HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN COUNCIL 2022-01-19 2020-2022
Hawai‘i County Council
st
31 Session
West Hawai‘i Civic Center
74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Highway, Building A
Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i
January 19, 2022
INVOCATION: Kahu Kealoha Ka‘opua of Calvary Community Church in Kona gave the
morning’s invocation.
CALL TO The regular meeting of the Hawai‘i County Council was called to order at
ORDER: 9:02 a.m., in the Council Chambers, Kailua-Kona, by Ms. Maile Medeiros David,
Chair.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Ms. Maile Medeiros David, Chair
Mr. Aaron S. Y. Chung, Vice Chair
Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Member
Mr. Matt Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder, Member (via videoconference from Hilo)
Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Member (via videoconference from Hilo)
Ms. Heather L. Kimball, Member
Ms. Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Member
Mr. Herbert M. “Tim” Richards, III, Member (came in later)
Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Member (via videoconference)
PLEDGE OF The Chair directed the Council to the next order of business, Pledge of
ALLEGIANCE: Allegiance.
(At this time, County Clerk Jon Henricks led the Council in
the Pledge of Allegiance.)
PETITIONS, The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business, Petitions,
MEMORIALS, Memorials, Certificates of Merit, and Expressions of Condolence.
CERTIFICATES
OF MERIT, AND (Note: At this time, Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder presented a Certificate of Merit to
EXPRESSIONS OF Detective Jesse Kerr of the Hawai‘i Police Department for his achievements and
CONDOLENCE: contributions to the community.)
Recess: At 9:23 a.m., the Chair called for a recess.
Reconvene: The meeting reconvened at 9:26 a.m.
Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
STATEMENTS The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business,
FROM THE Statements from the Public on Agenda Items.
PUBLIC ON
AGENDA ITEMS: The following individuals registered to speak and came forward when called by
the Chair:
Janice Palma-Glennie: PC-38 (Comm. 563), in opposition.
Jaime Funakoshi: PC-38 (Comm. 563), in opposition.
Beverly Yates-Tese: Bill 102 (Comm. 551), comment.
Patrice McDonald: Bill 102 (Comm. 551), in opposition.
APPROVAL The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business, Approval
OF MINUTES: of Minutes.
Vote on Approval Mr. Inaba moved to approve the Minutes of December 8,
of Minutes: 2021. Seconded by Ms. Lee Loy and carried by the
(Approved) following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Inaba, Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder,
Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Lee Loy, Richards,
Villegas, and Chair David – 8.
Noes: None.
Absent: Council Member Chung – 1.
Excused: None.
COMMUNI-The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business,
CATIONS: Communications.
(There were none.)
ORDER OF The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business, Order of
RESOLUTIONS: Resolutions.
Res. 297-22: TRANSFERS/APPROPRIATES AN APPROPRIATION OUT AND FROM A
DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT AND CREDITS SAME TO A DESIGNATED
FUND ACCOUNT TO PROVIDE A GRANT TO HAWAI‘I ISLAND LGBTQ
TH
PRIDE TO SUPPORT ITS 10 ANNUAL PRIDE PARADE AND FESTIVAL
Transfers $500 from the Clerk-Council Services – Contingency Relief account
(Council District 3); and credits to the Department of Liquor Control, Other
Current Expenses account.
Reference: Comm. 574
Intr. by: Ms. Lee Loy
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
Motion to Approve: Ms. Lee Loy moved to adopt Res. 297-22. Seconded by
Mr. Richards.
CHR. DAVID: Go ahead, Ms. Lee Loy.
MS. LEE LOY: Just asking for my colleagues’ support and following the lead of
others who have already contributed to this great cause. I yield.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you very much. Anyone else to weigh in? Seeing none,
all those in favor of approving Resolution 297-22, please say “aye.”
Vote on Res. 297-22: The motion to adopt Res. 297-22 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Inaba, Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder,
Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Lee Loy, Richards,
Villegas, and Chair David – 8.
Noes: None.
Absent: Council Member Chung – 1.
Excused: None.
Res. 298-22: AUTHORIZES THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO AN
AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF HAWAI‘I DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION
Allows for the receipt of $10,522,667, to be used to rehabilitate and purchase buses
and related equipment and to construct bus-related facilities.
Reference: Comm. 581
Intr. by: Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder (B/R)
Waived: FC
Motion to Approve: Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder moved to adopt Res. 298-22.
Seconded by Mr. Inaba.
CHR. DAVID: Go ahead, Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: We have Director Andoh here today to
discuss the resolution, and there is an accompanying bill to this. This was waived
to Council to expedite the funding. The bill has to go through a normal process,
though. Mr. Andoh, if you could give us a little background on this for the
Council, and thank you for being here this morning.
(Note: At this time, Mass Transit Administrator John Andoh came
forward to address the members of the Council.)
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
MR. ANDOH: Of course. Good morning, Chair and members of the Council.
I’m John Andoh, Mass Transit Administrator, Mass Transit Agency. We received
a grant from the Federal Transit Administration through HDOT (Hawai‘i
Department of Transportation) in the amount of 10,522,667 of Section 5339
funds. This will allow us to purchase six less-than-30-foot buses, ten 40-foot
buses, one 35-foot hybrid bus, and three 40-foot buses, as well as do a design,
environmental assessment, and land acquisition for the Kailua-Kona maintenance
facility. These are funds that we generally get on an annual basis from HDOT, or
we can also, in some cases, apply for the discretionary funding pot. And I’m just
requesting approval from this Council to accept this grant.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Mr. Andoh. What kind of buses
are we talking about for other than the hybrid bus?
MR. ANDOH: At the present time, they are in the grant as “diesel.” I am
working with HDOT to see if they can be converted to other fuel types that are
zero-emissions based. But in order to keep the grant moving since these funds are
a bit old, we’re requesting to proceed as the grant has been written in the past with
the hopeful intent that I can convert those to a zero-emissions.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Okay. Beautiful. And then the grant,
$10.5 million, well done. When was the process started for the grant?
MR. ANDOH: Once this is approved by Council, we’ll get the memorandum of
agreement from the State. Then, we’ll circulate that internally and then have it
executed by the Mayor, and then we’ll be able to spend down those funds once
it’s executed. The funds are already in place and ready to go.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Well done. And then the Kailua-Kona base
yard, is there an existing place you’re looking at? I believe we talked about it
before.
MR. ANDOH: I’m going to be securing a consultant through the professional
services process to facilitate that process, go through to prepare a site analysis
similar to what we’re doing with the Pāhoa Transit Hub—
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Okay.
MR. ANDOH: With the goal to have a site and environmental assessment done
by early next year at the latest.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Great. Okay, thank you, Chair. I yield.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder. Anyone else has any
comments? Ms. Villegas, if you have any comments, please shout out. Thank
you.
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Chair?
CHR. DAVID: Go ahead, Ms. Kierkiewicz.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you, Chair. Aloha, Administrator Andoh. Thank
you for being here.
MR. ANDOH: Of course.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: So, I’m looking through the B-52, and I think you
mentioned this earlier about these being grant awards from applications that were
submitted in prior Administration. So, these applications were submitted in 2017
and 2019? Is it typical for the review to take that long?
MR. ANDOH: So what has happened is there’s been staffing changes with the
Mass Transit Agency, and there’s also been staffing changes with HDOT. So,
HDOT is trying to catch up with a lot of these grants, and that’s—so, typically no.
It’s not—we should normally be getting these in quicker order.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Okay. That’s helpful to know. And then I’m assuming
these buses are not something that we can just purchase off the shelf, that there is
some customization and some time that needs to happen in order for us to put in
the order. So, once these funds are appropriated, how quickly until you’re able to
make the purchase but also that we’ll see them here on-island in circulation?
MR. ANDOH: So, in advance of these grant funds, we have completed an RFP
(Request for Proposals) already. So, we’re going through the evaluation process
on that now. Once we accept these funds, we’re able to make an award. I’m
anticipating about 365 days from the award. So, hopefully we can have these
buses in place by early next year.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: That’s great news. Thanks again for all of your hard work.
Chair, I yield.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Kierkiewicz. Anyone else here in Kona?
Questions? Seeing none, all those in favor of approving Resolution 298-22,
please say “aye.”
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
Vote on Res. 298-22: The motion to adopt Res. 298-22 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, Inaba,
Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Kimball, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas,
and Chair David – 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
CHR. DAVID: I understand that, Administrator Andoh, you have also Bills 105,
109, and 103 that you are here for. Would you please remain seated. I think
we’re going to take those at the same time.
MR. ANDOH: Yes, I’ll be here for those.
CHR. DAVID: Oh, we’re going to take it now. Bill 105.
MR. ANDOH: Oh, okay.
Change Order As directed by the Chair and with no objection from the Council Members, the
of Business: following items were taken out of order:
Bill 105: AMENDS CHAPTER 18, ARTICLE 4, SECTION 18-90 OF THE HAWAIʻI
COUNTY CODE 1983 (2016 EDITION, AS AMENDED), RELATING TO
FARES FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Establishes a temporary suspension of fares for all mass transit fixed routes and
paratransit services until December 31, 2023. The fare suspension will not apply
to County-contracted shared-ride services, curb-to-curb van services operated by
the Department of Parks and Recreation, or non-fixed bus services provided in
partnership with non-profit organizations.
Reference: Comm. 568
Intr. by: Ms. Lee Loy (B/R)
Approve: PWMTC-15
Motion to Approve: Ms. Lee Loy moved to pass Bill 105 on first reading and
adopt Public Works and Mass Transit Committee Report
No. 15. Seconded by Mr. Inaba.
(Note: At this time, Mass Transit Administrator John Andoh came
forward to address the members of the Council.)
CHR. DAVID: Go ahead, Ms. Lee Loy.
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
MS. LEE LOY: Thank you, Chair. Administrator Andoh is in the Hilo
chambers; however, this received unanimous support at our Committee level, and
I continue to ask for your support.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Lee Loy. Anyone else? Mr. Richards, go ahead.
MR. RICHARDS: Yeah, thank you, Chair, and thanks, Director—or
Administrator, I guess, is your official title—for this. We’ve talked about this
economic driver; really stepping it up and bringing it to the County as far as
helping our economy overall. So, thanks for being very broadminded in getting
this done. I fully support. Chair, I yield.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Richards. Mr. Inaba, go ahead.
MR. INABA: Yeah, just for the record, I want to confirm that the start date for
the suspension of fares would be upon approval of this Council at second reading.
Is that correct, Mr. Andoh?
MR. ANDOH: Our goal is to—after the second reading, we’re going to wait
about 15 days to implement. That allows us to clear up all of the bus tickets and
bus passes that are outstanding, and just ensure that we don’t have a mass amount
of people wanting refunds for passes and tickets.
MR. INABA: Got it. Thank you. And this can’t come at a better time, I just
need to say. Here in West Hawaiʻi, and I believe across our County, there are
problems with our bus services to our schools, and students are staying home right
now. So, as soon as we can get this going, it would be great for the students who
are able to take advantage of this free service to get to school. So, mahalo for
putting this forward. Chair, I yield.
MR. ANDOH: I do just want to also—
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Inaba.
MR. ANDOH: Oh, sorry. I just wanted to add that we are in partnership with the
Department of Education where presently they are buying bus passes from us to
help students access schools, and they’ve been doing so since October. And
we’re in recent communications with them to see how we can help with their
school-bus crisis that has occurred recently.
MR. INABA: Wonderful. Thank you, Administrator Andoh.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Inaba. Thank you, Administrator Andoh.
Anyone else? Mr. Chung, go ahead.
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
MR. CHUNG: Yeah, thank you. I wasn’t in attendance when this matter came
up at the Committee level, but I’m going to be supporting this basically because
it’s for two years. But Mr. Andoh and I did have a meeting, and I expressed to
him my reservations about free bus fares. I’m not a big fan of free things,
especially when government gives it out. But there are reasons, I think, and I
certainly understand where Mr. Andoh is coming from. But inasmuch as it is a
short-term fix allowed to address some economic situations, I’m okay with voting
“yes” on this, but I just wanted to state, for the record, I’m not a big fan of free
stuff. Thank you.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Chung. Anyone else? Seeing none, all those in
favor of approving Bill 105 at first reading, please say “aye.”
Vote on Bill 105: The motion to pass Bill 105 on first reading and adopt
(Approved) Public Works and Mass Transit Committee Report No. 15
was carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, Inaba,
Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Kimball, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas,
and Chair David – 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
CHR. DAVID: Could we move to Bill 109, please?
Bill 109: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 21-38, AS AMENDED, THE OPERATING
BUDGET FOR THE COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING JUNE 30, 2022
Appropriates revenues in Federal Grants – Section 5339 Capital Grant Fiscal
Year 21-22 account ($10,522,667), and appropriates same to Section 5339 Capital
Grant Fiscal Year 21-22 account. Funds would be used to rehabilitate and
purchase buses and related equipment and to construct bus-related facilities.
Reference: Comm. 581
Intr. by: Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder (B/R)
Waived: FC
Motion to Approve: Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder moved to pass Bill 109 on first
reading. Seconded by Ms. Lee Loy.
(Note: At this time, Mass Transit Administrator John Andoh came
forward to address the members of the Council.)
CHR. DAVID: Go ahead, Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder.
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Fairly self-explanatory and correlates to
Resolution 298-22. I had a follow-up question, though. This does allow—I was
looking for the B-52 for the resolution, and the funding does allow us to fix
existing issues that we have with current buses. Is that correct?
MR. ANDOH: It does. However, how the grant was applied for, it was applied
for to basically replace those buses.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Okay. So not to fix up existing stock.
MR. ANDOH: Not to fix.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Okay.
MR. ANDOH: We do have some funds left over from a previous purchase in
2019—about 256,000. I’m working with FTA (Federal Transit Administration)
and HDOT to see if we can save the balance of those funds so we can use that to
pay for engines for some of our existing buses so we don’t return those funds
back to the FTA.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Wonderful.
MR. ANDOH: The only challenge is that those funds are fairly old. So, they’re
doing their best to save them for us.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Okay, good. That’s all I wanted to ask.
