Uber, Lyft rules hearing today in Minneapolis

A Minneapolis City Council panel holds a hearing Tuesday on legalizing the operation of Uber and Lyft within city limits.

So-called "ride share" smartphone apps like Lyft and Uber connect car owners with people looking for rides. Though they're operating in Minneapolis, they don't have the authority to do so.

Council Member Jacob Frey wants to change that.

"I want to bring them into the city. I want to say, 'Look, the City of Minneapolis encourages innovation. We encourage thinking outside of the box. And If you're a company that's doing that, well, you know, come on in,'" he said.

The city is looking at two amendments that together attempt to deal with the new ride share companies, but also ease regulations on cab companies.

The ordinance amendments would allow taxi companies to use older cabs and strike a requirement that cab companies have a central dispatch office.