HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN FC 2018/08/07 2016-2018Committee on Finance
40th Session
Hawaii County Building
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii
August 7, 2018
CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Finance was called to order at
ORDER: 9:15 a.m., in the Council Chambers, Hilo, by Ms. Maile Medeiros David, Chair.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Ms.
Maile Medeiros David, Chair
Ms.
Karen Eoff, Vice Chair
Mr.
Aaron S. Y. Chung, 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
Ms.
Jennifer Ruggles, 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:
Scott Mahoney: Res. 650-18 (Comm. 1008), in support.
Olivia S. Y. Ling: Res. 650-18 (Comm. 1008), in support.
Sandra Demoruelle: Res. 650-18 (Comm. 1008), in support.
Tommy Stark: Comm. 1012, comment.
Andy Andrews: Comm. 1012, comment.
Eliot Rosen: Comm. 1012, comment.
Jon Olson: Comm. 1012, comment.
Gloria Turkovsky: Comm. 1012, comment.
Jay Turkovsky : Comm. 1012, comment.
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August 7, 2018
Libby Pulelehua Oshiyama:
Comm. 1012, comment.
D. Michael Steele:
Comm. 1012, comment.
Pete Wilson:
Comm. 1012, comment.
Tiffany Edwards Hunt:
Comm. 1012, in support.
Jeffrey Foster:
Comm. 1012, in support.
Bo Breda:
Comm. 1012, comment.
Moana Ching:
Res. 650-18 (Comm. 1008), in support.
(representing the Ala Kahakai
Trail Association)
Deborah L. Chang:
Res. 650-18 (Comm. 1008), in support.
(representing the Ala Kahakai
Trail Association)
Thomas Yeh:
Res. 650-18 (Comm. 1008), in support.
(representing Ka`u Mahi, LLC)
Ray Broggini:
Res. 650-18 (Comm. 1008), in support.
(representing the Ala Kahakai
Trail Association)
Michelle Galimba:
Res. 650-18 (Comm. 1008), in support.
Sara Steiner:
Comm. 1012, in support.
Matthew Purvis:
Comm. 1012, comment.
(representing Mainstreet
Pahoa Association)
Jean Graham:
Comm. 1012, comment.
Russell Ruderman:
Comm. 1012, comment.
Gail Buck:
Comm. 1012, comment.
Michael Correll:
Comm. 1012, comment.
Nohealani Ka`awa:
Res. 650-18 (Comm. 1008), in support.
(representing Ka`u `Ohana Ka`awa,
and the Hawaii Wildlife Fund)
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Recess:
R ernnvene
August 7, 2018
Shelley Mahi-hanai: Comm. 1012;
(representing the Native Tenant Res. 650-18 (Comm. 1008);
Protection Council) Bill 160 (Comm. 959);
Bill 167 (Comm. 996); and
Bill 168 (Comm. 997), in support.
Kalamanamana Harman: Res. 650-18 (Comm. 1008), in support.
(representing Mary Kawena Pukui)
Laura Kaakua: Res. 650-18 (Comm. 1008), in support.
(representing The Trust for
Public Land)
At 11:06 a.m., the Chair called for a recess.
The meeting reconvened at 11:48 a.m.
Keoni Fox: Res. 650-18 (Comm. 1008), in support.
(representing the Ala Kahakai
Trail Association/Keanu `Ohana)
Marcia May:
Andrea Rosanoff:
Steve Sparks:
John R. Replogle:
(representing Ka `Ohana
O Honuapo)
Sandra Baker:
Rick Warshauer:
Res. 650-18 (Comm. 1008), in support.
Comm. 1012, comment.
Comm. 1012, comment.
Res. 650-18 (Comm. 1008), in support.
Comm. 1012, comment.
Res. 650-18 (Comm. 1008), in support.
CHR. DAVID: The Finance items, the communications and the bills regarding
Finance Department, I am going to keep at the end of the agenda. I would like to
take Communications 1010, 1012, Resolution 650 during our lunch. I don't believe
we will have a lunch today, but we will proceed. So until the Mayor gets here,
could I please call up Mr. Doug Adams?
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COMMUNI- The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business,
CATIONS: Communications.
Change Order As directed by the Chair and with no objection from the Council Members,
of Business: the following items were taken out of order:
CHR. DAVID: Mr. Clerk, can you please read Communication 1010?
Comm. 1010: REQUESTS A PRESENTATION BY THE HAWAII COUNTY CHARTER
COMMISSION REGARDING THE 2018-2020 CHARTER COMMISSION'S
PLANS, OBJECTIVES, AND TIMELINE
From Hawaii County Charter Commission Chair Douglass Shipman Adams,
dated July 24, 2018.
Motion to Close File: Mr. Richards moved to close file on Comm. 1010.
Seconded by Ms. Poindexter.
(Note: At this time, Charter Commission Chair Douglass Shipman Adams
came forward to address the members of the Committee.)
CHR. DAVID: Aloha. Mahalo. Mr. Adams, proceed. Thank you very much for
your patience this morning.
MR. ADAMS: Madam Chair and members of the CouncilI appreciate all that
you do, as well. Thank you for allowing me to come, speak to you today on behalf
the Charter Commission. This will be one of the few times. As a matter of fact,
the next time may be hopefully a year from now.
The idea is to just give you an idea what our plans, objectives, and timelines of the
Commission are. We've had a single—when you need me, by the way, to cut off
because the Mayor shows up, you'll let me know, right, because I'll just be quiet at
that point? Would you like me to
CHR. DAVID: Yes, I'm sorry. That was quick, thank you very much. Aloha,
Mayor. You can come up to the table, and please don't rush.
(Note: At this time, Mayor Harry Kim came forward to address the
members of the Committee.)
MAYOR KIM: Good, I can catch my breath a little bit.
CHR. DAVID: Yes, please.
MAYOR KIM: All I was told was, "They're waiting for you."
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CHR. DAVID: Well, I tried to give a five-minute leeway for you, but I'm sorry.
Go ahead, whenever you're ready. Take a breath.
MAYOR KIM: The past couple of days have been really emotionally up and
down. I told the whole EOC (Emergency Operations Center) staff that we have to
be aware of what's happening to us emotionally so we can go forward the right
way. It was most of, though, I've been working so many hours and so long on
high-tension things. On the record, I told more thanI told Human Resources and
back, I have a right to kill myself but I don't have the right to kill staff members
because of what I was demanding of them, of working full-time out there, seven
days a week, and when they can find time to come to this place and do their
regular job.
All I can say to this Council and the people of this island is I'm sure we made—we
did some things that we could have done better, absolutely. Always that is the
case. But what we're trying to do here, I think, with only one mission, is trying to
do what is best for the people of this island.
I'll give you an example. Just yesterday, I was trying to clear that office of
emergency response people, and visual aids and all of those things, to get ready for
yesterday afternoon. They called a rush meeting with emergency response for
Hurricane Hector, which continued through the afternoon and night time. First
briefing this morning with staff and a full briefing with the responders now, at
7:00 in the morning, with all different kinds of visualize what their job is going to
be. All of it with only one mission, which I'm trying to tell you that represent the
people of this island, that we're just trying to do the best we can with what we
have, what we know, and meet all the responsibilities. One of them was that we
were told that we have to get things by certain date to present to the legislature in
regard to a plan on what we want to do, as far as long-term planning, and they gave
us a deadline on that.
Even that, this morning, I am told of the dissatisfaction of my work because I did
not involve certain people. As I told people that made that observation, that the
mistake was mine. I was just trying to meet a deadline. I had to give it to the
Governor and present it to the Council. Because the criticism is that I did not
afford the opportunities for input. I don't think that was a mistake, but what we're
trying to do is develop a conceptual plan of what we want to do, and it is that
conceptual plan that you present for people to make input. That is what we're
trying to make the legislature understand, because God knows I need their help as
well as the Governor's help. I'm not going to do anything stupid to offend them,
to risk jeopardizing any possibility.
But I do want to say something to this Council because you represent the people,
of what we're trying to do in regard to the long-term plan. I think if you look any
in the 50 states of the United States of America, you will not find a county
government level that is trying to do this type of planning and care of the people
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that we represent, because it is hard work, it is complicated work, and it is work on
top of your work. Even back to the tsunami of 1960, where it is the only
resemblance of what we're trying to do, and it is much more complex than that. It
was the State government that did that, took the lead, not the County government.
I think if you look at a lot of the things that we are doing, it is almost all of County
government lead to do it. I think, you know, we would be blessed if someone else
says, "No, that's our job, we'll do it; would you just participate with us?" Because
time is of the essence, we're doing it.
But to you, members of the Council, the community of this island, the legislators,
and the Federal government, it's a conceptual plan. Rushed, so we can meet
deadlines; so we can ask for a special session; so we don't jeopardize this one
possibility of a good chance of doing something, a long-term development for this
island, and for thousands of people who got caught in this situation.
I talked to someone in California last week, and I said, "I understand the Governor
declared a state of emergency for your state because of your horrendous fires," and
he said, "Yeah." And I said, "You know, I'm not making fun of anything, but
that's California, and the latest I read was 500 homes have destroyed." At that
time, we lost 700 homes, in a small place in lower Puna.
We are trying to do everything proactive. I listened to some of the testimony this
morning, as you had to sit there and listen to all of it. We will follow-up on those
things that are valid, and I assure you I'll pick on one thing. And I thought, okay,
the mistake is ours because we thought we did a fair job of communication, but
obviously we did not. And I learned that being a teacher, when students make
mistakes, you better look at yourself because you didn't teach them well enough.
More than one of your testifiers said that we cut off the electricity. There was
enough information by HELCO (Hawai`i Electric Light Company) at the careful
consideration of trying to prolong the electricity as long as they could without
jeopardizing the safety of others because the lines were all being affected. The
County government has no authority, except we deem it an emergency that you
had to cut it off. Like, if a house is on fire, the Fire Department requests that the
power be shut off. We didn't shut off the power. Hawaiian Electric Light
Company did everything they could to prolong that the power was not shut off, and
they notified us that they were going to do it. I don't blame the residents for being
mad, and think why did we have to cut off the power? But those are the things that
we have to get better in communication, and we will always try to get better on
that.
In regard to the criticism of what we're trying to do here on the long-term plan, it
is a conceptual plan; that I imposed a deadline on poor staff members to get it
done. So we could make a copy, present it to the governor this past week. I was
told that it is so important to jump on it now, and get this special session now,
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because if we allow this opportunity to pass, we will not get it again. Yes, I took
also that opportunity to say, can I input in a special session, re-evaluation of the
GET (General Excise Tax) in regard to the use of the GET, to expend it, for the
Council to review it again; and also, if that is done, "Will you consider taking, in
regard to allowing the County government to be more flexible, and how that
money is to be spent?" I hope that is done because I really believe that is good for
this island.
Going back to the plan, it's conceptual. The motive is to meet a deadline. The
motive is to get the State Legislature to approve a special session. The motive is to
present something that they can look at, criticize that, work at or whatever, on what
our needs are. At the same time, obviously prior to that, we present it to the
County Council, this is what we are shooting for, and for you and the public to
make an opportunity for input also. I'll answer any questions that you have.
CHR. DAVID: Mahalo, Mayor, for coming down and presenting that. Council
Members, you have any? Mr. Chung, go ahead.
MR. CHUNG: I just have one question. But, you know, just procedurally, I'm
just wondering, was Mayor Kim addressing Communication 1010 or
Communication 1017, which is in the Governmental Relations? I wasn't—
CHR. DAVID: I believe he wasI think he was—Comm. 1012, it was the
discussions from the testifiers that we had today.
MR. CHUNG: Okay, because he talked about a plan and legislature and, you
know, things. But, you know, being as it is, yeah.
CHR. DAVID: Right.
MR. CHUNG: You know, Mayor, earlier, Senator Ruderman testified, and it was
his suggestion that the County asked for more than he anticipates we're going to be
asking for. I don't want to mischaracterize what he said, and certainly I don't want
to pit the County administration versus Senator Ruderman and others. I think it
would not be a mis characterization to say that he was somewhat critical of the
administration's game plan in that regard. I'm not saying he's right or wrong, I
just wanted to know if you had an opportunity to hear those concerns, and if you
did, whether you had any comments.
MAYOR KIM: The answer is yes, as far as talking to him, to express what we're
doing. I think it was clear that he's very involved in it, obviously. This is his
district. In one of the things, from way back, by way back I meant when
it was clear that thousands of acres of land were going to be covered and made
non-productive. It was clear that a plan should be brought up in regard to how
we're going to deal with the needs of the people that range from small business, to
farmers, to orchards, to simple one-person resident kind of thing. Just a general
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plan. He had come up with a suggestion at that time, where he thought he knew
there was land for that, we discussed that. That, yes, that is going to be something
that we're going to have to seek; but before that, a plan must be developed as far as
what we want. The end result of the land for that is just going to be one of the
elements; but the land he identified was a very good piece of property, belonging
to the State government of Hawaii.
In regard todissatisfaction with us, I think is admirable because he was
impatient. Thought that we should move faster, without using that word, in regard
to what we want, how we're going to do it, et cetera.
I wish we had that kind of professional staff that could work on this everyday and
take a look at the whole problem, and what kind of land—in a whole as aspect, we
need to make, for example, Megumi Kon, that was very instrumental in Kaiko`o,
to get ideas from him. It was his words that said, "Remember, Harry, times were
different then. Our job simpler than what yours is going to be." And this is the
impatience with a lot of people with us, including Senator Ruderman. And I don't
blame him for it because his motive—his reason is, impatient because he wanted
something done to help his people as fast as they could.
MR. CHUNG: You know, interesting that you should mention Meg Kon, who is
the former Managing Director of the County of Hawaii. I know, Harry, that
you've had great admiration for that man, you know, when he was in that position.
You had mentioned how things have changed since the time he was there, and
now. You also mentioned about how, during the 1960s, tsunami, you know, for
the rehabilitation efforts, you know, the State had taken the lead, and now the
County is being asked to do that. What kind of efforts have been made by the
State? I mean, why is that we're taking the lead on this? It seems that they have
the greater resources, and we're going to be asking them for things. Ultimately,
they're going to be making the decisions, right, in terms of financial resource. I'm
wondering, what kinds of efforts have been made at the State level, and what more
can we expect from them?
MAYOR KIM: Thank you for that question, Mr. Chung. I'm just hesitating, but
I'll make sure that I answer it correctly.
MR. CHUNG: And again, I want to reiterate, I'm not trying to pit one side versus
the other.
MAYOR KIM: I know that.
MR. CHUNG: But we need full information, as well.
MAYOR KIM: I definitely know you don't intend to do that. Communication
with the State, the Federal Government, meaning FEMA (Federal Emergency
Management Agency), and obviously our office, was not very initial when we
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knew that this disaster—soon as by what was happening and made by nature, of
the huge amount of lava that was coming out, of the type of earthquakes occurring
et cetera, that it wasn't long before we were all saying, we, meaning especially the
scientists, that this is something that none of us has ever seen, as far as the amount
of land being affected et cetera, et cetera.
As the disaster went on, it was obvious that the amount of people being affected,
whether it be businessmen, farmers, by businessmen, I mean all of those in the
media today, of those that have lost a huge percentage of their business, what kind
of economic development program we can entail. It was then that during this
discussion, it was clear that we're going to have to come up with a very
comprehensive program. And since we were doing the talking, the governor's
office represented, FEMA representative office was there, saying the only way of
any kind of success is that this conceptual program be presented. You know, at
this point, with support. At least at this point, a verbal support of commitment by
everybody, including the governor, including FEMA, and obviously the County
government. Everyone there at that meeting said, "This is something that's got to
be done, you have our commitment; we will support it," and therefore, we took the
lead in doing it.
MR. CHUNG: Okay, thank you.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Chung. Ms. Lee Loy.
MS. LEE LOY: Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Mayor, for being here, and thank
you for listening to a lot of the testimony that was presented, related to
Communication 1012. Those were my exact same takeaways.
You know, the community was frustrated; the information was challenging to get.
And we do, we do live in different times. There was a time where radio reached
everybody, but now people get information from social media, from the radio,
from word of mouth. I really do appreciate you highlighting that communication
is the key. Having said that and listening to you acknowledge that could be done
better, what can the community take away from this point that you would suggest
to make that better for future events? Yeah, let's just start there. I think that's
what the community really wants to hear. We're learning our lessons. It was a
tough lesson to learn. Something very complex and comprehensive. Something
we've never experienced. But I want to put a carrot out there so that the
community knows that we have listened, we have learned our lessons. And maybe
there's one or two suggestions on how to better communicate.
MAYOR KIM: First of all, I thank the Council for allowing a situation where a
community can come forward, because that's one of the ways we learn for that.
But in answering your question, they all gave us—what just occurred, we knew
that volcano for awhile was creating—affecting—and loss of business. We knew
that school was going to start, all of those things. We knew that cracks were
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widening; we were monitoring that almost 24 hours. As soon as an occurs, no
matter what time of the day or night, the road was walked to see if there was any
hazard that had to be patched, slowed down or whatever, or fixed. It was quite
clear last week that we needed to ASAP (as soon as possible) make an alternative
road, although we had paper plans on what to do.
National Park was contacted personally by communication, by letter as well as by
person, to review what our requests were because that was a first alternative. It
was clear after visitation there that was not possible. That's emergency vehicles
only, you know, to literally almost be a walk-through by general (inaudible).
So what did we do last week? Public Works' workers went house to house, in the
golf course subdivision, notifying. What did we do after that? Immediately
scheduled a meeting the day after with the whole community. And those are
the things, that if you look backI told the community that I wish I was further
ahead of the game, that this was a week before; that I don't have to rush this, but it
really projected the kind of damages will occur. But on that, a house to house was
done. On that, a rush meeting was done on the night of Thursday, you know, to
tell them what we're going to do.
In regard to the other kinds of concerns expressed by people here, I think you
know that initially we were having meetings with the community once or twice a
week. Because of time demands, because it wasn't just us going there, it was
every agency working there had to be pulled out and to go there, so we changed to
once a week, Tuesday. On that, we changed the meeting format, by having every
agency of—and a lot of the information to set up stations. That people could come
up to the station and ask individual questions before and after. All of those things
that you can see are just being made as we go along to improve communication.
You take like the mass evacuation, like we had to have Kapoho and Vacation Land
that commenced in the middle of the night, even with that rush we wanted to make
sure our message was clear that every house was given a printed instruction on
why they were being rousted, and what the instructions were as far as far as when
to complete the evacuation.
I am proud of a lot of it, Council Woman Lee Loy. But you are right, and I hope I
admitted openly, we learn from each one. We'll try to get better. I think we are
getting better in regard to our messages are duplicated on FaceBook also. We
make messages at six o'clock in the morning to try to get that done so people go to
work. We make one in the afternoon as well, schedule; and intermittent, if
necessary, and that is also on FaceBook That goes on hardcopy as well as the
people who sign up by phone messages. Every radio station gets the same
message. So we're trying to cover all of that. But still, this morning, people who
came to you with concern; I had a couple came straight up to my office, you know,
and they were squeezed in, in regard to listening to their concerns. I won't give
her name. But her concern, I think, was expressed that we had identified her
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property as uninhabitable; so therefore, made her ineligible for a loan. That was a
miscommunication, I would just say on our part because certain information did
not filter out.
When you're in a job situation like this, I guarantee you, I hope you trust us on
this, we are trying to address the problems as we are made aware of it. Some is
relatively easy, obviously some are not. Like the one that she came up to the
office is relatively easy. It was just we need to make sure that the right people get
that information. Others, we'll just continue to work on. I don't care, you know,
whatI don't think there'll be a time when I'll say, "We're perfect."
MS. LEE LOY: Thank you, Mayor; and I want thank Ms. O'Hara. I saw this an
opportunity for the community to share their concerns, but also from a bigger
perspective, a larger debrief, of all of the events and stuff that we could do better.
If I could just leave with one suggestion, and this is something my father taught
me. We have two ears and one mouth; sometimes we have to build in a lot more
listening sessions than talking sessions. I know that's rather challenging, but as we
disseminate information, we also have to carve out time to listen, to ensure that the
community is actually getting the same takeaway from the information. So if I
could just leave that one suggestion. Thank you. I yield.
MAYOR KIM: I wish I had three ears.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Lee Loy. Alright, Ms. Ruggles, go ahead.
MS. RUGGLES: Thank you. Thank you for being here and taking time to address
us. I know it's been a really challenging past few months.
There has definitely been an issue with Civil Defense implementing inconsistent
policies in a variety of ways. We really need to be an agency that the County's
people can count on. I have a lot of questions based on what the testifiers asked
and expressed. So I was wondering, is now the appropriate time to ask these or
will somebody from Civil Defense be here?
CHR. DAVID: No. I think we're going to come up on those questions. I'm not
sure how long Mayor is going to want to be here. Because of your situation, I
know you were on your way home. But we are going to have the discussion from
Ms. O'Hara's communication. I think we can discuss your questions. I see you
want some answers, though, from the Mayor. Can I ask Ms. O'Hara to weigh in
on this one?
MS. RUGGLES: Sure.
MS. O'HARA: I just wanted to say that we did invite Civil Defense and made
them aware that this communication was being heard. I don't see anybody. Am I
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missing somebody? No. I don't see anybody from Civil Defense here, except the
Mayor.
MAYOR KIM: I'll take the rap for that. There's so many things we had to do
before the afternoon, and since I knew I was going to be asked to come here, I told
them I would represent them and try to answer the questions
MS. O'HARA: Thank you. I figuredI mean, we put our agendas together
weeks in advance. I wasn't counting on Hector paying us a visit, sorry.
CHR. DAVID: Okay. Ms. Ruggles, how many questions do you have for the
Mayor? I know you said you had a lot, but we do
MS. RUGGLES: I have seven questions.
CHR. DAVID: Okay, if you can run by them really quickly? I think, in all
deference, we have more people. I think we can cover some of your questions in
our discussions later on in this agenda, too.
MS. RUGGLES: Okay.
CHR. DAVID: Thanks.
MAYOR KIM: Yeah, Ms. David, regardless of how many we cover here, if you
can submit it to us by email or any other means, I probably sure will address it
also.
MS. RUGGLES: Great. I really like this because the community is here, and they
can hear the answers. So my first question is, why is the community center
blockaded?
MAYOR KIM: Why is what?
MS. RUGGLES: Why is the community center in Leilani blockaded?
MAYOR KIM: I'm just going to answer in general, and I'll follow up, if
necessary. I think certain areas—when we addressed the Leilani Estates
community, we told them please understand this, we're going to make a lot of
policies that people are not going to like because they have to be made with the
community in -whole and not for individual, you know, convenience.
In regard to certain areas of the community were blocked of a simple reason of
enforcement, on safety and hazard factor and risk factor, whether the community
certainly was involved in one of them, you know, I'm not that absolutely sure, but
I can follow up. On a general basis, the areas were blocked off for security
reasons, do not allow free access by people that belong there.
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MS. RUGGLES: Okay.
MAYOR KIM: If I may elaborate on that, Ms. Ruggles? In making policies,
rather on a coastal area and any other area, that was the biggest problem. If you're
not dealing with a lot of people, it's easy; but when you're dealing with a place as
vast as that area there that extends all the way to coastline—in the privacy of a
responding group, I refer to them as the cockroaches that come out at night,
meaning the people who look for opportunities to steal, look for opportunities to
make money off of other people's misery, sometimes you've got to make policy to
seal off certain areas just for them. It makes it inconvenient. I've been to that
community center many times for meetings and kids playing and whatever; but to
leave it open for the community, I can see right now would have posed a big
problem.
MS. RUGGLES: Okay, thank you. One testifier said that he had collected
50 testimonies, and people wanting to have access to their homes. What
conditions will need to exist before Civil Defense will allow people to go back to
their homes?
MAYOR KIM: I'm not aware of that 50. I do know the general policy, first of
all, most of the areas of Leilani, now except for the lower portion, people have
access to. That was changed several weeks ago. If the area is considered to be a
high -hazard area, the only people allowed in that area is people with escort.
MS. RUGGLES: Okay, thank you. Somebody just texted me, they wanted me to
ask about the Pahoa pool and what the plans are for when it will be reopened.
MAYOR KIM: I have to claim ignorance on that, Ms. Ruggles.
MS. RUGGLES: Okay.
MAYOR KIM: I'll find out.
MS. RUGGLES: Okay. They also asked about the skate park and the baseball
fields. Are there any alternatives to the placard system being looked at?
MAYOR KIM: On the placard system?
MS. RUGGLES: Is Civil Defense looking at any alternatives to the placard
system?
MAYOR KIM: Right now, as you know, the whole situation has changed because
the lava is no longer a threat. Toxic gas is no longer a threat because it'sI don't
know what's going to happen, but it seemed to have shifted to Pu`u O`o a little bit.
It was Pu`u O`o, now is emitting gas that it hasn't emitted for months or weeks,
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and that has to be evaluated. In regard tohopefully, if the physical threat of the
eruption is to why both docks were made and evacuation areas were made and is
no longer necessary, it is our goal to lift the evacuation order for the whole area,
but that has to be evaluated. We evaluate that dock with our expertise, with
Hawaii Volcano Observatory (HVO) expertise. People think that we judge it
strictly by the fountaining. I wish it was that simple. Because that rift -line, you
know, not our scare tactics, but the southeast rift -line runs right through Leilani
Estates. That horrendous days of—you know, we counted 25 different fissures,
and most of them were through Leilani Estates. People have to understand that
any one of those old fissures could have erupted any time. We just don't have the
knowledge which one.
