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Home My WebLink AboutREP PCHSW 009 2023/12/19 (2022-2024) Hawaii County Council-29 January 10,2024 Bill 110: AMENDS CHAPTER 14 OF THE HAWAII COUNTY CODE 1983 (2016 EDITION, AS AMENDED), BY ADDING A NEW ARTICLE RELATING TO ESTABLISHING A REGISTRY OF INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF NOTIFYING PROPERTY OWNERS OF VANDALISM, IMMEDIATE HAZARDS, OR DISASTERS Requires owners of real property, or a designated agent of an absentee property owner, to provide to the County the property owner or designated agent's name, mailing address, telephone number, and email address to allow the County to distribute the contact information amongst County departments and agencies for the purpose of notifying the property owner or agent of potential or existing harmful impacts to the property due to vandalism, immediate hazards, emergencies or disasters. Reference: Comm. 639 Intr. by: Ms. Kierkiewicz Approve: PCHSW-9 POSTPONED TO THE CALL OF THE CHAIR: Ayes: Council Members Evans, Galimba, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Lee Loy, Villegas, and Chair Kimball —9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused: None. Bill 111: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 23-50, AS AMENDED, THE OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE COUNTY OF HAWAII FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2024 Appropriates revenues in Federal Grants —Community Project Funding-Hilo Memorial Hospital Renovation account($13,000,000); and appropriates the same to the Community Project Funding-Hilo Memorial Hospital Renovation account to be applied towards the renovations to the Hilo Memorial Hospital, located at 34 Rainbow Drive, South Hilo. Reference: Comm. 641 Intr. by: Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder(B/R) Approve: FC-122 PASSED IST READING: Ayes: Council Members Evans, Galimba, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Lee Loy, and Villegas —8. Noes: Chair Kimball — 1. Absent: None. Excused: None. Page 10 REPORT OF THE POLICY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELL-BEING DATE: December 19, 2023 Re: Comm. No. 639/Bill No. 110 PLACE: Council Chambers Kailua-Kona, Hawaii TIME: 3:47 p.m. Council Chair and Members Hawaii County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Your Policy Committee on Health, Safety, and Well-being, to which was referred Bill No. 110, reports as follows: Bill No. 110, transmitted by Ashley Kierkiewicz, Council Member for District 4, via Communication No. 639, amends Chapter 14 of the Hawaii County Code 1983 (2016 edition, as amended), by adding a new article relating to establishing a registry of information for the purpose of notifying property owners of vandalism, immediate hazards, or disasters. This bill requires owners of real property, or a designated agent of an absentee property owner, to provide to the County the property owner or designated agent's name, mailing address, telephone number, and email address to allow the County to distribute the contact information amongst County departments and agencies for the purpose of notifying the property owner or agent of potential or existing harmful impacts to the property due to vandalism, immediate hazards, emergencies or disasters. Member Kierkiewicz began by echoing the concerns that were brought up by testifiers regarding the difficulty in contacting absentee property owners when safety issues occur. She also noted letters of support for this legislation had been received from the Civil Defense, Fire, and Police Departments as well as the Mayor and Prosecutor's Offices. Real Property Tax Administrator Lisa Miura said that this issue has come up in the past when sending letters to those who lost their properties due to lava or fire, and that it is necessary to have another way to contact people rather than just by mail. She said that there will be a large amount of work involved in creating this database, and that their preference would be to create an online database to receive this information. Committee Member Heather Kimball recommended a more meaningful fine for those who fail to update or provide this information. Committee Member Rebecca Villegas agreed. Committee Members Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder and Cindy Evans said that they would not be in support of a higher fine. Ms. Miura added that creating multiple additional fines on property taxes will create additional work for their department. Member Kimball also recommended that the maker focus less on the definitions and instead provide more language in the context of the Code to make it more reader friendly. Committee Member Susan Lee Loy said that her understanding is that the definitions are there for Corporation Counsel and she appreciates them being included. PCHSW Report No. 9 PCHSW-9 Page 2 December 19, 2023 Committee Member Holeka Inaba questioned the sharing of information among relevant County agencies. Deputy Corporation Counsel Keyra Wong clarified that a formal request would have to be made with a legitimate reason included. Member Inaba also wanted to make certain that the language and intent within the bill is not outside the scope of the title of the bill. Deputy Corporation Counsel Cody Frenz said that she believes there is an appropriate tie-in within the title of the bill. Member Cindy Evans questioned language surrounding making efforts to notify property owners. Ms. Wong stated that they included the language "reasonable efforts" to take into account that sometimes contact isn't possible. Member Kaneali'i-Kleinfelder questioned Corporation Counsel regarding his understanding that whenever data collection occurs there is usually an option to opt out. Ms. Wong said that as it is written, it does not allow for anyone to opt out and that there is nothing that prohibits the County from requiring or sharing this information. Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder had questions around the definitions of agencies in regards to who can request this information. Member Kierkiewicz said that she will clarify the definition around agencies. Committee Member Michelle Galimba wanted further clarification around the protection of personal information and asked what additional resources Real Property Tax needed to implement this. Ms. Miura said that they already have software that tracks this information, and they would need an additional screen sweep that their current vendor could do to help import this information. She said the only agencies that their department provides information that they already have is to Civil Defense, Fire, and Police Departments, when they provide a written request. Member Evans was concerned with the definition of"immediate hazards" and that it may be overreach. Committee Member Jenn Kagiwada mentioned that she appreciated what could be addressed by including immediate hazards. Member Kagiwada cautioned that we need to manage public expectations around thinking this is a solution to squatters or enforcing removal of squatters. Member Kierkiewicz responded by clarifying that this bill allows for information collecting which is important for notifying property owners about what is occurring on their properties. She said that she will be addressing the other items that Committee Members mentioned. Your Policy Committee on Health, Safety, and Well-being, is in accord with the purpose and intent of Bill 110, and recommends its passage on first reading. sm AYES NOES ABS EX Respectfully submitted, EVANS X GALIMBA x POLICY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, INABA x SAFETY, AND WELL-BEING KAGIWADA X / KANEALI'I-KLEINFELDER X "l KIERKIEWICZ X API KIMBALL x JENN KAGIWADA, CHAIR LEE LOY X PCHSW REPORT NO.. 9 VILLEGAS X ADOPTED: