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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN LAAC 2025/11/04 (2024-2026)Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions 16" Session Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii November 4, 2025 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions ORDER: was called to order at 9:01 a.m., in the Council Chambers, Hilo, by Mr. Dennis "Fresh" Onishi, Acting Chair. ROLL CALL: Present: Mr. Dennis "Fresh" Onishi, Vice Chair Ms. Michelle M. Galimba, Member Mr. James E. Hustace, Member Ms. Jenn Kagiwada, Member Mr. Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Member (came in later) Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Member (came in later) Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Member Absent & Excused: Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Member Ms. Heather L. Kimball, Chair STATEMENTS The Acting 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.) ORDER OF The Acting Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, RESOLUTIONS: Order of Resolutions. Res. 369-25: ACCEPTS THE DEDICATION OF ROAD LOT 5-A, IDENTIFIED AS TAX MAP KEY NO.2-2-034:086, SITUATED AT WAIAKEA, DISTRICT OF SOUTH HILO, ISLAND, COUNTY, AND STATE OF HAWAI`I, FROM GHC FAMILY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP The landowner seeks to dedicate the sidewalk and all improvements for public purposes. Motion to Approve: Ms. Villegas moved to recommend adoption of Res. 369-25. Seconded by Mr. Hustace. LAAC-16 November 4, 2025 ACTING CHR. ONISHI: Ok. Public Works, you folks want to come forward? Mr. Clerk, just for the record, Mr. Kdneali`i-Kleinfelder is in now. MR. BROWN: Thank you Chair. ACTING CHR. ONISHI: You're welcome. Ok, go ahead. (Note: At this time, Deputy Corporation Counsel Sinclair Salas-Ferguson came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MR. SALAS-FERGUSON: Good Morning! Deputy Corporation Counsel, Sinclair Salas-Ferguson. This resolution is a condition of a land use approval. One of the conditions was to dedicate this portion of a sidewalk. If you have any legal questions, I can answer those. If you have any questions about the purpose or the facts and circumstances, Melanie Demello is here from Department of Public Works. ACTING CHR. ONISHI: Ok. Council Members? No. I just have one; the drainage on that area, is Public Works going to be looking at trying to do something with the rainwater that collects by the sidewalk? (Note: At this time, Deputy Chief Engineering Division Melanie Demello came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MS. DEMELLO: Hi, good morning. Melanie Demello, Deputy Chief for Engineering Division. Generally with these, I would have to check if this particular one had any drainage improvements. Usually with these quote -on - quote piecemeal improvements, we will try to have them install drainage if needed. That being said, sometimes it is difficult with it being piecemeal improvements for commercial zoning. We do realize there are some drainage issues in that area. So, you know funding pending we could potentially look at that with our Manono Street Shoulder Improvement Project. But at this time, whatever was included as part of this particular improvement is what was approved as part of that development. ACTING CHR. ONISHI: Ok. Thank you. Yeah, even like on Kilauea Avenue, their drainage is really bad over there after the improvements that were done on Kilauea Avenue, it's just to me, sometimes it might be dangerous for the vehicles and also for the bike riders. Right? Ok. But yeah. Go ahead. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you. Ms. Demello, should there be any drainage issues, would it be at the cost of County to fix and improve? Page 2 LAAC-16 November 4, 2025 MS. DEMELLO: If this dedication was to go through, it would become a County road and thus, I would say that any future drainage improvements would be for the county to install if needed, if deemed necessary. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: That's what I understand as well. And then Mr. Onishi's question, maybe it's good we double check before we MS. DEMELLO: Correct. Yes. So, if we had commercial developers install drainage improvements if needed along the frontage. We generally require if their frontage is —if their calculations deemed that for what their improving, it requires drainage improvements, we'll have them install it. Sometimes it's a very short section and it, you know, for what they're doing doesn't necessarily necessitate the drywell or the drainage some, but yes, I do understand where you're seeing that as a whole, that's something that we have to look at. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Always. Yes. Or else it becomes a taxpayer liability. MS. DEMELLO: Correct. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: And where is this property? MS. DEMELLO: I believe this is the additional parking lot at Manono Market Place. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Ok. Thank you. MS. DEMELLO: Yeah and so the dedication is the sidewalk frontage along Manono Street. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Ok yeah and they overlap with the upcoming Manono improvements, makes it interesting. So I've had a couple businesses reach out to me regarding their required payment for the improvement of their sidewalks. With the Manono Improvements Project in mind; I wasn't quite sure how to answer that. MS. DEMELLO: Are those that we're reaching out to for acquisition of properties for the project? MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: This was last year, so I'll have to follow up with them on where they stand. MS. DEMELLO: Right. Yeah, I would say there's a combination of developers that have built their portion of the sidewalk. And then there are those that we're Page 3 LAAC-16 November 4, 2025 reaching out to, right, for acquisition of properties in order to finish the gaps. I guess we'll see as part of our shoulder project. Yes. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: And then if they do have questions, can they contact you? MS. DEMELLO: Yes. Certainly. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Ok. Thank you. I yield. ACTING CHR. ONISHI: Ok. Great. Ok any other discussions? If not. Seeing none. All those in favor of approving Resolution 369-25 and moving to full council say "aye". Those opposed? Vote on Res. 369-25: The motion to recommend adoption of Res. 369-25 was (Approved) carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Villegas, and Acting Chair Onishi — 6. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Inaba, Kierkiewicz, and Kimball — 3. Excused: None. MR. BROWN: Sorry Chair. If you don't mind, could we take a brief recess. We got to fix our live stream. It just went down. ACTING CHR. ONISHI: Ok. Let's have a 5 minute? MR. BROWN: Maybe 10, if you don't mind? ACTING CHR. ONISHI: Ok. 10-minute recess. Ok. MR. BROWN: Thank you. Recess: At 9:09 a.m., the Acting Chair called for a recess. Reconvene: The meeting reconvened at 9:23 a.m. ACTING CHR. ONISHI: Ok. Let's get back to our committee. We have five members. Ok. Ms. Villegas just left for a little while and she'll be back. Ok. So, Mr. Clerk, Resolution 370-25. Page 4 LAAC-16 November 4, 2025 MR. BROWN: Last chance if anyone would like to testify on Resolution 370-25, please speak up now. Hearing and seeing none. Res. 370-25: AUTHORIZES AND DIRECTS THE DISPOSITION AND CONVEYANCE OF A ROAD REMNANT, BEING A PORTION OF TAX MAP KEY NO. 2-2-037:999, SITUATED AT WAIAKEA, DISTRICT OF SOUTH HILO, ISLAND, COUNTY, AND STATE OF HAWAI`I Seeks to dispose of the Remnant and convey it to the State, thereby alleviating the County of any liability or maintenance responsibility. Motion to Approve: Mr. Hustace moved to recommend adoption of Res. 370-25. Seconded by Ms. Kagiwada. ACTING CHR. ONISHI: Go ahead Public Works. Do you have anything? (Note: At this time, Deputy Corporation Counsel Sinclair Salas-Ferguson came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MR. SALAS-FERGUSON: Again, Deputy Corporation Counsel Sinclair Salas- Ferguson. I'm here to answer any legal questions you guys have, may have, and then Melanie Demello is here to answer any questions about the transfer. (Note: At this time, Deputy Chief Engineering Division Melanie Demello came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MS. DEMELLO: Hi. Melanie Demello, Deputy Chief for Engineering Division. So, Public Works' interest in this is a jurisdiction that has to do with conveyance of a portion of the Leilani Street extension that's not currently being used as the physical road right-of-way and transferring to the State, as was requested by the State as part of a larger transfer regarding the base yard. So, our piece in this has to do with conveyance of that portion that you see on the maps that's not being used as a road right-of-way. ACTING CHR. ONISHI: Ok. Thank you. And Mr. Clerk, just a note that Ms. Kierkiewicz has joined us. MR. BROWN: Thank you, Chair. ACTING CHR. ONISHI: And then also members, we do have Roy Takemoto, who is a consultant for the applicants or applicant. So, if anybody has any questions for him or for Public Works. Hearing or seeing none. All those in Page 5 LAAC-16 Vote on Res. 370-25: (Approved) ADJOURN- MENT: Approved: November 4, 2025 favor of approving Resolution 370-25 and moving to the full council, say "aye". Those opposed? The motion to recommend adoption of Res. 370-25 was carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace, Kagiwada, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Villegas, and Acting Chair Onishi — 7. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Inaba and Kimball — 2. Excused: None. ACTING CHR. ONISHI: Ok, so this ends this committee. There being no further business, Acting Chair Onishi adjourned the meeting at 9:25 a.m. .C,-er C­Ms. Heather L. Kim ll, Chair Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions Committee HI/tk (Date) Page 6