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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN PWPRC 2017/08/15 2016-2018Committee on Public Works and Parks and Recreation 9th Session West Hawaii Civic Center 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Building A Kailua-Kona, Hawaii August 15, 2017 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Public Works and Parks and ORDER: Recreation was called to order at 9:05 a.m., in the Council Chambers, Kailua-Kona, 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 Mr. Dru Mamo Kanuha, Member Ms. Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Member (via videoconference from Hilo) Ms. Eileen O'Hara, Member (via videoconference from Hilo) 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 on Res. 253-17 (Comm. 385), and came forward when called by the Chair: Jon Olson, in support. Mealoha Kraus, in support. Connor Kraus, in support. Daniel Madsen, in support. (representing Hilo Skateplaza Coalition) Jason Murray, comment. (representing Skatepark Hurt Foundation) John Milcarek, in support. PWPRC-9 August 15, 2017 Amanda Lemes, in support. Michelle Montgomery, in support. (representing Paradise Roller Girls and Hilo Skateplaza Coalition) Alison Wagner, in support. (representing Paradise Roller Girls) Rhonda Nicholas, in support. Brenda Kuamoo, in support. Richard Aka Furtado, in support. Kathleen Smith, in support. (representing Hilo Skateplaza Coalition) Jessica Amber, in support. Stacey Brenin, in support. COMMUNI- The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, CATIONS: Communications. (There were none.) ORDER OF The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, RESOLUTIONS: Order of Resolutions. Res. 253-17: URGES THE MAYOR AND THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION TO EXPEDITE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SKATE PARK FACILITY IN THE SOUTH HILO DISTRICT Supports a collaborative effort between the County and the Hilo Skateplaza Coalition, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, which is willing to share costs, donate materials and labor, and provide design specifications to develop this public facility. Reference: Comm. 385 Intr. by: Ms. Lee Loy Motion to Approve: Ms. Lee Loy moved to recommend adoption of Res. 253-17. Seconded by Ms. O'Hara. ACTING CHR. DAVID: Ms. Lee Loy. Page 2 PWPRC-9 August 15, 2017 MS. LEE LOY: Thank you, Chair. First and foremost, thank you to all of the testifiers who made time today. You have provided incredible insight to this particular recreational community that is really being underserved. Just a little bit of background. Former Council Member Fresh Onishi was an extreme advocate for this community, the skating community, and pledged a lot of money, of his own contingency money, to get something going. They did, and I'm sharing this for my other colleagues, they did. They identified a site which unfortunately was withdrawn for a number of reasons. But, I have to look ahead. And since that time, have begun to start a different dialogue with the current Department of Parks and Recreation, Charmaine Kamaka and Ryan the deputy, and really shared the frustrations, first and foremost, that this community really doesn't have anywhere to skate. But also, the value of their commitment, not only as a group, but the volunteering time that they've put towards trying to identify a site, putting together plans, getting donations is of extreme value, and we as a community need to honor that. The most alarming thing to me is, and it's identified in the resolution, that our laws prohibit them from skating on streets and sidewalks. And it is a duty of ours, I truly believe that, it is a duty of ours that if we're going to prohibit them from skating on the road, we have to provide them a legal venue. Because if that was the case, then we shouldn't sell skateboards. It's just that plain and simple. But that's not what we have, we have the ability to buy roller skates and skateboards. So we need to provide them a legal avenue to utilize them, just like we provide soccer fields for people with soccer balls and baseball parks for people with bats and gloves. It's just that simple for me. I did collaborate with the Department of Parks and Rec department on this resolution. They had a little bit of a conflict, but they did want me to share that they are in support. We've already identified two places for a skatepark, and hopefully not a temporary skate park but one that could be phased into a permanent site. From what I understand, there is even a third site that is emerging. So ideally, what we want to do—and for the Skate Coalition and Mealoha, thank you so much for keeping this and moving this forward remaining committed to getting this done and just continuing the collaboration. I'm going to be urging the rest of my colleagues to support this. I think you folks have heard every single aspect about what this would do for the skating community here in Hilo, because there are other parks, just not one in Hilo. One thing that I did learn, that I didn't hear some of the testifiers mention, is these skateparks are built with different skill sets, so you'll have a novice skatepark with rails and ramps