Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN GREDC 2020/11/17 2018-2020Committee on Governmental Relations and Economic Development 30th Session Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawai i November 17, 2020 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Governmental Relations and Economic ORDER: Development was called to order at 1:05 p.m., in the Council Chambers, Hilo, by Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Chair. ROLL CALL: Present: Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Chair Ms. Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Vice Chair Mr. Aaron S. Y. Chung, Member Ms. Maile Medeiros David, Member (via videoconference from Kona) Ms. Karen Eoff, Member (via videoconference from Kona) Mr. Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Member Mr. Herbert M. "Tim" Richards, III, Member (via videoconference from Waimea) Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Member (via videoconference from Kona) Absent & Excused: Ms. Valerie Poindexter, Member STATEMENTS The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, FROM THE Statements from the Public on Agenda Items. PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS: (There were none.) COMMUNI- The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, CATIONS: Communications. Comm. 659.13: REQUESTS AN UPDATE FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE REGARDING THE ADMINISTRATION'S TRANSITION PLANS AND PENDING PROJECTS From Council Member Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, dated October 26, 2020. Motion to Close File: Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder moved to close file on Comm. 659.13. Seconded by Ms. David. CHR KIERKIEWICZ: Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, go ahead. GREDC-30 November 17, 2020 MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Chair. This communication was brought up just to begin a nice, earnest, open conversation that the public could participate in and has persisted since then. I'll keep going to the new Administration as well. Roy is here too, Roy Takemoto, Managing Director. Roy, if you could come up? But, we'll just, you know, I just want to keep an open line of communication with the Kim Administration. And I think this may be, you know, one of our last meetings with Roy and this Administration before we transition. And you know, Roy, you did mention last time, good to have that discussion, as far as what's going to happen. Unfortunately, I think Mitch Roth reached out to me, and I know we discussed from last Tuesday, and then he called on Sunday. He said that he would not be able to attend today, needing more prior advance notice. So with that in mind, Roy, if you just want to fill us in? Sounds like Mitch won't be here today to, you know, brief us in any manner at all. And I'll say, you have the floor for now, and we'll just go from there. This may be very quick. (Note: At this time, Managing Director Roy Takemoto came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MR. TAKEMOTO: Roy Takemoto, Managing Director. Yeah, this can be a quick one. I can tell you that we totally opened our doors to the new and coming Administration. And we've had a couple of meetings already with Mitch and his transition team. And it's been good ones, so I think from next week, his new people may be mixing with our directors and deputies to get oriented. So we handed over a transition report to Mitch and his team. In that report, I can tell you that the departments that provided a transition report—only those that would be changing out—so the departments with the directors who are hired by a board or commission, they are staying, right, so they don't transition, so they didn't submit a report. That's the Fire Department, Department of Human Resources, Department of Liquor Control, Police Department, and Water Supply. The other departments whose directors are Civil Service also are continuing. Those include: Office of Aging, Civil Defense, and Mass Transit. So all the others are transitioning, so they provided reports to the incoming administration. That's Corporation Counsel, Environmental Management, Finance, Housing and Community Development, Information Technology, Parks and Recreation, Planning, Public Works, and R and D (Research and Development). So Mitch's team has all of that, and as of yesterday we discussed some of that and they were reviewing. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay. I appreciate that Roy. Again, thank you for everything that you do and for coming today to have this discussion with us. Sorry that Mitch wasn't here as well, but it is what it is. I yield for now, but I Page 2 GREDC-30 November 17, 2020 would say before I yield that I will be doing this same communication with the new Administration every month to keep the line of communication open. And also, to again, involve the public in the discussion as well and give them the opportunity to provide testimony, as we have different things come up. MR. TAKEMOTO: I conveyed how useful this meeting was to Mitch's team. So, they're, from what I gathered very willing to continue this. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: It's good, because otherwise, I mean we have the Sunshine Law to comply with and hard to have an open discussion amongst the Council and the Administration without having to have a meeting that is either declared or—but also to incorporate the public as well and give them a chance to lean in on different subjects, and give us the opportunity to express what's going on in our districts to you and for the Administration to express what projects are going to be coming up; or different things. And I think it's been incredibly useful, and I appreciate everything that you've done. The last few meetings have been very productive. And the information that you've shared has been amazing, so thank you again, Sir. And I appreciate your Administration and you, Roy, thank you. I yield. CHR KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you, and I just wanted to read for the record, Mayor Elect Mitch Roth's response. He actuallyI sent a note to myself and to Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, but I do want to read it in for the record so folks are aware. He says, "Thank you for putting Communication 659.13 requesting an update on transition plans on pending projects on the GREDC agenda for tomorrow, November 17, 2020. While we have met with the Mayor's Office to discuss projects, I believe it is premature for me to attend this hearing and give a presentation. After much thought, I am respectfully informing you that I will not be attending this meeting in the spirit of a good working relationship between the Council and the Mayor. I would appreciate prior direct communication in the future." I just wanted to make sure that we have that on the record. Any comments from folks here or questions for Roy? Chair Chung? Sorry, Ms. Lee Loy, go ahead. MS. LEE LOY: Thank you, Roy, for being here, and I cannot help myself but take this opportunity to thank you so much for everything you have contributed to the County. I'm lucky because I have the opportunity to work with you from as far back as when I was 30 with PBR Hawaii. And your guidance, your leadership, your role model behavior really has been amazing for me. So thank you for everything you have given to the County. Chair, I yield. CHR KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you, Ms. Lee Loy. Anyone in Kona? Any questions or comments for Roy? Page 3 GREDC-30 November 17, 2020 MS. EOFF: Madam Chair? CHR KIERKIEWICZ: Yes, Ms. Eoff, go ahead. MS. EOFF: Hi and aloha Roy, and thank you. I've known you, too since probably 2008 and worked with you on several projects while Mr. Pilago was Chair of Planning. And I really appreciated your just your insights, your attention to all of the details; being able to connect so many of the dots, and help people, like you know, incoming Council people and Administration to get on track with very innovative ideas for our County. And just putting together the details that lot of people don't know how hard you've worked to make sure that we've met lots of the legal requirements and standards for putting forwardoh, things like today, like the Business Improvement Districts. And there's been many others. The Kona Community Development Plan was the first, but then the subsequent Community Development Plans. All of this and helping me personally with the short-term rental regulations. Your patience and just calm presentation and putting forth ideas in a very succinct way has really been, I think, awesome. And maybe it's not always the case, but I think you exemplify really working from your heart for our County to move forward in the best way it can. So I just wanted to thank you, and hopefully, I'll cross paths in the future. That's all. Thank you, Madam Chair. CHR KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you Ms. Eoff, Mr. Richards. MR. RICHARDS: Thank you Chair. Roy, I'm going to echo what everybody has said as far as thanking you. Since I've been in office, we have leaped from one crisis, one emergency to the next. And echoing the part about just being steadfast, steady, and very methodical working to the next through this. It's been truly a great working relationship. So I do want to thank you, and I look forward to dealing within all the different things that we've got to deal with, you had the tough job of delivering some very difficult information to us sometimes, but you did it with a very level approach. And again, I just want to thank you for all the work you've put in for us. So with that Chair, I yield. CHR KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you. Anyone else in Kona? MS. DAVID: Thank you, Chair. CHR KIERKIEWICZ: Ms. David. MS. DAVID: Yes, I think everyone is basically covering all the attributes of you, Roy, that everyone has experienced working with you. And I would just like to add that, that you know, my experience with you, although it hasn't been very Page 4 GREDC-30 November 17, 2020 intense