HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 072 Draft 01 2002-2004 • •
OFFICE INFORMATION ONLY
Meeting: Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations Committee - 02/01/2005
Action: Close file via Comm 45 dated 12/17/2004
(Note: At the 10/20/2003 meeting of Public Works and Intergovernmental
Relations Committee, Res. 72 -03 was deferred pending meetings with the
Committee Chair and the Department of Public Works, and was never
taken up again.)
Re: Res 72 -03, Comm 234 and Comm. 203
COUNTY OF HAWA~`"~"~ ~,~'ATE OF HAWAII
RESOLUTION NO. 72 03
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAINTENANCE OF CERTAIN ROADS
CURRENTLY CLASSIFIED AS A "ROAD IN LIMBO."
WHEREAS, Chapter 264, Hawaii Revised Statutes, divides government highways into
two types: (1) the state highway system, under the jurisdiction of the state department of
transportation, and (2) county highways; and
WHEREAS, there are many roads identified on maps and deeds as government roads
that are not within the state highway system, but have not historically been included in the
county's inventory of county roads, and have not been regularly maintained by the county; and
WHEREAS, the term "roads in limbo" has been used for such roads, which appear to be
government roads, but for which the state and county have not accepted responsibility; and
WHEREAS, according to Attorney General opinion, A.G. Op. 86-15, Attorney General
letter dated October 13, 1999, A.G. letter opinion dated July 21, 1999, and Corporation Counsel
opinion number 96-05, such "roads in limbo" are under the jurisdiction of the county; and
WHEREAS, there are over 450 miles of such "roads in limbo" that have been identified
by the Department of Public Works by reviewing existing tax maps and then delineated on the
appropriate tax map plat. These roads were not confirmed on the ground and not researched
as to title; and
WHEREAS, a copy of those delineated tax map plats was provided to the County
Council in Communication No. 140.8 (2002); and
WHEREAS, some of the roads in question are "paper" roads, that do not exist on the
ground, and those that do exist, are generally far below modern road standards; and
WHEREAS, it is not known who actually built many of the "roads in limbo" that do exist
on the ground, and in many cases, it is not known whether the physical alignment of the road is
within the legal right-of-way;
WHEREAS, many parcels of land take their legal access from these "roads in limbo",
including many lots created by the government of the Territory of Hawaii as homesteads; and
WHEREAS, the administration is currently reviewing major problematic issues, such as
defining the extent of improvements fora "road in limbo" and
WHEREAS, while the County acknowledges the complexities of establishing a
comprehensive policy to address all "roads in limbo'; there is a long standing community need
for the County to be responsive now for reason of public health and safety; and
WHEREAS, the County currently does not have sufficient funding to maintain all of these
"roads in limbo"; and
WHEREAS, the County is pursuing cooperation with state and federal governments
toward funding a comprehensive government road maintenance, program; and
WHEREAS, certain communities have organized themselves into associations or
corporations and have expressed a desire to collaborate with the County to plan for and
contribute, financially and otherwise, to the improvement and maintenance of these "roads in
limbo" which serve their communities; and
WHEREAS, the improvement and maintenance of these "roads in limbo" will involve
various forms and levels of construction and maintenance, each case requiring individual and
unique treatment according to the needs of the community and its resources; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and Director of the Department of Public Works are willing to
work cooperatively with said community groups to improve and maintain "roads in limbo;" and
WHEREAS, the improvement and maintenance of these "roads in limbo" will require the
consent and approval of the County Council with respect to the receipt of monetary
contributions and dedications of encroachments, drainageways, and other rights-of-way
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII
that it hereby establishes the following interim criteria under which it will accept maintenance
responsibilities fora "road in limbo":
1. The road shall be delineated and identified on a Public Works "Roads In Limbo"
Inventory Map in Communication No. 140.8 (2002).
2. The Department of Public Works, in consultation with Corporation Counsel, must
determine that it is a government road.
3. The road to be taken by the County shall be an existing road "on the ground" and not a
"paper road."
4. The physical road must be within the legal alignment of the government road, or
adjoining landowners must be willing to dedicate, at no cost to the county, the alignment
of the physical road and adjoining right of way to equal the width of the existing right of
way.
5. The surrounding community or landowners must pay for the initial survey locating the
road right of way and the existing road and participate in the substantial funding of
improvements and/or dedication of land for road alignment purposes.
6. The County shall have adequate funding to construct and maintain the road-in-limbo.
7. Priority shall be given to roads that serve existing homes.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED it supports and encourages the Mayor and Director of
Public Works' efforts to work collaboratively with community associations and other community
organizations toward cooperative planning and execution of basic roadway improvements and
maintenance on certain "roads in limbo."
Dated at , Hawai`I, this day of , 2003.
INT DUCED BY:
~ ~
COU CIL MENIBE ,COUNTY F
H~AWAI9
COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL, VOTE
County of Hawai `i AYES Noes ABS Ex
HltO, HBWAI `I ARAKAKI
CHUNG
I heraby certify that the Ib~egoing RESOLUTION wa1 by ELARIONOFF
the vote indicated to the right hereof adapted by the COUNCIL of the
County of Hawaii on HOLSCHUH
JACOBSON
LEITHEAD-TODD
ATTEST: REYNOLDS
SAFARIK
TYLER
Reference: C-234/PW&IRC
COUNTY CLERK CHAIRMAN & PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO._ 7iL O3 _