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HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PWPC 038 05/13/1997 1996-1998 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS DATE: May 13, ] 997 RE: COMM. NO. ] 90/BILL NO. 58 PLACE: Kona Surf Resort TIME: 2:33 p_m. Chair and Members Hawaii County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Your Committee on Public Works and Parks, to which was referred Communication No. 190 and attached Bill No. 58, reports as follows: The purpose of Bill No. 58 is to amend Chapter 24, Article 1 Q Section 24-280, Schedule 28 to prohibit parking along Kaleiopapa Street in Kona. Parking would be prohibited along both sides of Kaleiopapa Street beginning at a point 410 feet north of Ehukai Street and extending 410 feet in the northerly direction. Communication No. 190 is a letter from Chief Engineer Donna Fay K. Kiyosaki, dated February 26, 1997, which transmits Bill No. 58 to the Council for its consideration. In Communication No. 190, the Chief Engineer states that the Department received a request to prohibit parking along Kaleiopapa Street at its approach to the boat launch area from Mr. Steven Lim, Esq., who represents the Kamehameha Investment Corporation. This request, transmitted in Communication 190.01, states that the traffic and parking situation in the area has become both a safety and a management problem. In Communication No. 190 the Chief Engineer further states that this section of Kaleiopapa Street is narrow with irregular shoulders and that parked vehicles force pedestrians visiting the historical site to walk in the travelway. She proposes that prohibiting parking along this area will improve overall traffic safety. Past Council Action on Bill No. 58 Your Committee first discussed Bill No. 58 during its March 18, 1997 meeting. At this meeting Mr. Steven Lim and Mr. Richard Nishimura, of the County of Hawaii's Department of Public Works Traffic Division, spoke about the need to regulate parking in the area. During the ensuing discussion Council Member Joe Reynolds and Council Member Curtis Tyler expressed concern about the limited available parking in the area. After consideration of all of the above, Your Committee recommended that Bill No. 58 pass first reading. (See PW&P Committee Report No. 23) Public Works and Parks Committee Report Communication No. ]90 Page Two The County Council considered Bill No. 58 at its April 2, 1997 meeting. During the meeting, Mr. Nishimura reiterated the underlying traffic safety concerns. The Council also learned that the area adjacent to the proposed no-parking area is the birthplace of Kamehameha the Third and has been the subject of a beautification and landscaping project. This project has included the installation of a rock wall on the mauka side of the road. Council Members Reynolds and Tyler again informed the Council about a lack of parking in the area and expressed concern about the impact that this proposal would have upon the businesses in the area. In addition to the above information, the Council considered a more accurate map submitted by the Chief Engineer (Comm. No. 190.02), a ten page petition signed by persons opposed to Bill No. 58 (Comm. No. 190.03), and a letter from State Harbor Agent, Ken Denton (Comm. No. 190.06). In his letter, Mr. Denton questioned the County's jurisdiction over Kaleiopapa Street. The Council referred this Bill back to the Public Works and Parks Committee for further discussion. Council Members agreed that this discussion should take place in Kona to facilitate input by those who use the area. Present Council Action Your Committee on Public Works and Parks again discussed this matter during a Special Committee meeting on May 13, 1997 in Kona. Subsequent to the Council Meeting, Committee Chair Yagong introduced a proposed amendment to Bill No. 58. This proposal, Bill 58, Draft 2, would limit parking along the mauka side of Kaleiopapa Street only. (See Comm. No. 190.09) At the meeting Jim Chadburn and Robert Paddock of the Keauhou Kona Yacht Club, as well as William Taylor of Keauhou, spoke in opposition to Bill No 58 because it would reduce the already scarce available parking along this portion of Kaleiopapa Street. Your Committee was informed that between 80 to ] 30 people have attended the Tuesday and Friday night meetings at the Yacht Club. Testimony in support of the proposal was heard from Barbara Nobriga representing the Daughters of Hawaii (Comm. No. 190.05), Lily Kong (Comm. No. 190.08), and from the Reverend Leon Sterling. They cited the needs to: respect the spiritual, cultural, and historical significance of the site, preserve the rock wall; and promote pedestrian and vehicular safety as reasons to limit parking in the area. During discussion Your Committee confirmed with Richard Nishimura and Joe Spencer of Kamehameha Investment that the roadway under consideration is indeed a County Road and that the request is before the appropriate authority. Public Works and Parks Committee Report Communication No. 190 Page Three In an attempt to balance the competing concerns, Your Committee proceeded to discuss a compromise proposal whereby parking would be allowed on Tuesday and Friday nights when the Keauhou Yacht Club hosts its functions. To effectuate this compromise, Council Member Reynolds moved to accept the proposed Draft 2 of the Bill. He further moved to amend Draft 2 to allow parking on Tuesday and Friday nights between 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. This amendment would prohibit parking along the mauka side of Kaleiopapa Street at all times except for Tuesday and Friday evenings between 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. This motion was adopted by Your Committee and the subsequent bill will be known as Bill No. 58, Draft 3. After consideration of all of the above, Your Committee reports that it is i? accord with the purpose and intent of Bill No. 58, Draft 3; and recommends that it pass first reading. I'i~ t Ic AYES NOES A&E EX Respectfully submined YAGONG X CO MITTEI: ON PUBLIC WORKS & PARKS REYNOLDS X CHiJNG X LEITHEAD-TODD X DOMINIC YAGO A RAY X SANTANGELO X PW&PC REP O. 38 SMITH X ARAKAKI E.onl X ADOPTED: SUN 0 2 1997 -