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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN GOEAC 2025/07/22 (2024-2026) DRAFT Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs 14th Session West Hawaii Civic Center 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Building A Kailua-Kona, Hawaii July 22, 2025 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Governmental Operations and ORDER: External Affairs was called to order at 9;04 a.m.,,in the Council Chambers, Kailua-Kona, by Ms. Jenn Kagiwada, Chair. ROLL CALL: Present: Ms. Jenn Kagiwada, Chair Ms. Michelle M. Galimba, Member(via videoconference from Hilo) Mr. James E. Hustace, Member Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz',,Member(via videoconference from Hilo) Ms. Heather L. Kimball, Member Mr. Dennis "Fresh" Onishi,Member Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Member Absent& Excused: Mr. Matt Kareali`i-Kleinfelder, Vice Chair Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, 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 individuals registered to speak and came forward when called by the Chair: Malia Lewis: Res. 235-25 (Comm. 379), in support. (representing Mayor's Office, Sister City) Claudia Rohr: Bill 68 (Comm. 376), comment. CHR. KAGIWADA: Thank you. With that we are going to go in order today. So, can we start with Communication 40.1, please. GOEAC-14 July 22,2025 COMMUNI- The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, CATIONS: Communications. Comm. 40.1: HAWAI`I STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES' (HSAC) APRIL 25, 2025,EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES From Council Member Heather L. Kimball, dated July 1, 2025. Motion to Close File: Ms. Kimball moved to close file on Comm. 40.1. Seconded by Mr. Hustace. CHR. KAGIWADA: Council Member Kimball. MS. KIMBALL: Thank you. Apologies folks for the slight'delay in getting these minutes to you. We missed a meeting of the Executive Committee for HSAC, so we did not get these approved there until now. So, if you recall atour last meeting, I had put forth a communication for us to discuss HSAC priorities for the Legislative Session 2026. We do still have to get that discussion. So, I'm going to ask that we do it on the context of these minutes today, if I could have some suggestions from you folks. The procedure is that I take the suggestions back to the HSAC Executive Committee. It gets voted upon and agreed to by the Executive Committee as a statewide issue. Perhaps some legislation wild be drafted and then it will come back to us as part of a package. So, asking my colleagues to share any legislative priorities'thatyou might have for HSAC for the next year. I can also take that information offline if you want to send to me an email, but I did want to make sure we had this discussion to keep with our HSAC timeline. Other than that, I would just like to congratulate Council Member Onishi on once again getting the Presidential appointment to the NACO (National Association of Counties) Board; So, congratulations. With that I yield, Chair. Thank you. CHR KAGIWADA: Okay, do we have any suggestions for priorities or comments on the minutes. Yes, go ahead, Council Member Kierkiewicz. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you so much. Thank you, Council Member Kimball for representing our body through HSAC. Just a couple of ideas to get the list going for priorities. I'd love to see more dollars related to diverse economic development here on Hawaii Island, specifically, within agriculture and food systems. I'm not sure if anyone's has had a chance to research or visit the Food Innovation Hub in Wahiawa on Oahu. But having something similar in more rural communities would just allow us to increase our ability to be more food secure and resilient. Page 2 GOEAC-14 July 22,2025 Then I'd also like to State to begin the conversation around once again cesspool conversion and what's realistic. You have a lot of communities that must convert that may not be able to afford it. So, I think we need to have conversations with the Department of Health to see what's feasible and realistic, because all of our islands are so incredibly unique. And it's not a one-size-fits-all strategy for the conversion. So, those would be my top two picks for HSAC before the list gets long. Thank you, Chair. CHR. KAGIWADA: Thank you very much. Anybody else? Council Member Hustace. MR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Chair. I think just to stem off of what Council Member Kierkiewicz was saying, not all of our communities are the same. We need to find different models. And some of the challenges we're facing that I've definitely seen in District 9, there's'a big hurdle with public-private partnership. We have existing systems that the community is trying to find an avenue to hook into. But we have a hurdle of the lack of, you know, the lack of municipal systems and a challenge of public dollars moving towards,a collective goal, right? We're trying to find the solution,butthere are definitely hurdles there. So, thank you, Council Member Kierkiewicz for mentioning the cesspool conversion. I would also say any other sorts of progress or process towards legislation around not just disaster remediation, but it's also preparedness for our communities. Sort of stand up