Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-06-24 Transportation Commission Meeting Minutes TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES JUNE 24, 2025, 9:30 A.M. HAWAI'I COUNTY BUILDING PUNA CONFERENCE ROOM (SUITE 1501) 25 AUPUNI STREET, HILO, HI 96720,AND ZOOM A video recording of this meeting is available which can be viewed on the Hele-On YouTube channel at: htt2s://youth.be/UgnP3kgg5g0?si=HAwNG4sgAfl3nLog CALL TO ORDER Chair Terlep called the meeting to order at 9:41 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Matthew Terlep, Chair Kristy Cruz, Commissioner Roselyn Molina, Commissioner Chelsea Ahern, Commissioner Lloyd Matsubara, Commissioner A quorum was present. Also present: Zachary Bergum, Acting Mass Transit Administrator Jennifer Martin, Transit Fleet& Facilities Manager Sinclair Salas-Ferguson, Deputy Corporation Counsel Thaysha Genegabuas, Secretary STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC/PUBLIC TESTIMONY Chair Terlep at 9:44 a.m. introduced this item with one public member present in the Puna conference room and one public member present on a Zoom call. Testifiers were given the option to speak at this time or during the agenda item. There were no statements made from the public. Chair Terlep moved onto the next agenda item. APPROVAL OF THE MARCH 24, 2025, MEETING MINUTES Chair Terlep at 9:45 a.m., introduced this item. Commissioner Cruz made a motion to approve the minutes presented, as to which Commissioner Matsubara seconded. No discussion and a voice vote was taken. At 9:46 a.m., the motion was carried unanimously. NEW BUSINESS 1. Review Sunrise Taxi's application for a NEW Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to operate in the County of Hawai'i. Chair Terlep at 9:46 a.m., introduced this item. Tom Diaz was present on behalf of Sunrise Taxi. Commissioner Cruz made a motion to approve the application presented, as to which Commissioner Matsubara seconded. No discussion and a voice vote was taken. At 9:47 a.m., the motion was carried unanimously. OLD BUSINESS 1. Hearing on the revocation of Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, certificate number CH622 issued to Branden Henson dba B.H. Taxi, for failure to renew his taxicab license by June 30, 2024. Deferred from the last meeting. Chair Terlep at 9:48 a.m., introduced this item. Branden Henson was not present. Commissioner Cruz asked if Mr. Henson had returned with his required documentation. Secretary Genegabuas stated that she had spoken with Mr. Henson who stated he did not have the required documentation ready. Mr. Henson was given notice of the hearing for revocation and advised that when he was ready he would need to apply again. Commissioner Cruz at 9:49 a.m., made a motion to revoke the certificate, as to which Commissioner Ahern seconded. No further discussion and a voice vote was taken. At 9:49 a.m., the motion was carried unanimously. QUESTIONS FROM COMMISSIONERS ON PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE AND A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF SUNSHINE LAW AND ETHICS FROM THE DEPUTY CORPORATION COUNSEL Chair Terlep at 9:50 a.m., introduced this item. Deputy Corporation Counsel Salas-Ferguson gave a brief overview of parliamentary procedure. Commissioner Cruz asked if this was considered a public hearing as to which Deputy Corporation Counsel Salas-Ferguson answered yes. Deputy Corporation Counsel Salas-Ferguson recommended the commissioners receive training on Chapter 18 and public hearings. Deputy Corporation Counsel Salas-Ferguson at 9:58 a.m. gave a brief overview of Sunshine Law. No questions from commissioners. Loss of Quorum. Commissioner Cruz at 10:03 a.m. departed the meeting due to a family matter, resulting in the loss of a quorum. Deputy Corporation Counsel Salas-Ferguson stated the commission could take in information and presentations, but the commission would no longer be able to vote or have discussions. Chair Terlep acknowledged that no further votes needed to be taken. Deputy Corporation Counsel Salas-Ferguson at 10:03 a.m. gave a brief overview of Ethics. No questions from commissioners. Deputy Corporation Counsel Salas-Ferguson at 10:06 a.m. asked Chair Terlep for a quick break to further look up the parameters of having a meeting without a quorum. Chair Terlep announced the commission would take a 5-minute break. At 10:13 a.m. the meeting was reconvened. Deputy Corporation Counsel Salas-Ferguson went on to explain that during a meeting with lack of quorum commissioners may receive testimony, presentations and may ask clarifying questions, but no votes may be taken. Chair Terlep moved onto the next agenda item. MASS TRANSIT ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT Chair Terlep at 10:14 a.m., introduced this item. The remaining commissioners continued with a presentation of the Mass Transit Administrator's report. Acting Administrator Bergum reported on the following: Follow up: • Report on timeliness of bus pick up and drop off at Hilton Waikoloa. Acting Administrator Bergum thanked Commissioner Molina for bringing these issues to his attention. He stated Hele-On buses should not be departing before the scheduled departure time. Occasionally unexpected delays occur