Council paves way for Uber in Jefferson City

Prescription drug monitoring program also passes

In this file photo taken Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014, a woman walks past the company logo of the internet car service, Uber, in San Francisco.
In this file photo taken Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014, a woman walks past the company logo of the internet car service, Uber, in San Francisco.

Two long-debated bills - one regarding ride-hailing services and the other establishing a prescription drug-monitoring program - were passed during Monday night's Jefferson City Council meeting.

First, the council voted unanimously to amend the City Code as it relates to vehicles for hire, which would allow companies like Uber to operate within city limits.

The popular ride-hailing service has enjoyed broad acceptance among state, county and city officials since it provided an estimated 1,000 free rides during the Jan. 9 inauguration of Gov. Eric Greitens, when the council allowed a special one-day permit for the company to operate.

Uber claims more than 100 drivers are registered with its service in the Jefferson City and Columbia areas. Columbia already has an ordinance allowing Transportation Network Companies (TNC).

A TNC could apply and be licensed to operate within city limits within days, City Counselor Ryan Moehlman said, adding he had not heard from Uber representatives when they planned to start the process.

Moehlman added companies would be required to get a one-time permit, and the company is required to make sure drivers are certified.

Second Ward Councilman Rick Mihalevich said he talked with Checker Cab owner Tom Landwehr, who said he would continue to operate a 24-hour service, something Mihalevich feared might not happen if this bill passed. Moehlman noted this does not preclude Checker Cab drivers to also do driving for Uber or similar companies.

Third Ward Councilman Erin Wiseman said she received several calls from constituents saying they had been very pleased with the Uber service on inauguration day and felt it would open up more opportunities to those in need of transportation services.

Also Monday, the council unanimously passed a prescription drug-monitoring program (PDMP), coming on the heels of last month's approval of the program by the Cole County Commission.

Although there are no Cole County drug providers outside Jefferson City limits at this time, city leaders said they would follow the county if the commission approved the measure, Cole County Health Department Director Kristi Campbell said, as the county has oversight over the local health department.

This comes as lawmakers continue to debate a statewide program at the Capitol.

Missouri is the only state in the nation without prescription drug-monitoring laws.

Proponents say a PDMP would help combat the ongoing problem of narcotics abuse.

In the absence of a statewide program, various counties and cities are coming together to institute their own programs.

"Pharmacies will have access to a database, and St. Louis County has a technical advisory board that has set up triggers so that if things look out of the ordinary, it will allow them to contact law enforcement when appropriate or the Board of Healing Arts - whichever entity is deemed appropriate," Campbell said. "St. Louis County invited us to join their effort. This will allow health care professionals, including pharmacists and dentists, to access information about a patient's history for prescription narcotics."

The Healing Arts board licenses doctors in the state.

About eight other government bodies in the state have joined this effort, Campbell said.

It will cost the county $2,600 to start and $3,300 for every subsequent year to pay for the subscription to access the database.

Pharmacies do not have to participate, and there is no penalty against them if they don't. However, representatives from all pharmacies in Jefferson City have told Campbell they want to participate, she said.

Prior to the vote, resident Ron Staggs provided council members information he said he gathered from various government agencies, which he said show Missouri, without a drug monitoring program, was still ranked above many states when it comes to dealing with drug abuse. He claimed those states with a program in place were dealing with more problems now than before they put the program in place.

The majority of speakers on the topic, though, were in favor of the program with both St. Mary's Health Regional President Brent Vanconia and Capital Region Medical Center President Gaspare Calvaruso supporting the measure, as was longtime advocate for drug abuse prevention Westminster Track Coach Jim Marshall, who lost a son to drug abuse. He called the measure a "last line of defense."

Fifth Ward Councilman Larry Henry, who runs the Cole County Drug Court Program, called it "a tool we need."

In other business, the council issued a temporary delay of demolition permits in the East Capitol Avenue Area.

This measure, which gained unanimous approval, affects structures that are more than 50 years old in this area and would be in place until July 6. The area contains many historically and architecturally significant structures, many of which have fallen into disrepair.

This has led the council and the Housing Authority to declare the area as blighted and approve an urban development plan, which would allow the Housing Authority to undertake blight clearance in the area. The delay should allow the council and city staff four months to consider two proposed ordinances: amendments to the historic preservation ordinance and overlay zoning regulations in the East Capitol area.