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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN PWPRC 2017/11/14 2016-2018COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS AND RECREATION 111h Session West Hawaii Civic Center 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Building A Kailua-Kona, Hawaii November 14, 2017 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Public Works and Parks and ORDER: Recreation was called to order at 9:21 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 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 Chair called Kalani Kahalioumi, who registered to speak in support of Communication 586, and came forward when called. COMMUNI- The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, CATIONS: Communications. Comm. 570: NOMINATION OF DEBRA LEWIS TO THE VETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE From Mayor Harry Kim, dated October 25, 2017, submitting for the Council's review and confirmation the above nomination. PWPRC-11 November 149 2017 Vote on Comm. 570: Ms. Lee Loy moved to recommend confirmation of the (Approved) appointment of Ms. Debra Lewis to the Veterans Advisory Committee. Seconded by Ms. Eoff 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: Motion carries. Comm. 571: NOMINATION OF MARCIA BRINKLEY TO THE VETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE From Mayor Harry Kim, dated October 25, 2017, submitting for the Council's review and confirmation the above nomination. Vote on Comm. 571: Mr. Richards moved to recommend confirmation of the (Approved) appointment of Ms. Marcia Brinkley to the Veterans Advisory Committee. Seconded by Ms. Poindexter 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. MS. RUGGLES: Motion carries. Comm. 572: NOMINATION OF CAROLLE BRULEE-WILSON TO THE VETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE From Mayor Harry Kim, dated October 25, 2017, submitting for the Council's review and confirmation the above nomination. Page 2 PWPRC-11 November 149 2017 Vote on Comm. 572: Mr. Kanuha moved to recommend confirmation of the (Approved) appointment of Ms. Carolle Brulee-Wilson to the Veterans Advisory Committee. Seconded by Ms. Eoff 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: Motion carries. Committee Members spoke in favor of the above appointments. Chair Ruggles informed each nominee that they do not need to appear before full Council for final confirmation. CHR. RUGGLES: I'm going to call a five-minute recess first, to prepare for the presentation. Recess: At 10:07 a.m., the Chair called for a recess. Reconvene: The meeting reconvened at 10:14 a.m. CHR. RUGGLES: Okay, I'm going to call this meeting out of recess. Mr. Clerk, if we could go to Communication 586. Comm. 586: REQUESTS A PRESENTATION AND UPDATE BY CHAD KALEPA BABAYAN, PWO NAVIGATOR, REGARDING HOKULEA` S "MAHALO HAWAII SAIL" SCHEDULED FOR 2018 ON HAWAII ISLAND From Council Member Karen Eoff, dated October 18, 2017. (Note: Comm. 586.1, from Council Member Karen Eoff dated November 7, 2017, transmitting PowerPoint presentation material provided by Chad Kalepa Babayan, was circulated.) Motion to Close File: Ms. Eoff moved to close file on Comm. 586. Seconded by Ms. David. (Note: At this time, Mr. Chad Kalepa Babayan, Native Practitioner and PWO Navigator, came forward to address the Members of the Committee.) Page 3 PWPRC-11 November 149 2017 MR. BABAYAN: My name is Kalepa Babayan. I'm the navigator and resident of the `Imiloa Astronomy Center. I also had the privilege of serving as a sail master, captain, and navigator on 1-16kule`a's two -year-long voyage. (Note: At this time, Mr. Babayan provided a PowerPoint presentation regarding the update on H6kule`a's "Mahalo Hawaii Sail" scheduled to take place in 2018 on the Big Island. For viewing of the subject presentation, please see the DVD copy of the meeting proceedings on file in the Clerk's Office. A hard copy of the presentation is made a part of the record, see Comm. 586.1.) MR. BABAYAN: If you have any questions, I can answer it now. CHR. RUGGLES: Great, thank you. Are there any questions or comments? Ms. Eoff. MS. EOFF: Thank you. Mahalo, Kalepa, for the update. As you know, several of us have contributed funds to the Friends of H6kule`a and Hikianalia. Just continue to reach to us for the funding part of it. As far as logistics, I'll definitely be happy to work with you and figure out how to organize the cultural educational fair, and maybe some other outreach opportunities while you're on this side. MR. BABAYAN: Alright. Thank you. MS. EOFF: I'll volunteer my husband too at this point. CHR. RUGGLES: Ms. David. MS. DAVID: Yes, thank you. Mahalo nui, Kalepa. Thank you for your presentation because we were wondering, if this is going to be such a huge endeavor, that I want to also offer my assistance on Kona side with Karen. I do have one question. MR. BABAYAN: Sure. MS. DAVID: You mentioned that the leg between Oahu and Hilo is the most difficult. Aside from the currents, what makes that leg a really difficult leg to do? MR. BABAYAN: Yes, it's the trade winds. The trade winds blow from east to west. They basically go from the direction of the Big Island, all the way down the through Kaua` i. So anytime you've got come east, or from O `ahu upwind, you know, to Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and the Big Island, it's an endeavor. Page 4 PWPRC-11 November 14, 2017 MS. DAVID: Yeah, okay. No, I was just curious. My ignorance is like, wow, why is that? It's a short distance. MR. BABAYAN: Yeah, it's such a short distance. MS. DAVID: Okay. MR. BABAYAN: In 1976, when they sailed 1­16kule`a, from Honolulu, Maui, to Tahiti, it took them some 33 days. The first seven days was just sailing from Honolulu to Hilo. MS. DAVID: Oh my gosh. Okay, well thank you for explaining that. That was my only question. It was like so unreal. So mahalo for all you've done, and we will be doing. We support you 100 percent. MR. BABAYAN: Thank you. MS. DAVID: Mahalo. CHR. RUGGLES: Ms. Lee Loy. MS. LEE LOY: Thank you, Chair. Kalepa, thank you. Mahalo. I know Hilo will be rather exciting. Like the Council Members, I'm really excited to offer my assistance, my help. And, you know, continue to reach out to the Council Members for