The Boston City Council agreed today to take a first stab at drawing up requirements Waymo and other robotaxi companies would have to meet to unleash their vehicles on city streets - including a requirement that all the cars have a "human safety operator" behind the wheel, ready to take over in an emergency.

One of the sponsors of the proposal, Councilor Henry Santana (at large), said the measure is both for safety and to ensure that Bostonians who now earn a living driving ride-share vehicles are not simply put out of a job.

"This is not anti technology," he said. "This is pro worker, pro safety and pro Boston."

Under the proposal, the "human safety operator" would have to have a driver's license.

The proposal, which was sent to the council Committee on Government Operations for a hea

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