Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN LAAC 2023/08/01 (2022-2024)Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions 13th Session Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii August 1, 2023 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions ORDER: was called to order at 2:20 p.m., in the Council Chambers, Hilo, by Mr. Inaba, Chair. ROLL CALL: Present: Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Chair Ms. Michelle M. Galimba, Vice Chair Ms. Cindy Evans, Member (via videoconference from Kona) Ms. Jenn Kagiwada, Member Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Member Ms. Heather L. Kimball, Member Ms. Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Member (came in later) Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Member Absent & Excused: Mr. Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, 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 following individual registered to speak and came forward when called by the Chair. Karen Eoff Res. 207 (Comm. 374), in support. (representing the Kohanaiki `Ohana) CHR. INABA: Thank you very much. Thank you, Ms. Eoff. We're going to start today with Resolution 208-23, please. Change Order As directed by the Chair and with no objection from the Committee Members, of Business: the following items were taken out of order: ORDER OF The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, RESOLUTIONS: Order of Resolutions. LAAC-13 August 1, 2023 Res. 208-23: AWARDS A PUBLIC ACCESS, OPEN SPACE, AND NATURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION MAINTENANCE FUND STEWARDSHIP GRANT TO HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND Approves a grant of $15,748 to Hawaii Wildlife Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization for protection of native wildlife and preservation of the Kahuku Coastal Property in Ka`u, (Tax Map Key: 9-2-001:075), pursuant to Section 10-16(h) of the Hawaii County Charter. Reference: Comm.375 Intr. by: Ms. Galimba Motion to Approve: Ms. Galimba moved to recommend adoption of Res. 208-23. Seconded by Ms. Kierkiewicz. CHR. INABA: Council Member Galimba. MS. GALIMBA: Thank you. So, this grant program was approved by the PONC (Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission) and so this is a resolution to actually put it into effect. Hawaii Wildlife Fund does amazing work throughout the Ka`u area as far as taking care of our beaches. They do a lot of clean up as well as propagation and out planting of native plant and collaborating with Hawksbill Turtle Recovery Project to help with the hawksbill turtle. So, I just ask for my colleague's support for this great organization to do their work in the Kahuku Coastal area. I yield. CHR. INABA: Thank you, Council Member Galimba. I also want to point out we have Ms. (Maxine) Cutler here from our PONC Program today in chambers if anybody has questions about these resolutions. Is there any further discussion or Ms. Cutler, would you like to share anything about this resolution? (Note: At this time, Property Management Technician Maxine Cutler came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MS. CUTLER: Good afternoon, Chairman Inaba and Committee. I'm Maxine Cutler with the Finance Property Management Division. I'd like to speak in favor of this resolution for the hawksbill turtle nonprofit organization. It has been their historical preservation targeting the endangered species, the hawksbill turtle. It's very high on the list and if you've noticed in recent news that there have been some climate changes that affect these grating grounds. This is the first attempt for Kahuku Coastal to get someone in there to start monitoring the path of the hawksbill turtle, start monitoring the clean up that is going to happen there. So, their grant request, even though it's very small for over 3,000 acres of land, they're going to focus mainly towards the coastal area and the Hawksbill Recovery Program. This is a pilot program and we're hoping next year that they Page 2 LAAC-13 August 1, 2023 will come to you with a larger request. So, we'll be working with them throughout the year. Thank you. CHR. INABA: Mahalo, Ms. Cutler. Any further discussion on Resolution 208? If not, all those in favor, please say "aye." Vote on Res. 208-23: The motion to recommend adoption of Res. 208-23 was (Approved) carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Evans, Galimba, Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Villegas, and Chair Inaba — 7. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder and Lee Loy — 2. Excused: None. CHR. INABA: Moving on then to Resolution 209. STATEMENTS The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, FROM THE Statements from the Public on Res. 209-23. PUBLIC ON RES. 209-23: The following individual registered to speak and came forward when called by the Chair. Keoni Fox Res. 209 (Comm. 376), in support. Res. 209-23: AWARDS A PUBLIC ACCESS, OPEN SPACE, AND NATURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION MAINTENANCE FUND STEWARDSHIP GRANT TO HO `OMALU KA `U Approves a grant of $28,000 to Ho`omalu Ka`u, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization for public safety maintenance and preservation of the Kahua `Olohu, Kaunamano Property in Ka`u, (Tax Map Key: 9-5-012:005), pursuant to Section 10-16(h) of the Hawaii County Charter. Reference: Comm.376 Intr. by: Ms. Galimba (Note: Comm. 376.1, from Council Member Michelle Galimba dated July 28, 2023, transmitting proposed amendment to Res. 209-23, was circulated.) Motion to Approve: Ms. Galimba moved to recommend adoption of Res. 209-23. Seconded by Ms. Kierkiewicz. CHR. INABA: Council Member Galimba. Page 3 LAAC-13 August 1, 2023 MS. GALIMBA: Thank you. Just wanted to ask for my colleague's support for this award to Ho`omalu Ka`u. They've done great work there at Kahua `Oluhu. Well, I'll turn it over to Maxine Cutler to discuss this resolution further. CHR. INABA: Thank you. Before that, did you want to take up the amendment? MS. GALIMBA: I'd like to ask Judge Strance to come forward. I have a question for her on that. CHR. INABA: And just to point to our colleagues, there is a communication in your pinkie, (Comm.) 376.1, if we are going to take it up. MS. GALIMBA: Can I? CHR. INABA: Yes, go ahead. MS. GALIMBA: So, the amendment would remove the word Kaunamano from this. And the reason that potentially we might want to do that is because we also have a PONC grant for another property that is called Kaunamano. Here it is the ahupua`a name. But I think the concern was that having it in this might potentially cause some confusion. So, I wondered if you could talk about that? Do you feel like that would be necessary or is it okay? (Note: At this time, Corporation Counsel Elizabeth Strance came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MS. STRANCE: Elizabeth Strance, Corporation Counsel. So, the purpose of the amendment is to avoid confusion with another grant? MS. GALIMBA: Correct. MS. STRANCE: And it's not any substantive change as to either the recipient or the grant? MS. GALIMBA: No. MS. STRANCE: May I acquire to the clerk whether a clerical revision requires the start over? Is it considered clerical? MR. BROWN: I think because it's more clerical in nature, I think that the amendment would be fine. It's not changing anything substantial. I think it was kind of for the record stated why they were making this, should the Council want to deal with this amendment here? And then you have another chance of course Page 4 LAAC-13 Motion to Amend August 1, 2023 at Council. So, if there is something, I guess another action that comes up that would need to be done, I think we'd have another chance to do that. MS. STRANCE: I think if you're trying to correct a clerical error, you're probably okay. I don't know if you want to suspend the rules to try to do that or handle it as a straightforward amendment, but generally clerical revisions are not treated in the same way as a substantive revision. MS. GALIMBA: Okay. I think I would like to hold this amendment if that's okay, because we will have another opportunity. And so, I'd like to just vote on it as is. CHR. INABA: Okay. So we're on the main motion right now, which is to forward Resolution 209-23. Ms. Cutler, did you have anything you wanted share on this resolution? MS. CUTLER: Thank you, Chair Inaba. I just wanted to speak on the diligence of Ho`omalu Ka`u and that organization. Since the Finance Department took over the stewardship grant program, I have seen this particular property being well cared for, manicured, in such a way that the grass, I called it barefoot friendly. When you have our keiki out there doing Makahiki celebrations a lot of them run during the activities and they're barefoot. Now, in the past history of this property, there was fountain grass and lots of the tall grass. We had to get the goats in to break it down and keep maintaining it, and COVID (Corona Virus Disease), and I just want to put it out there that, Keoni (Fox), you and your organization have done a wonderful job. We have more participation because of the stewardship grant program. There's nothing more I can say that I know this organization would be a prime candidate if we go for a multi -year contract. So, that is something I want to just put out there. Thank you and god bless you. CHR. INABA: Thank you, Ms. Cutler. We are again on Resolution 209. In reviewing, and just for the record, I reviewed the original acquisition resolution for this and the word Kaunamano wasn't used in the acquisition in terms of identifying this TMK (Tax Map Key). So, just wanted to provide that information to you, Council Member Galimba, if you did want to take up the amendment you prepared. And if you want more time at the next meeting we can wait too, but that was Resolution 287-15, which was the reso that authorized Finance to go and try and purchase it. MS. GALIMBA: In that case, why don't we just do the amendment. Ms. Galimba moved to amend Res. 209-23 with the' contents of Comm. 376.1. Seconded by Ms. Kimball. CHR. INABA: Council Member Galimba. Page 5 LAAC-13 August 1, 2023 MS. GALIMBA: Again, just removing a word that potentially might be confusing and was not in the original resolution and ask for my colleague's support. CHR. INABA: Thank you. Any discussion on the amendment? If not, all those in favor "aye." Vote on Motion The motion to amend Res. 209-23 with the contents of to Amend: Comm. 376.1 was carried by the following voice vote: (Approved) Ayes: Committee Members Evans, Galimba, Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Villegas, Lee Loy, and Chair Inaba — 8. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder —1. Excused: None. CHR. INABA: Back to the main motion, Resolution 209-23, as amended. Any further discussion? If not, all those in favor? Vote on Res. 209-23: The motion to recommend adoption of Res. 209-23, Draft 2 as amended to Draft 2, was carried by the following (Approved) voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Evans, Galimba, Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Villegas, Lee Loy, and Chair Inaba — 8. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder —1. Excused: None. Relinquish Chair: At this time, the Chair relinquished the chair to Vice Chair Galimba ACTING CHR. GALIMBA: Thank you. So, we'll go to Resolution 207-23 please, Clerk. Return to Order The Chair directed the Committee to return to the order of business. of Business: Page 6 LAAC-13 August 1, 2023 Res. 207-23: AWARDS A PUBLIC ACCESS, OPEN SPACE, AND NATURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION MAINTENANCE FUND STEWARDSHIP GRANT TO KOHANAIKI `OHANA Approves a grant of $38,220 to Kohanaiki `Ohana, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to protect, preserve, and restore the `O`oma Beach property in North Kona, (Tax Map Key: 7-3-009:004), pursuant to Section 10-16(h) of the Hawaii County Charter. Reference: Comm.374 Intr. by: Mr. Inaba Motion to Approve: Mr. Inaba moved to recommend adoption of Res. 207-23. Seconded by Ms. Villegas. ACTING CHR. GALIMBA: Council Member Inaba. MR. INABA: Thank you. I ask for my colleague's support. This is an organization that has done and continues to do a lot not only on the `O`oma side but on the Kohanaiki Beach Park side as well, an organization that is well connected and made up of community members. So, thankful that they are being brought forth here today to receive this award. And I ask Ms. Cutler if she has any other things she wants to share, she can do so at this time. MS. CUTLER: Thank you, Acting Chair Galimba. I do want to say a few words about Kohanaiki `Ohana and working with Karen Eoff and her organization. As in the past, after COVID, the property needed extra care. And as soon as they were able to get out there, and as Ms. Eoff said, as the grant program became more on time, they were able to continue the projects that they have planned with these grant funding. I was truly impressed with the continuance of replanting plants that have not been there for a long time, working with federal park service, Ala Kahakai Trail, they're working closely to restore that trail, I may add. And also the lineal descendants and numerous parkgoers there, and coastal, and beachgoers, that piece of coastal lands are so clean that I'm impressed that people respect the `aina out there. And as we travel on the other side where the park and the camping grounds, the effort that the group did to put signs out there, and then seeing the but being restored and the plantings. I thank Karen and her organization for their continuing efforts. And this is one of those organizations I would highly recommend for a multi -year grant and we're hoping that they will commit next year. MR. INABA: Thank you, Ms. Cutler, and a special mahalo to you on behalf of us all for working with our community organizations to make sure that all of our `aina get maintained and malama for years to come. So, mahalo. I ask for my colleague's support. Thank you, Chair. I yield. Page 7 LAAC- 13 August 1, 2023 ACTING CHR. GALIMBA: Thank you. Anyone else? Seeing none, all in favor of forwarding Resolution 207-23 to Council with a favorable recommendation, please say "aye." Vote on Res. 207-23: The motion to recommend adoption of Res. 207-23 was (Approved) carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Evans, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Villegas, and Acting Chair Galimba — 7. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Kdneali'i-Kleinfelder and Lee Loy — 2. Excused: None. ADJOURN- There being no further business, at 2:44 p.m., Mr. Inaba moved to adjourn MENT: the meeting. Seconded by Ms. Kagiwada and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Evans, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Villegas, and Acting Chair Galimba — 7. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Kdneali'i-Kleinfelder and Lee Loy — 2. Excused: None. ACTING CHR. GALIMBA: We are adjourned. Approved: 4 yh� h3 Mr.'Holeka Goro Inaba, Chair (Date) Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions Committee HI/tk Page 8