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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN PRPSC 2021/10/19 2020-2022Committee on Parks and Recreation and Public Safety 17th Session West Hawaii Civic Center 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Building A Kailua-Kona, Hawai i October 19, 2021 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Parks and Recreation and Public ORDER: Safety was called to order at 9:00 a.m., in the Council Chambers, Kailua-Kona, by Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Chair. ROLL CALL: Present: Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Chair Mr. Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Vice Chair (via videoconference in Hilo) Mr. Aaron S. Y. Chung. Member Ms. Maile Medeiros David, Member Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Member (via videoconference in Hilo) Ms. Heather L. Kimball, Member Ms. Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Member Mr. Herbert M. "Tim" Richards, III, Member Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Member STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS COMMUNI- CATIONS: ORDER OF RESOLUTIONS: The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, Statements from the Public on Agenda Items. The Chair called Jim Medeiros Sr., who registered to speak in support of Bill 75 (Comm. 422), and came forward when called. CHR. INABA: This brings us to the end of our testimony. public testimony is now closed. The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, Communications. (There were none.) The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, Order of Resolutions. (There were none.) PRPSC-17 October 19, 2021 CHR. INABA: Mr. Clerk, Bill 75 please. BILLS FOR The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, ORDINANCES: Bills for Ordinances. Bill 75: AMENDS CHAPTER 14, ARTICLE 1, OF THE HAWAII COUNTY CODE 1983(2016 EDITION, AS AMENDED), RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES Prohibits the consumption of alcohol at H6naunau Boat Ramp and makes other clerical changes. Reference: Comm. 422 Intr. by: Ms. David Motion to Approve: Ms. David moved to recommend passage of Bill 75 on first reading. Seconded by Mr. Richards. MS. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Chair. And thank you for that clarification, Ms. Lee Loy. And you know, thank you Jimmy, for what you've said. And I just wanted to explain how long this issue has been going on. And the reason Honaunau Boat Ramp is basically on a park on a county park, is confusing to me. Because it is not a park, and it is strictly used by our generational fishermen to launch their boat, go fishing, and earn a living. Now in the past it wasn't an issue, but in the last few years it has become such a public safety matter. I've been down there before, and we tried to do short fixes. And one of them was the parking issue, which I want to thank DPW (Department of Public Works) for actually going down there with me and surveying the parking which is very limited. And erected no parking signs, so that loads of tourist do not park in people's driveways and just park all over the place. It's a mess down there. So that was resolved. Then I meet with Parks and Rec. with Mo, and James, and wanted to address the drinking issue. And it's such a public safety issue that I've witnessed, fishermen that come in and basically have to walk up to the main highway to get their trailer and come back down, because the pier or the ramp is littered with people sitting and partying. You know, it just needed to stop. And so Parks and Rec. was going to include my request for moving H6nanau Boat Ramp in our code, to areas where alcohol is prohibited. And they were going to do it as a blanket effort, because there are other issues with county parks that they wanted to do housekeeping and stuff. And I appreciate them for trying to put everything together, but then they finallyI guess because I was calling them all time where's—are we done yet? So they agreed to just let me do this or do this for me, so that we could get this addressed now. Page 2 PRPSC-17 October 19, 2021 And so they did do a little bit of housekeeping also. Thank you, Mo, for other areas in my district that basically the housekeeping was included. Removing Manini Point, Napo`opo`o Beach Park, because they are undeveloped county sites; and also they removed Oneo Park, because there's no such site. So I believe Director Messina is in Hilo, if anyone has questions. But I really urge and want to thank Jimmy Medeiros, for elaborating on the conditions on the safety issue. And now it would allow them when they call the police to report these things. Something can be done, because in the past there was no law that says we couldn't drink on the ramp. So now this simple effort is going to have some huge impacts, on the Honaunau community and the families down there. So I really would love to have your support on this. I yield. CHR. INABA: Mahalo, Chair. Opening it up to discussion from anyone else. Ms. Lee Loy. MS. LEE LOY: Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Ms. David, for forwarding this. Of course I'm going to be supporting this measure. But I did want to share a little bit of lessons learned, as I did this for other communities in Keaukaha. The other piece that was clunky was you needed signage. So make sure that the Department of Public Works, and Parks Department, also provides the signage. Because even if it is recorded, if a ticket is issued but there's not proper signage, the courts will actually reject that ticket. But of course, anything we can do to keep