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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN PWPRC 2017/03/07 2016-2018COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS AND RECREATION 2°d Session Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii March 7, 2017 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Public Works and Parks and ORDER: Recreation was called to order at 9:15 a.m., in the Council Chambers, Hilo, by Ms. Jennifer Ruggles, Chair. ROLL CALL: Present: Ms. Jennifer Ruggles, Chair Ms. Maile Medeiros David, Vice Chair Mr. Aaron S. Y. Chung, Member Ms. Karen Eoff, Member, Member Mr. Dru Mamo Kanuha, Member Ms. Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Member Ms. Eileen O'Hara, Member Ms. Valerie T. Poindexter, Member Mr. Herbert M. "Tim" Richards, III, Member STATEMENTS The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, FROM THE Statements from the Public on Agenda Items. PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS: The following individuals registered to speak and came forward when called by the Chair: Myles Miyasato: Comm. 70, comment. Shelley Mahi-Hanai: (Testifier did not speak on agenda item.) COMMUNI- The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, CATIONS: Communications. Comm. 70: REQUESTS DISCUSSION WITH THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS REGARDING REPAIR WORK AND FUNDING FOR REPAIR WORK FOR WAIANUENUE AVENUE AND COUNTY STREETS IN DOWNTOWN HILO From Council Member Aaron S. Y. Chung, dated January 3, 2017. Postponed: February 7, 2017 PWPRC-2 March 7, 2017 Motion to Close File: Mr. Chung moved to close file on Comm. 70. Seconded by Ms. Poindexter. CHR. RUGGLES: Mr. Chung. MR. CHUNG: Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. Yeah, I did request this presentation by the Public Works department regarding some of the streets in my district, particularly those that are in the downtown area, Waidnuenue, Haili, Kino`ole, and I guess Keawe, down in that area. They've been in disrepair for many years. I think most of you know that, who've driven there, and it's getting worse every day. Just as some background, the County is engaging right now in the development of a multi -modal study for that whole downtown area, and it's been going on for possibly about two years now, and as s a result the Downtown Improvement Association at one time had requested that the County hold off on doing any improvements to that area, because no sense, you know, kind of duplication, pave over something and then have to break it up later on. But that study, I understand, is near in completion, but it's going to be a huge undertaking. At best, it's going to be piecemeal, if at all. All the while, the residents, not of Hilo but just the greater East Hawaii population in general, are having to endure all of these bumpy roads; so it's time that we really start developing a game plan, and I wanted to bring our experts up. Now, I feel somewhat embarrassed that I have to bring this up because all of you represent different districts. But I think it would be instructive, also, not just for this area but you could also apply whatever is brought up today to problem areas in your individual districts, as well. So, having said that—and I also had a discussion with our director, Mr. De Marco, earlier, and he indicated that he actually expended the scope of his presentation to include all Hilo streets, which as far as I'm concerned is very good but it might bore the heck out of some of you. But having said that, Mr. De Marco, if you could please come up? (Note: At this time, Public Works Director Frank De Marco, Deputy Director Allan Simeon, and Highway Division Chief Neil Azevedo came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MR. CHUNG: I wanted to make mention, though, the previous speaker, the only speaker who testified on this matter, his name is actually Myles Miyasato not Miyamoto, and he's with the Operating Engineers. He didn't specify who he was with, but I just wanted to state that for the record. Thank you, Miles. MR. DE MARCO: Good morning, Madam Chair, Members of the Committee. Thank you, Council Member Chung, for the introduction. Actually, the Page 2 PWPRC-2 March 7, 2017 presentation doesn't include all the roads, just the roads that we are intending to improve or have improved, just for clarification. I've asked Deputy Director Allan Simeon to help with this presentation, it's largely because he was the engineer involved with some of the projects that we're going to be presenting today, so he's better equipped to describe those projects to you; and of course our hardworking crew, at the Highways Division, under Neil Azevedo, have done some good work all over the island as you know, so I've asked him to come and speak to you about some of his projects as well within the Hilo area. Oh, did I introduce myself? Sorry about that. Frank De Marco, Director, Department of Public Works. (Note: At this time, representatives from the Public Works department gave a PowerPoint presentation to the members of the Committee. For viewing of the subject presentation, see the DVD copy of the meeting proceedings on file in the Clerk's Office. A copy of the PowerPoint presentation is made a part of the record, see Comm. 70. 