Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN PCHSW 2024/07/09 (2022-2024)Policy Committee on Health, Safety, and Well-being 1311 Session Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii July 9, 2024 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Policy Committee on Health, Safety, and ORDER: Well-being was called to order at 11:00 a.m., in the Council Chambers, Hilo, by Ms. Jenn Kagiwada, Chair. ROLL CALL: Present: Ms. Jenn Kagiwada, Chair Mr. Matt Kdneali'i-Kleinfelder, Vice Chair Ms. Cindy Evans, Member Ms. Michelle M. Galimba, Member Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Member Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Member Ms. Heather L. Kimball, Member Ms. Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Member Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Member (came in later) 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: (There were none.) CHR. KAGIWADA: Mr. Clerk, can you read in the first order of business. ORDER OF The Chair directed the Council to proceed to the next order of business, RESOLUTIONS: Order of Resolutions. Res. 547-24: APPROVES THE COUNTY OF HAWAPI DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION 2024 TITLE VI PLAN PURSUANT TO THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION TITLE VI CIRCULAR 4702. 113 REQUIREMENTS AND GUIDELINES Adoption of the plan fulfills federal requirements to ensure that the department provides public transit service in conformance with Title VI legislation, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin. Reference: Comm. 916 Intr. by: Ms. Kagiwada (B/R) Motion to Approve: Ms. Lee Loy moved to recommend adoption of Res. 547-24. Seconded by Mr. Inaba. PCHSW-13 July 9, 2024 CHR. KAGIWADA: May we ask the Director to please come on up and share with us about this report. Thank you, Director Messina for being here. Tell us about Title VI in your report. (Note: At this time, Parks and Recreation Director Maurice "Mo" Messina came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MR. MESSINA: Good morning, Maurice Messina, Director of Parks and Recreation (P&R). This is something that has been before you folks before. We do elderly transportation services like taking people to the hospital, for groceries, or to do shopping, and we also take them to medical appointments. Since some of our vans that we utilize are purchased through Federal funds, we just have to make sure that our Title VI is up to date, and this is the latest version. Just making sure that by putting it on paper that we will comply with all the requirements in Title VI. CHR. KAGIWADA: Great. Do you have any highlights or anything you want us to know about, particularly on this report? MR. MESSINA: Just, we will not discriminate against anyone. CHR. KAGIWADA: Okay, I'll leave it to the body to see if there are any questions or comments. Yes, Council Member Evans. MS. EVANS: Thank you. It says complaints must be in writing and signed by the complainant. Have you been getting any complaints? MR. MESSINA: So, we service about 15,000 seniors or kupuna each year. So, yes, Ma'am, we do get complaints. And it's everything from, you know, maybe I didn't get picked up on time to maybe the way the van driver was driving, he hit every pothole and didn't miss any, things like that. But all of our complaints do come in through writing. If there's ever an individual who wants to make a complaint, but they don't want to put their name to it, either myself or Michelle (Hiraishi) our Deputy, meets specifically with that person and hear what they've got to say. MS. EVANS: Because I handled one of those complaints and it didn't seem to me that it was in writing. So, I appreciate that we were able to have that conversation. Interesting, 15,000, you say? MR. MESSINA: Between 13,000 and 15,000 senior citizens are serviced by Elderly Activities Division annually. That's not just transportation services. Page 2 PCHSW-13 July 9, 2024 MS. EVANS: Okay. So we're not having any issues with the delivery of that service are we, in terms of vans breaking down? MR. MESSINA: For now, we're good. MS. EVANS: Alrighty. Thank you, I yield. CHR. KAGIWADA: Thank you. Anybody else, have any comments, questions about the report, the Title VI plan? No? Okay. I just have a couple questions. Director, when you have to change a route, or discontinue a route, or something like that, how is that decision made, and how is the public informed? MR. MESSINA: Well, it's mostly the people we have to inform are either the elderly persons themselves, or their caregivers, or their families. And we do it with plenty of notice. There are sometimes where, like we're short-staffed. You know, everybody's sick or something like that. But they're never left out in the cold. Everyone is given a phone call. We don't do emails either. We specifically make sure we reach out to somebody. CHR. KAGIWADA: Okay, that's great. I did talk to somebody who participates. She's from Hilo, but she actually participates in activities in Volcano. And she said there used to be a van or transportation