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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN PCPWMT 2025/11/19 (2024-2026)Policy Committee on Public Works and Mass Transit 7th Session West Hawaii Civic Center 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Building A Kailua-Kona, Hawaii November 19, 2025 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Policy Committee on Public Works and ORDER: Mass Transit was called to order at 9:30 a.m., in the Council Chambers, Kailua-Kona, by Mr. James E. Hustace, Chair. ROLL CALL: Present: Mr. James E. Hustace, Chair Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Vice Chair (via video conference from Hilo) Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Member Ms. Michelle M. Galimba, Member Ms. Jenn Kagiwada, Member (via video conference from Hilo) Mr. Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Member (via video conference from Hilo) Ms. Heather L. Kimball, Member (via video conference from Hilo) Mr. Dennis "Fresh" Onishi, Member Ms. Rebecca Villegas, 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.) BILLS FOR The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, ORDINANCES: Bills for Ordinances. Bill 107: AMENDS CHAPTER 17 OF THE HAWAI`I COUNTY CODE 1983 (2016 EDITION, AS AMENDED), RELATING TO THE FIRE CODE Adopts the State Fire Code as the County Fire Code; and adds administrative procedures relating to fire code enforcement, including permits, reviews, and inspections. Reference: Comm.604 Imr. by: Council Member Hustace (B/R) Motion to Approve: Mr. Onishi moved to recommend passage of Bill 107 on first reading. Seconded by Ms. Galimba. CHR. HUSTACE: Before we go into discussion, I'd like to welcome up Chief Royd Henderson here to kind of give us a breakdown and some background on PCPWMT-7 November 19, 2025 this amendment to the Fire Code. Thank you, Chief, for joining us here in Kona. Please introduce yourself, and the floor is yours. (Note: At this time, Fire Battalion Chief Royd Henderson, came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MR. HENDERSON: Okay. I am Battalion Chief Royd Henderson with the Hawaii Fire Department (HFD). Thank you, guys, for having us today. Appreciate you bringing this to the Council. What we're trying to do right now is simplify our County Codes. So, I am up for questions or any concerns. CHR. HUSTACE: Any specifics, Chief, you wanted to talk about in terms of this bill. MR. HENDERSON: Specifically, so, I brought an example. A little bit of background to make it quick. So, the Code works in three phases, essentially. So, it starts at a National level, then it goes down to the State level, and then finally, the County level. So, much like other things. But what happens is, as the process in that happening, it makes it difficult for some of the designers to do their job. Essentially, in that process, it gets confusing because who's adopting what and when. Because these things change during the seasons, what we're trying to do with this particular Code is say, when we work on the State level, we're just going to just adopt it when the State adopts it. Mainly because with the State amendments, we come together as all of the counties and actually put in our amendments. Instead of doing it here at the County level, we're just going to do it at the State level. Essentially, what we found in the past is that people would have trouble designing projects and have to go back and redesign things based on when we adopt certain codes. So, in an effort to try and make it a lot easier for the public and designers in general, is we decided to just basically state, "Hey, when the State adopts it, we're game and we said our peace, and we'll move on." So, that's kind of the basis of it. CHR. HUSTACE: Appreciate that. Any questions from the members? Council Member Onishi. MR. ONISHI: Thank you, Chair. That sounds great. With a lot of commercial plans that come in, that's where the confusion is, right? MR. HENDERSON: Yeah, for sure. MR. ONISHI: The other thing I have is, have you folks worked on the pressure of water that's needed? I guess it's at 2,000 PSI (pounds per square inch) or PGI (Pressure Gauge Industrial). Page 2 November 19, 2025 MR. HENDERSON: Yeah, the GPNs, (General Purpose, Natural Gas gauges). So, the thing is that the County standard of water from the Water Department is actually in the Planning Code section. So on our end, that's why we wanted to adopt our actual Code, because on the Code it changes per the project. Because some districts, let's be honest, are commercial but they don't have the infrastructure for it. So, if you stick to a certain standard, whatever it is for that project, it could present challenges. So, sometimes we run into those issues where we have to work with people anyways. And so, for something like that, in our Code it actually changes per the building type, or building size, or what you're going to use it for, right? So, we don't end up in a space where it's this, or you can't do your thing. I think more so, the reason why we want to simplify our Code on the County side is because we run into the same thing all the time, where its, we're not sure, go call Royd and see if he can help us or our team, right, call Ed (Kawasaki) and Gary (Abu), or whoever's doing it. So, really what it boils down to is because in the code, it gives us the ability to help people anyways with particular projects. We don't want to make it any more complicated than needs to