like some of the others. Every time I have something to deal with you about, you have always been very equitable and fair, and very intelligent in how you present the situation so that we can make really, really good decisions. And that is pretty much, I think, a valuable asset to any county, especially to this County. And yes, I don't want to say, we'll sorely miss you because I know you're going to be around and we'll certainly stay in touch, Roy. And I really thank you for everything you do. Much aloha to you. I yield, thank you. CHR KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you. Anyone else in Kona? Okay, Chair Chung, go ahead. MR. CHUNG: Thanks. You brought Ms. Lee Loy to tears without even saying a word. Yeah, that's a tribute to you. You know, Roy, thank you very much for all you've done. I've got to say, this is a wonderful sendoff for you, you know, because you've been a fixture now since Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder asked you guys to come up. And you know, one thing about your Administration; you, the Mayor, and Maurice, you guys have never ducked any questions that sometimes, maybe the Mayor didn't quite answer what we wanted, or you know, but never ducked our questions. Whenever we asked you guys to come, you guys always came. You guys gave the best answers you guys could. But you in particular have been such a calming influence, you know, over all of these things that we've been going through. The amount of information that you have in your brain is incredible. You know, your recall on different things, historical perspectives, unbelievable. But I will say this Roy, if I'm going to use a word that I have towards you right now, it is respect. You have really gained my respect. You're an unbelievable individual, a fantastic asset to this County. So congratulations, thank you. Hope, you know, you'll still involve yourself like I asked you to. The last time, right, with the Business Improvement District. But, you know, really hope that you stay involved. Thank you, Roy. CHR KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you, Chair Chung. Anyone else? Roy, did you want to say something? Okay, please? MR. TAKEMOTO: I didn't expect all these nice words, so my aloha to all of you. And thanks, it's been a pleasure and an honor working with each of you. CHR KIERKIEWICZ: For the record, Roy is tearing up. Roy, it's been a pleasure to work with you. We really appreciate it even before these communications were put forward. Just your willingness to engage the Council and to collaborate. It was really nice to have that sort of change in the Administration, and I know that all of us have worked with you in different capacities and really appreciated the creative and innovative approach you bring to things. You're such a problem solver, but you are like the grandmaster of Zen, and your heart for community is so large. Page 5 GREDC-30 November 17, 2020 I mean, I know I shared this before, but I want to share this again. I'll never forget, I had a question. I texted you on a Sunday, and you're like, "Sure, let me call you back, or after Tai Chi." And I love that you have balance in your life, but you know that there's so many pressing issues that are happening on this island. You always make time. And so, thank you very much for your leadership and your work to make Hawai` i County a better place. Thank you. We're at the end of our agenda and we have a motion on the floor. All those in favor to close file on Communication 659.13, please say "aye." Vote on Comm. 659.13: The motion to close file on Comm. 659.13 was carried by Filed the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Chung, David, Eoff, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas, and Chair Kierkiewicz — 8. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Member Poindexter —1. Excused: None. CHR KIERKIEWICZ: This brings us to the end of the agenda. And before we adjourn, I just want to say mahalo, it has been an honor and a pleasure to chairing these meetings. This is the last committee meeting of this term. So it has been our collective pleasure to serve. ORDER OF The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, RESOLUTIONS: Order of Resolutions. (There were none.) BILLS FOR The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of ORDINANCES: business, Bills for Ordinances. (There were none.) Page 6 GREDC-30 November 17,2020 CHR. KIERKIEWICZ: May I have a motion to adjourn? ADJOURN- There being no further business, at 1:20 p.m., Ms. Lee Loy moved to adjourn MENT: the meeting. Seconded by Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Chung, David, Eoff, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas, and Chair Kierkiewicz— 8. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Member Poindexter— 1. Excused: None. CHR. KIERKIEWICZ: We are adjourned at 1:20 p.m. Thank you so much. Approved: v . • it( ?-02-I s. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Chair (Date) Governmental Relations and Economic Development Committee AK/dt Page 7