Each week, Editorial and Opinion Editor Jeanne Mariani-Belding hosts The Hot Seat, our opinion-page blog that brings in elected leaders and people in the news and lets you ask the questions during a live online chat.

On The Hot Seat last week was Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, who addressed issues ranging from rail transit to the Pro Bowl.

Here is an excerpt from that Hot Seat session. To see the full conversation, go to The Hot Seat blog at www.honoluluadvertiser.com/opinion and click on "The Hot Seat." (Names of questioners are screen names given during our online chat.)

Jason: Are we on track with rail transit? After what happened with the Superferry and environmentalists, or a small vocal minority using the courts to get its way, I worry that something similar will happen to rail. I hope special interests do not wreck this project for the rest of us who really see the need for transportation options.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann: We're absolutely on track and are following through on what 53 percent of voters approved in the last election, which is a rail-transit system sooner rather than later. The federal government support has never been stronger. And we continue to overcome attempts to derail us. Rest assured that we always took the Environmental Impact Statement phase very seriously and are working to address all the concerns expressed by those who commented on the Draft EIS. We're making great progress on the Transit Oriented Development aspect of rail with two recently completed meetings in Waipahu and the Kapolei/'Ewa area. Community-based planning is our mantra, and I'm delighted that many people in these areas are participating in the process. The goal is to break ground late this year. This is the best economic stimulus project that the state of Hawai'i has going for it right now.

Bob W.: In recent City Council budget hearings Duke Bainum was very critical of using CIP money to fund the purchase of equipment, like vehicles. But during his previous tenure on the City Council, wasn't he a big advocate for exactly the same thing?

Hannemann: Indeed, Councilmember Bainum was a member of the council that voted for the policy to use the capital budget for the purchase of equipment in 2002. In fact, five times he voted for budgets that included the purchase of equipment with CIP funds. As the former budget chair of the council, he should know better than to criticize a policy that he voted for and supported on many occasions.

Matt: The City and County of Honolulu's FY2010 budget represents a 30 percent increase in YOY spending from FY2009; included in this spending increase are additional real property taxes (9 percent increase) and increased fees for use of the bus, municipal golf courses, vehicle weight tax, and even our zoo.

Given the current economic environment where residents of Honolulu are already cash-strapped and are tightening our budgets, how can we afford such a substantial increase in spending? Does a 5 percent pay cut justify a 30 percent budget increase?

Hannemann: You've been provided the wrong information and analysis. First of all, the operating budget increase is less than one half of one percent over the current year!

As for the fees, many of them have not been raised for many years. For example, the golf fees have not been raised for nearly 10 years, the zoo parking fees nearly 30 years. And we are required to raise the bus fares if they fall below the City Council-established policy of having the fare box account for 27-33 percent of the operating cost.

The real property tax rate increases we proposed for the average home and condo owner will be about $10 a month, or about the cost of one movie, eight steamed manapua or one bento lunch and a drink. Additionally, we were very sensitive to the needs of our seniors and the disabled. Their bus fares will stay the same and their monthly tax increases are lower than the typical homeowner. The fact of the matter is we have been managing this budget very responsibly. We've earned clean financial audits, we've saved money like we never have before and we don't raid funds that are earmarked for specific purposes.

As for making light of my Cabinet's willingness to work one day a month for free, I don't see any other entity in government willing to do the same. That speaks volumes of their willingness to sacrifice and put something in the "stone soup." We're all in this together, Matt.

kailuaresident: The Hawai'i Tourism Authority rejection of the Pro Bowl was nationally embarrassing, especially considering the dire economic times. Why did they vote like that, and what caused them to finally see the light and accept the NFL's offer?

Hannemann: Although HTA is a creature of the state and the Pro Bowl is definitely a state responsibility, I could not stand idly by to see this great economic revenue-generating opportunity leave Honolulu. That's why I jumped to the forefront and personally discussed concerns the HTA board members had with voting to keep it here. Three of those votes switched in the end. And I'm very grateful that we were able to avert a very bad situation. Now the challenge is for the state to have a comprehensive sports marketing strategy to avoid future opportunities going to other areas. The city is more than willing to assist in that regard.

Lauren Nicholas: The rail-transit community development plan had some good ideas in it. Will there be other community-based planning for rail transit?

Hannemann: After Kapolei and Waipahu, which are under way, we are looking to initiate the TOD process for the Pearl City/'Aiea community and then to Kalihi/Middle Street area. The plan is to continue along the transit line in developing community-based neighborhood plans for each station area.

Jamie Hann: I catch the bus. What happens to the bus when rail starts operating?

Hannemann: The buses will definitely be a part of what we call an integrated multi-modal system. In fact, by having the rail system handle the congested central corridor, we liberate our buses to provide more extensive and more frequent service to the communities. The same fare for the bus will apply to the rail and will allow you to transfer seamlessly.

Terri Ann: I am glad Target opened in Kapolei. It's a good sign for growth on the west side. What are you doing to develop Kapolei into a true "Second City?"

Hannemann: I've always said our goal is to develop Kapolei into a great city, not just a second city. Since we've been in office, it's clear that we've taken public-private partnerships to a new level as evidenced by our relationship with private developers such as Kapolei Property.

We're building infrastructure, including roadways and utilities in Kapolei city in excess of $170 million. In fact, we recently opened the Kamokila extension, providing alternative access into the rapidly developing activity center which includes Target, Costco, Home Depot and Sports Authority. With this new infrastructure in place and a very visible public safety presence, we are laying the groundwork for Kapolei to maximize its potential as a great place for people to live, work and play. We're grateful for the strong support the community and the area councilmembers Todd Apo and Nestor Garcia have given us to enable these projects to be built quickly.