HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN PCPLUED 2025/01/07 (2024-2026) Policy Committee on Planning,
Land Use, and Economic Development
l't Session
Hawaii County Building
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii
January 7, 2025
CALL TO The regular meeting of the Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and
ORDER: Economic Development was called to order at 5:49 p.m., in the Council
Chambers, Hilo, by Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Chair.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Chair
Ms. Michelle M. Galimba, Vice Chair
Mr. James E. Hustace
Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Member
Ms. Jenn Kagiwada, Member
Mr. Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Member (came in later)
Mr. Dennis "Fresh" Onishi, Member
Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Member
Absent& Excused: Ms. Heather L. Kimball, 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: (There were none.)
CHR. KIERKIEWICZ: I'm getting the signal that there is no public testimony
at this time. So, we are going to be moving straight into the business of the day,
Communication 63.
COMMUNI- The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business,
CATIONS: Communications.
Comm. 63: REQUESTS THE FORMATION OF AN AD HOC COMMITTEE PURSUANT
TO COUNCIL RULE NO. 7 AND SECTION 92-2.5 OF THE HAWAI`I
REVISED STATUTES TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
REVISIONS TO CHAPTER 11 OF THE HAWAI`I COUNTY CODE 1983
(2016 EDITION, AS AMENDED), ENTITLED "HOUSING"
From Council Member Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, dated December 18, 2024.
Motion to Close File: Mr. Inaba moved to close file on Comm. 63. Seconded by
Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder.
PCPLUED-1 January 7,2025
CHR. KIERKIEWICZ: If you folks don't mind, I'm just going to jump right into
it. Members of this body are aware that we had convened an Ad Hoc Committee
to study Chapter 11 of our County Code last year. That was comprised of myself,
Council Member Inaba, Council Member Kagiwada, and then Council Member,
now Representative Sue Lee Loy.
We met weekly for several months and came up with a report on ways in which
we can incentivize more affordable housing development here in our County.
But there's things that other departments need to do to make that happen. All of
those findings can be found in Communication 948.2.
The sense from the Ad Hoc at the time was this work must continue. And so, I've
had preliminary meetings with our new Housing Administrator and Deputy.
They're on board to continue this work where we will be actually working to
rewrite Chapter 11 and diving a little bit deeper into some of the areas that we just
did not have time for last year.
So again, I'm proposing to convene another Ad Hoc, and I'd like to invite Council
Members Inaba and Kagiwada to continue joining, because a lot of time and
investment was made last year. And also invite new Council Member James
Hustace to join us in this effort.
So, if folks are amenable, I'd like to get verbal confirmation, and then we can
confirm the establishment of this Ad Hoc Committee, which will be meeting for a
timeframe of seven months at which time we will be putting forward a report for
this body to deliberate on. Council Members? Mr. Inaba.
MR. INABA: Thank you. Confirming my willingness to serve, thank you.
CHR KIERKIEWICZ: Excellent.
MS. KAGIWADA: Yes, I'm willing to serve. Thank you.
CHR KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you.
MR. HUSTACE: Thank you for the opportunity. Willing to serve, thank you.
CHR KIERKIEWICZ: Beautiful. Administrator Costa, anything to add?
Willingness by your department to continue to kako`o. And I also see Deputy
Corporation Counsel, Sylvia Wan. She's got the biggest smile on her face. She
can't wait to dive back into this. Wonderful. Anne Bailey, Chelsea Jensen, thank
you very much for your efforts. The Ad Hoc Committee is established, and I will
be serving as Chair of the Ad Hoc. With that, we've been established. We are at
the end of the agenda. Motion to postpone to the Call of the Chair?
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PCPLUED-I January 7,2025
Motion to Postpone: Mr. Inaba moved to postpone Comm. 63 to the
Call of the Chair. Seconded by Mr. Onishi.
CHR. KIERKIEWICZ: All those in favor please say, "aye." Any opposed?
Vote on Motion The motion to postpone Comm. 63 to the Call of
to Postpone: the Chair was carried by the following voice vote:
(Approved
Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace, Inaba,
Kagiwada, Kdneali`i-Kleinfelder, Onishi,
Villegas, and Chair Kierkiewicz— 8.
Noes: None.
Absent: Committee Member Kimball—1.
Excused: None.
CHR. KIERKIEWICZ: That brings us to the end of our agenda.
ADJOURN- There being no further business, Chair Kierkiewicz adjourned the meeting
MENT: at 5:53 p.m.
Approved:
Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Chair (Date)
Policy Committee on Planning,
Land Use, and Development
AKldt
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