Meeting Summary of the

Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization

 

CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

Wednesday, December 19, 2007, 3:30 p.m.
Mayor’s Conference Room
Honolulu Hale, Room 301
530 South King Street, Honolulu, Hawaii

 

 

Members Present:                                                                        

NB #10 Makiki-Lower Punchbowl-Tantalus

Charles Carole, Chair

Committee for Balanced Transportation

Joe Magaldi, Jr., Vice Chair

AARP

Mary Protheroe

American Planning Association

John Valera

American Society of Civil Engineers

Tiffany Hamada

Castle & Cooke Homes Hawaii

Dean Minakami

Committee for Balanced Transportation

Frank Genadio

E Noa Corporation

Tom Dinell

Interagency COORDINATION Councils

CC Curry

Land Use Research Foundation

David Arakawa

League of Women Voters

Jacqueline Parnell

NB #03 Waialae-Kahala

Lester Fukuda

NB #05 Diamond Head-Kapahulu-Saint Louis Heights

Bert Narita

NB #09 Waikiki

Robert Finley

NB #14 Liliha-Alewa-Puunui-Kamehameha Heights

Arvid Youngquist

NB #18 Aliamanu-Salt Lake-Foster Village

Lorene Godfrey

NB #26 Wahiawa

Joseph Francher

NB #35 Mililani Mauka-Launani Valley

Pamela Young

Pacific Resource Partnership

Richard Kane

Waikiki Residents Association

Daisy Murai

 

Members Absent (Reps):

American Society of Landscape Architects

Chris Dacus

Charley’s Taxi

Dale Evans

Eye of the Pacific

Patricia Blum

Hawaii Bicycling League

Mitchell Nakagawa

Hawaii Highway Users Alliance

Darcianne Evans

Hawaii Teamsters and Allied Workers, Local 996

Michael Costa

Hawaii Transportation Association

Gareth Sakakida

Honolulu Community Action Program

Vai Leatiota

Institute of Transportation Engineers

Pete Pascua

Leeward Oahu Transportation Management Association

David Arakawa

NB #01 Hawaii Kai

Greg Knudsen

NB #02 Kuliouou-Kalani Iki

Linda Starr

NB #08 McCully-Moiliili

Ron Lockwood

NB #12 Nuuanu-Punchbowl

Jay Fidell

NB #13 Downtown

Burton White

NB #21 Pearl City

Cruz J. Vina, Jr.

NB #22 Waipahu

Thomas Maus

NB #23 Ewa

R. Scott Belford

NB #24 Waianae Coast

David Brown

NB #25 Mililani-Waipio-Melemanu

David Aki

NB #27 North Shore

Antya Miller

NB #30 Kaneohe

Wendell Lum

NB #34 Makakilo-Kapolei-Honokai Hale

Michael Golojuch

North Shore Chamber of Commerce

Gil Riviere

Sierra Club Hawaii Chapter

Randy Ching

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

Lowell Kalapa

Waianae Coast Transportation Concerns Group

Dick Boddy

 

Guests Present:

Ray Kunishige

Castle & Cooke Homes Hawaii

Ronald W. Pike

Citizens for a Fair ADA Ride

Jacce Mikulanec

Councilmember Dela Cruz

Ben Gorospe

Department of Transportation

Tammy Lee

DOT

David Yaw

Federal Rental Assisted Tenant Agency

Cliff Slater

HonoluluTraffic.com

Louise Horio

Hui Kupuna VIP

Rose Pou

Hui Kupuna VIP

Janet Inamine

Moiliili resident

Shane Yaw

NB #15 Kalihi-Palama

Carl Jacobs

NB #20 Aiea

 

OMPO Consultant:  Ron Mobley, PRP, Hawaii State Association of Parliamentarians

 

OMPO Staff Present:  Gordon Lum (Executive Director), Randolph Sykes, and Marian Yasuda

 

Chair Charles Carole called the meeting to order at 3:31 p.m.  A quorum was present.

 

1.  Approval of the November 21, 2007 Meeting Minutes

  • Discussion:  CC Curry requested that the minutes reflect a statement that she made regarding the Federal Highway Administration review of the OahuMPO: “Citizen testimony was excluded from the Federal Highways review; specifically the testimony about conflict of interest.”

 

Rich Kane moved and Vice Chair Joe Magaldi, Jr. seconded that the November 21, 2007 meeting minutes be approved as corrected.

The motion carried unanimously.

 

2.  Old Business

·        A motion was made and seconded at the November 21, 2007 meeting, but there was no discussion or vote taken:

o       Rich Kane moved and Arvid Youngquist seconded that a presentation on the latest rail technology be included on the agenda at the earliest possible meeting.  No vote was taken on this motion.