Thank you, Chair. I yield.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder. Anyone else? Any
questions? Seeing none, all those in favor of approving Bill 109 at first reading,
please say “aye.”
Vote on Bill 109: The motion to pass Bill 109 on first reading was carried by
(Approved) the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, Inaba,
Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Kimball, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas,
and Chair David – 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
CHR. DAVID: And I believe we have one more for Administrator Andoh.
That’s Bill 103 at second and final reading.
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
Bill 103: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 21-39, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO PUBLIC
IMPROVEMENTS AND FINANCING THEREOF FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
JULY 1, 2021 TO JUNE 30, 2022
Adds the Mass Transit Pāhoa Transit Hub – State project for $100,000 to the
Capital Budget. Funds for this project shall be provided from State Grants
Receivable, and would be used to support a site analysis and environmental
assessment by the Mass Transit Agency for a new transit hub in Pāhoa.
Reference: Comm. 564
Intr. by: Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder
First Reading: January 5, 2022
Note: Requires 2/3 vote of the entire
membership to amend, pursuant to
Section 10-6(e), Hawai‘i County Charter
Motion to Approve: Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder moved to pass Bill 103 on
second and final reading. Seconded by Ms. Kierkiewicz.
CHR. DAVID: Go ahead, Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Second reading. I think we’ve had a good
discussion about this. I have no further questions, and I appreciate this project
moving forward. Thank you, Chair.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you. Anyone else? Seeing none, Administrator Andoh,
thank you so much for all your hard work. All those in favor of approving
Bill 103 at second and final reading, please say “aye.”
Vote on Bill 103: The motion to pass Bill 103 on second and final reading
(Adopted) was carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, Inaba,
Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Kimball, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas,
and Chair David – 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
MR. ANDOH: Mahalo.
CHR. DAVID: Mr. Clerk, I believe we have Ms. Bartolome on Zoom and I
believe Mr. Vincent. So, could we do communications right now; skip to all of
the reports?
MR. HENRICKS: Okay. Go through the reports in order?
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
CHR. DAVID: Yes.
MR. HENRICKS: Okay.
FC-100 NOMINATION OF MADELINE GREENE TO THE COST OF
(Comm. 561): GOVERNMENT COMMISSION
Requires Council
Confirmation by: January 28, 2022 (Section 13-4(k),
Hawaiʻi County Charter)
Vote on FC-100: Ms. Lee Loy moved to adopt Finance Committee Report
(Adopted) No. 100. Seconded by Mr. Inaba and carried by the
following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, Inaba,
Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Kimball, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas,
and Chair David – 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
FC-101 NOMINATION OF SHANNON MATSON TO THE COST OF
(Comm. 562): GOVERNMENT COMMISSION
Requires Council
Confirmation by: January 29, 2022 (Section 13-4(k),
Hawaiʻi County Charter)
Vote on FC-101: Ms. Lee Loy moved to adopt Finance Committee Report
(Adopted) No. 101. Seconded by Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder and
carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, Inaba,
Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Kimball, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas,
and Chair David – 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
PC-37 NOMINATION OF KEALOHANUIOPUNA KINNEY TO THE HAWAI‘I
(Comm. 552): COUNTY CULTURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION
Vote on PC-37: Ms. Lee Loy moved to adopt Planning Committee Report
(Adopted) No. 37. Seconded by Mr. Inaba and carried by the
following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, Inaba,
Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Kimball, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas,
and Chair David – 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
PC-38 NOMINATION OF SHANE VINCENT TO THE LEEWARD PLANNING
(Comm. 563): COMMISSION
Requires Council
Confirmation by: January 30, 2022 (Section 13-4(k),
Hawaiʻi County Charter)
Motion to Approve: Ms. Lee Loy moved to adopt Planning Committee Report
No. 38. Seconded by Mr. Richards.
(Executive Assistant to the Mayor Pomaikaʻi Bartolome and nominee
Shane Vincent came forward to address the members of the Council.
Ms. Bartolome provided a brief narrative of the nominee’s background and
experience.)
CHR. DAVID: Council Members, questions? Mr. Inaba, go ahead.
MR. INABA: Good morning, Mr. Vincent. Thank you for joining us via Zoom
today. First question, what made you apply for this position on the Leeward
Planning Commission?
MR. VINCENT: Somebody said that there was a request to fill a vacancy, and I
threw my resume in. I’ve always been interested in it. I’ve always been
interested in the decision-making process around land use issues. I think, from
my perspective and my profession, I’ve never really been on that side of the
fence. I guess I would say I’m pretty passionate about it. I knew a couple of the
testifiers kind of categorized me as sort of a special-interest guy but, I mean, I’m
from Hawai‘i. My whole family’s from Hawai‘i.
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
I’m interested in seeing things happen in a sustainable way, thoughtful way. I
think it’s—our land is a scarce resource, and I think that there has to be good
debate around how we develop all of our lands.
MR. INABA: Thank you. And according to the resume you provided, you have
some professional experience in development here in West Hawai‘i. You were a
part of some of the developments with Hāpuna, Mauna Kea, and Nanea. And like
Ms. Bartolome said, you have an interest in thoughtful and sustainable
development. Looking at those projects in your list, can you share a little bit
about how those projects fall in line with your idea of thoughtful and sustainable
development?
MR. VINCENT: A lot of what I’ve been involved in is from a construction point
of view. I think the subdivision work that I’ve done has been kind of really—it
was already slated. The master plan was already created. So, it was infill,
basically, within resorts. And overwhelmingly, my work has been in the resort
setting, and I think it’s made me look at it philosophically because I think that
there is a demand for it. And I think if it’s done well, it sustains all of our
interests in our lives, whether they’re creating good jobs, having coastal access,
supporting traditional uses and whatnot.
I think that the higher-end resort has probably the least impact to the community,
I guess, is what I would say. And it would probably hold up the counterpoint to
where there hasn’t been thoughtful planning and there’s mass production of
condos and whatnot, and just kind of creating more of a transient ad hoc type of
community. I think, as residents of Hawai‘i, we would probably look at them and
say they’re really not what we want.
MR. INABA: Okay. Based on your professional background, what potential
conflicts might you be encountering if confirmed to this commission?
MR. VINCENT: I think all my current clients are working on entitled land. So, I
don’t think—I’m not working with anybody looking for any new approvals.
MR. INABA: What cultural organizations or activities are you currently involved
in, and how do they shape your view of ‘āina and our communities’ needs?
MR. VINCENT: Other than being on the board of my own association, my
homeowner’s association, and then being on the board for the Hawai‘i Wildlife
Center. I don’t think that they are necessarily, like, shaping me culturally. But I
think in the projects that I’ve been involved with where we’ve had to do more
social outreach, it’s always been really interesting to make contact with the
cultural practitioners and the lineal descendants to those areas. Because, I think
they’ve really influenced me in how the land was originally used and what life-
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
sustaining activities were there, and then the cultural and traditional aspects were
implemented. I think there’s a lot of wisdom to how the Hawaiians kind of
managed their resources, and I think we can draw a lot of lessons from that.
MR. INABA: Okay, thank you. And then a last question for now: If confirmed
to this commission and with your experience as a resident here of West Hawai‘i,
what types of projects would you be inclined not to support in this region and in
that area that the commission oversees?
MR. VINCENT: High-density transient type of vacation rentals.
MR. INABA: Okay. I see Director Kern is here on the line. Director, did you
have anything you wanted to share?
(Note: At this time, Planning Director Zendo Kern came forward to
address the members of the Council.)
MR. KERN: Good morning, Madam Chair, members of the County Council.
Happy to be here. Thank you for the opportunity to share. So, yeah, I have the
unique experience, having sat on the planning commission for a number of years
as well as sat on the County Council, to really drive in how a diverse group of
folks with different backgrounds and mindsets makes for really productive
decision-making.
And so, I got an email that I’m working on responding back to you when you
inquired about what we’re looking for as far as the makeup of a commission from
a Planning Department perspective. And what we’re looking for, in my mind, is
really a balance with a diverse makeup of folks. So, we’re currently in a housing
crisis; I think we’re all aware of that. We need smart, sustainable options for
growth. And so when we’re having these conversations around applications, it’s
critical that we’re looking at it with a multitude of different mindsets. And I feel
like the commission, right now, has a relatively good diversification.
What we’re missing are folks that have some direct experience within, say,
construction, engineering, and even some planning background. We had that with
Shani and, you know, she had to leave. And so, I feel that Mr. Vincent brings that
perspective to this arena. And I remember being on Council going through
various applications and having an open dialogue and discussion and having
different points of view that led to either approval, a negative approval, or a
compromise. And to me, that’s what we would like to see, and I think, to me,
that’s what makes the best decisions. No one person on a commission has the
authority just to say yes or no; it’s a collective of those folks that bring that
together.
We’re looking for folks to fill these positions. That can be challenging. This is a
pretty onerous process that they have to go through—and challenging. If you
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have any background in development, for some reason you seem to get pushed
into more of a negative. But that’s not necessarily the case at all. We have a huge
need for—and an understanding—for affordable housing. And that’s going to,
again, have decisions being made by a diverse makeup on the commission. And I
really feel that Mr. Vincent, who I don’t know personally, brings that to the
commission. Happy to answer any additional questions, but that’s the thought
process around it. And through my direct experience with it, I think it makes for
good thoughtful communication and decisions.
MR. INABA: Thank you. Yes, I think we’re all for diverse perspectives on
boards and commissions, and even here on the Council. With that, can you
explain a little bit about the Planning Department’s role in vetting or approving
applicants to become nominees before us?
MR. KERN: Sure. When applications come through, the Mayor’s office sends
them over to us. We give them a review on our end and then we make a
recommendation back to the Mayor’s office whether we support that candidate or
don’t support that candidate, and give our reasons why in either case. And then
the Mayor’s office moves forward with their nomination, not always agreeing at
the same time but that’s part of that process. We give our two cents and say,
“Hey, here’s what we think,” and we move forward with that.
MR. INABA: Thank you. Ms. Bartolome, do you agree? Is that the process that
you typically or that you understand for what’s happening right now?
MS. BARTOLOME: Pretty much, Council Member Inaba, and it’s not any
different from any other board. It’s just some boards are more involved than
others, and some are not involved. And so that’s when I, myself, and the Mayor
pretty much make the decision on my own—on our own.
MR. INABA: Okay. So, for example, the police and fire commissions, are the
fire chiefs vetting and giving their approval on potential nominees?
MS. BARTOLOME: No, because they are one of those commissions that are not
involved.
MR. INABA: Not involved?
MS. BARTOLOME: No. Whether that’s their own personal choice or, I don’t
know, for whatever reason. But everyone knows that I am the one that vets all the
applications, and I do my best to reach out to everyone. I do it at least once a
month, just as a courtesy to let everybody know, “Hey, I am here. We’ve got
applications; you have a vacancy. Let me know if you have anyone in mind that
you could consider. If not, I will go ahead with the process.” Because, seats need
to be filled, vacancies need to be filled. We have these applications and they’re
informed.
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MR. INABA: Okay. And the planning commission is there to advise the
Director, the Council, and the Mayor on planning and land use decisions. So, if
the Director or the department does not give their stamp of approval to an
application, are you folks not able to forward that application to us for a
nomination? Sorry, I need to restate that question. Would you submit an
applicant or a nominee before us if the Planning Department didn’t give their
stamp of approval?
MS. BARTOLOME: We have, actually. Not specifically for—I can’t think
specifically for planning commission, but I know for Board of Appeals; for the
other boards that Planning oversees: Cultural Resources Commission, Board of
Appeal, yes.
MR. INABA: Okay. And are you able to share with us? It seems there’s been a
struggle to fill one of the vacancies on the Leeward Planning Commission. It’s
been vacant as long as we’ve all been—not we, but you and I and the current
Administration—has been in office. How many applications do we currently
have on file?
MS. BARTOLOME: Well, I know that we have about 14 applications on file for
the Leeward Planning Commission. However, what I failed to mention is that
there’s only probably a handful for this specific judicial district. But we do have
applications for this specific district; it’s not that much.
MR. INABA: Okay. I’m going to yield for now for my colleagues to ask some
questions. Mahalo, Pomai.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Inaba. Mr. Richards, go ahead.
MR. RICHARDS: Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Pomai. Thank you,
Mr. Vincent, for throwing your name in the hat. It’s interesting when we talk
about this, and listening to Director Kern concerning the makeup of the
commission, wanting a diverse background so you do get a balanced perspective.
I make that as important. And I think it was highlighted that one of the aspects
that appears to be wanting on the Leeward Planning now is that
development/construction side, which Mr. Vincent can bring that expertise
coming forward. I’ll come back to that in a second.
Mr. Vincent, I was curious, reading through your resume, can you talk a little bit
about your involvement with the Kosovo legislative assembly? That seemed a
little volatile that you were dealing with.
MR. VINCENT: Yeah, I mean, my Army career kind of led me there, and
basically I would say that that culminated with my final experience. I was a long-
term—I was nominated by the State Department to be a long-term election
observer for the 2001 legislative elections. So, that was my—I lived in the
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
German sector and met with various party people, parties, and the cultural
representatives of every area to make sure that there was maximum participation
in the election in transparency in the international community.
MR. RICHARDS: Okay, I—not that I want to compare Leeward Planning to an
international crisis and getting things on order, but I think the point there is that
working in an adverse situation. Now, coming back to your island—born here in
the islands. And so, I think that does bring a perspective to coming forward.
Now, springboarding off of Mr. Inaba, some of his questions. We have a
tremendous need for housing and probably most needed in the, however you want
to characterize it, affordable housing, attainable housing, workforce housing—
however you want to characterize it. What are your thoughts on that, and what do
you see as the potential avenues going forward to really increase our stock in that?
Because, we don’t have it. We just don’t have it.