We were all shocked, truthfully, when fissure number eight kept exploding, then to
the volume in there that required mass evacuation in no time. Consensus by HVO
is any one of those fissures that could happen, and that's why we had make
evacuation policies based on that. But if this quiet period extends, and HVO will
make that determination based on tremors and everything else, then hopefully we
can lift it.
MS. RUGGLES: Great, thank you.
MAYOR KIM: I do want to conclude that with this. I hope everybody watching
or listening know that the people who have to make the decision to tell people,
"You cannot stay in your home," is not an easy one. All of us to some degree, we
have homes; and even tsunami, we know how hard it is to tell them to leave.
Especially with something like this, when you say, "Leave," and inside you know
there's a possibility they will never see their homes again. Just like all of Kapoho
and Vacationland people, you know, when they left at night and early the next day,
they never saw it again. That was the bulk of the whole, over 500 was in that area.
The decision wasn't an easy one, but it was made because we thought it was that
big a threat. We are trying as hard as we can to let these people in without making
decisions that we think is too risky for their safety.
MS. RUGGLES: Thank you. One testifier said that HELCO had told them that
Civil Defense told HELCO to shut the power off. If this is true—
MAYOR KIM: First of all, that's not true. I just said that's not true.
MS. RUGGLES: Okay, great.
MAYOR KIM: Our instructions to HELCO is to keep the power on as long as
possible for any kind of normalcy in life. For a worker to say, `Blame Civil
Defense," I'm so used to that; it just goes here and out the ear. I don't mean that to
be facetious or anything. But I've heard it said, "Oh, Civil Defense said this,
Civil Defense said that." It's common for people to say that. But I just want you
to know and whoever is watching or listening, the decision to shut off power or
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August 7, 2018
water is not an easy one. I think you know how much work HELCO did to extend
it. I think you know how much work Water Department did to extend the water
usage, until it no longer could be done, where bypasses just didn't work. The only
time we would require power to be shut off is if we feel it in the interest of safety,
it should be shut off, which have been done before.
MS. RUGGLES: Is Civil Defense looking at any new strategies to include Leilani
residents in on the decision making moving forward?
MAYOR KIM: In regard to decision making for safety, rarely. There are times
when we don't seek input on especially decisions of safety for the whole. You will
an impossible situation of—because not to get rude about it, but consensus is those
kinds of decisions should be made on only the mission of safety and not popularity
of numbers game. And naturally I don't blame side for saying "yes." I would say
"no." I don't even pretend to do that, and I will not pretend to do it here. When
we make decisions, the evacuation lines are made with all the best information we
have on safety and enforcement of it.
MS. RUGGLES: Okay, so assuming to that answer would be "no?"
MAYOR KIM: Pardon?
MS. RUGGLES: That Civil Defense is not willing to include any Leilani resident
in on decision making.
MAYOR KIM: I just told you what my answer was to your question. In regard to
when we're going to open it up, some of the times in regard to safety is not a
physical safety, it's an element of protection from looting or those other kinds of
considerations. In regard to opening it up, it will be based on what HVO tells us of
safety.
MS. RUGGLES: Okay, thank you.
MAYOR KIM: And then we'll let the affected residents know as soon as possible.
But I think if you talked to many of the residents, fluctuations have been made in
regard to passes, in regard to hours, et cetera. I will take the hours; for example,
when we first made it, it was based on six o'clock in the evening; because of their
concern, it was extended. Those things, naturally, was imposed from the public.
MS. RUGGLES: Great. And my last question, do you have any comments on
geothermal?
MAYOR KIM: Geothermal? Geothermal was a nightmare for awhile, when this
eruption occurred, because of a simple fact that they had three, in my memory or
recollection, production wells and four or five injection wells. That if you did not
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mitigate some kind of action and lava burst the pipes, we would have a tremendous
problem of hydrochloric acid released.
MS. RUGGLES: Right.
MAYOR KIM: And naturally that's why I asked the government for a certain
person to be with me 24 hours a day, to develop a plan to seal it. It was a lot of
work but it was done, so there was no threat there.
If your question asked, in regard to where they will go from here on geothermal,
that's totallyI would use this as podium opportunity, a bill was passed, called
Act 97, that took away all the responsibilities. All of the responsibilities of the
County government in enforcement, regulations, in regard to geothermal industry.
That now belongs solely to the State government of Hawaii through Act 97 that
was passed the year before. I will proudly say, I stood up and said, "This is wrong.
This should not be." This affects the people of the Island of Hawaii. The people
of the Island of Hawaii regulations on this should be by you, the County Council.
Now, it belongs to the State. So my answer is academic.
In regard to what will happen, first of all, industry has to make a huge decision.
Because public safety on it, I will not discuss any possibility of opening that area
up to any kind of activity until HVO says it is a safe issue.
MS. RUGGLES: Yeah, and I agree with you. The people who live in their
community know what's best for their community. Thank you so much for
answering my questions.
MAYOR KIM: Thank you.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Ruggles. Council Members, if there's no more
questions for Mayor Kim, I would really want to let him go home and rest. I really
appreciate
MAYOR KIM: Only that, because the doctor made me promise that.
CHR. DAVID: I know. We sort of figure that, so we don't want to be responsible
for you not listening to your doctor, okay? So we really appreciate that you did
come down because I know you wanted to address some of the concerns with the
citizens. And I think, Mayor, from what I'm hearing or what I heard this morning,
I think from your position, what the decisions you make, I think the people are
affected on such a human level. That sometimes they don't connect because
they're coming from a place that we as government decision -makers have to make,
decisions not based on emotions. But all of these people are very emotionally
distraught. I appreciate you coming in, and I thank the testifiers. So this will
conclude our
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August 7, 2018
MAYOR KIM: And I would like to take this opportunityno, they're just big as
our gym. Like the hundreds of other people like me, we lost something so special
that no words can describe, as far as the lifestyle, the beauty, things that took a
thousand years for nature to develop. And the pain is something that sadness will
be there until forever. But I will say this, I really believe a good percentage of the
people understand what we've been trying to do, and to some degree appreciative.
You take like the hard work of the shelter; you won't find any jurisdiction that will
entertain, good food, you know, the best they can do for 500, 300, and 100 people
24 hours a day, that kind of thing.
I was just talking to someone to—when I first learned about Florida evacuation,
what do they tell them? Go north. They don't tell them, "Shelter here or there," or
worry about feeding them. Nor do they have programs to follow-up long-term.
We all know about the horrendous examples of tragic fatalities because of no
programs.
But what I want to conclude here, we did all of a conceptual plan, which I think is
very important for not only Puna but for the island, as far as economic growth,
et cetera. We really need the Council to be involved. We really need your time,
and to get involved with us and the support of it, what you finally support when we
go to the legislators to promote this plan.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you. And I think we look forward for you to bring forth
and share that conceptual plan with this body so we can at least weigh in and help
support you in that way.
MAYOR KIM: Thank you.
CHR. DAVID: Ms. O'Hara?
MS. O'HARA: Can I just make a quick question?
CHR. DAVID: Quickly, yeah.
MS. O'HARA: I'll try and be really quick. There were some things that were
brought up in testimony this morning that required administrative relief, or can be
done through administrative relief. One of those things business property tax
relief. I spoke with our Real Property Tax director; and in the last emergency
declaration, it had been recommended that you consider real property tax relief for
the Pahoa Village businesses as well up in in Volcano, where things are really
rough.
The Volcano Village folks are not here today because they have a cruise ship
visiting, and they're able to serve lunch and everything. All the businesses up
there are doing busing today, so they weren't able to make it down; we have some
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August 7, 2018
written testimony. But is that a possibility that you might be able to consider
doing that, because they're on the edge of going out of business?
MAYOR KIM: First of all, Ms. O'Hara, thanks for bringing that up. On a
positive side, I think you know that the County really had initiated reliefs almost
immediately to those that we had policies on. On what you're asking about, of
more relief, I got a memo on that and I immediately sent it to the people that I
depend on, the tax department to come back with recommendations. After I'm
through here, without doubt, to see where we are on that.
MS. O'HARA: Okay, I appreciate that. The other thing, and this is something
perhaps you have ideas on how you can impact, because this comes under the
State's emergency declaration, and it's the DOCARE (Division of Conservation
and Resources Enforcement) citations. Not only are very extreme, $5,000 fine, all
of the reports I'm hearing, and these are persons who I actually have known for
years and years and can trust the reports, are not being treated in a very nice
manner at all. They're receiving these citations doing what—it's just basically
normal activity. Is there someway we can get a handle on that? I know this isn't a
County action, it's State.
But the complaints are huge, and much of this is taking up time at the courts right
now. Some of the attorneys are taking these cases on it. People are having to
spend attorney fees and time to go to court to justify activities that are not criminal.
These are already the victims of this event in many cases. I'm really troubled by
that, and that it's continuing to happen. If there's some way that we can intercede
and improve that situation, I just implore you to help with that.
MAYOR KIM: I will look into it with the Prosecutor's Office. Very briefly on
the background on that. When this first started you know, this is something new
to Hawaii also. I guarantee you, in the past I didn't even worry about this, and
that was just a few years ago. But it was quite evident, and we met with the
Prosecutor's Office and Police, what do we do about this to prevent as best as we
can, looting. There was a time where people planned to how to loot. So the
recommendation from the criminal justice system was that you have to make the
penalty and we have to publicize. The penalty is that any, in regard to theft, will
be treated regardless of the amount, as attorneys on the Council is better to explain
it. At a certain amount, it's not a felony. So they said, "We'll make a special
provision that any theft or looting happening during emergency will be classified
as a felony;" meaning, watch out, the penalty is severe. It is in that discussion or
realm of proposal that they got caught up in, in regard to a person trespassing,
et cetera.
In regard to that, I do not know the scope of it. I will talk to the Police and
Prosecutor's Office in regard to the because no one should be penalized unfairly.
I'll just say that for now.
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MS. O'HARA: I fully agree. We are having that problem, and those are
DOCARE, not our police. Also having problems, Sara Steiner testified earlier.
She's a Pohoiki resident, as you are well aware, and unable to return to her home;
although her neighbors got a pass to get in. I guess you're not able to climb over
the Malama key flow. Anyhow, they found squatters in their house.
MAYOR KIM: But, you know
MS. O'HARA: Can I finish?
MAYOR KIM: Oh, I'm sorry.
MS. O'HARA: And then she went to the police to report the squatters in the
house, in Pohoiki. I realize it's an isolated area. Was told at the Pahoa station that
they can't do anything about it. I pulled Chief aside at our last Civil Defense
meeting, and he told me that they were actually dropping people behind the scenes
to deal with this criminal ring that we know is working in there. I don't really feel
our public should be told that there's nothing that we can do about it. There are
things we can do about it. So, I'm just sharing that with you.
MAYOR KIM: Okay, thank you.
CHR. DAVID: Are you done? You yield? Okay. Mayor Kim, again thank you
very much for coming. And best of health, go home and rest.
MAYOR KIM: Thank you. My lunch hour is over, though.
CHR. DAVID: We're going to take a five-minute break, okay? Recess.
Recess: At 1:10 p.m., the Chair called for a recess.
Reconvene: The meeting reconvened at 1:11 p.m.
CHR. DAVID: Aloha, everybody, and welcome back. I'm going to be calling the
Finance meeting out of recess.
(Note: At this time, Charter Commission Chairman Douglas Adams came
forward to continue his presentation regarding Comm. 1010 to the members
of the Committee.)
CHR. DAVID: Mr. Adams, thank you so much for your patience and also your
courtesy in allowing the Mayor to speak before you. You will not be interrupted
ever again, and you can proceed.
MR. ADAMS: Thank you again, Madam Chair, for allowing for me to come and
speak to you today on behalf of the Charter Commission, present you with our
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August 7, 2018
plans and objectives and our timeline. So just to let you know, we are off and
running. Our second meeting as a commission will be this Friday. We're very
happy and grateful that we'll have members of the departments, and the Mayor's
Office. Some of the boards and commissions are already being communicated
with, and indicated that they have some interest in responding to our letter as well,
of course, the Council, so we're very happy that that's occurring. So we're starting
with information gathering over the next two to three months. The Commission
wanted to get immediately into that. I was a kind of a slow -go -guy, and they're
like, "No way, we're moving out," and so I said, "Okay, I will make sure I get in
front."
