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HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP LAAC 037 2026-04-07 2024-2026REPORT OF THE LEGISLATIVE APPROVALS AND ACQUISITIONS COMMITTEE DATE: April 7, 2026 Re: Comm. No. 795/Res. No. 500-26 PLACE: Council Chambers Hilo, Hawaii TIME: 10:55 a.m. Council Chair and Members Hawaii County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Your Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions, to which was referred Resolution No. 500-26, reports as follows: Resolution No. 500-26, transmitted by Council Member Heather L. Kimball, via Communication No. 795, dated March 18, 2026, urges the Director of Finance to award a grant to Makahanaloa Fishing Association for the maintenance of certain public access easements in Pepe`ekeo. Committee Chair Heather L. Kimball transferred the committee chairmanship to Committee Vice Chair Dennis "Fresh" Onishi at 11:05 a.m. Ms. Kimball shared that this resolution has two purposes with the first to provide an award for grant funding to Makahanaloa Fishing Association, confirmed by Finance of funding available from the Property Management budget, to help them continue to do what they have already been doing for years. She also shared that although it is not a typical step to provide the history of the area for such an award, it is important to note the final disposition of the area and its easements. Ms. Kimball noted that since the 2000s, there have been many different amendments and easements relating to this particular area identified in the resolution. By doing the abstracting of the County's responsibility for maintenance of the area, the timeline with its supporting Council approved resolutions, provides the metes and bounds for said easements wherein the County is responsible. She further added that this is unique as there are not many situations where the County has maintenance responsibilities for easements per subdivision action, as it is commonly to the landowners. However, when the County took maintenance responsibility, it was not assigned to any specific department. Therefore, the current solution is to work with the group who have already been doing the maintenance for the area for many years and provide them with financial assistance in doing so. Ms. Kimball highlighted the area map presented as Communication No. 795.1, which specifically identifies the content provided for in the easements. She noted that all the south side easements were set up for property owners to maintain; however, it is the north side easements that the County has the requirement to maintain. Ms. Kimball fiirther noted that the big one is the entire shoreline, including all the 25-foot setbacks from the shoreline and the 10-foot easements within that area, all which are noted as County responsibility for maintenance. In addition, there are some perpendicular areas that the County is also responsible to maintain. In closing, Ms. Kimball shared that the areas indicating County maintenances are massive, and therefore $25,000 may help to start the process, but that the full-scale costs will be much higher wherein the County may need a request for proposal process. LAAC Report No. 37 LAAC-37 Page 2 April 7, 2026 Council Chair Holeka Goro Inaba asked Ms. Kimball for clarification on whether this resolution was urging or approving a grant award. Ms. Kimball replied that this request was to urge as there is no Council approval needed for grants under $25,000 pursuant to Chapter 2. Although that portion of the resolution was unnecessary, it was important to put it all together as a single item. Mr. Inaba further inquired if a grant was applied for and is now being awarded. Ms. Kimball replied that once this resolution is approved, the nonprofit will enter into negotiations due to other aspects, including who will do the survey, as there is more to this piece than just the financial portion. Due to its complexity, it appears that this will come forth during the next fiscal year as there are additional steps to complete before awarding said funding. Committee Member Michelle M. Galimba inquired of Makahanaloa Fishing Association as to what the maintenance of an easement entails and if it was a road. Makahanaloa Fishing Association President Blake McNaughton addressed the questions noting that for the 10-foot- wide easement, it is in immobile but walkable condition with a lot of maintenance to keep it walkable, including tree removal, planting of native species and removing invasive species, mowing, and weed whacking. He added that the easement was not a road per se but considered a trail that is on top of an old plantation road with rocks, but not considered a designated road. Vice Chair Onishi inquired whether Makahanaloa Fishing Association needed to purchase specific equipment or supplies to help with the maintenance of the area. Mr. McNaughton replied that they have some equipment already and that the funding would likely be mainly for labor and gas. Mr. Onishi asked County Property Manager Shannon Arquitola if their division would be managing the expenses. Ms. Arquitola shared that the specifics had not yet been discussed but that she is happy to work with Ms. Kimball and Makahanaloa Fishing Association to sort out the details. Your Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions is in accord with the purpose and intent of Resolution No. 500-26, and recommends its adoption. E..7 AYES NOES ABS EX GALIMBA X HUSTACE X INABA X KAGIWADA X KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER X KIERKIEWICZ X KIMBALL X ONISHI X VILLEGAS X Respectfully submitted, COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE APPROVALS AND ACQUISITIIONNfS C�JLI' rn,155ATHER L. KI ALL, CHAIR LAAC REPORT NO.: 37 ADOPTED: APR 2 2 7092 707