MR. VINCENT: Yeah, it’s a tricky question because I think it’s the cost of
construction here that is, I think, what’s making it unaffordable. I think we’re
seeing a lot more development around the Waikoloa area, which that’s probably, I
guess in my mind, you know, I don’t really know the economics of the land
subdivision in that particular area. But it seems like that’s the best way to find an
area that’s sort of out of the resort belt that you can put a lot of housing online
without really sort of contaminating the interest of the guys that are interested in
selling luxury—
MR. RICHARDS: Yeah, from my perspective, I’m from District 9 and you’re
from District 9. We do need the balance with development. We’re not going to
have any housing. We’re not going to have any affordable housing if we’re not
developing. But there’s something that was made, a comment. I think one of the
testifiers talked about responsible development and I’m all for that. I’m not for,
like you said, cranking out large volumes of probably subpar housing just to get
roofs over the heads. We have to be thoughtful. We have to be mindful going
forward.
And so, listening to what Director—talking about balance on the commission.
Yesterday, we voted to Council another for the Windward Planning Commission
who is, again, a developer in their own right. And so, having developers on a
commission is important. And I think the buck does actually stop here at Council.
It doesn’t stop at commission because commissions are advisory. They make
recommendations to the Council. So, at this point, I like what I’m hearing, and I
will be supporting your nomination because I think it’s the right direction for us.
Chair, thank you. I will yield.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Richards. Mr. Chung, go ahead.
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
MR. CHUNG: Just one correction. Commission is not purely advisory. There
are some situations where they have decision-making powers. But, Pomai, let me
ask you a little bit more questions about this vetting process, if you don’t mind,
yeah, just generally speaking. So, which commissions do you solicit input from
specifically from the departments that are being affected? Can you—you said not
from the Police Department, not from the Fire Department because they’re not
involved. What do you mean by “not involved”?
MS. BARTOLOME: Involved in the vetting process of the applicants.
MR. CHUNG: Okay, I mean, is it because of your process, or they just don’t
want to get involved?
MS. BARTOLOME: I’m not sure. Like I said—
MR. CHUNG: Do you send out requests for input from them?
MS. BARTOLOME: I try to, yes. Yes.
MR. CHUNG: So, it’s just they don’t respond then.
MS. BARTOLOME: Yes.
MR. CHUNG: Okay. You know what, I’m—what about Water Department,
Liquor Department? Do you send out requests to those departments?
MS. BARTOLOME: Yes.
MR. CHUNG: I just going give you one bit of advice on this, okay. Those
departments, their directors are appointed by the commission, okay. Now, I know
we’re getting a little bit off topic, but I wanted to get your input on the processes.
This is not a suggestion: I would just say don’t do that anymore, yeah. That’s a
definite conflict of interest, in my opinion, okay.
MS. BARTOLOME: Don’t do what? I’m sorry, don’t do what?
MR. CHUNG: Don’t solicit input from the directors of departments that are
appointed by their commissions. That’s a definite conflict of interest.
MS. BARTOLOME: So, we have secretaries. Every board has a secretary. So,
the secretaries are the ones that I communicate with directly, right.
MR. CHUNG: Yeah. So, who are you asking for input from? The secretary?
MS. BARTOLOME: The secretary and, I mean, but with the Planning
Department—
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
MR. CHUNG: No, I’m not talking about the Planning Department right now.
I’m just talking about—
MS. BARTOLOME: The secretaries are who I communicate with.
MR. CHUNG: So, the secretaries are the ones that are providing the input to you
then?
MS. BARTOLOME: Yes.
MR. CHUNG: They’re the ones who are going to say “yay” or “nay” on behalf
of that department?
MS. BARTOLOME: And I would “cc” (copy) the Director or, like, for example,
with Water. I’ll email the secretary, “cc” the Director. But most times, the
Director won’t respond to me; it’ll be the secretary. So, that’s who I would
communicate with.
MR. CHUNG: I think, Pomai, you’re losing sight of what I’m trying to say here.
Go back later on and just digest what comments I’ve made. It’s improper. I’m
not just saying I think it’s improper. It is improper to have anybody in that
department where the Director and even the deputy directors are appointed by a
commission; it’s a definite conflict of interest. Don’t do that anymore. That’s not
the case for Planning. Okay, it’s a little bit different. But since we’re on topic,
don’t do that anymore.
Now with regard to the Planning Department, I’ve been looking at the County
Code and the County Charter for the better part of this morning just to kind of get
a feel for this thing to see if there are any inherent conflicts there. And this is a
tough one because the Planning Director is, by Charter provision, the
administrative head of the Planning Department, which includes the Planning
Director, the respective planning commissions, and necessary staff.
So per say, it’s not, in my opinion, a conflict of interest to have the Planning
Director or any other directors that aren’t appointed by commission to weigh in.
But I think it really, in my opinion—now I’m just saying I think—it should rest
with the Mayor. And he should make the decision in trying to create a balanced
board that’s representative or reflective of the entire island because it puts the
directors or the staff of the departments that they’re soliciting input from in a
tough spot, especially if you have a paper trail.
Well, let’s go back to what we went through with Mr. Van Pernis. Okay. I know
there was pushback from several people from the department. And I had allowed,
from my side—I’m just saying that because I was the fifth vote—to allow
Mr. Van Pernis to continue on but it was not—my ultimate vote in getting him off
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
the commission was not so much because of his views. It’s because of the
documented disruptiveness that he was exhibiting and just becoming a very
dysfunctional element.
But just keep the departments out of it. And you could, maybe offhand, maybe
talk to them, but they shouldn’t be a part, really, of assembling a commission.
That’s my feeling.
MS. BARTOLOME: So, Council Member Chung, if I may, I just want to share
that I definitely understand where you’re coming from. I just think that if I was
part of, say, just as an example, the Water Board Director, if I am involved in my
work mode of everything, I would kind of want to have an idea of what’s
happening. Not to say that I would need a say—and they don’t really have a
say—but just to give them an idea of what is happening and what is going on with
boards and commissions. That’s how I operate. That’s how we operate. Just so
that everybody, the communication is there. Communication is really important,
right?
And so, the Mayor does have the final say. Just myself and the Mayor will come
together. I will show him the applicants. We will discuss and we will have
conversations regarding the applicants. But the directors, themselves, they don’t
really have a say. And like I said, most of them don’t really reach out to me. It’s
basically the secretaries that will say, “Hey,” because they’re the ones that are
working directly with these board members. And so they will share “I’m not sure
if this applicant will be a best fit because dah, dah, dah.” And so, I just wanted to
make that clear to you that they don’t really have that say.
The final say really does rest with the Mayor and myself. We’ll go back and forth
and have these conversations. And that’s why sometimes it does take us a while
to fill these vacancies because there’s somebody from this angle that’s telling me
they’re not a good fit; there’s somebody else from this angle that’s telling me that
they’re not a good fit. And so then it just sits there, right. The applicant just sits
there and then we go through the next application.
MR. CHUNG: Well, Pomai, yeah, I don’t want to get into this protracted
discussion on this because I am going to vote in favor of this particular individual.
But just based on what you told me, when the secretary or whoever replies back to
you saying that this person may be a good fit, not a good fit, that’s a little bit more
than just sending out a courtesy, you know, courtesy, yeah, inquiry—thank you,
Maile—to the department. It’s a little bit more active than that, but I’ll just leave
it at that. But hopefully you’ll take my words to heart.
MS. BARTOLOME: We definitely will. Thank you.
MR. CHUNG: Yeah, thank you.
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Chung. And I believe I see Judge Strance with
her hand up on Zoom. Judge Strance, did you want to say a few words?
(Note: At this time, Corporation Counsel Elizabeth Strance came forward
to address the members of the Council.)
MS. STRANCE: Yes, I just wanted to clarify a couple of issues that seem to have
conflated to this discussion. One of them is that there are certain boards and
commissions that have supervisory authority with the department or department
head. And so with respect to those boards and commissions, they are not going to
be providing input on their supervisors. So, this is not one of those boards or
commissions.
But different boards and commissions have different roles and interact differently
with the department with whom they work. And depending upon that role, there
either will be feedback or there will not. So, for example, with the Police
Commission, it’s not surprising that there would not be a response because theirs
are a different role. It has a different role with the department than the planning
commission.
The other point that I’d like to just remind the Council, and not because it’s been
breached here but because it was raised in certain public comments, is that
Hawai‘i County Charter Section 13-4(j) prohibits the Council from disqualifying
a candidate for a board or commission by profession only. So, I just want to
remind the Council of that in these broader conversations that are being held.
And like I said, I haven’t heard anything from the Council Members where that
threshold has been breached, but I just want to remind the Council in light of
some of the public comments. Thank you.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Judge Strance. Council Members, any further
discussion on this matter?
MS. VILLEGAS: Yes, please.
CHR. DAVID: Ms. Villegas, go ahead.
MS. VILLEGAS: Sure. Aloha, Mr. Vincent. Thank you for being here today. I
believe I know your wife through years ago working with Dukes. She was the
lead controller. Great woman.
Thank you for being here and for your interest in sitting in the hot seat at a time
when placements on the Leeward Planning Commission are extremely volatile. I
want to thank Council Member Inaba for his poignant questions that unfortunately
your answers left me kind of baffled and astounded. I think you have all these
clients. And the fact that they already have entitlements, your thinking that that
doesn’t create any kind of conflict isn’t necessarily comforting to me when we
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
have had continuous cases of pieces of land that had perceived entitlements that
continue to have challenging circumstances, both with the Leeward Planning
Commission and coming before Council. So, I don’t think that that negates a
conflict of interest there.
I also want to point out a continued difference of opinion that I’ve had since the
appointment of our current Planning Director, is that there is a vital difference
between being a professional planner and being a professional developer. There
is a huge difference in that. And ideally, we would have people on the Leeward
Planning Commission who are professional planners. You can get degrees in
planning. You can get certifications in planning. You can have decades of
experience working as a professional planner. Very different than a professional
developer.
My husband works in luxury homes as a high-end granite-and-tile gentlemen.
And so, we have our go-arounds because a part of our family’s livelihood comes
from installation and refurbishing of these luxury homes that are on the west side
of the Big Island.
However, the increase in luxury building is directly related to the overpricing and
the outpricing of local people being able to afford houses here. We have over-
inflated property and land values and house values, which directly affect any
capacity for being able to build affordable housing. And I see that as directly in
conflict with one another.
One of the statements you just made about—I just get a lot of—there’s a lot of
irony in the statement about the building in Waikoloa potentially expanding but it
not contaminating the interest of those selling luxury homes in the area. That
value system that that statement is based upon, really hard for me to swallow at
this point when we are in a housing crisis. I don’t—we went rounds last term
about increasing taxes and another tax bracket for homes worth over $2 million,
second homes. And the amount of pushback and entitlement from the people with
that kind of wealth was astounding. To me, it’s a direct reflection of the 1 percent
in the entitlement, in America.
So I just find myself struggling, honestly, for you. I think that this position and
the amount of heat that you would take if appointed to this seat, I would feel for
you because I’m sorry but I can’t support that, not based on just your
profession—and I understand we’re not supposed to do that—but based on your
answers today and about cultural relevance and significance and understanding. It
just does not reflect to me what we really need in this time, what we must have in
this time of critical mass for our island when we have an opportunity to become a
model for the world; and not just a greenwash model that constantly uses terms
like “sustainability,” but like truly transitioning the way that we home our people.
The ironies of so many statements that have been made here today, I’m
confounded. I’m going to have to watch this again.
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
Thank you, Mr. Chung, for your insightful and poignant recommendations and
recognition of some of the, for lack of a more intellectual term, wonky going ons
in the appointments for our commissions and boards. Boy, it’s been an interesting
year already. So, thank you for pointing that out. And with your legal expertise,
having the capacity to identify discrepancies and things that are happening that
shouldn’t be happening.
Mr. Vincent, thank you once again. This is a hot-seat time to be appointed for the
Leeward Planning Commission. It is a vital role. My apologies that I will not be
able to support your nomination today. But thank you for your continued interest,
and I hope that you will continue to educate yourself to expand your
understanding and participation when it comes to more equitable land use
practices. And with that, I yield.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Villegas. Anyone else? Ms. Kimball, go ahead.
MS. KIMBALL: Thank you, Chair. I’ll just say that, to start, I definitely have a
little heartache over this one. First of all, I voted in favor of forwarding this to
Council in Committee. Even though we’re not a court of law, I think it’s
appropriate to give people a chance to state their case before voting “yay” or
“nay” on something. And unfortunately, the way the timeline works, the only
way that happens is to move it to Council. The reason for the heartache, I guess,
is it’s not expressly stated but I believe that the Council’s role at this stage of an
appointment for this particular commission is to really do an analysis of how well
the applicant represents the community. I think that was a statement made by one
of the testifiers for this particular board.
In the past, I have watched the votes of my colleagues from the west side and
voted along with the majority of the west side in respect for their assessment of
how well an applicant represents their community, in deference to that. There
was one exception that I made to that, which was for Shani Armbruster, who I
thought did an excellent job answering questions particularly about mass transit,
climate change, sustainability. And she also had, as Council Member Villegas
mentioned, that planning background. She had actually a master’s degree in
planning. And so that was a case where I made that exception.
So, I guess where I am today, I guess you know I’m in deference again to my
colleagues on the west side and their position in terms of how well, like I said,
you represent, Mr. Vincent, the perspectives of the community that you would be
serving on the commission. The question is that the vote, as yet, remains to be
seen. But my question now is, is there substantial reason to make an exception?
And I guess where I’d like to start with that, as far as questioning, would be your
statement that you support thoughtful development in a sustainable way.
Sustainability is a word that is thrown around way too much. Could you be much
more specific on what that vision of sustainability for the west side of the island
looks like?
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
MR. VINCENT: I guess the model that I worked in is to try to create the most
economic properties that are developed. So, the resorts have multi-million dollar
properties and they tier down. The model would be like, I think, most full-time
employment to manage the homes, to build the homes, to do all of the ancillary
services that are related to it without overcrowding the communities with more
lower-tier second-home users. I guess, simple math, it’s better to have a few
$10 million homes than hundreds of $1 million homes for people that aren’t likely
to really be here. And I think that’s kind of the way I’ve always sort of thought
about it in terms of like if this is the devil we know, because Hawai‘i is in such
high demand internationally, how do we maximize that to our economic benefit.
