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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN CRCOC 2026/06/02 (2024-2026)Committee on Communications, Reports, and Council Oversight 20t' Session Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii June 2, 2026 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Communications, Reports, and ORDER: Council Oversight was called to order at 1:00 p.m., in the Council Chambers, Hilo, by Ms. Michelle M. Galimba, Chair. ROLL CALL: Present: Ms. Michelle M. Galimba, Chair Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Vice Chair Mr. James E. Hustace, Member Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Member (came in later) Ms. Jenn Kagiwada, Member Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Member Mr. Dennis "Fresh" Onishi, Member Absent & Excused: Mr. Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Member Ms. Heather L. Kimball, 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 Comm. 906, and came forward when called by the Chair: Shelley S. Makala Ha`i: In support. COMMUNI- The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, CATIONS: Communications. Comm. 906: REQUESTS AN UPDATE AND DISCUSSION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND THE ADMINISTRATION ON THE ALI`I DRIVE PROPOSED SEWER EXTENSION PROJECT From Council Member Rebecca Villegas, dated May 12, 2026. Motion to Close File: Ms. Villegas moved to close file on Comm. 906. Seconded by Mr. Onishi. CHR. GALIMBA: Council Member, Villegas. CRCOC-20 June 2, 2026 MS. VILLEGAS: Thank you so much. At this time, I'd like to invite Mr. Craig Kawaguchi up here, I said it right this time. And thank you for being here today. There were some hiccups and misunderstandings on my part about where we were in the process for the sewer extension between La`aloa and Kahalu`u, and the contracts that were out and money that had been budgeted. So, I just, I`m grateful to have you here today in order for the public to hear the news on where we're at in that project and how things are moving forward. So if you would go ahead and share that for us, that would be fantastic. (Note: At this time, Environmental Management Deputy Director Craig Kawaguchi came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MR. KAWAGUCHI: Craig Kawaguchi, Deputy Director, DEM (Department of Environmental Management), and happy to say, with all the hard work, and especially on Jonathan Simonds, who is a Civil Engineer. So thank him a lot too. MS. VILLEGAS: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. MR. KAWAGUCHI: But I'm happy to say that the contract is signed, funds encumbered, and we have the NTP (Notice to Proceed), so it's — MS. VILLEGAS:' It's solid. MR. KAWAGUCHI: Solid. MS. VILLEGAS: It's solid. And just for a little bit of background history for Council Members. Two years ago, under the Roth Administration, $250,000 had been put in the budget to essentially hire a consultant to determine what needed —what the best course of action was for county to move forward in sewering that one -mile strip there. Did we ever get the report back from Bowers and Kubota? (Note: At this time, DEM Civil Engineer Jonathan Simonds came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MR. SIMONDS: Hey, Council Members. My name is Jonathan Simonds, Civil Engineer III at the Department of Environmental Management. So with regard to the existing contract, there's an extension in place until the end of June. For that contract, we have a draft preliminary engineering report, and Page 2 June 2, 2026 we're looking to finalize that, get the final progress billing out by the end of this month. MS. VILLEGAS: Okay. Thank you. So it took them a lot longer than anticipated to get that work done. Would that be accurate? MR. KAWAGUCHI: Yeah. MS. VILLEGAS: Yeah. Okay. And so where that left us was waiting for that report to come back before this next money. You know, last year we met with all of you, a lot of community advocates for the project and Mayor's office, to confirm the allocation of $350,000 for the next phase of the contract, which would be actually creating what the project would look like, right? So then we'd have the amount of money, and it could get put on the CIP (Capital Improvement Project) budget and moving forward with them finding the funding. Is that accurate? MR. KAWAGUCHI: Yep. Yes. MS. VILLEGAS: But I'm going through this because I've heard so many different versions of this story and unfortunately, it's left a lot of the constituency and people that have been advocating for this and very passionate and, you know, done years of research and all different kinds of things. I want them to have a clear understanding of the timeline and where we are now. So that contract that was budgeted in this last fiscal cycle to cover was never, didn't go out or didn't go out to bid. And because it was partially due because we never got the results from Bowers and Kubota for the first contract, correct? MR. KAWAGUCHI: Yes, correct. MS. VILLEGAS: Great. But as this came to my attention and your guys' attention in the last few weeks, DEM hustled and got all the information they needed to, went out to bid, found a contractor, and in that timeline; in order to ensure that we didn't lose, you know, we're in budget cycles, right, so I was wondering if I needed to put that money into the next year. But I just want to thank you. They were able to get the contract, get the NTP done and signed and here. And so community can hear that we are moving forward in this next phase and they'll be working on the contract to create the actual project, correct? MR. KAWAGUCHI: Of the design, yep. Page 3 CRCOC-20 June 2, 2026 MS. VILLEGAS: Okay. Great because I won't be here after six months from now. And so this project, I am very hopeful that whoever gets the votes and gets to sit in this seat afterwards and that DEM will continue to take this project forward because it is so vital to