Minutes of the

Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization

POLICY COMMITTEE

Tuesday, June 20, 2006, 10:30 a.m.

Hawaii State Capitol, Conference Room 309

415 South Beretania Street, Honolulu, Hawaii

Members Present:
Representative Marilyn Lee, Chair	Senator Carol Fukunaga
Councilmember Romy Cachola	Senator Lorraine Inouye
Councilmember Ann Kobayashi	Rodney Haraga, DOT Director
Representative Mark Moses	Melvin Kaku, DTS Director
Senator Will Espero

Members Absent: Councilmembers Todd Apo (Vice Chair), Charles Djou and Gary Okino; Representative Joseph Souki

Invited Resource Guest Present: Kathy Sokugawa (representing Henry Eng, DPP)

Guests Present:
Dennis Galolo (Clmbr Cachola staff)	Robert Sato (Clmbr Okino staff)
Katherine Folasa (Cl Chair Dela Cruz staff)	Glenn Yasui (DOT)
Francisco Figueiredo (Clmbr Djou staff)	L. Gary Bautista (NB #23, CAC)
J. Ikaika Anderson (Clmbr Marshall staff)	Michael Costa (Teamsters Local 996, CAC)

OMPO Staff Present: Gordon Lum (Executive Director), Lori Arakaki, Laureen Brennan, Pamela Toyooka

Chair Marilyn Lee called the meeting to order at 10:46 a.m. A quorum was not present. Due to a lack of quorum, the agenda items were taken out of order.

IV. OAHU TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Gordon Lum stated that, due to the new highway authorization bill – Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) – the TIP would change from a three-year document, updated every two years, to a four-year document, updated at least every four years. After preliminary discussions with the State Department of Transportation (DOT), the plan is to develop a four-year TIP with a two-year informational period attached. The plan is also to update the TIP every three years, rather than the required four years, in order to provide a 1-year lag in the event of any unforeseen delays.

More importantly, beginning July 1, 2007, the TIP must be SAFETEA-LU compliant – including required provisions such as visualization procedures under the public involvement process, and the inclusion of security and safety as separate planning factors. The current TIP is not SAFETEA-LU compliant. The current TIP is good until September 30, 2007. The FYs 2008-2011 TIP will be effective October 1, 2007. During the interim period between July 1, and September 30, 2007, amending the TIP to include major projects not currently in the TIP will not be allowed; only minor amendments would be allowed.

A schedule was setup to allow for the timely approval of the upcoming TIP. Mr. Lum then went over a schedule that would meet the October 1, 2007 deadline. Under the current schedule, there will be a call for TIP projects in November 2006. Mr. Lum noted that if an agency does not meet the project submittal deadline, then those projects may not get included in the upcoming TIP. The agency would then have to wait to submit an amendment to the approved TIP.

Chair Lee welcomed Senator Carol Fukunaga – a newly appointed member to the Policy Committee. Chair also recognized Kathy Sokugawa, acting resource person for the City Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP), representing Director Henry Eng; and, seated in the audience, L. Gary Bautista, a representative from Ewa Neighborhood Board No. 23.

There still being no quorum, the meeting was recessed at 10:58 a.m. Melvin Kaku arrived at 11:22 a.m. The meeting was called back to order. A quorum was present.

I. APPROVAL OF MARCH 23, 2006 AND APRIL 4, 2006 MEETING MINUTES

There being no additions or corrections, the March 23, 2006 and April 4, 2006 minutes were approved as circulated.

II. APPROVAL OF EWA NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD #23’S REQUEST FOR CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

Chair Lee explained that the Ewa Neighborhood Board (NB) No. 23 had attended the required number of OMPO meetings during a 12-month period and had requested membership to the Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC). L. Gary Bautista, of the Ewa NB, stated that the Ewa NB was previously a member of the CAC but was terminated due to lack of participation. The Ewa Neighborhood Board has participated in many of the CAC meetings recently and is looking forward to further involvement.

Representative Mark Moses moved and Senator Lorraine Inouye seconded that the Ewa NB No. 23 be appointed to the OMPO Citizen Advisory Committee. The motion was unanimously approved.

III. APPROVAL OF THE FY 2007 OVERALL WORK PROGRAM

Mr. Lum gave a presentation on the FY 2007 Overall Work Program (OWP). Mr. Lum noted that there are work elements (WEs) in the OWP that include items such as the contracting of consultant services and travel. Two consultant contracts under OMPO’s purview are a $20,000 audit contract (WE 301.05-07 Single Audit) and a $290,000 SAFETEA-LU compliance contract (WE 210.11-07 Federal Planning Requirements).

Mr. Lum noted that approval of the FY 2007 OWP by the Policy Committee would allow OMPO and its participating agencies to proceed with the work elements and associated tasks. No further actions or approvals (e.g., consultant contract or travel approvals) would be required by the Policy Committee.

Mr. Lum stated that OMPO received two comments regarding WE 201.12-07 (Transit-Oriented Development Tour), which identified a scanning tour as one of its tasks:

· DPP Director Henry Eng – in favor of the work element

· Charles Carole – in opposition of the work element.

Representative Moses questioned the cost shown for the WE 201.65-07 Tantalus and Round Top Drive Boundary Identification Study. Mr. Lum responded that this is the City Department of Transportation Services’ best guess estimate; it will still need to go out to bid. The study will entail a survey of the entire Round Top-Tantalus area, as well as a boundary study.

Representative Moses moved and Senator Inouye seconded that the FY 2007 OWP be approved. The motion was unanimously approved.

V. OTHER BUSINESS (ANNOUNCEMENTS ONLY)

There being no other business or announcements, the meeting was adjourned at 11:32 a.m.