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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN CRCOC 2023/04/18 (2022-2024)Committee on Communications, Reports, and Council Oversight 7th Session West Hawaii Civic Center 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Building A Kailua-Kona, Hawaii April 18, 2023 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Communications, Reports, and ORDER: Council Oversight was called to order at 9:02 a.m., in the Council Chambers, Kailua-Kona, by Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Chair. ROLL CALL: Present: Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Chair Ms. Jenn Kagiwada, Vice Chair Ms. Cindy Evans, Member Ms. Michelle M. Galimba, Member Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Member Mr. Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Member (came in later) Ms. Heather L. Kimball, Member Absent and Excused: Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Member Ms. Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Member STATEMENTS The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, FROM THE Statements from the Public on Agenda Items. PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS: The Chair called Jon Olsen, who registered to comment on Comm. 209, and came forward when called. COMMUNI- The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, CATIONS: Communications. Comm. 209: REQUESTS A DISCUSSION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION REGARDING THE ALIGNMENT OF THE STATE OF HAWAII COMPLETE STREETS POLICY AND THE COUNTY OF HAWAII STREET DESIGN MANUAL From Council Member Jennifer Kagiwada, dated March 30, 2023. Motion to Close File: Ms. Kagiwada moved to close file on Comm. 209. Seconded by Ms. Galimba. CRCOC-7 April 18, 2023 CHR. VILLEGAS: With that I turn I'd go ahead and turn this over to Council Member Kagiwada. MS. KAGIWADA: Thank you so much, Chair. Good morning, everybody. This morning we have Director of DPW (Director of Public Works) Steve Pause here, as well as over in Hilo looks like we have our Director of Planning Zendo Kern as well as I'm forgetting your title but our long-range funding guru April (Surprenant) over there, as well. I just wanted to get this on the agenda, there's been a lot. We have, I believe, on this current Council we have five members that have joined since the initial passing or presentation on the complete streets and the street design manual for our County. And so I just wanted to hopefully get the rest of us involved, the other five of us who weren't here when that presentation was given. And also, hopefully get an update from our departments on kind of where we are with this, as well as open it up for specific discussion. So I'm hoping we can come away with this with a sense of knowing where we are as a county, with the complete streets and our own County design manual, as well as where were kind of headed. So thank you so much, Director, for being here. I don't know if you want to start it off or if you want to send it over to Hilo. (Note: At this time Director of Public Works Steve Pause came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MR. PAUSE: I'll start it off. Steve Pause, Director of Public Works. So in Hilo Chambers are the Director of Planning, and then as you mentioned the girl of Planning, April. So we did have an opportunity to sit down and meet and put some collective thoughts together. Just at a high level today, we'll talk a little bit about what complete streets is, and April has all sorts of history on that, and she'll be able to that. We can talk a little bit about some of our recent projects and then maybe discuss a little bit about the sorts of things we can do a little better moving forward. So if you don't mind, I'll just turn it over to April and she'll be able to give you a little bit more background and history on complete streets. Thanks, April. (Note: At this time Public Works Planning Program Manager April Surprenant came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MS. SURPRENANT: Thank you, Steve. Thank you, Council Members, for having us here today to have this important discussion. Just a little back story on complete streets and to bring others who may not have previously been in this conversation up to speed. Complete streets really is a tool box of design opportunities that can be used in designing any roadway or bringing other roadways up to current standards. One of the things about complete streets is that Page 2 CRCOC-7 April 18, 2023 it is intended to address all ages and all different kinds of abilities, it's multimodal in nature, so the point is to consider and include as many modes as is appropriate for any given street and any given area or neighborhood. So what can be misunderstood a little bit about the concept and design standards of complete streets, is every mode has to be addressed in every location. And that's not necessarily the case. There may be some areas where we want to encourage more bicycle and pedestrian in transit and therefore, include those types of facilities to enable that. And other areas where like, you know, highway system where we really don't want to encourage some of those different modes for safety reasons. And so it's really about access for all, and livability for all, to be able to accommodate as many different modes of transportation and active living as possible. At one point in time, our County, and this is reflected in our vision zero action plan, our Hawaii County had the most traffic fatalities per capita, then any of the other counties. And so the efforts behind the complete streets policies and the vision zero action plan are really framed around making our streets, designing our streets to be safer for all users. As a little bit of history, the state passed the complete street policy in 2009. And then the county followed suit in 2011. We then