We're also going to be reviewing the Charter by section. We wanted to make sure
that we did that. We didn't just take proposals, but then we also did dotting the is
and crossing the is portion, and making sure we read the whole thing and go
through it. So that will occur over the next three to four months as well, so kind of
a dual prong approach as we go through the process.
We will develop and consider amendment proposals as soon as, potentially,
September. We'll see how that goes. I imagine that we will actually receive some
suggestions as early as Friday, as well. As a matter of fact, we've already
received some communications from members of the public with some
suggestions, so we will take those into consideration in due course.
The public hearing portion of this, which is a requirement, of course, and
something we would want to be doing. We will be doing either January/February,
or February/March, my guess would be more the February/March time period
because we want to make sure that we have as many of the proposals available for
the public hearings as possible so that we can get the public input on them. And
then, of course our deadline here is June 26 next year, making sure that we have it
no later than that to you.
Also, at our next meeting, we did select as our Vice Chair, Jennifer Zelko
Schlueter, if you had not heard that. You've referred to her as Helco-Zelko, that's
right. She's very appreciative of that, by the way; she's told me. And then, of
course, our staff. Our Commission analyst, your Deputy County Clerk. Our
attorney is Mr. Yoshimoto. I'm not sure why he was selected, but having no
knowledge of how any of this works at all. And of course, Shannon is our
esteemed coordinator of all things important.
And then we've also adopted our rules, making sure that we know what we're
doing and how to do it, kind of idea.
Our objectives, in additionI mean, clearly the primary objective is to make sure
we provide and we go through the process and come up with proposals to the
extent that we will come up with proposals that are well thought out, make sense,
and then are presentable. But in the process of doing that, we want to make sure
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August 7, 2018
the process is available to the public. One of the things that we did is making sure
that we're going to have meetings here but also in Kona, on an alternating month
basis. So we'll start here this month and then we'll be in Kona the following
month, and back and forth kind of idea. Clearly, the idea is to be efficient,
transparent, diligent, and thorough in our process.
I'm very pleased, as you all are, with the Commission that you confirmed last
month. I've had the opportunity to see them for a meeting, and was very excited
with the degree of thought that they already put into what they wanted to see as
part of their role on the Commission, as well.
Thank you again for being willing to let me talk to you about this. Part of the idea
is making sure that—as I was talking to Mr. Chung about earlier, the idea was to
make sure that our public knows the residents the County know that we're doing
this; that they have the opportunity to also provide input, if that's something that
they'd like to do. So, I'd be willing to take any questions at this time; if not,
thank you very much for your time.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you for that, Mr. Adams. Ms. Lee Loy, go ahead.
MS. LEE LOY: Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Mr. Adams. I really appreciate
that framework. Just a quick follow-up question. Public Hearings, you
mentioned February/March; that's of 2000
MR. ADAMS: Nineteen.
MS. LEE LOY: Nineteen. And then you also mentioned a comprehensive review
of each section. How many sections are you folks tackling, and are you guys
going to be breaking that up?
MR. ADAMS: Right. So for example, our agenda, it's out. For this coming
Friday's meeting, we'll be taking a looking at the first five sections of the Charter.
The department heads that we'll be hearing from are not—some of them are
related to those but not the idea is not necessarily connected to the Charters' that
we're looking at and the department heads that we're hearing from or other
members of the government. The idea is that we do this dual prong approach.
We'll make sure that we cover everything. That we possibly can and do it as
quickly as possible and as thorough of a way as we can.
MS. LEE LOY: And then mentioned, this month in Hilo, so that's safe to assume
even months in Hilo and the odd months in Kona going forward?
MR. ADAMS: Is that fair to say?
MR. HENRICKS: If you think about it that way.
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August 7, 2018
MS. LEE LOY: Okay. Yeah, and with that, you know, if there's an opportunity
where you need to come back so that we could share it to a broader audience,
especially as you go forward into the public hearing section, you know, please
make that request to Ms. Poindexter. I think this is a great venue for the
community to be able to listen, and then engage in what I think is the most
important policy document we have for Hawaii County. So, thank you. I yield.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Lee Loy, and thank you for that suggestion
because that's a great suggestion. Mr. Richards, go ahead.
MR. RICHARDS: Thank you, Chair; and thanks, Mr. Adams, for being before us
to give us an update. I think I'm understanding this correctly. You're going to go
through the whole Charter, and then during the public hearing times, you're going
to have all the proposed amendments. I don't know if they're going to be finished
being wordsmithed. But the concept that put them out to the public, is that the
thought process?
MR. ADAMS: That's the thought process.
MR. RICHARDS: Okay, alright. And then after that, take them back and maybe
work on them a little bit more?
MR. ADAMS: Right. Part of the plan, is then we have two to three months to
take whatever information we've received as a result of the public input at these
hearings as well as from other locations, and mold them appropriately.
MR. RICHARDS: Okay, great. I did understand that. I do look forward to
hearing back from you again. I think what Council Woman Lee Loy said, it is a
great venue, again, to get that communication coming forward. I do look forward
to working with you. And I think your choice of a Vice Chair, for Helco/Zelko, is
excellent.
MR. ADAMS: I'll let her know.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Richards. Anyone else? No? Oh, Ms. Eoff, go
ahead.
MS. EOFF: Thank you. So if members of the community at -large have a
suggested suggestion, would it be best for them to come in to one of these earlier
meetings and state it on the record during testimony or when it comes to that
section of the Charter that you're—when it's under review? Or would it be better
for them to discuss with a commissioner, say their area, ahead of time?
MR. ADAMS: I really appreciate the question because actually kind of
struggled is probably to strong, but we certainly have discussed this. I think from
an efficiency perspective, it would be great if somebody was paying attention to
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August 7, 2018
the agenda and then brought in when we are going to be considering an area; and
they were interested in providing the suggestions for that area to do it at that time
because that would—we're going to be thinking about that and talking about that.
But not everybody has that opportunity. We have working families. People that
may be interested in certain events and maybe travel. So I am, as the Chair, going
to be open to receiving testimony, opening statements, public testimony from the
public, you know, on the Charter, because that's the agenda. The Charter is the
agenda for the Commission. We will receive people have the opportunity to
provide suggestions in a number of ways. Our agenda that's sent out indicates
that. They can email. They can, of course, write. They can bring it in person.
They can bring it in to one of our meetings. So all of those are options, and we
will be receiving those and reviewing them as a Commission when they come in.
MS. EOFF: Okay. And all of us are on your emailing list, right?
MR. ADAMS: I know that Shannon has asked, and I know that we have a list of
at least 100 people already that are interested in what we're doing.
MS. EOFF: Okay, so if somebody wants to make sure they're going to get the
agenda, they should maybe call Shannon or Council or Council Services?
MR. ADAMS: That would be great.
MS. EOFF: Thank you.
MR. ADAMS: Thank you.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Eof£ Anyone else for Mr. Adams? No?
MR. ADAMS: Alright, thank you so much.
CHR. DAVID: No, thank you.
MR. ADAMS: Oh, I'm sorry.
CHR. DAVID: Well, thank you. Thank you very much for coming and giving us
that information. It helps to plan our next year's schedule. Alright, thank you
very much.
MR. ADAMS: Thank you, all.
CHR. DAVID: Alright, thank you very much. Council Members, all those in
favor filing Communication 1010 please say "aye."
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Vote on Comm. 1010: The motion to close file on Comm. 1010 was carried by the
Filed following voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Chung, Eoff, Kanuha,
Lee Loy, O'Hara, Poindexter, Richards, Ruggles,
and Chair David — 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
CHR. DAVID: Council Members, what we're going to do, at 1:30 p.m. the next
committee is supposed to start. My intention was to hopefully take
Communication 1012 and Resolution 650 because we have people that have been
here all day. So when we get to that point—Ms. O'Hara, I'm going to take your
communication next, and we'll see where we get, until 1:30, okay? And I hope
we can do the same thing, by going into the next committee, seeing if there's any
public testimony.
I'd really would like to finish Resolution 650 before we move on, and then recess
Finance until the very end of the day, the rest of the items. Mr. Clerk,
Communication 1012.
Comm. 1012: REQUESTS DISCUSSION ON CONCERNS RAISED BY
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE LEILANI SUBDIVISION AND THE PAHOA
AND VOLCANO BUSINESS COMMUNITIES REGARDING ISSUES
RESULTING FROM THE ONGOING VOLCANIC ERUPTION AND THE
COUNTY'S MANAGEMENT OF IMPOSED EMERGENCY DECLARATION
REOUIREMENTS
From Council Member Eileen O'Hara, dated July 27, 2018
Motion to Close File: Ms. O'Hara moved to close file on Comm. 1012. Seconded
by Ms. Poindexter.
CHR. DAVID: Ms. O'Hara, go ahead.
MS. EOFF: I thank the Council for allowing this opportunity for the residents of
the affected areas to come forward and describe some of the experiences they've
had and some of the problems they continue to have. Some of these issues can be
addressed and could have been addressed already. As I expressed to the Mayor,
the opportunity to give some tax relief to the businesses in Pahoa and Volcano is
well overdue. We're losing businesses. The idea of a conceptual plan is going to
be put before us shortly; means we are months and months away from real activity
that can be of advantage these communities.
There really isn't any money out there other than SBA loans, and these are
businesses that cannot afford to take those loans. It's as simple as that. If we're to
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keep economic activity alive in lower Puna, it's really essential that we act now. I
agree with Senator Ruderman on that.
Also, I asked for some help in trying to solve this very vicious citation situation
that we're having. There have been over 100 of these citations extended or been
given by DOCARE, and I don't think they're keeping us safe or safer. They're
causing a lot of anxiety in the community. They're being thrown out of court
anytime anybody gets an attorney because there were no signs posted, there was no
notification posted by Civil Defense, blah, blah, blah, blah. Their legal basis just
isn't there. But they're still happening, these citations are still happening.
Meantime, we have a lot of criminal activity in the area and that's not being
addressed, so it's a real problem for the residents of lower Puna.
I also wanted to bring up the petition that you all received from Tommy Stark. He
was, I believe, the first testifier. Yes, he lives in an area, as do about 50 others of
Leilani, that has remained perfectly safe in terms of air quality, fissures, et cetera,
but they are not allowed back in.
I also have had a couple of meetings with the president of HELLO. The situation
is different from my perspective than what the Mayor presented. HELCO couldn't
get permission to get into the area, where it needed to fix the transformer, to
provide for a couple of streets that are still very safe havens in Leilani, and that's
what prevented them or forced them to turn off the electricity not the other way
around. Whether it's finger pointing or whatever, it's an easy situation to resolve
with HELLO. They know what they can and cannot do; but if they can't get their
trucks in to fix stuff, that is a problem.
This is a problem for residents, as we've learned. If they have repairs that are
needed or if they have somebody that was supposed to do their lawn, they can't get
them in and out of the subdivision because of the placard situation. Placards are
now only attainable down here in Hilo. So we are not making easier for these
people, we are making it a little more difficult. So I would like people to be aware
that we are preventing them from using their private property. We're saying it's
based on public safety, but I have to sometimes question whether that's really
being evaluated properly.
We still don't have a lava viewing program. I've asked for a program, not a site.
I've been trying to the folks here at the County for over a month now and feel like
I'm not getting nowhere, and it's very, very frustrating because that would be a
real ticket for those in Pahoa. Those businesses in Pahoa to do well.
Then we have to look at what we're going to do as we move forward. I toured the
facilities. I think Ms. Ruggles was asking about the situation at the shelters in
Pahoa. I toured yesterday because Hector's coming. I wanted to see if we still had
people out in tents, and we did, over two dozen. Some of them were packing up to
leave yesterday; a few more supposed to be out in a day or two.
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August 7, 2018
The tiny homes village isn't full. It was only half full, so I don't know why it's
taking so long to move people out of the tents. But we need to recover our park
because there's a lot of damage. All of the fields are going to have to be redone.
The floor of the gym, brand new gym, is going to have to be redone, and that's like
a quarter million dollars or more. So there's a lot of work that needs to happen to
bring our facilities back into play here.
So I'm trying to get a handle on where we stand with moving from evacuation to
recovery. Just giving you some of those ideas. But I think we could be moving
quicker. I'm glad we had the discussion and allowed everyone to come forward
and share their stories with us because they've been through a lot and I don't think
we're really recognizing how much we haven't done for the people of lower Puna.
We have lost thousands. We have lost thousands of people, and they're not
coming back and there's a reason for that. It's not just the volcano; it's how this
thing was managed. So I think we need to own up to that. It could be better. We
need to do better moving forward.
So that's why kind of why I brought this communication to the Council. I see
Ms. Edwards is still here, but I think about everybody else has left. I'm not sure if
there's anything more that Ms. Edwards wants to share; but if you would like to
come forward, Tiffany, and just say a few words.