for some people either in Hilo or maybe even Hdmdkua that took people up there to Volcano, and recently, she felt she's responsible for picking up several people along the way. She felt it was a hard burden because if she couldn't go for some reason, she felt like then those people don't get to participate. And so, I don't know if it's possible when someone has something like that, do they just contact you and talk about it, or what? MR. MESSINA: If you could give her my cellphone number? And that way I can talk to her and find out what she's talking about. CHR. KAGIWADA: Okay, great. I didn't know how formal or informal some of these things are. But, yeah, thank you so much. I appreciate that. MR. MESSINA: Ijust want to take care of it as soon as we hear about it. CHR. KAGIWADA: Sure. Alright, well, appreciate you and the work that you do to help our kupuna get around and stay involved and stay active in these activities. So, thank you so much. Page 3 PCHSW-1.3 July 9, 2024 MR. MESSINA: We have a real good Elderly Activities Division. CHR. KAGIWADA: Excellent. Alright. Well, with that I think we're done with this particular item. So, all those in favor of sending it to Council with a favorable recommendation, Resolution 547-24, please say, "aye." Any opposed? Vote on Res. 547-24: The motion to recommend adoption of Res. 547-24 was (Approved) carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Evans, Galimba, Inaba, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball Lee Loy, Villegas, and Chair Kagiwada — 9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused: None. CHR. KAGIWADA: Alright, can we do Bill 175, please. BILLS FOR The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, ORDINANCES: Bills for Ordinances. Bill 175: AMENDS CHAPTER 15, ARTICLE 9, SECTION 15-72 OF THE HAWAI`I COUNTY CODE 1983 (2016 EDITION, AS AMENDED), RELATING TO THE PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FARMERS MARKET FACILITY SCHEDULE Increases the potential establishment of farmers markets by adding three park facilities to the Hilo/Hamakua region, one park facility to the Ka`u region, one park facility to the Kohala region, and two park facilities to the Kona region, and updates the park facility name in the Puna region to "William Billy' Kenoi District Park." Reference: Comm.917 Intr. by: Ms. Kagiwada (B/R) Motion to Approve: Ms. Lee Loy moved to recommend passage of Bill 175 on first reading. Seconded by Ms. Galimba. CHR. KAGIWADA: Director, can you tell us a little bit about this one? MR. MESSINA: Yeah, we're pretty stoked about this. This is finally hitting our vision of having at least one farmers' market in every district. I have a lot of people that come and they want to do, you know, pop-up farmers' markets; they want to do vending. And we do have a process to go to be licensed and an authorized vendor at a County park. But not everybody can do that. Page 4 PCHSW-13 July 9, 2024 So, we've been meeting with nonprofits around the island, who think that they can take up this cause for us, and the selection process was made. Does the area have water, does it have electricity, does it have ample parking? Are we not competing with like private businesses and stuff like that? So, we're very happy with this. We're going to kick this off with an email campaign to a lot of our nonprofits who we think can help. And also, working with Research and Development (R&D); their food sustainability section, and we want to get these farmers' markets going as soon as possible. It's going to be a very hands-on approach for us, because we have seen farmers' markets fail numerous times, and we want to make sure that however it is, it's going to be successful. The biggest difference for our farmers' markets is, there is a maximum that vendors that can be charged, and that is $10 a day. So, the goal is, just simple farmers or people who have a garden. Like for me, like sometimes I have too many green beans; too many cucumbers. So, for $10, I can go and sell everything I got at one of these farmers' markets. We have a very strict process, and we'll do a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with each one of the nonprofits. And all the proceeds that are collected from the farmers market vending— CHR. KAGIWADA: Fees? MR. MESSINA: Yeah, you all know the process. Thanks. Will go directly back to the farmers market at that specific park. CHR. KAGIWADA: Terrific. Questions, comments folks? Yes, Council Member Kierkiewicz. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you, Chair. And please reel me back in if you feel I'm venturing outside of this particular ordinance. It's pertinent, I know it's for naming, but I'm more curious about how the actual Farmers Market programs are run. I'm looking in the Code. It's very reasonable for folks to participate; $5 to be able to do that. Who is managing that program? If somebody wanted to have a pop-up at a farmers' market at a County park, can this again, increase their opportunity to be able to do that? How would one go about that process, Director? Page 5 PCHS W-13 July 9, 2024 MR. MESSINA: The first part of that process is actually establishing a relationship and agreement with a nonprofit. That nonprofit will manage the farmers' market under the direction of our recreation directors for that specific park. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: So, it has to be a nonprofit? Not like the "Friends of the Park" agreement. MR. MESSINA: Yes, this is very strict. We've got a lot of money we're dealing with sometimes. So, you know, another part of this too, is that when we're looking at depth of produce; depth of bananas and stuff, or if we're looking at, like say, if there's a disease or somebody gets sick, we'll be able to track back to where that farmers market was. Each vendor will have a permit, so we'll be able to track back, and if there's any issue with the Department of Health, we'll be able to find out exactly where that produce came from. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: How are you selecting the nonprofit to basically manage this program? Is it a competitive process or first come, first serve? MR. MESSINA: No Ma'am. So far, the nonprofits have just come to us and say, "This is what we would like to do." And we look at their strengths and their weaknesses, and we're straight up with everybody. If we think that this is so far over their head, we'll ask them if they could bring a couple of people in to help them. And then when they are struggling, we come in and provide direct assistance. As far as you know, maybe move to this area or maybe set up your vendors like this. Because like I said, we want to make sure that this is a successful program. We don't want to see anyone fail. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Is there a template that you guys have on basic things that a nonprofit needs to create in order for the farmers' market to be successful? MR. MESSINA: So, you need the nonprofit to contact us about this. We've got a generalized MOU that we share with them. And it specifies everything from insurance requirements to everything else that's needed. And that will help them make a decision whether they think they can do this or not. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: In terms of like, setting a schedule and marketing it on social media. Is there guidance that the department is providing either P&R or you said, R&D? MR. MESSINA: No, it'll all be P&R as far as that part is concerned. But it's going to be site -dependent as well. So, like if I'm looking at Kamehameha Park? Page 6 PCHS W-13 July 9, 2024 They have the ability to run a farmers' market one Saturday a month. Pahoa Park, I think we were running two Saturdays a month. It's also going to be dependent on, what are the uses of the park? That way we're not competing with other things that are happening. Like, if we've got 2,000 or 3,000 people there for like say, a tournament, a farmers' market is not best for that day. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Okay, I just want to make sure I'm understanding the kind of vendors that can be there. So, folks that sell products where it's grown produce made on the Island of Hawaii. MR. MESSINA: Yes, you're not going to be able to come to our farmers' market and sell, you know — MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Avocados from Mexico? MR. MESSINA: Cheap sunglasses. Everything has to come from our island and be made or produced on our island. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Is there wiggle room for food vendors, like if they're sourcing ingredients on island, and they have a food pop-up? Could they participate in the farmers' market? MR. MESSINA: Of course. Yeah, we're not saying, you know, like your lumpia wrap came from the Philippines, so you can't do it. So, yeah, they're making or they're producing that, you know, on the islands. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Great, thank you. Chair, I really appreciate the latitude, so we can get more information into the public arena about this really, I think, great opportunity for communities islandwide. Thank you, Director. MR. MESSINA: Once this makes it through Council, we will be putting it out on social media, and we will be doing a press release. And we're going to set up a Zoom call with anyone who's interested in doing this. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Great. Thanks Director, I yield. CHR. KAGIWADA: Thank you. Council Member Lee Loy. MS. LEE LOY: Thank you, Chair. Thank you for bringing this forward. And maybe not at this time, and maybe as we measure the efficacy of these programs, my concern is and just being very hopeful, that they will be very successful. My concern is that you'll have pop -ups kind of, along the roadside Page 7 PCHS W-13 July 9, 2024 near the facility. So, they'll end up becoming poachers, right? They're not paying the $10; there's no guarantee. But because of the success of a farmers' market, say in Honoka`a, and they're full, so they'll have roadside vendors. And just wanted to put it out there for now that maybe some other ordinances around