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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-02-12 Transportation Commission Meeting Minutes February 12, 2015 CALL TO ORDER Vice-Chairman Jon Olson called the meeting to order at 10:02 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Jon Olson, Neal Herbert, Duane Hosaka, Paul Maddox, Alton Nosaka and Sonny Shimaoka William Brilhante, Corporation Counsel Tiffany Kai, Mass Transit Administrator Sari Kogasaka Cantor, Transit Assistant APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Sonny Shimaoka moved to approve the agenda, Commissioner Duane Hosaka seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. APPROVAL OF NOVEMBER 20, 2014 MINUTES Commissioner Sonny Shimaoka moved to approve the minutes, Commissioner Duane Hosaka seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. PUBLIC STATEMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS: Shared Ride Program: Holit Bat Edit: Additional transportation for seniors along Kinoole Street (3 senior homes) as there are no buses that travel on this street at the present time. Request bus services, and, or additional Taxi services to assist seniors. Feels we need a Senior Coordinator to work with the Transit Department as a representative. Request a meeting with Tiffany Kai to further discuss seniors needs. Ms. Kai stated that she will be meeting with Councilman Danny Paleka, then will call Ms. Bat-Edit to further discuss transportation needs. Mary Jo Victorino and Roy Kunishige, co-owners of Kwiki Taxi LLC. Request additional taxi companies on the shared ride program. Feels there is a need as they have many passengers who complain to them regarding the waiting times and availability of the taxis that are currently on the program. If we had more companies added to this program they feel this will eliminate wait time, eliminate no-shows, and fewer complaints. Also if a company states that they will operate 24 hours-the office should monitor whether they are operating as many passengers state that no one answers their calls. VI. NEW BUSINESS Applications for New Certificates of Public Convenience John Breslin dba Kona Taxicab LLC applied for one certificate. Ms. Kogasaka stated he currently has six (6) vehicles and is applying for another. Commissioner Shimaoka moved to approve the application, Commissioner Maddox seconded the motion, and it was carried unanimously. Amador Cabudol dba A’s Taxi applied for one certificate. Amador Cabudol did not appear at the meeting. Ms Kogasaka explained to the commissioners that he wishes to cancel his application as he sold the vehicle and has not found a replacement at this time. Application cancelled. Dante Talladen dba Captain Cook Taxi applied for one certificate. Commissioner Maddox moved to approve the application, Commissioner Herbert seconded the motion, and it was carried unanimously. Yasuo Maruta dba B.I. Taxi applied for one certificate. Commissioner Maddox moved to approve the application, Commissioner Shimaoka seconded the motion, and it was carried unanimously. Liwanag Martin dba R & B Taxi applied for one certificate. Commissioner Herbert moved to approve the application, Commissioner Hosaka seconded the motion, and it was carried unanimously. John & Rose Bellaver dba Ace One Taxi request for change of ownership. Representing Ace One was Harolene Mendonsa, as owner Rose Bellaver was on the mainland. Letter giving Ms. Mendonsa authority to make decisions and represent Ace-One on file. Due to the demise of Mr. John Bellaver, applicant request removal of his name and replace with new co-owner Harolene Mendonsa. Commissioner Nosaka moved to approve the application, Commissioner Shimaoka seconded the motion, and it was carried unanimously. Hearing on Revocation of the following Certificate of Public Convenience: None VII. Shared Ride Program. Commissioner Olson made a motion to discuss, seconded by Commissioner Herbert, carried unanimously. Mass Transit Administrator, Tiffany Kai, reported that the county subsidizes this million dollar program. Currently serving the East side of the island only where we have 7 companies that provide 17 taxicabs. There are no taxicabs currently on the program serving the Westside (Kona). We are currently looking for companies to add ADA vehicles to this program. Due to the limited resources (financial and administrative), we must also limit the companies on the program, should we have too many, the funds will be exhausted and may cause the program to be suspended. Reconciliation process: coupons are purchased by passengers, they contact participating taxi company, company accepts the coupons, complete an invoice and turn in the coupons with an invoice for payment. Coupons and invoices are audited and reconciled to statement, once approved then submitted for payment. Commissioner Herbert wants a study done on this project as to determine what appropriate number of taxi cabs are needed to service the Hilo area. Corp. Counsel William Brilhante stated that we need to formulate an Adhoc Committee, enter into dialog with the Administrator, provide current status of the program, then report back to commission. To be added to the next agenda: 1st Creation of an Adhoc Committee. 