had the downtown Hilo multimodal masterplan and the transit multimodal master plan both were finished, completed in 2018. And then, in 2020 we had the vision zero action plan and the street design manual. Kauai, Maui, and Honolulu, also have complete streets policies and design manuals that are also adopted by ordinance. The complete street framework for our master plan, the idea was to shift a little bit of the priority of how we design our streets to really focus on pedestrians, transit, and bicycles, knowing that we already have a lot of focus on the automobile. So how do we incorporate more pedestrian transit and bicycle facilities into our roadways? And the plan includes policies, standards, it addresses a lot of the policies and actions called for in the 2005 General Plan as well as all of the regional community development plans. One of the things sort of to point out is Chapter 2 in the design manual, particularly calls out for street types. And so that's a really useful tool in connecting the types of streets and matching those with our land use, that's the intentions behind those. We currently have a project and are under contract to look at county -wide roadway classifications, as it relates to those types of roadway uses and matching those with our land use and our future land use. So that would be an important tool going forward. The manual is also a design manual in it of itself. It does have updated standards, the appendix has a plant list, and other tool kit items in the plan. And then it also does call for some co -changes, which we are incorporating both into our general plan in the next iteration and then the subdivision and zoning code updates. Page 3 CRCOC-7 April 18, 2023 Again, it includes the standards and really started with the 1984 standards that DPW (Department of Public Works) was using, but then really took that forward and utilized and followed a lot of what was done in the Honolulu Complete Streets manual, which really came from the LA (Los Angeles) manual in large part. So we've used a lot of the federal standards in this plan and incorporated those for local context. It also includes guidance and street design options, for both rural and urban settings. As well as new construction, when a new roadway is going in verses a retrofit, where we may be limited by the existing right of way. So, it does have different options for that. Again, it's a toolbox and one of the features is a priority design. Treatment toolbox where it lists the different types of uses, and the different types of users and opportunities, and ranks some of those, which really is a great guide for both designers and engineers. I think lastly included, you know, it includes in the appendix, also, a checklist that can also be used by designers, some internal process, and workflows. It does call for, potentially in the future, a complete streets coordinator. The other counties do have a complete streets coordinator, and that's an opportunity for a particular position to really be focused on collaborating with all of the different departments. As it relates complete streets being Mass Transit, DPW (Department of Public Works), even wastewater, things like that, and the utilities that are under our streets. Even electric, if we're wanting to put electric underground that person could really be a focal coordinator for all of those different agencies. It also calls for a modal plan, which we've sort of renamed as an active transportation plan that's something that's in our future. Like I said, we are doing the roadway classification right now, and it hopefully has and will continue to open opportunities for tap funds, which are transportation alternative program through the state, to be able to utilize those types of funds. I think DPW can share more about projects that have been implemented. There are many, we do have a lot more bicycle ways and bike lanes, bike shoulders. We also have improved sidewalks in many locations, so I think they'll be able provide more information about that. And that's all I have to offer at this time, other than taking questions. MS. KAGIWADA: Thank you, April. Director Pause, do you want to add anything right now? You want to talk about some of the improvements that DPW has been able to make. MR. PAUSE: Sure. So I think I started thank you, April, for a great summary of the history and what complete streets are. I think the thing that I really latched onto is the fact that this is a toolbox. It's a number of measures to address the issues around producing hazards and improving safety, and just promoting a Page 4 CRCOC-7 April 18, 2023 healthy lifestyle. So it's just making sure that the opportunities exist for the pedestrians and bicyclists to share the road. I mentioned earlier that it's important to know what complete streets is or are, what the manual is, and the inner face between Planning and Public Works, just in terms of in enacting complete streets. I think I've been here before and we've had a recent history with a number of DPW projects that probably should have had a little better upfront planning but didn't. And I guess what comes to immediate mind is Waianuenue, which is in Council Members district. And I think at the end of the day we produced a product that incorporated a lot of the aspects, but maybe the front-end portion of the project planning did not include that. So there are examples where, you know, in that particular case, I think we did a pretty good job of responding. You could question that we should've probably done with the community sooner, but we didn't. I think the Kalanianaole project did incorporate wide bike lanes, as well as wide shoulders and sidewalks. I think that was success clearly showing complete streets. And then as we move forward, obviously Keawe (Keawe Street) is under construction now. The message that I had is that we're trying to do a little better job