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people in the community to start their business, I'm all in favor of that, but I just don't want to
<br />see people come forward and say, "You folks have no discretion to extend, the rule is clear."
<br />So, that's all I'm saying but you know I appreciate Gerald, just you and your staff, and I think
<br />this body has taken the attitude too that we want to help people in the community start their
<br />business.
<br />Nishimoto: And it appears even from their letter that they're willing to, they're asking for
<br />advice on how to proceed with their application. So, it's not as if they're trying to get you know
<br />favors from us, they're willing to go with what is set forth by the Commission. There is that
<br />willingness, but maybe in what they need to accomplish, they might need to file again at a later
<br />date because it seems as though there is a lot to accomplish in regards to transferring the
<br />lease from one department to another, as well as, spending money to upgrade before their site
<br />could have approvals, therefore needing a longer term lease to make up for the expenses. So,
<br />there's kind of like a whole lot of things that needs to be done there, but they seem open to
<br />reapply if they need to, because it says for us to advise.
<br />Wilkinson: And that's why I questioned this one specifically, most of them asked for a specific
<br />length of extension, and this one didn't, so it sounded like they were asking us for our
<br />suggestion, so I was wondering.
<br />Takase: Yes. They were granted their license, looks like back in April of 2020, but they were
<br />also stone walled for a long time because they did have to make some changes, because
<br />there were some questions about whether their intended use fit with the Planning Department.
<br />So, they kind of were going back and forth with them, and they finally gotten it straightened
<br />out, Planning said okay but they had to make all of these changes. And, I think they were
<br />given a five-year lease, and they said they really couldn't make it fiscally feasible to do with a
<br />five-year lease, so they went back and got a lease extension. And so that's kind of where we
<br />are today, and then you got to remember that through this time was during COVID
<br />(coronavirus disease), so everything moved very slowly. So, you know, I got to give them
<br />credit, they've been very understanding, and so I wanted to offer them as much assistance as
<br />we can to keep them moving forward, because I feel like they're trying to do something versus,
<br />they've sat around doing nothing for the last 3-4 years.
<br />Ibarra: Any other comments?
<br />Thomas: I just have a question about, is the Planning Department aware that whatever they
<br />are doing is affecting Liquor Control and the other departments that are having to do
<br />extensions or doing adjustments because they're slow? So, I don't know, in terms of our
<br />organization communicating with Planning to say, "Hey, this licensee has now come up twice
<br />for an extension," you know what I mean? Not so much pressure, but just awareness that this
<br />is just a bottleneck.
<br />Takase: Yes, I think there is some. Part of the problem is, most businesses will come to us
<br />first because if they don't get their liquor license, then their whole plan is kind of shot. And so,
<br />they will come to us when this is their idea, and they get the license, and then everything else
<br />starts to fall into place, now I can go to the bank and get a loan and stuff like that. So, we're
<br />probably a little premature in the whole process, but it's important for a business because
<br />MINUTES - LIQUOR COMMISSION MEETING - THURSDAY, MAY 41 2023 - HILO PAGE 25 OF 46
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