(Note: At this time, Tiffany Edwards Hunt came forward to address the
members of the Committee.)
MS. EDWARDS: Thank you. I felt really weird about wearing this hat all day in
this room because I don't think you should wear hats inside.
But the reason why I did is because I'm trying to talk to you about the Pahoa swim
team. I want you to know that the Pahoa pool is closed. It's been closed. It also
doesn't have a cover, so Pele's hair has been blowing into the pool, and it's been
an issue with the lifeguards having to get Pele's hair out of the pool. I have
wondered why do we not have a cover. I don't really have an answer for that.
But what I want to tell you is that I am the team mom for the Pahoa swim team.
This has been in existence for 21 years, so you can't credit me for its inception.
But I will tell you that my request for us to try to accommodate the Pahoa dolphins
was initially met with a request to disband and for our families to come into Hilo
and try out for the Kawamoto Sharks or the NAS Torpedoes. So it took, as it been
referred to as "lipping off' for me to actually get somewhere. As you know I have
a voice, so I used it. Luckily, I found a friend with the aquatic director, Alex. I
just want to thank her publicly for going to bat for Pahoa Dolphins. We went from
getting a 6 p.m. slot at Kawamoto pool. We have a 3:30 spot at Kawamoto pool.
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August 7, 2018
But what I want to tell you is that when all showed up yesterday for our kids to try
out, we had one lane, even though half the pool is completely open. We did not
feel welcomed there at all. We're going to run 22 kids on one lane, and anybody
who knows about swimming knows that that's impossible. So I'm going to be a
volunteer coach. Even though I work a number of jobs in order to pay my bills, I
don't care if I ever sleep. I'm just going to turn in the paperwork and be the
volunteer coach even though I really don't know the technicalities of strokes.
But I'm going to be out in the parking lot lawn area with the contingency of kids
that aren't able to fit into the lane, doing maybe yoga or some sort of conditioning
to get them ready to go into the pool. It just feels really stupid, and I want to
publicly make you all aware of the facts that there are 22 kids that came back to
the Pahoa Dolphins because we are team. We have to have a recreation for our
sanity. Like, for me, losing a home, about to lose a business, it feels really insane;
but it's things like exercise that keep us going, and my children need that.
We're going to face a similar situation very soon with our Pahoa Puueos. We have
t -ball and we also have coach pitch. Now, I can't take credit for starting the Pahoa
Dolphins, but I can tell you that I started Pahoa Puueos, and I fought for that team
and I will continue to fight for the team. We need a place. If we can't have the
new fields, then maybe the Pahoa Elementary School principal, Ms. Arakaki, can
call me and let me know if we can use the old Pahoa field, or maybe the Pahoa
High School would share; or maybe the Kea`au High School would share; or
maybe Kea`au field is available. But it kind of feels like I'm the most annoying
person in the County of Hawaii or in Hawaii County rather, when I have to
continually call and ask, and ask, and, and ask. This is not self-serving. I'm not
making money here, okay? I am trying to actually create things for my children
and for their friends and for the children of Puna.
When we're talking about—like I sit here and listen, and yes, on a personal level, I
appreciate everyone, okay? I'm not ungrateful at all. But on the recovery, like she
said, this is just so unbelievable. Like, when are we going to get $250,000 to
replace the gym floor? I pray to go God that's in this like conceptual plan that we
need to present to the State Legislature. And so, too, do I pray that we're thinking
about the fact that we don't have a Pahoa pool right now, the only pool in Puna.
Let's start planning for 17 acres in Kea`au for a Kea`au pool to service our
population there. It's all related to the Pahoa swim team, right? Because if we
didn't have the Pahoa pool, maybe we would have had a Kea`au pool, right?
Instead of driving people all the way to Kawamoto, we're having people drive all
of the way out of their communities for basic services. Is that what's going to
happen for baseball too?
Let's start making these plans. We got 17 acres in Kea`au. You and I know,
anybody who has any institutional knowledge, knows that we've been wanting a
pool in Kea`au for a really long time. Now there's the political will. We need it
because we've Pele's hair in the Pahoa pool. We've got some good reason; I don't
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August 7, 2018
know why we don't use the cover. We've got 24 people who are still continuing to
not have housing and need to shower at the Pahoa pool.
So anyway, let's move and let's work on the Kea`au pool. Let's work long-term,
since short-term we have problems. I just am hoping for those kind of things to be
worked out. That we're looking at capital things, at the same time that we're
looking at recovery things. Because it's not like the entire Puna community is
deserted. We've just shifted down a little bit further away from the east rift zone,
but it still continues to be one of the most affordable places to live in East Hawaii.
So, that's my food for thought. Thank you for letting me come and follow-up on
my three minutes. Any other questions for me?
CHR. DAVID: Mr. Chung.
MR. CHUNG: I don't have a question for Tiffany.
MS. HUNT: Thank you. I'm glad I satisfied everyone's curiosity.
MS. O'HARA: Well, I think he has some other things. But I do, I have a
follow-up there. The Pahoa pool was closed because of Pele's hair. If the eruption
stops, so does Pele's hair.
MS. HUNT: Is that the question?
MS. O'HARA: No, I'm just saying that there is the chance now, if this stays in
this state, for us to clean the pool. We may be cleaning the pool, but it just gets
loaded with Pele's hair once again. So we might be looking at being able to open
the pool as soon as this stays in a state like it is right now. They are supposed to
open.
The Skate Park, on Friday, it's been thoroughly cleaned. Yes, they are trying to
move out the remainder of the campsites, and we're trying to recover the whole
facility. So there is effort to do that. I hope that we can get you guys back in the
pool as soon as possible because I do know that's not a good thing.
But we also have other opportunities. We have land now in Paradise Park to build
the 20 -acre park. It does include a pool. We've lost so many ocean access sites in
lower Puna right now, that we need to see what we do have in the way of ocean
access. The County does have a couple parcels; one in Hawaiian Paradise Park,
one just outside of Hawaiian Paradise Park, which are oceanfront. So we need to
start looking forward to seeing where we can recreate some ocean access, in the
near term not long-term.
So I appreciate what you're saying. We needed that vision. We need to start
looking where to put our resources. Because we need redundancy. We may have
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August 7, 2018
lost thousands in Puna, but Puna was packed with 50,000 people, and it's going to
start growing again when this eruption stops. It's just the most affordable place in
the State. So we need to build in those facilities, as you say. Thank you.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. O'Hara. Mr. Chung.
MR. CHUNG: Thank you, Madam Chairman. You know, I think this whole
discussion today underscores the fact that, you know, on a daily basis, we are
learning more and more about the impacts on those resident in the affected area.
You know, I just wanted to share these excerpts of this email that I received from a
woman that I had met on the plane, actually. She's from Leilani Estates. She's the
sweetest person and very thoughtful in her presentations to me when we were
talking on the plane. Her name is, quite appropriately, Suzy Hoppe. You know,
it's very instructive, you know, on one aspect of the heartbreak and problems that
are going on with people in that area, and it actually acts as a primer on that. I'll
just kind of give it briefly. She says she's very worried about how things are
progressing with regards to Leilani Estates and Puna; and it's important that you
all know that I'm not thinking not only of my own situation but also my neighbors
and especially those of us who cannot be on the island at this time. She's not on
the island, actually, right now.
And then she goes into this, you know, this commentary, actually voicing her
frustrations. But I had earlier stated how you know, this is a really, really nice
lady, and it's kind of out of character that she would actually criticize some aspects
of County operation, but I guess that just demonstrates how frustrated some people
are, some segments of our population.
Although I will say this, Senator Ruderman I think appropriately pointed out that
there are some safety issues, as well. I know there are some people who are very
upset about things, but ultimately the Civil Defense has to look out for the safety
of the community. You know, hopefully there's a balancing of those interests at
some point.
But this is what she says; "There are three main groups deeply affected by this
disaster. There are those—and again, these are the people living in Leilani Estates,
not recreational or all the other things there are those whose homes are gone and
have been able to recoup losses through FEMA and insurance, such as they had.
We have all shed many tears for them over the past months. As absurd as it
sounds, they now seem to be the lucky ones. They are able to let go and move on
or at least fight the good fight with their insurance companies. Then there are two
groups that make up the rest of us. Those whose homes are behind the mandatory
evacuation demarcation at Pomaikai Street, they are in an awful kind of hell.
Homes not destroyed, yet unreachable except with Civil Defense escort for a few
short hours at a time, not to mention their troubles with insurance and FEMA. And
finally, there are the many whose homes like mine are standing in the voluntary
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evacuation zone. If not in hell just yet, we find ourselves in an impossible limbo
full of conjecture, caught between the best and worse case scenarios."
I just wanted to present that to you, just for more information as we go forward
because, you know, at some point we may be called upon to help. You know,
hopefully we can provide some assistance. I don't know how because we're
dealing with FEMA and all these other things. But we certainly have to take into
consideration what's going on with these people who are in hell. So just wanted to
share that with all of you.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Chung. Ms. Ruggles, go ahead.
MS. RUGGLES: Thank you. I just have a restatement. I just wanted to thank
you, Tiffany, for continuing to be a voice for your community. Please don't worry
about being annoying, we need that. We need you, and the community needs you.
The children need you. You're making a difference. You're making a world of
difference. You're keeping Puna spirit strong and high. So I just wanted to thank
you for everything you're doing, and stay strong.
CHR. DAVID: Anyone else? No? Alright, Council Members, all those in favor
of filing Communication please say "aye."
Vote on Comm. 1012: The motion to close file on Comm. 1012 was carried by the
Filed following voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Chung, Eoff, Kanuha,
Lee Loy, O'Hara, Poindexter, Richards, Ruggles,
and Chair David — 9.
Noes:
None.
Absent:
None.
Excused:
None.
CHR. DAVID: It is now after 1:30. Ms. Ruggles, I'm going to ask you. I have
one more resolution to take up, which would probably complete the Finance
Committee, and I know Mr. Kanuha's committee has also been placed in recess.
One of the people have to leave shortly, so I would like to ask if you have a
testifier on your Committee, that we take that. Would you mind if we recess your
Committee and finish this and Mr. Kanuha's item?
MS. RUGGLES: Okay. So you're saying that we recess this Committee, take my
testifier, and then go back into Finance and then Government Relations, and then
go back into Mass Transit?
CHR. DAVID: If that's okay, I'm going to recess Finance and take your
Committee.
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August 7, 2018
MS. RUGGLES: Okay.
CHR. DAVID: You have one testifier?
MS. RUGGLES: I believe so. Yeah, thank you. I appreciate you accommodating
our testifier.
CHR. DAVID: Then if you can recess yours, we'll come back to mine, and we'll
take care of Mr. Kanuha's, and then we're back on track.
MS. RUGGLES: Sounds good.
CHR. DAVID: And I'll be last. Okay, thank you.
MS. RUGGLES: Sounds good. Thank you.
CHR. DAVID: So Finance Committee is now in recess.
Recess: At 1:25 p.m., the Chair called for a recess.
Reconvene: The meeting reconvened at 1:54 p.m.
CHR. DAVID: I'm going to take Resolution 650 first, in Finance. Then I am
going to recess Finance until whatever time it is we've completed the other
committees, at the end of the day. And then after Finance, we're going to take
Mr. Kanuha's committee, Governmental Relations, deal with his two items, and
then we're going to go back to Ms. Ruggles and the rest of the committees.
Thank you so much everybody for your patience in this confusing day. Alright,
Mr. Clerk, can please read in Resolution 650-18?
Res. 650-18: AUTHORIZES THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO ENTER INTO
NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE ACQUISITION OF LAND OR A
CONSERVATION EASEMENT FOR ALL OR A PORTION OF THE
PROPERTY IDENTIFIED AS TAX MAP KEY: 9-5-007:016 IN THE
AHUPUA`A OF KAHILIPALIIKI AND KAHILIPALINUI, DISTRICT OF
KAT, PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE 42, HAWAII COUNTY
CODE 1983 (2016 EDITION, AS AMENDED)
This parcel, which consists of approximately 2,013 acres of land makai of
N5'51ehu and includes the historic fishing village of Waikapuna, is listed as the
highest priority for purchase in the 2017 Annual Report of the Public Access,
Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission.
Reference: Comm. 1008
Intr. by: Ms. David
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Motion to Approve: Ms. Poindexter moved to recommend adoption of
Res. 650-18. Seconded by Ms. Eoff.
(Note: At this time, Real Property Tax Manager Hamana Ventura came
forward to address the members of the Committee.)
CHR. DAVID: Before I ask Mr. Ventura to give us a briefing on this purchase,
on Resolution 650, I just wanted to say and thank everyone that came this
morning to testify about this very special place and this very special resolution.