and bulls; but some places like Volcano, they're just for more experienced skaters, because the bowls are bigger, the ramps are larger. So ideally what we want to do, is really create that family environment where moms Page 3 PWPRC-9 August 15, 2017 can bring their kids, that they can learn. The moms can walk and exercise while their kids are skating. The roller derby girls will have someplace to practice. I mean it is a very long-range vision, and we have to start. We have to start because this is one area of recreation we are not fulfilling here in Hilo. So, I'm going to yield at this time but do urge the rest of my colleagues to support this. Thank you. CHR. RUGGLES: Ms. O'Hara. MS. O'HARA: Thank you, Chair. I completely support this resolution and the creation of a skateboard park in Hilo. While I represent the lower Puna district, Pahoa is in my district, and we do have a partial skatepark at Pahoa. It is the case that often youngsters from my community end up in Hilo. Either their parents work there or for other reasons, and it's just a necessity that Hilo have a full service, I'm going to call it a full service skateboard park and I'll explain why. We recently had some issues with the operation of the skateboard park in Pahoa, and we had a meeting last week. Now, I'm not a skater, I admit. I was on a skateboard once, at age 13, and I never got back on again. It was the most scary. But that was back in the old days, when they had really clunky boards, and you know. You're laughing, yeah. So it has really evolved since then. I learned so much about the needs of the skaters and the skating community. Our park at Pahoa was the culmination of a community action. Meaning Main Street Pahoa back when, and I think this was around 2002, they had worked for years on this idea. They were granted the land, which is now within the compliance of the new regional park in Pahoa, to build that skateboard park, and they raised money from the community, from businesses within the community. Local businesses donated the money to make that park. It was all constructed with that community input. In fact, Main Street Pahoa oversaw its operations through a Friends of the Park agreement for a couple of years before it was turned over to Parks and Rec who had not at that point gained experience in running skateboard parks. We now have newer skateboard parks around the island. Some of them are quite nice. We have skateboard rules that run for all the parks simultaneously. There's one set of skateboard park rules for the County of Hawaii. What came to light in that meeting is that our rules are perhaps archaic because this board has evolved. The equipment has changed. We now have scooters for the younger kids for those that use that scooter. We have BMX bikes. So there's different elements that have come in to the skateboarding community, that all need to be accommodated. Page 4 PWPRC-9 August 15, 2017 While I totally support the park for Hilo, I also want to advocate for our park in Pahoa. When it was turned over to the County back when, 2004, it was only half a park. It doesn't have what the skaters call a flat -ground course; I hope I'm using the right language. A street course kind of thing. All the skaters have, in Pahoa, and they get yelled at because they're not allowed to ride in the parking lot, is the asphalt. I found out the difference between skating on asphalt and skating on concrete. So, we still need that other half of our park. When that was done, in 2004, the idea was that the County would move forward and complete a flat -ground course, instead they moved forward and put a keiki playground in that location, in Pahoa, which was needed as well. But we now have a second keiki playground in the context of the new regional park, and I was recently told by our Recreational Program Manager for Parks and Recreation that it's not in our best interest to try and maintain two separate keiki playgrounds on the same park. So that equipment is going to—it's already aged, and they don't want to really spend the money to maintain it. So perhaps we need to get back to building that second half of the skateboard park in Pahoa. So while I totally support Ms. Lee Loy's efforts to get a Hilo skateboard park, we also need that second increment out in Pahoa, and looking forward to supporting that as well. So, thank you. CHR. RUGGLES: Is there anyone in Kona wishing to speak? MR. HENRICKS: Madam Chair, my understanding is that we need to take a quick recess just to rectify a minor malfunction with our computer in Hilo. Our staff person should be talking to you shortly about that. CHR. RUGGLES: Okay, no problem. We are in recess for five minutes. Recess: At 9:48 a.m., the Chair called for a recess. Reconvene: The meeting reconvened at 10:00 a.m. CHR. RUGGLES: Calling this meeting back to order. Is there anyone in Kona wishing to speak? Mr. Kanuha. MR. KANUHA: Just briefly on the resolution. Glad to support the skatepark in Hilo. As Ms. Lee Loy was stating earlier, Council Member Onishi was pushing for this when he was on the Council. We supported that then, and glad to support it now. Get the community behind it. It's always a win, win, win. Both the community and government to work together