1.) MR. CHUNG: Madam Chairman? CHR. RUGGLES: Mr. Chung? MR. CHUNG: You know, I've been looking over this little handout that's been provided to us by the department and I know they've put in a lot of work, but we have another committee coming up in about ten minutes. Basically, I guess, I don't mind talking to you guys about the items that are on this handout in your presentation. All I want to know is what are we're going to do about Waidnuenue and the downtown areas, that's all. I don't have to—I don't care about Manono. I mean I care about it. But, Kekuando `a, fantastic job. Neil, you did a terrific job over there. Komohana, well, that's another story all together. Kawailani, that's very interesting. That was a subject of a newspaper article, about a week ago. Terrific project. Hearing a lot of positive things. Congratulations, Ms. Lee Loy. Kalanianaole, that road is really beat up. Now, for Waidnuenue. That's really all—because we don't have too much time, let's just cut through the chase. What can we do about Waidnuenue and the downtown roads, what are our options from Highway's Division, Engineering Division, and what it's going to cost? Because we're heading for the budget, we've got to do something about these things. If you guys need money, then it's Page 3 PWPRC-2 March 7, 2017 our responsibility to go and find the money. If you guys can do it in-house, terrific. Kekuanao `a was a fantastic, fantastic job. So, what can we do about those things? We only got ten more minutes. MR. DE MARCO: Sorry. MR. CHUNG: And I think you guys can do it within ten minutes. MR. DE MARCO: Well, thank you. It's going to make this presentation a lot shorter. So as far as Waianuenue, let's just jump right to that. The estimated cost, this is from Rainbow Drive to Akolea Road, the cost is about $12.5 million. It's going to be a STIP project, Statewide Transportation Improvement Program fund, so it's about 80 percent. Oh, what have I done here? Oh, you just want downtown? Oh, okay. MR. CHUNG: I will say this though, with regard to that STIP project, is it going? I heard there were a lot of hang-ups on this thing with the consultant. Is it moving? Is this moving forward? One minute I give you on this one. MR. CHUNG: Is it going or not going? MR. DE MARCO: Well, we've got it on the CIP (Capital Improvement Projects). It's moving forward. MR. CHUNG: Okay, that's all. Okay, let's go to downtown. MR. SIMEON: I just want to add. This is Allan Simeon. Good morning again. Yeah, I can tell you that it's in the STIP project. So to get the project into the STIP, we would have to send the information to the DOT (Department of Transportation. They have it programmed in the STIP project, and they specify what year for the design and construction. So, one of our engineers is working on that. MR. CHUNG: Okay. I know this is going to be all Greek to you guys, okay, and maybe we can talk about this later because we've got to move on to the downtown. But my understanding is that this thing has been delayed for awhile because of our consultant not being able to get a subcontractor on board. They're with Akinaka and Associates, right? That was one of the guys we were looking at, right? I don't know if that's still the case. But are we moving forward or are there delays? Is this thing in jeopardy of being lost, the upper Waianuenue? Are we going to do it? That's a lot of money, $12 million. We're going to lose a lot of money on this one. Page 4 PWPRC-2 March 7, 2017 MR. SIMEON: We're going to get back to you. MR. CHUNG: Yeah, okay. MR. SIMEON: We're going to talk to our engineer— MR. CHUNG: Yeah, okay. Okay, alright. MR. SIMEON: —and get the status on that project, and we'll let you know. MR. CHUNG: Okay. Now, we have seven and a half minutes for downtown streets. Should be very simple. What are our options? MR. DE MARCO: Okay, in addition to, you know, we're going to get STIP funds for this in moving this project forward, and that is our intent, so we're trying to push this forward. We're intending to have our Highway Maintenance Division do a cold plane of this road and resurface to an overlay. Do you want to speak to that, Neil? MR. AZEVEDO: Neil Azevedo, Highways Division Chief. The cold planing, we've got two guys on bid; it's Grace Pacific and Glover. Pretty much they do the cold planing and we sweep up and spread a tack coat and we come back and pave it. So pretty much we're looking about $200,000, from Kamehameha Avenue to Kapiolani Street. That's probably going to be night time. That's the only way we can do it, with traffic wise and stuff, you know, and weather permitting. Then