That’s where I think the sustainable question is answered.
MS. KIMBALL: Have you reviewed the community development plans for the
area covered by the planning commission, and the Kona community plan
specifically as well?
MR. VINCENT: I have not. No.
MS. KIMBALL: Okay. What mechanisms do you think the County should take
to improve, for example, access to mass transit, reducing vehicle miles traveled,
greenhouse gas emissions, and addressing issues like sea-level rise, climate
change, those environmental issues? Do you have thoughts on how the County
should move forward on that?
MR. VINCENT: None that I’ve really developed for this presentation, no. I’ve
not even really—no, I don’t have anything to add to that.
MS. KIMBALL: And finally, in your professional experience, to what level have
you been involved in land planning, zoning? And your thoughts on reducing the
amount of sprawl and maintaining our valuable open spaces in Hawai‘i?
MR. VINCENT: Most of the entitlement work I’ve done has just been
subdivision approval within all-ready master plans. On Maui, I was part of one
SMA (Special Management Area) for a McKenna project, and it actually—the
proposal around the SMA was granted. It was probably a really educational
experience to be part of that, but they actually never went through with it because
the project never penciled out so they scrapped it. But I think that one really did
open my eyes to kind of that, you know, sort of the holistic look at the use of land,
keep open spaces. There was no agricultural component to it. But that’s basically
my experience.
MS. KIMBALL: All right, thank you for responding to my questions,
Mr. Vincent, and for being here today. Ms. Bartolome, can I just ask quickly how
many vacancies are currently on the commission again?
MS. BARTOLOME: There’s two.
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
MS. KIMBALL: And have you had any problems getting quorum at the Leeward
Planning Commission meetings—
MS. BARTOLOME: No.
MS. KIMBALL: To your knowledge? No, okay. Well, I look forward to hearing
from you, Ms. David. Again, as I have mentioned before, in past practice it’s
been in deference to you folks to determine how well the candidates represent in
your mind your community and your constituencies. Thank you again,
Mr. Vincent, and I yield, Chair.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Kimball. Anyone else in Hilo?
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Yes, please.
CHR. DAVID: Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder, go ahead.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Mr. Vincent, mahalo for being here today.
We missed you at committees, and we did forward this to Council to have the
discussion and to move the nomination along. So, I do appreciate your presence
today. So far, you’ve answered questions succinctly and I appreciate that. I’m
going to ask one question of you today, and I think that would be very helpful for
the group. Have you worked with Tinguely Development before?
MR. VINCENT: I did. Early in my career, I worked for Bill Tinguely.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Okay. And then when—was it a—and I
don’t know if you need to answer this or if you can answer this, but was it a—
when you left, because you don’t work there presently, was it a good leaving or a
bad leaving?
MR. VINCENT: I left to pursue other opportunities. I didn’t really see much of a
career progression there.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Okay, thank you very much. The reason
I’m asking, sir, is we have a representative who either works for or previously
worked for Tinguely Development on our current commission now. And I just
want to make sure that we do provide, as Mr. Kern stated, a balanced commission.
So again, I appreciate you being here today. I appreciate your service in the
Army. And I appreciate the way you’ve answered questions so far; you have a
very good understanding of what you’re doing. I like that Mr. Kern is concerned
about not having someone in the construction industry so that there can be that
kind of a knowledge on the commission. And I’m still deciding on where to go
with your nomination myself. So, I appreciate the conversation today. Thank
you. I yield, Chair.
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
MR. VINCENT: Thank you.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you.
Point of MR. KERN: Madam Chair, a point of clarification, if I may?
Clarification:
CHR. DAVID: Excuse me, wait. Thank you, Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder. Go
ahead, Director Kern.
MR. KERN: I just wanted to point out that Shani Armbruster was the
Commissioner that was appointed to the Leeward Planning Commission, and she
had the association with Tinguely Development. She had to leave the planning
commission for personal reasons. So, long story short, she’s no longer on the
planning commission. We wish that she still was. Just for your—
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Director.
MR. KERN: Thank you.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you. Anyone else in Hilo care to comment? Okay. All
right. Mr. Vincent, thank you so much for being here today, and I really need to
thank my colleagues for the questions that have been asked of you because most
of my issues were answered by your responses. And correct me if I’m wrong,
you are—the sustainability that you refer to is basically economic sustainability.
Is that what you—I think—is that what I heard?
MR. VINCENT: I think that it starts there, I think the economic good of it. But
it’s also I think if we can lower the footprints of all of our projects by maximizing
the economic value of a project. That preserves open spaces. It adds to the
quality of life and how we use our spaces. I think, yeah, I mean I’m sort of
looking—if I had to think about it philosophically, I think if I had to answer what
a solution was to a land use problem, I would want to test it for all of the things,
whether it was economic.
I think of all the pathways of life that we encounter, whether they’re how we
recreate, our traditions, how we interact with each other socially—all of those
things. So, I think that would sort of be the way I test for sustainability. I mean, I
think the environmental question, I think, is paramount really because, I mean,
obviously global warming and everything, it’s real. And I think it’s—if it’s not
too late, we have to definitely act and do something in some way we can for
whatever little, small part in the (inaudible) is.
CHR. DAVID: Right. I understand. Thank you for that. Listening to all of this,
and I agree in part that economic sustainability is important, but for me when I
talk about balance, I’m referring to the balance of the entire island and the
community as a whole because the balance is basically not contingent on
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
development. Sometimes, the balance has to be to not develop. And so, the
balance to me here is someone who has the ability to balance the needs of the
people that do not necessarily make up these resort areas. They make up our ag
(agricultural) lands. They make up—that’s the balance I’m looking for. And in
the planning commission, I think the balance has to include all of these things.
And so I just have one more question. I think the perception of balance in your
mind and in my mind are two different things. And I respectfully disagree on that
because I come from a different place where balance has been not necessarily
well-balanced for generations. And so I understand where you’re coming from.
My only question is, in applying for this position, are you familiar with the two
Supreme Court land use decisions, Ka Pa‘akai O Ka‘Aina and the PASH (Public
Access Shoreline Hawai‘i) and (Angel) Pilago Supreme Court cases, as they
relate to land use planning?
MR. VINCENT: No. I’m not familiar with that.
CHR. DAVID: Okay. As a suggestion, those are two very critical land use
Supreme Court decisions that basically are taught in our Richardson School of
Law, and also it’s included in our Planning Department’s procedures. And so I
respectfully, based on my own personal feeling of balance and what I feel a
person that sits on this commission will have to address, I respectfully cannot
support your nomination. There are important things—and I know in applying for
that, you may not have known that this is critical in making land use decisions
where these things are important, but it certainly is important to the community
because the community basically made this happen. And so, yeah, thank you so
much for being here. I respectfully say I can’t really support your nomination.
So, Council Members—Mr. Clerk, can we have a roll call vote, please?
Vote on PC-38: The motion to adopt Planning Committee Report No. 38
(Failed) failed by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung and Richards – 2.
Noes: Council Members Inaba, Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder,
Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Lee Loy, Villegas, and
Chair David – 7.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
(Note: Ms. Kierkiewicz voted “kānalua” then “no.”)
CHR. DAVID: Thank you. Mr. Vincent, thank you so much for being here today
and for going through this discussion process with us. Appreciate you. Thank
you.
MR. VINCENT: Thanks for the opportunity.
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
CHR. DAVID: Alright, aloha. Okay, Mr. Clerk, can we just finish the rest of the
reports and then we can go back to our agenda?
PRPSC-29 NOMINATION OF ANTONIO GASPAR TO THE VETERANS ADVISORY
(Comm. 553): COMMITTEE
Vote on PRPSC-29: Ms. Lee Loy moved to adopt Parks and Recreation and
(Adopted) Public Safety Committee Report No. 29. Seconded by
Mr. Inaba and carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, Inaba,
Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Kimball, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas,
and Chair David – 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
PRPSC-30 NOMINATION OF DOUG GORA TO THE VETERANS ADVISORY
(Comm. 557): COMMITTEE
Vote on PRPSC-30: Ms. Lee Loy moved to adopt Parks and Recreation and
(Adopted) Public Safety Committee Report No. 30. Seconded by
Mr. Inaba and carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, Inaba,
Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Kimball, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas,
and Chair David – 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
CHR. DAVID: I just need to take a couple things out of order because I believe
we have Deputy Director of R&D (Research and Development) in our Hilo
chambers and also—hang on a second. He’s here for Resolution 302-22, and
Chief Honda is here for Resolution 299 right after.
Res. 302-22: CREATES TWO NEW TEMPORARY POSITIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT
OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
These positions would assist adults, dislocated workers, and youth through training
to increase employment, retention, earnings, skills, and literacy.
Reference: Comm. 586
Intr. by: Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder (B/R)
Waived: FC
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
Motion to Approve: Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder moved to adopt Res. 302-22.
Seconded by Ms. Lee Loy.
CHR. DAVID: Go ahead, Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Ms. David or Chair David.
Deputy Director, you want to come up and give us some background on this for
the Council and then we can briefly discuss? Thank you for being here today and
for being patient. And always introduce yourself for the record.
(Note: At this time, Research and Development Deputy Director
Robert Agres came forward to address the members of the Council.)
MR. AGRES: Aloha. Bob Agres with the Department of Research and
Development, Deputy Director.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Thank you for being here today, sir. Can
you give us some background on the need for the temporary positions?
MR. AGRES: Sure. As you already have been made aware, the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act, the WIOA program, will be transferred from the
Office of Housing and Community Development to Research and Development.
And while there have been good structures and processes to ensure system
integrity and oversight of WIOA programs and funding over the years, the
transfer will help establish firewalls in systems that better delineate roles and
responsibilities and separation of duties as the County of Hawai‘i continues to
serve as the administrative entity, fiscal agent, and one-stop operator that connects
our unemployed and underemployed community to skills building and job-driven
training program support services and to employers. So, this helps us ensure our
compliance with WIOA requirements.
So, what we’re asking of you is approval to create these new positions, which are
temporary because they are grant-funded with WIOA funds. And while Federal
support for workforce development has been around for a long time, it doesn’t
guarantee this Federal formula grant program for the long-term.
Once authorized, we’ll work with the Department of Human Resources to
establish the positions and then start the recruitment process. And in the
meantime, we’ll continue to coordinate and work closely with OHCD (Office of
Housing and Community Development) on a smooth transition of WIOA to R&D
and the delineation of roles and responsibilities, while nurturing an increased
partnership for collaboration.
So, these two positions will increase our capacity to integrate and connect
workforce development efforts in the department’s priority areas of agriculture
and food systems, tourism, energy systems, climate change, creative economy,
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
small business and industry development, and community well-being. In our
continued partnership with OHCD, the Planning Department, and other
departments, this enhanced capacity will also help us to maximize strategic
linkages between workforce development efforts and WIOA resources to
recovery and resonance initiatives and investments related to addressing impacts
of the eruption and COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019), as well as other
sustainability issues. So, that’s the reason why we’re asking for these two new
positions. Appreciate the help and support.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Okay. And then again, these are temporary
positions?
MR. AGRES: These are temporary, yes.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: And then grant-funded?
MR. AGRES: They’re grant-funded WIOA funds.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Okay. And then I think it’s been asked
before, but the end-of-day positions being temporary, is there going to be a want
to move them to permanent positions? Or temporary, done at the end of the term?
MR. AGRES: Yes. I mean, WIOA funds have been around since—I mean,
workforce development funds have been around since the ’70s, right. And more
recently, the WIOA is the first reform in 15 years. So, how do you say, workforce
development issues are going to continue for a long time, and the hope is that
Federal funding support will continue. But because they’re grant-funded, that’s
the reason why Human Resources is recommending that they be temporary
because there’s no guaranty of funding support. So, I would imagine if these
funds are threatened at any given point, because of the importance of it we would
hope we could figure out ways to sustain it. But again, we’ve been recipients of
these workforce funds for a while.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Okay. On a lighter note—and thank you for
that—but this is your first appearance as Deputy Director in front of the Council,
correct?
MR. AGRES: Yes! Yikes!
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Congratulations, Bob. Good to see you.
MR. AGRES: Thanks.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Yeah, congratulations.
MR. AGRES: Mahalo.
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Thank you for being here today. Chair, I
have no further questions.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder. Any other questions?
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Chair?
CHR. DAVID: Go ahead, Ms. Kierkiewicz.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Mahalo nui. Aloha, Deputy Director.
MR. AGRES: Aloha, Ashley.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: It’s great to see you. And while you do have the kuleana
of helping to lead R&D, I know that you are still very much active in a lot of the
work to support our Puna recovery. So, thank you for doing so much for Puna
and the island. I had more of a technical question. So, understand that with the
transition from OHCD to R&D, make sense but I also hope we don’t lose sight of
the fact that in order for people to remain in housing, which is OHCD’s goal, that
they have access to meaningful employment. So, I saw the nexus and reason why
it was housed there, but also can see with more focus on economic development
that R&D is bringing why it makes sense to make that shift.
My understanding was that there are a couple of people that currently serve to
support this work within Housing. Was that also grant-funded through WIOA?
I’m just curious about, with the transition and the creation of these two positions,
what happens to those positions within OHCD that were dedicated to this Job
Corps work.
MR. AGRES: My understanding is that right now a Housing and Community
Development Specialist V is serving as the Executive Director for the WIOA
program.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Is that Sandra Goodale?
MR. AGRES: So, that’s Sandra.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Okay.
MR. AGRES: And that position will be equivalent to an EDS III (Economic
Development Specialist III) position, which is what we’re asking for. So, within
the Research and Development sort of type of classification, that would be the
equivalent. And so, these two positions will be primarily the program
administration management aspect, and then our hope is to actually provide some
support eventually for a Clerk and some County-ended other administrative
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
support. But the other OHCD positions have bright support. They’re all funded
with—I can’t totally speak to that. I know they are grant-funded, but I’m not sure
from which particular grants.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Okay. So, I’m just making sure that Sandra isn’t out of a
job because she is doing great work. She would be welcome to apply for this
position, correct?