to make this project happen. So I'm definitely in support of this. And mahalo, Ms. Lee Loy, for bringing this up. CHR. RUGGLES: Anyone else? Page 5 PWPRC-9 August 15, 2017 MR. RICHARDS: Yeah, Chair. Tim Richards. CHR. RUGGLES: Oh, go ahead, Mr. Richards. MR. RICHARDS: Yeah, I'm going to speak on behalf of this as well. And thank you again, Councilwoman Lee Loy, for bringing this forward. I think a statement that was made by some of the testifiers that tricks will be attempted by young children that adults would never try. I'm reminded of a story that kids are going to seek some sort of thrill in life, whatever that might be. It might come through sports, it may come through activities; or if we don't those opportunities, it may come through drugs. So I definitely support this and offer any opportunity for these kids to try something exciting. I yield. CHR. RUGGLES: Anyone else in Kona? MS. EOFF: Ms. Ruggles? CHR. RUGGLES: Go ahead, Ms. Eof£ MS. EOFF: Oh, okay. Well, I just want to congratulate the community for their commitment and diligence in fundraising and supporting this skatepark. I hope that you find a site and that we can move forward on this. I'm sure there's a lot of other revenue sources as well. You've mentioned the Fair Share, so I'm glad we can look into that too. I think the collaborative effort is really the way to go; bringing in the donations, the support of labor, the fundraising efforts on behalf of the community has engaged in, and the government's share. I think that will make a successful skatepark Thank you, Ms. Lee Loy. CHR. RUGGLES: Ms. David, did you want to speak? MS. DAVID: I think Mr. Chung wants to speak first. CHR. RUGGLES: Okay, Mr. Chung. I figure I'd go all the way, left to right, but go ahead, Mr. Chung. MR. CHUNG: Thank you. I think the easiest thing for me to do would be to say that I support this thing unconditionally. I do support it, but I do have to make a few comments. There iswe do bear a responsibility, to almost be like the bad guy in a professional wrestling match, alright? I know it's a tough crowd over there, but I'm going to say some things that may not be well received. Page 6 PWPRC-9 August 15, 2017 Well, first of all, let me say I'm in support of it. In this resolution it references Section 24-4, prohibition against using skateboards in various areas. Just to show that I'm not a cold-hearted bastard against skateboarders, way back when, I think when an amendment was proposed to this section, it was in 1999. I checked the citations. I don't have it in front of me, though. That's when, I believe, they proposed prohibiting skateboards on sidewalks and in particular areas in the Hilo area. I think I was either one of—either myself or one of two people who voted against that bill, and it was for the reason that we have to provide our kids the ability to, not only kids but skateboarders, the ability to use their skateboards around town. Now, I think all of you know that I'm a person who's not real fond of prohibitions, all the way around. I think the way to go is through education and public awareness. That's why I voted against that thing. Also, Ms. Lee Loy referenced the matter of the skateboard park, or temporary skateboard park, that was being pushed by Fresh Onishi. Let me give you guys a little bit more background on that. Ms. Lee Loy was being very subtle in her description of that matter. But, this is how this all played out. Fresh, and bless his soul, he really had his heart in the right place. But he had proposed a temporary skateboard park in the parking areas down by the Bayfront area, which happens to be in my district. He told me about it, and I said, "Hey, go ahead since you worked all that time for this project." I wasn't too fond of it, though, that location, and I told him that. He also committed some of his discretionary monies. But to my chagrin, it also seems that he had committed some of my discretionary monies too without my permission. So when guys came to me asking for my discretionary monies, I said, "Sorry, folks, basically I never made a commitment." And the reason for that is, not that I'm against any skateboard park, because frankly speaking I've always felt embarrassed that Hilo, of all places, does not have a good skateboard facility, when we have them in Pahoa; I've seen it in Waikoloa. I think all over the island we have all of these skateboard facilities, and we don't have one in Hilo. So, I have not been really happy about that and I'd like to see something occur. But I thought that having it in that downtown Bayfront area as a temporary facility was not a good idea. Because what happens, when you devote monies and resources into a temporary facility then it becomes a permanent facility, and I just didn't think that the skateboarders deserve a permanent temporary facility. The better way to do it would have just to go ahead, make a better permanent facility, probably in Ms. Lee Loy's district, closer to all of those other recreational facilities. I don't want to commit something in her district, but I just think that's the most appropriate place to do it. Page 7 PWPRC-9 August 15, 2017 The only condition that I have, I'm going to support this again, but I'm concerned about this