Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN PWMTC 2021/03/16 2020-2022 Committee on Public Works and Mass Transit 4th Session Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii March 16, 2021 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Public Works and Mass Transit ORDER: was called to order at 1:05 p.m. in the Council Chambers, Hilo, by Ms. Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Chair. ROLL CALL: Present: Ms. Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Chair Mr. Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Vice Chair Mr. Aaron S. Y. Chung, Member Ms. Maile Medeiros David, Member (via videoconference from Kona) Ms. Holeka Goro Inaba, Member (via videoconference from Kona) Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Member(came in later) Ms. Heather Kimball, Member Mr. Herbert M. "Tim" Richards, III, Member Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Member (via videoconference from Kona) STATEMENTS The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, FROM THE Statements from the Public on Agenda Items. PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS: (There were none.) CHR. LEE LOY: In managing expectations, what I'd like to do is take our nomination first and then go into our presentation. Mr. Clerk? COMMUNI- The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, CATIONS: Communications. Change Order As directed by the Chair and with no objection from the Council Members, the following item was taken out of order: Comm. 160: NOMINATION OF JAMES LEE TO THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION From Mayor Mitchell D. Roth, dated February 17, 2021, requesting the Council's review and confirmation. PWMTC-4 March 16,2021 Vote on Comm. 160: Mr. Kaneali`i- Kleinfelder moved to recommend confirmation (Approved) of the appointment of Mr. James Lee to the Transportation Commission. Seconded by Ms. Kimball and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Chung, David, Inaba, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Richards, Villegas, and Chair Lee Loy —9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused: None. Executive Assistant to the Mayor Pomaika`i Bartolome came forward and provided a brief narrative of the nominee's background and experience. Committee Members spoke in favor of the appointment. Chair Lee Loy informed Mr. Lee that he does not need to appear at the Council meeting for the final confirmation of his appointment. CHR. LEE LOY: Alright, Mr. Clerk, if we could please read in Communication 138. Return to Order The Chair directed the Committee to return to the order of business. of Business: Comm. 138: REQUESTS AN UPDATE BY MASS TRANSIT ADMINISTRATOR BRENDA CARREIRA REGARDING BUDGETARY FACTORS AND OPERATIONAL TIMELINE FOR THE ACQUISITION AND USE OF ELECTRIC AND ALTERNATIVE-FUEL BUSES From Council Member Herbert M. "Tim"Richards, III, dated February 19, 2021. Motion to Close File: Mr. Richards moved to close file on Comm. 138. Seconded by Mr. Kaneali`i- Kleinfelder. (Note: At this time, Mass Transit Administrator Brenda Carreira came forward to address the members of the Committee.) CHR. LEE LOY: Mr. Richards. MR. RICHARDS: Brenda, thank you so much for being here. I put forth this communication to get a talk story. We have a new administration. We have a push for transportation. We even discussed it in the approval of Kimo Lee, or moving his approval going forward. And so, Brenda, this conversation is to find out the update on the alternative energy buses. We have three before us. This has been an ongoing conversation. I wanted a quick presentation of where we are with everything, and then open it Page 2 PWMTC-4 March 16,2021 up to the Council for conversation. I've got some questions for you. So with that, Brenda—and I appreciate—Brenda is under a timeline, so we want to get her in and get this through so she can move on to her next appointment. With that, Brenda, please can you give us an update on the three buses, where we are and where we're going with them? CHR. LEE LOY: Go ahead, Ms. Carreira. MS. CARREIRA: Hi everybody. Okay, there is one bus that is ready to be test driven in Oahu right now. That is the one we have through the Hawaii National Energy Institute, from Mr. Mitch Yuen, that is painted. It's been upgraded. And so we have right now—our garage supervisor is going to fly up to Honolulu in January, no I'm sorry, March 24h, next week Tuesday, to test drive this vehicle. The reason is Mitch needed somebody with a CDL (Commercial Driver License). And also, Petey Kise also drives in Oahu. So he's going to go there for the to drive—go up there, pick it up, test drive it. After that is done, if the bus is fine, operable, nothing needs to be done, Erik Soderholm will be taking charge of the vehicle to totally ship it here. He will take care of all the shipping. He will bring it here; get it titled. We've already contacted our insurance company because we just needed—once we get the title and license plate, we'll just immediately insure the vehicle. And Mr. Soderholm will make sure it gets to our facility. Now, if it's not okay, then they're going to let me know. Mitch will let me know what needs to be done. And usually, it would have to be US Hybrid, if there's any kind of issues. The other two buses that we did the resolution, the ones that came from Hawaii Volcano National Park are not ready. Couple of things is actuallyI believe it would have been ready last year, but with the pandemic and some other issues what needs to be done, and US Hybrid will do that, is to replace and update the engine, replace and update the battery pack—and some engineering costs. Once that is ready, I would send again probably Mr. Kise is up to test drive that particular vehicle, it gets painted, and then US Hybrid will be responsible to shipping those two buses here, to the Big Island. Now, the updating didn't go as quickly as we want it to because there was an issue for about two to three months, where the vendor certificate they were not in compliance, so we just—that's all taken care of with US Hybrid. Now, as far as the Big Island, Mitch Yuen, the NELHA (Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority) fueling station, everything is fine. I did go to see it, actually quite a long time ago. Fueling will take only ten minutes for each vehicle. What I would say, the next steps for us too, is when it gets here, the training. The training will be for the mechanics, possibly for the Fire Department, Police Page 3 PWMTC-4 March 16,2021 Department, First Responders, in case of any accidents, you know, things like that. I understand that there might have been some training prior to my coming, but I will check again on that. Two of our mechanics received some online training already; there's more to come. And then once the vehicle is here, US Hybrid will be flying here, and it will be about a two to three-day training for our mechanics. Another thing to think about, is that what we're also doing, one of the steps, is I am talking to the United Public Workers, the union, the credit union agent here. Because normally the classification had been our mechanics were for diesel and gas vehicles, I am questioning them and asking them whether we need to, you know, do a consult, because these, our alternate fuels would be hydrogen and electric, so we are working on that. What we do not have, although Mr. Yuen has given me some plans, we have no infrastructure for the hydrogen. He told us how we could build it. It has not been completed. Part of the things we're looking at to pay for the infrastructure is because it will be about$1 million—is whether it's capital funding with GET (General Excise Tax). There is a federal grant, what they call a Low-No, that is due on April 12'h of this—well, next month, to see if could be paid through that. But also, I believe Benson MedinaI'm not sure. Mr. Riley Saito has been working with me; has talked about having Sustainability Partners who won that bid out of Maui, and whether they would take care or help with the infrastructure, Maui. It's not something that's built right away. For us,part of the issue is whether we have enough space here at our facility, although there was a recommendation. And some other things to talk about is what we plan for these buses, is for them to be in Kona, for the three intra-Kona vehicles. Right now there are many buses that Roberts is using, and so we want to be able to reduce the expenses. Because the hydrogen gas facility is in Kona, that's where we want to put it. I would need to check about where we could park the vehicle. We would have to get a contract for the cleaning, washing, and disinfecting of each bus every day that it is used. That is something because of the COVID-19. And the reason why, with infrastructure, and something to explain, we could fill the bus, we could run the bus; but in order to repair the bus, you have to have the proper infrastructure, and that's not just for the hydrogen, but we will also need that for other alternatives like the electrification. Another matter that I would like to bring up, what we have also been talking about, is with the Hawaii Community College, knowing that we were going to go into alternate energy and fuel, is that Hawaii Community College wanted to do a ZEB (Zero Emission Bus) workforce development program to support electrification of transportation. And we had this meeting was quite a while ago, between the Chancellor and the Program Manager. Just as kind of a place to Page 4 PWMTC-4 March 16,2021 develop a program that we could have people get their certification or degree, if you will, in alternate energy. I think that's just something, a great thing educational-wise, that we wanted to do, and that is something that I talked to with Mitch Yuen as well as with Riley Saito with Research and Development. But that's kind of a quick synopsis of where we are. MR. RICHARDS: Okay, thanks, Brenda. MS. CARREIRA: Sure. MR. RICHARDS: So first, Chair, open it up to other Council Members, and