Minutes of the

Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization

 

POLICY COMMITTEE

 

Monday, January 26, 2009, 2:00 p.m.

City Council Committee Room, room 205

530 South King Street, Honolulu, Hawaii

 

Members Present:

Councilmember Gary Okino, Chair

Senator J. Kalani English

Representative Marilyn Lee, Vice Chair

Senator Will Espero

Councilmember Nestor Garcia

Senator Carol Fukunaga

Councilmember Rod Tam

DOT Director Brennon Morioka

Representative Karen Awana

DTS Director Wayne Yoshioka

Representative Joseph Souki

 

 

Member(s) Absent:  Councilmember Donovan Dela Cruz and Councilmember Barbara Marshall

 

Guests Present:

Mallory Fujitani (Councilmember Bainum)

 

Patrick Tom (DOT)

Robert Sato (Councilmember Okino)

 

Mark Au (DTS, TAC)

Frank Streed (Councilmember Okino)

 

Paul Harker (FHWA)

Randall Wakumoto (DES)

 

Charles Carole (NB #10, CAC)

Glenn Yasui (DOT, TAC)

 

Tom Smyth (NB #13, CAC)

 

OahuMPO Staff Present:  Gordon Lum (Executive Director), Lori Arakaki, and Pamela Toyooka

 

Vice Chair Marilyn Lee called the meeting to order at 2:03 p.m.  A quorum was present.

 

Vice Chair Lee acknowledged the new members – Representative Karen Awana, Councilmember Donovan Dela Cruz, and Councilmember Barbara Marshall.  Vice Chair Lee also acknowledged the departure of Representative Ryan Yamane, Councilmember Todd Apo, and Councilmember Charles Djou, and thanked them for their service on the Policy Committee.

 

I.          ELECTION TO FILL FY 2009 CHAIR VACANCY

Vice Chair Lee stated that Councilmember Nestor Garcia had relinquished his chair’s position as of January 8, 2009 due to his new duties and responsibilities at the City Council.  Vice Chair Lee opened the floor for nominations to fill the FY 2009 Chair vacancy.

 

Department of Transportation Services (DTS) Director Wayne Yoshioka nominated Councilmember Gary Okino to serve as Chair for the remainder of FY 2009. 

 

Councilmember Garcia moved and Senator Carol Fukunaga seconded that the nominations be closed.  The motion was unanimously carried.  Councilmember Okino was unanimously elected Chair for the remainder of FY 2009.

 

Chair Okino thanked Councilmember Garcia for his short, but productive tenure as Chair.

 

II.        MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 21, 2008 MEETING

There being no changes and no objections, the minutes of the November 21, 2008 meeting were accepted as circulated.

 

III.       FYs 2008, 2009, 2010, AND 2011 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (TIP)

Handouts:  FYs 2008-2011 TIP Revision #8 (Expedited Administrative Modification); FYs 2008-2011 TIP Revision #9 (Amendment); Projects Advanced, Deferred, or Deleted in Order to Add Federal Funds to the Interstate Route H-1 PM Contraflow Project; Comment Tally from Intergovernmental Review of Revision #9 to the FYs 2008-2011 TIP; Comment Tally from Public Review of Revision #9 to the FYs 2008-2011 TIP; Preliminary Draft of FYs 2008-2011 TIP Revision #10 (Amendment); Semi-Annual Status Report for Projects Programmed in FY 2008 of the FYs 2008-2011 TIP (as of September 30, 2008)

 

[Representative Joseph Souki arrived at 2:05 p.m.]

 

III.A.   Action on Revision #8

Gordon Lum began by stating that a major reason for TIP Revisions #8 & #9 was to provide additional federal funds for Project S28 (Interstate Route H-1 PM Contraflow) (Revision #9) and Project S29 (Interstate Route H-1 PM Zipper Lane) (Revision #8).  Mr. Lum then gave a presentation on FYs 2008-2011 TIP Revision #8.

 

Questions & Answers

Senator Will Espero asked when the contraflow in the interstate route H-1 PM zipper lane will be completed.  Department of Transportation (DOT) Director Brennon Morioka responded that DOT intends to advertise the request for proposal for the design/build portion of the project in July 2009, select the design/build team by January 2010; and complete the project by the end 2011.  In response to Senator Espero, Director Morioka stated that it will be a PM contraflow lane; instead of a zipper lane, there will be fixed barriers.

 

Councilmember Garcia asked if there was any way to exit to Aiea from the contraflow lane.  Director Morioka responded in the negative, explaining that the intent is that those entering the contraflow lane are meant to go through that area. 

 

[Councilmember Rod Tam arrived at 2:15 p.m.]

 

No one offered testimony on this agenda item.

 

Director Morioka moved and Senator Espero seconded that FYs 2008-2011 TIP Revision #8 be approved.  The motion was unanimously carried.

 

[Representative Karen Awana arrived at 2:17 p.m.]

 

III.B.   Action on Revision #9

Mr. Lum gave a presentation on FYs 2008-2011 TIP Revision #9 – identifying the five projects added and six projects deleted; the technical analysis conducted, including project evaluations and conclusions, congestion management process analysis results, and Title VI and environmental justice analysis results; the Technical Advisory Committee’s recommendation that the Policy Committee approve this revision request; the intergovernmental review results and comments; and public comments received (highlighting the 41 comments opposed to and one comment in support of project S22 (Interstate Route H-1, Lunalilo Street Off-Ramp and On-Ramp)).

