HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN PCPWMT 2026/06/02 (2024-2026)Policy Committee on Public Works
and Mass Transit
15th Session
Hawaii County Building
25 Aupuni. Street
Hilo, Hawaii
June 2, 2026
CALL TO The regular meeting of the Policy Committee on Public Works and Mass
ORDER: Transit was called to order at 2:00 p.m., in the Council Chambers, Hilo, by
Mr. James E. Hustace, Chair.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Mr. James E. Hustace, Chair
Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Vice Chair
Ms. Michelle M. Galimba, Member
Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Member
Ms. Jenn Kagiwada, Member
Ms. Heather L. Kimball, Member
Mr. Dennis "Fresh" Onishi, Member
Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Member
Absent & Excused: Mr. Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, 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 individual registered to speak on Bill 162 (Comm. 907), and
came forward when called by the Chair:
Shelley Ha`i (Mahi):
Comment.
CHR. HUSTACE: Thank you. Mr. Clerk, if you could read us in.
BILLS FOR The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business,
ORDINANCES: Bills for Ordinances.
Bill 162: AMENDS CHAPTER 3 OF THE HAWAI`I COUNTY CODE 1983 (2016
EDITION AS AMENDED), RELATING TO PAID PARKING FACILITIES
Adds a new article to establish signage requirements for paid parking facilities,
to include a schedule of rates, notice of any additional fees, hours of operation,
and information on towing procedures.
Reference: Comm.907
Intr. by: Council Member Villegas
PCPWMT-15 June 2, 2026
Motion to Approve: Ms. Villegas moved to recommend passage of Bill 162
on first reading. Seconded by Mr. Inaba.
CHR. HUSTACE: Council Member Villegas, the floor is yours.
MS. VILLEGAS: Thank you. This is a much abbreviated piece of legislation
based on the parameters of County authority. And I have been assured that this
is within our County authority. Essentially, this is a pretty short piece of
legislation, but it requires that paid parking lots post their rates, which I think is
a pretty simple and straightforward, and a common sense requirement.
When you drive into a parking lot, you don't know the rates, so you can't make
a decision. And right now with the QR (Quick Response) codes and everything
being so digital, you have to put in all your information, and everything is
moving forward and you don't know the rates until after sometimes.
We have experienced in Kailua Village, surge pricing and rate gauging and
constant changes in prices. And I think this will hold the paid -parking operators
more accountable to our community to what their rates are, and ideally, keep
them more reasonable so that people will return to the village and continue to
support the economic vitality of that space.
But I ask for my colleagues' support on this piece of legislation moving forward
and this small victory for our community and their desire for more equitable
pricing. With that, I yield.
CHR. HUSTACE: Thank you, Council Member. Any other questions,
consideration? Very good. Thank you, Council Member Villegas. Thank you
for the conservations you've had in the past and bringing this forward, as we
had in our past discussions. So, mahalo. Okay, seeing no further discussion,
all members in favor of moving Bill 162 to Council with a favorable
recommendation, please say, "aye." Any opposed?
Vote on Bill 162: The motion to recommend passage Bill 162 on first reading
(Approved) was carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Inaba, Kagiwada,
Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Onishi, Villegas,
and Chair Hustace — 8.
Noes: None.
Absent: Committee Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder —1.
Excused: None.
CHR. HUSTACE: Motion carries. And with that, and the only item on our
agenda, we are adjourned at 2:07 p.m. Thank you, everyone.
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PCPWMT-15
ADJOURN-
MENT:
Approved:
There being no further business, Chair Hustace adjourned the meeting
at 2:07 p.m.
r. J es E. Hustace, Chair
icy Committee on Public Works,
and Mass Transit
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(Date)
June 2, 2026
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