I have some more questions, or would you like me to go first? How would you like to handle that? CHR. LEE LOY: I'd like you to lead the discussion. MR. RICHARDS: Okay. So let's go ahead with that, Brenda. Couple of things, you touched on timelines. What are timelines with this? We have the one bus that set to go. It's my understanding the batteries have been changed, and it's up and running. You're going to do the test drive next week. When realistically can we expect that to start functioning? Now, it's my understanding that NELHA is producing hydrogen. It makes sense to start in Kona because that's next to the hydrogen source, so that all makes sense. When realistically can we have the blessing, and the rollout, and the first trip? What are we looking at? MS. CARREIRA: Okay, couple of things. The training for the mechanics and the department and the Police would be the main thing. And once the bus is here, which I want to be very positive and say it's ready to go next week, I would expect within a week, no less than two weeks Mr. Soderholm would have the bus here. Then we could do some online—you know,besides online training, and then talking to US Hybrid about coming here and doing the training, that's fine. The issue would be—it's ready to fuel, I think, right after that in Kona. For me, it's the fact that there's no infrastructure. That's what my worry is, Mr. Richards, is that we have no place to repair it. So if it goes down that's the only issue. You could run it, but if gets you know, if something goes wrong, it's down without an infrastructure and we would not be able to repair it. MR. RICHARDS: And I do appreciate the fact that is a concern. MS. CARREIRA: Yeah. MR. RICHARDS: But we've got to get this thing up and running because we've been talking about this thing for years now. MS. CARREIRA: Um-hmm. Page 5 PWMTC-4 March 16,2021 MR. RICHARDS: And you've mentioned about the facility and Low-No grant, I assume that the paperwork is being done on that application due 4/12, on April 12, is that correct? MS. CARREIRA: Yes. We're doing that with the Department of Transportation. We've already met. And they hired CTE(Center for Transportation and the Environment), it's a company that's going to be taking care of—preparing the application for us. At least Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island are part of that particular application, yes. MR. RICHARDS: Okay, so we're seeing the shift. We're seeing the change headed to renewable energies, however you want to characterize them, and so we have to do this. Also, as we know, tomorrow we're having a briefing by Senator Schatz concerning going forward. We have the $1.9 trillion American Recovery Act that is also available to us, and what we are looking for is projects that are set to go. I understand the concern for the infrastructure, but sometimes we just got to jump and go forward. And so as far as a commitment to this, how high a priority is this for you? MS. CARREIRA: For getting the bus here, getting it here is not a problem. I'm fine with that. As soon as Petey says okay, we can bring it here. As long as we can get the training done. Our mechanics are fine. The union says we can go forward, and I don't need more, we can go pretty much as soon as the training is completed, frankly, and then it would be—and then it's done. You know, at least the one bus. Can start with the first one, yeah. MR. RICHARDS: And I'm—like I said, what we're trying to do is break the moment of inertia. Let's get this thing out, and let's get this thing rolling. And part of our questions are to figure out where you need help, especially when it comes to funding, your infrastructure here in Hilo, a bay set up to deal with the alternative energize vehicles, whatever the case that may mean. We all realize there's going to be a shift, but we have to make that shift right now. So that's why I'm going to push you, Brenda, to how we're going to get this done. What I'm hearing is you think realistically one to two weeks we can get the bus here assuming it's all good, in another couple of weeks training. So what I'm hearing is six weeks from now is May 1. So by the first of May we should be able to have a bus rolling, is that what I'm hearing? MS. CARREIRA: By May in Kona, one bus. MR. RICHARDS: In Kona? MS. CARREIRA: One bus. Page 6 PWMTC-4 March 16,2021 MR. RICHARDS: Correct, correct. MS. CARREIRA: Or at least being able to be fueled. MR. RICHARDS: As long as it is ready to be fueled? MS. CARREIRA: I'm sorry? MR. RICHARDS: Yeah, and it's ready. Yeah, Mitch is ready. MR. RICHARDS: Okay. Alright, so—and then I'm sure we can work something out with US Hybrid if we don't have quite the facility to do the repair work yet. But this also gives us direction, especially when you talk about HCC (Hawai`i Community College) talking about workforce development. I think there's some synergy here we can push. And like I said, we've talked story, talked story, talked story, now we've got to do. And so I'm going to push you, Brenda, to get this thing done. MS. CARREIRA: Um-hmm. MR. RICHARDS: I like this Low-No grant. But also, I want to have a wish list back from you of what you need to embrace this to go forward. MS. CARREIRA: Okay. MR. RICHARDS: We have these three buses available to us, and we want to put them online as quickly as possible. So with that, I'm going to reserve any final comments, Chair, turn it back over into any other Council Members that may be curious. CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you, Mr. Richards. I'm going to check in Kona real quick, and if someone there could help me? MR. INABA: Not at this time. CHR. LEE LOY: Awesome. Okay, back here in Hilo I see Ms. Kimball's light. Go ahead, Ms. Kimball. MS. KIMBALL: Thank you, Chair, and thank you, Brenda, for being here; and thank you, Mr. Richards, for starting off this conversation. One of my questions was—we don't—don't we have an additional EV (Electric Vehicle) at the baseyard here in Hilo that needs to be updated and repaired? Is that—are there any plans to work on that vehicle? Page 7 PWMTC-4 March 16,2021 MS. CARREIRA: No, that—when they did not get a part—it took a while because of COVID to bring the mechanic back. They're going to remove that bus, somewhere, baseyard. MS. KIMBALL: So that is not ever going to be part of our fleet? MS. CARREIRA: No. MS. KIMBALL: Okay. MS. CARREIRA: And it's not right now. It's kind of a borrowed from BYD (Build Your Dreams —BYD Auto bus manufacturing company), and it just never worked out. So I've never had it—we've never had it on the road. MS. KIMBALL: Right. MS. CARREIRA: And so they're taking it away. MS. KIMBALL: Okay. And then I just want to make sure; I thought I heard two different things. Do we or do we not have the okay from the union to do this additional training, to transition the mechanics from the diesel to the hydrogen and the electric? MS. CARREIRA: Okay, they don't need to give me a permission to do the training, it's more issue withI think the issue is going to be classification. Pay and working conditions because it's hydrogen. MS. KIMBALL: Right. So that's something that you're still working out at this point. MS. CARREIRA: Oh, yes. You have to yeah. MS. KIMBALL: Okay. MS. CARREIRA: Yes. MS. KIMBALL: What is the timeframe for those negotiations? MS. CARREIRA: I'm sorry, I don't know. I don't enough. This is the first time we've ever had to face something like this. I did in my job description, when we redid everything, I put in the job description that part of the duties for the auto mechanics was to work on "all"vehicles because I knew this was coming. But because it's working conditions and I've never had to do a consultation on that quite frankly, Ms. Kimball. You know, I don't know. Page 8 PWMTC-4 March 16,2021 MS. KIMBALL: Okay. I noticed that in our CIP (Capital Improvement Project) budget that was provided by the Mayor that there is $1 million, $500 (thousand) from the Feds and $500 (thousand) from County for the infrastructure. Is that exclusively the maintenance infrastructure or is that also charging infrastructure? MS. CARREIRA: Oh, yeah. I think at that time we were looking at probably the maintenance infrastructure. But I also wanted to say with the Sustainability Partners, the infrastructure, charging all of it can be included. Besides the Low-No, we also have Sustainability Partners, and so we're looking at all different avenues for that. MS. KIMBALL: Okay, great. You know, one comment I'll make on the maintenance and your concerns there, is one of the benefits to transitioning to these alternative fuels is that they often have lower maintenance requirements, and so I think that's a good reason one, to proceed quickly as Council Member Richards was urging, but also just to develop the understanding over time that we're going to be saving money because of the reduced maintenance costs for these alternative fuel vehicles. And I'm going to join Mr. Richards and push on this. I definitely want to make sure you know, I have had some conversations about Mass Transit. A lot of the concern is about service, and that is super critical, that we do need to meet the service demands of our community, but we also need to make this transition, and quickly to alternative fuels, the way the world is going. And I want to make sure we can walk and chew gum at the same time. We need to be able to address the service issue and the fuel source at the same time rather than saying we have to limit to work purely on service right now. So thank you for your time. I appreciate it. And look forward to working with you positively to make sure this moves and moves quickly. MS. CARREIRA: Yeah. Thank you veryI understand as far as the service and everything. But I will say this, this is new. Alternate energy, hydrogen, electric is something very new also for our maintenance department. You know, we've always—I've been talking to him a lot about this. But if it's a go with the union, I think we're going to be just fine. But I've got to make sure we don't