of listening and getting out in front and moving forward. Same thing, with a number of our projects that we have on the board to incorporate complete streets. Again, as April said, it's a tool box, there's a lot of things there. Another aspect of it as well, and maybe April has more knowledge of it than me, is we start talking about some of the safe root's projects that we have and as we get funding for them. They incorporate the wider shoulders the better pedestrian flow safer routes to school. That's another aspect of what we're looking at doing. But I guess at the end of the day, I've stated that we need to get better at communicating and part of it is front end loading of projects as Public Works moves forward with a number of these. Whether their step funded, or we get federal funding, or whether it's county funded that we need to get out in front of it, and make an effort to let the public know what we're doing. Even with simple things like paving projects. One that came up recently as you're not going to repave and put the stripes back. We need to be making those critical evaluations as we do those sorts of things. So, I guess I'll stop there for now. MS. KAGIWADA: Okay, great. So yeah, couple things. Thank you so much for acknowledging that we can do better as a whole, our whole county together with communication both amongst ourselves, working on projects and out to the public. One of the things that was, and maybe this is an April question that was listed as a next step on the design manual was this end user workshop that was supposed to happen in early 2021. Do you know if that happened, April? MS. SURPRENANT: I honestly don't recall. I don't recall if that happened or not, I'm sorry. And I don't have Natasha available to fill in the gaps, so. Page 5 CRCOC-7 April 18, 2023 MS. KAGIWADA: Okay. Maybe we can find out about that because that was one of the next steps that was supposed to happen when this was adopted. And then you talked a little bit about code changes and rule changes kind of from the Planning side. I believe there were a lot of potential code changes, and they weren't necessarily all in the Planning side. Is that what you remember as well? MS. SURPRENANT: Yes, that is correct. It lists a couple of different codes that could be amended, including 22 that are not planning related 22, 24, and 18 potentially. MS. KAGIWADA: Chapters 22, 24, 18? MS. SURPRENANT: Correct. MS. KAGIWADA: Okay. So do we know if any of those have been adopted. MS. SURPRENANT: I'm not aware. MS. KAGIWADA: Okay. I don't think so, I tried to look. So that seems like something we need to refocus on, and I can definitely take a part in looking at that and working with the departments to see what is possible there. I loved the idea of the complete street's coordinator, it's one possible way that we could make sure that these new projects, as they come up, are really being looked at from all the different angles. So I would love to pursue what that looks like, and see what the other counties have done. You said all the other counties have this already. And I'm just wondering if there's any other things. Is this complete street checklist, is that something you've been able to utilize at all Director? MR. PAUSE: I don't lead presently the formality of a checklist exist. I mean the engineering division where a lot of our projects are managed and generated and designed is very much in tuned with an aware of complete street requirements. And it really goes beyond that, it touches highways, they're out there making shoulder repairs and doing paving. And it touches traffic, which I think everyone here is very much familiar with our traffic division and the request for speed humps and traffic calming measures. Those are all part of the complete street toolbox as well. You know, it's an integrated effort, I'll go back to Waianuenue, right. When we went back and started looking at some of the things that could be done with raised crosswalks, with flashing beacons, with re -striping, with chariots and multiuse lanes. All that work was a collective effort between highways, between engineering, and traffic as a large component of that. So, I'd say that the department is well aware of what the requirements are, and what the benefits are, and what those tools are. You know, as we become aware of situations, and or as we plan projects, we need to incorporate that. Page 6 CRCOC-7 April 18, 2023 MS. KAGIWADA: Okay, thank you. So just one thing on a more specific which is the Kilauea Keawe Street, which in the multimodal plan was supposed to go—was recommended to go to a two-way street in the downtown area along with Kinoole to keep the traffic in better flow and to calm and make it more like a downtown area, instead of more of a thoroughfare. I'm just wondering, I know that you guys said that that wasn't going to happen. Of course, I never really understood why we can't do that or why that was just seen as something that couldn't happen. MR. PAUSE: I guess are your asking about where it presently is a one-way and converting that to a two-way. MS. KAGIWADA: Yeah. MR. PAUSE: Yeah, I unfortunately don't have that history it's something I can certainly follow up and get you an answer to that. MS. KAGIWADA: That would be great. Because I'm having a lot of people who actually worked on these different plans for the county and for downtown Hilo asking me, you know, that was in the plan, why was it not being realized at this point. So it would be really helpful, I think, in explaining to the public who worked on those plans. As well as everybody in the county who was involved, why that isn't going through. So I think yeah, getting this communication up to speed would be great. And figuring out some ways like, you know, are you going to use the checklist in the future or are we going to have a complete streets coordinator. What are we going to do to try to facilitate future projects, I think would be really helpful. So at this time I will stop speaking, Chair, and give my colleagues a chance to jump in here and ask questions or comments. CHR. VILLEGAS: Fantastic. Thank you, Councilwoman Kagiwada. Any questions or comments from anyone else here this morning. Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder. MR. KANEALI'I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you. Thank you for the presentation, appreciate it. Planning Department I have a question for you. I've heard many times in the past that we use fatalities to show documentation or proof that we need to consider a road unsafe. How do you guys track fatalities in our County, where does that data come from? MS. SURPRENANT: It comes from the Police Department; they actually do the tracking. MR. KANEALI'I-KLEINFELDER: How do they track that information? Page 7 CRCOC-7 April 18, 2023 MS. SURPRENANT: It's based on all of the reports from crashes and incidents that happen, county -wide. MR. KANEALI'I-KLEINFELDER: And they keep records of where those accidents happen? MS. SURPRENANT: Correct. MR. KANEALI'I-KLEINFELDER: That data is presented as exact locations or within certain mile markers. MS. SURPRENANT: I don't recall exactly, but I think it's exact locations. MR. KANEALI'I-KLEINFELDER: Because I've talked to them in the past, and what's interesting is they don't have exact locations of crashes. Their data shows where there are issues, but not exactly where there are issues. I thought that was interesting, when we start paralleling it with how we address safety concerns on our roadways. MS. SURPRENANT: Yes, sir. I would trust their answer to that question, since we don't deal with that data on a daily basis the same way they do. But I know that all of their data from Police, Fire, and EMS (Emergency Medical Services), was used in the vision zero action plan. MR. KANEALI'I-KLEINFELDER: Yeah, the striking example for me was the Kipimana intersection or the otherwise known as Shipman traffic signal. Based on fatalities it was considered a public safety concern, but when I dug into it in the last 10 or 15 years it was hard for them to pinpoint fatalities in the area. More so, their data doesn't show exact locations for traffic fatalities. So I thought that was an interesting parallel, given we used the data to show where we have safety concerns, but it's not readily tracked as far as I can tell by the department. MR. PAUSE: So Hawaii DOT (Department of Transportation) I know is very involved in using those data, certainly the speed limit changes that you see throughout the island. Queen K (Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway) being reduced from 55 to 45, following a fatality up near Mauna Kea. The recent work that DOT has done to reduce the speed limit down in volcano as well and on the belt highway. They are very much in tuned and they'll take that data and actually go out and make decisions, and or follow up with their own individual traffic studies to support reduction and speed limits. I would say from a Public Works standpoint, given our road network, we probably haven't used that level of sophistication. But our friends at DOT do that on a regular basis. Page 8 CRCOC-7 April 18, 2023 MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay. And then I like the data presenting itself to where we can drive decision making. That makes sense, but I also want to make sure that we have good data that we're using, and that it's compiled correctly. And if there is data that shows exactly where incidents are happening, more so than just general mile marker areas. I mean we all know the concerning areas as we drive around our districts on the island, we know them. But I would hope that data is being used to kind of ship this in the right direction, especially when it comes to complete streets. I just had a moment of concern when I realized we're gathering data potentially, and it's being used to guide decision making so that we have safer roadways for our community, except it's not too specific. A lack of specificity did worry me that how are we making these decisions what are they based on. So that's why I'm asking this morning. MR. PAUSE: I agree with that approach. And again, we probably don't have the level of data analysis sophistication that you're speaking about. When we look at the application of complete streets, a lot of it has to do with, not so much just going out and looking for work. A lot of it happens to come along with okay, we're going to be redoing this portion of road or we've gotten some funding to do a resurfacing or reconstruction project, or we've gotten some of the safe school roads directly. But typically, we want to operate within our own existing right of ways. I think pretty much that might even be stated in complete streets, that it's really supposed to be done within the framework of what you have. It doesn't necessarily imply going out and chasing more right of ways and things like that. But I agree with you, there's probably a good opportunity here to take a closer look. And what I know about, especially the fatality and crash data, a good percentage of that happens to be on state roads. You know, I got my counterpart at state highways that we share and have conversations. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: If you could Steve, I could be totally wrong, if I'm wrong, I'll eat it. But if you could try look into how HPD because HPD is our center point for what's happening on our roadways where the accidents are happening. I'd be interested in seeing some kind of report that actually shows where the fatalities are occurring, is it specific to an exact location or is just mile markers between, you know, mile maker 3 and 4 on Highway 11. How or is the data being compiled, and then can we use that to guide decision making in the future? I'd love to see an answer for that, because that was concerning to me when I heard that. MR. PAUSE: Okay, will do. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you. MR. KERN: Madam Chair, if I may. Page 9 CRCOC-7 April 18, 2023 CHR. VILLEGAS: Sure, go ahead, Mr. Kern. And then Ms. Evans, we'll come back to you. (Note: Planning Director Zendo Kern came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MR. KERN: Thank you. Zendo Kern, Planning Director. I just wanted to comment really quickly to make sure that the public is really clear. When we, Planning Department—we're usually involved in earlier parts of the plan. Planning where streets need to be and then also working with DPW on potentially reconfiguration of streets, we'll say in this case the complete streets manual. When we're working on these, we're using the best data available. We don't collect that data; we receive that data from other agencies. And then the Shipman intersection, the Kipimana intersection that was not a planning decision, that was not a planning effort, that was a DPW and State DOT type of effort. So, I just want to make sure that the public is aware that we're very involved in the planning side of it, not as much into the implementation side of it. As well as we're not in the position to collect that data, but we are in a position to receive the data from the best available source, and then work with folks on creating a plan that's actionable. Thank you. And I agree with what Council Member was saying there and working with Steve on trying to make sure that we have the best data to make the best decisions possible. Mahalo. CHR. VILLEGAS: Thank you, Director Kern. Council Member Evans. MS. EVANS: Thank you, Chair. Just a quick comment that theI used to see the reports on crashes and the locations and how often they thought it was related to DUI (driving under the influence) or speeding or whatever. That did exist, I used to see it on a regular basis. But I know that the State you might want to talk to Ed Sniffen, Department of Transportation. There used to be this group of volunteers that got together and would review data and stuff. I'm just saying I think it might exist. At least on state highways. Wow, this is such a big topic. I'm going to go back to just two comments that stuck out to me. That street types matching land use and county road classifications with land use, and how giving those two premises, how do you make decisions on when you will or will not put in a complete street. And for me, representing a rural committee when we look at what happens when you go through Waimea, when you go through Hawi, when you go through Kapaau. When you talk about complete streets, you know, I think the community always weighs in to don't change the feel and the look of our community. So at what point, giving the land use might be driving this, there has to be more driving it. What about the community, what they want? How does that affect your decision? MR. PAUSE: Did you want to start with that April? Page 10 CRCOC-7 April 18, 2023 MR. KERN: I'm happy to jump in there. So the public safety element is obviously the first starting point and its key. And in those areas that you're referring to, what we're looking at is essentially growth based on existing infrastructure. And then how do we come together to make those adjustments. I think Keawe (Keawe Street) is a good example of that, and how do you do it? You get the community involved as early as possible in the conversation. And I think working and having those working groups or working meetings early is one of the keys, because then you can get into the dialog of what's achievable and what do we have to do and what we'd like to do. And the more we can educate folks on the differences between those, the better the project comes out with community understanding. And to me, that's really that key and trying to find those balance in those rural areas. Because yeah, you might not want to open up the right of way massively and change it to a massive thoroughfare. But what could we do? Which is also one of the really cool ideas that we're working on around trail systems and what not. Other forms, other means of transportation, where pedestrian means of transportation that might take you off the primary roadway and into another way to get you to a location that's safe. So for me those areas really come—it's a communication and understanding what the community needs, and what do we have to do, and then what can we do. That's where we start, Steve. MS. EVANS: So would it be the Planning Department that would hold these community meetings or would it be Public Works or would it be a combination of both of you out there talking about the actual streets and roads in the community? MR. PAUSE: So I think it would be both. I often put my project manager hat on and in doing that, you know, I think Zendo made the statement he'll tell us where to put the road and then it'll be up to us to go build it. The very, very first step of a project is to identify your project charter and what are you trying to do. And who's the ultimate folks that are going to be involved in delivering that project. But that's the first thing done right up front. And then the second thing, as important, is developing the stakeholder register, right. Who are all the people that you're going to impact, who do you need to go out and seek input. So moving forward, and as I stated earlier, we probably Public Works from a project stand point hasn't done the best of jobs to this point, but moving forward you identified that you have a project in a community, you identify the stakeholders that you need to engage, and then you go through the whole process of front end loading your project and going through steps, right. And I think Zendo said that what could it be? And then, your next step is what should it be, and then your last step is what will it be. So every