Kamehameha Avenue, from Ponahawai to Waianuenue, it's about $260,000. We'll be working with Grace and Glover on that one. They'll be doing the cold planing, and we'll be resurfacing. And, same thing, the Kamehameha to Kapiolani, you know, Waianuenue they over -laid twice already, so we don't got no curb there. So, we're looking at cold planing four and putting back two, same thing like Kamehameha Avenue. MR. CHUNG: Can you explain what cold planing is? MR. AZEVEDO: Cold planing, they eat up. They recycle the AC (asphalt/concrete). They eat up the AC.. Then, we use it for our shoulders and stuff. We did that in Waimea, with Grace Pacific. Pretty much, we put it on the shoulder. So now when we pull out to the shoulders, it would be safer, you know. You not worried about mud and stuff. Then we're going to end up paving the shoulders wider, so we can make bike lanes and people can walk, exercise and stuff. Page 5 PWPRC-2 March 7, 2017 And, we can use it for our roads -in -limbo. Can pretty much—it chops up the AC, and comes, probably inch and a half, and it binds well together. You know, you can roll it and come back. It's a nice road. It'll last longer than we buying the base. We got two guys on bid, because I think I mentioned that. MS. LEE LOY: I just have a real follow-up question, since we're jumping in and we only get five and a half minutes now. How many days is this project? I ask because Council Member Chung and I, we share so much of our roads and so much of our community commutes to both our districts. So for us, when we're at community events, we want to be able to tell people "It's going to happen between 8:30 and 3:00; how many days." I mean these are the questions for our Kawailani, Iwalani Streets. If we're improving drywells, is that going to create flooding issues? Are we going to take care of that? That's what—I know, Mr. Chung and myself, we want to hear so we can help you folks spread the word. MR. AZEVEDO: Yes. Pretty much, when we do the cold planing, we still got to do our BMPs (Better Management Practice). Pretty much, the pollution and stuff, we've got to keep it to a minimum. Actually, we can't let it go in those streams and stuff, so we've got to do all our BMPs. Get all that ready. And, pretty much, on Waidnuenue Avenue, Kamehameha to Kapiolani would be about maybe two weeks, you know, weather permitting, with the cold planing and stuff, you know. That going to be night time. So, we've got to do a letter and everything to the unions and let them know. For Kamehameha, same thing. Ponahawai to Waidnuenue, going to be night time again. Pretty much, we've got to follow the rules too, like how private contractors do. We're not special. We're the same as them. So, we've got to do what we've got to do to make it good. That will be about, say about two weeks max. CHR. RUGGLES: Mr. Chung. MR. CHUNG: What about on Waidnuenue, from Kapiolani up to maybe Kaumana Drive? MR. AZEVEDO: Kapiolani to Komohana, that's about, I think, was $320,000. MR. CHUNG: Okay, but that can be done the same way too? MR. AZEVEDO: Same way it's done. MR. CHUNG: Don't have to go through engineering, $12 million, or $26 million? No need, right? MR. AZEVEDO: We can do it in-house. Page 6 PWPRC-2 March 7, 2017 MR. CHUNG: Okay, so we're not looking at a huge amount right now? MR. AZEVEDO: Yes. MR. CHUNG: Okay, because as I said we're entering into a budget season. MR. AZEVEDO: Yes. MR. CHUNG: Okay, okay. So, you have a plan. You have a game plan for Waidnuenue, and from Ponahawai to Waianuenue. MR. AZEVEDO: Yes. MR. CHUNG: On both Keawe and Kino`ole? MR. AZEVEDO: Yes. MR. CHUNG: Perfect. MR. AZEVEDO: Although, Keawe and Kino`ole, we still got to work on that. It's downtown streets. MR. CHUNG: Oh, it was the front street you were talking about? MR. AZEVEDO: Yeah, the front street. MR. CHUNG: Okay, but you can develop a game plan also for— MR. AZEVEDO: Can develop a game plan, yes. MR. CHUNG: So for the streets that you talked about, what kind of time -table are we looking at? I remember, we were here, some of you weren't here, but when the previous administration said that Komohana was going to be finished in October, right, of 2016? MR. AZEVEDO: Yes. MR. CHUNG: And Fresh and I looked at each other and we just said, "No way. We not even construction people, and we know not going finished in October, right?" So, just give us a reasonable estimate as to when this thing might start; and if it's like 2019, whatever, just say so that the public has at least some expectation of when this might happen and how long it's going to take. MR. AZEVEDO: It should be 2018. Page 7 PWPRC-2 March 7, 2017 MR. CHUNG: 2018. MR. AZEVEDO: 2018. MR. CHUNG: Okay, good. Right, election year. Terrific. MR. AZEVEDO: Sorry. MR. CHUNG: Yeah, okay. But it's going to happen, though, right? MR. AZEVEDO: It's going to happen. CHR. RUGGLES: Ms. Lee Loy. MS. LEE LOY: Thank you. Mr. Azevedo, or maybe Allan, some of these