be. So, for something like water, there's so many different ways we can adapt that. It would help people out, right, because ultimately, we understand, right? If we don't help the community grow, I mean, we're all stuck in mud, so ultimately our job is to push everything forward with that safety aspect in mind. So, something like that, we always work with people anyway. MR. ONISHI: You guys do, which I appreciate. Certain areas, I mean, it's like they only have like a six-inch or something smaller. So, you know, in order for them to do a project, then they would have to dig up that whole line, which is going to cost them millions of dollars, and they're not going to be able to recoup their expenses, right? And so, that's great to hear. Thank you. MR. HENDERSON: To be honest, on the flipside of that is, we appreciate all the support from you guys. You know, over the years with actually, tanker trucks and those things. Because those things actually gives us the leverage to say, "Well, we have more water trucks now so, we can kind of work in that sense. So, it helps a lot when then were doing projects. MR. ONISHI: I noticed, too, with the recent —I guess, with BC (Battalion Chief) Kurashige, I mean that fire prevention, you folks really became friendlier and more helpful. And now you're there, which is awesome. Because you know, you as the inspector before, you always used to try and help. Page 3 PCPWMT-7 November 19, 2025 MR. HENDERSON: It's who we work for, right? I mean, let's be honest, we work for the public. So, as much as we can. I mean, if we're not able to assist somebody with something, we'll tell you straight, we can't do this. You know, for the most part, we try to help out. So, shouldn't be too much of an inconvenience. MR. ONISHI: Thank you vey much. I yield. MR. HENDERSON: No problem. CHR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Council Member. Council Member Inaba. MR. INABA: Thank you, Chair. Good morning, Chief. And I know you've been working on this for little while. So no questions, but I just want to mahalo you and Jacob Perry, from our LRB (Legislative Research Branch). This is the best Construction Code update bill I think we've seen forever. MR. HENDERSON: Oh really, it's all due to him. I'm just going to be honest, it's Mr. Perry. He really guided me through this, because I was fumbling through it badly. So, yah, he did awesome. MR. INABA: Well, you guys, thank you, and in support. Thank you, Chair, I yield. MR. HENDERSON: Thank you, guys. CHR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Council Member. Checking in Hilo with the members. Please Miss Kimball, go ahead. MS. KIMBALL: Thank you. I absolutely support this concept. I think it's a great idea, definitely, from the design and engineering community standpoint. It's going to provide a lot more certainty. I'd like to propose, Chief, if HFD would be willing to entertain a friendly amendment. Maui has similar language with respect to adoption of the Building Code. So, when the State adopts it, they automatically adopt the Building Code. The one bit of difference is that, if their Council has made any amendments to the Building Code, those amendments carry over as well with the exception that if the new Building Code disallows any of those previously adopted amendments, then the Building Code wins out. So, basically, the amendment would propose that we would adopt the State Fire Code in addition to any County level amendments with the exclusion of any that are prohibited by the new Fire Code. Is that something that would be comfortable entertaining? Page 4 PCPWMT-7 November 19, 2025 MR. HENDERSON: Yeah, I mean, I think in essence I think the understanding that as we do new codes, the trouble is that within the community, they think the newest book is the end-all, be-all. And the trouble with the Fire Code we always have is that sometimes people misunderstand that, you know. We had a project that fell under this code, and we can't come to your house and say, "well, tear out all your walls, you have to rebuild it." So, we'd entertain anything that makes sense for the public to understand things better and move things along. MS. KIMBALL: I'll work with Mr. Perry to draft the language. I basically copied what they have in the Maui Code with respect to the Building Code, and I'll share that with you before I submit it. Thank you. MR. HENDERSON: Perfect. Thank you. CHR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Council Member. Any other discussion from Hilo? Okay, seeing none. Thank you, Chief, appreciate you bringing this forward and the conversation here streamlining this process. And no other discussion, so, all those in favor of moving Bill 107 to Council with a favorable recommendation please say "aye." Any opposed? Vote on Bill 107: The motion to recommend passage Bill 107 on first reading (Approved) was carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kdneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Hustace — 9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused: None. CHR. HUSTACE: With that being the only item on the agenda today, we are adjourned at 9:40 a.m. Thank you, Chief. MR. HENDERSON: Thank you guys so much, appreciate you guys very much. Thank you. Page 5 PCPWMT-7 ADJOURN- MENT: Approved: November 19, 2025 There being no further business, Chair Hustace adjourned the meeting at 9:40 a.m. r. J s E. Hustace, Chair cy Committee on Public Works, and Mass Transit JEH/dt (Date) Page 6