contingency money to help. What I do find incredibly exciting, is when you move forward with your meeting with the Mayor, kitty-corner to the harbor where you're intending to be, is our Kuawa fields in which we hope to have open, beginning December. So that will be a really nice staging area. Rather it be parking or just, you know, overflow, or maybe even consideration of other activities in relationship to what's going on in the harbor. That's something you can talk to the Mayor about when you do have this meeting. There's a number of other facilities nearby. MR. BABAYAN: Well, thank you. MS. LEE LOY: And I really want to say mahalo for your consideration for the ADA (American with Disabilities Act) compliance piece because it's wonderful that you're going to be looking out for these special families that have special needs. Thank you. MR. BABAYAN: Yeah, thank you. CHR. RUGGLES: Ms. Eoff. Page 5 PWPRC-11 November 14, 2017 MS. EOFF: Thank you. I'm sure the Council Members may have more to add. But I just would be remiss if I didn't extend such a deep mahalo and gratitude to you for being here today and sharing, but mostly for your leadership with Hokule`a and the canoe and Polynesian Voyaging Society. I mean, you've got it so much positive and inspirational hope into our community, the worldwide voyage, the message it conveyed. Today's world with so much turmoil, I believe you and the message of the canoe has provided a ray of hope. All over. Especially Hawaii, but all over the world. I just thank you for the time you spent away from your family and your devotion to your current position at `Imiloa, but your years of, I guess it's service, but connection with the canoe and all it embodies. So personally, mahalo to you. MR. BABAYAN: Thank you. Just one thing I'd like to share, that in the three years I was away from Hawaii sailing around the world, what a very, very diverse planet we live in, culturally, environmentally. But in the end, in retrospect, as I visited different communities, we're all the same. We all care about the same thing. Like, where's the next meal going to come from; how am I managing my affairs? What people really care about is family and community. And that's the same, from one community to the next community, Some 46,000 miles around the planet. So, thank you. MS. EOFF: I also wanted to—I'm sure you know this and maybe you've been thinking about it, but be sure and consider utilizing the County's beautiful park at Kohanaiki. The navigational star compass that's there now, and there's canoe gardens and plants that are growing. In any way that you can utilize that, while people are here or there's educational opportunities, I would really love to help coordinate that and so would others. We do have a support team for that. MR. BABAYAN: Well, thank you. I know that our main emphasis will be the community days and the education fairs and the school field trips, but there will be other opportunities for crew members to do presentations in the community, as well. MS. EOFF: Good. Okay, thank you. CHR. RUGGLES: Mr. Richards. MR. RICHARDS: Yeah, thank you. Kalepa, thank you so much, and giving us the dates. I know we were told when we get it at the end, we keep it the longest, so I'm really looking forward to that. This is for some of the fun stuff. I know Councilwoman Eoff volunteered her husband to help; I'm going to volunteer the whole Council to help out on this because this is really exciting. So, look forward to working with you getting this done. Page 6 PWPRC-11 November 1452017 MS. POINDEXTER: Yeah, I want to thank you for the presentation and always being available to the Council, not only this term but on previous terms you were here. And even if I'm not at the events that you've been giving talk -stories, I know all about it because Council Member Eoff makes sure she shares that with us. A lot about you and what an incredible guy you are. Hearing that the voyage is not just a voyage and learning how to voyage, but how you connect with family and community, which is the heartbeat of this world. I'm so excited for the young children, school-age children. Not only them, even our kupuna and everybody in between to learn about the voyage and how you connected throughout the world as well with community and families. Just the stories. So, I'm kind of excited about it. I just want to say thank you so much for all that you do for the world. Thank you. MR. BABAYAN: Thank you. CHR. RUGGLES : Ms. O'Hara. MS. O'HARA: Thank you, Chair. I, too, just want to thank you for the presentation. It really helps to get an idea of what we can expect here. You have my full support. I thank you, Mr. Richards, for enlisting all of us. But you definitely have my full support on any activities that I can assist with from district. We're already working towards that end. I think this is going to be great. So, thank you much for the presentation. MR. BABAYAN: Thank you. CHR. RUGGLES: Mr. Kanuha. MR. KANUHA: Thank you, Madam Chair. Mahalo for your presentation. I can definitely looking forward to you guys coming. I'm excited that you guys are coming to Kailua. Such a rich history. I was kind of wondering how you guys are going to get there because Kailua no more wind, yeah? I'm glad you can tow Hokule`a if no more wind. But definitely looking forward to helping out as much as I can. Me, coming from Kailua, my family coming from Kailua, you know, our family was one of the founders of Kai `Opua Canoe Club. So being part of the canoe clubs that are—you know, Kai `Opua, Kai `Ehitu, even Keauhou, they all can help out too in whatever capacity. We can all work together to have an awesome homecoming for Hokule`a, and really getting the community excited to hear from your guys and get educated about the worldwide voyage and everything that you do. I'm really looking forward to it. Page 7 PWPRC-11 November 14, 2017 And really mahalo you guys for pushing to come to Hawaii Island because the celebration that started off this voyage was on this island, too. I thought it was really important to help out as much as possible. So please, please, let's get together and really have a great celebration for it to come into Kailua. I'll be there, as much as I can help out. MR. BABAYAN: Thank you. But we really need to thank DOBAR (Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation) for offering Wailoa Harbor and Kailua-Kona Pier. They were just very glad to work with us. So now we've got a safe place where people can get onboard the canoe and visit. That was probably the most crucial part for planning this whole event, is where you're going to put the canoe? MR. KANUHA: Yeah, definitely. So mahalo to DOBAR for that. Just again, thank you for the updates. Just really looking forward to working with everybody to making this happen. MR. BABAYAN: Thank you. CHR. RUGGLES: Is there any other comments or questions? Okay, seeing none, I just want to thank you for your time here. Just, really, our deepest appreciation for keeping the knowledge alive. I think there's nothing more important than that. MR. BABAYAN: Thank you. CHR. RUGGLES: With that, all those in favor of filing Communication 586 please say "aye." Vote on Comm. 586: The motion to close file on Comm. 586 was carried by the Filed 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: Moving on to Communication 587, Mr. Clerk. Page 8 PWPRC-11 November 149 2017 Comm. 587: REQUESTS A PRESENTATION BY THE HAWAII PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE AND PEOPLES ADVOCACY FOR TRAILS HAWAII REGARDING RESPECTIVE MISSIONS, GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES, FOCUSING ON MULTI -MODAL TRANSPORTATION FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AND RELATED PUBLIC HEALTH BENEFITS FOR THE PEOPLE OF HAWAII COUNTY From Council Member Susan L. K. Lee Loy, dated October 23, 2017. (Note: Comms. 587.1 and 587.2, from Council Member Susan L. K. Lee Loy dated November 13, 2017, transmitting PowerPoint presentation material provided by Hawaii Public Health Institute and Peoples Advocacy for Trails Hawaii; were circulated.) Motion to Close File: Ms. Lee Loy moved to close file on Comm. 587. Seconded by Mr. Richards. (Note: At this time, Ms. Sally Ancheta and Ms. Trisha La Chica, from Hawaii Public Health Institute; and Ms. Tina Collier, from Peoples Advocacy for Trails Hawaii, came forward to address the members of the Committee.) CHR. RUGGLES: You can go ahead with your presentation whenever you're ready. MS. ANCHETA: Aloha. I am Sally Ancheta. I am the East Hawaii Coordinator for the Hawaii Public Health Institute. I, along with Tina Collier from PATH (Peoples Advocacy for Trails Hawai` i), and Trish La Chika from the Hawai `i Public Health Institute, our Policy and Advocacy Director, are very happy to be here today. We're going to do a brief presentation of who we are, what our organizations are, and how we've been just working in Hawaii County around multi -modal transportation. So, we're very happy to be here. Thank you, Chair Ruggles and Councilmembers, for having us today. (Note: At this time, the representatives from Hawaii Public Health Institute and PATH proceeded with their PowerPoint presentation. For viewing of the subject presentation, please see the DVD copy of the meeting proceedings on file in the Clerk's Office. Hard copies of the presentations are made a part of the record, see Comms. 587.1 and 587.2.) CHR. RUGGLES: Great. Thank you for your presentation. Are there any questions or comments? Ms. Lee Loy. MS. LEE LOY: Thank you. Sally, Tina, Trish, thank you. I actually wanted to focus on your presentation a little bit, Tina, and it was the Next Steps — Core Best Practices. There was a priority, Create and Adopt an Active Transportation Plan. Page 9 P WPRC-11 November 149 2017 And then you mentioned the idea of taking these bike plans, pedestrian safety plans, and then maybe integrating them or dovetailing them with the Mass Transit plan. Share with me how to make that best zipper together; what you folks are doing and what the County is doing currently with its Mass Transit plan. Because I know we're focused on bus and bus routes and bus ridership, and then what we keep hearing is this Spoke and Hub program. MS. CLOTHIER: Right. MS. LEE LOY: And then I see this. So I almost feel that there would be this natural way to zipper them together so they would be integrated together. MS. CLOTHIER: Councilmember Lee Loy, I agree. The concept of an active transportation plan is huge. But, you're right. There's already all those pieces. We do have Bike Plan Hawaii, and we actually do have a Hawaii County Bike Plan; but it's from 1979, so I think it needs dusting off. Then there is a statewide Transportation Plan. We have a Hawaii County version of that but also needs updating. But our thought is that once we've got that Mass Transit Plan in place, then the next logical step would be, okay, let's bring in that same consultant or another consultant and have them help us update the Bike and Ped Plan that we already have and integrate it into our Transit Plan. Bike Share is a good example of what might be able to integrate in the Transit Plan. Once we have the right station density and we have Bike Share in the different districts and the different population centers, then Bike Share could be a first and last mile for those transit users. So, it's a logical next step. But I think the transportation—the Transit Plan comes first because that will also help to get more cars off the road and then we can apply the Bike and Ped plans. MS. LEE LOY: Thank you. Next part was the Priority 3, Re-establish the Hawaii County Balanced Transportation Coordinator. Is that kind of an individual who would balance Planning Department's request for change of zone, their plans, and what type of infrastructure we have between Public Works? MS. CLOTHIER: Right. So that doesn't show—it have sort of the 30,000 -foot view of transportation issues and opportunities on Hawaii Island. They would work between the Planning Department and the Department of Public Works and make sure that the conversations between those departments happen on a regular basis. We're aware, again, opportunities and challenges. Kauai has a position like this. I know that Kauai has a lot fewer road miles and a lot smaller population. But it really seems to be working well. The position's actually housed in—it belongs to Planning. But the person is housed in the Department of Public Works, so there's a lot of hallway conversations along with official conversations. Page 