Norman Mineta was asked what advice he would give the Honolulu City Council, facing a crucial vote on the transit system. The former federal transportation secretary aptly answered: "It's time to put on your big-boy pants and get the job done."

Well, guess what, Mr. and Mrs. Taxpayer? That was too much to ask of the council members, who — once again — choked on the big question.

What technology makes the most sense for the fixed-guideway system for Honolulu commuters?

After an excruciating, day-long public hearing and discussion that often meandered off the issue at hand, those elected to do the people's work laid a big, fat goose egg.

With Council Chairwoman Barbara Marshall absent due to a family emergency, the eight remaining members at first struggled to get beyond a 4-4 split over the steel-on-steel system.

And then it all collapsed into a writhing ball of confusion. A motion to keep all three competing technologies viable options failed when council members were muddled over what their own votes meant. And then a motion to reconsider that vote forced the council to delay a final decision until April 23.

The really pathetic thing is that the council realized how stupid it all seemed but were still unable to get a grip.

"We have twisted ourselves into a pretzel," Djou complained, and then admitted that the procedural twists and turns were largely his own initiatives.

We couldn't agree more.

There can be no doubt left that this council is dysfunctional on this — the most important public works project in the city's history.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann and his administration have involved the council in the technology choice. But now the only outcome can be: