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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN PWPRC 2018/11/01 2016-2018Committee on Public Works and Parks and Recreation 27th Session Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii November 1, 2018 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Public Works and Parks and Recreation ORDER: was called to order at 2:06 p.m., in the Council Chambers, Hilo, by Ms. Maile Medeiros David, Acting Chair. R(1T T CAT T Present: Ms. Maile Medeiros David, Vice Chair Mr. Aaron Chung, Member Ms. Karen Eoff, Member Mr. Dru Mamo Kanuha, Member Ms. Eileen O'Hara, Member Member Ms. Valerie T. Poindexter, Member (came in later) Mr. Herbert M. "Tim" Richards, III, Member Absent & Excused: Ms. Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Member Ms. Jennifer Ruggles, Chair STATEMENTS The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of FROM THE business, 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: Steve Hirakami: Kathy Emery: (representing Kapoho Farmers) Felicia Frazer -Harms: Greg Owen: Narayan Shapley: Luana Jones: (representing Kapoho Farmers) Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. PWPRC-27 November 1, 2018 Kathryn Kuhlman: Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. (representing Hawaiian Shores Recreation Estate) Roger Guenette: Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. (representing Hawaiian Shores 1137), in support. Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. Community Association) Libby Oshiyama: Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in opposition. Charlene Hart: Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), comment. Bobbi Cuttance: Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. Nancy Paul: Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. Robert Taylor: Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. Jon Olson: Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. James Weatherford: Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. Rene Siracusa: Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. (representing Malama O Puna Dave Kisor: Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. Braja RuthAnne Tarlete: Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. (representing Pu`u`a Community and Road Association) Kykana Munday: Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in opposition. Dick Munday: Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. Adam Harms: Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. Tiffany Edwards -Hunt Emily Naeole: Ano Hanamana: Nancy Seifers: Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. Page 2 PWPRC-27 November 1, 2018 Ruth Victorino: Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. Bryan (no last name noted Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. on statement form) Panna Makuna: Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. Geoffrey Last: Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. Jason Twillman: Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. Gerald W. Wright: Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. Patty Kroh: Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), comment. Dennis Kroh: Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), comment. Patricia Leo: Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. Brooke Olson: Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. (representing business owners in Leilani) Kendra Tidwell: Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. David Webb: Res. 732-18 (Comm. 1137), in support. ACTING CHR. DAVID: Council Members, do we need a short break? Yes. Alright, we're going to take a short break for five minutes, and we'll be right back. Thank you, we're in recess. Recess: At 4:06 p.m., the Chair called for a recess. Reconvene: The meeting reconvened at 4:15 p.m. ACTING CHR. DAVID: I'm taking the Public Works and Parks and Recreation Committee out of recess right now. Mr. Clerk, we are going to proceed with Orders of Resolutions. COMMUNI- The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, CATIONS: Communications. (There were none.) Page 3 PWPRC-27 November 1, 2018 ORDER OF The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, Order RESOLUTIONS: of Resolutions. ACTING CHR. DAVID: Please read in Resolution 730-18. Res. 730-18: GRANTS A VARIANCE FROM CHAPTER 3, SECTION 3-11(a)(1)(B) HAWAII COUNTY CODE 1983 (2016 EDITION AS AMENDED), TO ALLOW A SIGN WITH AN AREA OF 32 SQUARE FEET AT 76-274 LAKO STREET FRONTING KUAKINI HIGHWAY, TAX MAP KEY: 7-6-013:041 (ZONED "CV -10" DIRECTORY SIGN IN COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT) The Easley Corporation seeks a variance for an existing ground sign used to indicate gasoline prices that exceeds the 24 -square foot limitation. Reference: Comm. 1133 Intr. by: Ms. David (B/R) (Note: At this time, Public Works Building Division Plans Examining Manager Neil Erickson came forward to address the members of the Committee.) Motion to Approve: Ms. Poindexter moved to recommend adoption of Res. 730-18. on first reading. Seconded by Mr. Kanuha. ACTING CHR. DAVID: We have Mr. Erickson here from Public Works. Can you please go ahead? And we also have Mr. Easley folks in the Kona side observing. Mr. Erickson, would you just go ahead and give us a brief summary of what this is. MR. ERICKSON: Good afternoon. I'm Neil Erickson, Plans Examining Manager for Public Works, Building Division. This variance is because the Sign Code is pretty specific on sizes, heights, and in particular, for areas within the KVDC, Kailua Village District Design area. This exceeds that to a small degree, so they requested this to come before you for your attention and decision as to whether or not it would be appropriate or acceptable to exceed the amount in limits by the Code. ACTING CHR. DAVID: Okay, Council Members, any discussion? Mr. Kanuha, go ahead. MR. KANUHA: Just briefly. This will be fast. I definitely approve of this. I met with the owners of this property. It's pretty self-explanatory, if you read the description in the resolution. I'm going to ask for the Committee's support of this. Page 4 PWPRC-27 November 1, 2018 ACTING CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Kanuha. Council Members, any other discussion on this? Seeing none, all those in favor please say "aye." Vote on Res. 730-18: The motion to recommend adoption of Res. 730-18 was carried (Approved) by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Chung, Eoff, Kanuha, O'Hara, Poindexter, and Acting Chair David — 6. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Lee Loy, Richards, and Ruggles — 3. Excused: None. MR. ERICKSON: Thank you. ACTING CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Erickson. Alright, Mr. Clerk, please move on to Resolution 732-18. Res. 732-18: URGES THE COUNTY OF HAWAII TO MAKE RECOVERING THOSE SECTIONS OF COUNTY HIGHWAY 132 THAT WERE INUNDATED WITH LAVA FROM THE MAY 3, 2018 VOLCANIC ERUPTION A TOP PRIORITY IN PUNA'S RECOVERY EFFORTS, AND COMMENCE PLANNING THE FUNDING AND ROUTING OF A REPLACEMENT ROAD AND IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION OF ALTERNATIVE ROUTES TO ACCOMMODATE RESIDENTS OF AFFECTED COMMUNITIES Requests that the County Administration prioritize the realignment of Government Beach Road and opening of the Railroad right-of-way to Kahala Street and/or Kehau Boulevard as a means to alleviate some of the negative impacts of the 2018 volcanic eruption. Reference: Comm. 1137 Intr. by: Ms. O'Hara Motion to Approve: Ms. O'Hara moved to recommend adoption of Res. 732-18. Seconded by Ms. Poindexter. ACTING CHR. DAVID: Ms. O'Hara, we have Director Simeon and Mr. Whitmore here, so I'm going to call them up to the table first. (Note: At this time, Public Works Director Allan Simeon and Research and Development Deputy Director Ron Whitmore came forward to address the members of the Committee.) Page 5 PWPRC-27 November 1, 2018 ACTING CHR. DAVID: I believe they have a briefing. I'm not sure how you want to do this. You want them to brief first or do you want to do your comments? MS. O'HARA: I actually have a briefing. ACTING CHR. DAVID: Okay, Ms. O'Hara, go ahead. MS. O'HARA: Okay. We've heard a lot of testimony today, dozens, and dozens. and dozens. There are probablyI don't think there were any testimony that did not support recovering of 132 (Highway 132). We're always going to have discussions one way or the other about alternative access. That raises an issue for a lot of people and that's to be expected. Ultimately, the only solution that solves all of the problems is to recover Highway 132. So with that preference, I got up early this morning and drove out to the area that we're talking about because I knew that the rest of the Council Members have nothing but a map to look at and are not really that familiar with the inundated area. I thought a little photo, I say, would be helpful, so that's what I put together this morning. It starts with the County's emergency access road, which was put in on 2014, when we were threatened with lava flow to Pahoa town. It connects Kehau Boulevard in Nanawale to Kahala Street, which is Railroad in Hawaiian Shores. It has been kept gated throughout this whole event, in 2018, except for one day that it was open and a few hours it was open the other day for the police shooting. So it has not been opened to the public to use. As a result, I witnessed and heard from a lot of farmers up in Noni Farms area, who had to jump through a thousand hoops to try to save their possessions. We lost 150 head of cattle, the lava in there, because they couldn't be moved quickly. It never got opened, and it is prepped and sitting there. I was always a little troubled by that, but we should be. We need more roads into this area. I think we're still existing in this state of mind that there's no population out there, but there's a lot of people living out there. We have 150 homes. We used to have around 200 in the Noni Farms area. They're still active. I drove by papaya farms, active papaya farms, active orchid houses, this morning when I was meandering down Railroad in my low -riding car. It was going about 5 miles an hour. It took a quite a while. Anyhow, I was able to get up to the gate that is closed on Railroad, and that gate is at the start of the kahuwai, which is Bishop Estate's land. So backing up, if you'll open to page one, I just want to give you a little scenario of what we are talking about here. The gated emergency road coming out of Kea`au, and you can reference the map thank you. Neil gave us this other Page 6 PWPRC-27 November 1, 2018 map, this bigger map (see Comm. 1137.1). If you look for Nanawale Estates, you'll find there is no line on this map, but there is a road that connects Kehau, which is the second street over from the north, and it goes out and connects to Railroad. I drew it in myself because it wasn't there. I also have it drawn in on this very flimsy hand -drawn map that is the first page of the PowerPoint presentation (see Comm. 1137.36). So, that is Kea`au Street. That's what it looks like. It's prepped. It's graveled. It's a two-lane road. When I happened to arrive there yesterday evening, it was open. The gate was open because one the papaya farmers had opened it to get in, and I didn't realize that some of the people have keys to get in there. But, real nice. I learned from them that every time they can try and plant new papayas, they are being eaten by pigs, so they're getting nowhere fast. It's very sad. Then I drove around to Hawaiian Beaches side, which is where that emergency road exits onto Kahala Street, also known as Railroad, and took pictures from that point. This road is fairly level, really well-prepared. We have not been driving on it, so it's in very good condition, but it is gated. It connects in both instances to Kehau Street, which is a county -owned boulevard, 60 -foot right-of-way. Kahala is a 60 -foot right -of way, but the section that it connects to is privately held by Hawaiian Shores Community Association, so there's about a quarter -mile of privately held road. To get from the gate at Kehau Street in Nanawale up to the entrance of NanawaleI'm going to ask for additional time to do the presentation, would you be willing to allow? ACTING CHR. DAVID: Thank you. Director, you have any? MR. SIMEON: No objection. ACTING CHR. DAVID: Okay. MS. O'HARA: Thank you. ACTING CHR. DAVID: Council Members, are we okay? Alright, go ahead. MS. O'HARA: From Keahau gate to the top of Nanawale Estates is about three miles. From the gate at Kahala Street up to the top of Kahakai Boulevard, where it intersects at Highway 130, is about four miles. So that gives you kind of an idea of where that emergency road is. You will see that—and I'll pass my map down, since you all don't know this little road that I've just drawn in that didn't appear on the map, that it connects with the old Railroad right-of-way. Page 7 PWPRC-27 November 1, 2018 I then went down to Hawaiian Shores, to the end of Coastal Puna Parkway. These roads were built 1970-71. The General Plan, at the time the County's General Plan, called for a coastal road all the way from Hilo to Kapoho. So this road was laid out as an 80 -foot right-of-way, with the intention of interconnecting with the Government Road, coming from Paradise Park, which it does, and then on to the Government Road which goes on out to Kapoho. That connection was never made; it remains a dead-end, but it is an 80 -foot right-of-way. As you can see from the next picture, looking back up that right-of-way, it's a well-maintained 24 -foot wide asphalt road with grassy shoulders. To be honest, Hawaiian Shores Community Association, who actually started this whole process, the board, is interested in possibly divesting of this roadway and giving it the County. They are well -aware that they need to go through a membership vote in order to do that. They have a strategy for doing that, so just letting you know. Coastal Puna Parkway is the second street up from the ocean. The very bottom street is what remains of the original Puna Trail, which goes all the way back to footpath time, and originates at the Hilo airport and goes all the way up Kapoho. That has become known as the Government Beach Road. But where it crosses Hawaiian Beaches' shores, it is called Papio Street. If you look at the entrance to the Government Beach Road, off of Papio Street, you'll see some white lettering. It's in reverse, but what that says is "private property." That's because that roadway is held by Hawaiian Shores Community Association. It is only a 40 -foot right-of-way. So it connects with the Government Beach Road. From that point to the other end of the Government Beach Road, which is about 3.8 miles, it was gravel up until the second week of May of this year. There were sections that had been paved in the past to stabilize the slopes but most of it was gravel. Then around May 10, the County did a 10 -foot wide paving all the way down to the 3.8 miles, where there was no existing paving. That was in advance of what we considered we were going to have a massive evacuation from the Kapoho area. It was the right thing to do at the time. It was heart -breaking to do. This is a preserved area, which most of the rest of the island knows very little about. But it is a very, very special place, and the Kahuwai is considered the oldest village on this island. The ahupua`a extends all the way up pass Pahoa. So, that was done on May 10. If you look back from the Government Beach Road, looking up Papio Street, you can see how narrow it is. It also has three speed humps. Interesting that we were talking about speed humps earlier. The reason those were put in by the residents was because of speeding at night, drag racing on Papio Street. There's a very dangerous blind hill, the hill on which Mr. Wright lives, who testified. It's was just accidents waiting to happen, so we put in the speed humps. Page 8 PWPRC-27 November 1, 2018 Right now we have—according to Sanford, who has been at the meetings with us at Public Works—we've had meetings with Sanford and Lono Lyman present. According to him and according to the residents, there's something like 20 to 30 cinder trucks entering, coming to the pits, getting their cinder, and coming back via the Government Beach Road. They tend to drop cinder when they go over the speed humps, so now the road is full of all kinds of crumble, and that is causing it to deteriorate a bit. ACTING CHR. DAVID: Ms. O'Hara? MS. O'HARA: Yes? ACTING CHR. DAVID: That was your second five -minutes, and if you're not finished MS. O'HARA: Oh, I'm okay. No, I'm not finished. ACTING CHR. DAVID: I know you're not. If no one else is going to object, do you think another five minutes will get you? MS. O'HARA: I think so. I'm about half -way through this. ACTING CHR. DAVID: Alright. If no objections, then, Mr. Clerk, can you reset timer, please? Thank you. Go ahead. MS. O'HARA: One of the testifiers referenced a one -acre community park that was put in by the homeowners association. It is attractant to many people; kids, pets, visitors. That's right along that stretch of Papio, which is now being traversed by large commercial trucks. Now, the County claims a 10 -foot right-of-way on the oceanside of Papio Street. I gave a picture of it because Hawaiian Shores has been maintaining their 10 -foot right-of-way, but some of that right-of-way has already potentially fallen into the ocean because there's been erosion at the cliff there. So I showed a picture of where that 10 -foot right-of-way kind of resides. The next picture, enter into the Government Beach Road, the first place you come to is Honolulu Landing. This is the only place along that roadway that it comes by the ocean. It's a beautiful spot, but again, the road has fallen into the ocean. You can see the curvature with the yellow poles. That road used to go straight. I moved out here 40 years, and I've watched it push its way mauka, slowly pushed its way mauka. Page 9 PWPRC-27 November 1, 2018 Then on the next picture, this is about a quarter mile across Honolulu Landing, you come up to a very steep hill. You're looking at the low point of Honolulu Landing. While people said that it's perfectly safe in the stormsI know these people who've lived here only four years. I've been here nearly 40, and I have tried to traverse that during hurricane and tsunami and found it full of boulders, the size of Volkswagens. It is not always traversable. It's a beautiful spot to recreate, but it doesn't really service well as an emergency road. Then I have some images along that road. You can see the 10 -foot wide paving. In some places there's no shoulders. We have a grove of dedicated mango trees that are exceptional tree status. They cannot be easily removed. That's in the County Code. On the next page, you'll seeI took a picture of the lip. The lip is, in some places, four feet between the asphalt, and what exists is the shoulder. This is making it kind of unsafe for passengers/vehicles to pull over, for cyclists, for pedestrians. That is something that Mr. Azevedo said he will be getting back to remedy, hopefully this month. What's left of—when you get to the other end of the 3.8 miles, you're at the remnant of Highway 137 that existed. Went up to Four Corners, about a mile road—we were supposed to have that paved. It was on the paving schedule for last year; fortunately, it never got done. And then the next picture is looking back from that remnant of Highway 137 into the Government Beach Road. Just so you know, Papaya Farms road comes off of there. The Waa Waa Subdivision comes off of this section of Government Beach road. We're now providing the exit/entrance for all of Noni Farms. There's about 1,000 people now dependent on the Government Beach Road as their only egress and ingress. Farmers need access. The President of HPIA (Hawai`i Papaya Industry Association) called me yesterday. He has 700 plantable acres, and he can't get to out there. So, we need to create access. At the end of the remnant of Highway 137 is where the lava encroached. About 100 yards north of Four Corners, you see that lava wall. Before you get there, you see the entrance to the cinder pits, Kapoho cinder pits, which is owned by Lono Lyman but leased to Sanford. I have an aerial view of the Kapoho cinder pits taken from a flight I took about three weeks ago with Representative San Buenaventura, looking at developing roads. There's also the Cinder Road, which comes off between the entrance of the cinder pit and the end of the Government Beach Road. That was slightly improved, although it's already getting bad. From there, you can go up that cinder, what's called Cinder Road, and you get on to Railroad, the old Railroad right-of-way. Page 10 PWPRC-27 November 1, 2018 You can't turn left, or you'll run into lava, but you can turn right. The road bed is barely traversable as my Prius will attest. You go up Railroad about a half -a -mile, and you come to the intersection of Noni Farms Road. Noni Farms used to loop out to Highway 132, but that other entrance is now blocked. There's about 150 homesteads up in that area. And then, if you keep going pass the Noni Farms connection, you hit a gate, and that is the gate that keeps people from going out on Railroad. So that gives you an idea of what the area looks like, and I just wanted you to know because I know you're not familiar with it. Well, it's hard to see it all from the helicopter too, but I just did some pictures and photos so that you could be at least acquainted with the area. Thank you. ACTING CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. O'Hara. Director, would you like to give a presentation or a response to the resolution? Mr. Whitmore, I know you have a presentation, also. Okay, go ahead. MR. SIMEON: Allan Simeon, Director of Public Works. I would like to give the floor first to Ron because he's involved with the Comprehensive Recovery Plan. Our information is more detailed as far as specifically. ACTING CHR. DAVID: Okay, great. Thank you. Mr. Whitmore, identify yourself. MR. WHITMORE: Good afternoon, Council Members. My name is Ron Whitmore. I'm Deputy Director of the Department of Research and Development. The Mayor has asked Diane Ley, our Director and service long- term Recovery Manager—so her and many people in our office and many other departments in County have been working very hard for a number of months to get all the pieces in place to help the community in Puna recover. I want to first thank all the testifiers. I was listening carefully to everything you folks shared today. I just wanted to, I guess, personally express my sympathy for the experiences people have endured over the recent months. We understand that it's been and continues to be very difficult for people. I know that government sometimes appears to be bureaucratic in nature and almost is always slower moving than many of us would prefer, but I hope people understand that it's not because of a lack of concern or compassion, it's simply small number of people with limited resources trying to do the best they can to meet the community's needs. Thank you also for bringing this resolution to the floor. It's a good opportunity for all of us to talk about; bring to the public's view, the conversations that have had over the recent months to explore these issues very specifically. Page 11 PWPRC-27 November 1, 2018 Allan, really, today is the best resource for all of the technical details related to the resolution, including engineering, design, funding and financing issues. Before he speaks to some of those issues, we thought it would be helpful for me to share a bit of the larger context because some of the—well, the resolution is set within the context with a broader long-term recovery effort. Many of the comments here by the public will relate to that larger effort, as well. In terms of decisions, preparations underway, to make decisions related to restoring road access, there are really three main drivers of those sorts of decisions. I'm not telling people anything new, it's things that Mayor Kim and others have been sharing in recent months. Those big three are obviously safety, the desire to return to normalcy as quickly as possible, and the third is prudence. So briefly, safety is still a concern, primarily in the Highway 132 area. (Note: At this time, Mr. Whitmore gave a PowerPoint presentation to the members of the Committee. For viewing of the subject presentation, see the DVD copy of the meeting proceedings on file in the Clerk's office. A copy of the PowerPoint presentation is made a part of the record, see Comm. 1137.2.) ACTING CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Whitmore. Director, do you have anything to add? MR. SIMEON: Yes, please. The first thing I would like to talk about is the Old Government Beach Road. That's the one that we did pave. It did its purpose. I'm glad that we were there, was ready to use when the lava came, and I believe that's a smart decision with all the leadership here. We had discussed with Ms. O'Hara that we'll be coming there to taper the edges. We understand that a lot of people doesn't have a four-wheel drive, and it's a little bit harder. Experience with that road actually is, as long as you don't have those lips, it behooves you to slow down, so that's one good thing. But yeah, for people who don't have the bigger trucks or what not, yeah, may be affected. So, we'll be coming soon. You heard from Neil. He's here. But we'll be working on that. On the second one, and I'm going to turn over the floor later on to Robin Matsumoto. It's research and the dedicability of the existing roads—and subject matter expert on that. What I can bring you or I can tell you today, as far as Highway 132, is that we have initiated conversation with Federal Highways. Highway 132, just for your information, is a County, Federal aid road, and is a major collector. Because it's a major collector and it's on the list of County, Federal aid, it's with the Federal Highways that we are going to be asking for help. Conversely to Highway 137, it's also on the County, Federal aid list of roads, however it's in rural and minor Page 12 PWPRC-27 November 1, 2018 collector, so it doesn't qualify for the Federal Highways. But we'll be asking FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) for their contribution or help. As far as Highway 132, we did pose the question to the Federal Highways; while we are in the six-month wait period, if we can do some preliminary work, and if we do the preliminary work, should the administration decide not to open the existing alignment, then who will be liable for all the costs that's expended? We are still waiting for their answers. But I can share with you that we are already planning with their help, plain or drone survey for the area, for Highway 132, from the Y to Four Corners. The dialogue with them is continuing. We have to get their guidance, as well. Especially if they do help us, they will finance 80 percent of the costs. However, though, it's not going to be as fast as a click of the button because it still has to go through financing, also, environmental process. I believe they see the need. We'll keep the communication open with them and ask for their help to facilitate this as much as possible. As far as Puna Parkway and also some of the roads that the association wants to dedicate to the County, I'll have Robin speak to that, who had made the research. (Note: At this time, Robin Matsumoto, Public Works Engineer, came forward to address the member of the Committee.) ACTING CHR. DAVID: Thank you very much. Identify yourself for the record. MS. MATSUMOTO: Good afternoon, Council Members. My name is Robin Matsumoto. I'm an engineer with the Department of Public Works, Engineering Division. Part of my responsibilities are for road dedication. On behalf of Council Member O'Hara, we did go out and did a quick assessment of Coastal Puna Parkway as well as Papio. A segment of both roads are county -maintained, county-dedicable, but for some reason other sections were not dedicated to the County back then. I think you mentioned the 70s. Typically, we evaluate everything based on current County dedicable standards. So I'm assuming that when the other portions were dedicated, you know, grass was preferred. You know, they like the grassed area. Unfortunately, now we like everything to be paved from the entire right-of-way. We like drainage features, like drywells. Papio and Puna Parkway were also lacking streetlights. There are some obstructions in the right-of-way that we would want removed like bushes, trees, mail receptacles that are constructed out of rock. So those are some of things that would have to be rectified in order for us to recommend the dedication to the Council. Any questions for me? ACTING CHR. DAVID: Council Members? Page 13 PWPRC-27 November 1, 2018 MS. MATSUMOTO: Allan mentioned that if we were to take out Coastal Puna Parkway and connect to Government Road, that would be like approximately half a mile of road construction and acquisition. ACTING CHR. DAVID: Ms. Poindexter. MS. POINDEXTER: Maybe I'll justAllan, so for people to just get to their homes, can't we justI heard that we need to look an assessment, we need to do this and that. I don't believe in just doing all these studies and figuring it out when people are struggling and need to get to their home. So is there something that we could just put in place, like an emergency type of road that they could utilize and that it's only for the residents only? Not for the public to be coming, and visitors or whatever, just only residents to be able to go onto that. Say we put an emergency access in for residents use only, could that happen? MR. SIMEON: As far as building the road or an access, driveway or so, I don't think that's the main obstacle. MS. POINDEXTER: What is the obstacle? MR. SIMEON: What we need to know is, what is the policy that is developed so that it is applicable to everybody who wants to be provided the access? MS. POINDEXTER: Okay. So not many people around the island gets their road closed off by lava, right? I mean, when we had the earthquake in Hamakua, a bridge fell down. We didn't have access. That was on the access to the other side from Kuka`iau to Pa`auilo to get to that other town. In less than a week, they brought in this temporary bridge to put it in to have access. All I'm saying is this is even better because we're not asking for all of the public to travel on that temporary road access. We're saying put in a temporary access for them to be able to go to their homes, to be able to live, and to be able to farm, and then we work on, you know, what we need to work on. I think Earl Bakken said it so well, when he said, "Fire, ready, aim," you know, something like that, or "aim, fire." I forget what his—but it was like just do it and then let's fix what we need to make it even better. I'm just seeingI mean, if I had a home there, and I have a family and the home is there, but I don't have access to it, it's mind boggling to me that why can't we just have—and unless there's something that cannot be done to give them access—because you could have a temporary road in there, right? That could happen, right? But we're looking at the bigger picture on what is really our goal, right? But in the meantime, give them access. Let's work on what the goal is and only limit the access to residents only, that's all I'm saying. Page 14 PWPRC-27 November 1, 2018 I just want to thank Council Member O'Hara for bringing this resolution forward, and I'm supporting it. Thank you. ACTING CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Poindexter. Director, go ahead. MR. SIMEON: In the case of the cinder land and also to Railroad connecting, so those properties we do have a right of entry but only for emergency purposes. Those are privately owned properties. Like one of the properties that's involved is KSBE (Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate), which we understand that there are some environmental issues in there. I don't know if the County would be objecting to—say Mr. Iwata, if he wants to provide a road for himself to drive on or other people in there, if he can make an arrangement with the private property owners himself. But currently, the County only have the right -of -entry only as an emergency purposes for the residents. MS. POINDEXTER: Isn't that considered an emergency, that they don't have access to their home? I mean, I don't know. You know, when we look at terminology, and we talk about definitions on what is emergency accessI mean, you know, soI'm sorry, I'll yield at this time. I'm sorry, Chair. ACTING CHR. DAVID: That's okay. You want to respond to that? You can go ahead. MR. SIMEON: Currently, that's how it's read, I believe. We can check with our Corporation Counsel. But right now ACTING CHR. DAVID: Okay, thank you. Ms. O'Hara, go ahead. MS. O'HARA: Yeah, I appreciate all of this discussion. Ultimately, the only thing that is going to serve us well is to recover 132. Now, Mr. Simeon, you were sitting at the table with us when we had our meeting with Sanford and Lono Lyman, and you heard Sanford offer to reconstruct the bottom mile. He's very, very anxious to get his trucks going off of the beach road and back on a major highway. So, I'm not really sure how you work that out with the private parties. But we have an offer on the table and that's a starting point. That would get a number of these people that are sitting here back to their farms, if that were done, the bottom mile plus. Because they all live in that section where it's not inundated, they live off of that section. MR. CHUNG: Madam Chairman? ACTING CHR. DAVID: I'm sorry, Mr. Page 15 PWPRC-27 November 1, 2018 MR. CHUNG: If Ms. O'Hara can explain a little bit more about this arrangement with Lono Lyman? MS. O'HARA: Okay. I'm sorry, I should back up. ACTING CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Chung. Go ahead. MS. O'HARA: We had some meetings. It started with the request for Hawaiian Shores Community Association. They had a meeting with me. I suggested they go have a meeting with Sanford about the trucks. Then they came together, and they wanted to have a meeting with Public Works, so we made a meeting with Public Works. We've had two meetings with Public Works about this matter. Then we had a community meeting down on the Government Beach Road. That was attended by about 40, 50 people. A lot of discussion been going over this matter via social media and other places; emails to me, texts to me, and what not. I have contacted the landowners that are the property owners of Honolulu Landing property. I've been in contact with them since the 80s, so I have a connection there. Lono Lyman is the owner of the land underneath the cinder pits and quite a bit of the land in that area of Kapoho. Then, it turns into Chow's property. I've been in discussion with the Chow family, and they're pretty open to rights-of-way. You do have a section there, going across the Kahuwai. Very, very sacred land that KSBE has. I've requested a meeting with them. Many of the higher-ups were out of town. MR. CHUNG: Madam Chairman? It's really difficult. Because I know this thing is coming like that to you. MS. O'HARA: Yeah, I'm sorry. What can I do to help you? MR. CHUNG: All I have is this map. If you could reference, you know, what they're proposing and through what area. MS. O'HARA: Okay, I will try to do that. MR. CHUNG: Yeah, I mean MS. O'HARA: Okay, the Government Beach, from this map, you see it? (see Comm. 1137.1) MR. CHUNG: Right, right. MS. O'HARA: Okay. Where it goes right on the ocean; in fact, it fell into the ocean. That's one section. Page 16 PWPRC-27 November 1, 2018 MR. CHUNG: No, wait. Let me just explain what my confusion is. MS. O'HARA: Okay. MR. CHUNG: Because we're talking about setting the—you know, redoing 132, which runs here, right? So you have these non -inundated areas, and I know there are people who live in that area. What are they proposing? What are these people proposing? MS. O'HARA: The people who live on the south side of 132, and we have a few of them seated before us, do not have any access to their property right now. MR. CHUNG: Okay, right. MS. O'HARA: Okay, and what I was trying to get to and ask Mr. Simeon, is the proclamation that the Mayor put out two days ago contains a new requirement, which is confusing, because it contradicts what one testifier said that he was told by Talmadge back in August. This new condition says, " I further declare no physical modification to the lava flow fields are allowed, including but not limited to clearing, crushing, or the removal of infield of the lava flow field surface with the intent to establish road, trails, driveways, or clearings for any purpose." There are already people in Pohoiki that are going over little fingers of lava that might be 100 feet across from one private property so that they can get to their private property. These are people with equipment. The same is happening in Noni Farms area, and yet the Mayor just made it illegal for this to happen. Could you please explain that? Were you aware this clause was in the new proclamation? MR. SIMEON: The information that you have read there is the same information that I got yesterday. I believe that the committee that is in charge of the Comprehensive Plan, I know that that they are aware of the offer that Mr. Iwata gave, yeah. MS. O'HARA: That is Sanford for those—Mr. Iwata is Sanford Iwata, just so people knowkk. MR. SIMEON: So again, they had to consider all of this information in trying to get a Comprehensive Plan within this area, in which infrastructure will be developed and in place. MS. O'HARA: Well, back to my question, Mr. Simeon. This clause in this new proclamation, we're out there recovering Highway 137. It appears the County is in violation of this clause. Page 17 PWPRC-27 November 1, 2018 MR. SIMEON: I believe if the areas that are being worked on now have to have approval from Civil Defense, in this case for Highway 137, we are only providing a temporary road for the farmers and also for the residents in that area. MS. O'HARA: Okay. So this is what Ms. Poindexter just brought up, is can we not create a temporary access at this time? We don'tI mean, people are willing to wait for a permanent access. I also have a question for you about the Federal Highway's definition. Highway 132 is classified as a major collector because it once was. but it is no longer. MR. SIMEON: No, it is still under the jurisdiction, or it's a Federal Highway's County road. The difference between Highway 137, 137 is in rural and minor collector, so that doesn't qualify under Federal Highways. MS. O'HARA: You told me that, but the definition of major would mean that it has more connections. It lost the connection to Pohoiki Road. It lost the connection to 137. In other words, is it still a major collector? MR. SIMEON: On the list of the roads, it's still under that classification. MS. O'HARA: On their list. But in terms of the qualifications, there are amounts of connections that make a major versus a minor. Is there no amount of car traffic? This is the kind of thing that defines, doesn't it? MR. SIMEON: Yes. MS. O'HARA: So could we not maybe ask for consideration of 132 becoming a more minor? That would free up funds from FEMA. MR. SIMEON: So basically, if one agency is in charge of a roadway, then the other agency won't come forward. So in this case, it is under the jurisdiction of Federal Highways, so FEMA won't come in. MS. O'HARA: Okay. Yeah, I guess I'm not making my point clear. But it just doesn't any longer seem like a major collector even though it is still classified as such. That's what I'm questioning, whether that classification be changed? MR. SIMEON: The classification still stays as a major collector in their books at this point, yeah. It doesn't change. MS. O'HARA: Well, yeah. Page 18 PWPRC-27 November 1, 2018 MR. SIMEON: Actually—so the two differences between Federal Highways and FEMA; Federal Highways gives 80 percent participation, FEMA gives 75 percent participation. MS. O'HARA: So we're better staying major than minor is what you're saying? MR. SIMEON: As far the financing, yeah. MS. O'HARA: Okay. I'm just asking these questions to see where we can more quickly get some money. We have private -party offers. We have Federal Highways. I'm glad to hear that you're already beginning to ask the necessary questions. And I understand that we have a time that we need to wait. But that time—we didn't even wait five months to recover Highway 137. That flow was the end of May. So we need to be moving on because we haven't had any flow over 132 since August, okay? Yeah. MR. SIMEON: So basically, the administration would have had to make the decision. Basically, we are the ones, Engineering, that will execute the decisions. We are part of the input giving, as far as decision-making; but as far as executing, that would be our function, yeah. ACTING CHR. DAVID: Ms. O'Hara, are you done? MS. O'HARA: Yes, I'm hoping that Mr. Chung is getting clear on the map and stuff. MR. CHUNG: Yes. And I like how this discussion is going, really. It's really informal. I mean, short answer is, you know, I'm prepared to support this resolution, but since it's morphed into more of a kind of brainstorming session, that's terrific too. I think what Ms. Poindexter brought up, you know, looking for different alternative routes, particularly if it's only going to be for private use, that's terrific. But I'm stuck becauseI was pointing out to Val