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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN PCPWMT 2026/02/17 (2024-2026) DRAFT Policy Committee on Public Works and Mass Transit 1Oth Session West Hawaii Civic Center 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Building A Kailua-Kona, Hawaii February 17, 2026 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Policy Committee on Public Works and ORDER: Mass Transit was called to order at 11:33 a.m., in the Council Chambers, Kailua-Kona, by Mr. James E. Hustace, Chaim, ROLL CALL: Present: Mr. James E. Hustace, Chair Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Vice Chair,(via video conference from Hilo) Ms. Michelle M. Galimba, Member Ms. Jenn Kagiwada, Member (via video conference from Hilo) Mr. Matt Kdneali`i-Kleinfelder,Member (via video;conference from Hilo) Ms. Heather L. Kimball, Member(via video conference from Hilo) Mr. Dennis "Fresh" Onish , Member Absent& Excused: Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Member Ms. kebecca Viliegas, 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 129: AMENDS CHAPTER 24, ARTICLE 10, DIVISION 5, SECTION 24-280, SCHEDULE 28 OF THE HAWAI`I COUNTY CODE 1983 (2016 EDITION, AS AMENDED), RELATING TO NO PARKING AT ANYTIME Prohibits parking at any time for certain portions of Ali`i Drive fronting Kahalu`u Beach Park. Reference: Comm. 722 Intr. by: Council Member Hustace (B/R) PCPWMT-10 February 17, 2026 Motion to Approve: Ms. Kierkiewicz moved to recommend passage of Bill 129 on first reading. Seconded by Mr. Onishi. CHR. HUSTACE: Members we are joined by DPW (Department of Public Works), and in the Kona Chambers, we have Director Segawa here if you have any questions about this particular bill. I think Director Segawa wanted to share just a couple of words with us as well. Any questions from' the members? Okay, Director Segawa, if you want to come up and share Some insight into this recommendation here, a bill by request from your department. (Note: At this time, Public Works Director Wesley,Segawa came forward to address the members:of the Committee_) MR. SEGAWA: Good morning;Council Members. Director of Public Works, Wes Segawa, here today. I'm coming before the Council Members today to request your indulgence to give the Administration a little more time to review this particular bill. In particular, we want to reach out to the community and get their input also, so we can formulate our recommendations for this particular bill. And that's my request for being here today. CHR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Director Segawa. Any other questions from the members? MR, KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: I do have a question. CHR. HUSTACE: Go ahead, Mr;Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder. MR. KANEAtl'I-KLEI FELLIE R: Would it be pertinent to approve the bill today while it moves forward to Council, and then in those two weeks, the department can decide what it wants to do between here and the next hearing, so it's not lagged by two weeks? CHR. HUSTACE: Director, what's a sufficient amount of time you need to go out to the community? MR. SEGAWA: I believe our Administration is currently trying to reach out to the community to schedule this meeting time. So, I don't have that date yet. Once I receive that I'm sure we can let the Council know. CHR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Director. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Chair, my suggestion would be to move ahead on this bill. And then in two weeks, should there be no movement or movement, Page 2 PCPWMT-10 February 17, 2026 we can make a decision then. But it doesn't hold the bill up. I don't see a purpose in holding it today, with all due respect, Director. CHR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Council Member. Any other questions? Council Member Onishi. MR. ONISHL Thank you, Chair. Director Segawa, sory>if wecan give you—like if we postpone this Bill 129 for one month, would that be okay? MR. SEGAWA: In my opinion, a month wouldbe enough time for us to reach out to the community to receive their input and,respond., Motion to Postpone: Mr. Onishi moved to postpone Bill 129 to March 17' 2026. Seconded by Ms. Galimba. CHR. HUSTACE: Any discussion on;the motion? Council Member Kierkiewicz. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: I'm opposed to the motion at this time. This bill was driven by the Administration,. There is obviously some reason to bring this forward. Any due diligence should have been done prior to introduction at Committee. Aaron, you want tocome forward and talk about how we got to this place; some of the engineering that was done to determine the language in this bill. If there's any community outreach, it should have happened before. And if there are issues that the Administration'needs to resolve, I'm sure that they can do it between now and Council. (Note; At this time, Public Works Traffic Division Chief -Aaron Takaba came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MR. TAKABA Hi,this is Aaron Takaba, the Division Chief in the Traffic Division. Just to summarize what we're trying to do; this bill is related to a section of Ali`i Drive at Kahalu`u Beach Park where the shoulders are narrower, a good section of it. And the concerns in that area are that pedestrians have safety concerns with them having to walk in the roadway when the cars are parked too close to the road So, the areas we're proposing in this bill to restrict parking pertain to where it's especially narrow portions of the shoulders. So, that's just to kind of summarize what we're looking to do. MS. KIERKIWICZ: Thank you. I yield Chair. Page 3 PCPWMT-10 February 17, 2026 CHR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Council Member. Any other discussion on the motion for postponement? Okay, seeing none, a roll call on the postponement. Vote on Motion The motion to postpone Bill 129 to March 17, 2026, to Postpone: was carried by the following roll call vote: Failed Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Onishi, and Chair Hustace—3. Noes: Committee Members Kagiwada, Kdneali`i- Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz," and Kimball —4. Absent: Committee Members Inaba and Villegas-2. Excused: None. CHR. HUSTACE: Okay, any further discussion on Bill 129 itself? Back to the main motion. Council Member Onishi. MR. ONISHL Director Segawa, any comments? MR. SEGAWA: I think At this point in time, we will reach out to the community and provide feedback. Is this the first? CHR. HUSTACE: We're in Committee here, so it's the first time it's being read. MR, ONISHI Two more readings. MR. SEGAWA: So, we'll have further opportunity to provide input, thank you. MR. ONISHI: Okay, I yield: Thanks. CHR. HUSTACE: ,Thank you, Council Member. Thank you, Director. Any other discussion? Okay. All those in favor of forwarding Bill 129 to Council with a favorable recommendation please say "aye." Any opposed? Vote on Bill 129 The motion to recommend passage of Bill 129 on first reading (Approved) was carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Kagiwada, Kdneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Onishi, and Chair Hustace—7. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Inaba and Villegas —2. Excused: None. Page 4 PCPWMT-10 February 17, 2026 CHR. HUSTACE: With that being the single item on today's agenda, we come to the end our agenda. We are adjourned at 11:41 a.m. Thank you, everyone. ADJOURN- There being no further business, Chair Hustace adjourned the meeting at MENT: 11:41 a.m. Approved: Mr. James E. Hustace, Chair (Date) Policy Committee on Public Works, and Mass Transit JEH/dt Page 5