10 PWPRC-11 November 145 2017 We actually did—Hawaii County did actually have this position about ten years ago, and I may be wrong on my dates, but it was initially funded for the—it was going to be funded for three years. Initially funded, 100 percent by the Department of Health. The second year it was to be funded, 50 percent by the Department of Health, 50 percent by County of Hawaii. Then the third year the County of Hawaii would take over the full funding for the position. But that position actually went away after the first year. So, it's hard tell in a year how effective it could have been. But I think now that where we have this mindset of multi -modal, of transportation plans, it might be time to reassess whether that could be a position we could add. MS. LEE LOY: Thank you. Thank you for that because that's that reassessing piece that I know this body really gets interested in. I'm just thinking out loud. The Planning Department, in their Planning Commission, they have ex officio bodies from the other agencies, and maybe we could utilize that capacity holder for them because they're already part of that board or commission. Another conversation we had as a body, is with the Mass Transit fund. I think we have to create that MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization) framework. So maybe there might be an ex officio placeholder for Planning Department with Mass Transit. This is me just thinking out loud on how to help move some of these next steps forward. But of course, I think the real big question is the money. MS. CLOTHIER: Yeah. MS. LEE LOY: I want to hear more about this TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) funding because I work very closely with people over in the Kauai Planning Department and was thrilled and jealous at the exact same time for the amount of money that they got. They spent many years advocating for it, attended a number HCPO (Hawai`i Congress of Planning Officials) conferences as a team, talking about this grant. How do we get better at looking at this funding because looks like we missed it and looks like we missed and left a lot of money on the table? MS. CLOTHIER: I think we have, and I think we can change that. Couple of things. One important piece of going after any funding is data, and being able to collect data on the different modes of transportation is essential because that is what informs the grant proposal and that's what, frankly, influences the people who approve the grants. In the TIGER Fund, and it's not just a matter of writing the grant, it's also a matter of talking to our Department of Transportation to find out what their Page 11 PWPRC-11 November 145 2017 priorities are and advocating with them, and then, also, advocating at the congressional level. Because they're going to ask our Department of Transportation what their priorities are, so we want to make sure that our voice is heard at all the different levels. We can build a case for the grant application and what it is we're asking for. So, data is important. Frankly, I think, and this is just my opinion, but if we had an office of grant writers in the County, people very skilled at writing for these Federal grants, managing and overseeing them, managing them because it's not—again, the writing the grant, the getting the grant is one thing, but it's managing the grant that is equally important. I'm not sure if it would make more sense to have a grant writer in each of the departments or to have those grant writers in one department but with those kind of specialized skills, going after different funds. So, I'm talking more positions, right? I know that takes money. The fact is that there are grants out there available. And if we can work together, all the departments working together, then I believe we can be as successful as Kauai was in getting some of these grant monies. It's just having that vision, having the plan, and then collecting the data and then going forward. MS. LEE LOY: This is going to be my final question. I know throughout different counties and throughout different states, every—similar projects are called different things. So, is this the new definition of Complete Streets, of transportation, we're calling it multi -modal transportation? So, if we package up a grant and somehow make it—fluff it enough that it's fitting into all these different pieces, there's better opportunity. So, this is the new hashtag multi -modal? MS. CLOTHIER: That's a great question. For several years we were saying Complete Streets, Complete Streets. I think the general perception was Complete Streets meant you had to put a bike lane on every road, you had to put a sidewalk on every road. So, there's been a shift in the way we talk about it, and multi -modal infrastructure, multi -modal infrastructure, multi -modal transportation is the, in my universe, it's about the latest buzzword. Are the latest buzzwords. MS. LEE LOY: Thank you. I yield at this time. But please stick around because we have one more thing that we'll be talking about. MS. CLOTHIER: Okay, thank you. CHR. RUGGLES: Ms. Poindexter. MS. POINDEXTER: Thank you so much for all that you do, all three of you. Anyway, when we talk about Safe Routes to School in the past—Tina, I think you came out with us in Hamakua. So, when we talk about rural communities and Page 12 PWPRC-11 November 14, 2017 Safe Routes to School, unlike Oahu, you have communities walk to school, right? The problem that we had in our local communities, especially plantation communities, is the school is normally either up on the hill or something and communities are below. Parents maybe drive them up the hill, drop them off in town, and then the walking goes from there. But part of that grant didn't allow for that. They needed to walk. We talk about grants and great things that can happen. But there are a lot of times there's certain criteria that needs to be looked at again for rural communities, because the people in Honolulu who are making the decisions for this grant had no idea about what our communities were like out in the rural areas, in Hamakua. I was trying to talk to them about it over the phone, but they have no concept of it. I think working toward some of those changes in getting those changes, and getting