that for these people who are landlocked, the narrowest sliver of lava—and I was measuring it with my pen, you know, with this thing, and everything. I don't know. But if it looked like the picture that was presented by the department, it's pretty daunting. Even this narrow sliver, I was telling Val, when I measured it, it's probably going to be about from here close to about where the bridge starts. It's long. How do you break through something like that after what Ron articulated about the temperature that's there, and safety factors? It's going to be very rough. We can discuss this more. But I support it. I just don't know when we can implement something like this. And that's what you guys are talking about, right, different methods? Page 19 PWPRC-27 November 1, 2018 MR SIMEON: So just for clarification on that, it's narrow, which means that it's high, MR. CHUNG: Yeah, right. MR. SIMEON: So would that be the best location to put a cut-off road? Maybe not. MR. CHUNG: It's pretty dangerous, too, I would suspect to bulldoze through that area, right? MR. SIMEON: That's correct. ACTING CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Chung. Anyone else? If not, Ms. O'Hara, go ahead. Oh wait, can I take Ms. Eoff? MS. O'HARA: Sure. ACTING CHR. DAVID: Thanks. Can I take Mr. Chung? Okay. Go ahead, Mr. Chung. MR. CHUNG: And that's whyI mean, given that context, what was being proposed? I mean, based on what I just said, what was being offered by those friends of yours? I mean, where are they going to try to breach to get to one? MS. O'HARA: I'm going to call Ms. Seifers up in a minute, okay? MR. CHUNG: Okay. MS. O'HARA: Nancy, would you be willing to come up? (Note: At this time, Ms. Nancy Seifers came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MS. O'HARA: The one offer came from Sanford Iwata, who is the operator of the Kapoho cinder pits. He has been a community player for decades and third generation in the business. He offered to help rebuild the bottom mile plus that is covered with lava. On the map, 132, you follow it from the Y. The Y, where it splits between Pohoiki, the Lava Tree Park, okay. It goes under lava there. That was the wall that Ron showed in his photo. That's about a mile and a half, and it is inundated. It's over a brown area. That brown area represents the 1955 flow. Then it came down behind Green Mountain. It resurfaced onto 132 and enveloped Green Mountain, and then ran on into Kapoho Bay. So that bottom Page 20 PWPRC-27 November 1, 2018 mile, which is by Green Mountain and the Four Corners area—because his cinder pit, if you look at that red area, that bright red that's kind of going north direction, that came right to the toe of the cinder pits. That's where they exist. So he was very close to being inundated. MR. CHUNG: So he thinks it's safe to go and clear that area? MS. O'HARA: He's ready to do it. He's ready to do it. Now the top portion, if you look over, you'll see the star that says PGV (Puna Geothermal Venture). That is an area that they may be willing to help us recover because they have vested interest in that. They're already in there. Their cubes are being dropped off at the Y. They're using a helicopter to pick them up and take them into the plant. They're already working to reopen. It's a $1 billion business, and we should ask for some kokua. I have asked Ms. Seifers to come up because she's also working with property owners who are on the isolated side of the lava flow, who cannot get to their properties. When I flew over a few weeks ago, there's dozens of roofs. Very pristine. It just makes me cry that you can't be in your places. The ground is green enough. It's just good ag land. This is where papayas were growing. This is where family farms were existing. We need to get our farmers back in there. MS. SEIFERS: I hadn't been home for six months. ACTING CHR. DAVID: Excuse me, can you just identify yourself again for the record? MS. SEIFERS: Once again, I'm Nancy Seifers. ACTING CHR. DAVID: Thank you. MS. SEIFERS: I'm a Kapoho resident. I hadn't been home in six months, and finally got enough money to fly myself and a friend in so we could try to secure the property, the house that was left on my property. Dave Okita, he's another hero these days because he's not charging us that much money. He brings in a net. We brought in a weed -whacker. My point is I hadn't been there for six months. My house is pristine because I cleaned it for Pele when I left, right? I harvested my kale, my basil, and my parsley. I picked avocados. I picked bananas. I picked papayas. It was all still there, right? So I did a lot of hiking for an old lady in those four days. It inspired me to work with all the other people who are still standing, because I walked through a lot of their houses. I walked for four hours. I walked for three hours Page 21 PWPRC-27 November 1, 2018 the next day, and then I walked for another four hours. There are a lot still standing with pristine houses and farms. Okay, so we have formed a hui. There's about 45 of us on the email thread and making a lot of plans. We have proposed. We have been talking to DLNR (Department of Land and Natural Resources). We have been talking to the State Preservation Historical Society. We have been talking to the County about some possible permitting because there are private driveways. We have a route proposed. Where you see the narrowest part of the flow, right? That will be the place to go but it's also the highest part of the flow. So if you go upslope a bit more, right, there's three landowners coming off of that road. It's the Perrys, it's the Chows, and it's Lono Lyman. Once we get permission by all those landowners, right—we have our own equipment. Between the 46 people, who are in this kipuka—yeah, we've committed enough money. If we have to do it ourselves, we may proceed. Because we've even figured—this driveway improvement, somebody at the County, won't even mention his name, he left earlier. He told us, "Call driveway improvement," right? And then proclamation five comes out two or three days later; now it's like, "Don't you get into your own driveway." I want to really commend you, Valerie Poindexter, for saying, "Yes, if you couldn't get home to your home for six months," standing there pristine—and at 70 years old you had to go get a job, pull a mortgage, try to find another house, you know, you understood it. I don't know. I hope you all heard it today. But seem to me you really heard it. Why not, while we wait for the big polices and we wait for ultimate 132 to be opened for everybody, right? I'll tell you, if PGV gets in, we deserve to get in. We've been there longer than they have, right? But there is an access here that we have proposed. We have the equipment. We hate to pay for it ourselves because we all had to get new houses and everything, right? But I'd like to show you, Mr. Chung, just a picture of this. It's not the narrowest part but it's the lowest part. We figured, because everybody's hiked it. You can hike this in 45 minutes now. I can't. Oh yeah, excuse me, you're not supposed to do that. Nobody's really doing that. We just think that you could do it in 45 minutes, right? But you can't bring in all your food. You can't bring in your weedwhacker, and you can't bring in your fire ants spray, and everything. You know, really good to have. So thank you for the time to add this addendum of understanding, I don't want to go to jail. I want to go home. If you guys happen to catch me at my driveway with a dozer, I hope that I'm just trying to go home. There is a way we can do it in two days, Mr. Chung. In two days, we can remove this lava. There are 20 people in Pohoiki. There are 20 houses in Pohoiki. Like I said, Page 22 PWPRC-27 November 1, 2018 they've got waves, they've got beach. There's more 54 of us in that kipuka. You count our babies and our children. So, thank you very much. If anybody wants to see this picture, it's clandestine. You never saw it, yeah? But really, you spoke to the point, it's temporary, it could be done in two days. We could go home, and you could come over for dinner. Thank you. ACTING CHR. DAVID: Mahalo for that. Mr. Kanuha, go ahead. MR. KANUHA: Mahalo you guys for coming out here and testifying. Again, we hear what's going on and we have a lot sympathy and heart for what's happening in