pot of money. Slide five hundred thousand dollars that's correct yearly or annually annually and so basically that pot of money you have a process for schools for whatever to apply for those grant funds that's correct so I guess I'm concerned about. Are you applying for these grant funds that's what those laws about or is it just. Stipulating that that the university of and market Morrilton will be able to get five hundred thousand dollars to set up the program although this is a competitive grant program all of the different search engines so this is is this just changing the engineering program it's just adding workforce development as a category the Committee under those grant funds so it's not necessarily tied to Morrilton FOR anybody so any college or whatever any any industry that. It's public education could apply for these calendar you have a set amount of money that for the grants are usually no more than what we have. What we try to award up to the total you know if we have enough applications and applications warrant a full wardrobe we have five hundred thousand dollars worth of work the projects requested will award of five hundred thousand but so how do you notify people that this this money is available for schools to be able to we have we have a listing of a the. educational institutions that are eligible for the grants of their notified and on annual basis that grant program is is up we have a website and web page dedicated to the grant application process the the next have deadline circular given forms they have to fill out they have to specify details how the money is going to be spent what moneys for I have to lay out a detailed budget and they have to have a proposal with the explains the project I'm not familiar with all of the grants that have been reported in the past but I know for instance we recently awarded a grant to Arkansas state university to to do some research on the I think it was including mulched tire in asphalt base and they have submitted or you know we have we get several applications every year and and work the ones that we have a committee that set up to approve review the applications it's not up to one person it's up to a group of people in naming several times to identify those and then those were presented to the Highway Commission as this the recommended awards in the commission approves or denies those awards as. My my only thing is we just did one for the on the automotive Commission automobile commission and we've got so many programs out there this is always in my concern we have no coordination of any thing so that we have you know some somebody actually would know where to go to get these except not your fault this is me talking but these things always kind of bothered me that we've got all these got these funds out here and and we don't have them coordinated and there's no kind of center point four where could people love to be able to House somebody know that they can go and get those funds and that's my commentary that's Senator English I think of the this was began in two thousand seventeen in that session and those that you're talking about with the automotive dealer comes from a different pot of money where the last they removed the board that licenses for car salesmen and dealerships had had put in and that's where they were that's where that money's coming from well those dollars around have a multiple different things because there's multiple different people down here doing multiple different. Exactly when it be nice if we could serve coordinated coordination is not always the department's fault it's you know it's not their fault it's just it is what it is but it it it is always bothered me because the the automotive people have been doing those grants for years and a lot of the a substantial amount of money to be able to support activities around the state but let's say there's just really no coordination so everybody's kind of pilot money in or asking for grants would be nice if people knew exactly where they could go. Sure and I mean everybody knows all about dot GOP senator Jeff starting point. A. I have a list of those institutions a qualified it's public institutions of higher education it's very common for your schools okay technical institutes. Yeah that publicly funded institutions sounds good to me. General questions. Thank you Rogers if you would let us senator Johnson back in. And There's no other questions it would you like closure your bill I'm I'm sorry one thing that might This is actually generated it's generating out of a need you know that the asphalt people do needs we need technology that the research money is already there ours there so this just allows them the latitude to shift these monies to the workforce development at that point we've also already been two joint budget to get the appropriation fixed to where it can change the title name on it so lousy to do this workforce development and and Mister chairman in fact I could respond to Senator English she and I've had a conversation about this need for coordination and I still pledge to Sir will will work on getting this little bit we do have a little different situation with this particular fine since it's administered by constitutionally an independent agency and while the thing with the autumn auto salesman funding that I think properly probably should go department education the fact that you know are not is independent it it complicates just a little bit but I'm very sensitive to what you're saying about this I just wanna emphasize that as Mister Rogers said this is a competitive grant program the competitive situation we hope for you ACC Martin is that there's a private partner the asphalt paving association that is going to contribute and and make that an even better program and hopefully make it very competitive but again this is just opening up that particular fund for an additional category which is workforce development and and skill level that is we thank properly at the two year college level for the for this type of skill I just wish I just commend you for being smart enough to go and find where the money is. Well this is such a need in I was talking to one of our road