Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN GOEAC 2026/03/03 (2024-2026)Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs 2911 Session Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii March 3, 2026 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Governmental Operations and ORDER: External Affairs was called to order at 9:00 a.m., in the Council Chambers, Hilo, by Ms. Jenn Kagiwada, Chair. ROLL CALL: Present: Ms. Jenn Kagiwada, Chair Mr. Matt Kdneali`i-Kleinfelder, Vice Chair Ms. Michelle M. Galimba, Member Mr. James E. Hustace, Member Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Member Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Member Ms. Heather L. Kimball, Member Mr. Dennis "Fresh" Onishi, Member Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Member (via videoconference from Kona) 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.) CHR. KAGIWADA: Mr. Clerk, can you please read in Communication 40.6. COMMUNI- The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, CATIONS: Communications. Comm. 40.6: HAWAI`I STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES' DECEMBER 11, 2025, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES From Council Member Heather L. Kimball, dated February 3, 2026. Motion to Close File: Ms. Kimball moved to close file on Comm. 40.6. Seconded by Mr. Kdneali`i-Kleinfelder. CHR KAGIWADA: Thank you. Council Member Kimball. GOEAC-29 March 3, 2026 MS. KIMBALL: Yes, just asking for everyone's approval to close this communication. I did want to offer the opportunity to just share any feedback from the National Association of Counties Legislative Meeting. I will say that there is some significant progress being made around FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and potential amendments to how that organization operates, particularly moving from a reimbursement model to FEMA providing the funding up front to counties. We also advocated around the surface transportation reauthorization, funding for mental health, and substance abuse; as well as some amendments with regard to how Medicaid is used for reimbursement for inpatient services with housing. We also talked about the farm bill, and that is still being worked on by congress. But we are hopeful that there will be some amendments made with regard to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and some of the other benefits that have been under threat recently. And I invite my colleagues, Council Member Onishi, and Council Member Kagiwada if they have anything else of interest. CHR. KAGIWADA: Thank you, Council Member Kimball. Council Member Onishi, would you like to add anything about the NACo (National Association of Counties) Legislative Conference? MR. ONISHI: Thank you, Madame Chair. I did put in a resolution, and this is in regard to the Federal Census that they do every 10 years. And I've gotten support where we're going to have —well, hopefully, after it passes the annual, will have the Federal Government to add in for reservists. Right now, on the census, it's only about the military, retired or active. And there is no check box for any reservists for our National Guards who didn't do any active duty or called out to active duty. So, by having this, that can help with knowing how many members are there in the public. So, it did go through the Policy Committee, and it passed. And then it went to the board, and it passed. So, now it's going to go to our annual conference at the next board meeting there. And hopefully, I'll have the totals then. What was interesting was that the counties when I mentioned about this, a lot of them didn't even know about it. So, they were really happy that now, hopefully, this can be put in there. So, that's my update. Thanks. CHR. KAGIWADA: Thank you, Council Member Onishi. And I'll just add a couple things. One is, we had a very large presence; talking about the Western Interstate Region Conference (WIR), which is coming up in Maui in early May. A lot of interest there. People will be coming in from all over the country to meet on issues having to do with the Western States. Page 2 GOEAC-29 d March 3, 2026 Then, we did also have another meeting with the Department of Defense, and the REPI (Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration) people, which were always very good. They will also be available to meet with any Council Members who are coming to WIR in early May to talk about projects and things that they might be able to support and fund in our districts and in our County. So, it was an overall very good slightly chilly conference. Anybody else have any questions or comments at this time? Seeing none, all those in favor of closing file on Communication 40.6 please say "aye." Any opposed? Vote on Comm. 40.6: The motion to close file on Comm. 40.6, was carried by Filed the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace, Inaba, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kimball, Kierkiewicz , Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Kagiwada — 9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused: None. CHR. KAGIWADA: Mr. Clerk, could you please read in Communication 750. Comm. 750: NOMINATION OF EDWIN B. GUZMAN TO THE VETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE From Mayor C. Kimo Alameda, dated February 12, 2026, requesting the Council's review and confirmation. CHR. KAGIWADA: Mr. Alameda, please go ahead. (Note: At this time, Executive Assistant to the Mayor Micah Alameda and the nominee came forward to address the members of the Committee.) Vote