HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-03-04 Windward Exh A (Public Testimony SPP 09-000084) WINDWARD PLANNING COMMISSION
COUNTY OF HAWAII
HEARING TRANSCRIPT
MARCH 4, 2021
Public testimony regarding the application of DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS –
BUILDING DIVISION (formerly Fire Department) (AMEND SPP 09-000084) was called to
order at 9:11 a.m. via live-stream online meeting, with Chairperson John Replogle presiding.
COMMISSIONERS IN ATTENDANCE: Dean Au, Gilbert Aguinaldo, Joseph Clarkson,
Dennis Lin, Thomas Raffipiy and John Replogle.
ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Malia Hall, Esq. (Counsel for the Commission), Zendo Kern,
(Planning Director), Jeff Darrow (Deputy Planning Director), John Mukai, Esq. (Counsel for
the Planning Director), Christian Kay (Planner), Jessica Andrews (Planner), Rachelle Ley
(Secretary to the Planning Director), and Melissa Dacayanan-Salvador (Windward Planning
Commission Secretary).
APPLICANT: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS -BUILDING DIVISION
(formerly Fire Department) (AMEND SPP 09-000084)
Application for an amendment to Condition No. 5 (time to complete construction) and
reduction/modification of project scope of Special Permit No. 09-000084, which was issued in
2009 to allow the construction and operation of a Fire Administration Support Complex, Fire and
Police Dispatch Center and Related Uses on 5.35 acres of land situated within the State Land
Use Agricultural District. The property is located at 540 Kupuna Place, fronting Mohouli Street
between Komohana Street and Kukuau Street, directly west of the Mohouli Senior Housing
Project, Waiakea, South Hilo, Hawaii,
TMK: (3) 2-4-001:176 & 178.
Secretary's Note: "—" indicates that there were technical and/or internet difficulties, which made
the conversation inaudible.
REPLOGLE: We are going to statements from the public first. We have one (1)testifier
registered Major Andrew S. Burian of the Hawaii Police Department. Are you present Sir?
BURIAN: Yes, I am. Good morning Commissioners.
REPLOGLE: Good morning.
BURIAN: We have submitted written testimony and we will stand on that. If the
Commissioners have any questions —
REPLOGLE: Excuse me Sir.
BURIAN: Yep.
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EXHIBIT A
REPLOGLE: I would like to swear you in before we start.
BURIAN: Of course.
REPLOGLE: Please raise your right hand. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth on this
matter before the Windward Planning Commission?
BURIAN: Yes, I do.
REPLOGLE: Thank you. You may proceed Sir.
BURIAN: Okay, we have submitted written testimony in regard to this and I will stand on the
written testimony and I am available for any questions from the Commission. Thank you.
REPLOGLE: I appeared to have lost you. Commissioners are there any questions for Major
Burian?
AGUINALDO: Hello, Mr. Chair I couldn't hear his testimony.
REPLOGLE: You could not hear his testimony?
AGUINALDO: No.
REPLOGLE: Okay. I'm sorry Major Burian—
HALL: Chair?
REPLOGLE: I'm sorry go ahead.
HALL: This is Malia Hall. Gilbert he just said that they submitted written testimony and so if
you have any questions about the written testimony that you can ask those now. But he did not
add anything to his testimony at this time.
AGUINALDO: Okay, thank you.
REPLOGLE: Thank you Malia. Are there questions from the Commissioners? Mr. Au?
AU: Thank you Mr. Chair. Question for Mr. Burian. Hi Andrew, how's everything?
BURIAN: Good, thank you very much.
AU: So, a question I have for you is can you just give us a really brief plan on if this facility is
built and when it's built what facilities at this point are going to be planned to consolidate, which
facilities are planning to be closed down, because of course people are going to be moving into
this new facility. How is it going affect the community basically?
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EXHIBIT A
BURIAN: Okay, what we will be doing with this facility is consolidating the Fire Dispatch
Center and the Police Dispatch Center otherwise known as PSAP's. Public Safety Answering
Points (PSAP) and the reason for that is right now we run two (2) separate centers in 2 separate
locations and both of these facilities are antiquated and we've outgrown these facilities. When I
first started, we had as a Police Officer thirty (30)years ago we were in the same facility at that
point we had normally one (1)to 2 dispatchers working at any one time and right now in the
same facility with the same space we have normally seven (7) dispatchers with 1 supervisor. So,
you can see on the Police side we are really stretching our capabilities being in there. I can't
speak to the Fire Center but, I do understand that they have also outgrown their facility theirs is
even smaller than our facility. So, by doing this we will have a modern facility with many more
modern amenities, space to grow, this facility should last us for at least twenty (20)years, the
next 20 years.
Additionally, we are not going to shut down our current facilities. What we will do is use those
as backup facilities so, that if something should happen up at that Mohouli Center we're able to
fall back into our current facilities that we use now on a temporary basis and that will be no
problem we'll be able to do that on a temporary basis. Right now, our temporary facility is a
small area in Civil Defense with basically four(4) consoles that don't have a fraction of what the
dispatchers need to do their jobs. So, this will really upgrade our capabilities, but nothing will be
shut down per se, we are not going to get rid of the old centers because like I said we will be able
to use those still, but Civil Defense will have a little bit more room. So, in that sense, Civil
Defense will benefit from this.
AU: Thank you Andrew for that answer and glad to know that you've been with the County for
30 years and I'm hoping you are going to be on for another 30 years so you can be in that new
facility. So, thank you.
BURIAN: (Laughing) Thank you.
REPLOGLE: Are there any other questions Commissioners? If not, I will entertain a motion to
close public testimony.
AU: Motion to close public testimony.
RAFFIPIY: I second.
REPLOGLE: It's been moved and seconded to close public testimony, all those in favor say aye
or raise your hand.
AU: Aye and raised hand.
RAFFIPIY: Aye and raised hand.
LIN: Aye and raised hand.
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EXHIBIT A
CLARKSON: Aye and raised hand.
AGUINALDO: Aye and raised hand.
REPLOGLE: The ayes have it public testimony is closed.
The public testimony ended at 9:18 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Melissa Dacayanan-Salvador
Secretary Windward Planning Commission
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EXHIBIT A