REP PWPC 038 05/13/1997 1996-1998

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Public Works and Parks Committee Report Communication No. ]90 Page Two The County Council considered Bill No. 58 at its April 2, 1997 meeting. During the meeting, Mr. Nishimura reiterated the underlying traffic safety concerns. The Council also learned that the area adjacent to the proposed no-parking area is the birthplace of Kamehameha the Third and has been the subject of a beautification and landscaping project. This project has included the installation of a rock wall on the mauka side of the road. Council Members Reynolds and Tyler again informed the Council about a lack of parking in the area and expressed concern about the impact that this proposal would have upon the businesses in the area. In addition to the above information, the Council considered a more accurate map submitted by the Chief Engineer (Comm. No. 190.02), a ten page petition signed by persons opposed to Bill No. 58 (Comm. No. 190.03), and a letter from State Harbor Agent, Ken Denton (Comm. No. 190.06). In his letter, Mr. Denton questioned the County's jurisdiction over Kaleiopapa Street. The Council referred this Bill back to the Public Works and Parks Committee for further discussion. Council Members agreed that this discussion should take place in Kona to facilitate input by those who use the area. Present Council Action Your Committee on Public Works and Parks again discussed this matter during a Special Committee meeting on May 13, 1997 in Kona. Subsequent to the Council Meeting, Committee Chair Yagong introduced a proposed amendment to Bill No. 58. This proposal, Bill 58, Draft 2, would limit parking along the mauka side of Kaleiopapa Street only. (See Comm. No. 190.09) At the meeting Jim Chadburn and Robert Paddock of the Keauhou Kona Yacht Club, as well as William Taylor of Keauhou, spoke in opposition to Bill No 58 because it would reduce the already scarce available parking along this portion of Kaleiopapa Street. Your Committee was informed that between 80 to ] 30 people have attended the Tuesday and Friday night meetings at the Yacht Club. Testimony in support of the proposal was heard from Barbara Nobriga representing the Daughters of Hawaii (Comm. No. 190.05), Lily Kong (Comm. No. 190.08), and from the Reverend Leon Sterling. They cited the needs to: respect the spiritual, cultural, and historical significance of the site, preserve the rock wall; and promote pedestrian and vehicular safety as reasons to limit parking in the area. During discussion Your Committee confirmed with Richard Nishimura and Joe Spencer of Kamehameha Investment that the roadway under consideration is indeed a County Road and that the request is before the appropriate authority.