contractors in my district not that long ago and and he was tell me what a problem it was to find people with the skills in this area and sadly we've had quite a few out of state road contractors to come in and got the bids or do work in Arkansas and I'm I know they'll do a good job in the that but I still like is to use homegrown industry homegrown workers if we possibly can so this is actually gives us a pipeline for for new people in in in in all the the road construction areas. And I. I guess there's no other questions Mr chairman represented to I would like everyone to remember this is administered by constitutionally separate entity. But it was established by this body and whenever they get Flack for something that that we've forced them to do always remember that whenever our constituents are saying you're you're spending your own money on on things like this will there's a reason for that in our labor force and and and training so the was will the committee that motion by Senator English as a second by Senator Chesterfield all in favor say aye. All of the no discussion All opposed Like sign thank you senator representatives appreciate it thank you Mr chairman thank you Committee thank you Journal thank you Committee. Our next bill is the. Six fifty seven by Senator Leding. And he has an amendment I thank you guys have got the amendment on your desk so. Motion by Senator Chesterfield adopt amendments second by Senator Eads all in favor say aye. You wanna explain your Amendment that is the bill now. Yes the Senate is the bill that we were originally going to run the original version of this bill on Tuesday and receive some last minute concerns from game and fish have been contacted by the U. S. Coast Guard who had concerns with the bill. Currently the original version would put us out of compliance with federal law which could potentially cost the game and fish about one point seven million dollars in federal funding annually from the U. S. Coast Guard so we work together to get this language we got notice this morning the game and fish's okay with languages would not put us out of compliance with federal law so. This the. If you have a good yourself you know have more to say on the cover I'm I'm here I'm I'm I'm guilty of the of this. Legislations Mr collards and it was just trying to streamline thing for owners of sailboats in Arkansas this would simply the ad boats that are solely powered by sales to the list of watercraft that are exempt from having certificate of numbers. When. What certificate of numbers at a registration is that this comment on the sailboats does that mean if you're sale get ripped a that are our folks don't have to come get you. I don't have to come get me anyway that. It is puts a disposition this can what's the what's the Senator English so does this go back to the the the deal of of the Coast Guard requiring votes to have their numbers to be registered so I don't to the Coast Guard requires the number the better government somebody I mean I know we passed legislation last session or maybe before but it had to do with the fact that the feds were now requiring. Votes only registered okay under that are in there that was in in twenty twenty they start requiring a a a different type of title for the for the boats and so they'll have to have a the whole ID numbers I think and that's it that's kind of my that service is not saying that does it does not address that so the the the the the number in a vote is like if you go get a fishing boat and they'll make you put numbers on the side of it and and they will not have a Deke house from the state and so it might the number they might be six or seven numbers that you put aside your vote I think it was to identify who is here legally and illegally and being able to to identify both you know yeah that rate drugs and whatever I think I think what you're talking about is is was the they're trying to streamline the the I haven't been number that's this that's not this coming. Yeah this is this is designed to make it so that if if you have I have a cell that has no motor just a simple sailboat then you don't have to register it based off of all the all the rules in the of the of the building lanes and I like that but not. Any other questions for members saying none is there anybody to speak for against the bill us and not on Arshi. This is. Anybody nobody. What's the will of the committee says senator Chesterfield. And second by Senator English all in favor say aye hi any discussion no relax. Okay it is do pass and that's what I heard you say senator. The thank you senator and Mr Calvert thank you committee thank you to me. The help the you want you want to do that now okay the let's go back to House Bill seventeen oh two. Over here Mr you wish you can stay in your city if that B. R. of the committee. Thank you Mr chair I've got the amendment to house bill seventeen oh two. it just strikes. One six three. Senate yes ma'am thank you manager on second motion Matt motion and second all in favor say aye opposed Like sign all at your your Amendment if you want to. The yeah just struck struck this section that was given to folks are burning to preserve section about crossing the crosswalk and the we had the discussion already so I just. Pretty close for the bill Mr errors no further discussion I'd entertain a motion motion by senator garner second by Senator English all in favor say aye hi no discussion the nose like sign thank you senator Clark Senator Tucker. The next bill is Senator Eads six eighty six. We have multiple people sent signed up to to speak for this bill and one who is against this bill so we will We will hear Senator Eads and then we will go to those positions Mister chair I'd like to ask to have Kelly Johnson from northwest Arkansas region National airport you know come to sit with me on this on this bill all right. Mr Johnson just introduce yourself. You're welcome proceed. Thank you senator Johnson Kelly Johnson on the CEO of the northwest Arkansas regional airport skews me national airport we changed our name I'm still getting used to. You're welcome proceed. We start. A Mister chairs want to briefly cover couple things and then all handed