HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP AWEEMC 009 2019/10/01 2018-2020 REPORT OF E
COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE,WATER,
ENERGY,AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
DATE: October 1, 2019 Re: Comm.No. 494/Res.No. 322-19
PLACE: Council Chambers
Kailua-Kana, Hawaii
TIME: 1:32 p.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Agriculture, Water, Energy, and Environmental Management (AWEEM),to
which was referred Resolution No. 322-19,reports as follows:
Resolution No. 322-19,transmitted by Council Member Poindexter via Communication No. 494
dated September 13, 2019, declares a Hawaii County climate emergency and requests regional
collaboration towards an immediate just transition and emergency mobilization efforts to restore
a safe climate.
Upon conclusion of the vast public testimony on this resolution, a motion for an amendment to
Resolution 322-19 was put forth with the contents of Communication 494.1, as submitted by
Council Member Poindexter and passed by Council. With Council Members echoing each other
on the importance of declaring an emergency for the implementation of various measures
regarding climate change, and agreeing with the overall intent of the resolution with
amendments, different climate change thoughts were addressed, i.e. the need for a resiliency plan
and/or a Resiliency Office or position for the County of Hawaii, whether the County of Hawaii
has the necessary funds to address this substantial area of concern involving multi-agencies
relating to climate change, whether there is community participation and buy-in, and the noted
fact that there are both large and small scale measures currently in place within the County of
Hawaii, addressing and implementing the aver-arching climate change mission. All noted that
more can be done.
Additionally, County Planning Department Director Michael Yee addressed the Council on this
resolution as one of twenty sitting members of the Hawaii Climate Change Adaptation and
Mitigation Commission, who regularly has meetings on Oahu. He shared that this specific body
has existed in different forms for many years with numerous studies addressed over time. Mr.
Yee noted that basically it is about government creating policies that will move things forward
and realizing the need for resources to make and implement those policy changes. He also stated
that the County cannot think or work in silos any longer; the time is now as climate change is
here. However, it is notable that there are years of work ahead and likely elaborate funding
needed to both adapt to and continually working towards addressing successful measures to
reduce climate change here in the County of Hawaii.
AWEEMC Report No.: 9
AWEEMC-9 Page 2 October 1,2019
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Your Committee on Agriculture, Water, Energy, and Environmental Management is in accord
with the purpose and intent of Resolution 322-19, as amended to Draft 2, and recommends its
adoption.
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AYES NOES ABS EX Respectfully submitted,
CHUNG X
DAVID X COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, WATER,
EOFF X ENERGY,AND ENVIRONMENTAL
KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER X MANAGEMENT
KIERKIEWICZ X
LEE LOY X
POINDEXTER X HERBERT M. `TIM"RICHARDS, III, ChAIR
RICHARDS X AWEEMC REPORT�NO. �9�
VILLEGAS X ADOPTED: