HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP AWEEMC 010 2019/10/15 2018-2020 PORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE,WATER,
ENERGY,AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
DATE: October 15, 2019 Re: Comm.No. 489/Bill No. 101
PLACE: Council Chambers
Hilo, Hawaii
TIME: 1:05 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 Bill No. 101, reports as follows:
Bill No. 101, transmitted by Council Member Villegas via Communication No. 489 dated
August 29, 2019, seeks to amend Chapter 14, Hawaii County Code 1983 (2016 Edition, as
amended), by adding a new article to be designated article 24, relating to herbicide use.
After approximately 3 hours of testimony in support of Bill 101, Council Member Villegas
started the discussion by introducing Ms. Autumn Ness, Beyond Pesticides Outreach and
Program Director, who shared the presentation entitled"Transitioning to a Pesticide-Free
County". Mr. Blake Watson added to the presentation which provided a vast amount of
information with examples of success from different municipalities, including Maui County.
Prohibiting the use of herbicides on County of Hawaii property will likely be costly and not
simple but identified necessary to become a pesticide-free county; soil testing and detailed
training for County staff on location-specific product purchases necessary to follow mandate. It
was said that many parks on the Island of Maui have different procedures with different products
based on its specific location and soil make up.
Questions were posed by Council Members to Ms.Ness and Mr. Watson about their
backgrounds, expertise, incompatible comparisons provided in the presentation, and a specific
request for a detailed description of each product listed in the "Schedule of Prohibited
Herbicides Discussion continued with a direct request to Council Member Villegas to commit
to incorporating the suggestions provided by Big Island Invasive Species Council (BIISC);
specifically for invasive species control measures to work in conjunction with the proposed
herbicide ban. Council Member Villegas was not willing to commit to any changes at this time,
however both Ms. Ness and Mr. Watson felt it would be possible. Council Member Villegas
informed that prior to formalizing proposed bill, meetings were held with Directors and Deputy
Directors of County Departments of Environmental Management(DEM), Public Works (DPW),
and Parks and Recreation(P&R)to allow for opportunities to identify both challenges and
opportunities involved with the herbicide ban.
AWEEMC Report No.: 10
AVVEEMC-10 Page 2 October 15,2019
David Yamamoto, DPW Director, noted their reduction of pesticide use by 50 percent, however
added the struggles involved with weed management. Maurice Messina, P&R Deputy Director,
shared they are working with Ms. Ness as a pilot on four(4) specific County properties in
Ainaloa, Pahoa, Hilo at soccer field#4, and the football field at Old Airport in Kona. He noted
that their Parks Maintenance team already implements many of the of the eco-friendly
opportunities listed in Bill 101. Both Directors echoed the need for a significant increase in their
budgets for the additional manpower, equipment and supplies, resources and consultation
contracts in order to comply with said bill by 2024.
Additional comments from Council Members included the opportunities available to work with
"Friends of the Park" community groups to help maintain parks, as well as the Sponsorship
Agreement option to aid with identified budget increases for specific parks, etc.
After much discussion, noted requests for additional information prior to the next meeting, and
the desire for amendments to Bill 101 regarding BIISC suggestions,there was a meeting of the
minds to move this forward.
Your Committee on Agriculture, Water, Energy, and Environmental Management is in accord
with the purpose and intent of Bill No. 101, and recommends its adoption.
db
AYES NOES ABS EX Respectfully submitted,
CHUNG x
DAVID x COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE,WATER,
EOFF x ENERGY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL
KANEALI'l-KLEINFELDER x MANAGEMENT
KIERKIEWICZ x
LEE LOY x
POINDEXTER x HERBERT M. 16IM"RICHARDS,III, HAIR
RICHARDS x AVv`EEMC REP E NO.: 10
VILLEGAS x ADOPTED: 0 6 7M