2010-01-08 TCOUNTY - Laserfiche WebLink

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The one thing that I did want to speak to very briefly was that, a little history on the project. The, this project came about, some of the converg -, convergence of three purposes. First being to enhance the shoreline recreational activity, opportunities in Hilo. I believe under Mayor Kim it was his vision that started this, seeing the overcrowding and the popularity of the beaches along the Keaukaha shoreline and noticing that Reeds Bay and, along with Reeds Bay Hilo Bayfront Beach Park were under utilized in comparison. So this was an attempt to enhance that. Along with that was to, our purpose was to remove vehicular access to the beach because it poses a safety and environmental hazards. I believe on Kauai maybe about a year and a half, two years ago there was a kid that got run over because vehicles were allowed on the beach there. So it’s something that we want to really discourage. We also, as part of the project, want to be able to increase the usable area of the beach and provide some lawn areas associated with it to enhance, you know, what, how users utilize that beach park. Second item is a, was an intent to replace the bathrooms. The bathroom there that’s been condemned since 1999, I believe, we’ve already cleaned out and converted the cess -, or condemned the cesspool. We closed that out in conformance with the State and Federal law. And the third purpose for this project was to provide for ADA accessibility of the park . Right now we’ve got the sidewalks, and the public right-of-ways are being heaved by a lot of the banyan tree roots along there. And what we’re trying to do is provide for accessible recreational opportunities, picnic tables, accessible showers, accessible drinking fountains and walkways on the site and replacing walkway in the adjacent right-of-way. So that’s the real quick background as to what the project, how this project came about. WOODWARD: Okay, thank you. Any questions for Mr. Komata? No? Okay, who would like to add something? KOMATA: You had anything you wanted to add on? BISEL: No. WOODWARD: Oh, Commissioner Kern. KERN: Yes. Thank you, Chairman. I had a quick question. The access points for the kayaks or small boats, are those actually going to be an area where you can pull up to the water, by the water, to get a trailer in, or is it more of a carry your small boat in there? KOMATA: The intent of the design along, the drop-off area along the Banyan Drive is for loading and unloading. We’re providing a temporary loading and unloading space for people to drop their boats or small kayaks. You can see that hatched area. It’s hard to, hard to see. It’s kind of by the “e” in Banyan Drive, over here.That’s the, that’s for active loading and unloading. We envision, in talking with the various community members that had expressed concerns about getting access to the water with their kayaks, we provided that one option there. They would load or unload, park in the adjacent property and, you know, continue on to their kayak and get on in the water. 4 EXHIBIT C