have signalization, and what I keep hearing is some of them are not synced, so our Fire, our Rescue Responders, they can't turn on and off the lights the way they want. Like Mr. Chung said, there's money, we're coming up on our budget, and if we need to somehow enhance our signalizations while you guys are doing this work, we want to get it in the budget so it's all working well together. MR. AZEVEDO: Pretty much, before I give it to them, I give it to the other departments. So we talk story, how we can better everything. You know, we one island. You know, we don't fight each other, we work together. We help each other out. So, pretty much Traffic is going to be working with us and trying to do what they've got to do. Yeah, I don't want to go in there and destroy something and then say, "Eh, that's not ours." It's all ours. Publics ours. Public safety is ours, number one. CHR. RUGGLES: Mr. Chung. MR. CHUNG: Yeah, I get one last question and then we can let you guys go. Obviously, this job that you're looking at is not going to be extensive as what they're doing at Komohana, right? MR. AZEVEDO: Yes. MR. CHUNG: Can you explain what the difference is between what you guys plan to do and what they did at Komohana? There must be some fundamental difference, right? Page 8 PWPRC-2 March 7, 2017 MR. AZEVEDO: Komohana over -x everything. Komohana, well like how Isemoto did at Kamehameha Avenue. They went down, I think, 22 inches and came back up, built it back up. I think that one is 13 inches of asphalt. You know, strong, how long he last, not sure. You know, everything's—what we do is just cold plane four inches and then we go put back two, and pretty much it's going to last maybe ten to twelve years, weather permitting. You know, weather plays a role. For Komohana one, maybe 20-30 years. MR. CHUNG: Yeah, okay. No, that's really important to know, you know, how long it's going to last, as well. And, that's all I have. CHR. RUGGLES: Mr. Kanuha. MR. CHUNG: Yes, Allan? MR. SIMEON: It's basically for Federal 8 projects. We do have to comply with the requirements, so we would have to design it for what is acceptable for getting the STIP money. In this case, basically similar to Kaiminam projects, we would have to design it for 20 to 30 years for the roadway to last. Which means, basically it's not just cold planing the existing roadway, but we have to go deep inside the base area to provide that structure to last for 20 to 30 years. It also depends on what road, meaning what kind of trucks, heavy trucks that you have that will be running, which will make the most damage on those roads, so this come into account. And also, for a projection, many years. That's why going back to Waidnuenue, what Neil guys will be providing will be to take care the short-term, and we also plan to include from Kamehameha to about the hospital for the future STIP projects, for the long-term. I want to add also that we are using a lot of in-house inspectors and engineers. We have a great team, and we do save a lot of money using them, and it also provides them with cross -training and also advancement in the workplace. MR. CHUNG: Thank you. Thanks, you guys. CHR. RUGGLES: Mr. Kanuha. MR. KANUHA: Thank you, Madam Chair. Good morning. Just a quick question. You know, we talk about cold planing, $200,000 there, $300,000 at the next project. Does the County have a cold planer or are we planning to get one at any time soon? Or, what's the cost of something like that? Page 9 PWPRC-2 March 7, 2017 MR. AZEVEDO: That one's about—the cold planing—Sorry, Neil Azevedo again, sorry. That's about $600,000 to cold plane --cold planer. And, pretty much, maintenance wise, it's going to be rough on the County. And, pretty much, for the County to use it, we would probably use it three times a year. While the contractor—we just can hire the contractor to do it for us and we'd come back and pave. MR. KANUHA: So basically the reason for not having one is more maintenance issues that would come up—that would cause greater concern in the budget, budget wise? MR. AZEVEDO: Yes. MR. KANUHA: Because, I mean, like three times a year. That would pay for a cold planer, basically from the contracts you were talking about, yeah? MR. AZEVEDO: No, that's all with the AC. Everything, that's why. Our material and stuff, so the cold plane is just partially. MR. KANUHA: There's a lot more connected to that? MR. AZEVEDO: Yes. Yes, it's got $200,000 just for cold plane. It's $200,000 for finish the project. MR. KANUHA: Got it. Okay, just checking. Sometimes we get the request to buy certain equipment items that, you know, lease -to -own type of situation. That makes more— a lot of sense, but maybe with this one it might not. MR. AZEVEDO: We had it in there this year, and I wasn't into it, but more and more I look into it— MR. KANUHA: Okay. And I think this is great, what's going on. I'm assuming that during budget time, when you come for the presentation, it