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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN PWPRC 2018/07/24 2016-2018Committee on Public Works and Parks and Recreation 21st Session West Hawaii Civic Center 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Building A Kailua-Kona, Hawaii July 24, 2018 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Public Works and Parks and ORDER: Recreation was called to order at 10:34 a.m., in the Council Chambers, Kailua-Kona, by Ms. Jennifer Ruggles, Chair. R(1T T CAT T Present: Ms. Jennifer Ruggles, Chair Ms. Karen Eoff, Member Mr. Dru Mamo Kanuha, Member Ms. Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Member Ms. Eileen O'Hara, Member Member (via videoconference from Hilo) Ms. Valerie T. Poindexter, Member Absent: Ms. Maile Medeiros David, Vice Chair Mr. Aaron Chung, Member Mr. Herbert M. "Tim" Richards, III, Member STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS: COMMUNI- C A TTnNC ORDER OF RESOLUTIONS The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, Statements from the Public on Agenda Items. (There were none.) The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, Communications. (There were none.) The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, Order of Resolutions. (There were none.) PWPRC-21 July 24, 2018 BILLS FOR The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, ORDINANCES: Bills for Ordinances. Bill 162: DESIGNATES TAX MAP KEY: 2-1-003:013 AS "HAPPINESS GARDENS" AND AMENDS CHAPTER 15, ARTICLE 8, SECTION 15-68.1 OF THE HAWAII COUNTY CODE 1983 (2016 EDITION, AS AMENDED), RELATING TO THE PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITY SCHEDULE Officially names Happiness Gardens and adds it to the Parks and Recreational Facility Schedule. This park located at the mouth of the Wailoa River where it empties into Hilo Bay was conceived and constructed by Mr. Kazuo Nakamura through donations by the local community, and dedicated on May 11, 1979. Reference: Comm. 979 Intr. by: Ms. Lee Loy Motion to Approve: Ms. Lee Loy moved to recommend passage of Bill 162 on first reading. Seconded by Ms. Poindexter. CHR. RUGGLES: Go ahead, Ms. Lee Loy. MS. LEE LOY: Thank you, Chair. With the rest of my colleagues, we've been marching through the Department of Parks and Recreation and getting a number of these parks into our Code and/or adding in prohibition of alcohol. This is just one more park that needed to get on the list. But I do have Community Policing Officer, Matthew Lewis, in the Hilo Chambers, and he's done a phenomenal job at policing those beach parks in those areas in Hilo. So I just wanted Officer Lewis to take a minute to share with my colleagues how this actually helps enhance the work for the community policing officers and enhance that area. Officer Lewis? (Note: At this time, Police Officer Matthew Lewis came forward to address the members of the Committee.) CHR. RUGGLES: Good morning, Ifficer. Please state your name for the record. MR. LEWIS: Good morning. I'm Officer Matthew Lewis of the Hawaii County Police Department, Community Policing Section. Good morning, Madam Chair and Council. First, before I get into Happiness Gardens, I'd just like to say something. I'd like to take a moment and thank the Big Island community for all their support, understanding, and prayers everybody has shown the Police Department, over the past week, in regard to the passing of Officer Bronson Kaliloa and the other events that have transpired across the island. It's been a rough week for everyone Page 2 PWPRC-21 July 24, 2018 in our Big Island community and the State of Hawaii as a whole. So thank you for all your prayers and support. In regard to Happiness Garden, like Council Member Lee Loy said, we've been through this with a few other parks. Just in conjunction with the Prosecutor's office and Parks and Recreation, I'm getting these parks and the County Code updated. It helps us as a Police Department to do our job and enforce what needs to be done at the park in regard towhether it's drinking, no alcohol prohibitions or smoking in the parks, or park hours. Without the parks in the Code, we're unable to go in and cite for any of these matters. Just reorganize a park's list. You know, Happiness Gardens is on Banyan Drive, where a lot of our tourism is. Being able to go in and do our job, you know, this allows us that tool under our toolbelt to complete it. There are several other parks. Besides the beach parks, they need to be added, but we can—well, at this—one at a time as it needs to be done, and eventually I believe we'll get there. It just helps our community on the Big Island all together, and get a safer place for everybody. Are there any questions for me? CHR. RUGGLES: Are there any questions? Do you yield, Ms. Lee Loy? MS. LEE LOY: Oh, yeah. Thank you, Chair. Before I yield, you know, Officer Lewis hit the nail on the head. This is about giving them the tools in their toolbelt to do the enforcement that need to do, to create a safer community for all of us. So with that, I yield. CHR. RUGGLES: Go ahead, Mr. Kanuha. MR. KANUHA: Thank you. I support this, as well. Just a question. So this is already county -owned parcel? MR. LEWIS: Correct, it's a county -owned parcel. It's just not in the County Code listed under Parks and Recreation. So in regard to park hours and the other park violations, we're unable to enforce that. MR. KANUHA: Okay, thank you. I yield. CHR. RUGGLES: Ms. O'Hara, did you want to say anything? MS. O'HARA: No, I didn't have my light on. No. Thank you. CHR. RUGGLES: Okay. Anyone else? Okay, big mahalo to Ms. Lee Loy for bringing this forward and Officer Lewis for showing up and supporting. All those in favor please say "aye." Page 3 PWPRC-21 Vote on Bill 162: (Approved) The motion to recommend passage of Bill 162 on first reading was carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Eoff, Kanuha, Lee Loy, O'Hara, Poindexter, and Chair Ruggles — 6. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Chung, David, and Richards — 3. Excused: None. CHR. RUGGLES: May I have a motion to adjourn? July 24, 2018 ADJOURN- There being no further business, at 10:42 a.m., Mr. Kanuha moved to adjourn MENT: the meeting. Seconded by Ms. Poindexter and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Eoff, Kanuha Lee Loy, O'Hara, Poindexter, and Chair Ruggles — 6. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Chung, David, and Richards — 3. Excused: None. CHR. RUGGLES: We are adjourned. Thank you. Approved: 4'.1 Ms. Je'f uggles, Chair Public rks and Parks and Recreation Committee JR/na (Date) Page 4