our communities and:how do we adequately and appropriately finance programs and projects that can kind of come on the frontend for communities that would,b,b a lesser amount as compared to remediation efforts. Prepare those communities making them more resilient. Do we pursue sort of tax benefits for communities, as we had on beyond tomorrows agenda? And I inquired with Civil Defense about those tax breaks when individuals prepare their homes for certain disasters. Can we open this up for other ones, particularly, wildfires and those sorts of things? Then I had a question for you, Council Member Kimball, on new business, if it's okay, Chair? CHR. KAGIWADA: Yes, go ahead. MR. HUSTACE: If you could just—there was one note about,just a long discussion on Vacancy tax, and some of the different tax programs. If you could just elaborate on some of that discussion, if possible? CHR KAGIWADA: Go ahead, Council Member Kimball. Page 3 GOEAC-14 July 22,2025 MS. KIMBALL: Yes. First of all, thank you to you, Council Member Hustace and Council Member Kierkiewicz for some of the suggestions thus far. So, yes, City and County of Honolulu was looking at some Vacancy tax. I'm sorry, I can't recall the name and number of the bill on the top of my head. But it's something I can share later. It's somewhat similar to our taxes on our Residential Tier� taxes for the second homes, the Non-Homeowner Class. But they at some point introduced so many exclusions that it was going to be very challenging to implement. So, it's kind of been pulled back to the drawing board. It's not quite completely off the table yet. But, it was modeled after a Vacancy Tax program in Vancouver, Canada. So, if it's something of interest to folks, that's where I might start, is looking at their ordinance with respect to that. MR. HUSTACE: Thank you, appreciate that. 1,think I'll leave those priorities there for now, and then we can always talk some more. Thank you, Council Member. CHR. KAGIWADA: Thank you, Council Member Hustace. Council Member Onishi. MR. ONISHL Thank you,Madame Chair. I just:have a suggestion, that maybe we can have or maybe you can set up a meeting with all our legislators, with the House and Senate.'Because being with HSAC before, a lot of our initiatives that we put out as our package, we don't getthe support. So, I think we can do something prior and work together with them to find out if they feel the same as us, then I think we can have more help. Then they push it on the Legislative side to help get bills passed because, you know, being on HSAC committees before, our percentage of getting bills passed is very low, like maybe .00005, 'So, we've got to think of different ways of how we can get more support. I yield, Chair. CHR KAGIWADA: Thank you so much. Anybody else? Council Members Villegas, Galimba. Council Member Galimba. MS: GALIMBA: Thank you. I haven't really thought about this as far as how it would work. But of course, the number one thing that we hear about back in our communities, the state of the State Highways. And I know all of us are kind of sick of having to say, "Sorry, but that's a State highway." So, if there is a way for us to intervene at that level and create more or at least transparency of how State Highways allocates its repairs. So that we can have better answers for our constituents, that would be a wonderful thing. Page 4 GOEAC-14 July 22,2025 CHR. KAGIWADA: Thank you, Council Member Galimba. Anybody else? Council Member Villegas. MS. VILLEGAS: Yes,just quickly, you know, we had touched on this, and we passed this bill as a Council to make flavored E-cigarettes banned on the Big Island once the State rectifies the loophole included there. So,just would love to see some push on that to get that changed at the State level would be great. Also, something that keeps coming up for me is the way the State, and unfortunately, the County has returned to their management practices of spraying pesticides on the side of our roads for weed abatements which unfortunately is a short-term short-lived solution, because the grass just grows right back. But everything else gets negatively impacted.' But I have seen State Highway vehicles flying down the road at 55-miles=per-hour'; getting out and pulling a lever from the inside and just blowing clouds of pesticide along the side of the highway as they do 55 (mph). I can't imagine that that's how we go distributing herbicides and if they are necessary to be used in certain instances, it's definitely not efficient, effective, or safe, and healthy for anything around it. So, those are just a couple things that popped to mind. So, thank you. CHR KAGIWADA: Thank you, Council Member Villegas. Alright, if I could, I would just like to weigh in here. Oh, go ahead, Council Member Hustace. MR_ HVSTACE: Thank you, Chair. It's just kind of pivoting off of what Council Member Kierkie icz's earlier conversation about our Ag sector where there's also a conversation about water and the conversation with have with our State Sea Warm and DLNR with, you know, preservation, conservation and management of these watershed areas and that inter-related areas into our Ag systems as well and our dependency:; I know each County has its own direction and purview under Sea Warm. So, there were some differences, but having that conversation about our water systems and