Puna. We are just trying to again, understand everything that's going on. You know, this is a lot. There are a lot of pieces to this resolution, and a lot of different alternatives and ways and routes. Yeah, so just hearing from everybody, figuring out where exactly is this private land, public land, government, State. There are a lot of moving pieces to this. I just want to make sure that what Mrs. Seifers said, that addendum to an alternative route is part of this thing, and I don't think it is, but it's something to continue that conversation with Public Works and all the landowners who are a part of that. We want to be able to support and make this some of the top priorities of our County. I just want to make sure I know exactly, you know, top priority, second priority, what's the alternative routes that we're taking and pushing through? I know you guys, Public Works or Ron spoke about that risk assessment, which is good to understand. We want to know exactly the costs benefit analysis throughout that whole thing. Does this resolution coincide with the departments and the Mayors priority list of recovery? I just want to make sure that we're because this is a resolution just to urge the administration to look at these proposed, alternative routes, within this resolution, but are these alternative routes part of the County's plan? MR. WHITMORE: Ron Whitmore again. Well, just to emphasize, as Allan said, we're doing everything we can to prepare for multiple options moving forward. But there is, yet, no plan. We know that when developing critical community plans like this, you have to involve all the key stakeholders. So what we're doing is gathering information, gathering the resources because currently, none of the money from State or Federal have come to support the recovery work so that we can figure out what the plan is. So, just to clarify that. That being said, the funding request that we've prepared certainly include restoring the lost facilities as well as other potential infrastructure that would be Page 23 PWPRC-27 November 1, 2018 needed to meet permanent housing needs, if they're—still some outstanding possibly in other parts of Puna. MR. KANUHA: But in terms of what's on this resolution as to develop some of these proposed alternative plans, are part of these alternative plans on the County's soon to be plan? MR. WHITMORE: So you're referring to the? Oh, there's two parts to this, right? MR. KANUHA: This whole bunch. MR. WHITMORE: Yeah, there's the proposed alternative access routes to realign Government Beach Road and open Railroad right away. That's more of an engineering question, in terms of the feasibility of doing that. I believe it's not MR. KANUHA: Why I'm saying this is because we're voting on this resolution, right? MR. WHITMORE: Yeah. MR. KANUHA: And I just want to make sure that all these pieces are part of your guys' knowledge in possibly moving this thing forward. Obviously, it is if we do move this forward. We just want to make sure that— MR. WHITMORE: Let me address the second part. MR. KANUHA: Okay. MR. WHITMORE: So as it relates to the second "Resolve," rebuilding Highway 132, yes, it's certainly on the table as one of the options. We're making sure we have the resources then to do that, if the decision was made to rebuild that road. One quick thought related to the previous conversation, because this resolution was specific to rebuilding 132, you know, we did not address specifically. That option was discussed just earlier about possibly just, you know, developing an alternative access. That would involve private property. A whole range of issues would have to be explored, but we haven't spoken to that. MR. KANUHA: Yeah, and all of these need to be on the table. We did get a testimony from Kamehameha Schools, and obviously, they were mentioned as part of the part of the "Whereas" in this resolution. As Ms. O'Hara stated, part of the lands that would be affected are very important as she noted. So obviously, Page 24 PWPRC-27 November 1, 2018 you know, they need to be at the table if that's one of the alternative routes that we're going to be pushing. With this memo, they haven't been at the table, which is kind of frustrating to me; why they're not part of this discussion. MR. WHITMORE: Right, again, that's one of the other alternatives, other than 132 that you're speaking to. MR. KANUHA: Yeah. MR. WHITMORE: And ( 9:17:20) has been more active in those conversations about exploring alternatives to Government Beach Road, so I'll defer to Allan on that one. MR. SIMEON: Developing Highway 132, like Ms. O'Hara mentioned, would solve a lot of the issues. One other benefit of staying on the alignment, is basically it would preclude right-of-way acquisition and just going over the lava. MR. KANUHA: No, I think, we've heard it from the community that should be the top priority, I guess. Well, I'll yield at this time since I think I've said enough. I mean, we're here to support this resolution and support Ms. O'Hara and the community but making sure we can find ways to get to your guys' property. That's what we're trying to do, yeah? But I want to make sure that this goes far enough, and it's not just going to be something that we urge. We want tc make sure that we do something, right? ACTING CHR. DAVID: Mr. Chung, if you don't mind, I'm going to go to Ms. Eoff and then I'll go back to you. MR. CHUNG: Okay. ACTING CHR. DAVID: Ms. Eoff, go ahead. MS. EOFF: I just quickly wanted to state that it is just a resolution, and we all want to support it. But I think opening up the conversation, as happened here today, is also part of what we want, the message we want to send. We know that there's a lot of reasons why you can't do things without other things. Like you said, government has to go through a lot of different approval processes; studies and impact analysis, and archaeological. All that. But it shouldn't prevent us from also at the same time looking for the shorter -term fix, and if it can't be open to everybody and is limited to just a few residents, I mean, so be it. It seems like, if—you know, we really can't get clear right now because it's the chicken before the egg thing. We don't know what exactly has to happen. We do have offers, and we do have industrious people. There probably is a way, but I think it would take somebody to take the lead. Maybe that's what this Page 25 PWPRC-27 November 1, 2018 resolution was actually, in my mind, trying to do, is just make a focus group. Get the talk together with the right people and the Mayor. That means there's no more expert than he is about how to help in a time of a disaster, and creative thinking that could go, if the group was put together. I think that would be what I would hope could happen faster than waiting for the full -on, you know, recovery efforts that you guys have been. I thank you. You've been immersed in long-term, which is part of what has to happen. But in the meantime, there's some short-term issues thatI don't know how we get to those because sometimes I think we get caught up in the bigger picture, too. I'm sure that—you sat here all day. You've heard the same things we've heard, and I think now we're getting kind of to a nitty-gritty, where someone just have to take the lead and decide how you move forward. If it's a partnership, private, public, somehow you get around the problems that were brought up by the recent proclamation. I don't really know what that means. I wouldn't know how to interpret it or what it would it prevent from happening, or if that would be amended or worked on. You know, defining better. I'm just asking that you guys take an open-minded approach. Even though we might vote for this resolution, we know it's not the perfect description of everything that is going to happen, but I think we're just trying to say that we really want to focus on some results to just, you know, just to help the people. ACTING CHR. DAVID: Mr. Chung, are you—yeah, that's it? I think everyone else have spoken. MR. CHUNG: And I agree with everyone else. But what I've heard here is that you go through three private properties, and these guys can blaze a trail in two days, whether it's true or not, whatever, but they're pretty— ACTING CHR. DAVID: Motivated. MR. CHUNG: Motivated, yeah. This is sort of an emergency situation. We're still in an