Minutes of the

Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization

 

POLICY COMMITTEE

 

Friday, July 2, 2010, 1:30 p.m.

Hawaii State Capitol, Conference Room 309

415 South Beretania Street, Honolulu, Hawaii

 

Members Present:

Senator Will Espero, Chair (FY 2009)

 

Councilmember Nestor Garcia

Councilmember Gary Okino, Chair (FY 2010)

 

Representative Karen Awana

Representative Marilyn Lee, Vice Chair (FY 2009)

 

DOT Director Brennon Morioka

Senator Carol Fukunaga, Vice Chair (FY 2010)

 

DTS Director Wayne Yoshioka

Councilmember Romy Cachola

 

 

 

Member(s) Absent:  Councilmembers Todd Apo and Rod Tam; Representative Joseph Souki; and Senator J. Kalani English

 

Guests Present:

Dennis Galolo (CM Cachola staff)

 

I. Robert Nehmad (ITE, CAC)

Robert Sato (CM Okino staff)

 

Sherry Spangler (NB #2, CAC)

Ed Sniffen (DOT)

 

Bert Narita (NB #5, CAC)

Patrick Tom (DOT)

 

Tom Heinrich (NB #7, CAC)

Julia Belesario (Citizens for a Fair ADA Ride, CAC)

 

Robert Whitaker (NB #7, CAC)

Ronald Pike (CFAFADAR, CAC)

 

Charles Carole (NB #10, CAC)

Joseph Magaldi (Committee for Balanced

 

David Hilea, Jr. (NB #11, CAC)

   Transportation, CAC)

 

Tom Smyth (NB #13, CAC)

Rhiannon Caldwell (Hawaii Center for Independent

 

Rich Hargrave (NB #23, CAC)

   Living, CAC)

 

Michael Golojuch (NB #34, CAC)

Charlene Ota (HCIL, CAC)

 

Pamela Young (NB #35, CAC)

Gordon Fuller (HCIL, CAC)

 

Michael Costa (Teamsters Local 996, CAC)

Mae Fukuda (Hui Kupuna VIP, CAC)

 

Robert Mokua (Teamsters Local 996, CAC)

Louise Horio (Hui Kupuna VIP, CAC)

 

Kevin Killeen

 

OahuMPO Staff Present:  Brian Gibson, Lori Arakaki, Marian Yasuda, Pamela Toyooka

 

Chair Will Espero called the meeting to order at 1:35 p.m.  A quorum was present. 

 

I.          MINUTES OF THE JUNE 1, 2010 MEETING

Vice Chair Gary Okino moved and Councilmember Nestor Garcia seconded that the minutes for the June 1, 2010 meeting be approved as circulated.  The motion was unanimously carried.

 

[Representative Marilyn Lee arrived at 1:36 p.m.]

 

Chair Espero stated that the agenda items would be taken out of order.

III.       CAC CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION

Chair Espero thanked the Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) member organizations for their participation in the OahuMPO process. 

 

The following member organizations, that have attended at least 80% of the CAC meeting over the past fiscal year, were presented with certificates of appreciation (chairs/presidents, representatives, and/or alternates present shown in parentheses):

·        Citizens for a Fair ADA Ride (Julia Belesario, Ronald Pike)

·        Committee for Balanced Transportation (Joe Magaldi, Jr.)

·        Hawaii Centers for Independent Living (Gordon Fuller, Charlene Ota)

·        Hui Kupuna VIP (Louise Horio, Mae Fukuda)

·        Institute of Transportation Engineers (I. Robert Nehmad)

·        Land Use Research Foundation

·        Neighborhood Board (NB) #02 Kuliouou-Kalani Iki (Sherry Spangler)

·        NB #05 Diamond Head-Kapahulu-St. Louis Heights (Bert Narita)

·        NB #07 Manoa (Thomas Heinrich, Robert Whitaker)

·        NB #10 Makiki-Lower Punchbowl-Tantalus (Charles Carole)

·        NB #35 Mililani Mauka-Launani Valley (Pamela Young)

·        Waikiki Residents Association

 

Chair Espero recessed the meeting at approximately 1:40 p.m., so a photo could be taken of the recipients and the Policy Committee members.  The meeting was called back to order at 1:49 p.m.

 

II.        ELECT POLICY COMMITTEE FY 2011 CHAIR & VICE CHAIR

Councilmember Nestor Garcia nominated Councilmember Gary Okino for the office of FY 2011 Chair; Councilmember Romy Cachola seconded the nomination.  Councilmember Okino was unanimously elected Chair.

 

Outgoing Chair Will Espero passed the gavel to newly elected Chair Gary Okino.

 

Senator Will Espero nominated Senator Carol Fukunaga for the office of FY 2011 Vice Chair; Councilmember Romy Cachola seconded the nomination.  Senator Fukunaga was unanimously elected Vice Chair.

 

Chair Okino presented Senator Espero with a resolution, recognizing him for his leadership, dedication, and commitment to improving transportation conditions for Oahu residents through the OahuMPO planning process.

 

[Department of Transportation Services (DTS) Director Wayne Yoshioka arrived at 1:52 p.m.]

 

IV.       CONSIDER FFYS 2008-2011 TIP REVISION #23

[Handout(s):  FFYs 2008-2011Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Draft Revision #23; public review comment summary; intergovernmental review comment summary]

OahuMPO Executive Director Brian Gibson gave a presentation on the FFYs 2008-2011 TIP Draft Revision #23.  The presentation included the public and intergovernmental review comments, and TAC recommendation. 

 

In response to Chair Okino, Director Gibson stated that the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) considers project S111 (Farrington Highway (Route 93), Bridge Rehabilitation, Ulehawa Stream Bridge) a higher priority than project S03 (Farrington Highway (Route 93), Bridge Rehabilitation, Kaupuni Stream Bridge).

 

There being no objections, FFYs 2008-2011 TIP Revision #23 was approved.

 

V.        CONSIDER FFYS 2011-2014 TIP

[Handout(s): Draft FFYs 2011-2014 TIP; public review comment summary; intergovernmental review comment summary; Project Evaluations for Projects in the Draft FFYs 2011-2014 Transportation Improvement Program]

Director Gibson gave a presentation on the FFYs 2011-2014 TIP.  The presentation included the changes made since the Committee received their review copy, public and intergovernmental review comments, and TAC recommendation. 

 

There being no objections, FFYs 2011-2014 TIP was approved.

 

VI.       CONSIDER CHANGES TO CAC BYLAWS

[Handout(s):  Proposed Amendment to the Bylaws of the Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC); list of changes proposed to the Bylaws of the CAC; May 28, 2010 memorandum from CAC Chair Dave Arakawa to Policy Committee; June 8, 2010 letter from OahuMPO Policy Committee Chair to Attorney General of Hawaii]

Director Gibson stated that no response has been received from the Attorney General’s office, so no action is requested at this time.

 

Testimony

Mr. Heinrich (NB #7) stated that the CAC had met twice on their proposed amendments to the Bylaws of the CAC; the CAC strongly supports the proposed amendments.

 

VII.     CREATE TASK FORCES & SIGN-UPS FOR REGIONAL ORTP MEETINGS

[Handout(s):  Oahu Regional Transportation Plan (ORTP) regional meeting flyer]

Director Gibson announced the three ORTP regional public input meetings.  These meetings will present the latest analysis and information.  Director Gibson went over the restrictions governing the Policy Committee members’ attendance at the regional meetings – including a law that requires the Committee to create an investigative task force to attend a meeting and report back to the Committee, if more than two Committee members intend to attend the same meeting. The members were asked to sign up for the meetings they intended to attend. 

 

VII.     CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CAC) MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

CAC Vice Chair Michael Golojuch gave the highlights of the last CAC meeting.

 

VIII.       OTHER BUSINESS (ANNOUNCEMENTS ONLY)

Director Gibson stated that he is working to identify partners to help fund the matching 50% of a Federal Highway Administration grant for a transportation asset climate change vulnerability assessment.  If commitments for the matching funds can be found, OahuMPO would be submitting a grant application.

 

HDOT Director Brennon Morioka stated that Highways Division Administrator Glenn Yasui had retired in February.  He introduced the new Administrator – Ed Sniffen.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 2:17 p.m.