our families safe, especially in our beach parks, I'll be wholeheartedly supporting. Thank you, Chair, I yield. CHR. INABA: Council Member Villegas. MS. VILLEGAS: Aloha. Thank you, Chair David. Wow, this has been a long journey to get this accomplished, and it took some really creative navigating through our legal processes to figure out how and what to do. I just think it's brilliant that you then take in this facility in this area, and put it in somewhere so that the law about drinking applies. I mean all too often and not intentionally, but we can accidently make our laws more complicated, more cumbersome, less user friendly. But it—you know, in working with the departments that have to manage these laws and uphold them, you have in essence also help to clean up and simplify some of the policies and procedures. And you know, alcohol, after working in the beer business for 14 years, alcohol is a tricky substance. And it can be wonderful for pa` ina and gathering, and connecting with one another. But it's a fine, fine, line; and it's unfortunate when that line gets crossed and it jeopardizes the health and safety of not only the person consuming, but of the community around them. And that is what you have brought forth this piece of legislation to help mitigate. And so thank you for doing that, and I'll wholeheartedly be supporting it. And mahalo for your work on this. Page 3 PRPSC-17 October 19, 2021 CHR. INABA: Mahalo. Mr. Richards. MR. RICHARDS: Thank you, Chair. Maile, right on. You know, the pandemic showed what a quiet area could be, and highlighted when people are not being responsible. And you've got to do it. You know, as much for the safety as just for the peace of the community. And you know, the testimony was very strong. That highlights why we got to support that. So without question, I'm going to support this. Yield. CHR. INABA: Mahalo. And just a reminder, Director Messina is in Hilo chambers, if anyone has questions. And I don't see any other lights on here in Kona, anyone in Hilo? MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Chair? CHR. INABA: Ms. Kierkiewicz, go ahead. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you, Chair. You know, I just wanted to echo the sentiments of my colleagues, and mahalo nui Council Chair David. You know, creating bills is often similar to creating sausage, it's not a pretty process. But the end result could be quite good, and we have that here. So mahalo nui Council Chair David, for leveraging our legislative tools and working hand in hand with community to mitigate issues. I yield. CHR. INABA: Thank you. Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, I see your light on go ahead. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: I'm surprised you can see my light on over here, thank you, Mr. Inaba. CHR. INABA: I have my glasses on. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Wow. I just want to say mahalo to Maile David, for bringing this forward. Well done and I appreciate justI mean our responsibility is to speak for our constituents, and by doing this just from the testimony of Jim Medeiros and he maybe the soul testifier today. But I'm sure there's a lot more community behind him. Again, it's our responsibility to speak for our constituents, and by doing this bill you have really taken to account what the community is asking for. And it may not be popular with everyone, but at the same time we speak for our constituents and we have to do things to make people safe. I just applaud you for doing this, in this fashion. So mahalo, Ms. David, for efforts in keeping community safe and speaking for your community. Thank you. CHR. INABA: Chair David, go ahead. Page 4 PRPSC-17 October 19, 2021 MS. DAVID: Thank you, mahalo, and I'll be really short. But I would be remiss, if I didn't actually thank Director Messina, his staff, and especially James Komata, for really helping craft this in such a way that we can solve this issue, but leaving it open so we can also address the other issues that they are plagued with in Parks and Rec. Department in trying to revise and update our codes. And it's a really hard job and I really appreciate you folks for doing this, and actually helping me do this work. With that, I yield. Mahalo. CHR. INABA: Thank you. I just want to say, I'll be supporting this and it would be good for, you know, our families who utilize this area to make sure that it's safe. Because I've seen how it can be unsafe there, so thank you for bringing this forward. There's a motion on the floor to forward Bill 75 to Council with a favorable recommendation. All those in favor, please say "aye." Vote on Bill 75: The motion to recommend passage of Bill 75 on first (Approved) reading was carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Chung, David, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas, and Chair Inaba — 8. Noes: None. Absent: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder —1. Excused: None CHR. INABA: This brings us to the end of our agenda. There being no further business, at 9:18 a.m., Ms. Lee Loy moved to ADJOURN- adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Ms. David and carried by the following MENT: voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Chung, David, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas, and Chair Inaba — 9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused: None. Page 5 PRPSC-17 CHR. INABA: This meeting is adjourned at 9:18 a.m. Approved: Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Chair Parks and Recreation and Public Safety Committee HUrk Z-,2 (Date) October 19, 2021 Page 6