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HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PWIRC 075 04/06/2010 2008-2010DATE: April 6, 2010 PLACE: Hawai`i County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 TIME: 2:55 P.M. Council Chair and Members Hawai`i County Council Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS 1 Re: Comm. No. 765/Res. 320 -10 Your Committee on Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations, to which was referred Resolution 320 -10, reports as follows: Resolution 320 -10, transmitted by Councilmember Dominic Yagong, via Communication No. 765, dated March 23, 2010, urges the Department of Public Works to provide road maintenance materials from County owned quarries for the purpose of maintaining County roads inventoried as "Roads in Limbo" [RIL]. Six testifiers, who are all from the same neighborhood, appeared in support of this resolution. Department of Public Works [DPW] Director Warren H.W. Lee and Deputy Director Tim Esaki appeared to answer questions and describe their plans for continuing improving County RIL. Councilman Dominic Yagong said the state has given the County an unfunded mandate to be responsible for RIL. Users of some of these roads have been forced to maintain them. Partnerships with our community can be formed by addressing the need of the community. Every district has roads in limbo. Mr. Lee stated the DPW has a proposed program and the yet to be approved budget that will accomplish what we are trying to do here, repair and pave RIL. DPW's approach is to get roads paved. Not everyone wants to get a road in limbo paved. A limited program is in place. The County has limited resources and currently only screens quarry materials. The County does not blast or crush, so materials resources are limited. Mr. Esaki stated there is no public funding source for RIL and due diligence has not yet been done. Funding has not been approved and resources have not been available. The true costs to DPW are $6 to $7 per yard to pull material. The costs are about $17 per yard to purchase outside. This proposal will pull money from DPW and would redirect our focus and effort away from our planned operations and towards assisting residents to do their own work. PWIRC Rpt. No. 75 Comm. 765 Res. No. 320 -10 Page 2 Councilman Kelly Greenwell expressed his belief that this proposal ties the community to the government, which is more important than the road itself. Councilman Dominic Yagong noted this DPW budget proposal is first time our County has proposed allocating money for RIL. This plan is intended to be separate, not part of the DPW budget DPW will oversee the program. Council members would facilitate or organize meetings with community to work with DPW. Councilman J Yoshimoto asked if there is anything that prohibits the DPW from implementing the idea in this resolution now. Mr. Esaki responded, "No ". Mr. Yoshimoto stated he feels the language of this resolution needs to be adjusted. Councilman Dominic Yagong expressed the intent of this resolution is for DPW to arrange a drop off point for materials and let the people take it from there. All the resolution is asking for is free materials. This is about fixing uneven roadways, to get them into a passable situation. Councilman Dennis Onishi asked if someone other than County agencies repairs the road and doesn't do it the correct way, is the County liable. Mr. Lee responded, "Does the matter of who makes the road repair make a difference? No, the County remains ultimately reliable. If we provide material the County is still liable." Your Committee on Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations is in accord with the purpose and intent of Resolution 320 -10, and recommends its adoption. bw Respectfully submitted, COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS ES, CHAIR IRC REPORT DOPTED: 2010 Al'ES NOES A &E EX ENRIQUES X FORD X GREENWELL X HOFFMANN X IKEDA X NAEOLE X ONISHI X YAGONG X YOSHIMOTO X Comm. 765 Res. No. 320 -10 Page 2 Councilman Kelly Greenwell expressed his belief that this proposal ties the community to the government, which is more important than the road itself. Councilman Dominic Yagong noted this DPW budget proposal is first time our County has proposed allocating money for RIL. This plan is intended to be separate, not part of the DPW budget DPW will oversee the program. Council members would facilitate or organize meetings with community to work with DPW. Councilman J Yoshimoto asked if there is anything that prohibits the DPW from implementing the idea in this resolution now. Mr. Esaki responded, "No ". Mr. Yoshimoto stated he feels the language of this resolution needs to be adjusted. Councilman Dominic Yagong expressed the intent of this resolution is for DPW to arrange a drop off point for materials and let the people take it from there. All the resolution is asking for is free materials. This is about fixing uneven roadways, to get them into a passable situation. Councilman Dennis Onishi asked if someone other than County agencies repairs the road and doesn't do it the correct way, is the County liable. Mr. Lee responded, "Does the matter of who makes the road repair make a difference? No, the County remains ultimately reliable. If we provide material the County is still liable." Your Committee on Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations is in accord with the purpose and intent of Resolution 320 -10, and recommends its adoption. bw Respectfully submitted, COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS ES, CHAIR IRC REPORT DOPTED: 2010