I will not repeat everything that was said. It was so appropriate that the
different testifiers, their contributions to why this place is so very special and
why we should encourage our Finance Director to enter into negotiations for
this place, to me, speaks for itself. So I would encourage my Council Members
to support Resolution 650-18. I will ask Mr. Hamana Ventura to give a brief
background about this.
MR. VENTURA: Mahalo, Madam Chair and Members of the County Council.
Hamana Ventura, Property Manager.
At this point, based on all of the testimony that was presented to us, I'd like to
just to ask the Council for approval to move forward with this resolution. This
is a part of the process, as outlined by Code and Charter. It came through the
system; was presented, suggestion forms and so forth; and made the 2017
prioritized list. As part of the ongoing process, now we've reached the point
where we request a resolution and acceptance going forward.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you very much. And I really want to note that this
particular parcel was number one on last year's priority list.
MR. VENTURA: Correct.
CHR. DAVID: So I don't need to go any further, except to ask Council
Members for any comment on this. Go ahead, Ms. Lee Loy.
MS. LEE LOY: Thank you, Chair, and Mr. Ventura for being here. We heard a
lot of testimony, and one thing I picked up on was a timing element between the
purchase and the developer. What kind of window are we looking at, and how
are we fast tracking this? I know there's this process, but I know there's other
items that need—kind of critical path.
MR. VENTURA: Okay. Well, in this particular case, I'd like to ask
Laura Kaakua to come up and comment on this portion of this process.
(Note: At this time, Laura Kaakua, representing the Trust for Public
Land, came forward to address the members of the Committee.)
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August 7, 2018
MS. KAAKUA: Aloha, Council Member Lee Loy and Council Members.
Laura Kaakua again, from the Trust for Public Land. So our timeframe,
Mr. Ventura and the PONC program and Commission has been working with us
for some time now on the purchase. We're not at the start of the process; we're
well into it. The landowners are willing to move forward. So we're looking—if
this Committee passes this resolution forward and if the Council decides that
they want to support the resolution, we're looking at moving forward with due
diligence as soon as we can with the County staff support, and then closing the
purchase and conservation easement by the end of the calendar year is our
target. That's the timeframe that's been given to us by the landowner.
MS. LEE LOY: A follow-up question. Mr. Yeh, the attorney for the
landowners mentioned a number of PLRS (Pre-existing Lots of Record) up.
MS. KAAKUA: Yes.
MS. LEE LOY: I guess maybe some other entitlements that they were
pursuing. What is the status of those entitlements? And then, what happens to
those 22 existing lots of record? Are they consolidated, or are they—why don't
you share.
MS. KAAKUA: Sure. Yes, Mr. Yeh did mention the 22 lots of record. They
have been moving forward, kind of on parallel tracts with the conservation
option with the County and Trust for Public Land, Ala Kai Trail Association;
and then still doing all the due diligence that's necessary, like an archaeological
survey, boundary survey, et cetera, so that they are prepared to move forward
with, I guess, the redistribution of those 22 lots if we don't succeed.
To answer you question, if the Council supports this resolution and we move
forward with the purchase, it will always remain as one TMK (Tax Map Key),
and will actually have restrictions that it cannot be subdivided unless there's a
higher government purpose. But it will be with that one TMK.
MS. LEE LOY: And then you mentioned the archaeological inventory survey,
and I'm trusting there's a cultural impact analysis that will go with that. Is that
being done in conjunction with the County or is that being done by the
developer?
MS. KAAKUA: It's being done currently by the landowner so that they can
have it, if they need to move forward with the development resubdivision
option. What they've shared with us is that they're doing it privately. But they
are hoping that this does move forward, and if so, they will share that
archaeological survey with the County directly, and then the County will have it
as part of the knowledge base.
Page 33
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August 7, 2018
MS. LEE LOY: Thank you. I'm going to be absolutely be supporting this. It
looks like you guys gave it a lot of forethought, especially in conjunction with
the landowner, and working and partnership with that. So thank you very much.
I yield.
MS. KAAKUA: Mahalo.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Lee Loy. Ms. Eoff and then Ms. Poindexter.
MS. EOFF: Okay, thank you, Madam Chair. I also wanted to thank, well, not
only the people who came out in support today but all of the people who have
been working behind the scenes, and the community. I'm not sure how long it
started to nominate this parcel, and all of the work of the Commission, and just
the process to get to you being able to bring this—Ms. David being able to bring
this resolution to us today.
Actually, the more I looked at and heard all of the collaborative and consortium
of organizations that have been working together, it actually, you know, really
epitomizes the purpose of the Public Access, Open Space and Natural
Resources Preservation Fund was to bring together matching funds and different
levels. I mean, we have Federal, State, County, and a nonprofit, right, as well as
community and people with genealogical ties. I mean, you've done a lot of
work, and I just wanted to commend everybody for this. I hope the negotiations
can go positively, and that we hear from you soon about what transpires. Thank
you very much. Sometimes it just matters who's at the table. It seems like you
have a very good group of people to work with, so that's really important; as
well as the willing seller, the landowner. It's kind of in place. Thank you.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Eof£ Mr. Richards.
MR. RICHARDS: Thank you, Chair. And yeah, just echo a little bit. Talk
story about the fact that this is multi-level cooperation, which is actually
refreshing, so I really appreciate that.
Also, some of the testimonies in support of this—as Hamana knows, I come
from the agricultural side. He had Michelle Galimba speaking on behalf of it.
From the agricultural standpoint, that makes me excited that we explore the
economic impact of the region, as well.
Also, there's a letter in there from Wally Andrade; and same deal, I worked
with him for decades. So the fact that it looks like the outreach was great, and
developing the cohesive intent to go forward, I think is outstanding. I will
definitely be supporting this. Thank you.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Richards. Mr. Kanuha.
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August 7, 2018
MR. KANUHA: Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm not going to repeat everything
that everybody already said. I support what you've put forward before the
Council. Also, mahalo everybody who came to testify, and also those who
didn't come to testify but submitted a lot of the letters of support. You know,
there's a big there's a lot of people that are in support of us, the County
purchasing this for preservation in perpetuity. You look at the unique and
irreplaceable aspects of this piece of property, you know, it's extremely unique.
I'm happy to support this.
You see the generations, you know, the keiki coming over here, testifying how
important this is for their generation and the level the growing up in a place
where over the many generations of family ties of these areas and how
important it is. It is really refreshing to see. From that standpoint, I think this is
exactly what the PONC money should be used for. So I fully support this and
just want to mahalo everybody for that deep level of cooperation.
There is a landowner willing to sell, hopefully. And hopefully those
negotiations go well, as well. I support this. Mahalo, Ms. David, for
introducing this and pushing this forward.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Kanuha. Anyone else? Ms. Ruggles, go ahead.
MS. RUGGLES: Thank you. I just wanted to note kind of how profound
today's testimony was, especially with Aunty Mary Kawena Pukui's
great-granddaughter being here and reading. This is actually where
Aunty Pukui was born, which is really profound. So it's exciting that this is
coming full circle to preserve and protect this land from development, to
continue the practices and the knowledge. I just wanted to note that. I'll
full-heartedly support this.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Ruggles. Anyone else before I close? Well,
thank you so much, Council Members, for your words of support. This place
and this transaction leaves me speechless.
I would like first thank Laura Kaakua and Hamana; and also this gentleman,
sitting back there, Ron Kim. You know, I think as a collaborative effort, from
where you're coming from and to our grassroots level, this kind of made me
realize that the years of work, as Ms. Eoff said, in creating the PONC, this is
like the poster child of a purchase that in my mind will be the top in all the
purchases that we've made because it is pristine, untouched, and we have an
opportunity to continue this legacy of how important this piece of property is. It
will keep Ka`u, Ka`u, and I think that's really important. We have an
opportunity to do what the community wants for a district that is so rich in
history. So, I ask for your support.
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I really thank everybody for their role in making this happen. And if you need
anything in your negotiations from here on in, to make this happen, please reach
out to us, okay? Alright, Council Members, all those in favor of approving
Resolution 650-18 please say "aye."
Vote on Res. 650-18: The motion to recommend adoption of Res. 650-18 was carried
(Approved) by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Chung, Eoff, Kanuha,
Lee Loy, O'Hara, Poindexter, Richards, Ruggles,
and Chair David — 9.
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
CHR. DAVID: Mahalo, everybody. And right now, I will put Finance
Committee in recess, until again, until the end of the day. Thank you.
Recess: At 2:05 p.m., the Chair called for a recess.
Reconvene: The meeting reconvened at 4:52 p.m.
CHR. DAVID: Aloha, everyone. Welcome back. I'm taking Finance
Committee out of recess only to let everyone know that I will be putting
Finance back into recess until after Council tomorrow, which will be probably
be after Governmental Relations Committee. So right now, Finance will be in
recess until tomorrow after Council. Thank you.
Recess: At 4:53 p.m., the Chair called for a recess.
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R ernnvene
Present
Absent & Excused:
Return to Order
of Rnsiness
August 8, 2018
The meeting reconvened on August 8, 2018, at 3:36 p.m.
Ms. Maile Medeiros David, Chair
Ms. Karen Eoff, Vice Chair
Mr. Dru Mamo Kanuha, Member
Ms. Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Member (came in later)
Ms. Valerie T. Poindexter, Member
Mr. Herbert M. "Tim" Richards, III, Member
Ms. Jennifer Ruggles, Member
Mr. Aaron S. Y. Chung, Member
Ms. Eileen O'Hara, Member
CHR. DAVID: Aloha, Council Members, and welcome back to the Committee
on Finance. I am now taking Finance out of recess, since yesterday. It is
3:36 p.m. Mr. Clerk, can we start at the top of the agenda, please, with
Communication 14.39?
The Chair directed the Committee to return to the order of business.
Comm. 14.39: REPORT OF CHANGE ORDERS AUTHORIZED: JUNE 1 — 15, 2018
From Finance Director Deanna Sako, dated July 9, 2018, transmitting the above
report pursuant to Hawaii County Code Section 2-12.3.
Vote on Comm. 14.39: Ms. Eoff moved to close file on Comm. 14.39. Seconded
Filed by Mr. Kanuha and carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Eoff, Kanuha, Poindexter,
Richards, Ruggles, and Chair David — 6.
Noes: None.
Absent: Committee Members Chung, Lee Loy, and
O'Hara — 3.
Excused: None.
CHR. DAVID: Mr. Clerk, Communication 14.40.
Comm. 14.40: REPORT OF CHANGE ORDERS AUTHORIZED: JUNE 16 — 30, 2018
From Finance Director Deanna Sako, dated July 18, 2018, transmitting the above
report pursuant to Hawaii County Code Section 2-12.3.
Page 37
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August 8, 2018
Vote on Comm. 14.40:
Filed
Ms. Eoff moved to close file on Comm. 14.40. Seconded
by Ms. Poindexter and carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Eoff, Kanuha, Poindexter,
Richards, Ruggles, and Chair David – 6.
Noes: None.
Absent: Committee Members Chung, Lee Loy, and
O'Hara – 3.
Excused: None.
CHR. DAVID: Mr. Clerk, next, please.
Comm. 15.36: REPORT OF FUND TRANSFERS AUTHORIZED: JUNE 16 – 30, 2018
From Controller Kay Oshiro, dated July 16, 2018.
Motion to Close File: Ms. Poindexter moved to close file on Comm. 15.36.
Seconded by Mr. Richards.
CHR. DAVID: Any discussion?
MR. RICHARDS: Yes.
CHR. DAVID: Alright. Mr. Richards, go ahead.
MR. RICHARDS: Actually, Deanna, we don't want you to come to the ballpark
without coming out onto the field.
(Note: At this time, Finance Director Deanna Sako came forward to
address the members of the Committee.)
MS. SAKO: Good afternoon. Deanna Sako, Director of Finance.
MR. RICHARDS: Can you just explain, on the request for transfer, there's a
scratch -out. Does this all have to do with what technical services, salary and
wages, regular scratched out, overtime? Does this all have to do with the volcano
and all that?
MS. SAKO: This one is, yes. I think they just realized they needed an action
overtime account not in the regular S&W (Salary and Wages) account, so we kind
of corrected it for them. We're still in the process of determining like what we're
going to shift over to our disaster account and what not, as we close the books, so
it may not stay there. But right now, all of the departments were able to cover all
of their overtime, in some way, shape, or ability, for last fiscal year.
MR. RICHARDS: With their current budget, and kind of, I guess—cash flow
management?
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MS. SAKO: Yeah, kind of current budget provision account, you know, things
like that.
MR. RICHARDS: Okay, so I assume at some point we're going to see a summary
on the total expenditure for the deal?
MS. SAKO: Yes.
