The Iowa City City Council voted 6-1 in favor of a change to taxicab regulations in its second consideration, though some community members wished the ordinance had a different focus.

Councilor Jim Throgmorton had the only opposing vote.

“I don’t really think we know what we’re doing with regards to this policy,” he said. “Personally, I don’t understand it well enough to be fully comfortable with this.”

The proposed changes would include requiring a distinctive color scheme per taxi company, changing the date when licenses must be acquired to June 1, and requiring the location of the dispatch office to be in the Iowa City or Coralville City limits.

Several community members, including a taxicab owner-operator with Big Ten Aardvark Taxi, had issues with the ordinance, such as the color-scheme requirement.

An ordinance requires three readings to pass. The previous consideration passed 7-0, despite opposition from several community members during public discussion.

— by Nick Hassett