emergency situation, right? What troubles me is what Ms. O'Hara showed me in the emergency proclamation, the extension. Why don't we just let these guys do their thing? They're willing to do it. Instead of telling them they can't do it, it's not going to be with the endorsement of the County, it's just let them do it. If they want to do it, if they think they can do it, do it. And after it's done, then we can kind of figure out what we do from there. We might want to incorporate that into our right-of-way. I mean, there's all kinds of ways. I'm just wondering if that is a possibility. We're just trying to find solutions right now, right? Page 26 PWPRC-27 November 1, 2018 MR. WHITMORE: Yeah, and we're on the same page in that regard. Part of the reason I was happy to actually have this opportunity to come today, actually is because much of what is described in the resolution is already underway, right? So, it's an opportunity to share that with all of you. But I apologize because it wasn't specifically mentioned in the resolution. I didn't come prepared to speak to the solution that you're addressing, Aaron. And part of those specific conversations, I simply don't have that. MR. CHUNG: And really, yeah, this has really gone far afield from what's being proposed in the resolution. But since we're here and they're here and you guys are here, we figure just brainstorm this thing as best we can and start the ball rolling here. MR. WHITMORE: Another thing I should emphasize is we hear suggestions all the time. We have conversations from people of various possibilities all time. It's not like there's closed -doors around here in terms of being open to possibilities and creative solutions. You know, that's true for the idea that was just discussed earlier, about possibly cutting through slightly wider but lower near the lava field. I can't make any promises, but I can say that we're happy to have a conversation to explore those possibilities. MR. CHUNG: So anyway, you're not going to hear another peep out of me. I'm ready to vote already. I mean, I want to hear what other people have to say, but I'm ready to vote in favor of this ACTING CHR. DAVID: Ms. O'Hara. Thank you, Mr. Chung. MS. O'HARA: Thank you for this discussion, and thank you all for staying here so late, I mean, it's now 5:30. I know how much this means to all of you, and you're just representing hundreds of other people. Up until now, the recovery plan, as much as has been presented to Council or what I've seen of it, has focused on housing needs. That's needed. I'm not saying it isn't. But most people who are houseless have found some place. It's been six months; we're in November. It may not be ideal, it may not be what you left, but you are probably housed right now. What you guys need are roads. The initial intent of this resolution was to shift the discussion at the County, from housing to road recovery. Let the people go home, let them farm. Farming agriculture was our basis. That is some of our prime land, and there's still hundreds and hundreds of arable lands there, as Steve Hirakami started out saying this afternoon. So this was an attempt to really shift the discussion to road recovery. This is what I'm hearing from Puna, the folks I represent. This is what they need. This is what they really, really need. Page 27 PWPRC-27 November 1, 2018 So this isn't perfect, the plans in here. I'm the one that had reached out to the public parties. It's in my experience, not something that departments tend to do. I've spoken to the Habashis, who have owned Honolulu Landing property since 1980. I've spoken to them, and they're open to working with the County on this. I've spoken and had meetings with Lono Lyman. I've spoken with the Chows. I've reached out to KSBE, which is why we have this letter in front of us (see Comm. 1137.35), because I reached to them last week, but nobody was home. Now that they've come back to the office, they're saying, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, we need some time to talk." And I hope we have that meeting. I was promised a meeting the end of this week, maybe it'll happen next week. So I'm really looking forward to meeting with those private parties. The Perrys. There's a letter in front of you that came in, in your "Pinky" from Jenny and Rusty Perry (see Comm. 1137.34). They're big landowners out there. Big players in this and have always worked closely with Lono Lyman and the Chows; so yes, I know these folks. And yes, we can work this out. It was very disturbing last night when I picked up this last declaration and read that clause, and I thought, "What the hey?" My opinion is government needs to do the very minimum. Bring the roads in that we need to bring in. It's up to the public, and I know you guys will do it, you'll figure out how to get to your properties, and you'll work neighbor -to -neighbor to do that. I trust that will happen, but let's not put obstacles in front of that happening. So that's kind of what I brought forward, this resolution. It's not perfect, and you can consider various different scenarios. I do believe that the Government Beach Road should be made a safe emergency access road, and currently it's not because it's deep into the tsunami zone. I would love to see Railroad prepared better than it is, although I did make it up to that gate in my Prius. It's still pretty gnarley, so it would be nice to see improved. You would have to work with private parties to do that, and I know the County seems to be very adverse about that. I appreciate that Neil Azevedo reaches out. He knows all these people out there. And I have talked to the boots -on -the -ground person with KSBE, he's very supportive but he's not the decision -maker. So, let's all keep talking because there's so many ways in. I want to see you guys get home and get back to your farms and get back to living a normal life once again. So that's what I brought forward, 732. Thank you. ACTING CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. O'Hara. Anyone else? Well, I really have—everybody has basically commented the sentiment I feel of this body, having listening to all -day of testimony. Heartbreaking testimony, that just makes us realize there is still an emergency in Puna, which is enlightening to me to find out that there might be a solution not basically requiring a County process that Page 28 PWPRC-27 November 1, 2018 we're already going through. But can we actually do something in the interim, under the guise of—this is an emergency yet, right? I still seeI think if I wasn't able to go to my house and had to live in the situation that most of you folks are living, I consider that an emergency. So I will be supporting this resolution, also. I thank everybody, and I really cherish the idea that we need to kind of find and work out of the box in addressing the emergency issue, about getting people back to their homes. And if we can help in that discussion, please contact our office for suggestions. Not that we have answers, but I think everybody wants to work together so that we can get people back to their homes and their lives. I will be calling for the vote now. Alright, Council Members, all those in favor approving Resolution 732-18 please say "aye." Vote on Res. 732-18: The motion to recommend adoption of Res. 732-18 was carried (Approved) by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Chung, Eoff, Kanuha, O'Hara, Poindexter, and Acting Chair David – 6. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Lee Loy, Richards, and Ruggles – 3. Excused: None. BILLS FOR The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, Bills ORDINANCES: for Ordinances. (There were none.) ACTING CHR. DAVID: I believe that concludes our agenda today. May I have a motion to adjourn? ADJOURN- There being no further business, at 5:38 p.m., Ms. Poindexter moved to adjourn MENT: the meeting. Seconded by Mr. Kanuha and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Chung, Eoff, Kanuha, O'Hara, Poindexter, and Acting Chair David – 6. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Lee Loy, Richards, and Ruggles – 3. Excused: None. Page 29 PWPRC-27 ACTING CHR. DAVID: We are adjourned. Mahalo, everybody. Approved: Ms. Maile Medeiros David, Acting Chair Public Works and Parks and Recreation Committee MD/na November 1, 2018 (Date) Page 30