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HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP HSEDC 006 10/17/2006 2004-2006 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DATE: October 17, 2006 Re: Comm. No. 1026/Res. No. 432-06 PLACE: Council Chambers TIME: 2:15 p.m. Council Chair and Members Hawaii County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Your Committee on Human Services and Economic Development, to which was referred Resolution No. 432-06 reports as follows: Resolution No. 432-06, transmitted by Council Member Pete Hoffmann, via Communication No. 1026, dated August 17, 2006, seeks Council support to oppose the commencement of service of the Hawaii Superferry (HSF) at Kawaihae Hazbor until economic, social and environmental concerns aze addressed. Eight members of the public provided testimony on this proposed resolution, three from the satellite office in Kona and five in the Council Chambers in Hilo. Seven of the eight testifiers provided testimony in strong support of this resolution. Their reasons included: 1. Deep concerns that the Whale population could face potential serious injury and fatalities due to collisions caused by the high speeds of the Superferry. 2. The Kawaihae Harbor, even prior to the earthquake of 10/15/06, was not in acceptable condition to handle the additional traffic Superferry would create. 3. Should the Superferry operation become defunct, a large amount of tax revenue would be lost completely. 4. Current protocols do not allow for sufficient time to perform adequate inspections, which could affect security, allow introduction of invasive species and promote criminal activity. 5. Visitors will want to utilize existing facilities that may already be overburdened. 6. County facilities that are utilized by visitors will require additional resources, which would be the burden of taxpaying residents. 7. State law requires an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for similar endeavors, why not this incidence? 8. There is no master plan to account for the impacts that Kawaihae Harbor and the surrounding area will endure. 9. Small businesses will suffer as cazgo and freight shipping will be delayed, reduced or eliminated in some instances due to the requirements placed on the Hazbor by the Superferry. 10. The public deserves the right to examine what all the potential impacts of the Superferry will be before they can make an educated assessment of its value. 11. Additional pollution that may be created by the Superferry. The testifier that did not support Resolution 432-06 outright, did have general concerns about the Superferry, but did not specifically speak on the resolution before the council. One testifier suggested an amendment to the resolution that would create a clause to consider the impacts the Superferry would have on the cultural resources of Hawaii Island. These "cultural resources" included Opihi, Limu, A`ama crabs and other mazine resources deemed vital to this State. This suggestion was taken favorably by the author of Resolution 432-06. Draft 2 of Resolution 432-06 will be introduced to Council with this provision included. Overall, when including the amendment suggested for Resolution 432-06, Resolution 432-06 received positive feedback and support from your committee. The lone dissenting vote was cast based on concern that the call for an EIS will send a negative message to Superferry and its supporters, thus dealing a blow to the overall process. There was also some concern that, though Resolution 432-06 is well intended and prudent by nature, it may not be effective to the point that an EIS will be performed. The author of Resolution 432-06 responded to this concern by stating that it was incumbent upon all those that had worked so hard thus far to ensure an EIS would be performed to keep the pressure up and maintain an organized effort. One Council Member casting a favorable vote did express an overall disdain for the Superferry in general. This disfavor emanates from concerns that the Island is not in a position to handle the inevitable impacts that the Superferry will create, with traffic issues being the predominant concern. This Council Member stated that the EIS will bring these problems to light, which will produce the ultimate desired result - no Superferry. Your Committee on Human Services and Economic Development is in accord with the purpose and intent of Resolution No. 432-06, and recommends its adoption. Resolution 432-06 will be forwarded to Council in Draft 2 form, with considerations for impacts to "cultural resources" as the only alteration made to the original draft. Jdh Ayes noes A&e ex Respectfully submitted ARAKAKI X HICA x COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES xoFFN1ANN x AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HOLSCHUH X IKEDA X ISBELL X aACOSSOn X FRED C. HOLSCHUH, M.D., CHAIR PILAGO X HSEDC REPORT NO. 6 SAFARIK X ADOPTED: OCT 3 T 2006