though Mass Transit does monitor bus arrival and departure times. Commissioner Molina stated another concern regarding the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel which Deputy Corporation Counsel Salas-Furguson stated that that would be a discussion. Commissioner Molina deferred to discuss it at the next meeting. • Report of the minimum conditions a taxicab must meet before receiving a taxicab license pursuant to Hawaii County Code, Section 18-37.9. For a taxicab license to be issued the taxicab inspection form must be completed by the Hawaii County Periodic Motor Vehicle Inspection Office. There is no requirement for the year of a taxicab. • Update on Hele-On's fare-free program, which currently has an end date of December 31, 2025. Mass Transit to submit a Bill to County Council to extend the fare-free program for an additional 3 years. New report: • Report on the County's inspection of its new Gillig buses and Promaster vans conducted in April 2025. Mass Transit's Transit Fleet& Facilities Manager and one mechanic traveled to California to inspect the vehicles while they were on the production line to correct any issues before the vehicles are shipped to Hawaii. • Construction of a new bus shelter at Mohouli senior housing in April 2025. The Mohouli senior housing did not have a bus shelter prior. • Mass Transit Agency employees received training in May 2025 regarding Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs and activities that receive federal funding, including transportation. This training was presented by the County of Hawaii Human Resources department. Mass Transit employees and its contractors attended this training. This training will be incorporated in the annual Mass Transit ADA training. • Mass Transit Agency's participation in the Center for Transportation and the Environment's June 2025 Zero emission conference attended by Mass Transit's Transit Fleet& Facilities Manager. • Update on Kona transportation hub progress. Mass Transit is currently working with SSFM and Liliuokalani Trust to identify a parcel for the transportation hub. A parcel in front of the old Kona K-Mart has been identified. Commissioner Matsubara at 10:25 a.m. asked if the Kona Hub was going to be a brand-new facility as to which Administrator Bergum answered yes. • Update on Pahoa transportation hub progress. HDOT just signed off on the LATEX. The CATEX is currently at the FTA level for approval and will then be onto the land acquisition phase. Grant funding for this project has been secured. • Update regarding the improvement of the County's bus stops and bus shelters. Mass Transit is working with HDOT to install 10 bus shelters and 20 bus stops in total and is currently working on identifying different locations around the island. Commissioner Matsubara at 10:27 a.m. asked if Waikoloa would be part of the bus stop and bus shelter improvements. Administrator Bergum stated that there is a master list and grant funding will help with some of those locations on the list. Administrator Bergum asked if there was a specific location in mind as to which Commissioner Mastubara stated there is a new workforce housing being built in Waikoloa. He also stated senior citizens need more transportation and Waikoloa needs more bus stops. Deputy Corporation Counsel Salas- Ferguson at 10:27 a.m. stopped the discussion and reminded the commission to only ask clarifying questions. • Update regarding the arrival of 8 Hometown diesel buses. 1 diesel bus has arrived in Hilo, the 2nd bus is currently in Oahu, and the remainder of the buses are in Wisconsin under construction. • Update regarding the arrival of 4 battery electric buses, expected arrival date of July 2025. 3 of the buses have arrived and the 4 h is expected to arrive next month. Mass Transit is working with ChargePoint and HECO for the installation of a charging station at the Mass Transit base yard. It is currently in the permitting phase. Chair Terlep at 10:30 a.m. asked about the size of the battery electric bus chargers. Administrator Bergum stated that the chargers are large and will have a power bank. He stated that these chargers can charge 4 battery electric buses at the same time though with a smaller charge with one bus being able to charge faster by itself. Commissioner Ahern at 10:30 a.m. departed the meeting. • Update regarding Albizia tree roots causing plumbing issues at Mass Transit Agency's Hilo base yard. Mass Transit has been working with DPW to control the Albizia tree problem. Chair Terlep at 10:32 a.m. asked if Mass Transit had reached out to BIISC (Big Island Invasive Species Committee)who handles Albizia eradication in the State. Administrator Bergum thanked Chair Terlep for providing that information. No further questions. Chair Terlep at 10:32 a.m., moved onto the next agenda item. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Chair Terlep at 10:32 a.m., stated there were no future agenda items to discuss without quorum and moved onto the next agenda item. NEXT MEETING Chair Terlep at 10:33 a.m. announced that the next meeting will be in September 2025 (tentative dates September 22nd-26th) ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:33 a.m. Minutes prepared by: Thaysha Genegabuas, Secretary