those people who make the decisions to make sure and come—and yes, I remember when Mayor Carvalho got that grant. How wonderful. I'm thinking I don't think they'd give two almost at the same time in Hawaii because you know how the Feds look at stuffs. So maybe now is the time to go back in because it has been several years to do it. Again, can the County even afford to manage that grant? Because we know even smaller grants, you can write—writing is the easy part of the grant. We all know that. Writing it and making your story, saying your story and why you need it and how desperate we need it, that's the easy part. It's managing it and doing it that is the most expensive piece. Grant writers can come and go. Easy to get them. But it's to manage. Who's going to manage? And then when you have administration changing, people retiring or leaving, it's—so, I don't know. Then that's what we've got to look at, and hopefully administration or our department can start looking at how we can manage those grants or even try to apply for it to manage it. So, I don't think it's not wanting to apply for it. I think it's knowing what it takes to manage it and can we at this point? And we should. We should start looking at that; to plan, to accept grants, and how can we better manage it? I don't know. That would probably come up in the—budget time. Maybe we need positions, but we'll see. But anyway, I just want to say thank you. And thank you for working with Blue Zone because I know how important the Blue Zone's project is, and about them attending our Community Development Action Committees in each community. It is so critical to make sure and keep that connection with the communities through their Community Development Plans. So, all we do here is wonderful. But we need to get to the grassroots and making sure that we hear their voices as well, yeah? So, thank you. Page 13 PWPRC-11 November 14, 2017 MS. CLOTHIER: I just wanted to do a shout -out and the giving the tireless Carol Ignacio—because she's been going to each and every one of the CDPs (Community Development Plans) and hearing those voices. That really helps to inform the Blue Zone Built Environment blueprint. CHR. RUGGLES: Ms. O'Hara, did you have your hand up earlier? MS. O'HARA: No, I didn't have my light on. But is there anyone else that needs to be recognized? Because I do have one little point. I just want to ask the presenters—I mean, the information that you're presenting is so important to how we move forward with developing, especially in our rural areas where we don't have safe streets, we don't have multi -modal elements to our streets; and yet, I'm finding—it's difficult to change the mindset here at the County in terms of what our code says; streets have to be versus what we as a society need. I just want to know if you have any thoughts on how to promote that change? It's not only a change in behavior, it's kind of just a change in the mental way that we address these types of projects, which in the past have been strictly thought of as "engineered projects" and they have to be done this way per the elements of the code. But how do we get our administration to think outside the box? We've already had a good discussion on the need for grant management, and I've been advocating that for a long time. But we also need to learn how to think outside the box with regard to the ideas that you're bringing forth. Do you have any suggestions? MS. CLOTHIER: Thank you for that question. As I mentioned earlier, the Planning Department will actually, beginning the end of this year, be working on a Complete Streets Plan, and that actually is an updated version of road standards. So those new road standards will help to address some of the zoning changes that the County might want to implement. So, we'll moving from a set of road standards that were developed in 1979 to something a little more updated that actually allows for sidewalks, for shared -use pass, for bike lanes, and such. So, we're pretty excited about the fact that the Planning Department will be beginning network. They have to finish some of the General Plan work first and then they'll be re-engaging SSFM to have them help with the development of that Complete Streets Plans. They looked at Honolulu's Complete Streets Plan, Kaua`i's Complete Streets Plan, and they are really trying to determine now what elements of those plans they might consider adopting but also keeping in mind the uniqueness of Hawaii Island in our rural areas. So, I hope that answered the question. But I'm really excited that is in the not too distant future. MS. ANCHETA: And, Council Member O'Hara, I'd to also like share that what's been nice is we've been able to bring consultants from the mainland to have conversations with the Department of Public Works and bring new design Page 14 PWPRC-11 November 14, 2017 guideline to our leaders in these different areas, Planning Department, and having those one-on-one conversations, leaving those tools behind. So, as we move forward, as this kind of antiquated standards that we've had, that there are many documented new engineering standards that they can use and adopt either into the General Plan, the Complete Streets Plan. Those conversations have been going on. MS. LA CHICA: And finally, speaking to getting the community buy -in and support with Get Fit Hawaii, it was an 18 -month process for them to get the TIGER grant successfully. They wouldn't have done it without the community involvement. You can see they really bring them out. And through the Downtown Lihue, like they do block parties. It's really a lot of one-on-one. Even door-to-door, like engagement with the residents. Letting them know—do your kids own a bike, do you own a stroller, how would it feel if you were able to utilize the streets outside more? And knowing that any improvement to their neighborhood will increase property value and will help bring in and help boost the local economy. So, just having those conversations are critical before we go into planning mode. Just utilizing the community more. CHR. RUGGLES: Ms. O'Hara. MS. O'HARA: Thank you for pushing this forward and making those connections within the community so that we can get the will to make this happen here because it's very much