MR. AGRES: That’s correct.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: But she also has other kuleana within Housing that she
could be working on as Housing Specialist.
MR. AGRES: Yes, if she was to be retained as the Housing—
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Specialist.
MR. AGRES: And Community Development Specialist, yes.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Okay. And then who would be the point person on the
leadership side to oversee these folks? Is it going to be you? Sorry if you
mentioned this earlier.
MR. AGRES: So, once we make the switch and then we establish these positions,
they would be Research and Development positions.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Right. And they would report to you?
MR. AGRES: To both Doug and myself, yes.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Okay. I just wanted to be clear, org (organizational) chart-
wise, on who was going to be kind of running point on this particular program
because it’s really exciting. And these two individuals would then work with the
Workforce Development Board?
MR. AGRES: That’s correct.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: To develop the annual plan that identifies where we should
be investing Job Corps monies in?
MR. AGRES: Yes.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Okay. Just wanted to make sure I got everything straight.
And then when did you say all of this transitioning would officially take effect?
MR. AGRES: It will be before next fiscal year. So, we’re still working on that.
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Okay. So you’ve got about six months or so—Deanna is
nodding in the back. Okay, great. Thank you, Deputy. I appreciate it. Mahalo
nui, Chair.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Kierkiewicz. Anyone else wishing to weigh in?
Seeing none, then, all those in favor of approving Resolution 302-22, please say
“aye.”
Vote on Res. 302-22: The motion to adopt Res. 302-22 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, Inaba,
Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Kimball, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas,
and Chair David – 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
CHR. DAVID: Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Thank you.
Vote on Motion to Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder moved to suspend Council
Suspend Council Rule 15 to waive the 5-day hold for reconsideration.
Rules: Seconded by Ms. Lee Loy and carried by the following
(Approved) voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, Inaba,
Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Kimball, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas,
and Chair David – 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
CHR. DAVID: I think now we can go to the top of the agenda.
Return to Order The Chair directed the Council to return to the order of business.
of Business:
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
Res. 299-22: AUTHORIZES THE ACCEPTANCE OF A DONATION OF THREE LUCAS
COMPRESSION SYSTEM DEVICES WITH ACCESSORIES TO THE
HAWAI‘I FIRE DEPARTMENT
The donation from the Hilo Medical Center Foundation, valued at approximately
$52,000, would be used during prolonged resuscitation attempts.
Reference: Comm. 583
Intr. by: Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder (B/R)
Waived: FC
Motion to Approve: Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder moved to adopt Res. 299-22.
Seconded by Ms. Lee Loy.
CHR. DAVID: Go ahead, Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: We have Battalion Chief Honda—correct,
sir?—here in the chambers here in Hilo. He did wait very patiently for about
almost an hour-and-a-half, two hours. So I appreciate your time, sir. If you could
give us a little background on the LUCAS compression system devices from the
HMC (Hilo Medical Center) Foundation that we’re accepting.
(Note: At this time, Battalion Chief Chris Honda, Fire Department, came
forward to address the members of the Council.)
MR. HONDA: Good morning, Chair. Good morning, Council. Thank you for
having us today. We’re very fortunate to partner with Hilo Medical Center
Foundation. They have supported our Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation program for
many years, and we’re fortunate for them to assist us with the donation of these
three LUCAS devices. What the LUCAS device is, what it mechanically does, it
does chest compressions on patients that are in cardiac arrest. So, their heart is
stopped. Right now, we manually do that. But with this device, it allows us to
apply it to the victim’s chest or the patient’s chest, and it has a piston that’s
automated and it will do perfect chest compressions.
And in cardiac resuscitation science and data, the things that are most important is
good chest compressions and electricity, meaning using automated external
defibrillators or using our EKGs (electrocardiograms) to apply a shock to an
individual that needs it. So, this compression device allows us to enhance our
care that we’re giving to our people of Hawai‘i Island and it prevents injuries. It
allows us to do compressions in situations that sometimes can be very
challenging, such as on our medevac (medical evacuation) helicopter. With this
device, we would be able to do good chest compressions in a confined space on
our aeromedical helicopter out of South Kohala. So, there’s many uses for this.
And with our geographical challenges here, our personnel are doing CPR
(cardiopulmonary resuscitation) for prolonged periods of time, which has led to
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
injuries in the past. With this device, it would decrease those chances and it
would take away fatigue—I guess challenges that we see sometimes with doing
CPR, especially when we’re doing CPR for 45 minutes, 50 minutes, taking turns
back and forth in the back of a moving ambulance. This would alleviate that and
allow us to pay attention to other skills that are very important; for example,
administering medications and starting intravenous lines and things like that.
With Hilo Medical Center’s new cath (catheterization) lab, and the second one, I
believe, opening up soon or just had opened, we’re seeing an increase in transfers
of patients having heart attacks from outlying hospitals or critical access facilities.
And having this piece of equipment on our vehicles is very advantageous for us
should that individual’s condition deteriorate. So, definitely, we’re very lucky
and fortunate. Excited to receive this equipment, and we hope to get it out online
as soon as we receive it with training.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Thank you very much, sir. Chair, I yield for
questions from the Council.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder. Anyone else would like to
say a few words?
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Chair?
CHR. DAVID: Ms. Kierkiewicz, go ahead.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you. Mahalo nui, Chief, for being here. Sorry if
you mentioned this earlier, but how many of these devices do we actually have
within the department now? Or would these be the first three for the department?
MR. HONDA: So, actually, currently we have five. So, Hilo Medical Center had
donated two initially when they first opened up their cath lab here in Hilo, and the
locations of those are in Nā‘ālehu and in Waimea. And shortly after that, we
received three more through the Sayre Foundation. So, we strategically placed
those out at kind of our outlying stations and also our busier stations as well. So,
we look at there’s a balance between transport time, volume, and things like that.
Our goal is to have all of our 16 ALS (advanced life support) ambulances
outfitted with this equipment. Of course, cost is a challenge; they’re about 15,
$16,000 apiece. That’s for the equipment, the batteries, the chargers and things
like that. And there’s usually an annual maintenance charge that we—
preventative maintenance cost that comes into it that we’re going to have to factor
into our budget.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Do you know what that looks like? Because, I was going
to ask about what is the lifetime use of each of these devices.
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
MR. HONDA: Yeah, so it comes with a year warranty. And the yearly
preventative maintenance, which includes calibration, parts and labor, and things
like that, is about $650 apiece.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Okay. So now, accepting this donation would bring us to a
total of eight?
MR. HONDA: Yes.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Okay. And you also mentioned wanting to have these
devices on our choppers.
MR. HONDA: So, one of the stations that we’re looking at with one of these
three is going to be at our South Kohala Fire Station—
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Fourteen.
MR. HONDA: Fourteen, correct, yes. Of course, with the expansion of the
Waikoloa area, the more people moving there in volume, but also because of our
air medical helicopter. It’s quite challenging right now to do CPR in our current
helicopter. So with this device, it would allow us to do good compressions in that
confined space that our practitioners get to work in. It’s kind of tight in there.
And in hopes of the new helicopter coming in the future, it’d be definitely
advantageous to have it there.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Okay, so at 14, you could presumably have the device on
the medic and, if needed, easily grab transport into the chopper.
MR. HONDA: Yes, correct. So, that’s what we do. The crew that’s designated
for the ground ambulance, if they have an aeromedical call, they’ll grab their
equipment and it’s portable, and they would bring it onto the helicopter, correct.
And the compression device is packaged very well. It’s made for the pre-hospital
setting. So, it’s very compact and easy to mobilize, yeah.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you for helping to coordinate this donation. Really
appreciative to HMC Foundation and to the Sierra Foundation for their thinking
of Hawai‘i County and the need for these devices. I wish you didn’t have to make
tough decisions as to which station got what, but hopefully this is something that
we can work on during budget cycle.
MR. HONDA: Definitely. Thank you.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: So, thank you, Chief. Mahalo, Chair, I yield.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Kierkiewicz. Mr. Richards, go ahead.
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
MR. RICHARDS: Thank you and real intriguing, the technology on this one.
Ms. Kierkiewicz touched on that and maybe I just missed the answer. The
maintenance of this equipment, there’s an annual maintenance. What’s the total
life expectancy? Maybe this equipment’s too young to know that. But are we
looking at needing replacement in, like, three years, five years? What is the life
expectancy?
MR. HONDA: As far as for equipment, it comes with a one-year warranty, and
after that it’s $650 a year. As far as life expectancy, these LUCAS devices have
been around probably, I’d say, roughly eight to ten years. And the departments
that I’ve spoken to, including Honolulu, they haven’t had any issues with it, and
they probably had it on their ambulances for a good five years or so. So, I don’t
anticipate it—I definitely think it’s going to outlast five-plus years.
But that yearly subscription or maintenance cost is something we must do because
it’s a piece of equipment that needs to be calibrated every year to make sure that
it’s doing compressions at the correct rate, the correct depth, and it’s coming up to
the correct height. So, there’s some calibration pieces that needs to be monitored
every year.
MR. RICHARDS: And I assume that’s going to be in a maintenance contract
because that was one of the concerns with the AEDs (automated external
defibrillators), that getting them is one thing but we’ve got to make sure we’re
maintaining them. And that’s all part of looking at the long-term maintenance
contracts for this. Is that accurate?
MR. HONDA: Yes, correct. So, all of our LUCAS devices that we have
currently, we have taken over the maintenance contracts with those and we will
work it into the budget to sustain it.
MR. RICHARDS: Okay. And I think a final question is wish list. I can see
where this would be very valuable if you’ve ever tried doing CPR for any length
of time. Wish list; this will bring you up to eight. And maybe, Chief, if you’re
listening, what would the want be for the County? I fully appreciate you want to
have them in the outlying areas as you’re transporting to the hospital. But if you
had a wish list of how many total we would want, do you have a number on that
one?
MR. HONDA: I would say seven more. So, it would outfit all of our
16 ambulances and 1 spare because we do—things break. And when it does,
we’d like to have a replacement. And just thinking off the top of my head in
certain situations that we’ve been in on doing CPR. I mean, just like Akaka Falls;
carrying somebody out, trying to do CPR on the trail is very difficult. With a
piece of equipment like this, we could apply it immediately at the location of the
cardiac arrest, with good chest compressions being done during extrication.
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
So, it does give us a lot of opportunity to provide better care to our community.
And being an all-hazards department from mauka to makai, we deal with so many
different types of emergencies and so much different uncontrolled variables. This
is one tool that would be an asset to us in our department.
MR. RICHARDS: I can definitely see the value in this. So, okay. So another
seven, you said; basically, double what you have now. Correct?
MR. HONDA: Correct. That’d be definitely on our wish list.
MR. RICHARDS: Okay, terrific. Thank you and thank you, Chair. I yield.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Richards. Anyone else wanting to weigh in?
Seeing none, Battalion Chief Honda, I really would like to express our aloha for
your patience this morning in waiting patiently in our Hilo chambers. And also, I
just wanted to say mahalo a nui to the Hilo Medical Foundation. And on that, all
those in favor of approving Resolution 299-22, please say “aye.”
Vote on Res. 299-22: The motion to adopt Res. 299-22 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, Inaba,
Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Kimball, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas,
and Chair David – 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Res. 300-22: AUTHORIZES THE ACCEPTANCE OF A DONATION OF A PEACE POLE
TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
The donation from the East Hawai‘i Rotary Club’s Peace Committee, valued at
approximately $10,000, would be installed at Mo‘oheau Park.
Reference: Comm. 584
Intr. by: Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder (B/R)
Waived: FC
Motion to Approve: Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder moved to adopt Res. 300-22.
Seconded by Mr. Richards.
CHR. DAVID: Go ahead, Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: I’ll give a brief explanation. Based on what
we were provided by the Parks and Rec. (Recreation) Department, this is a granite
peace pole to be installed at Mo‘oheau Park. The Director is in a meeting, and I
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
had texted him earlier and asked him if he wanted to be here. If there’s any
questions from the Council Members on this, this is a gift—not a gift—a
donation—donation’s a better word—from the Rotary Club of East Hawai‘i Peace
Committee. But if there’s any questions, he is available but we need to give him
some time to come over. So, I’ll yield to the Council, but again, the Director is
available, but not here presently.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder. Mr. Chung, go ahead.
MR. CHUNG: Yeah, I have one question, so if we could get him on.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Okay.
CHR. DAVID: Would you entertain a motion to table this, and we can get the
Director?
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Yes, please.
Vote on Motion to Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder moved to table Res. 300-22.
Table: Seconded by Ms. Lee Loy and carried by the following
(Approved) voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, Inaba,
Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Kimball, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas,
and Chair David – 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Res. 301-22: AUTHORIZES THE PAYMENT OF FUNDS OF A LATER FISCAL YEAR
AND OF MORE THAN ONE FISCAL YEAR FOR A MULTI-YEAR
SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT WITH THOMPSON REUTERS FOR
WESTLAW EDGE
Authorizes the Mayor to enter into a five-year agreement for online legal research
services with an estimated monthly cost of $4,069 for the first year, with a
one percent increase after year one and each year thereafter.
Reference: Comm. 585
Intr. by: Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder (B/R)
Waived: FC
Motion to Approve: Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder moved to adopt Res. 301-22.
Seconded by Ms. Lee Loy.
CHR. DAVID: Go ahead, Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder.
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: This is fairly self-explanatory. I do believe
we have Ms. Strance online as well if there’s any questions from the Council
Members. Thank you. I yield.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you. Seeing no questions—Mr. Inaba, go ahead.
MR. INABA: I just have a quick question. I’m not familiar with this type of
software, and I see that this is actually for the Prosecutor’s office. We have
somebody on Zoom, but—first of all, did they want to say anything?
(Note: At this time, Business Manager Lisa Faulkner-Inouye, Office of
the Prosecuting Attorney, came forward to address the members of the
Council.)
MR. INABA: Good morning, Lisa. Did you want to share anything? You’re on
mute right now.
MS. FAULKNER-INOUYE: Sure. Sorry about that. Good morning, everyone.