off to her talk what we're doing here is trying to create a level playing field for some people that are using our for property to do business and if you can imagine we've got disruptors of business as this is models change over the years we've started from taxis and then Ryan who were left and and programs like that and now that we're starting to see right sure programs utilize the property that the is maintained security parking all those things that are cost to the airport and then they wanna make sure that all these people to utilize this for the services are on this on a level playing field as far as in a letter explaining a bit more detail about their taxation they. Don't have access to and and how they're funded things like that so. Thank you a center of the Thorough piece of this is is really of interest to us we have six rental car companies that are or are they paid to rent space in the terminal that pay to park they pay us a commission they pay a customer facility charge and all of those revenues. Thank you. Sorry I have it in the airport we have to wear them all the time. Yes it is uncomfortable yes absolutely but we get the six companies that are paying all these fees we reached out to Turrell back in twenty fifteen a when we heard that they were operating on reporters matter fact or rental car companies told us they were operating on a report we had about a five month conversation they got their lawyers involved we got our lorries lawyers involved and at the end of the day they refused to enter into any kind of a comment or agreement with us we ask them then to quit operating on our property and also remove us from their website they refused to do those things as well we have an off airport parking and rental car ordinance that was put in place may the seventeenth of two thousand and one that basically requires off airport operators to compensate for use of the airport's facilities offer off airport parking operators eight to ten percent fee proper for rental car companies it's a ten percent fee we actually have use that organs in the past when enterprise came onto our property and operated and we didn't have a place for them to be located in our terminal building so we do have a precedent for charging those fees in addition the regional airport authority act allows us to institute fees rates and charges for those people utilize the airport's facilities there in violation of the ordinance they refuse to deal with us and we basically got to the point where we decided to let the bigger ports fight this fight because it will be very costly for us to enter into litigation and we had a very low activity level with this particular operator at that point in time we currently don't know what their level of activity is six nine that is a little bit problematic we have asked them just recently to provide that information so we're trying to get that data from them. We're not against people having different forms of waste to transport themselves uber lift is a great example of over started operating on our property in thirteen and fourteen the state of Arkansas passed a bill in twenty fifteen but it didn't allow for airports to enter into agreements with uber at that point in time uber continue to operate on our property what we tried to negotiate a contract with them they continue to drag their feet they did enter into an agreement with the little rock airport of finally in seventeen we got that bill amended so the airport would have rights to basically enter into agreements and receive compensation for the use of our facilities when that happened they still didn't sign the agreement so we ended up basically giving them a cease and desist order if you don't signed agreement by X. date you will cease operations on the property that's after that bill was amended we see the same kind of thing happening here and that causes us great concern I just wanted to share a few numbers with you in twenty nineteen of the TNCs who were left at forty eight thousand eight hundred forty five pickups at XNA in nearly that number of drop offs almost a hundred thousand operations and with the fees we instituted that generated a hundred and thirty thousand four hundred thirty seven dollars in revenue to or. we also lost three or six taxi companies because they basically were put out of business because people were making a choice of who they wanted to use we're fine with that capitalism is a great thing we also lost two of our three internal shuttle operators we've got six as I mentioned currently a rental car operators are facilities this is a matter of leveling the playing field so that everybody pays for the use of our airport asset we don't receive state tax funding any local tax funding we do see some federal grants but there for projects so it is important that we follow or if a guidance that says we're supposed to institute a series of rates fees and charges that make the airport S. financially since that sustainable as possible and with that we think are Little Rock friends are with us on this we are expected to generate these fees we're not against their company we're not against them doing business on our property but we need to have the ability to regulate where they do that business and also generate the revenues that are to the airport. I have a question and then we'll go to senator Chesterfield's senator garner he's the ones I've seen there is is there anything to distinguish these vehicles from any other vehicles that are personal vehicles in your parking lot no not at this time. Could you privately DO a parking area for. Those vehicles and if they didn't use that thank you emir moved rather than create a law. For commercial I mean that's commercial purposes and you can have an area designated for uber pick up or or this kind of parking and. And if they're found in your lot the illegally you can you can have a removed or or final however you want to without creating a state law. Well the problem we've got is they wouldn't enter into an agreement with us and they basically their lawyers and our lawyers were shooting letters and emails back and forth and at the end of the day we got no where we know that they're out there