needed, especially in my district out in Puna, where roads are in rough shape. So, thank you so much for all the work you're doing and pushing it just further up the hill. Really appreciate it. Thank you. CHR. RUGGLES: Mr. Chung. MR. CHUNG: Thank you. And thank you, all, for being here and providing us information on the various resources that we have available to us. And thank you to Ms. Lee Loy for requesting this presentation. I could ask a lot of questions today. I'm not going to do that; I'm going to reserve that for some time later. We can talk at our leisure. Just talking about the Downtown Hilo multi -modal study, we can talk about it right now. About three hours, obviously, yeah? The Bayfront Trails, another hour. Even grant writing, quite frankly, and I've got some strong opinions about that stuff too. But right now, all I want to know, and all it's going to take is a yes or no answer, and maybe just a little bit more after. With regard to Safe Routes to Schools, do we have any kind of assessment for each of the individual schools on the island so we have an idea of what we could or could not do? Is there something like that out there? Page 15 PWPRC-11 November 145 2017 MS. CLOTHIER: We have an assessment in terms of signage and crosswalks. MR. CHUNG: For each of the schools? MS. CLOTHIER: For each of the schools. And we have a list of which schools are—which of the equipment are going to be paid for by the State and then by the County. Some of the roads are State roads and some are—County roads are in front of the school. In terms of the infrastructure, the sidewalk needs, and the outlying infrastructure around the school, we're in the process of putting that plan together. It has to be done school -by -school. MR. CHUNG: Yeah. MS. CLOTHIER: Because it also involves the community. The school community and the surrounding community and getting their input, too. It's a long-term project, but it's in the works. MR. CHUNG: Yeah, okay. I can talk to you guys about that. But thank you so much for coming. I'll talk to you guys little later. Thank you. CHR. RUGGLES: Ms. Eoff. MS. EOFF: Thank you. Mahalo to all three of you. You started off, I think, Tina, by you stating what an awesome day it was to be able to appreciate all the good things that are going on in our community and the good people that have come forward to help further those initiatives. I want to say that I think I've known you for at least 30 years, and PATH has really come a long way. I see with our entire island being designated the Blue Zone that all of these initiatives are kind of gaining momentum now. The things you've put in place and the seeds you planted, now we're starting to really see it around the island. So, thank you for sharing all of that. And then just quickly, I wanted to mention I think you were involved before with the Open Space Ad Hoc Committee of the Kona CDP. I don't know if you're involved in the last emails that have been coming out, but I think tomorrow they're going to present their maps and plans. I wondered if you would be present there. I'm not sure if I will because we have a meeting here tomorrow too. Page 16 PWPRC-11 November 14, 2017 MS. CLOTHIER: I plan on being present. I am still a member. I have to admit that for the month of October I wasn't terribly involved because it's a really usually busy month for PATH, but the sub -committee is doing some really great work. So. I'm excited of their presentation. MS. EOFF: Okay, great. Okay, mahalo. CHR. RUGGLES: Mr. Kanuha. MR. KANUHA: Thank you. And mahalo for being here. I really appreciate your guys' presentation. I know us as Hawaii Island, especially since I've been on the Council, we've been really advocating for a lot of these positions, you know, Healthy Communities, these Safe Routes to Schools, these Complete Streets. I've gone to a lot of these different presentations. Even gone to different states to view how they do a lot of their things with the Complete Streets or Healthy Communities, and really trying to bring that political will to Hawaii County, to say that we can do things differently and it can be better. A lot of this stuff does have to do with really educating not only ourselves or the administration but the entire public that there is a better way to do a lot of these things. It can be a safer way. We can all work together to make it happen. So, that education piece is really, really important. What else? When you start implementing these programs, it does cost a lot of money. Yeah, we can talk for three hours about the grant funding that we're not really pushing to get. That really could help us out. I mean, it can't be all of our Hawaii Island taxpayer's money paying for a lot of these programs. We've got to really stretch ourselves to reach for these funds that are available all over the place. It frustrates me that everybody else is getting these monies. We didn't even submit an application, so that's always been a frustration. You've heard it from a lot of the Council Members, and even yourself had said that as well in the presentations. You can see the political will here that we do really care about what you guys are doing and we do really care about what you guys are doing. We want to work with you guys. It's just that we all have to be on the same page, legislatively, administratively. All of you folks that are doing on the ground really promoting these types of initiatives, that's really how it's going to work all together. So, I encourage the Mayor and the administration to work with us, to work with you guys. I know that they have been. But that's really how it's going to work and to move forward. Page 17 P WPRC-11 November 14, 2017 Again, we could talk for hours about a lot of this stuff. But really, thank you for the presentation, and looking forward to working with you guys on all different aspects of our healthy communities. And with PATH, of course, with the Safe Routes to Schools, Complete Streets. All the above. All those types of things are really important. Especially in, I'm not going to speak for the rest of the Council, but in my district, the issues that we've been trying to push here in Kona. So again, thank you guys for being here. CHR. RUGGLES: Ms. David. MS. DAVID: Thank you, Chair. And