MR. RICHARDS: Okay, thank you. I yield.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Richards. Anyone else? Seeing none, all those in
favor of filing Communication 15.36 please say "aye."
Vote on Comm. 15.36: The motion to close file on Comm. 15.36 was carried by the
Filed following voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Eoff, Kanuha, Poindexter,
Richards, Ruggles, and Chair David — 6.
Noes: None.
Absent: Committee Members Chung, Lee Loy, and
O'Hara — 3.
Excused: None.
CHR. DAVID: Mr. Clerk, Communication 69.7.
Comm. 69.7: FOURTH QUARTER CLAIMS REPORT: APRIL 1 — JUNE 30, 2018
From Claims Investigator/Adjustor Clifford D. Victorine III, dated July 11, 2018,
transmitting the above report pursuant to Section 2-9 of the Hawaii County
Code.
Vote on Comm. 69.7: Ms. Poindexter moved to close file on Comm. 69.7.
Filed Seconded by Mr. Richards and carried by the following
voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Eoff, Kanuha, Poindexter,
Richards, Ruggles, and Chair David — 6.
Noes: None.
Absent: Committee Members Chung, Lee Loy, and
O'Hara — 3.
Excused: None.
CHR. DAVID: Communication 994, Mr. Clerk.
Comm. 994: TABULAR SUMMARY OF BONDED INDEBTEDNESS AS OF
JUNE 30, 2018
From Finance Director Deanna S. Sako, dated July 19, 2018, transmitting the
above report pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 47C.
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Motion to Approve: Mr. Richards moved to close file on Comm. 994.
Seconded by Ms. Poindexter.
CHR. DAVID: Any discussion, Council Members?
MR. RICHARDS: Yeah, question for Deanna.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you. Ms. Sako, can you please come up? And let the
record show that Ms. Lee Loy has joined us. Thank you.
(Note: At this time, Finance Director Deanna Sako came forward to
address the members of the Committee.)
MR. RICHARDS: Thanks, Deanna. Again, this is coming forth. As we're facing
all the financial challenges ahead, our indebtedness percentageI recall you were
saying somewhere between 12 and 15 percent is
MS. SAKO: That's if we were to actually have issued everything, all the debt
that's been authorized.
MR. RICHARDS: Okay.
MS. SAKO: But this summary includes the debt that has been issued. So we're
somewhere between nine and ten percent, and I didn't think to bring that with me
today.
MR. RICHARDS: That's okay. Somewhere, the ballpark—somewhere around
ten percent, so we still have that
MS. SAKO: We still have room, yes.
MR. RICHARDS: Okay, thank you. I yield.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Richards. Anyone else? Seeing none, all those in
favor of filing Communication 994 please say "aye."
Vote on Comm. 994: The motion to close file on Comm. 994 was carried by the
Filed following voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Eoff, Kanuha, Lee Loy
Poindexter, Richards, Ruggles, and
Chair David — 7.
Noes: None.
Absent: Committee Members Chung and O'Hara — 2.
Excused: None.
Page 40
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ORDER OF The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business,
RESOLUTIONS: Order of Resolutions.
(Note: Items in this category were taken up previously, out of order.
CHR. DAVID: Mr. Clerk, move on, please, to Bill 160, Bills for Ordinances.
BILLS FOR The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business,
ORDINANCES: Bills for Ordinances.
Bill 160: AMENDS CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE 15, OF THE HAWAII COUNTY CODE
1983 (2016 EDITION, AS AMENDED), RELATING TO THE CODE OF
Amends Section 2-83 by adding a definition for "truthful" and requiring that
officers and employees of the County be truthful when performing their duties
and dealing with the public.
Reference: Comm. 959
Intr. by: Ms. O'Hara
Postponed: June 18, 2018
(Note: There is a motion by Ms. O'Hara, seconded by Mr. Kanuha, to
recommend passage of Bill 160 on first reading.)
; and
Comm. 959.1: From Council Member Eileen O'Hara, dated July 12, 2018, transmitting
proposed amendments to Bill 160.
CHR. DAVID: Ms. Eoff, go ahead.
MS. EOFF: Because Ms. O'Hara had to leave, she would like this to be
postponed until our next meeting in Kona, to the 21" of August.
Vote on Motion to Ms. Eoff moved to postpone Bill 160 to August 21, 2018.
Postpone: Seconded by Ms. Lee Loy and carried by the following
(Approved): voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Eoff, Kanuha, Lee Loy,
Poindexter, Richards, Ruggles, and
Chair David — 7.
Noes: None.
Absent: Committee Members Chung and O'Hara — 2.
Excused: None.
CHR. DAVID: Mr. Clerk, Bill 166.
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August 8, 2018
Bill 166: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 18-68, AS AMENDED, THE OPERATING
BUDGET FOR THE COUNTY OF HAWAII FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING JUNE 30, 2019
Appropriates revenues in the Research and Development Miscellaneous Private
Contributions account ($1,200); and appropriates the same to the Essential Air
Service Waimea-Kohala Airport - Private account. Funds would be used as a
joint effort between government agencies and the local community to ensure the
continuity of air service at the Waimea-Kohala airport.
Motion to Approve:
Vote on Bill 166
(Approved)
Reference: Comm. 995
Intr. by: Ms. David (B/R)
Mr. Richards moved to recommend passage of Bill 166
on first reading. Seconded by Ms. Poindexter.
CHR. DAVID: Mr. Richards.
MR. RICHARDS: Yeah, we've discussed this, actually, quite a bit today, and it's
probably the cart before the horse. But anyway, if there's any questions, we can
answer them. I just ask for the support.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you. Alright, any more discussion? Seeing none, all those
in favor please say "aye."
The motion to approve Bill 166 on first reading was carried
by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Eoff, Lee Loy, Poindexter,
Richards, Ruggles, and Chair David — 6.
Noes: None.
Absent: Committee Members Chung, Kanuha, and
O'Hara — 3.
Excused: None.
CHR. DAVID: Mr. Clerk, Bill 167.
Bill 167: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 18-68, AS AMENDED, THE OPERATING
BUDGET FOR THE COUNTY OF HAWAII FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING JUNE 30, 2019
Increases revenues in the Federal Grants - Agricultural Crimes Project account
($106,789); and appropriates the same to the Agricultural Crimes Project
account, for a total appropriation of $198,789. Funds would be used by the
Office of the Prosecuting Attorney.
Reference: Comm. 996
Intr. by: Ms. David (B/R)
Page 42
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Vote on Bill 167: Ms. Poindexter moved to recommend passage of Bill 167 on
(Approved) first reading. Seconded by Mr. Richards and carried by the
following voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Eoff, Lee Loy, Poindexter,
Richards, Ruggles, and Chair David — 6.
Noes: None.
Absent: Committee Members Chung, Kanuha, and
O'Hara — 3.
Excused: None.
CHR. DAVID: Mr. Clerk, Bill 168.
Bill 168: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 18-68, AS AMENDED, THE OPERATING
BUDGET FOR THE COUNTY OF HAWAII FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING JUNE 30, 2019
Decreases revenues in the Real Property Taxes account by $3.9 million to
address the anticipated reduction in Real Property Tax revenues resulting from
devaluation of properties that were either destroyed or rendered inaccessible by
the 2018 Kilauea lava flow. The following General Fund accounts are reduced
accordingly: Information Technology Other Current Expenses (-$10,105),
Planning Other Current Expenses (-$30,000), Business Development -Research
and Development (-$10,000), Mass Transit Other Current Expenses (-
$2,712,145), Mass Transit Equipment (-$1,050,000), Transfer to Public Access
Open Space Preservation Fund (-$78,000), and Transfer to Public Access Open
Space Preservation Maintenance Fund (-$9,750).
Motion to Approve: Ms. Eoff moved to recommend passage of Bill 168 on
first reading. Seconded by Mr. Richards.
(Note: At this time, Finance Director Deanna Sako came forward to
address the members of the Committee.)
CHR. DAVID: Discussion, please let me know?
MR. RICHARDS: Yes, really quick.
CHR. DAVID: Mr. Richards, go ahead.
MR. RICHARDS: Deanna?
(Note: At this time, Finance Director Deanna Sako came forward to
address the members of the Committee.)
MR. RICHARDS: The initial projection of reduction in revenue stream is
$5 million. Is this a corrected estimate?
Page 43
FC -40
August 8, 2018
MS. SAKO: Excuse me. Deanna Sako, Director of Finance. Not exactly. What
happened was, it really did add up to, I think, $4.9 million. However, we talked
to Corporation Counsel, because part of our total was delinquent taxes on those
properties that were also lost, the ones we have a tax lien on. So we were going to
write them off, because at a tax sale, they would be worthless. We wouldn't be
able to sell them.
MR. RICHARDS: It's probably true.
MS. SAKO: However, Corporation Counsel advised to just hold off for now,
because there could be properties changing hands. If part of the plan is to maybe
buy out some of these landowners so that they don't ever move back or develop in
that area again, there could be money changing hands, and we would be able to
recover our tax lien.
MR. RICHARDS: Awesome.
MS. SAKO: So, I thought, I was really glad we talked to Corporation Counsel,
and they advised us. So we're going to wait on that. However, the departments
have been notified via the cabinet meeting that they need to control their
expenditures because, you know, we may not hit our true—so the $5 million is
still a good number, it's just we're not writing it off at this time.
MR. RICHARDS: Okay, so it's that rough number, $1.1 of tax liens, et cetera,
that you're kind of nebulous right now?
MS. SAKO: Yeah. And, you know, if we have to, we'll just have each
department, you know, kind of hold back. They've already been warned, you
know, not to run out and spend everything. Not to mention, we don't know yet
what else is going to happen with the lava yet. We don't know how many more
fires we're going to have. We don't know how many more hurricanes we're
going to have. Like any other year, we have to kind of hold back and not spend
everything anyway.
MR. RICHARDS: Okay, thanks. I'm ready. Thanks.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Richards. Anyone else? Ms. Lee Loy, go ahead.
MS. LEE LOY: Thank you, Chair. Deanna, and I'm not even sure if I'm going
to ask this correctly, because I noticed that it's coming out of the General Fund.
But there's two items: transfer to Public Open Space Fund, and then Open Space
maintenance. Yeah, could you help me understand?
MS. SAKO: So when we do the normal budget each year, we budget two percent
of Real Property Tax revenues to transfer to the PONC Fund, and then a quarter
percent to go into the PONC Maintenance Fund. So now that we're reducing
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FC -40 August 8, 2018
those revenues, we're also reducing the transfers to those funds. So the
expectations of what's going to those funds is now lower.
MS. LEE LOY: We're using the same formula as if we're putting it in and taking
it out?
MS. SAKO: Yes.
MS. LEE LOY: Oh, perfect. Perfect. Thank you so much. I yield. Thank you
for understanding that.
MS. SAKO: Yes, no problem.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Lee Loy. Anyone else? Seeing none, all those in
favor of approving Bill 168 please say "aye."
Vote on Bill 168: The motion to recommend passage of Bill 168 on
(Approved): first reading was carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Eoff, Kanuha, Lee Loy,
Poindexter, Richards, Ruggles, and
Chair David — 7.
Noes: None.
Absent: Committee Members Chung, and O'Hara — 2.
Excused: None.
CHR. DAVID: Mr. Clerk, Bill 169.
Bill 169: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 18-68, AS AMENDED, THE OPERATING
BUDGET FOR THE COUNTY OF HAWAII FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING JUNE 30, 2019
Establishes a General Excise Tax Surcharge revenue account and appropriates
$10 million into this account as anticipated revenue, and establishes and
applies these funds to two new General Excise Tax Surcharge Mass Transit
expenditure accounts, as follows: Other Current Expenses ($4,412,145) and
Equipment ($3,587,855). The remaining $2 million would be appropriated to
the Transfer to Capital Projects Fund expenditure account to be used for bus
shelters and road improvement projects, including Oneo Lane and the
Ane Keohokalole extension.
Reference: Comm. 997
Intr. by: Ms. David (B/R)
Comm. 997.1: From Finance Director Deanna S. Sako, dated July 12, 2018, transmitting
FY 2019 Budget Revision worksheet.
Page 45
FC -40 August 8, 2018
Motion to Approve: Ms. Poindexter moved to recommend passage of Bill 169
on first reading. Seconded by Mr. Richards.
CHR. DAVID: Council Members, discussion?
MR. RICHARDS: Yes.
CHR. DAVID: Mr. Richards, go ahead.
(Note: At this time, Finance Director Deanna Sako came forward to
address the members of the Committee.)
MR. RICHARDS: Though this is not what we discussed previously, when it
came to the GE (General Excise) Tax. What we discussed was the reason we
approved the point two five (.25) percent surcharge was to help us balance the
budget because of the impact.