So, our subscription to Westlaw has been—Westlaw is the platform that our
office uses for all of the (inaudible) research. It’s a five-year contract. Presently,
it’s coming to an end next month, and we want to enter into a new five-year
contract which offers us savings over a year-to-year contract. In addition, with
this new contract we’re able to negotiate a—usually, there is a standard 2 percent
increase per year in the annual fee, but we negotiated 1 percent down for some
cost savings with the new software that we would get for the next five years.
MR. INABA: Thank you, Lisa. And I think, Betsy, you had your hand up. Did
you want to chime in on something here? Judge Strance?
(Note: At this time, Corporation Counsel Elizabeth Strance came forward
to address the members of the Council.)
MS. STRANCE: I do not, thank you.
MR. INABA: Okay. So, I just have a question. I apologize if it comes from an
uneducated position, but if I recall correctly, we approved something similar for
Corporation Counsel. And is this something that we could potentially look into to
have one contract that might save the County money? Or is that not possible?
And I guess I’ll ask Corporation Counsel that.
MS. STRANCE: I don’t know that it’s ever been done before. It would be cross-
department budgets, but it certainly is something we can look into down the road.
MR. INABA: Okay. Thank you. I look forward to supporting today. And not
sure that the amount that would be saved would be worth it anyway, but just
figured I’d ask. Thank you so much, Chair. I yield.
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Inaba. Anyone else have any questions regarding
Resolution 301? Seeing none, all those in favor please say “aye.”
Vote on Res. 301-22: The motion to adopt Res. 301-22 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, Inaba,
Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Kimball, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas,
and Chair David – 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
CHR. DAVID: I was just informed we can de-table or take Resolution 300 off
the table at this point. Go ahead, Ms. Lee Loy.
Vote on Motion to Ms. Lee Loy moved to remove Res. 300-22 from the table.
Remove from Table: Seconded by Mr. Inaba and carried by the following voice
(Approved) vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, Inaba,
Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Kimball, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas,
and Chair David – 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
CHR. DAVID: All right, discussion continues. Mr. Chung, go ahead.
MR. CHUNG: I just wanted to know where that monument was going to be
placed. I texted Director Messina and he said it’s going to be behind the bus stop
in the grassy area, which is good. I just didn’t want it in an—there is maybe a
remote possibility that ‘Alenaio Stream one day may come straight into Hilo Bay.
And we just didn’t want it being placed someplace over there and that’s all, yeah.
Thank you.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you for that, Mr. Chung. Anyone else? Seeing none, all
those in favor of approving Resolution 300-22, please say “aye.”
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
Vote on Res. 300-22: The motion to adopt Res. 300-22 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, Inaba,
Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Kimball, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas,
and Chair David – 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Res. 303-22: SETS FORTH COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
TO INFORM MEETINGS BETWEEN THE HAWAI‘I STATE ASSOCIATION
OF COUNTIES EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS IN
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Establishes the following as priorities for the County of Hawaiʻi: infrastructure
funding for County capital improvement projects; direct County access to federal
funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,
and the pending Build Back Better Act; and lobbying for infrastructure and service
funding dedicated to tribal nations to benefit the Native Hawaiian community.
Reference: Comm. 587
Intr. by: Ms. Kimball
Waived: GOREDC
Motion to Approve: Ms. Kimball moved to adopt Res. 303-22. Seconded by
Ms. Lee Loy.
CHR. DAVID: Go ahead, Ms. Kimball.
MS. KIMBALL: Thank you. This is the resolution that evolved out of our
discussion in Committee previously to present to HSAC (Hawai‘i State
Association of Counties) some items to be discussed during our NACo (National
Association of Counties) Legislative Conference in D.C. (District of Columbia).
Hopefully, I have faithfully captured what you folks have recommended and it’s
there in the resolution. So, just ask for your support today. Happy to make any
corrections, though, if I didn’t correctly capture anything. Thank you, Chair.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Kimball. Ms. Lee Loy, go ahead.
MS. LEE LOY: Thank you, Chair. Real brief. Thanks, Ms. Kimball. I think you
did a fantastic job capturing everyone’s thoughts, and I’ll be supporting this
resolution. I yield.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Lee Loy. Anyone else? Seeing none, all those in
favor of approving Resolution 303-22, please say “aye.”
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
Vote on Res. 303-22: The motion to adopt Res. 303-22 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, Inaba,
Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Kimball, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas,
and Chair David – 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
MS. KIMBALL: Madam Chair, may I request a waiver of the five-day hold?
CHR. DAVID: Thank you.
Vote on Motion to Ms. Kimball moved to suspend Council Rule 15 to waive
Suspend Council the 5-day hold for reconsideration. Seconded by
Rules: Ms. Lee Loy and carried by the following voice vote:
(Approved)
Ayes: Council Members Chung, Inaba,
Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Kimball, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas,
and Chair David – 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
BILLS FOR The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business, Bills for
ORDINANCES Ordinances (First Reading).
(FIRST READING):
(Note: Items in this category were taken up previously, out of order.)
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
Bill 99: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 11-73, WHICH RECLASSIFIED LANDS FROM
AGRICULTURAL – FORTY ACRES (A-40a) TO AGRICULTURAL – FIVE
ACRES (A-5a) AT PUʻUKAPU, SOUTH KOHALA DISTRICT, HAWAI‘I,
COVERED BY TAX MAP KEY: 6-4-017:042 (Applicant: Cynthia Foster)
(Area: Approx. 17.88 acres)
The Leeward Planning Commission forwards its favorable recommendation for
this amendment, which requests a five-year time extension to comply with
Condition C (Time to Secure Final Subdivision Approval) with an amendment to
Condition J (Inadvertent Cultural/Historic Finds). The property is located along
the north side of Māmalahoa Highway approximately 750 feet west of its
intersection with Kipahele Street in Waimea.
Reference: Comm. 548
Intr. by: Ms. Kierkiewicz (B/R)
Approve: PC-39
Motion to Approve: Ms. Kierkiewicz moved to pass Bill 99 on first reading and
adopt Planning Committee Report No. 39. Seconded by
Ms. Lee Loy.
CHR. DAVID: Go ahead, Ms. Kierkiewicz.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you, Chair. We had a very in-depth discussion at
Committee. Just noting that the applicant ran out of time. They had already
secured tentative subdivision approval in October 2020 and just needed a little bit
more time to complete the project. I believe Planning Director Zendo Kern is on
Zoom if folks have questions. Thank you.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Kierkiewicz. Any questions, Council Members?
Seeing none, thank you, Director, for being available. All those in favor of
approving Bill 99 at first reading, please say “aye.”
Vote on Bill 99: The motion to pass Bill 99 on first reading and adopt
(Approved) Planning Committee Report No. 39 was carried by the
following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, Inaba,
Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Kimball, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas,
and Chair David – 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
Bill 100: REPEALS ORDINANCE NO. 97-106, WHICH AMENDED SECTION 25-8-33
(CITY OF HILO ZONE MAP), ARTICLE 8, CHAPTER 25 (ZONING CODE)
OF THE HAWAI‘I COUNTY CODE 1983 (2016 EDITION, AS AMENDED),
BY CHANGING THE DISTRICT CLASSIFICATION FROM LIMITED
INDUSTRIAL – 20,000 SQUARE FEET (ML-20) TO INDUSTRIAL-
COMMERCIAL MIXED – 20,000 SQUARE FEET (MCX-20) AT WAIĀKEA,
SOUTH HILO, HAWAI‘I, COVERED BY TAX MAP KEY: 2-2-032:023, 101,
102, 103 AND 104
(Planning Director initiated) (Area: Approx. 147,736 square feet)
The Windward Planning Commission forwards its favorable recommendation to
repeal Ordinance No. 97-106, which would reclassify the property back to its
original designation of Limited Industrial – 20,000 square feet. The property is
located on the southeast corner of Kalanikoa and Kuawa Streets in Hilo.
Reference: Comm. 549
Intr. by: Ms. Kierkiewicz (B/R)
Approve: PC-40
Motion to Approve: Ms. Kierkiewicz moved to pass Bill 100 on first reading
and adopt Planning Committee Report No. 40. Seconded
by Ms. Lee Loy.
CHR. DAVID: Go ahead, Ms. Kierkiewicz.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you, Chair. We had hardy discussion in Committee
on this one. Deputy Director Jeff Darrow was standing in for Director Kern, but
he is available—I see him on Zoom—as is the representative for the applicant if
folks have additional questions. Thank you, Chair.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Kierkiewicz. Council Members, any further
questions on this bill?
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Chair, I had a question.
CHR. DAVID: Go ahead, Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Chair. Mr. Kern, Mr. Darrow
answered my questions but I just wanted to—if you can help me understand this.
So, we’re repealing Ordinance No. 97-106. There’s a historical zoning on the
property, correct?
(Note: At this time, Planning Director Zendo Kern came forward to
address the members of the Council.)
MR. KERN: Correct.
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: But as we repeal this and this takes effect,
this new ordinance or this new bill, Bill No. 100, because it hasn’t been passed
yet, there are no conditions on the TMK (tax map key) or the parcel. And I may
be wrong and I may not be saying it correct, but I’m just trying to understand
what happens in a case like this.
MR. KERN: Sure. So, there’s still the—sorry, Zendo Kern, Planning Director.
There are the zoning ordinances and all rules that a project would have to follow
or a land use would have to follow. So, just like other parcels in that area that
would be zoned ML that didn’t have, say, like a zoning ordinance on it with
specific conditions, those would be treated the same way. So, they still have to go
through plan approval, meet all egress, meet Department of Public Works,
landscaping, etcetera. So, it’s not like, oh, you can just go do anything you want
there. You still have to meet all of that. But it’s just back-based to its original
zoning, which is consistent for that area.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Okay. I guess my concern would be, then, if
there’s no conditions of approval besides meeting the standards in our Code for
this type of property or this type of zoning, that’s all they have to comply with.
And I want to make sure that protects the County’s interests and long-term
planning and density use and all that kind of things; just that we’re creating some
guidelines for the owner of the property or the developer going forward.
MR. KERN: Yeah, I mean, I feel we’ve looked at it, and our team feels that it
does and those conditions exist. Just as if a parcel, say, across the street that
didn’t have that, they would have to still comply with, like I say, the rules and the
laws that currently exist, which are in the interest of the County and the
community.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Okay. So, no specific conditions of
approval. Basic requirements are still in place.
MR. KERN: Yes. Plan approval, parking, setbacks, heights, landscaping, egress,
wastewater, DOH (Department of Health)—all of those same things. Just like,
like I say, at the parcel across the street that’s existing zoning, it would be treated
the exact same way.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Okay. Thank you, Mr. Kern. I appreciate
that. I yield, Chair. Thank you.
MR. KERN: My pleasure.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder. Anyone else wishing to
weigh in? Seeing none, thank you, gentlemen, for being here. All those in favor
of approving Bill 100, please say “aye.”
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
Vote on Bill 100: The motion to pass Bill 100 on first reading and adopt
(Approved) Planning Committee Report No. 40 was carried by the
following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, Inaba,
Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Kimball, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas,
and Chair David – 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Bill 101: AMENDS THE STATE LAND USE BOUNDARIES MAPS FOR THE
COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI BY CHANGING THE DISTRICT CLASSIFICATION
FROM THE AGRICULTURAL TO THE URBAN DISTRICT AT WAIĀKEA,
SOUTH HILO, HAWAI‘I, COVERED BY TAX MAP KEY: 2-4-001:168
(Applicant: Hawai‘i Island Community Development Corporation)
(Area: Approx. 9.091 acres)
The Windward Planning Commission forwards its favorable recommendation for
this amendment, which would allow the applicant to develop 90 units of affordable
housing and other related services in South Hilo. The property is located
approximately 1,600 feet west of the Mohouli and Komohana Street intersection in
Waiākea.
Reference: Comm. 550
Intr. by: Ms. Kierkiewicz (B/R)
Approve: PC-41
Motion to Approve: Ms. Kierkiewicz moved to pass Bill 101 on first reading
and adopt Planning Committee Report No. 41. Seconded
by Ms. Lee Loy.
CHR. DAVID: Go ahead, Ms. Kierkiewicz.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you, Chair. Just looking for everyone’s continued
support on this affordable housing project by HICDC (Hawai‘i Island Community
Development Corporation). Thank you, Chair.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you. Anyone else? Seeing none, all those in favor—
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Chair?
CHR. DAVID: Oh, I’m sorry. Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder, go ahead.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Thank you. I looked over this bill, and I
have a couple of questions. The bill in front of us, I’m not sure who created this
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
bill but the map that is provided—and it threw me off a little bit, but I had to go
back in and Google Map this to understand what was going on. But the map that
was provided within the bill shows Kūkūau Street as being labeled Ohukea Street.
It threw me off a little bit.
And then I had thought about Ms. Villegas’s comments from last time. I did a
little bit of homework, and I just want to clarify to make sure that the documents
that we put forward are correct. So, for one, the map shows Kūkūau Street as
being labeled Ohukea, which is incorrect. But going backwards a little bit, I
mean, there was a resolution—there was discussion—Resolution 476-18. And it
was said that that resolution had no standing on this particular property. But in
looking back at the documents, the TMK is the same. And so, I’m trying to wrap
my head around how 476-18 is being identified and associated with
TMK: 2-4-001:168. It does not or is not in alignment with Bill 101.
And I am not sure who to ask, either the Planning Department or the bill submitter
or HICDC themselves. And I just want to make sure that what we’re putting
forward and the existing documentation and legislation within the County is
correct.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Chair, if I might?
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Kierkiewicz.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you. I believe Director Kern is here so he can field
questions. As the Committee Chair, I do introduce things by request of the
department, and so if there are oversights, I apologize but I also know that folks
are working incredibly hard in the Planning Department.
My review of the resolution you’re referring to noted that the Kumu Hou project
was for the senior affordable housing complex, which could likely be on the same
TMK. I don’t have it up in front of me; it’ll take me a minute to bring up. But,
Director Kern, if you want to weigh in on other questions that my Council
Member colleague has raised. Thank you.