we think there are parking lots in the airport I didn't mention as if if somebody's flying out and is running their car through this app to somebody is flying in we lose twice we lose the revenue from the rental car percentage we also lose the parking revenue because the car's not staying in our law with uber lift we designated a parking lot when they get a call the drive up to worker front they've got a space there to pick up the passenger we would like to do the same thing with any kind of operator or airport so that they've got a good place that is customer friendly and easy for the passenger to you ms Johnson I'm not a technological wizard but all you gotta do is put to apple and you find that card your parking lot. I've got the app. If they're not in that parking spot you can tell what. If you have those rules and laws on your own without creating a state law. Any other questions Senator. Chesterfield I guess. This is going all out because I did not know that if I get it or to the airport was going to have to pay to drop me off at the airport is that what you're saying they do that now actually they charge the fee to the customer and they do that it must reports cross country in this list of there's a penalties this company now this company is a rental car companies if they call it a peer to peer company they will allow you to become one of their members and you can lease your personal car to somebody that wants to rent a car or rent a car rather not least but are you having keep up with something like that. They are I mean to me that that's just a. That's a big one is next to try to find out who that is I would you know it's on their app when you go to their app and want to rent one of their vehicles from a personal citizen of like an arc our airport today I looked this morning on the cars available at our airport today but the it to roll ninety I think there was a camera available for thirty six dollars a day last week there was a Mercedes of vehicle available for sixty dollars a day so people if they choose to rent their cars can make them available some days they choose not to and I don't know how many are in the area and I don't have any rentals are going on our property so what you do is checked out finally after the senator was there and that's how you would know how much they're going and what we would like to do is enter enter into a permit or an agreement with the company just like we did with uber and left yeah. And they have not they have not less to make. Basically we would like the ability to negotiate with them we also don't know if they're paying the state's ten percent motor vehicle rental car tax the state sales tax the Benton county tax the high full tax we don't know that any of those taxes are being paid because basically they don't have an agreement with us we don't know exactly how they're operating. That. The senator garner. Thank you I can't hear testimony I can't wait and. For war a word. Our sentiment thanks very import we start discussing this. And that is public safety. The only discussion we've had as revenue. And what that means is you're going to charge the consumer more money because you gonna hit the company up with the tax Saltley AVI or Kansas paying for more things if I could see a reason for public safety to do it. That may be one thing but frankly I think this. Works perfectly it's not just enterprise or a major corporation doing it this is a individual allowing to make money from another individual by sharing their car. And like I said so far I haven't heard the the massive for stories about this being an issue if this is purely about generating revenue I've got some partner with that a consultant at the consumer who's going to pay that and at higher fees across the board and I just that's that's a big consideration we're gonna make mandate from the state to do this and could you already kind entering these agreements with them I mean there's a possibility of enter into some kind of agreement with them currently is in a correct what we hope to back in the five or six months we spent on it and fifteen and they basically told us to go away they're violating ordinance they won't we just recently reached out again to their lobbyist who was you're on another bill ask if they said they'd enter into agreement let's talk so we had one phone call and we're trying to ascertain the level of activity at this point in time from the company thank you ma'am. The questions. So. I still go back to my you know you've got a parking area for those vehicles. And senator who's going to pay for that parking areas it's already paid for you designate designate ten spot five spots or whatever and then you can charge the the airport can charge what it wants to and if if they're going to have the sharing and all it is is I have to track it that's how you police if they're not in those parking spot you have that you have that vehicle tow. And that way you don't have to create a state law then they will come to the table because they're they're people who are sharing will be getting towed and they will have those files. So is that to sample. Maybe but. Well it it's a tad reminiscent of what we went through with over and over didn't sign an agreement until there was a state law passed that allowed airports to basically control our own fate. All right we have people to speak for and against this. This bill I have three four so we will go Kelly Johnson at U. S. so Shane Carter for. You want to come to the table. If you don't. In this interview self and you're welcome thank. All right senator members of the committee thank you I'm Shane Carter with the little rock municipal airport Commission I just wanna go on record that we do support this and as far as an agreement senator garner an agreement that we would require would include public safety measures as we do with the other operators on the airport but I don't have any other comments I believe Mister Johnson is handled most of them the lesser questions of me questions Senator Garner that agreement it did be they comply with which I won't or they can operate their correct that the the terms he does all the negotiating power to be in your hand if we pass this