aloha, Tina, Trish, and Sally. The information that you guys provided today is—thank you, Ms. Lee Loy, for presenting. The combination of the information that you folks present is very informative. I know Tina. Tina, I want to thank you for all your work you've done in my district for the schools. Your commitment is just unreal. So, if I can do anything in our respective districts to help your efforts, please, reach out. I just wanted to say thank you for all the work and all of your commitment to make this place a better place to live. Thank you. MS. ANCHETA: If I could just share? Also, to all the Councilmembers, if there is needs that you have your district or you want to bring forward for Hawaii County that we could be part of to help that process, I'm also the President of the Hawaii Island Rural Health Association. Sometimes we know—I come from Puna, from Pahoa, and we know that there's needs for either our hometowns or places that we might not live, that we know that the infrastructure is lacking. So, if there's something on your radar screen, please let us know as well because that's how we want to be part of the process to move things forward. Thank you. CHR. RUGGLES: Mr. Richards. MR. RICHARDS: Thank you, Chair. I think the sign of a successful presentation is you increased the understanding. But also, you created a lot more questions in my mind; so I do want to sit down and talk story with you guys coming forward. I do have to agree with you that Carol Ignacio makes the Eveready bunny tired. But I would like—again, I'm not going to reiterate, I echo what people have said up here, I really appreciate Councilwoman Lee Loy bringing this forward. I think with those questions we're going to create some opportunities, so I look forward to working with you and talking story with you in the very near future. I yield. CHR. RUGGLES: Mr. Kanuha. Page 18 PWPRC-11 November 14, 2017 MR. KANUHA: Thank you. And I also forgot to mention that a lot of these programs, you've really got to know all the data, yeah? Really got to understand what's happening in the community. It's very data -driven on how you get these grants and how you get a lot of these funding. We can't really go out in la -la land saying we want all this, but show me why we need it. That is really important. I know you've given a lot of statistics, especially on our health initiatives. You know, why we're doing what we're doing in the state, and on Hawaii Island, especially. And even Complete Streets, a lot of these initiatives, we're going to talk about that next, about why we need to do a lot of these things and why it's really necessary in moving forward. So, I just wanted to relay that as well. CHR. RUGGLES: Anyone else? Ms. Lee Loy. MS. LEE LOY: And thank you, Sally. You have access to tremendous amounts of information. This gang knows where I stand, good information helps us make good decisions, but that helps us make good policies. So, I really appreciate you sharing the opportunity that we could reach out to you folks, to help collect that data, which Mr. Kanuha is absolutely correct about. There's people who are driven by passion but other people who are just driven data and numbers. So somehow, we have to get those two things to coincide at that right time, before the expiration of the grant so that we can move something forward. But, thank you. Thank you, Sally. MS. LA CHICA: Can I just share? This is so refreshing to hearing from all of you. Because I work at the State Legislature and when I do testify and hear these things, when I advocate for Safe Routes to School or other things, like maybe I can just come work here. But it's very different. It's very refreshing to hear and get a sense of, like I feel appreciated hearing all those comments from you, so thank you. CHR. RUGGLES: Thank you. I really appreciate the context that you started the presentation with, which is kind of a health crisis that we're facing and how the lack of walkable streets or bikeable streets contributes to that. I didn't catch the full statistics. If you don't mind, clarifying for me what percentage of native Hawaiians' population is obese? MS. LA CHICA: It's 40.8 percent. CHR. RUGGLES: 40.8. MS. LA CHICA: And then for the State of Hawaii, only I I percent do active transportation, which includes biking, walking, and taking the bus to commuting. Page 19 PWPRC-11 Vote on Comm. 587: Filed Recess: Reconvene: ORDER OF RESOLUTIONS: November 14, 2017 CHR. RUGGLES: And what is the 70 percent? MS. LA CHICA: That's the percentage of middle schoolers who don't meet physical activity recommendations. Because in 2009, the requirement of PE (Physical Education) was taken out of middle school, so it's not offered. CHR. RUGGLES: Okay, thank you for that. Overall, I think your presentation was very well-rounded and informative. I'm excited to see what the Planning Department comes up with so we can start moving forward on making some of our streets—making all of our streets multi -modal. I also appreciate when you brought up about the grant, the grant writer. It's pretty disappointing that there are grant opportunities out there that we are missing. In the meanwhile, we just raised taxes this year. We need to be looking at all of the resources we have to do this. Anyway, I just really appreciate you coming and I appreciate the presentation. Thank you, Ms. Lee Loy. All those in favor of filing Communication 587 please say "aye." The motion to close file on Comm. 587 was 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: Communication is filed. At 11:53, the Chair called for a recess. The meeting reconvened at 11:58 a.m. CHR. RUGGLES: Okay, I'm going to call this meeting back to order. Resolution 397-17, Mr. Clerk. The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, Order of Resolutions. Page 20 PWPRC-11 November 14, 2017 Res. 397-17: AUTHORIZES THE ACCEPTANCE OF A DONATION OF TWO "MOBILE MULTI" COUNTING DEVICES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS Donated by the Hawaii Public Health Institute with a value of $8,000 each. The department would initially install one device in East Hawaii and one device in West Hawaii to count pedestrians and bicyclists, and differentiate between the two, for statistical analyses of path and trail use