step along the way you do need to engage the community, as we talk about complete streets. It's a toolbox, it's a bunch of things. You're not going to put that toolbox up and pick one of everything. You're going to look at what the community needs are Page 11 CRCOC-7 April 18, 2023 whether it's traffic homing. We probably get as many complaints to install speedbumps, as we do to remove them, right. So at the end of the day when you're making those sorts of decisions, you want to engage the community and you want to get their input and see the sorts of things that are most important to them. And then you're going to do this in the framework of your funding, and what you can and can't do from a funding stand point or what the rules are that go with that funding. And then the other part of that would be not to just create, I guess, a roadway or the infrastructure that kind of matches up with what the community is all about. MS. EVANS: Thank you. I have two more questions, a little follow up to this. So you have a commercial project in Waimea, and let's say I'm just throwing it out for example, it could be a pharmacy, or it could be urgent care and that developer you asked them in a complete street concept, because the road classification is correct, street types are matching are correct. And what you do is you put in that complete street right there on that commercial property, that no place else on that road does that exist, and the community is like why would you do that? So the question is when you go in and you're in this trans, so now we're transitioning, right. We're going from the way it was to the way it's going to be, because we have more population, we have more kids walking, we want people out, we want to do more bicycles. How do we go beyond just that one commercial lot to convince the community that we're not—got this weird, it kind of looks really weird actually, but how do we tell them that we're actually moving the community in the direction we want? MR. KERN: I can jump in there and start with. So when a rezoning comes forward, there are certain requirements set forth in the conditions to either create an additional right-of-way set aside or generally improvements that front of that property and in an area, that's already urbanized, what we're seeing in Hilo like the Waiakea House Lots area that works pretty well because there is some type of continuity of urban design. In other areas, and this came up in Volcano recently for a rezoning, there was a requirement for basically a sidewalk and a street improvement in front of that property. Yet the road was an existing rural road with nice grass shoulders, and it just didn't fit, and it didn't match the area. So it didn't make sense, to put it in right at that point and time because it's almost, while the intention was good, it almost created more of a problem. Because you're going from a nice grassy shoulder up to 200 feet of sidewalk and then back down to a grassy shoulder. So the condition was made that at such a time when the road is improved, the applicant will be required to pay their share of that improvement in front of their property. So it maintains the existing character but Page 12 CRCOC-7 April 18, 2023 it has a mechanism for funding that improvement in the future when it's going to be done. Where you run into the challenges is in the gaps between a discretionary permit or maybe some existing zoning in existing streets. That's where working with DPW and coming up with, potentially, county funds to improve those areas, I think is going to be key to avoid those gaps. And so it's hard when we're doing smaller projects that we need more street improvements in the entire area. That's the challenge that we've been working with, and that's the condition that we've set up to help with that. MS. EVANS: Right. What I see as a potential problem is that you do improve the road and you've got 20 landlords, and you're going to go to the one and say sorry you got to pay for what's up in front of your lot. That's going to cause a lot of like what? Something to think about with the future and how that will play out when you actually do the road improvement. And then my last question has to with complete street roundabouts because you're going to have these complete streets that's going to be—especially in Waikoloa you will probably have complete streets, you'll probably have bicycle lanes, you'll have pedestrians, you'll have everything coming into that roundabout. So the question is how do we design complete street roundabouts so that people move through that roundabout, and you keep going. MR. PAUSE: Yes. MS. EVANS: Yes, so how are we doing on that? How are we designing that in complete streets. MR. PAUSE: So if you're speaking specifically about the roundabout, the MS. EVANS: Well any roundabout actually, because like we said, eventually as we develop the island and we develop communities, there seems to be a real desire to have roundabouts. And this is not a discussion about if we want roundabouts or not. What the discussion is, how are we going to design and truly get in our complete streets into these roundabouts? Because we are moving towards, I think you're moving towards complete streets, especially in areas where there's a lot of traffic. MR. PAUSE: So roundabouts are part of the complete street's toolbox. If you look at it, it's potentially a horizontal traffic calming device for pedestrian facilities, as well as for bicycle facilities. So to answer your question, if you look at it as an alternative to a street light intersection and look at it as a potential means to slow traffic down, traffic calming, to make the flow of pedestrians, bicycles easier. Yeah, it has to be considered, I think, as one of a number of options. It also ties into, like, real estate, right away how much land you have available. But to answer your question, it needs to be carefully