·        Mr. Kane withdrew his motion and Mr. Youngquist withdrew his second.  Chair Carole removed this item from the agenda.

Chair Carole introduced Ron Mobley, Professional Registered Parliamentarian.

 

3.  New Business

3.A.  Public-Private Partnerships

This motion was passed at the November 21, 2007 meeting:

·        Motion that the CAC consider making a recommendation to the Policy Committee regarding the concept of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and Tolls, and that such consideration be placed on the December 19 agenda. 

Discussion:

  • Mr. Kane requested the approval of Chair Carole to distribute three handouts to the membership regarding this agenda item: 1) Speech by Jeffrey Shane, Under Secretary for Policy at the U.S. Department of Transportation, 2) Overview of Key Elements and Sample Provisions - State PPP Enabling Legislation for Highway Projects by Nossaman Guthner Knox Elliott LLP, and 3) Model legislation proposed by the Federal Highway Administration.  Chair Carole approved the distribution of these documents.

Mr. Kane moved and Jacqueline Parnell seconded that a subcommittee be formed to study how the CAC can best help the Policy Committee in its advice regarding Public-Private Partnerships and subsequently make a recommendation to the Policy Committee.  

  • In response to a question by Joseph Francher, Chair Carole clarified that the purpose for this subcommittee is to investigate and provide a recommendation to the Policy Committee in the future.
  • In response to a question by Mr. Kane, Mr. Lum did not disagree with the statement attributed to the Director of the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) that Hawaii is one of three states that do not have the enabling legislation that would allow for PPPs.
  • Ms. Parnell commented that the legislation, that passed through the House and stopped in the Senate, enables the possibility of PPPs.
  • Mr. Kane suggested that, prior to making any recommendation on PPP legislation, the membership should be aware of issues and challenges involved with such arrangements.
  • Mr. Mobley indicated that the Chair may appoint a subcommittee as well as a Chair and Vice Chair of that subcommittee.
  • In response to a question by Ms. Curry, Chair Carole explained the role of Mr. Mobley as an advisor for the next three meetings of the CAC.
  • Mr. Kane withdrew his motion regarding the subcommittee.  Chair Carole indicated that volunteers for the PPP Subcommittee would be able to sign up at the close of the meeting.
  • In response to a question by Carl Jacobs, Ms. Yasuda indicated that subcommittee members need not be CAC members.  Mr. Jacobs can volunteer for the subcommittee.

·        In response to Mr. Mobley’s initial impression that the motion regarding making a recommendation to the Policy Committee on the concept of PPPs and Tolls was still on the table, Mr. Kane requested that this motion be deferred until after the subcommittee is able to develop a recommendation for the CAC.

·        Mr. Lum clarified that the motion passed in November was to allow for discussion in December of the resolution presented to the CAC.  The formation of this subcommittee is the resultant response and seems to indicate support for deliberation prior to providing any recommendation from the CAC. 

·        Mr. Kane indicated that his withdrawn motion reflected the Chair’s appointment of such a subcommittee that was intended to allow for some direction to be provided by an informed subcommittee to the CAC on this agenda item. 

·        Mr. Mobley clarified that the November motion was to bring this item in front of the committee for discussion.  Once this item was brought for discussion, there was no active motion for action.

Lorene Godfrey moved and Mr. Kane seconded that any recommendation be deferred until the subcommittee has an opportunity to deliberate on this issue.

·        Ms. Curry called for the question.

The motion passed with 13 ayes, 5 nays, no abstentions.

3.B.  H-1 Corridor Study

This motion was passed at the November 21, 2007 meeting:

·        Motion that the resolution recommending that the Policy Committee urgently request the HDOT to undertake an H-1 Corridor Study be placed on the December 19, 2007 agenda.

Mr. Kane moved and Vice Chair Magaldi seconded that the CAC consider approving the resolution provided at the November 21, 2007 meeting.  

Chair Carole relinquished the gavel to Vice Chair Magaldi.

Discussion:

·        Chair Carole expressed that a feasibility study should be conducted in order to look at other means of providing transportation.

·        In response to a question by Mr. Kane, Mr. Lum stated that several studies have been done on the H-1 corridor including the Oahu Regional Transportation Plan 2030.  The OahuMPO, and State and City agencies have emphasized providing major improvements in that corridor.  Over 280 lane miles of additional new roadway have been identified between the years 2005 and 2030, the bulk of which is in the H-1 corridor.  Mr. Lum added that efforts to update this plan will begin next year.

·        In response to a comment by Cliff Slater, Mr. Lum defined lane miles and screen lines.  Mr. Lum noted that a screen line applies to just one point on a roadway.