It was also discussed at that point that the balance, and again rough numbers,
$5 million short -fall in our budget, that the estimated income stream would be
$10 million. That the $5 million will go to help balance our budget; the other
$5 million will be held in a special Council fund for a period of time, until we get
to someplace where we're comfortable with what's going on with the impact of
our volcano. That money is not going to be spent, but it should not be
appropriated at this point either, because the fact that we may have to spend that
money on something else. I'm deeply concerned if we're going to appropriate it.
We have a $518 million budget; if we appropriate this, this will take it to
$523 million. That's not what I signed up for. That's not what our constituents
have signed up for. So I think this is a wrong direction. I'm fully supportive of
taking $5 million out of this and putting it in the budget to make sure we have a
balanced budget. But as written now, I can't support this.
Further, I think we need to be thoughtful on coming forward. We've had a lot of
the discussion, so we're trying to seek funding for the other concerns in our Puna
district, in Pahoa, et cetera, and we have to be cognizant of that, and finding the
funding to take care some of those needs. That's the reason for holding that in
reserve.
I am hoping that we're going to be able to spend that in other places, meaning
Mass Transit, to a point. But we have $6 million out of the General Fund that
goes to Mass Transit. We've replaced them with that and freed up other funding.
You know, Police needs more funding. We've talked about that in the past.
Parks and Recreation needs more funding for their maintenance and repair. What
I signed up for and what I agreed to, was the quarter percent with the $5 million
being held in reserve. I'm very willing to do that, but I'm not willing to support
this, the way it's appropriated. I yield.
Page 46
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August 8, 2018
CHR. DAVID: Thank you. Ms. Sako, do you want to respond?
MS. SAKO: I think we've been consistent throughout. Every time it was asked,
you know, what we would spend the General Excise Tax revenue on, we've been
consistent. You know, it would go towards starting to implement the Mass
Transit Master Plan, which I realize the final version isn't out yet. But we have
been working with the consultant to make sure we're all on the same the page.
The money does go towards the additional buses; increasing routes; really
technology, improving the Fair Collection System as was pointed out in the audit,
there are additional things that were not yet budgeted; in addition to moving the
money over that we just reduced from General Fund for Transit in the last bill.
And then the Capital Project Fund is those two roads, as the Clerk read in.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Sako. Ms. Eoff, go ahead.
MS. EOFF: Thank you. There was a couple of reasons whyI mean, I think I
remember Mr. Richards saying the same thing he's saying now. But there were a
couple of reasons why we couldn't exactly do that. One is, because right now, the
GET surcharge can only be used for transportation and transportation related
projects, and so we were limited.
MS. SAKO: Mass Transit.
MS. EOFF: I mean, we are hoping that maybe that will change, but for now
that's—so I was kind of thinking that what you did here sort of satisfied what we
had talked about, as I remember, because you created a new account, right?
MS. SAKO: Yes.
MS. EOFF: A new account, the GET surcharge account.
MS. SAKO: Yes, we have the new fund.
MS. EOFF: So we will be able to watch it better. It's not like it's just getting
comingled here and there, and harder for us to keep track of it, so I thought this
was a way that we could keep better tabs on it. I appreciate what you did.
MS. SAKO: Yeah, and I think we've been very consistent with the information
that we've been submitting to the Council in terms of what it would be used for;
you know, the buses and miscellaneous equipment, the expansion of programs,
bus stops shelters. This is one of the communications that we submitted, and I do
have a worksheet as well that I can pass out, if that helps to kind of see where it's
going to as well.
MS. EOFF: But I just think we need to clarify that there were limitations on how
we could accept the monies, correct?
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August 8, 2018
MS. SAKO: Yeah, right now the law still says we have to use it all on
transportation; either transit, roads, those type of things, operations or capital
projects, so we're being consistent with that. It doesn't mean we're not going to
ask the legislature to free up the uses and purposes, but for now we're trying to
get all our ducks in a row and make sure that we have all the money in correct
funds.
MS. EOFF: So the way it that it worked to help us balance the budget was that it
freed -up monies.
MS. SAKO: Yes, it freed up $3.9 million.
MS. EOFF: That was going to transportation related projects, and put that money
back into the General Fund, correct?
MS. SAKO: Yes.
MS. EOFF: I guess one thing I'm not quite sure on is how come now it's not
balanced, because now we have more in, right?
MS. SAKO: We do. So we reduced the real property—so the last bill reduced
real property taxes by $3.9 million and expenditures by $3.9 million. We put that
$3.9 million back in.
MS. EOFF: Right.
MS. SAKO: That's part of this amendment for Mass Transit. In addition, to the
additional expected funds of—to get it up to the total, $10 million that we're
expecting to receive on General Excise Tax. So it's still balanced.
MS. EOFF: Where's the additional expenditures?
MS. SAKO: So on the worksheet that I just passed out, on page two, it kind of
shows where it's going (see Comm. 997.1). So the first column that says the
first page is actually Bill 168 that you just approved, and then the second page
is the one that relates to Bill 169. So there's actually $3,762,145 that we removed
from General Fund that still relates to Mass Transit, so that's what we're
re-establishing. And then the second column, under GET, is the additional
things, like the $1.6 million under contract services for additional routes as well
as—I've got to find my little cheat sheet the expansion of services, which is
the additional routes; the technology improvements is the other piece of that, as
well as the bus stops signs, which is the $100,000. Buses are down below, the
$1.8 million, and $700,000 for technology.
The $2 million, $1.5 million is for roads, and half a million ($500,000) is for the
bus shelters themselves. It's consistent with the correspondence that we sent in
earlier, that I think Nancy went over; that had the Fiscal Year 2018-19 and the
Page 48
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August 8, 2018
Fiscal Year 2019-20 plan. That was consistent with the Mass Transit Master
Plan.
MS. EOFF: Thank you. I yield.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Eof£ Mr. Richards.
MR. RICHARDS: So if we approve Bill 169, what is the annual budget for the
County?
MS. SAKO: $6.1 million more than it is right now.
MR. RICHARDS: So we go up to—we go from $518 million up to $523 million.
That's not what we signed up for. We do not have to spend money we collect, is
that correct?
MS. SAKO: That is correct.
MR. RICHARDS: And the intention was to hold the money in reserve, and that's
what we discussed in Committee. That's what we discussed during the whole
GE process, to hold that money in reserve. I'm not going to increase our budget.
We already had a six plus percent increase to go up to where we are. This will
increase it substantially more, and I will not support that at all. I will replace it
because that's what we agreed to do. But increasing expenditure, I will not do.
We need to hold that in reserve. That's what we agreed to, and that's what I'm
going to be holding. I yield.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Richards. Ms. Poindexter.
MS. POINDEXTER: With no disrespect, but I thought I agreed that not to be in,
like reserve, but I knew that it was going to go towards transportation and to
improve our transportation services. I just want to say what my recollection and, I
thought, what I was voting on was for. So I will be supporting this to improve our
Mass Transit. Thank you.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Poindexter. Anyone else? No? Ms. Ruggles, go
ahead.
MS. RUGGLES: Thank you. Okay, so just be clear. This is to set up a fund to
help offset—
MS. SAKO: Part of the General Excise Tax bill that was approved, the quarter
percent. Part of that bill was to establish the General Excise Tax Fund so that we
could account for it and be transparent as to where the money would be going.
Where we're appropriating to is the same places that we kept distributing that
same worksheet as to how we would allocate the $10 million. We created the
fund in that bill that did the General Excise Tax, and now we're actually doing the
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August 8, 2018
budget amendment to actually appropriate that $10 million that's expected to
come in from General Excise Tax.
MS. RUGGLES: Okay, great. So this will sort of assure this money will be used
for the Mass Transit improvements?
MS. SAKO: Yes.
MS. RUGGLES: Okay, great.
MS. SAKO: Just to clarify, the $1.5 million is for road projects so that the
Ane-Keohokalole extension can be started, the planning and design; and
Oneo Lane, I think, was the other one.
MS. RUGGLES: Right. I remember those two projects. Okay, yeah, I'll be
supporting this. Thank you.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Ruggles. Mr. Richards, go ahead.
MR. RICHARDS: So am I understanding everybody is good for increasing taxes
again? Because that's what you just did by increasing the expenditures. No, as I
disagree. I disagree. That's what we said, we're going to hold it in reserve until
we go forward because that's what we agreed to. I'm going to pull the transcripts
because I cannot support. I'm very disappointed.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Richards. Ms. Eoff.
MS. EOFF: Okay, I have a kind of procedural kind of a question or clarification.
Because there's no way we can increase our revenue; mean, we voted to increase
the GET?
MS. SAKO: Yes.
MS. EOFF: So we are in doing that, increasing our revenue by approximately
$10 million.
MS. SAKO: Right. And I think we've been consistent, that when we said that a
quarter percent, General Excise Tax for January 1st through June 30
MS. EOFF: And that's just half the year.
MS. SAKO: Half a year would be $10 million. That's been our estimate all
along.
MS. EOFF: I'm just saying understanding the budget process, once we do that,
it automatically increases our revenue.
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August 8, 2018
MS. SAKO: It does, yes.
MS. EOFF: And so we did raise—we raised that tax. I think we have to—well,
we don't have to spend it, but we have to at least create some expenditure line
items because we have to come up with a balanced budget. I don't know how
else we could have taken in this extra money from the GET without providing
some kind of a balance, right?
MS. SAKO: Right. And so all we're trying to do is to show the General Excise
Tax revenue of $10 million as well as show where the expected expenditures will
be. We've said $10 million all along. We're putting it in the same accounts
we've talked about each time. We've passed out that, you know, worksheet many
times, saying, you know, where the expected uses were. It's consistent with the
Mass Transit Master Plan. That's about to be submitted, and I think it's coming
up in a couple of weeks. So we're doing our best to tell everyone how we're
going to use it, and trying to get it so that they can improve the transit system.
MR. RICHARDS: That's not what we discussed. And didn't you just say we
didn't have to spend it?
MS. SAKO: We don't have to, but I believe—all I said was we're being
consistent. We've all along said this is where we'll be spending the money.
CHR. DAVID: Ms. Eoff, you still have the floor.
MS. EOFF: Yeah, just like remembering back in the discussion, I pretty vividly
remember, even words out of Mr. Chung, that he was voting for it so that we
could get ahead with this Mass Transit Master Plan. And some of these other
expenses that you've itemized, I don't know whether weI just don't really
remember ever saying we were going to just take in the GE surcharge and hold it
in reserve.
MS. SAKO: I don't either. I know Mr. Richards has been consistent. But, yes.
MS. EOFF: Yeah, I don't think we
MS. SAKO: But I think we've also been consistent in saying where we would
spend it.
MS. EOFF: Thank you.
CHR. DAVID: You yield? Okay, thank you, Ms. Eof£ Ms. Ruggles, go ahead.
MS. RUGGLES: Yeah, I'm confused. Because I do remember that worksheet
and I remember when everyone voted on the GE Tax. It was very clear where the
money was going to be spent. It was in Mass Transit. There were two projects in
Kona and one in Hilo, which I didn't support but everyone else did, so here we
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are. Does this require—if we create this account, will it require the County to
raise taxes again?
MS. SAKO: No, it's the same, quarter percent. That was already approved by
the Council.
MS. RUGGLES: Okay, thank you.
MS. SAKO: Yes, no additional taxes.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Ruggles. Anyone else? No? Alright, all those
in favor of approving Bill 169 please say "aye."
Vote on Bill 169: The motion to recommend passage of Bill 169 on
(Approved): first reading was carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Eoff, Kanuha, Poindexter
Ruggles, and Chair David – 5.
Noes: Committee Member Richards – 1.
Absent: Committee Members Chung, O'Hara and
Lee Loy – 3.
Excused: None.
CHR. DAVID: Mr. Clerk?
MR. HENRICKS: For the record, would you mind just—we usually give the
who voted and then the absent people, please.
CHR. DAVID: Okay, I'm sorry. We have five "ayes." Mr. Richards voted "no";
Ms. O'Hara, Ms. Lee Loy, and Mr. Chung are absent.
MR. HENRICKS : Thank you.
CHR. DAVID: Thank you. Alright, I guess that takes us to the end of Finance.
Please, may I have a motion to adjourn?
ADJOURN- There being no further business, at 4:07 p.m., Ms. Poindexter moved to adjourn
MENT: the meeting. Seconded by Mr. Kanuha and carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Eoff, Kanuha, Poindexter
Richards, Ruggles, and Chair David – 6.
Noes: None.
Absent: Committee Members Chung, O'Hara and
Lee Loy – 3.
Excused: None.
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CHR. DAVID: We are adjourned.
Approved:
c
Ms. Maile eiros David, C it
Finance Committee
MD/na
August 8, 2018
;L?-- M
(Date)
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