HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN COUNCIL 2023-01-05 2022-2024 Hawaii County Council
3`'d Session
Hawaii County Building
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii
January 5, 2023
INVOCATION: Pastor John Endriss of Engage Church Hilo gave the morning's invocation.
CALL TO The regular meeting of the Hawaii County Council was called to order at
ORDER: 1:01 p.m., in the Council Chambers, Hilo, by Ms. Heather L. Kimball, Chair.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Ms. Heather L. Kimball, Chair
Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Vice Chair
Ms. Cindy Evans, Member
Ms. Michelle M. Galimba, Member
Ms. Jenn Kagiwada, Member
Mr. Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Member
Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Member
Ms. Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Member
Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Member
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 (There were none.)
EXPRESSIONS OF
CONDOLENCE:
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:
Hawaii County Council-3 January 5,2023
Mary Crispi: Res. 27-23 (Comm. 31), in support.
(representing Friends of
Higashihara Park)
Rodney McGee: Res. 27-23 (Comm. 31), in support.
(representing Lions Club of Kona)
CHR. KIMBALL: Before we get into the agenda, I actually did want to just
mention a rule change again to everyone that we adopted in our first meeting with
respect to reconsideration. One of the changes to the rules that we adopted was
that if there's unanimous agreement on a bill or a resolution by the members
present, then it is no longer held for the five days for reconsideration. So
members of the departments that are here or are listening, if you have an item that
is urgent, you don't need to request that unless there is not a unanimous vote on
the approval of the resolution or the bill.
APPROVAL The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business, Approval
OF MINUTES: of Minutes.
Vote on Approval Ms. Lee Loy moved to approve the Minutes of
of Minutes: December 5, 2022 (2020-2022) and December 5, 2022.
(Approved) Seconded by Mr. Inaba and carried by the following voice
vote:
Ayes: Council Members Evans, Galimba, Inaba,
Kagiwada, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Lee Loy, Villegas, and Chair Kimball—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
ORDER OF The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business, Order of
RESOLUTIONS: Resolutions.
Res. 27-23: TRANSFERS/APPROPRIATES AN APPROPRIATION OUT AND FROM A
DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT AND CREDITS SAME TO A DESIGNATED
FUND ACCOUNT TO PROVIDE A GRANT TO THE LIONS CLUB OF KONA
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, INC., FOR EXPENSES RELATING TO ITS
MAINTENANCE PROJECT AT THE HAROLD H. HIGASHIHARA PARK
Transfers $2,500 from the Clerk-Council Services —Contingency Relief account
(Council District 8); and credits to the Department of Parks and Recreation,
Administration Other Current Expenses account.
Reference: Comm. 31
Intr. by: Mr. Inaba
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Hawaii County Council-3 January 5,2023
Motion to Approve: Mr. Inaba moved to adopt Res. 27-23. Seconded by
Ms. Lee Loy.
CHR. KIMBALL: Any discussion? Mr. Inaba.
MR. INABA: Thank you. Mahalo to our testifiers out in Kona today and for the
good work that the Lions Club has and continues to put into our park. Quick
story since we have such a short meeting. One of my friends came home from
Honolulu this weekend and was actually able to take his son, who's three years
old, to this very park, and it's a park that we all grew up in as Kona kids. So
thank you for allowing that legacy to continue. I ask for my colleagues' support.
Mahalo.
CHR. KIMBALL: Thank you. Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Chair. Just mahalo to
Mr. Inaba. This is a beautiful park. There's not too many parks like this left; the
old wooden-style parks that we all had as kids. There's just not a lot of them.
They're all plastic and metal. I really like these parks. Thank you for supporting
this facility.
CHR. KIMBALL: Thank you, Council Member. Any further discussion?
Seeing none, all of those in favor of approving Resolution 27-23, please say
Ic aye.
Vote on Res. 27-23: The motion to adopt Res. 27-23 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Evans, Galimba, Inaba,
Kagiwada, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Villegas, and Chair Kimball—8.
Noes: None.
Absent: Council Member Lee Loy — 1.
Excused: None.
CHR. KIMBALL: Resolution 27-23 is adopted.
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Hawaii County Council-3 January 5,2023
Res. 28-23: TRANSFERS/APPROPRIATES AN APPROPRIATION OUT AND FROM A
DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT AND CREDITS SAME TO A DESIGNATED
FUND ACCOUNT TO PROVIDE A GRANT TO VIBRANT HAWAII TO
ASSIST WITH EXPENSES RELATING TO THE 27TH ANNUAL
KWXX HO`OLAULE`A
Transfers $4,000 from the Clerk-Council Services —Contingency Relief account
(Council District 5); and credits to the Department of Liquor Control, Public
Programs account.
Reference: Comm. 34
Intr. by: Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder
Motion to Approve: Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder moved to adopt Res. 28-23.
Seconded by Mr. Inaba.
CHR. KIMBALL: Any discussion? Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Chair. I look for everyone's
support on this. I'm pretty sure we'll have it. This is an amazing yearly festival.