will be a lot more extensive island -wide. Because, you know, just with these ones, it's probably like $100 million we're talking about, with just of these big ticket items. But when the budget comes up, you know, we'll see more, you know, Puna, Kohala, Kona, what's in the row, yeah? $100 million, just for this one area, that's a huge amount of money so I can just imagine what the island-wide—what's in the works, yeah? What that budget item is going to be talking about. Be interesting to see that, though. CHR. RUGGLES: Mr. Chung. Page 10 PWPRC-2 March 7, 2017 MR. CHUNG: Yeah, you know, I'm glad that Mr. Kanuha brought up that topic. And I would urge the new Council Members to familiarize yourselves with the issue of the cold planer. Because we had that discussion during our last budget, and we were prepared, actually, to include an amount for the purchase, right, of a cold planer for the department? But after a lot of discussion, the administration themselves put it in but I think it somehow morphed into something else, right? A contractual thing. But, that's something we should really take a look at. Of course, we have to utilize or rely on Neil as our expert in that regard. CHR. RUGGLES: Council Member O'Hara did you—go ahead. MS. O'HARA: Thank you, Chair. Hello. Neil, I'm sorry we haven't met in person but we've talked over the phone. I just wanted to follow-up on what Council Members Kanuha and Chung just mentioned with the cold planer, because it seems you're only saying two to three times you would need it in a year? With all of the streets on the Big Island for which you're responsible, is that really accurate? Because I know there are a lot of streets in my neighborhood, in Lower Puna, that are need of resurfacing and it seems like that might be the kind of tool that we would want to have in our inventory? MR. AZEVEDO: Yeah, in cold plane, pretty much we would do it at the sidewalk area. MS. O'HARA: Oh, okay. MR. AZEVEDO: You know, because right now we've got the sidewalk six inches base coarse. MS. O'HARA: Okay. MR. AZEVEDO: And then we overlay it twice, we're going to get two inches. So, make it a hazard code, people walking and stuff. Where there's no sidewalk, they show that we just overlay the whole thing right over. MS. O'HARA: Okay. MR. AZEVEDO: And pretty much you're getting some coming your way soon. MS. O'HARA: Alright, thank you. Thank you, Chair. CHR. RUGGLES: Mr. Richards. MR. RICHARDS: Aloha, Neil, we haven't met either. Tim Richards. Question, and I think what I heard, we're talking about the purchase cost. But I heard you say "maintenance," and it's kind of like a horse, the cheapest part is buying it. So Page 11 PWPRC-2 March 7, 2017 when it comes to the maintenance, and I have experience with that, explain the maintenance to that. Did I hear that appropriately, that maintaining this equipment—because it does a lot of stuff? MR. AZEVEDO: Yeah, pretty much we'll be using it only three years, so three times a year, max four. But pretty much there's a bunch of teeth on there, that's what grinds up the asphalt. And, we're going to have to be changing that, lubing it up. Three to four times a year we're using it, and it's going to be sitting the rest of the time. You know, cold planing probably going to take a day or two to cold plane it, maybe longer, but the whole thing is it's going to be sitting more than in use. So, I rather just sub it out to a private guy and they cold plane for us, and we don't have to worry about the maintenance, and downtime, and all that. MR. RICHARDS: Yeah, and I appreciate that because maintaining an equipment that you're not using very often gets quite expensive. MR. AZEVEDO: Yeah. MR. RICHARDS: Okay, thank you. CHR. RUGGLES: Anymore questions? Alright, seeing or hearing none, all those in favor of filing Communication 70 please say "aye." Vote on Comm. 70: The motion to close file on Comm. 70 was carried by Filed the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Chung, David, Eoff, Kanuha, Lee Loy, O'Hara, Poindexter, Richards, and Chair Ruggles - 9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused: None. ORDER OF The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, RESOLUTIONS: Order of Resolutions. (There were none.) BILLS FOR The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, ORDINANCES: Bills for Ordinances. (There were none.) CHR. RUGGLES : May I have motion to adjourn? Page 12 PWPRC-2 March 7, 2017 ADJOURN- There being no further business, at 9:55 a.m., Ms. Poindexter moved to adjourn MENT: the meeting. Seconded by Ms. David and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Chung, David, Eoff, Kanuha, Lee Loy, O'Hara, Poindexter, Richards, and Chair Ruggles - 9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused: None. CHR. RUGGLES: We are adjourned. Thank you. Approved: r � Ms. Jennif#r ktiggles, Chair Public Vrks and Parks and Recreation Committee JR/na -j -' t (Date) Page 13