HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0580.013 2000-2002 ,
HILO, HAWAII
aPRIL 26, 2002
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TO THE MEMBERS OF THE HAWAII ISLAND
COUNTY COUNCIL.
FROM FRANCIS L. BENEVIDES, SR.
SUBJECT: BILLNO. 205: AMENDS CHAPTER-
22 OF THE HAWAII COUNTY CODE 1983 (1995)
EDITION RELATING TO STREETS AND SIDEWALKS.
I HAVE PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED TO ALL OF YOU THE
LITERATURE AND PHOTOS OF THE AREA IN QUESTION.
I HAVE ALSO PROVIDED ALL OF YOU INCLUDING THE
MAYOR, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND THE CHIEF
OF POLICE OF A SKETCH I PROPOSED TO THE BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS BEFORE WE WERE ANNEXED AS A STATE
AND CONSEQUENTLY, THE PRESENT AND FORMER COUNTY
COUNCILS.
APPARENTLY NOTHING WAS DONE OR EVEN TAKEN A VERY
REALISTIC LOOK IN TRYING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
I AM VERY SURE THAT OUR GOALS AMONGST OTHER AREAS
IS TO PROTECT THE CITIZENRY OF THIS COUNTY `AND
PRIMARILY OF TRAFFIC SAFETY. THE CONSTITUTION OF
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WHICH REFERS TO EVERY
AMERICAN CITIZEN STATES, "THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS".
I AM VERY SURE THAT YOU AGREE WITH ME THAT THE
INCLUSION OF THIS PRECEPT IS THE PUBLIC SAFETY.
I REALIZE THAT WE MUST CONFORM AND APPLY OUR
ARCHTTECTURAL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION BY WHAT THE
FEDERAL AND STATE SPECIFICATIONS OR RULINGS STATE.
I AM SURE THAT ALL OF YOU AGREE WITH ME THAT OUR
FRIMARY CONCERN, WHATEVER THOSE RULINGS ARE CAN AND
MUST BE ALTERED OR ADJUSTED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF
THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII AND THEIR SAFETY.
ISN'T IT BETTER TO HAVE "AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION THAN
A POUND OF CURE"?? IF THE METHOD OF INSTALLING POLES.
AND OTHER SIGNS PRACTICALLY ON THE CENTER OF°THE::SID~
WALK REMAIN, THEN I AM AFRAID THAT THE COUNTY. OF'-~~~;~~~iTI
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WILL FACE POTENTIAL SUITES. I HAVE PERSONALIs~"''t~t'IVESSED
A CHILD RIDING A THREE-WHEEL BICYCLE WITH HIS
MOTHER AND RODE INTO A "GUIDE WIRE" PLACED ON
ALMOST THE CENTER OF THE SIDEWALK. I APPROACHED
THE CHILD AND MOTHER AND OFFERED TO HAVE A DOCTOR
EXAMINE THE CHILD. THE MOTHER REPLIED" N0, SIR,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BUT MY SON IS AFRAID BECAUSE
HE IS NOT SUPPOSED TO RIDE ON A SIDEWALK WITH A
CYCLE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT EVERY ONE
OF YOU INCLUDING THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS DO
SOME SIGHT-SEEING THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICTS, NOT ONLY
IN HILO BUT THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND, OR HAVE EACH
DISTRICT COUNCILPERSON MAKE A SURVEY OF THEIR
RESPECTIVE TRAFFIC PROBLEMS AND REFER TO, THIS
"GOVERNING BODY".
IN CLOSING THERE ARE MANY OTHER AREAS OF IMPORTANCE
IN TRAFFIC PROBLEMS AS "HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS" THAT
CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS TRAFFIC SAFETY. ONE AREA THAT
I HAVE NOTICED IS THAT THERE WERE FUNDS TO ELIMINATE
THE HAZARDOUS CONDITION OF THE SIDEWALKS AT KILAUEA
AND AUPUNI STREETS. THESE FUNDS SHOULD HAVE BEEN
PUT TO USE FOR MORE SERIOUS HAZARDOUS AREAS, E.G.
THE "OPEN-DITCH AT THE INTERSECTION OF KAWAII~ANI
AND KANOELEHUA FACING EAST-KAWAILANI TOWARDS
RAILROP~~ AVENUE. FOR MANY YEARS I HAVE TRIED TO
CONVINCE THE PUBLIC WORKS TO REMEDY "THE SITUATION.
AGAIN, I SUGGEST THAT ALL OF YOU CHECK 'THAT AREA
INQUESTION AS THERE WERE MANY NEAR-HITS BY PEDESTRIANS
AND MOTORISTS. A CHILD AND AN ELDERLY COUPLE ALMOST
GOT RUNOVER BY THE VEHICLE AND EVEN A TRT3CK NEGOTIATING
A RIGHT TURN INTO EAST-kAWAILANI-----WHAI`'DID THEY DO
TO AVOID BEING STRUC THEY VIRTUALLY THREW THEMSELVES
INTO THE DITCH AS.THERE IS NO PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO CONVEY THESE
MESSAGES OF UTMOST IMORTANCE FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR
PEOPLE. GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU AND RENDER~UNTO ALL
OF YOU "FORTITUDE, PERSEVERANCE TO ENDURE THE EVERY-
DAY TRIALS AND TRIBUTIONS OF LIFE".
. \
FRANCIS L. BENEVIDES, SR.
VOLUNTER_ TRAFFIC SAFETY
COORDINATOR.
THE FOLL!~WING IS A SKETCH OF
THE ORIGINAL I PROP0~~0 TO THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS FIFTY EARS AGO AND ALSO TO
MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL IN PREVIOUS
YEARS THROUGH THE BIG ISLAND TRAFFIC SAFETY
COUNCIL.
LEGEND OF PROPER INSTALLING
OF UTILITY POLES ON
SIDEWALKS I
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PROPERTY LINE
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SIDEWALK
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~ I 66" IN IDENTIFICATION
WIDTH FOR
2 ! EDESTRIANS MARKERS
` a AND
I °i ` DISABLED l
o l U ~24" DIAMETER
I UTILITY
l I POLES
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THE CONCEPT OF THE ABOVE SKETCH IS
TO ALLOW AREA FOR INSTALLING OF POLES,
AND YET ALLOW AMPLE WIDTH FOR
COMMUTERS.
ADDED NOTE: IT IS NOTICEABLE ALSO
THAT THE GUIDE WIRES OF THE UTILITY
POLES ARE ALMOST TOWARDS THE CENTER