HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PC 033 2021/11/17 (2020-2022) REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
DATE: November 17, 2021 Re: Comm. No. 492/Res. No. 262-21
PLACE: Council Chambers
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
TIME: 1:02 p.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Planning, to which was referred Resolution No. 262-21, reports as follows:
Resolution No. 262-21, transmitted by Council Member Ashley Kierkiewicz via Communication
No. 492, dated October 28, 2021, urges the Department of Planning to assess the feasibility of
establishing a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the County of Hawaii.
Resolution No. 262-21 requests that the Planning Department determine eligibility requirements
and provide an assessment to the Council for establishing an MPO. If eligible, the Planning
Department would work across jurisdictions to determine resources necessary for the
administration of the organization which, once established, would provide access to certain
federal funding and develop coordinated solutions to regional transportation issues in urbanized
areas.
Committee Chair Ashley Kierkiewicz further explained that this resolution was triggered by a
Senate Resolution adopted by the State Legislature, and the activation of an MPO is driven by
Federal mandates based on a population count of 50,000 in a defined urban area.
Chair Kierkiewicz noted that an MPO designation would open the door to more cooperative
conversations with Federal and State jurisdictions, and give the County access to more funds.
She noted that the U.S. Census Bureau will determine which census tracts qualify as urbanized
areas, and should any part of the county be deemed eligible, the Planning Department is "trigger
ready"to implement feasibility assessment and other actions specified in the resolution.
Planning Director Zendo Kern was present in the Kona Council Chambers and spoke in support
of the proposed measure.
Committee Member Heather Kimball thanked Chair Kierkiewicz for introducing the matter and
ensuring the County is ready to proceed should if deemed eligible.
The vote was then taken on the motion to move this measure to Council with a favorable
recommendation and passed with 9 "ayes."
PC Report No.: 33
PC-33 Page 2 November 17,2021
Your Committee on Planning is in accord with the purpose and intent of Resolution No. 262-21,
and recommends its adoption.
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AYES NOES ABS EX Respectfully submitted,
CHUNG x
DAVID x COMMITTEE ON PL A NNING
INABA X
KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER x
KIERKIEWICZ X
KIMBALL X
LEE LOY x ASHLEY L. KIERKIEWICZ, CHAIR
RICHARDS x PC REPORT NO.: 33
VILLEGAS x ADOPTED: DEC 0 8 2021