Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson's proposed plan to relax certain laws regulating the city's taxicab industry faced some tough questions Thursday from the City Council.

A good crowd turned out to hear about Anderson's plan, including members of the Disabled Rights Action Committee, who want the city to include requirements that the taxicab companies comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The action committee has filed suit against the city's three cab companies — Yellow Cab, Ute Cab and City Cab — trying to get the courts to force them to comply with ADA.

But since lawsuits can take years, the action committee wants the City Council to add to Anderson's proposed ordinances a provision that forces the cab companies to comply with ADA.

Councilwoman Nancy Saxton asked Community Development Director Lee Martinez how many cabs in Salt Lake City are "totally accessible" for people with disabilities.

"In my understanding there aren't any," Martinez said.

Saxton asked Anderson's administration to rework the ordinance so it addresses ADA issues.

Other council members wondered what the logic was behind the changes, which would allow the city's heavily regulated cab companies to petition for a rate increase this year instead of waiting until 2005. The cab companies could also decrease their service during the slow summer months and increase service in the lucrative winter.

The new rules would also protect the companies from competition by requiring outside transportation companies to schedule rides 45 minutes in advance, making it almost impossible for them to gain on-demand fares from hotels. Also, the ordinance would ban drivers from paying or tipping bellmen or doormen who arrange rides for outside companies.

Deputy Mayor Rocky Fluhart and Martinez said that the city has severe regulations on its three cab companies, such as forcing them to stay open 24 hours a day and to keep a minimum number of cabs in operation even during slow months. Because of those regulations, the new rules would give certain market advantages to the cab companies to help them compete with outside transportation companies that don't face such city regulation.

Many operators of such transportation companies, who are opposed to the changes, also showed up at Thursday's meeting. Russel Ridge, who runs 5 Star Transportation Co., maintains it is Anderson's ties to the cab industry that are behind the changes.

"I definitely think the mayor is still influenced by the different cab companies," he said.