It was put off during COVID (coronavirus disease) for appropriate reasons. It is
January 28h and they released their list of people who are going to be
participating this year. It looks like it's going to be an amazing event. It's
something I participated in for years in the background. I helped set up and break
down. It's exhausting but it's such a cool community event.
So, I look forward to everyone's support; and as well, if you have extra money,
Chris could use the funding. His costs have gone up substantially just from all the
different areas, and we all know costs are kind of crazy right now. So, if you have
extra funding, Chris would really appreciate it. There still is time, given that this
is January 28h and our next meeting's the 24h. So, it can be done.
CHR. KIMBALL: Except for noon today was the deadline.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: There's a way to breach.
CHR. KIMBALL: At the Chair's discretion and advisement. I'll put it out there
right now, folks; we're cutting down on breaches. So, please. Maybe I'll make
an exception.
MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay. Thank you, Chair. I look forward to
everyone's support.
CHR. KIMBALL: Great. Any further discussion? Council
Member Kierkiewicz.
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Hawaii County Council-3 January 5,2023
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you, Chair. In the past, I've disclosed that I'm a
board member of Vibrant Hawaii, but just want the record to reflect that I've
actually stepped down from the board. So, will be participating in today's vote, if
that's okay with you. Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, my office has
submitted a resolution, so we will be providing some financial support to this
event as well. I can remember going to this many times in my youth, and so look
forward to getting back and celebrating community and awesome artists in our
community in a few weeks. So just wanted to share that with you. Thank you,
Chair.
CHR. KIMBALL: Great. Thank you, Council Member Kierkiewicz. Anyone
else? Discussion on this matter? Seeing none, all of those in favor of passing
Resolution 28-23, please say "aye."
Vote on Res. 28-23: The motion to adopt Res. 28-23 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Evans, Galimba, Inaba,
Kagiwada, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Villegas, and Chair Kimball—8.
Noes: None.
Absent: Council Member Lee Loy — 1.
Excused: None.
CHR. KIMBALL: Resolution 28-23 is adopted.
Res. 29-23: TRANSFERS/APPROPRIATES AN APPROPRIATION OUT AND FROM A
DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT AND CREDITS SAME TO A DESIGNATED
FUND ACCOUNT TO PROVIDE A GRANT TO PATH TO PURCHASE AND
MAINTAIN PET WASTE BAGS FOR THE OLD WALUA TRAIL
Transfers $1,100 from the Clerk-Council Services —Contingency Relief account
(Council District 7); and credits to the Department of Parks and Recreation,
Administration Other Current Expenses account.
Reference: Comm. 35
Intr. by: Ms. Villegas
Motion to Approve: Ms. Villegas moved to adopt Res. 29-23. Seconded by
Mr. Inaba.
CHR. KIMBALL: Council Member Villegas.
MS. VILLEGAS: I just ask for my colleagues' support. We've provided funding
to PATH (People for Active Transportation Hawaii) in prior years for pet waste
bags. This is an area very well-used by people with their animals. For a while,
some of the members of the neighborhoods were actually buying the waste bags.
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Hawaii County Council-3 January 5,2023
So, happy to be able to contribute some of my CRF (Contingency Relief Fund)
funds to fill in the gap there. I have asked that they utilize the funds to purchase
biodegradable bags so that we aren't contributing long-term plastic waste into our
landfill. I yield.
CHR. KIMBALL: Thank you, Council Member Villegas. Any further
discussion? Seeing none, all of those in favor please say "aye."
Vote on Res. 29-23: The motion to adopt Res. 29-23 was carried by the
(Adopted) following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Evans, Galimba, Inaba,
Kagiwada, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Lee Loy, Villegas, and Chair Kimball–9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
CHR. KIMBALL: Resolution 29-23 is adopted.
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):
Bill 221: AMENDS CHAPTERS 17 AND 26 OF THE HAWAII COUNTY CODE 1983
(Draft 3) (2016 EDITION, AS AMENDED), RELATING TO FIRE
(2020-2022) Updates and revises the Hawaii County Fire Code to incorporate the
2018 National Fire Protection Association standards and adopt the 2018 Hawaii
State Fire Code.
Reference: Comm. 1029.9
Intr. by: Ms. Kierkiewicz (B/R)
First Reading: December 21, 2022
Motion to Approve: Ms. Kierkiewicz moved to pass Bill 221, Draft 3, on
second and final reading. Seconded by Mr. Inaba.
CHR. KIMBALL: Council Member Kierkiewicz.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you, Chair. We have members of the Fire
Department here—Chief Todd, BC (Battalion Chief) Kurashige, and
Captain Henderson—in case folks have additional questions. But mahalo nui,
you guys, for all of your hard work in crafting this and making sure that our
County Code is now aligned with the most recent NFPA (National Fire Protection
Association) Code regulations. And a big shout-out to Leslie Chow in LRB
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Hawaii County Council-3 January 5,2023
(Legislative Research Branch) for all of her hard work in helping us to wordsmith
it and polish it. I don't see members of Public Works here. I don't think they're
in Kona. So I think we've resolved all the issues that they've brought forward in
Committee and at the last Council reading. So just looking for everyone's
continued support on this measure. Thank you, Chair, I yield.
CHR. KIMBALL: Thank you, Council Member Kierkiewicz. Any further
discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor of approving Bill 221, Draft 3.
Vote on Bill 221: The motion to pass Bill 221, Draft 3, on second and final
Draft 3 reading was carried by the following voice vote:
(Adopted)
Ayes: Council Members Evans, Galimba, Inaba,
Kagiwada, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Lee Loy, Villegas, and Chair Kimball—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
CHR. KIMBALL: Bill 221 is adopted on final reading.
MR. INABA: Congratulations.
MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Congrats, you guys. Good job.
CHR. KIMBALL: Thank you to the members of our Fire Department for being
here today.
Bill 1: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 22-63, AS AMENDED, THE OPERATING
BUDGET FOR THE COUNTY OF HAWAII FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING JUNE 30, 2023
Increases revenues in the Federal Grants —High Intensity Impact Grant account
($219,900); and appropriates the same to the High Intensity Impact Grant account,
bringing the total appropriation to $610,000. These additional funds would be
used by the Hawaii Police Department for overtime, travel, training, services, a
vehicle, and related equipment for its High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas
Program.
Reference: Comm. 4
Intr. by: Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder(B/R)
First Reading: December 21, 2022
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Hawaii County Council-3 January 5,2023
Vote on Bill 1: Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder moved to pass Bill 1 on second
(Adopted) and final reading. Seconded by Ms. Lee Loy and carried
by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Evans, Galimba, Inaba,
Kagiwada, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Lee Loy, Villegas, and Chair Kimball—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
CHR. KIMBALL: Bill 1 is adopted on final reading.
Bill 2: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 22-63, AS AMENDED, THE OPERATING
BUDGET FOR THE COUNTY OF HAWAII FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING JUNE 30, 2023
Increases revenues in the Federal Grants —Substance Abuse Prevention
Coordinator account($90,000); and appropriates the same to the Substance Abuse
Prevention Coordinator account, bringing the total appropriation to $200,000.
These additional funds would be used by the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for
substance abuse prevention systems on Hawaii Island.
Reference: Comm. 5
Intr. by: Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder(B/R)
First Reading: December 21, 2022
Vote on Bill 2: Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder moved to pass Bill 2 on second
(Adopted) and final reading. Seconded by Mr. Inaba and carried by
the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Evans, Galimba, Inaba,
Kagiwada, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Lee Loy, Villegas, and Chair Kimball—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
CHR. KIMBALL: Bill 2 is adopted at final reading.
REFERRALS FOR The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business, Referrals
EXECUTIVE for Executive Session.
SESSION:
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Hawaii County Council-3 January 5,2023
Comm. 32: JOEL H. WHITE V. COUNTY OF HAWAII, ET AL., CASE 21-00264-JMS-RT
From Deputy Corporation Counsel Mark D. Disher, dated December 8, 2022,
requesting an attorney-client confidential discussion to consult with the Council
regarding the above-referenced matter, including litigation filed by Jacob G.
Delaplane, Esquire, on behalf of his client Joel H. White.
Motion to Close Mr. Inaba moved to close file on Comm. 32. Seconded by
File: Ms. Lee Loy.
CHR. KIMBALL: Is there any discussion? Council Member Inaba.
MR. INABA: Chair, I don't feel the need to go into Executive Session, and I do
support the recommendation by Corporation Counsel. So, happy to hear from
others on the Council if they feel the need to go in.
CHR. KIMBALL: Thank you, Council Member Inaba. Anyone else?
Discussion on the motion to close file? Council Member Villegas.
MS. VILLEGAS: I concur with that same conclusion; don't think we need to go
into closed session.
CHR. KIMBALL: Anyone else?
Vote on Motion to Ms. Lee Loy moved to concur with the recommendation of
Concur: Corporation Counsel regarding Comm. 32. Seconded by
(Approved) Ms. Galimba and carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Evans, Galimba, Inaba,
Kagiwada, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Lee Loy, Villegas, and Chair Kimball—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Vote on Comm. 32: The motion to close file on Comm. 32 was carried by the
Filed following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Evans, Galimba, Inaba,
Kagiwada, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Lee Loy, Villegas, and Chair Kimball—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
OTHER The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business, Other
BUSINESS: Business.
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Hawai`i County Council-3 January 5,2023
(There were none.)
ANNOUNCE- The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business,
MENTS: Announcements.
ADJOURN- There being no further business, at 1:22 p.m., Ms. Lee Loy moved to adjourn the
MENT: meeting. Seconded by Mr. Inaba and carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Council Members Evans, Galimba, Inaba,
Kagiwada, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Lee Loy, Villegas, and Chair Kimball—9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
CHR. KIMBALL: We are adjourned officially at 1:22 p.m. Thank you.
Council Approval: FEB 0 8 2023
CO ` T ERK
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