discouraging pop -ups within a particular radius of a farmers' market, right? So that it really incentivizes a vendor to participate at that location, and the return on investment for their contributions as part of the organization or the nonprofit are contributing means they also ensure that their investment won't be poached by someone. You know, half -a -mile down the road selling lychee or green papaya, right? So, just kind of putting it out there, not for now, but in support. MR. MESSINA: Okay, thank you. MS. LEE LOY: Great. Thank you, Chair, I yield. CHR. KAGIWADA: Thank you, Council Member. Council Member Villegas. MS. VILLEGAS: Yes. Aloha Mo. Thanks for being here and congratulations. You have been working on this for a long time. And a huge mahalo to your staff for putting this together as well. I just had a quick question. In the Kona area, the Honaunau Rodeo arena, fantastic. What is Kailua Park or which park is Kailua Park? MR. MESSINA: That's old "A's" MS. VILLEGAS: Old "A's." Okay, great. Thank you, that's helpful. And what area of the park will this be in? MR. MESSINA: Right now, we're thinking about the area that's close to the events pavilion where the Fair normally sets up. But we also have been approached by someone who wants to set up near the gym. But we've got to make sure in Kailua Park that it's a place that's not going to be impacted. Because the way the parking lots are situated at Kailua Park, we want to have them away from all of that. We want to have them close to a place that has water; has electricity and that we can manage. So, we're thinking almost close to the entrance where you enter the beach park area. Page 8 PCHSW-13 July 9, 2024 MS. VILLEGAS: Where it used to be the old DMV (Department of Motor Vehicle)? MR. MESSINA: Yes. Right over there. MS. VILLEGAS: Right over there. Okay, great. Because there is lots of parking, and then it will be the responsibility of the vendors to provide their own tents and shade. MR. MESSINA: Yes. MS. VILLEGAS: Okay. MR. MESSINA: Right now, it seems to be working. Everybody sets up in a ten by ten (10' x 10' pop-up tent). You bring it up, you pop it up with your tables and chairs. And what we've seen from these successful farmers' markets that we've run so far is they've taken those proceeds, and they've bought tables and chairs and pop -ups for other people. So, it's been working out. MS. VILLEGAS: Fantastic. Thank you so much. This is an exciting new development for Kona. And the fact that you have included the area in South Kona, which is so agriculturally rich; there are so many amazing farmers down there. So, providing access in an area close to them, I think, would be fantastic. As we continue to move forward with the renovations and improvements at Kona Park or Kailua Park, I'll look forward to working with you. And if there's a need, please reach out and let me know, so we can facilitate whatever needs you have in order to ensure the success of this and to support our farmers and our small businesses that can participate in this. So, thank you. MR. MESSINA: Sounds great. Thank you. CHR. KAGIWADA: Thank you. Council Member Evans. MS. EVANS: Thank you. Similar question. You have Waimea Park. Which one? There's three parks up there in my mind. MR. MESSINA: So, Waimea Park is the park that's near the Waimea Community Center, near where the playground is. It's now Kalani Shutte District Park where the gym is. MS. EVANS: Right. Okay. You know we have Parker School who has their farmers' market right across the street from that on Saturdays. And then we have the farmers' market at the stables on Wednesdays and Saturdays. And then Hawaiian Home Lands has their farmers' market on Saturdays. Page 9 PCHSW-1.3 July 9, 2024 So, what do you think of the schedule? I guess in putting this on the list, who did you speak to in the community to come up with putting it on the list and what do you think of the timing of this? What days? MR. MESSINA: So, our planning right now for Waimea Park is, we would like to do a farmers' market on Sundays so that we're not competing with those other folks. And the people that are there on the other days, either Wednesday or Saturdays at the other farmers' markets, they'll have actually one extra day because to sell their wares, or their vegetables, or produce at ours. So, that is the whole goal; is not to compete with other folks. Just give this extra opportunity for farmers. MS. EVANS: It's just, you know, that you're struggling so much with parking in that area. I mean, obviously, I want more food and stuff available for people, but that area is so challenged with parking. I'll be curious how you manage it. Because right across the street, is the Catholic Church and the Episcopal Church, and they just fill up with parking right there. So, it'll be curious how you try to manage that, because you don't really have a lot of parking stalls. I mean, your parking lot is right there where the community center is and has very little parking. And the actual ballfield and the skateboard park. That's not a lot of parking there either