2nd meeting agenda-committee gives report on the subject. 3rd meeting: Any action taken on the report. Commissioner Herbert also asked if the director for Mass Transit could look into this issue on her own, in parallel with the suggestion to have an Adhoc committee. Counsel saw no reason why this could not be done and Ms. Kai indicated that she would. Motion to close discussion by Commissioner Shimaoka, seconded by Commissioner Nosaka, carried unanimously. VIII. Future Technology affecting Taxi Industries Commissioner Herbert made a motion to discuss, seconded by Commissioner Maddox, carried unanimously. Discussed program on Oahu-Uber Taxi: an individual can sign up their vehicle, unregulated, they assist you with payment system, pick up passengers with your own vehicle. Not sure how insurance coverage are regulated. Hawaii County is regulated by the Chapter 18 policy, any complaints for the Uber Taxi would be a police matter. Don’t really see this program affecting our island. Commissioner Olson moved to close discussion, seconded by Commissioner Nosaka, carried unanimously. IX. Transit Administrator’s Report Mass Transit has added 3 new buses to the fleet-these busses are now servicing the Puna-Hilo area. Mechanics have attended the proper training for these new buses. We have awarded another bid to Motor Coach for two additional buses. These are scheduled to be received by end of 2015. Manufacturer to provide additional training for our mechanics. These new busses will be used as replacement buses as older buses will be removed from the existing fleet. Schedules are currently being worked on for the upcoming airport services which will be implemented within the next two months. Due to State procurement laws, we are not allowed to only purchase buses from just one vendor just so that our fleet would be all the same type of buses. That is why the manufacturer provides updated training to mechanics as new buses are purchased. This is part of the bid contract. Majority of our buses are MCI’s as their bids have been the lowest. All specifications on the buses are standard, though certain components are ungraded and determined by the bus routes/ridership/road conditions that the buses are intended for. Support Senior Centers. Possible to do route deviation to accommodate seniors not close to the scheduled routes. Contact the Mass Transit office for request. Meeting with Councilman Danny Paleka to discuss transportation. Puna transportation is on regular schedule and Chain of Craters detour is currently on hold for now til further lava updates. No update on the Hydrogen buses as this was a University Project and they have not responded. Commissioner Shimaoka moved to close discussion, seconded by Commissioner Nosaka, carried unanimously. X. Next Meeting Recommended by Counsel that the following to be added to next meetings agenda: Election of Officers & Creation of Adhoc Committee. Further discussion reminding all present of any addition to future agendas: Reminder of agenda policy: proposed agenda will be emailed to the chair. Any additional items you would like placed on the agenda must go through the Chair and/or Director, so contact them with your concerns. The public must also contact either the Chair, Commissioners, and/ or the Transit Director if they want an item placed so that its notated on the Public comment section. Only items listed on the agenda are allowed to be discussed-Sunshine Law. Items not on the agenda may not be discussed as this does not allow public participation and discussion. Those not aware due to not on agenda would not be present and given the same opportunity to make a comment and attend. Items added must be specific as to not mislead the public what will be discussed on a particular topic. Example: shared ride taxi program is too vague-need to be specific as to what will be discussed regarding this program. Chair and Director sets the agenda. NEXT MEETING The next meeting date currently will not be scheduled as moving forward we will not have sufficient Commissioners for a quorum. Need to contact the Mayors office to inform them of our need for additional Commissioners. Will contact all commissioners as soon as we have a quorum. It was recommended, by Commissioner Herbert, that the place of future meetings should be determined by the demographics of majority of the applicants. Commissioner Shimaoka moved to approve this determination, Commissioner Maddox seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously. ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned by Commissioner Shimaoka at 11:44 a.m., Commissioner Maddox, seconded.