By Adam Studzinski

BLOOMINGTON – An ordinance to allow Uber, and similar transportation networks, to operate legally in Bloomington is up for a vote by the City Council Tuesday night.

Current city code does not allow organizations like Uber to operate in the city. Assistant City Manager Steve Rasmussen believed the proposed ordinance addresses the two primary concerns.

“One is that everyone be treated fairly, and the same,” said Rasmussen. “And that taxicab drivers, as well as transportation network providers, be treated the same way under one controlling ordinance.”

Safety is the other issue the ordinance addresses.

“Public safety is paramount in this, which is the reason why we license and regulate all of these different companies,” Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen added the ordinance requires drivers to meet a number of the same qualifications as taxi drivers.

“They have to be licensed by the city, the vehicles have to be appropriately insured, and they have to be licensed for safety, and there is some provisions for background checks for the drivers,” he said.

Rasmussen noted the city has been working on the issue the past two months.

Also on Tuesday, the city will hold its first Budget Task Force meeting. Rasmussen said the current city budget is unsustainable and this task force will be a key part of figuring out how to create a better budget in the next fiscal year.

The task force meeting will begin at 4 p.m. in Bloomington City Hall.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].