get into problems with the union; because we're the only island that has this union, we're different in that our mechanics have the United Public Workers (UPW). So this is also new to UPW, and that's why I think yeah, that's one of the concerns. MS. KIMBALL: And I appreciate the newness of it and the challenge associated with adopting something new; and while it may be new to us as a County, it's new globally. I mean, this is a place where there's plenty of lessons learned that we can take advantage of. Thank you, Chair. I'll yield at this time. CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you, Ms. Kimball. Mr. Kaneali`i- Kleinfelder, go ahead. Page 9 PWMTC-4 March 16,2021 MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Chair. Brenda, thank you for your time and for the update. Appreciate it. And it's been kind of a long time coming, right, to see it happen? And what is you're talking about staff, and personnel, and maintenance, what is the overall feeling in your department when it comes to making the transition? Are they excited or are they scared? You know, what's the feeling in your department? MS. CARREIRA: I think it's more—it's scary. It's scary because it's something new; we've never done it before. And I think sometimes, and to be honest, sometimes they wonder if we're just trying to push us to go too fast. I mean, I know we have to be there by 2045, but I do know that hydrogen—it's something this County has been looked at, even before I came. So I'm actually trying to push it, trying to be very positive about it. But it is new, we've never used it before. But I know the moving parts are a lot less, you know, than it—versus diesel buses. But this is what they know, you know, the diesel and gas. So, there is some trepidation. But I have good people. I have a really good maintenance department. We finally have it, you know, full. We've been talking more and more, and they know that it's coming. And my garage supervisor was very happy to go to Honolulu to do the test drive, yes. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay. MS. CARREIRA: Thanks for asking. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Yeah, I was wondering, trying to feel out where they stand. I think then from my end, I've been through a few seminars regarding hydrogen, and there's a there's some quick videos that just kind of show how safe it actually is as well as other Fire Departments and other municipalities basically explaining they feel safer around hydrogen than they do around gasoline. So it could be helpful to maybe just do some quick trainings with them. And there are some groups on the island who would probably be more than willing to come. Just do some informational meetings with your staff, if that would help; and if you need help coordinating that, let me know. MS. CARREIRA: Thank you. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Because that might just help alleviate some of the fears and the unknown. Plus there's a huge misconception about hydrogen being—like the hydrogen bomb. MS. CARREIRA: Yeah, a big bomb, right? Hydrogen bomb, yeah. Page 10 PWMTC-4 March 16,2021 MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Yes, or the Hindenburg. And they just— they ustthey don't quite add up, although there is a little bit of truth to it. It's not as scary as some people think. And a final question for me, when the RFPs (Request for Proposals) are going out, are they including the language "Alternative Energy Vehicle" as we look at our upcoming State and Federal grants, when we look for new mass transportation vehicles? MS. CARREIRA: Okay, we started some on the hybrid kind of a bridge. We had the Low-No that talks about alternate energy. And as far as with the Sustainability Partners, that we're hoping whether it's three years, whenever it is. When we get the entire fleet, they will all be alternative energy. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay, that's good. And that's in the contract language that's being drafted and going forward? MS. CARREIRA: Well, what I'm saying, with the Sustainability Partners, they're only going to do alternate energy. With the ones we have now, that I'm trying to clear up, originally was all diesel, you know, diesel not gas. So we've got to finish up those first and then like I said, one, maybe about three—well, two grants right now, we're looking at alternative energy, and we just applied for another one. So we're just waiting because there are some delays with the Department of Transportation and Federal Transit Administration, I think, because the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act and CRRASAA (Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriation Act), and the new stimulus. So we have bit of delay of getting contracts, Memorandum of Agreements. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay. MS. CARREIRA: But yeah, and all the—once we get finished with all our particular grants, right now we have two already in the works and one with this April 12'h one that I was just talking about, the Low-No grant, because that's all electric. That's all alternate. There's no diesel. We can't even talk about any diesel or gas with the Low-No grants. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: That's great. I mean,just—we had a sustainability summit, and we talked about diesel, and gasoline, and fossil-based fuels. They're not sustainable and that's why we have climate change, or at least part of the reason why we have climate change issues that we're dealing with now and our kids are going to deal with it. So we have to be change when it comes to switching up our—basically our mass transit. Even though it's one little piece, just our mass transit model has to be more sustainable. Page 11 PWMTC-4 March 16,2021 So thank you for being able to go on that direction and for getting your staff onboard and making that happen. Thank you, Brenda. MS. CARREIRA: You're welcome. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Chair. CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you, Mr. Kaneali`i- Kleinfelder. Ms. Kierkiewicz, go ahead. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you, Chair; and thank you, Mr. Richards, for bringing this forward so we could have the conversation. Hi, Brenda. Thanks for joining us. MS. CARREIRA: Hi. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: I remember when we were at Council, last year, I think it was about September, where we were accepting the donation of the bus, and then also entering into an agreement with Hawaii National Energy Institute. I think like the headline was we can expect these buses or this bus to be on the road end of last year, but clearly very delayed, a lot more issues have arisen. I'm just curious, like maybe you alluded to it, maybe you said it and I didn't mention it, but the partnership with HNEI(Hawai`i Natural Energy Institute), where are with that? Because I'm looking at a resolution, 725-20, where our County entered into an agreement with that entity in order to plan, design, implement, operate, and maintain the hydrogen buses. So I'm hearing from you that you're struggling to develop the infrastructure, develop the human capital piece, and I don't want you to feel like you're alone. I thought this was a partnership that we were architecting all of this with HNEL So where are with that relationship? MS. CARREIRA: We're totally fine with Mitch Yuen, with HNEL He's completed his part. What happens is once we start fueling and using the bus, I believe it's like a two-year project to see how it goes, so that will happen once the buses are on the road. Like I said, he's already given me kind of a blueprint, if you will, of what the hydrogen station can look like, how we could do it. And so, he has done that. So it's going very well. Mr. Yuen has been great from the very beginning, when I first met in December 2018. So we've been all together right through this whole thing. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Can you share that information with the Council, and also maybe share with us the roles and responsibilities of County and HNEI? Because that's what the resolution said would happen, was there would be you know, we would distinguish and identify who was doing what and by when; and I think us knowing what the County is in charge of, what HNEI is in charge of, we may Page 12 PWMTC-4 March 16,2021 along the way be able to help get some things unstuck or unlock other resources. Can you share that information with us when you can, if possible? MS. CARREIRA: Sure, sure, sure, yes. So part of the agreement is once the busesa bus is here, whichever one is here, the fueling, as long as funding is available by HNEI, they will bear the cost of all the hydrogen fuel for the buses. As far the bus itself, this was that—it becomes ours. They took care of all the expenses of upgrading this first one, and it's getting shipped over. We don't have to pay the shipping. Then once it's here, it's basically our title, then the vehicle is ours. And we are responsible to making sure it's part of the contract. We would have Robert's Tours and Transportation; and after they get trained, they would be driving the vehicles. They would be doing all of the routes. And all the fueling would be done at NELHA. I mean, that—you know, kind of a basic way. And that's you know, we have to take care of all of that. US Hybrid, we have a separate contract, if you will, with them because they warranty the powertrain. They will do the training of our mechanics. They're doing all of the upgrades because they they're kind of a sole-source, if you will, proprietary for the fuel, the battery the cell or the fuel cell. So, the facility is run by HNEL But we fuel it, and we take care of it, and if there are any kind of problems, we would usually ask—we can US Hybrid. But we are responsible to do the infrastructure and pay for the infrastructure. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Okay, thanks for those details. MS. CARREIRA: Yeah, sure. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: And you know, I'm going to join my colleagues here. In friendly way,just pushing you to get this done. You know, another motivating factor is the fact that we're going to be hosting the HSAC (Hawai`i State Association of Counties) conference here next year. MS. CARREIRA: Okay. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: And I know my colleague Council Member Kimball and I are really eager to shuttle many of the participants around in a hydrogen fuel or an electric bus. So just another way for us to kind showoff that we are leading the way in this arena. MS. CARREIRA: Yes. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: So thank you for your work. Page 13 PWMTC-4 March 16,2021 MS. CARREIRA: Oh, you're very welcome. Also, I wanted to say Mayor Roth is totally behind this. I know he had wanted to have the bus here during the sustainability summit, and I do apologize that it wasn't here. Yeah but he's very much supportive of it. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Yes, we know. Thank you. Okay, Chair, I yield. CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you, Ms. Kierkiewicz. Checking over in Kona? MS. DAVID: Thank you, Chair. No questions here. CHR. LEE LOY: Going back here, Mr. Richards. MR. RICHARDS: Okay. Thanks, Chair. Brenda, I'm very sensitive to your timeline, so I think we'll get you out of here on time. Listening to your conversation, thank you very much for putting forth the initiative. Matt brought up the point about training and exposure to it. I can understand the trepidation: new frontier, not quite sure, our comfort zones. We've got to break through that, and I think what you're talking about is breaking through that. And the training probably is paramount, to get people comfortable with taking new steps. It's better to step forward, and if we have some stutter-steps that's okay, as long we'll just keep pushing forward. Like you said, the Mayor is behind this. We are all, on the Council, very much behind this. We want to be the trendsetter. We want people to look to our County. And you heard me say this before, Brenda, you're the first Mass Transit Director that I thought have the capabilities to move this program where we need to get it going. I'm there to support you and push you at the same time, okay? And I'm going to push you hard to get this done. So I've taken notes on what you said we need to get done. We as a Council have some homework to do, when it comes to finding you a bit more funding to get the infrastructure taken care of, but that's our job. Let's get this thing up and running, roll this out. I really like the concept about the workforce development because that's something else that we could do for economic, building, and recovery. So Brenda, I'm going to let you go. Thank you so much. We'll ping you back again. Very curious to hear what the drive goes next week. Chair, I yield. And thanks, Brenda, for being here. Thank you very much. MS. CARREIRA: You're very welcome. Bye everyone. CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you, Brenda, for being here. We'll go ahead and let you go. MS. CARREIRA: Thank you. Page 14 PWMTC-4 March 16,2021 CHR. LEE LOY: But I do want to finish this conversation with my colleagues, which is there's this is visual that's coming into my head. And I feel like we have to mind-map some of these connections, right? The funding, the infrastructure, the need to stand up new infrastructure, how we get that to happen. And so I'm looking forward to some of the notes that Mr. Richards took and how we can mind-map that and then drive that into some of the other plans; and going forward, how we get the money and resources to do that. So with that, we have a motion to close file on Communication 138. All those in favor,please say "aye." Vote on Comm. 138: The motion to close file on Comm. 138 was carried by Filed the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Chung, David, Inaba, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Richards, Villegas, and Chair Lee Loy —9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused: None. ORDER OF: The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, RESOLUTIONS: (There were none.) BILLS FOR The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, ORDINANCES: Bills for Ordinances. (There were none.) CHR. LEE LOY: Okey-dokey, I think I will take a motion to adjourn? Page 15 PWMTC-4 March 16,2021 ADJOURN- There being no further business, at 2:02 p.m., Mr. Kaneali`i- Kleinfelder moved to MENT: adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Mr. Richards and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Chung, David, Inaba, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Richards, Villegas, and Chair Lee Loy—9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused: None. CHR. LEE LOY: Meeting adjourned at 2:02 p.m. Thank you everyone for being here. P: 61111 ///5 /CaNi Ms. Susa K. Le.Loy,' (Date) blic W..., s and M. . Transit Co- ,ittee SL/na Page 16