patterns. Reference: Comm. 588 Intr. by: Mr. Kanuha and Ms. Lee Loy Motion to Approve: Ms. Lee Loy moved to recommend adoption of Res. 397-17. Seconded by Ms. David. CHR. RUGGLES: Councilmember Lee Loy. MS. LEE LOY: Thank you, Chair. This donation is incredible timing. We just had a wonderful presentation by PATH and Hawaii Public Health Institute. What they're donating to us via this resolution is a counter. This is where we grab the data, and we will be able to build information around the data collected. So what Hawaii Public Health Institute is providing to the County, is what they call Mobile MULTI counting devices. The plan is to provide them to the Department of Public Works. One will be in Hilo, which we hope to use at the Bayfront Parks and Trailways Program; and another one here in Kona, which we hope to be at the Queens Lei Trail. This couldn't have been more perfect timing from the presentation to this donation. So, I'm going to be urging the rest of my colleagues to support this resolution. This really does a lot for not only Hilo but Kona. So, Mr. Kanuha? CHR. RUGGLES: Go ahead. MR. KANUHA: Yeah, absolutely. And this is something that we talked about earlier, of getting that data and really driving home. What is going on, on Hawaii Island, especially in these two areas? I know we can expand this to look at other places, like Alii Drive or other areas, where we need that data to help informing—or help with the policymaking or money opportunities. So, this really will help to know what's going on. Especially for, like Queens Lei, what Karen Eoff is doing, promoting, or in her district promoting how to further the Queens Lei and getting the monies. But we need to know exactly who's using it, how many people, why, you know, all the above, so that will really help in promoting of this particular Queens Lei Trail. Hopefully, we can get this to other areas, where we can get that data. So, I ask for Page 21 PWPRC-11 November 14, 2017 your support. Again, mahalo to the Hawaii Public Health Institute for this donation. CHR. RUGGLES: Ms. David. MS. DAVID: Thank you, Chair. And ditto on the mahalo Hawaii Public Health Institute. Timing is everything in this day and age. So, thank you very much. I think this will give us the information that we were all talking about today. Also, from a non -electronic view, ever since the Queens Lei section from here to Hina Lani went in, I've been counting a lot of people, just utilizing this whole route. I'll be curious to see just how many people, I mean, not only bikes and pedestrians but families with strollers. It's been an increase, and it's a very positive showing, I believe so. Thank you so much again. Mahalo. CHR. RUGGLES: Mr. Richards. MR. RICHARDS: Thank you, Chair. I will support provided that east and west will allow north and south to borrow the instruments periodically. Thank you. CHR. RUGGLES: Ms. Eoff. MS. EOFF: Thank you. I just wondered what it looks like or how it works a little bit. (Note: At this time, Ms. Sally Ancheta came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MS. EOFF: Okay, thank you. Just restate your name and then go ahead. MS. ANCHETA: Hi. I'm Sally Ancheta, from the Hawaii Public Health Institute, the East Hawaii Coordinator. Unfortunately, I'm not trained in this device yet. But the software and the devices will bring members of the Department of Public Works, probably the Traffic Division, to Honolulu as well as other engineers from the State Hawaii. There are different classes for training on how to use it. But I believe it's a counter. It will have a data strip and then you'll use and it'll count the use of the different trails and the different areas. It could even be put in, what we call a go trail. Like if we're looking at Safe Routes to Schools, that is designing a walking path. Mark Fenton came here and talked to us many times to say, "Don't make a path where people don't walk." So, we could put it anywhere. There's even pre-existing path that people use. Just to get more data to see, okay, and then to justify why we would need funding create a more permanent -built environment in that area. I'm sorry I can't give you more information. I haven't used it yet. Page 22 PWPRC-11 November 14, 2017 MS. EOFF: Let us know when we can—Tina, did you have some more? (Note: At this time, Ms. Tina Clothier came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MS. CLOTHIER: Hi. My name is Tina Clothier. I'm the Executive Director of PATH, Peoples Advocacy for Trails Hawaii. I am very excited about HI -5's gift to the County. So, the counter is typically affixed to a pole, some type of a pole. Just with semi-permanent fixes, like zip ties. When the road folks do traffic counts on the road, they put strips out on the road or little loops on the road. The same thing applies to this device. So, it's a device that goes on a pole and then it's connected to these strips that goes across the pathway. In terms of affordability, I think the plan is, to maybe every six months or so, to move it to a different locale, so certainly north and south. But we want to get a full picture of the bike and pedestrian traffic flow around the island. We'll start off on the pathways because we know people go there. So as Councilman Kanuha said, we want to count. Also, Councilwoman David said we want to count the number of people using those facilities so that we can have data to encourage the expansion of those. So, thank you. MS. EOFF: Okay, thank you very much. That helps. CHR. RUGGLES: Anyone else? Okay seeing and hearing none, all those in favor of Resolution 397-17, accepting the donation of Mobile MULTI counting devices please say "aye." Vote on Res. 397-17: The motion to recommend adoption of Res. 397-17 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. Page 23 PWPRC-11 BILLS FOR ORDINANCES: ADJOURN- MENT: Approved: November 14, 2017 The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, Bills for Ordinances. (There were none.) CHR. RUGGLES : May I have motion to adjourn? There being no further business, at 12:08 p.m., Mr. Richards moved to adjourn 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 now adjourned. 14a-1 Ms. Je ' fer Ruggles, Chair Public orks and Parks and Recreation Committee JR/na �2- jq- 17 (Date) Page 24