for the people that use the park facility. I just want to make sure that you've thought that through, because the Highway Department is looking at, and I'm trying to get dates, but they're looking at adding complete streets. And on the shoulders, putting in sidewalks and bicycle lanes and whatever could potentially take away parking that people are using now, and I'm a little concerned. This parking is now heating up, as this is a real problem area. So, just forewarning you, this is a problem area for parking. MR. MESSINA: Yes, and we understood that. And we were looking at possibly putting it at the gym. There's not a lot of parking there either, and we're trying to get our programs running at the gym right now seven -days -a -week. Our goal is to have a farmers' market in Waimea, and we're not going to find a perfect spot. But sometimes we have 1,500 people out on that field, you know, in and around with big events and everybody figures it out. So, I would rather us just have to deal with the parking situation, but still have a farmers market in our park. MS. EVANS: You haven't thought about an inside farmers' market in that great big gym? Page 10 PCHSW-13 July 9, 2024 MR. MESSINA: Yeah, we don't allow that in our gyms. Food, and there's going to be plants; there's going to be dirt. We don't want to bring that inside of a gym. MS. EVANS: Okay, it'll be curious how it works out. MR. MESSINA: It'll be dynamic, you know, and we'll figure it out as we go. And you know, whoever we work with, but I think the goal is having a farmers' market in one of our parks in Waimea should be the end goal. MS. EVANS: Okay, then Church Row was not an option. MR. MESSINA: No, Ma'am. MS. EVANS: Okay, thank you. CHR. KAGIWADA: Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you. Could see adding more parks to this program. This has been in existence for a long time. You and I helped Aunty Madie (Kanaina Greene) get a farmers' market up and going in the Pahoa Park. We did run into some problems, but I mean, ultimately what I saw come out of that was an amazing opportunity for community in that instance. I think one of the existing farmers' markets had been displaced, and they were able to opt for one of their —I remember the first day we did it, it was beautiful. We had community coming, we had community buying what they wanted; walking around making use of the park facility, and ultimately, I think it was a great service to the community. So, seeing more places on our list is tremendous, good job. Look forward to seeing the folks who can help spread it out there to the community. And then, I have an idea for you, I want to talk with you after. Thank you. MR. MESSINA: Okay, and you know, the ladies who used to run it with Aunty Madie have already come in and said they want to start it back up again So, that's going to be awesome. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: That is beautiful. Because it was a beautiful event. That's the best I can say, and we love Aunty Madie. MR. MESSINA: Thank you. Page 11 PCHSW-1.3 July 9, 2024 CHR. KAGIWADA: Thank you, Council Member. Anybody else? No? Okay just a couple things. Having seen how things work at the Hilo Farmers' market, just wondering about trash. Is the Parks going to be taking care of trash or will the nonprofits be taking care of trash? MR. MESSINA: It'll all be Parks. I mean, that's the good thing about having it in a park. Our maintenance folks will be there; our recreation folks will be there. It'll be a hundred percent supportive. CHR. KAGIWADA: Okay, great. The other thing is, will it be up to the individual site whether there's any kind of seating; picnic tables, anything like that provided, or you know, how will that work? MR. MESSINA: We're not looking at that. If the nonprofit decides they want to set up a little area so folks can sit and eat, that's up to them. CHR. KAGIWADA: Okay. MR. MESSINA: But so far, we haven't seen many of those. Usually, somebody wants to take something, they can take it to the parks and picnic tables that are already provided in the park. But it'll be up to the nonprofit running it, if they decide to do something like that. CHR. KAGIWADA: Okay, great. Well, this sounds fabulous. Do, please reach out to all of us, and we can help you know, advertise and push things out. So, really looking forward to it. Alright. So, with Bill 175, all those in favor of sending this to Council with a favorable recommendation, please say "aye." Any opposed? Vote on Bill 175: The motion to recommend passage of Bill 175 on first (Approved) reading was carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Evans, Galimba, Inaba, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball Lee Loy, Villegas, and Chair Kagiwada — 9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused: None. Page 12 PCHSW- 13 10 DIM110.4 ILVAIM641 Approved: Seeing no further business, Chair Kagiwada adjourned the meeting at 11:25 a.m. CHR. KAGIWADA: Thank you. 14all'OgX�__ Ms. 4(n Kagiw"ada, 4Xair Policy Committee on Health, Safety, and Well-being JK/dt (Date) July 9, 2024 Page 13