on Comm. 750: Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder moved to recommend confirmation of the (Approved) nomination of Mr. Edwin B. Guzman to the Veterans Advisory Committee. Seconded by Ms. Kierkiewicz and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace, Inaba, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kimball, Kierkiewicz , Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Kagiwada — 9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused: None. Page 3 GOEAC-29 March 3, 2026 Mr. Alameda provided a brief narrative of the nominee's background and experience. Committee Members spoke in favor of the appointment. CHR. KAGIWADA: Thank you so much, Ms. Guzman. Communication 751 please. Comm. 751: NOMINATION OF REGINALD G. ALEXANDER TO THE VETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE From Mayor C. Kimo Alameda, dated February 12, 2026, requesting the Council's review and confirmation. (Note: At this time, Executive Assistant to the Mayor Micah Alameda and the nominee came forward to address the members of the Committee.) Vote on Comm. 751: Mr. Inaba moved to recommend confirmation of the nomination (Approved) of Mr. Regionald G. Alexander to the Veterans Advisory Committee. Seconded by Mr. Hustace and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace, Inaba, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kimball, Kierkiewicz , Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Kagiwada — 9. Noes: None. Absent: None. 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: Thank you so much, and thank you, Mr. Alameda. We'll go on to Resolution 474-26. ORDER OF The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, RESOLUTIONS: Order of Resolutions. Res. 474-26: AUTHORIZES THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF HAWAI`I, HILO BENIOFF MEDICAL CENTER, TO AUTHORIZE PRIVATE OFF- STREET PARKING AT GILBERT CARVALHO PARK Authorizes the Mayor to enter into an agreement not to exceed December 31, 2026, with no expenditure or receipt of funds, with Hilo Benioff Medical Center, to use a portion of land for parking purposes. Reference: Comm.743 Imr. by: Council Member Kagiwada (B/R) Page 4 GOEAC-29 March 3, 2026 Motion to Approve: Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder moved to recommend adoption of Res. 474-26. Seconded by Ms. Galimba. CHR. KAGIWADA: We have the Parks Director here. Would you please, Director Honma, just give us a little background information on this resolution. (Note: At this time, Parks and Recreation Director Clayton Honma came forward to address the members of the Committee) MR. HONMA: Good morning, Vice Chair Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Chair Kagiwada, and the rest of the County Council Members here today. Basically, we want to enter into an agreement to have temporary parking for the State's Benioff Medical Center up there at our hospital. They're doing construction. They came and had a meeting with us and asked if we could give them a couple years of temporary parking, because they're just overloaded with their parking right now. Just asking for your support in providing the temporary parking and for us to agree to enter into an agreement for the temporary parking. CHR. KAGIWADA: Thank you very much. Are there any questions or comments from Council Members? Council Member Hustace, please go ahead. MR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Chair. Hello, Director. Good morning, just a question. I'm looking at Communication 743 that's attached to the resolution, it gives a layout of that graveled area. What is the condition of that space right now? MR. HONMA: So, the temporary parking, that's just it; just gravel with some ecology blocks blocking the borders. We do have a gate there. So, we can open and close the gate. The parking will be available from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., our regular park hours. And the medical center will be in charge of closing and opening the gate and putting security as well there to make sure that their cars are kept safe. But currently, it's not being used as much as it should be, and so it's available for them to use as parking. MR. HUSTACE: So, there's no parameter fence in that space then? MR. HONMA: No, just ecology blocks there. MR. HUSTACE: Okay. Then let's see, so, you don't really expect any additional cost to maintain that space during the duration of the lease? Page 5 GOEAC-29 March 3, 2026 MR. HONMA: They will actually maintain the space and cut the grass and do everything else. MR. HUSTACE: Okay, thank you for that. And then, just one note for the record that second to the last resolve clause, "Medical" has a misspelling in there. MR. HONMA: Okay, thank you for that. MR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Chair. CHR. KAGIWADA: Thank you, Council Member Hustace. I'll get that amended before the Council Meeting. Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you. Good morning, Mr. Honma. You said a couple years, the resolution calls out till December 31, 2026. MR. HONMA: Yeah, so I just caught that this morning. I'll ask Council Member Kagiwada to make an amendment to extend out to December 31, 2027. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay, and then there's no cost for this? MR. HONMA: No cost at all for this MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: I like the collaboration between the Hilo Benioff Medical Center and the County. MR. HONMA: Absolutely. I mean, you know, the expansion is so sorely needed. But also at this time, I mean, if you go up there at any given moment, the parking is just totally full all of the time. MR. HONMA: Yeah, so I just caught that this morning. I'll ask Council Member Kagiwada to make an amendment to extend out to December 31, 2027. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: I was there recently, and it was very full. The reason I'm saying it's important to collaborate with them, is they are our morgue, and we have to work together with them. And it's been hit and miss in the past. So, I like the ongoing collaboration. It's very healthy for both parties to have this collaborative work together to make sure we take care of our community. MR. HONMA: Yes, I agree, a hundred percent with that. Thank you. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Director. Page 6 GOEAC-29 March 3, 2026 CHR. KAGIWADA: Thank you, Council Member. Council Member Onishi. MR. ONISHI: Thank you, Chair. Just to give Council Members a brief history, so, this was designed back when former Council Member Donald Ikeda was on the Council at the time, and this is one of his projects that he wanted to have like this open parking. So, this was done maybe in 2012; during that time. MR. HONMA: All in-house in developing the parking back then. MR. ONISHI: It was just to add more parking because softball back then was really popular, right? And parking was hard to find, and also the gym was being used a lot too, and that's why they created this parking. But then recently, I just went on a ride along with HOPE Services. And it's overgrown in some of the areas, right? So, it's going to be good that they can take over this. MR. HONMA: To help maintain it, right? MR. ONISHI: Yes. MR. HONMA: The other part, too, like Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder said, is that Carvalho Park itself is used as a backup in case we do have an overwhelming amount of casualties or anything like that when we do have a Civil Defense emergency call -out, we're th6 backup location for the hospital. The helicopters can fly and land right into the park itself, and the gym itself will be used as a backup temporary place to hold and host patients at Carvalho Park as well. So, the collaboration was already established a while ago in regard to working with the hospital as a site for us to be their backup. So, just to share that information as well. MR. ONISHI: Thank you. And then, so, if there is like a big tournament that's happening at the park, will they still be able to park in that parking lot? MR. HONMA: Yes, they will. So, we have to communicate with them on big events like Portuguese Day in the Park. That's a big event, so, we'll hold that date off, so that they can have the patients use that parking for the day, in particular. MR. ONISHI: Great, right on. I yield. CHR. KAGIWADA: Anybody else? Council Member Kierkiewicz, Page 7 GOEAC-29 March 3, 2026 MR. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you. I wanted to lend my support for this particular resolution. I appreciate hearing the back story and the question from Vice Chair Onishi about ensuring that our community members have access to parking. That facility can get pretty busy. I'm there every Friday night, because my daughter has volleyball. Director, you know these things. So, there's a lot happening inside of the gym; outside throughout the facilities. So, just wanted to make sure community members had adequate parking, because it's a public park. But I also know that the County does have, I think, a responsibility to partner with organizations strategically to just share these public resources in advance of their mission. So, in full support. Thank you for helping to coordinate this. MR. HONMA: Thank you. CHR. KAGIWADA: Thank you, Council Member Kierkiewicz. Anybody else? Seeing none, just one question I had from a constituent. Do you know if the hospital will be having some kind of shuttle or something to help people, because it's quite far away from the hospital. MR. HONMA: Yes, I believe they will be having shuttles to help shuttle their employees. It's primarily for the employees to park there. So, there will be some of those there. CHR. KAGIWADA: Thank you. I do think this is a great partnership and a way we can help ease some of the parking issues there at the Benioff Medical Center during the construction time. I know they have tried many things, including valet parking and other things going on just because they have no space. So, appreciate the thinking outside of the box and the collaboration. MR. HONMA: Thank you for that. CHR. KAGIWADA: So, I'm going to be bringing the amendment forward since we have that other typo that we need to amend. I'll be bringing that to Council for just the date change and the one little typo there. So, with that, let's go ahead and vote on Resolution 474. All those in favor, please say "aye." Any opposed? Page 8 GOEAC-29 Vote on Res. 474-26: The motion to recommend adoption of Res. 474-26 (Approved) was carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace, Inaba, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kimball, Kierkiewicz , Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Kagiwada — 9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused: None. ADJOURN- MENT: Approved: March 3, 2026 CHR. KAGIWADA: Thank you so much, Director Houma. Alright, with that, we are at the end of our committee meeting. The time is 9:34 a.m., and we are adjourned. Seeing no further business, Chair Kagiwada adjourned the meeting at 9:34 a.m. . e C gi a, Chair Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs JK/dt �jc�_ (Date) Page 9