investment in better monitoring and tracking of some of these State watersheds and our repair in-zones. That really is where the end-users are benefiting from at the end of the day, particularly for Ag use, Ag growth, and Ag development. Thank you, Chair, appreciate the time. CHR.KAGIWADA: Alright, a few of the ones I really want to highlight actually were priorities last year, and since this is the second year on this item, hopefully we can keep bringing them forward in addition to repealing the pre-emption that Council Member Villegas mentioned about the tobacco information. Page 5 GOEAC-14 July 22,2025 We were supporting the conveyance tax at the State level that would hopefully provide some funding around affording housing or homelessness, any of those things. We were looking at supporting the State looking at better Game Management, especially our wild ungulates. It's been a serious problem on our island. Looking at producer responsibility for solid waste. I know there were a couple kind of competing bills last year, but hopefully, we can get the community together on that one. Then funding for multimodal transportation. So, making sure we are, whenever possible providing safe walking, biking, rolling routes, because that really help us with getting cars off the road, and also our health. So, those are some of the ones I can'think about on the top of my head. And thank you for taking this on once again, buI allowing us to follow-up if we think of things later. Is there is a date when you need peopleto follow-up if they have other ideas? MS. KIMBALL: Yes.- So, our next meeting is August I", so that will be the meeting where we discuss the priorities from each county. So, if there are any additional items, as you mentioned,we did have previous bills. So, if you can reference last year's bill numbers so I can have the actual piece of legislation to work with, that would be great. So, if I can leave an email by August I". I will just mention for Council Member Onishi and Council Member Hustace, one of the changes we were able to effectuate through HSAC, which by the way was one of the bills we passed with respect to the Sunshine Law is that for items that we agree upon as part of our priorities,not necessarily bills, but priority areas. We are allowed to discuss them during the Legislative Session outside of the Council forum. That allows us to keep up with things as they move through the Legislative process. So, thatwas the change we made to Chapter 92. So, it's really critical that we're making sure we're getting everything that we want to be able to submit testimony and discuss on the priority list. I will also mention to Council Member Onishi's point, one of our strategies this year is also to look at rather than introducing a subset of bills through a passage but doing it through specific Legislators through the Chairs of various committees to try to have a little more success there. We have been specifically asked through Speaker Nakamura who is a former County Manager so she'll get County government to identify three to four projects that we can work with her and her team this year. She's very interested in us demonstrating State and County collaboration. So, I'm very excited about her leadership over there. So, we'll figure that out after we get everybody's ideas of what those four items will be. Thank you. Page 6 GOEAC-14 July 22,2025 CHR. KAGIWADA: Thank you. And I just will mention since we had LRB here earlier, it's really helpful when LRB also helps us track our priorities and priority bills. So, thank you and looking forward to continuing with that because that's very helpful. Alright, thank you. We have a motion on the floor to close file on Communication 40.1. All those in favor please say "aye." Any opposed? Vote on Comm. 40.1: The motion to close file on Comm. 40.1, was carried Filed by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Onishi, Villegas and Chair Kagiwada—7. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Inaba. and Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder—2: Excused: None. CHR KAGIWADA: Can we please go to Communication 391. Comm. 391: NOMINATION OF JUSTIN CANELAS TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION' From Mayor C. Kimo Alameda, dated July 3,2025, requesting the Council's review and,confirmation. Requires Council Confirmation by: August 16, 2025 (Section 13-4(k), Hawaii County Charter) (Note: At this time, Executive Assistant to the Mayor Micah Alameda and the nominees came forward to address the members of the Committee.) Vote on Comm,391: Mr, Hustace moved to recommend confirmation of the nomination (Approved) of Mr. Justin Canelas the Environmental Management Commission. Seconded by Mr. Onishi and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace, Kierkiewicz, Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Kagiwada—6. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Inaba, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, and Kimball—3. Excused: None. Page 7 GOEAC-14 July 22,2025 Mr. Alameda provided a brief narrative of the nominee's background and experience. Committee Members spoke in favor of the appointment. CHR. KAGIWADA: Can we proceed to Communication 392, please. Comm. 392: NOMINATION OF GARY C. DAVIS TO THE KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE , From Managing Director William V. Brilhante, Jr., elated July 3, 2025, requesting the Council's review and confirmation: Requires Council Confirmation by: August 16, 2025 (Section 13-4(k), Hawai`i County Charter) Vote on Comm. 392: Mr. Hustace moved to recommend confirmation of the nomination (Approved) of Mr. Gary C. Davis to the Ka`it Community Development Plan Action Committee. Seconded by Ms.Villegas and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Austace, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Onishi, Villegas and Chair Kagiwada=7. Noes: None. Absent; Committee Members Inaba and Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder—2. Excused: None. Mr. Alameda provided a brief narrative of the nominee's background and experience. Committee Members spoke in favor of the appointment. CHR KAGIWADA: Communication 393, please, Mr. Clerk. Comm. 393: NOMINATION OF OWANA K. WILCOX TO THE SOUTH KOHALA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE From Mayor C. Kimo Alameda, dated July 3, 2025, requesting the Council's review and confirmation. Requires Council Confirmation by: August 16, 2025 (Section 13-4(k), Hawaii County Charter) Page 8 GOEAC-14 July 22,2025 Vote on Comm. 393: Mr. Hustace moved to recommend confirmation of the nomination (Approved) of Ms. Owana K. Wilcox to the South Kohala Community Development Plan Action Committee. Seconded by Ms. Villegas and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Onishi, Villegas and Chair Kagiwada—7. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Inaba and Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder �—2. Excused: None. Mr. Alameda provided a brief narrative of the nominee's background and experience. Committee Members spoke in favor of the appointment. CHR. KAGIWADA: Our last nomination,Communication 394. Comm. 394: NOMINATION OF BAMBI,LAU TO THE SOUTH KOHALA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE, From Managing Director William V; Brilhante, Jr., dated July 3, 2025, requesting the Council's review and confirmation.' Requires Council Confirmation by- August 16, 2025 (Section 13-4(k), Hawaii County Charter) Vote on Comm. 394_:_ Mr. Hustace'moved,to recommend confirmation of the nomination (Approved) of Ms. Bambi Lau to the South Kohala Community Development Plan Action Committee. Seconded by Ms. Villegas and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Onishi, Villegas and Chair Kagiwada—7. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Inaba and Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder—2. Excused: None. Mr. Alameda provided a brief narrative of the nominee's background and experience. Committee Members spoke in favor of the appointment. Page 9 GOEAC-14 July 22,2025 CHR. KAGIWADA: Res. 235-25. Relinquish Chair: At this time, the Chair relinquished the Chair to Vice Chair Kimball. ORDER OF The Acting Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, RESOLUTIONS: Order of Resolutions. Res. 235-25: ACKNOWLEDGES THE EIGHTIETH ANNIVERSARIES OF THE BOMBINGS OF HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI AND REAFFIRMING A COMMITMENT TO PEACE Reference: Comm. 379 Intr. by: Council Member Kagiwada Motion to Approve: Ms. Kagiwada moved to recommend adoption of Res. 235 �5. . Seconded by Mr. Hustace. (Discussion Continued) Vote on Res. 235-25: The motion to recommend adoption of Res, 235-25, was (Approved) carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Vllegas and Acting Chair Kimball 6. Noes:' None. Absent: Committee Members Inaba, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, and Onishi —3. Excused: None. BILLS FOR The Chair directed-the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, ORDINANCES: Bills for Ordinances. Bill 68: INITIATES:AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE VI OF THE CHARTER OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI`I(2024 EDITION), RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING Establishes a new Department of Building with the authority to regulate building and construction-related activities; creates a Director of Building position appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council; and establishes a Building Codes Commission to advise the Mayor, Council, and Director on building and construction-related matters. Reference: Comm. 376 Intr. by: Council Members Hustace and Kierkiewicz Page 10 GOEAC-14 July 22,2025 Motion to Approve: MS. Kierkiewicz moved to recommend passage of Bill 68 on first reading. Seconded by Mr. Hustace. (Discussion Continued) Motion to Postpone: Ms. Kierkiewicz moved to postpone Bill 68 to August 5, 2025. Seconded by Mr. Hustace. CHR. KAGIWADA: Any other input on the motion? All those in favor please say "aye." Any opposed? Vote on Motion The motion to postpone Bill 68 to August 5, 2025,, to Postpone: was carried by the following voice vote: ' (Approved) Ayes: Committee Members,Galimba,Hustace, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Kagiwada 7. Noes: None.. Absent: Committee.Members Inaba and Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder— 1. Excused: None. CHR. KA+GIWADA: We are adjourned at 12;09 P.M. ADJOURN- Seeing no further business, Chair Kagiwada adjourned the meeting at MENT: 1209 P.M. Approved: Ms. Jenn Kagiwada, Chair (Date) Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs JK/dt Page 11