HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-11-25 Transportation Commission Meeting Minutes
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI
Monday, November 25, 2024
9:00 a.m.
County of Hawai’i-Puna Conference Room (Suite 1501)
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, HI 96720, and Zoom
A video recording is made part of these minutes, which can be viewed on
the Hele-On YouTube channel at: https://youtu.be/FT0VaC5vd7M
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Terlep at 9:06 a.m., at the Hawai’i
County Building, Puna Conference Room (Suite 1501), 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, HI
96720. This meeting was also streamed live on Zoom.
2. Roll Call
Commissioner Terlep at 9:06 a.m., welcomed everyone and asked for a roll call. Staff,
commissioners, and others present made their introductions. A quorum was present.
Commissioners present:
Matthew Terlep, District 1
Kristy Cruz, District 5
Roselyn Molina, District 7
Chelsea Ahern, District 8
Lloyd Matsubara, District 9
County staff present:
Victor Kandle, Mass Transit Administrator & General Manager
Zachary Bergum, Assistant Mass Transit Administrator
Jennifer Martin, Transit Fleet & Facilities Manager
Suzanna Tiapula, Deputy Corporation Counsel
Thaysha Genegabuas, Secretary
Others present:
Kelvin Kohatsu, Hawai’i Transportation Association Managing Director
Bea Shibata, on behalf of R & L Taxi & Tours
3. Approval of Minutes-March 31, 2023 and October 30, 2023
Commissioner Terlep at 9:08 a.m., addressed the approval of minutes from the March 31,
2023, and October 30, 2023, Transportation Commission meeting. No corrections were
proposed. Commissioner Matsubara made a motion to approve the minutes
presented, as to which Commissioner Ahern seconded. No further discussion and a
voice vote was taken. At 9:09 a.m., the motion was carried unanimously.
4. Statements from the Public/Public Testimony
Commissioner Terlep at 9:09 a.m., addressed this item with two public members present
in the Puna Conference room. Testifiers were given the option to speak at this time or
during the agenda item. Commissioner Terlep asked each commissioner to confirm they
had all received the written public testimony regarding services to the Waikoloa Village
area. Each commissioner confirmed they had done so. No discussion on the public
testimony were made and commissioner Terlep moved on to new business.
5. New Business
Commissioner Terlep at 9:10 a.m., addressed the review of taxicab applications for new
Certificates of Public Convenience & Necessity to operate in the County of Hawai’i.
Applicant: Randy Lucero on behalf of R & L Taxi & Tours, Hilo
Bea Shibata, representative for the applicant, R & L Taxi & Tours presented her request
for the approval of 5 taxicab applications.
Commissioner Cruz at 9:18 a.m., made a motion to approve the 5 applications
presented, as to which Commissioner Molina seconded.
Discussion took place which Commissioner Cruz asked if the proper documentation was
present. Representative Shibata stated she was misinformed during the administration
transition, as to the correct number of applications needed for submittal when requesting
taxicab application approval. After further discussion commissioners found no reason to
not consider approving all 5 applications pending submission of proper documentation.
Commissioner Cruz, at 9:22 a.m., moved to approve the 5 applications, pending
receipt of the completed applications, seconded by Commissioner Molina. The
motion was carried unanimously.
Commissioner Terlep addressed there were no other taxicab applications or revocations to
consider. Commissioner Terlep moved on to the Mass Transit Administrators Report on
Transition.
6. Mass Transit Administrator’s Report on Transition
Administrator Kandle at 9:22 a.m., addressed the Mass Transit Administrator’s Report on
Transition. Kandle reported on the following:
Introduction of the concept of Micro Transit, where there are feeder vans or buses
that go through a small community to feed a core line. Areas of consideration
mentioned; Waikoloa Village, Fern Acres, Orchidland and other areas.
Mass Transit Agency has received some complaints about taxicab operations that
will be looked into and addressed.
Mass Transit Agency hired a new Fleet & Facilities Manager-Jennifer Martin. She
has gotten things moving in a direction where equipment is more reliable than a
year ago. Peak of 20 buses in service, up from about 15-17 buses in the past
several months.
In the process of receiving 8 new Hometown buses-based on a trolley design
that’s been converted.
2 short term purchases for vans for paratransit with an additional 7 that is in the
process.
Mass Transit Agency is receiving 4 battery electric buses in late spring of 2025.
Mass Transit Agency will be ordering another 4 battery electric buses.
Looking at a purchase of 5 rebuilt motor coach buses for the longer distance and
more reliability.
Victor Kandle announced his resignation at the end of the year. Zac Bergum will
be acting Administrator after end of the year.
Free fare ends December of 2025. Mass Transit Agency has reached out to county
leadership in figuring out how to continue free fare beyond December of 2025.
Commissioner Matsubara at 9:27 a.m., asked if Waikoloa Village was going to be
considered moving forward as to which Administrator Kandle replied that yes, in about a
year from now possibly with either micro transit or buses being used as a shuttle service.
Commissioner Matsubara expressed concern from the Waikoloa Village community in
times of fire and the difficulty they face in helping the elderly as they have experienced
from the previous fire. Administrator Kandle addressed that in a more recent
development, Mass Transit Agency has been working on a policy to solidify the
relationship between evacuation and civil defense’s response using buses or equipment
for assistance. No further discussion on Waikoloa Village was made.
Commissioner Terlep at 9:31 a.m., asked what the status on rider participation was.
Administrator Kandle stated that ridership has stabilized on fixed route. Paratransit has
really increased, and the challenge has been keeping equipment on the road resulting in
the new purchases.
Administrator Kandle at 9:32 a.m., expressed that moving forward passenger behavior
will be looked at. In the new RPF, Administrator Kandle has asked for 2 supervisors in
the field to be able to respond to customer and driver issues on the road. Commissioner
Terlep asked how it is handled now as to which Administrator Kandle replied that Mass
Transit Agency has a small security force, and operators who manage it, as well as the
request for police. He stated there is also the use of trespass forms to inform passengers
that they are not allowed on the bus along with a process in place to appeal.
Commissioner Matsubara at 9:33 a.m. asked if there was a camera system on all the
buses which Administrator Kandle stated there was and that they were being recorded.
Commissioner Matsubara at 9:34 a.m., asked what the expiration date of the contract with
Robert’s Hawai’i was and asked if their contract will be extended as to which
th
Administrator Kandle replied that he recalls February 25, 2025 is the date of expiration
and that their contract has already been extended to the limit it is allowed to and that a
new RFP will be put out. No further discussion was made. Commissioner Terlep moved
on to the Future Agenda Items.
7. Future Agenda Items & Next Meeting
Election for new chairperson.
Adjustments to Chapter 18.
Brief overview of parliamentary procedure and the sunshine law.
Update on the multi-modal plan.
Mass Transit Agency report.
A voice vote was taken for the next meeting. Next meeting is scheduled for Monday
th
February 24, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. in Hilo (Location TBD)
8. Adjournment
Commissioner Cruz made a motion to adjourn to which Commissioner Matsubara
seconded. The motion was carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 9:39 a.m.
Minutes prepared by:
Thaysha Genegabuas, Secretary