(Note: At this time, Planning Director Zendo Kern came forward to
address the members of the Council.)
MR. KERN: Yeah, thank you. I’m going through there right now, pulling up the
research. That’ll take me just a moment. It’s possible that Keith might be able to
get to a faster answer, and I’ll pull on my staff here in just a second.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Okay. And just for everybody, I understand
this is a State land use classification change and request. But I was thinking about
the comments that were made at the last meeting and wanting to make sure that
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
everything that we put on the record was correct—and no pushback towards you,
Ms. Kierkiewicz, and realizing that the Planning Department created the
documents, but just wanted to make sure that everything is lined up correctly.
And then from there, I had a few more questions. The question is, 476-18, it
refers to the TMK that’s brought forward in Bill 101. Is there a difference
between the TMK in Bill 101 and the TMK mentioned in 476-18?
MR. INABA: Chair?
CHR. DAVID: Mr. Inaba.
MR. INABA: If I might, as Director Kern is searching regarding the resolutions,
I do, based on my own research here and looking at our County maps, concur
with Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder that the map here in the bill incorrectly labels
Kūkūau Street as Ohukea Street. So, I don’t know about the resolution, but I do
see that to be incorrect.
CHR. DAVID: Council Members, do you want to take a recess until
Director Kern can come forward?
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Yes, please, Chair. I think that will be good.
CHR. DAVID: Okay, we’re in recess for about five minutes. Thank you.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Thank you.
Recess: At 11:31 a.m., the Chair called for a recess.
Reconvene: The meeting reconvened at 11:41 a.m.
CHR. DAVID: Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder, I believe Director Kern is ready and
we can go ahead.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Chair. I appreciate it. Can you
hear me okay?
CHR. DAVID: Yes.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Okay. Mr. Kern, so yeah,
Resolution 476-18 was a 2018 resolution passed by the County Council. But as
stated in the last meeting, there were multiple people saying it wasn’t related,
different, but I just wanted to ensure that.
MR. KERN: This, the reso (resolution) you’re referring to, is for them to enter
into the 75-year lease. Correct?
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Okay. Yes.
MR. KERN: And we confirmed that the TMK shown here is the same TMK that
the subject SLU (State Land Use) is for.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Okay. So that Resolution 476-18 does
apply, too, and is correlated to Bill 101 then.
MR. KERN: It does correlate. It relates. Yeah, this is where it authorizes the
Finance Director to negotiate the 75-year lease with the Hawai‘i Island
Community Development Corporation. So, that sets forth the lease, and now the
State Land Use Boundary Amendment would be necessary to effectuate the
affordable housing project to bring it to urban.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Okay. And I think that’s where the
confusion lay because the resolution stated that they would be seeking 200 units
for senior housing.
MR. KERN: Correct.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: But they’ve kind of switched gears. It’s a
little confusing going back and forth.
MR. KERN: Sure.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: So, does the resolution hold any weight
here? Does it require them—was the lease based on the 200 units? I mean,
what’s the thought process behind that? What’s the process County-wise?
MR. KERN: My understanding is that they proposed to do that, and I believe
they can go all the way up to that. I believe there’s flexibility in there. I don’t see
any reason that there wouldn’t be. We could defer that to Corporation Counsel if
we need to, but I don’t think there would be any requirement for that. And the
applicants can speak to exactly what their overall plan was, based on that, to
where we are right now.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Okay. Maybe from both, if possible.
MR. KERN: And real quick, on the map part of it, I want to apologize for that.
That was a mislabeling on our part.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: No, that’s okay. Ohukea is one of the side
streets. I used to deliver pizza up there, so I remember those streets very well.
But anyway—so maybe, Corporation Counsel, for Resolution 476-18, does that, I
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
mean, there’s a lease agreement that was based on that number. What weight
does that hold as we move forward and look at this ordinance and anything else—
or this bill—or anything else that comes after? Ms. Strance, if you could?
(Note: At this time, Corporation Counsel Elizabeth Strance came forward
to address the members of the Council.)
MS. STRANCE: I haven’t had a chance to analyze the question. It’s something
that is important to the Council, I’m knowing. I’d like the opportunity to evaluate
it and have one of my colleagues weigh in.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Okay. In the meantime, is the applicant
online? Can you describe what happened to the difference of 200 senior-based
affordable rentals to 90 affordable rental units?
(Note: At this time, Chief of Operations Jeremy McComber, Hawai‘i
Island Community Development Corporation, came forward to address the
members of the Council.)
MR. MCCOMBER: Yeah, sure, hi. Jeremy McComber here with Hawai‘i Island
Community Develop Corp. (Corporation). So, at the time that we secure property
with the County if it comes through an Executive Order, we have to provide a
preliminary narrative in order to secure that property. And so at the time, we do a
very cursory review of the site to determine what our maximum capacity would
be for the site. And there are various factors we have to consider: the cost
feasibility of the project. And then if the project is then subject to environmental
requirements, when you go down the road of doing an environmental review, your
review has to account for the maximum number of units you’re going to be
building on the project. And so, we allow ourselves flexibility in the number but
still keeping what the max (maximum) capacity for the site could be.
And then following securing a property, we go down the predevelopment road
where we start to engage consultants and do actual design work. And then based
on what the design tells us and what we feel like the community can reasonably
tolerate and accept, we arrive at what the real number is, and then that, in turn, is
checked against the financial feasibility of the project and what we’re able to
secure financing for. So, that’s sort of how we scaled from the 200 number to the
90 number that we’re at today.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Okay. I appreciate that answer. I will be
kind of hoping to hear from our Corporation Counsel on the way that the
resolution and the bill interplay with each other.
A follow-up question maybe for Zendo—this might be better for Zendo—and
there was some difference in opinions or in statements in the documentation
provided with the bill that refer to driveways in and out. And it looks like most of
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
the traffic used to be funneled across the front of the Fire Dispatch Center through
an easement to Kupuna Place, but there’s also mention of mauka access in and out
of the property to help with vehicular flow. I don’t see that on the document from
the developer or the applicant, but are we requiring two driveways? That’s the
first question.
MR. KERN: Yeah, just give me one moment. I apologize. My Division
Manager and the Planner that actually worked on putting this together are both
out today. So, me and Christian are going through this. So, give me one moment.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Understood. And then as a follow-up
question, is the County aware that they need to provide access across of the
adjoining TMK from Kupuna Place to parcel 2-4-001:168? And has that access
been created and is it on the plan documents?
MR. MCCOMBER: Yes. Actually, for us to be able to complete our design, we
had to have a final alignment of that access. And so, we coordinated with the Fire
Department, and the alignment that you have in front of you is what was
determined to be acceptable.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Okay. And the cost of that easement
development is being borne by?
MR. MCCOMBER: By HICDC.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Okay. So, HICDC is paying for the
easement from Kupuna Place transitioning across the Dispatch Center parcel and
then to the parcel that we’re discussing today?
MR. KERN: Correct.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Okay. That’s good to hear. Thank you.
MR. KERN: Yeah. And this was based on the TIAR (Traffic Impact Analysis
Report) from the Traffic Engineer, and there’ll be a right-in, right-out only on
Mohouli Street. And as you’ll notice on this one, because it’s a State Land Use
Boundary Amendment, we don’t have the typical conditions that you’d see in the
rezoning because this went through OHCD (Office of Housing and Community
Development) as a reso.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Okay. And then, sorry, when you’re
speaking to the right-in, right-out, that’s in a different—?
MR. KERN: If you look at the Background Report on page 4, line item 20, under
“Traffic,” AECOM was the one who completed the Traffic Impact Analysis
Report. And about seven lines up from the bottom is where you’ll see that.
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Okay, sorry, and that is for two accesses to
the property—two driveways—or one?
MR. KERN: There will be the access point that you referred to that goes across
to the Fire Station. That’s your main—maybe you’ll do left turns out of there,
right turns out of there. The access on Mohouli was recommended to just be
right-in, right-out.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: A separate entrance, though, correct, from
the Kupuna Place?
MR. KERN: Correct.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Okay, that makes me feel better because I
was worried about the Fire Dispatch Center and traffic from both the existing
senior affordable housing on Komohana and Mohouli as well as the traffic from
the new proposed 90 units.
MR. KERN: Correct. Yeah, and again, this is based off of an actual traffic
engineer’s analysis on what the best traffic pattern and flow and the egress would
be.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Okay. Were the studies that were done
based on 200 units or 90 units? And that goes for water; that goes for traffic.
MR. KERN: It’s my understanding that all of these studies and their requests are
based on the request, which was for the 90 units.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: For the 90 units.
MR. KERN: Correct.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Okay. Then I’m just back to my original
question, then, that we have the existing resolution, 2018. Understandably, there
can be changes to a project as they move forward for whatever reasons may
occur, but I’m wanting to understand how that resolution affects the bill—or does
it at all? I know there was some discussion yesterday about whether resolutions
are binding, nonbinding. For the most part, they’re nonbinding. But this is an
interesting example, again, of a resolution being either binding or nonbinding, and
then how that works.
CHR. DAVID: Excuse me. Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder, would you mind me
moving to another Council Member for a question? I think your five minutes are
up, and I’d like to entertain a question from Mr. Chung here, and then I’ll go back
to you.
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: No, not at all, Ms. David. I yield.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you. Mr. Chung, go ahead.
MR. CHUNG: Thank you, Maile. First of all, that’s a good catch on the part of
Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder recognizing that Kūkūau is not listed; it’s incorrectly
named Ohukea. But at the same time, I view that as being de minimis, and it’s
something that can be corrected from the time that—from now until this gets to
second reading. But it’s a good catch.
With regard to the resolution, and I’m going to bear some responsibility over here
because Ms. Villegas was mentioning something about it but—and maybe it’s
because I’m so close to this project in working with Jeremy and Keith. This is
something that was worked upon to get the density down from 200 lots, down to
about 90, 95, or whatever it is right now. And that’s why I got discombobulated
because the only thing that I could think about was Phase 3 of the Mohouli senior
project. That’s why we got all confused because it’s no longer 200.
Now, with regard to the legal question, I cannot speak for Corporation Counsel.
But the best I know, that resolution, which we are all familiar with as well—and I
cannot blame Rebecca or Matt because they weren’t on the Council at that time—
but that resolution was passed, the best I can tell, unanimously. And it allowed
for the County to negotiate the leasing or whatever it is for up to 200. Those
200 lots were listed in the recital and not in the final resolution itself, I mean, the
bottom part. So, you could go up to 200. That was the intent of this company, to
do 200 at the time. But they’re certainly not bound by that because I don’t want
that to happen. These guys are allowing it to go down from 200 to less than half.
So, I mean, I guess these are good questions, but ultimately, they’ve come up with
a better project than what they have originally contemplated. So, what I’m going
to be asking is we get this map corrected with the proper name “Kūkūau” and
then move on this thing. Thank you.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Chung. Anyone else before I go back to
Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder?
MR. CHUNG: One more thing too.
CHR. DAVID: Go ahead.
MR. CHUNG: And, Zendo, I did ask this question of Jeff, but there are other
pieces of legislation that are coming up, right, after this. Right?
MR. KERN: Correct. This is really—
MR. CHUNG: (Inaudible.)
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
MR. KERN: That’s right. This is just the State Land Use Boundary Amendment.
MR. CHUNG: Right. And then that’s where all the particulars are going to be
hashed out.
MR. KERN: That’s correct.
MR. CHUNG: Thank you.
MR. KERN: And we will supply the revised map; and again, I apologize.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Chung. Anyone else before I go to
Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder? Ms. Villegas, go ahead.
MS. VILLEGAS: Yes, please. First off, thank you, Mr. Chung, for your
kindness in recognizing and validating our confusion here based on these projects
and some of the different reports that have come out. I also am curious to know,
from my own learning, if then a new resolution is necessary as it relates to this
project.
I also wondered just for my own understanding, because this is a great way for
things to happen, that the State allocates land to the County, then the County
works with the developer to build this kind of housing; does the County need to
do an RFP, then, for this kind of development?
CHR. DAVID: Ms. Villegas, who are you directing the question to?
MS. VILLEGAS: I would either ask Planning Director Kern or Corp. Counsel.
Mr. Kern, is the County required to go out as an RFP?
MR. KERN: I do not believe I’d be the exact person to answer that. I know that
through OHCD, the office of community development housing, that certain
projects go up for RFP; other ones, I’m not exactly sure. So, they would be the
more appropriate one. Keith might be able to expand on that and how this got
derived, or Jeremy.
MS. VILLEGAS: Yes, gentlemen; could either of you describe that for me? And
then I would just ask, Judge Strance, assuming this goes to second reading, if you
could confirm the answers from a legal standpoint so I have a better
understanding of this process—because, hopefully, there will be more lands
allocated for these kinds of things—so I understand it better.
MS. STRANCE: I’m taking notes and I will take that to my office and get back
to you.
MS. VILLEGAS: Thank you. All right. Jeremy or Keith?
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
(Note: At this time, Executive Director Keith Kato, Hawai‘i Island
Community Development Corporation, came forward to address the
members of the Council.)
MR. KATO: If I could—first of all, let me apologize for not speaking earlier, but
I was having issues with my microphone for some reason. But to answer your
question, it’s been my understanding, and this is coming from the prior director of
OHCD, that in the County Code there is a section that authorizes the direct lease
of land to a nonprofit. That’s the way it was explained to me, and that’s
essentially what has happened with previous projects. So, there was no RFP
involved, but there was a direct lease.
MS. VILLEGAS: Okay. And then my question would be also, just for a broader
understanding, if we aren’t using RFPs for this, then how are developers,
contractors, and builders selected? Those are questions that I appreciate your
sentiments, Mr. Chung, in having a much broader understanding of this project
and the history of it. But as it is before us now and we are at pivotal times when it
comes to State land and County land and the need for affordable housing, I think
it behooves all of us as Council Members and members of the County to gain a
better understanding of what the process is on this as it relates to RFPs or how
things are chosen or selected. So, I would yield at that and look forward to
learning more about that in our next session. Thank you so much, Keith. Thank
you, Jeremy. I yield.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Villegas. Anyone else before we move forward?