community, health, safety, and whatnot. I did have just a couple of questions. I also had promised you the map that shows the broader number of homes in that vicinity. Because this project is based on, I think it's like 92 homes or something right on Ali`i Drive, but there are homes just mauka of that that are not, that are also on cesspools, and we all know where things go when they roll downhill. So that's something that would be great if we can, is to incorporate that in some way and moving forward. And then I just had —what would be the process then if we —because that contract only relates to the 92 homes. Is there a process for expanding that to include the homes above? MR. KAWAGUCHI: I think it would be a separate. MS. VILLEGAS: A separate. MR. KAWAGUCHI: Separate contract, yeah. MS. VILLEGAS: Okay. MR. KAWAGUCHI: Because if we did include it then we wouldn't meet this deadline. MS. VILLEGAS: Okay. Yeah, gotcha. Okay, and then, seeing some really great progress coming out of Puako for the reefs and the private government and working together, right. We always get push back about public, private, the Konno decision, all those different kinds of things. And I feel like that's become kind of a crutch and just a fallback of why no can, when really can, because the Konno decision doesn't relate to wastewater and there are many examples and opportunities of collaborative work being done between public, private, and non-profit organizations, and philanthropists to get this done. So I'm hoping you guys have all this great information and are watching and this can become the template and they're all on board for supporting the program at Kahalu`u and garnering necessary resources and utilizing the template they're creating in order for it to be replicable. Page 4 Col11MGM , June 2, 2026 One second, I'll just finish my sentence. For it to be replicable island -wide, right, and statewide as a template of a positive solution for those kinds of partnerships. So that's all I have if anyone else has any questions. CHR. GALIMBA: Council Member, Kierkiewicz. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you. Thanks for your leadership on this, Council Member Villegas, to make sure that we're getting this over the finish line as much as possible and passing the baton to your successor. I was curious. The Bowers and Kubota contract sounds like they were late to deliver on their scope, what they were contracted to do, is that accurate? MR. KAWAGUCHI: Yep. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Is there a reason? And what is the recourse? Like, what are baking into our contractual language to ensure that they're meeting the milestones that I assumed they're setting as part of their scope of work? MR. KAWAGUCHI: So I think that's where we're in discussion with Corporation Counsel. But also, it's I think what happened too is with the engineers changing and then we're bringing in new engineers. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: On our side? MR. KAWAGUCHI: Yeah, our side. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Okay. MR. KAWAGUCHI: I'm glad that we found — MS. KIERKIEWICZ: So that Mr. Simonds could get it over the finish line. MR. KAWAGUCHI: Yep. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Corporation Counsel Deputy, is there anything that you want to add to this conversation? I've seen, you know, over my time on the Council just so many contracts with, you know, different firms in the community. I don't always know if the delay is their fault or partially the county is to blame, but I'm just wondering, how do we ensure that all of the consultants we engage stay on track and deliver what they were contracted to do on time? Because so often, the work that they're doing is critical to the next step, whether that be design or construction or locking in funding. Page 5 CRCOC-20 June 2, 2026 So, I just want to know what we're doing to ensure that folks are doing their job that they're getting paid to do? MR. KAWAGUCHI: So we're also looking at it, oh sorry. MS. MELON-LACEY: No. Go ahead. MR. KAWAGUCHI: Looking at, like a software. So, like, you know, we get updates. Like in two weeks, they need the NTP. Right there, that kind of — MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Government has managed projects before software updates. MR. KAWAGUCHI: Min hmm. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Things got done on time and under budget many, many moons ago. And somewhere along the way that just stopped. So I'm just curious what are we doing within our contracts to hold folks accountable? (Note: At this time, Deputy Corporation Counsel Diana Melon -Lacey came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MS. MELON-LACEY: Deputy Corporation Counsel, Diana Melon -Lacey. One of the things that we're ensuring is that we have liquidated damages in all of our contracts so that we can, you know, require. It's basically fines if they fail to complete a step to the project on time and there's not a good reason for it. But I think the other component to it is contract management and, you know, with I think some administrative turnover that we've had in DEM recently and staffing shortages, maybe that hasn't been as tight as it needs to be. And it's easy to think, "Oh, we've got the contract going." Good, we're all done, we don't have to worry, you know, but that's just the beginning. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: That's not the case. MS. MELON-LACEY: You have to manage contracts, and I think that DEM is badly in need of more assistance in their contract division. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Min hmm. MS. MELON-LACEY: I believe you are recruiting for another — MR. KAWAGUCHI: Another contracts person. Page 6 CRCOC-20 June 2, 2026 MS. KIERKIEWICZ: That's great. MS. MELON-LACEY: Because it takes oversight and also, you know, we have to make sure that the county isn't the cause of the delay too. And it's all covered in the State's procurement code that we follow; what needs to be done. But without good oversight and documentation, enforcing things becomes difficult. So I'm certainly trying to work with the department to improve this, and I see a lot more attentiveness because we have more resources we're bringing to bear on it. But I appreciate you bringing this up because I think it's not only this department, you know. Contract management when you contract out a lot, as this county does, really, you know, is a whole area in itself to ensure that the contracts are managed and we get what we bargained for. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you. I appreciate all the work that's being done to strengthen the department's capacity to oversee these contracts and ensure accountability of those that have been solicited to do the work. At the end of the day, the community suffers if there's any delay in any of this work. They also front the bill, right? So I just want to make sure that we're being very prudent in stewarding taxpayer dollars in resources. Thank you all, so much for all of your incredible work to keep moving this forward. I appreciate it. I yield. CHR. GALIMBA: Seeing no one else. I did have one question and that is, what's the estimated timeline to actually get this done, at this point in time? MR. SIMONDS: Thank you, Council Member Galimba, again. Jonathan Simonds, DEM Civil Engineer III. So in the current contract, I believe the NTP was June 15a`. And so we're anticipating that it'll be done by mid -June of next year, and that's for the scope of this contract, which includes design. So a completed 100 percent design and basic environmental permitting services. So I just want to, kind of, caveat that the probably the biggest unknown is going to be the environmental permitting process and how long that ends up taking. And that includes agency review but also includes which direction we end up having to go with the environmental review process, depending on what we find as we continue with the design. Page 7 CRCOC-20 June 2, 2026 So at the moment with the anticipated environmental review process, we're anticipating this contract being completed by June 151h of 2027, but there's that caveat. CHR. GALIMBA: So by June 2027, we'll have the design and basic environmental compliance elements completed? MR. SIMONDS: Yes, that's correct. CHR. GALIMBA: Okay. And so, do you have an idea of then the next step and the next stop to actually getting the pipes in the ground? You know, that kind of just real world, the thing will be working. MR. SIMONDS: So after, now that this is complete, then we can move onto the next discussion on how do we get this built; the construction part. CHR. GALIMBA: So after the design and basic environmental, there might be other environmental? MR. SIMONDS: That's right. And some of the environmental process depends on where the funding is going to be coming from, so there's some work also being done to identify funding sources. And depending on whether we need federal funding, basically, there might be more intensive environmental review necessary. And then depending on whether, you know, an EA (Environmental Assessment) or EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) are needed. So those things just have a little bit longer timeline, kind of from start to finish. At that point, you know, once the environmental permitting is complete, and the design is complete, then it's a matter of getting the funding, determining where that's going to come from, and putting contract out to bid. This current scope does not include construction and bidding services. So it's just to get the design ready to go. But to actually take it out to bid, we would probably, we'd need to go back for another contract as well. CHR. GALIMBA: Okay. Got you. So it's going to be a process, it's what I'm hearing. But I'm glad we're getting some clarity around this particular piece of it. Okay. MS. VILLEGAS: I just have a quick comment, sorry. CHR. GALIMBA: Council Member, Villegas. Page 8 CRCOC-20 June 2, 2026 MS. VILLEGAS: So the decision has been made, or I should say, has the decision been made on where the sewer line will connect to? Will it go to Hawaii water, or will it go to Kealakehe Wastewater? MR. SIMONDS: The conceptual design brings the line to Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant. MS. VILLEGAS: Okay. Is that because it's conceptual? Is that determined? Why is that? MR. SIMONDS: So it's not the 100 percent final design, but we don't have any, I don't anticipate that changing. MS. VILLEGAS: Okay. But we haven't gotten anything back from Bowers and Kubota which has their definitive recommendation. MR. SIMONDS: That is the definitive recommendation, yes. MS. VILLEGAS: That is their definitive. Do they have definitive recommendation for the type of system? MR. SIMONDS: Yes. Low pressure sewer system. MS. VILLEGAS: Okay. Okay. Great. Just two things I wanted to get out there so people that may be as interested in wastewater as we are. Inspiring minds want to know, inquiring minds. Okay thank you, I appreciate. That's all. I yield. CHR. GALIMBA: Thank you. So we will close file on Communication 906. All in favor, please say "aye." Any opposed? Vote on Comm. 906: The motion to close file on Comm. 906 was carried by the Filed following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Hustace, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Onishi, Villegas, and Chair Galimba — 7. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder and Kimball — 2. Excused: None. CHR. GALIMBA: I believe that brings us to the end of our agenda. And we will be back at 2:00 p.m. for the next committee. Thank you. Page 9 CRCOC-20 ADJOURN- MENT: Approved: June 2,2026 There being no further business, Chair Galimba adjourned the meeting at 1:23 p.m. a Ms. Mich M. Galimba, Chair Communications, Reports, and Council Oversight Committee MG/mp JUL 0 8 2026 (Date) Page 10