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Home My WebLink AboutMIN PCPLUED 2025/10/08 AND 27 SPECIAL MEETING (2024-2026) DRAFT Special Meeting of the Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and Economic Development 19th Session Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii October 8, 2025 CALL TO The Special Meeting of the Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and ORDER: Economic Development was called to order at5:00 p.m.,in the Council Chambers, Hilo, by Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz Chair. ROLL CALL: Present: Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Chair(via videoconference from Hilo) Ms. Michelle M. Galimba, Vice Chair Mr. James E. Hustace, Member Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Member Ms. Jenn Kagiwada, Member Mr. Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Member Ms. Heather L. Kimball, Member Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Member (via,videoconference from Kona) Absent& Excused: Mr. Dennis "Fresh" Onishi, 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 on Bill 66, Draft 2, and came forward when called by the Chair: Terry;McDonald: In support. Kathleen'Friday: Comment. Rebecca Melendez: In opposition. Martha`Stephens: In opposition. Josephine Keli`ipio: In opposition. Kate Kennedy: Comment. Juhl Rayne: In opposition. Donna Grabow: Comment. PCPLUED-19 October 8,2025 Kalei Kaleikini: In opposition. Dwight Vicente: Comment. Michelle Melendez: In opposition. Kenneth Honma: In opposition. Kevin Hill: Comment. Tara Rojas: In opposition. "Zoom User": Comment. CHR. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you., Before we go ahead and postpone this particular meeting, I just want to call attention to the feedback that was provided by Department Heads at the request from,our office. So,please see Communication 372.55. And we recently received a transmittal from the Office of Housing and Community Development, Communication 372.57. Thank you members of the public for being here and continuing to share your mana`o with us. This body will be receiving,a presentation from the Planning Department on October 27t� on the fourth chapter of the General Plan regarding Economy. We've also asked the Department of Finance to be present to share their mana'o on'the implementation and monitoring section in light of their adopting a new financial managing system for the County. I apologize,yes, supposed to read in. I got ahead of myself. Thank you. MR.,BROWN Thank you, Madame Chair. I'm going to read in Bill 66, Draft 2, and then you guys can put the meeting into recess. Page 2 PCPLUED-19 October 8,2025 BILLS FOR The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, ORDINANCES: Bills for Ordinances. Bill 66: ADOPTS THE COUNTY OF HAWAI`I GENERAL PLAN 2045 AND REPEALS (Draft 2) ORDINANCE NO. 05-025, AS AMENDED Reference: Comm. 372.30 Intr. by: Council Member Kierkiewicz (B/R) Postponed: July 9, 2025, August 20, and September 17, 2025 (Note: There is a motion by Council Member Inaba; seconded by Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, to recommend,passage of Bill 66, as amended, on first reading.) and Comm. 326.2: From Council Member Kierki ewcz ,dated June 24, 2025, outlining the intended topics of discussion to be held during the Special Meetings of the Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and1conomic Development. ; and Comm. 326.6: From Council Member Kierkiewicz, dated October 2, 2025, outlining proposed pathway for the October 2025 Special Meetings of the Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and Economic Development regarding the Draft General Plan 2045;; CHR. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you, Mr. Clerk. At this time, may I have a motion please, to,postpone Bill 66, Draft� to the October 27, 2025 Special Committee Hearing? Motion to Postpone: Mr. Inaba moved to postpone Bill 66, Draft 2, to October 27, 2025. Seconded by Ms. Kimball. Withdrawn Mention The motion to postpone Bill 66, Draft 2, to October 8. 2025, to Postpone: was withdrawn by Chair Kierkiewicz. Recess: At 5:51 p.m., the Chair called for a recess until October 27, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. Reconvene: The meeting reconvened at 9:00 a.m. on October 27, 2025. CALL TO The Special Meeting of the Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and ORDER: Economic Development was called to order at 9:00 a.m., in the Council Chambers, Hilo, by Ms. Ashley Kierkiewicz, Chair. Page 3 PCPLUED-19 October 8,2025 ROLL CALL: Present: Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Chair Ms. Michelle M. Galimba, Vice Chair Mr. James E. Hustace, Member Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Member Ms. Jenn Kagiwada, Member Ms. Heather L. Kimball, Member Mr. Dennis "Fresh" Onishi, Member Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Member (via videoconference from Kona) Absent& Excused: Mr. Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Member CHR. KIERKIEWICZ: Just to give folks an overview in what we plan to get through today. We will receive a presentation from the Planning Department on Chapter 5 of the General Plan, Thriving piverse,and Regenerative Economy. I've also asked the Finance Department to provide a high-level presentation on what it would mean to implement the General'Plan. Specifically, the Capital Improvement Projects section+arid monitor progress across the board. From there, we can deliberate as a body. Okay, Director, Ms. Morrison great to see YOU. If you could please introduce yourselves for the record and the floor is yours. Thank you for being here. (Note: At this time, Planning Director Jeff Darrow and Planner VI Bethany Morrison came forward to address the members of the Committee:) MR. DARROW.- Good morning Chair, and Vice Chair, and members of the Hawaii County Council, Jeff Darrow with the Planning Department. MS. MORRISON: Aloha, good Morning, Bethany Morrison with the Long-Range Planning Division of the Planning Department. So, as Chair mentioned,today we'll be going over Chapter 5, which is the Thriving, Diverse, and Regenerative Economy chapter of the Plan. Just a reminder of how we are organized, we have gone through all of these other chapters, and we are down to almost the bottom. And here you'll see the elements of Agriculture and Food Systems, and Visitor Industry. But just want to highlight that there is a large section in the beginning that talks about Economy, sort of in general besides those two sectors. Page 4 PCPLUED-19 October 8,2025 One of the things we want to keep in mind as we go through this, is you know, what is the County's role in Economic Development? And I think this is something that we all kind of struggle through sometimes because people have different assumptions and different things that they think that the County should be doing. But really, what we're doing is setting the stage for the market to be able to thrive and be diverse. (Note: At this time, Ms. Morrison provided a PowerPoint presentation to the members of the Committee. For viewing of the presentation, see the DVD copy of the proceedings on file in the Clerk's Office, or online at ht.tla://hawaiicounL . Yrmcus coni. A copy of the presentation is made part of the record, see Comm. 372.60.)r CHR. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you., (Note: Discussion continued.) CHR KIERKIEWICZ: Okay, this brings us to the end of the conversation for the General Plan review. As you folks know, I've read and reread the General Plan, and I'm looking to make some strategic edits. I'm not prepared to present that just yet; this is quite a task So, if there are no other comments at this point, I'm going to request for a motion to postpone this measure to the Call of the Chair. Thank you. Vote on Motion Mr. Inaba moved to postpone Bill 66, Draft 2, to the Call of to Postpone: the Chair.' Seconded by Ms. Galimba and carried by the (Approved) following"voicevoto.. Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kimball, Villegas, and Chair Kierkiewicz—7. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Kdneali`i-Kleinfelder and Onishi —2. Excused: None. ANNOUNCEMENTS: (Moment of Silence announcement) CHR KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you very much. We are adjourned. The time is 10:43 a.m. Page 5 PCPLUED-19 October 8,2025 ADJOURN- There being no further business, Chair Kierkiewicz adjourned the meeting MENT: at 10:43 a.m. Approved. Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Chair (Date) Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and Economic Development AK/dt Page 6