Go ahead, Mr. Chung.
MR. CHUNG: I just want to know, Mr. Clerk, or someone else, Corp. Counsel,
how do we go about changing the map? What do we do? Do we make the
request to do it now? Do it later?
MR. HENRICKS: I think—I’m not looking at the bill, but usually with these, the
map is part of the ordinance, yeah.
MR. CHUNG: Right. It’s referred to.
MR. HENRICKS: And it even makes a reference to, like, an exhibit attachment.
So, we would want to see the bill amended to, say, “Exhibit A, Draft 2” so the
record’s clear that the reason there’s a Draft 2 is no change in wording but just the
map was swapped out.
MR. CHUNG: Right.
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
MR. HENRICKS: So, we could accept something either from Ms. Kierkiewicz’
office or Planning that would provide us with the correct map saying, “Please
amend Bill 102 by using this map instead of the one that’s in there now.” And
then we would change the wording in the bill to reflect a different map, perhaps.
MR. CHUNG: Do we do it now or—?
MR. HENRICKS: It would be something that would be most likely produced in
between readings or if this is postponed or (inaudible) between now and the next
meeting.
MR. CHUNG: Okay, so we don’t have to do anything right now.
MR. HENRICKS: No. Just the recognition, then, of having that work go forward
should work.
MR. CHUNG: Okay. Thank you.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Chung, and thank you, Clerk Henricks. Are we
ready? Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder, I think we’ve kind of discussed this and came
to an understanding on moving forward. So, are you done?
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: I have one more question, Chair, and thank
you for the latitude.
CHR. DAVID: Okay.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: The question is a follow-up on Rebecca’s
question. But more so, my thought is if the resolution—I believe the resolution
allows for the Department of Finance to enter into an agreement with a nonprofit.
But I think my question really is when a nonprofit comes forward and says, “This
is what we’re going to provide,” and if the Department of Finance is basing their
decision on the resolution language but that changes in the future as we move
forward with the project, it just raises a small concern of mine, that what may
originally be promised to the County that would lend to the terms of the lease or
whatever else agreements that are reached, that we make sure that ultimately what
we’re deciding via a lengthy set of legislation going over years is what is best for
the community.
And I do hear Mr. Chung’s concerns. I would have concerns, too, if a large
development of 200 units was to be installed into a fairly dense area already. I
hear that concern very clearly. But on the County level, I just want to make sure
that if we say we’re getting a bucket of oranges, we’re not getting some apples
and some oranges on the back end, and that our decision-making is based on
correct information as we move forward.
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
So, I appreciate the move to amend the bill to have the correct map; and I agree,
very minimal, but I want to make sure that it’s right. And I would like a response
from Corporation Counsel via the resolution, as well as a follow-up from Finance
Department regarding the process that begins with that resolution and how it lays
out from there. And then with that, I yield, Chair.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder. Anyone else before we
move forward?
MS. STRANCE: Council Chair?
CHR. DAVID: Go ahead, Judge Strance.
MS. STRANCE: Just a quick clarifying question for Council Member Kānealiʻi-
Kleinfelder. Just the reference to the 2018 resolution number again?
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: The resolution number is 476-18.
MS. STRANCE: Thank you.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: And that was before I was in office. So,
thank you. Thank you, Ms. Strance.
MS. STRANCE: Mahalo.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Judge Strance. All right, seeing no other discussion,
all those in favor of approving Bill 101, please say “aye.”
COUNCIL MEMBERS: Aye.
CHR. DAVID: Any opposed?
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: No.
CHR. DAVID: We have nine “ayes,” Mr. Clerk.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: My vote was “no,” Ms. David.
CHR. DAVID: I’m sorry?
MR. HENRICKS: So again, because we have members at various locations, if
the vote is not unanimous, you need to do—
CHR. DAVID: Oh, I’m sorry. I couldn’t hear that.
MR. HENRICKS: A roll call vote.
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
CHR. DAVID: Okay, go ahead.
Vote on Bill 101: The motion to pass Bill 101 on first reading and adopt
(Approved) Planning Committee Report No. 41 was carried by the
following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, Inaba, Kierkiewicz,
Kimball, Lee Loy, Richards, and Chair David – 7.
Noes: Council Members Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder
and Villegas – 2.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Clerk.
Bill 102: AMENDS CHAPTER 24, ARTICLE 10, DIVISION 5, SECTION 24-279,
SCHEDULE 27, OF THE HAWAI‘I COUNTY CODE 1983 (2016 EDITION, AS
AMENDED), RELATING TO PARKING ON PAVEMENT PROHIBITED AT
ALL TIMES AND AMENDS CHAPTER 24, ARTICLE 10, DIVISION 5,
SECTION 24-280, SCHEDULE 28, OF THE HAWAI‘I COUNTY CODE 1983
(2016 EDITION, AS AMENDED), RELATING TO NO PARKING AT ANY
TIME
Amends Section 24-279, Schedule 27 (Parking on Pavement prohibited at all
times), and amends Section 24-280 (No Parking at Any Time), by adding new
provisions for portions of Kalapana-Kapoho Beach Road, Subsection (g), Puna.
Reference: Comm. 551
Intr. by: Ms. Lee Loy (B/R)
Approve: PWMTC-14
Motion to Approve: Ms. Lee Loy moved to pass Bill 102 on first reading and
adopt Public Works and Mass Transit Committee Report
No. 14. Seconded by Mr. Richards.
CHR. DAVID: Go ahead, Ms. Lee Loy.
MS. LEE LOY: Thank you, Chair. We had two testifiers today, and I believe
Director Rodenhurst may be in our Hilo chambers.
(Note: At this time, Public Works Director Ikaika Rodenhurst came
forward to address the members of the Council.)
MS. LEE LOY: Thanks, Director Rodenhurst, for being here. Happy New Year.
When this was in Committee, we had some conversation about the signs, but then
earlier today we had some testifiers talking about the signage but, more
importantly, the conditions of the road. And I just wanted to hear from you
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
because this was generated from the department, and the department supports the
signage. And we just wanted to hear from you what the options were to start to
address some of the road conditions there also.
MR. RODENHURST: Hi. Good afternoon, Council, and I appreciate being here.
Thank you for having me here to discuss. Director Rodenhurst for Department of
Public Works. Yes, for the testimony today for Bill 102, we heard the concerns
for the maintenance of the road and the conditions of the road. We are working
with our Highways Maintenance Division with Neil Azevedo as well as the Puna
specific section to determine what kind of maintenance is required down here.
It’s currently not on our pavement schedule for this fiscal year, but we are looking
at assessing when that can be added onto our schedule.
MS. LEE LOY: Thanks, Director Rodenhurst. And maybe some other
alternatives too. Oftentimes, the shoulders, if you just come in with some other
material, might address what one of the testifiers talked about, was kind of a drop-
off from the road.
MR. RODENHURST: Correct. And I’ll have to review our maintenance
schedule with Neil to determine when’s the next time we will be down there. As I
said, we just heard about these testifiers today. And obviously, we do hear from
the community when needs arise, and we were there to determine the sign. So, I
don’t have a definite answer of when we will be there other than we’re looking at
it and we will provide when we will be there.
MS. LEE LOY: Thanks, Director Rodenhurst. Thanks for being here. Thanks
for evaluating it. Chair, I yield at this time.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Lee Loy. Anyone else have any comments?
Ms. Kimball, go ahead.
MS. KIMBALL: Yeah, thank you and thank you, Director Rodenhurst, for being
here. So, the testimony actually referred to both the road and the parking lot.
Who’s got authority over the parking lot? Is that yours or Parks and Rec. or
(inaudible)?
MR. RODENHURST: I agree. I heard that as well, and we’re going to have to
determine who would actually hold responsibility for that parking lot. We
don’t—no, I don’t know at this time. I’ll have to confirm with staff.
MS. KIMBALL: Okay, great. Thank you. I just wanted to clarify that. I
appreciate you looking into it. I yield, Chair.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Kimball. Anyone else in Hilo?
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Chair, if I could?
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
CHR. DAVID: Go ahead, Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Ms. David. I think, just to help
the conversation, the parking lot falls into kind of a mixed jurisdiction between
State, being DLNR (Department of Land and Natural Resources), as well as
County. We own the roadway and the roadway touches the parking lot. But the
access for Kehena and Kehena Beach are all in State jurisdiction, which has led to
some of the area being used problematically and also led to a nice mixture of
County and State interactions within the last two years as we dealt with COVID
(coronavirus disease) and keeping up on mask policies and COVID-19 policy.
I wanted to speak to the testifier. I really appreciate that she came forward with
some solutions that I think we could work on as a County. We do want to ensure
public safety, public access for the coastline. We want to ensure the safety and be
responsible for the people who live immediately in the vicinity.
There was some written testimony that came in as well just on behalf of this bill
in support of it, and in support of the families who have been dealing with a lot of
visitor inundation from around the area. But without getting too far astray on that
point, I really liked Ms. Yates-Tese’s idea to, or solution, to provide better
shoulders, and if we could work towards that in correlation with the signage. The
signage doesn’t prohibit people from parking there. It just says you have to park
completely off the roadway.
So, if we can on our end—and it’s a fantastic idea—provide better parking on the
shoulders and provide some access for people to get down, then we kind of hit
both ends of the spectrum: keeping everybody safe but providing good access
and parking for those who do want to enjoy the beach safely. So, I really
appreciate the testimony.
I also appreciate Ms. Kuulei Cooper from the district really pushing hard on me
and Ikaika to get this done. She’s been working with us for about two years, no, I
think, from start to finish; from when I first had discussions with them when we
got to the Administration, then through the Administration change and then
eventually into Mr. Rodenhurst’s lap. And here we are. So, appreciate everyone
who’s been involved and hope that helps with the conversation. Thank you,
Chair.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder. Anyone else? Seeing
none, all those in favor of approving Bill 102 please say “aye.”
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
Vote on Bill 102: The motion to pass Bill 102 on first reading and adopt
(Approved) Public Works and Mass Transit Committee Report No. 14
was carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, Inaba,
Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Kimball, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas,
and Chair David – 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Bill 108: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 21-38, AS AMENDED, THE OPERATING
BUDGET FOR THE COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING JUNE 30, 2022
Appropriates revenues in Federal Grants – Hazard Mitigation Grant Program-
Shoreline and Riparian Setbacks Hawai‘i County account ($13,500), and
appropriates same to Hazard Mitigation Grant Program-Shoreline and Riparian
Setbacks Hawai‘i County account. Funds would be used for administrative and
management costs.
Reference: Comm. 580
Intr. by: Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder (B/R)
Waived: FC
Motion to Approve: Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder moved to pass Bill 108 on first
reading. Seconded by Ms. Lee Loy.
CHR. DAVID: Go ahead, Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: Fairly self-explanatory, Chair. I have no
further discussion on this.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you. Council Members, any further discussion? Seeing
none, all those in favor of approving Bill 108 at first reading, please say “aye.”
Vote on Bill 108: The motion to pass Bill 108 on first reading was carried by
(Approved) the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, Inaba,
Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Kimball, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas,
and Chair David – 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
Bill 110: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 21-38, AS AMENDED, THE OPERATING
BUDGET FOR THE COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING JUNE 30, 2022
Increases revenues in the Fund Balance From Previous Year account ($770,000),
and appropriates same to Highway Maintenance Administration Equipment
account. Funds would be used for price increases on equipment purchases and to
acquire equipment that was budgeted for in the previous fiscal year but not
purchased due to lack of vendors.
Reference: Comm. 582
Intr. by: Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder (B/R)
Waived: FC
Motion to Approve: Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder moved to pass Bill 110 on first
reading. Seconded by Ms. Lee Loy.
CHR. DAVID: Go ahead, Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder.
MR. KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER: I like this. We’re putting some money back
into DPW (Department of Public Works) so we can take care of our roads and get
better equipment for the department. Much needed. And I’ll be supporting this
today. Thank you.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you. Anyone else? Seeing none, all those in favor of
approving Bill 110 at first reading, please say “aye.”
Vote on Bill 110: The motion to pass Bill 110 on first reading was carried by
(Approved) the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, Inaba,
Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Kimball, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas,
and Chair David – 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
ORDER OF The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business, Order of
THE DAY the Day (Second or Final Reading).
(SECOND OR
FINAL READING): (Note: Bill 103 was taken up previously, out of order.)
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Hawai‘i County Council-31 January 19, 2022
Bill 104: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 21-38, AS AMENDED, THE OPERATING
BUDGET FOR THE COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING JUNE 30, 2022
Increases revenues in the State Emergency Medical Services account ($4,806,545),
and appropriates same to the following accounts: Fire Emergency Medical
Services – Salaries and Wages ($1,165,446), Fire Emergency Medical Services –
Equipment ($371,091), and Retirement Benefits ($3,270,008), bringing the total
appropriation to $21,984,337. Funds would be used for collective bargaining
agreement salaries and fringe benefits and equipment.
Reference: Comm. 567
Intr. by: Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder (B/R)
First Reading: January 5, 2022
Vote on Bill 104: Mr. Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder moved to pass Bill 104 on
(Adopted) second and final reading. Seconded by Ms. Lee Loy and
carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, Inaba,
Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Kimball, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas,
and Chair David – 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
REPORTS: The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business, Reports.
(Note: Items in this category were taken up previously, out of order.)
REFERRALS FOR The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business, Referrals
EXECUTIVE for Executive Session.
SESSION:
(There were none.)
OTHER The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business, Other
BUSINESS: Business.
(There were none.)
ANNOUNCE-The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business,
MENTS: Announcements.
(There were none.)
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Hawai`i County Council-31 January 19,2022
ADJOURN- There being no further business, at 12:14 p.m., Mr. Inaba moved to adjourn the
MENT: meeting. Seconded by Ms. Lee Loy and carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Chung, Inaba,
Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Kimball, Lee Loy, Richards, Villegas,
and Chair David—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you. We are adjourned at 12:14. Mahalo, Council
Members.
FEB 2 3 2022
Council Approval:
CO ' TY CLE'
JH/dg
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