law what we would what we would work with them to to to make an equitable agreement and one that would also be equitable with other providers on our property. That's good answer thank you. Jane what the. Is is there anything if. You know scenario that I said later earlier is that I mean would that not bring to the table whenever they're members of Delhi the quit using your facilities or they'll come to the the company or agreement without a state law in our own. We have tried to learn from our business manager that we have tried to reach out to them before and did not get any follow up we have recently been working with them again but we have no guarantee that they're going to move forward in good faith and enter into an agreement with us. If you designate those those areas like I said. And if they're outside those areas. In this in this. Scenario and you have them removed from your parking lot and find. Because they were using this facility without permission. Would that not force them to the table. In that situation we will we would hope that it would not come to that but I the problem that we have now is knowing when they're on our property and looking at the athletes not exactly that accurate to know when they're there and when they're not. So they're happy is not accurate to where the vehicles that are available I can't speak to that exact precision of it but you know at this point you know there may be a couple of cars from time to time that that pop up there but at you know the other part of this it's very difficult to sit back and and monitor and watch them in to see when they are on the property and when they're not so that would take a tremendous amount of follow up. All right the other questions. Seeing none we will thank you thank you saying. We will go to against. And it is dusty Brighton. This to introduce yourself and you're welcome proceeding. Very similar to other peer to peer sharing platforms such as Airbnb the or B. R. BO but instead of a home or condo they allow a person to register with the website and subject to the appropriate terms list their vehicle to be shared for a price by third party the vehicle owner sets the terms for the agreement including the price of the car share. with all due respect to the airports into Senator Eads we feel this last legislation is unnecessary the airports already have the authority and ability to impose rules and fees upon a service like to roll to go she Asians are going on right now between tour in the Arkansas airports as we speak I know conversations taking place with little rock and I know with XNA just last week discussions are being had we are just waiting on an NDA to be signed so those discussions can continue Why is there a need to codify something into statute when the ability is already there to negotiate an agreement or contract frankly I we've seen in other instances when a state passes something of this nature and they codify this type of rule with regard to an airport it just gives them another error of to look at us and say well if you're not going to agree to the terms and conditions that we say you need to do then you can operate we're just going to sit there lawsuits going on right now tomorrow is not a rental car company it's a different animal we certainly don't have the revenue that the rental car companies have we are a medium size startup is I would say the fact as a matter is in order for Turo to grow and to prosper we're going to have to work with the airports is not that we don't want to again that's demonstrated by the fact that we are in conversations with the airports now I can't speak to what happened in twenty fifteen I can only speak to what's going on now in twenty twenty one. Really these bills this legislation is introduced at the behest of the rental car companies that just want to **** the business and make it difficult for to operate at airports again we're more than happy to talk with them and that's happening now so really we feel that these bills which we have seen in other states the impetus for these bills really is just to try and insure the Turo will agree to terms that to other entities want to set not necessarily negotiate so I would respectfully ask you to vote no on this legislation thank you. Questions by members. I will ask you one yes Sir so. You've heard my scenario on how to police you. Do you think that's a better alternative. I would say that we would be open to any alternative such as that senator Johnson be glad to discuss. The I mean they're trying to work with it sounds like. Can you get an agreement with those two for Arkansas so we don't have to pass a law by next week. We will do our best to do so again I the terms and conditions would have to be worked out which we have done with other airports and other states there have been permits by next week at I have to admit that I couldn't give you a guarantee on that what I can guarantee is they're going to continue to work on it get something is places quickly as it came. For my part I had rather not pass a state law that you have until Tuesday if it's the member's choice to let this ride it would be my I would like to do that and you can negotiate with our to airports that are sitting at this table that should you should be able to do that by choosing to get your agreement so we don't have to pass state law that gets on my nerves to pass state law because you guys can't get your heads together so we might come up with some some Some worship penalties by Tuesday if if you don't so let's if it may all right with the members if there's no Not all right. Senator okay with that was Senator Eads. Mister chair both airports currency there's no negotiation under way at this particular time well they've got till Tuesday to work with and and and I've got all leverage as far as I'm concerned right now at this table so. The. There's been a motion to table this until till up to our next meeting. So second by Senator Garner all in favor say aye. All opposed Like sign no. All right the we will table this until Tuesday and see what happens between the parties thank you. Is there any other business to come before the committee saying none we are adjourned until Tuesday.