RES 416 Draft 01 2022-2024 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

-4 Of COUNTY OF HAWAPI STATE OF HAWAIII or RESOLUTION NO. qll 16 2 4 A RESOLUTION URGING THE MAYOR AND THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS TO REMOVE PARCELS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS FROM CONSIDERATION WHEN STUDYING THE FEASIBILITY OF A PUNA MAKAI ALTERNATE ROUTE. WHEREAS, in 2022, the Hawaii State Legislature allocated $ 1,000,000 for the purpose of plans and designs to conduct site surveys on the Island of Hawaii to identify the most suitable location for an alternate route in Puna below Highway 130, contingent upon the County of Hawaii providing $500,000 in matching funds; and WHEREAS, in January 2024, the County Council considered Bill No. 107, which would release the matching funds for a total of $1,500,000 to be used for this study; and WHEREAS, the proposed Puna Makai alternate route ("PMAR") would address the traffic concerns related to the growing population and emergency response needs of the Puna region, which has experienced numerous natural disasters over the last decade; and WHEREAS, the Puna Community Development Plan highlights the need for an alternate route in Puna, which is critical to alleviate traffic congestion and enhance overall community safety; and WHEREAS, during its discussion of Bill No. 107, the Council emphasized transparency in the implementation of this project utilizing available public funds; and WHEREAS, the Department of Public Works is well-equipped and qualified to undertake this project, which would investigate the various engineering challenges and potential environmental impacts posed by identified alternate routes; and WHEREAS, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands issued public testimony on Bill 107 declaring that none of the lands under its jurisdiction in Pana'ewa and Keaukaha should be considered for the PMAR; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAIII that parcels under the jurisdiction of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands should not be considered for the PMAR and the route should not connect to the homestead communities of Pana'ewa and Keaukaha. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this body urges the Mayor and the Director of Public Works to fulfill the scope of work outlined by the State Legislature and allocate supplemental funds to broaden the scope to encompass the examination of potential alternate routes in communities directly mauka of Highway 130, such as 'Ainaloa and Orchidland.