considered. Page 13 CRCOC-7 April 18, 2023 If you go back to my statement about, you know, what could it be, what should it be, what will it be, it definitely has to be in that first stage of what could it be. We need to consider all the alternatives and that would just be one of them. But the engineering and the additional input from the community, all of that plays into those ultimate decisions on what it actually will be. MS. EVANS: Okay. Anyway, it's going to take a lot of property to do complete streets I think at a roundabout, so I think it's going to drive a lot of discussion on right-of-way and potential eminent domain. Again it comes down for me, a policy, are you going to have complete streets, if so, you will have them going through these roundabouts. But anyway, having said that, thank you, Chair. I yield. CHR. VILLEGAS: Thank you, Council Member Evans. Anyone in Hilo? I don't think we have anyone in Hilo. Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Chair. Just to add to Ms. Evans' point. I was going through different codes and different municipalities regarding this. What I came across was a—again this really isn't the discussion we're having but just to offer. Maui Council, somewhere in their code they require that they at least consider a roundabout anytime a new signal or a new intersection is being either worked on or created. As we kind of move towards the efficiency of traffic flow, I thought that was interesting. Just to add that point, that was an interesting piece of their code in their language, so if that's helpful for the department. MR. PAUSE: No, I think that's really good. It's really interesting. Council Member Evans brings this up, there's still a fair amount of debate up in Waikoloa Village, about our intent for the big roundabout, if you will. But I received lots and lots of comments from the community. I actually got one recently where they shared a video, John Stossel from ABC News did years ago, about roundabouts and the safety benefits including one community in Carmel, Indiana, where the mayor decided to replace every single lighted intersection with a roundabout. It was really interesting, but I'm happy to share that with folks. Yeah, again, it's another tool in our toolbox, whether we're required to do it by ordinance or not, I think it just makes good sense that we do those sorts of things. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Just to put on the table, Europe has been using them for hundreds of thousands of years. MR. PAUSE: Well in one of the cons that I received quite frequently, is that you will confuse the people that live here. They won't know how to use a roundabout, or the tourist who come here from the mainland will not know how to use a roundabout. It's interesting, everybody has a different perspective. Page 14 CRCOC-7 April 18, 2023 MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Director. CHR VILLEGAS: Thank you so much, Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder. And just as a quick point of personal privilege, I want to welcome students from the Kul eana Academy and their instructors. Thank you for joining us here today, welcome. Getting a little exposure to what happens in our local county government. Thank you for your interest, and for joining us here today. It's a wild world you will inherit, but we will do our best to ensure what we pass on to you is as safe, and healthy, and regenerative as it can possibly be. So thank you for being here to witness part of this process. Alright. Alright, Council Member Kagiwada. MS. KAGIWADA: Thank you, Chair. So going forward, I'm just wondering if either Director Pause or Director Kern or April if any of you have specific things you can offer. So we've talked about how we can do better, and we will do better. But what are those specific to make sure that, you know, this is going to happen. You talked about communication, Director Pause. Is there anything specific that you can tell us, just so we understand what's going to be different going forward. MR. PAUSE: I think I've been about as specific as I can. You know, the commitment that I made when I first sat in this seat some time ago, was that we need to do abetter job of communicating. You know, we're public servants, we need to engage the public. You've heard me talk about project management. We don't operate in a blind, we have to get out in front of the issues, engage the community, listen to the community. So that commitment was made, and it continues. As I mentioned earlier, it might not have been done exactly that way in the past, but certainly going forward there's definitely that level of commitment. The other part of that is we mentioned checklist. And I can sit here and say yeah, traffic, highways, engineering there all aware of this, but I think from my end I can get good work formal. I don't necessarily need a policy statement, it's just to make sure that those two divisions are all singing from the same sheet of music. So, that's another area that I can take home and at the same commit that we will be as consistent as we possibly can with those divisions across Public Works. MS. KAGIWADA: Thank you. Director Kern, do you have anything you want to add as far what you can bring as far as positive change going forward. MR. KERN: Yeah, absolutely thanks for that opportunity. I think what where we're going to see some opportunity for some positive change is obviously continuing to improve our communication. Both as a county with our departments with our divisions, and then with the public, and all those combined. Within the General Plan we are really diligently working on with trying to address some of these issues in a very simple and concise manner that would be a Page 15 CRCOC-7 April 18, 2023 framework for all of us to move forward with, as well as bring in the unnecessary code updates as well. Also, to continue to try and