Friday's daylong City Council meeting to pick a preferred transit route was a great example of democracy in action. In fits and starts, then in a great gathering rush to completion, council members openly weighed and discussed various options and proposals leading to the selection of a fixed-guideway transit line running from Kalaeloa to Manoa.

But at times it seemed like the process could derail at any minute. Much of the day was spent in short and long recesses as councilmembers and attorneys met off-the-record to discuss various bills, amendments and things like the state Sunshine Law.

Here's a brief minute-by-minute transcription of how things transpired on the day of Honolulu's historic transit decision:

10:05 a.m. A group of visiting preschoolers from Hawai'i Kai leads the council and visitors in the pledge of allegiance.

10:06. Discussion on several honorary resolutions, including one marking the end of the Filipino centennial celebration in Hawai'i.

10:16. Council takes up mayor's veto of Bill 82, dealing with transit-oriented-development side issues.

10:28. Recess.

10:31. Discussion resumes.

10:35. Recess.

10:45. Discussion resumes.

10:51. Council votes to override mayor's veto.

10:52. Discussion begins on main transit Bill 79, with a recommended route from Kapolei town to Manoa, with a spur to Waikiki.

10:57. Two new versions of bill are offered. One by Todd Apo restores a full line running through Kalaeloa. The other by Ann Kobayashi has a line with two starting points, one in Kapolei, one partially down North-South Road.

11:02. Discussion of bills.

11:15. Recess to consider public access issues because the public has not been given 48 hours notice of Kobayashi's amendment.

11:50. Call back to session.

11:52. Recess.

11:59. Back to session.

12:02 p.m. A motion to recess meeting until Thursday fails.

12:07. Recess.

12:07. Discussion. Motion is made to recess until Tuesday, giving public time to review new amendment. Discussion on whether more than 100 people signed up to testify should be heard today rather than making them wait until Tuesday.

12:08. Recess.

12:08. Call back to order.

12:10. Recess.

12:12. Discussion resumes.

12:18. Council votes to recess until Tuesday but allow testimony today.

12:18. Recess.

12:20. Motion to reconsider move to recess fails. Councilwoman Barbara Marshall apologizes to the public. "I'm as confused as you are," she says.

12:21. Public testimony on Bill 79 begins.

12:50. Testimony becomes heated at times as West O'ahu residents plead with council-members to endorse the full transit line recommended by the city administration.

1:10. Testimony continues.

1:45. Testimony continues, but many of the more than 100 people who have signed up have already left the building by the time their names are called.

2:24. Several councilmembers wander away from their desks. Recess called to regain quorum.

2:25. Quorum obtained. Testimony continues.

2:40. By now, one in every five persons called to testify does not show up.

3:25. Public testimony ends.

3:30. Motion to reconsider earlier motion to recess until Thursday passes, setting up a final vote on rail today.

3:31. Kobayashi withdraws her amendment.

3:42. Bill 79 is amended to floor draft two, calling for both the Kapolei and Kalaeloa routes to be included in the locally preferred alternative.

3:45. Discussion begins on bill. Several councilmembers have to ask the chair: "So is this the real vote?"

3:47. Council uses a super-majority of seven members to waive 48-hour public notification on final wording of bill.

3:49. Discussion on rail mode and route resumes.

4:05. Bill 79 passes 7-2. City has decided on a transit project.

4:11. Council adjourns.

Reach Mike Leidemann at mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.