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WHEREAS, under the existing Bayfront Highway alignment lies an extensive historic <br /> <br /> beachfront, which if reclaimed, will restore public access to this valuable natural and cultural <br /> <br /> resource and enhance open space and view corridors; and <br /> WHEREAS, restoration of the Hilo Bayfront Beach and expansion of the adjacent <br /> Bayfront Park will enhance ocean recreation activities for residents and visitors alike and provide <br /> <br /> economic stimulus for small businesses in Downtown Hilo; and <br /> WHEREAS, the County Department of Research and Development has been awarded a <br /> $100,000 grant from the State Hawaii Tourism Authority, with $50,000 in matching County <br /> <br /> funds included in the fiscal year 2006-2007 capital improvement budget, to undertake planning <br /> <br /> of the Hilo Bayfront Trails project, a pedestrian and bikeway trail system extending from Hilo <br /> <br /> Harbor to Wailuku River; and <br /> WHEREAS, funding of a feasibility study for the closure and realignment of the <br /> Bayfront Highway and restoration of the Hilo Bayfront Beach is timely and will help integrate <br /> <br /> planning of roadway realignments and trail alignments along Hilo Bay, consistent with the goals <br /> and policies set forth in the General Plan and the Envision Downtown 2025 Plan. <br /> NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY <br /> OF HAWAII that the County finance a feasibility study to assess project costs and timelines for <br /> <br /> the closure and realignment of the Hilo Bayfront Highway and the restoration of underlying Hilo <br /> Bayfront Beach. <br /> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if the proposed study concludes that project costs <br /> and timelines are feasible relative to the public benefits to be derived therefrom, the Council of <br /> <br /> the County of Hawaii shall ask the Governor of the State of Hawaii and the Hawaii State <br /> Legislature to finance those portions of the Hilo Bayfront Highway realignment and Hilo <br /> Bayfront Beach restoration projects that are within the jurisdiction of the State of Hawaii. <br /> BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Clerk of the County of Hawaii transmit <br /> certified copies of this resolution to County Director of Parks and Recreation Patricia Englehard, <br /> County Planning Director Christopher Yuen, County Director of Public Works Bruce McClure, <br /> County Director of Civil Defense Troy Kindred, County Director of Research and Development <br /> Jane Testa, County Director of Finance William Takaba, the Honorable Harry Kim, Mayor, <br /> County of Hawaii, Hawaii District Engineer Stanley Tamura, State Highways, Department of <br /> Transportation, Administrator Sam Lemmo, Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands, <br /> Department of Land and Natural Resources, State Representative Dwight Takamine, District I, <br /> State Representative Jerry Chang, District 2, State Representative Clifton Tsuji, District 3, State <br /> Representative Helene Hale, District 4, State Representative Robert Herkes, District 5, State <br /> Representative Josh Green, District 6, State Senator Lorraine Inouye, District State Senator <br /> 2 <br /> <br />