·        In response to a question by Mr. Jacobs, Chair Carole indicated that the resolution uses the term H-1 corridor to identify a general area as opposed to a specific facility.

·        Chair Carole clarified that the role of this resolution is just to recommend that the Policy Committee adopt this study effort.

 

Mr. Kane called for the question.  The motion passed with 14 ayes, 1 nay, and 4 abstentions.

 

4.  Other Business

4.A.  Revised Agenda Format

Mr. Lum explained the revised format for the CAC agenda and the motivation for the changes.  The new format should reflect three major desires of the CAC: 1) to provide an opportunity to identify issues and presentations for discussion, 2) to have CAC bylaws and Robert’s Rules of Order followed, and 3) to have fairness and balance within the CAC.

Discussion:

·        Ms. Curry questioned the hiring of a professional parliamentarian by a non-voting member of the committee, Mr. Lum, without consultation with the committee. 

·        In response to a question by Mr. Kane, Mr. Lum explained that he was responsible for the administration of the organization and that the CAC is advisory to the Policy Committee and to the Executive Director.  Although he felt it would be helpful, if the CAC felt the services of a professional parliamentarian were unnecessary, he would take that under consideration.

·        Mr. Mobley requested approval by Chair Carole to distribute a handout called “Conducting a Meeting”.  Chair Carole approved the distribution.

·        Ms. Curry stated that policy and format changes should be voted upon by the committee.

·        David Arakawa stated that the CAC is advisory to the OahuMPO and the OahuMPO controls its own budget.  The bylaws state that where the bylaws are silent, Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern, so it makes sense to have someone here who knows Robert’s Rules of Order.

·        Bert Norita commented that the services of a parliamentarian are needed. 

·        Mary Protheroe supported the decision to bring in a parliamentarian to help the CAC.

4.B.  Future Agenda Topics

Frank Genadio moved and Mr. Kane seconded to have the Itochu Group give a presentation on the magnetic levitation technology to the CAC at the January 16, 2008 meeting. 

·        In response to a question by Mr. Kane, Mr. Lum indicated that agenda topics desired by CAC members can be placed on the agenda by asking the Chair to consider it for a particular agenda or by taking formal action through a motion with a majority vote for placement on an agenda.

·        Mr. Mobley said that a motion passed by the CAC would bind what the chair is doing.  The CAC bylaws indicate that the Chair prepares the agenda, which makes it look like if you want something on the agenda, the item should be submitted to the chair for inclusion.

·        Tom Dinell requested that Mr. Genadio withdraw his motion.  Mr. Dinell felt that taking formal action to place items on the agenda contributes to chaos, and the Chair should be making those decisions.

·        Mr. Kane clarified that there are two ways to place items on the agenda.  Both methods are allowed.

·        Mr. Arakawa stated that the CAC bylaws indicate that the Chair prepares the agenda; not determines what is on the agenda.  The different methods of placing items on the agenda could be: 1) through discussion with the Chair, 2) through making and passing a motion with the majority vote, or 3) through calling a special meeting with the majority desiring to discuss a particular topic at that meeting.

·        Mr. Francher called for the question.

The question passed with 10 ayes, 3 nays, and one abstention.

The motion passed with 7 ayes, 6 nays, and one abstention.

·        Mr. Kane suggested that the Chair consider a review of the bylaws by a subcommittee at some point in the future.

 

5.  OahuMPO Meeting Highlights - Policy Committee & Technical Advisory Committee

Ms. Yasuda announced that there was no meeting of the Policy Committee and the Technical Advisory Committee since the CAC last met in November.

·        A Policy Committee meeting has been tentatively set for Monday, January 7, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. in the City Council Committee Room #205 at Honolulu Hale.  Although the agenda has not been set, it is anticipated that, at a minimum, the Policy Committee will:

o       act on revisions to the FYs 2008-2011 Transportation Improvement Program,

o       hear results of the Metropolitan and Statewide certification review, and

o       hear highlights of CAC meetings.

·        The Technical Advisory Committee will be meeting on Friday, January 4, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. in the Department of Transportation fifth floor conference room - 869 Punchbowl Street.  At that meeting, the Technical Advisory Committee will:

o       make a recommendation to the Policy Committee on revisions to the FYs 2008-2011 Transportation Improvement Program, and

o       hear results of the Metropolitan and Statewide certification review.

6.  Announcements

Ms. Yasuda announced that Revision #3:  Amendment to the FYs 2008-2011 TIP is currently out for public review. Revision #3 proposes changes to seven State projects.  Those changes include increases in funding, deferrals, and deletions of projects.  The draft document is available for download from the OahuMPO website.  Comments on Revision #3 should be mailed, emailed, or faxed to the OahuMPO office no later than January 2, 2008.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 4:43 p.m.