create a partnership with the other divisions. Sometimes the relationships can be strained. Strained relationships don't lead to great communication. So our goal is to really build those relationships, improve the communication, and be partners in those areas. And we're very early in most of our processes, so I feel really good about that. And also being there to be available for the public meetings when they occur, and provide our knowledge and our guidance where we can with DPW and the community. MS. KAGIWADA: Perfect, thank you. So going back to the steps that you outlined Director Pause. What it could be, what it should be, what it will be. Hopefully between what it should be and what it will be, they'll be a lot more communication. And if what it should be and what it will be don't match up exactly, the more explanation that we can share with the public, I think that would be super helpful, so that people understand why decisions were made if their not end up following that line of discussion that's been had up to that point. Does that make sense? MR. PAUSE: Yeah, it makes perfect sense. And I agree, nothing else we're going to turn the entire island into the project management professionals, they'll know the process. MS. KAGIWADA: That's right. And you know the thing is as you're getting better and you're improving more and more roads all the time, you know, people are going to be more interested, I think, and more engaged in their community. So I think it's a good opportunity right now to just get this in place and go forward. So I look forward to speaking specifically about the projects going on in my district. But I hope that, you know, for all the districts we can support you, and planning together as we move forward. Thank you so much. CHR. VILLEGAS: Thank you, Council Member Kagiwada. Any other Council Members have any comments? Then, I'll just quickly comment on a few things, and then we'll transition. We have a couple testifiers who are now in the zoom room, so we'll go back to them. Thank you for being here Director Pause. So great to see you April, even if it's such a distance. Thank you for being here, Director Kern. Just one quick question, and maybe it's urban legend or urban myth or what not. But I had heard years ago about intersections that are potentially dangerous, but it takes two traffic fatalities at an intersection for it to become triggered to put in a traffic light. And I wondered if that was urban myth, urban legend, or actually part of what triggers the transition from either just stop signs or any intersection, per say. MR. PAUSE: I'm not aware that there's a specific trigger, that's something I could definitely follow up on. Page 16 CRCOC-7 April 18, 2023 CHR. VILLEGAS: Okay, great, no worries. Anyone at planning have any ideas? MR. KERN: No, I'm not aware of that. I do know that some of the intersections we work with right now in Kona have a traffic impact analysis report is done. And then based on that data, I do believe that they take into consideration accidents in that area. And ok it looks at whether it warrants a light or some type of intersection improvement or a roundabout, and what we're moving towards. But I don't know the specifics of what you've just broken out, sorry, and neither does April. CHR. VILLEGAS: No, worries. It was kind of a random one but it just kind of always stuck in my head, and I've heard a number of people mention it. So if there was an opportunity to clarify and correct it, if it's incorrect or transition it. just wanted to throw that out there. Thank you for the work that you're doing. We, historically as an island, have struggled and suffered from lack of long-term planning. As it comes to, I'm talking way historically just kind of piecemealing things together is how I feel. Some of it's been—we're definitely at capacity for cars on the road here in District 7 as we move forward. And so really looking at the long-term plan of how we connect our streets, eliminating the opportunity for variances for future subdivisions to get, and then not have to provide connectivity. I think is integral to bringing ourselves up into the 21" century and how we connect, and how we all travel our roads ideally in the safest capacity possible. Thank you, guys, for being here today and answering these questions. For Council Member Kagiwada bringing it forward. At this time, I'll transition back to Clerk Henricks for the testifiers. MR. HENRICKS: Could you take the vote to close file, and then it will open a pathway for testimony just prior to adjournment. CHR. VILLEGAS: Gotcha. All those in favor of closing file on Communication 209, please say "aye." Anyone in opposition? Vote on Comm. 209: The motion to close file on Comm. 209 was carried Filed by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Evans, Galimba, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder Kimball, and Chair Villegas – 7. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Kierkiewicz and Lee Loy – 2. Excused: None. Page 17 CRCOC-7 STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON A e"TIX TT% A TrT TTA Arrl _ April 18, 2023 The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, Statements from the Public on Agenda Items. The following individuals registered to speak and came forward when called by the Chair: Matthias Kusch Comm. 209, in support. Megan Isaac Comm. 209, comment. Toby Hazel Comm. 209, comment. ADJOURN- There being no further business, at 10:07 a.m., Mr. Inaba moved to adjourn the MENT: meeting. Seconded by Ms. Galimba and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Evans, Galimba, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kimball, and Chair Villegas — 7. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Kierkiewicz and Lee Loy — 2. Excused: None. Approved: Ms. Rebecca Villegas Communications, Reports, and Council Oversight Committee RV/rk ( ate) Page 18