The City Council did not approve an independent cab driver’s bid to run an independent company and break up what he calls the taxicab “monopoly” in Madison.

A source of debate for the council was cab driver Mike Roach’s refusal to provide the 24-hour service required of Madison’s taxicab operations.

Roach said he would solve the 24-hour problem by forwarding calls after 10 p.m. to Badger Cab. He said his license should be approved because the law discourages competition among businesses.

“This law forces drivers to work for a major company or not work at all,” Roach said.

Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, voted to approve the license because of the limited competition in Madison’s taxicab industry.

“We need more competition because Madison is on the high end of taxicab fares nationwide,” Verveer said.

Several council members were concerned about the legality of approving a license that did not comply with city policy, and others said drivers should not be allowed to choose the extent of their service.

“If you allow this license, you open the door for drivers’ refusal of service to different areas of Madison that drivers may not want to go,” City Attorney James Martin said.

Roach has lobbied for an independent company since April. The Transit Parking Commission recommended his application be denied because of his criminal record and the high record of complaints he collected during his employment at Badger Cab, Union Cab, Madison Taxi and Evergreen Transport. The report cited an instance in which he refused to take a passenger to her destination and dropped her off blocks away at 1:30 a.m.

Roach was fired from three cab companies.

Throughout his campaign for an independent cab company, Roach has written several documents supporting his views. However, one editorial published in the Badger Herald Sept. 13 was discovered to be plagiarized.

The council did not gain enough votes to definitively deny Roach his license, but his license is indefinitely floored until either a council member raises the debate or he reapplies for the license.

In other business, the council approved a proposed State Street Design Project test area.

This fall, the city will construct a sampling of potential State Street designs in front of the Lisa Link Peace Park on the 400 block of State Street.

The display will include the proposed concrete, granite, signs, benches and trees of several designs. Madison residents will then have the opportunity to vote online at www.ci.madison.wi.us and influence the final design decision.

The test area will cost $50,000 and will be exhibited for several months.

State Street Redesign construction is set to begin in the spring of 2003.