 

Questions & Answers

Senator Fukunaga stated that the Makiki, Punchbowl, Urban Honolulu communities are quite concerned about the deferral of project S22.  DOT has indicated that a potential alternative is available, after they spent four and a half years working on a good answer to this problem.  Senator Fukunaga stated that she would like to work with DOT and area legislators to find a way for planning and design to go forward.

 

Chair Okino asked if the project can be added back into the TIP if design funds become available.  Mr. Lum responded in the affirmative.  Councilmember Garcia asked if there could be a placeholder for this project.  Mr. Lum stressed that the key to including projects in this revision is readiness-to-go; when it is ready-to-go, then DOT can ask to have it put into the TIP.

 

Senator Fukunaga stated that, a number of years ago, $2.5 million in State funds and $22.5 million in Federal funds were appropriated for this project.  She understood that the planning and design portion is a relatively small amount of that total, so she would like to make sure that that portion of the project moves forward.

 

Councilmember Tam asked if this project was ready-to-go, as he did not want the funds to lapse. Director Morioka responded that DOT makes every effort to avoid lapsing federal funds.  He added that, since an environment impact statement (EIS) has not yet been done, the project could not be included. 

 

No testimony was offer on this agenda item.

 

Vice Chair Lee moved and Director Morioka seconded that FYs 2008-2011 TIP Revision #9 be approved.  The motion was unanimously carried.

 

III.C.   Discussion on Economic Stimulus Package

Mr. Lum gave a presentation on the Economic Stimulus package as it relates to transportation projects.  Many of the details are undetermined at this time.  Once the President signs the stimulus bill, there will be stringent deadlines to either award or obligate projects; projects must be ready-to-go; and projects must be included in TIP and Statewide TIP (STIP).  Mr. Lum went over the tentative schedule to process the revision.  The Policy Committee was given a preliminary draft of Revision #10, which identified projects to be funded with Economic Stimulus funds.  This list will change, depending on the amount of funds that become available.

 

Senator Fukunaga asked if there was any flexibility in the Policy Committee meeting dates.  Mr. Lum stated that, once the President signs the bill, there is only one week allotted to process the TIP, include it into the STIP, and receive approval from the Federal government.  Senator Espero suggested that, in order to allow the Legislative members easier access to the February 19, 2009 meeting, where the Policy Committee is expected to act on Revision #10, it be held at the State Capitol.

 

[Senator Espero, Senator English, and Director Morioka left the meeting at 2:40 p.m.  A quorum was still present.]

 

III.D.   Discussion on Status of FY 2008 Projects

Mr. Lum noted that the Semi-Annual Status Report for Projects Programmed in FY 2008 of the FYs 2008-2011 TIP (as of September 30, 2008) was submitted to the Policy Committee on November 14, 2008.  At the last Policy Committee, then Chair Garcia asked that it be placed on the next meeting agenda so that the members could ask the agencies questions about the projects.

 

Referring to project C14 (Waipio Point Access Road Improvements), Councilmember Garcia asked if the City’s agreement with the Navy, that obligated the City to make improvements to the Waipio Point Access Road in order for the City to have continued use of the soccer park, needed to be altered, since the project was being deferred.  Director Yoshioka responded that the agreement does not need to be altered and the use of the park would not be affected.  The primary thing holding up this project is that not all the permits have been received yet.  In response to Councilmember Garcia, Director Yoshioka stated that it would not be ready in time to be included in TIP Revision #10. 

 

IV.       AUTHORIZATION TO HIRE AND SELECT OAHUMPO TRANSPORTATION ANALYST

Mr. Lum requested that the Policy Committee authorize him to select and hire a Transportation Analyst to replace Clement Chan, who recently resigned to take a civil service position at DOT.  Even with additional Federal requirements, the OahuMPO has continued to operate with only seven staff members since mid-2001.  The loss of one employee would have a tremendous impact on the organization’s ability to get documents done in a timely manner.

Representative Souki moved and Director Yoshioka seconded that the Executive Director be authorized to select and hire a Transportation Analyst.  The motion was unanimously carried.

 

V.        REVISION OF THE BYLAWS OF THE CAC

Mr. Lum made a presentation regarding the revisions of the bylaws of the CAC.  Mr. Lum noted that, due to discussions with the Attorney General’s office, it was discovered that Sunshine Law requirements for a quorum to hold a meeting and to take action were different from what the CAC had been operating under.  Because of this, changes to the bylaws were needed to reflect more stringent membership requirements and streamline procedures for membership removal.  The revisions were drafted and approved by the CAC members.

 

Testimony

Tom Smyth (Downtown Neighborhood Board # 13, CAC) testified in support of the revisions of the CAC bylaws.

 

Senator Fukunaga moved and Representative Awana seconded that the revisions of the bylaws of the CAC be approved.  The motion was unanimously carried.

 

VI.       CAC MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

Mr. Lum stated that CAC Chair David Arakawa had told him prior to the start of the meeting that he would be late for this meeting.  Since Mr. Arakawa was not yet present, it was decided to postpone his report until the next Policy Committee meeting.

 

VII.     OTHER BUSINESS (ANNOUNCEMENTS)

There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:50 p.m.