reference to $600,000 of Fair Share contributions. That's devoted to Hilo. I haven't really looked at it; I haven't made an assessment of where those monies came from. But if some of them are supposed to be from my district, then I have to really think twice about committing the full amount or at least giving my okay to that. Because skateboard parks are great but there are people who have been clamoring for dog parks as well. I mean, there's just so many things we can do and we'd like to do. It's just whether we have the where -with -all to devote resources to a specific project. Now, with regard to this resolution, we're talking about urging the Mayor and the Director of Parks and Recreation to do certain things, and that's all fine and good. But I think the better way to go, is for one of us, perhaps Ms. Lee Loy, to come up with an appropriation bill; and then work on getting the funding, which would probably be through a bond float. I would support both of those. But I just don't know how far we're going to get with this "Urging," but I support it anyway. So, thank you. That's my thoughts. CHR. RUGGLES: Thank you. Is there anyone else in Kona? MS. DAVID: Chair Ruggles, this is Maile David. CHR. RUGGLES: Okay, go ahead, Ms. David. MS. DAVID: Thank you. Given the background that we just heard from Mr. Chung, I thank him for that because I wasn't aware. And I believe his suggestion might have some merit, as well. But in the meantime, I would just like to applaud Ms. Lee Loy for her efforts in trying to get something done for her community and in this kind of creative manner. So, I will be supporting Ms. Lee Loy. And I thank you for your efforts. I yield. MS. POINDEXTER: Chair, this is Val Poindexter. CHR. RUGGLES: Okay, go ahead, Ms. Poindexter. MS. POINDEXTER: I'm not going to repeat everything everybody said. I agree with all that was said; I agree with the testifiers. Of course, we have one in Hamakua as well, a skatepark, so I definitely think we should definitely have a skatepark in every district. So, I am supporting it. Thank you. CHR. RUGGLES: Thank you. Is there anyone else wanting to speak? Okay, go ahead, Ms. Lee Loy. Page 8 PWPRC-9 August 15, 2017 MS. LEE LOY: First of all, thank you. Thank you to the rest of my colleagues. I do appreciate your support. And, no, Mr. Chung, I don't think you're cold-hearted. You're absolutely correct. And, yes, my office is really looking at various multi -prong approaches to getting something for the Hilo community. The appropriation, the bond float. We have something else coming up on the Finance Committee, I think, that would generate some of that discussions on how those bonds are paid for. But, yes, my office is looking at all types of revenue sources to get something done. I do continue to appreciate everyone's support. We're going to have to be very creative. I think this particular community, this skating community, they are very creative, extremely innovative, and extremely hardworking. It is those characteristics that I know will be a huge driving force for getting something like this done. Getting the department and the administration to put that same value behind developing something like this is truly the goal. We see them work really hard for other recreational facilities, and this is just one that, for whatever reason, tends to fall by the way side. So thank you, and thank you to the rest of my colleagues. CHR. RUGGLES: Thank you. I just want to thank you, Ms. Lee Loy, for bringing this forward. I know this is a really important issue. I know that the community has been working on this for a really long time; I think it's been almost 10 years. I personally know a lot of people that have put on events. I've participated in them. My sister is a roller derby girl. My brother is a skater. I really appreciate what one of the testifiers brought up, about the character building and how it really creates a healthy—it cultivates a healthy relationship with challenges, individually and collectively, which is really unique and important, and only mastering our own boundaries and our own bodies, but supporting each other in doing that as well. I also want to say that we do need support in Pahoa. We're having a meeting next Thursday, which I invite all of you to come to. It's at 5:30 at the Pahoa Community Center. We're going to be talking about these rules that are going to apply island -wide to these skateparks. So please come and share your thoughts on that, because we're not skaters so we need your input. So with that, you have my whole -hearted support for the Hilo skatepark. All those in favor of Resolution 253-17 please say "aye." Page 9 PWPRC-9 August 15, 2017 Vote on Res. 253-17: The motion to recommend adoption of Res. 253-17 was (Approved) 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: Resolutionp asses. 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 a motion to adjourn? ADJOURN- There being no further business, at 10:12 a.m., Ms. Lee Loy moved to adjourn MENT: the meeting. Seconded by Ms. O'Hara 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 now adjourned. Thank you. Approved: 12 - f2 - 17 Ms. Je /fer Ruggles, Chair (Date) Public orks and Parks and Recreation Committee MD/na Page 10