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Home My WebLink About05.12.22 COG Commission. Minutes - Approved COST OF GOVERNMENT COMMISSION c/o Office of the Mayor, 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603  Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720  COST OF GOVERNMENT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES/ May 12, 2022 INTERACTIVE CONFERENCE TECHNOLOGY (ICT): ZOOM WITH IN-PERSON LOCATIONS FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY PER AGENDA CALL TO ORDER \[2:02 p.m.\] Chair Konowicz called the meeting to order with quorum. ATTENDANCE Present: D9 Michael Konowicz, Chair D1 Neal Herbert, Vice Chair D2 Matthias Kusch D4 Madie Greene D5 Shannon Matson (Joined at 2:07 –Off camera due to illness) D6 Kenneth Obenski D7 Daniel Malakie III D8 Karie Wakat Absent D3 Chantee Shiroma Additional: Robert Command, Deputy Managing Director J. Yoshimoto, Assistant Corporation Counsel Ikaika Rodenhurst , Director DPW (Present for a portion of the meeting) Scott Uehara, Director DIT (Present for a portion of the meeting) Jeannie Miskovich, COG Commission Secretary – Officer of the Mayor INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS \[2:04\] Ikaika Rodenhurst, Director, DPW Scott Uehara, Director, DIT \[2:05\] STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Testifiers (2) Virginia Parthemos, Rising Sun Solar- Testimony on Agenda Item 7(a), providing statements regarding the hardships experienced with the permitting process \[2:09\] Chris Yuen, individual - Testimony on Agenda Item 7(a), providing statements specific to the Waipi’o Valley Road Assessment Report COMMUNICATIONS (1) Chris Yuen - Written Testimony regarding Agenda Item 7(a) \[2:13\] APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM APRIL 22, 2022, SPECIAL MEETING ON RULES Discussion: None Comm. Obenski moved to approve the April 22, 2022, meeting minutes as read Comm. Wakat Seconded the Motion Discussion: None Voice Vote: Ayes: (8) Unanimous \[2:04\] 4/22/2022 Special Meeting Minutes Approved \[2:13\] APPROVAL OF MINUTES APRIL 28, 2022, REGULAR MEETING Comm. Kusch moved to approve the April 28, 2022 meeting minutes as read Comm. Obenski Seconded the Motion Discussion: Comm. Herbert stated his opinion that the minutes are too brief Roll Call Vote: Comm. Herbert No Comm. Kusch Aye Comm. Greene Aye Comm. Matson Aye – Submitted in the chat Comm. Obenski Aye Comm. Malakie Aye Comm. Wakat Aye Chair Konowicz Aye No (1) Ayes: (7) \[2:19\] 4/28/2022 Regular Meeting Minutes Approved \[2:20\] PRESENTATIONS 7(a) Presentation and overview on roads, traffic, and engineering studies, and additional follow-up to permitting and inspection issues raised in the April 14, 2022, meeting by Ikaika Rodenhurst, Director, Department of Public Works Points / Permitting: Director Rodenhurst addressed ongoing recruitment and staffing issues in the Department, with a plan in place to create a tiered system in the Planning Review personnel category. Rodenhurst reiterated that Permits must be in place to begin a project, per County Code, and concerns with insurance policies in place and issues with plans. The Division has marked improvements in efficiency and in working through the backlog of electric and plumbing permits. The link to see the EPIC Metrics, updated monthly here: Permits Issued - Laserfiche WebLink (hawaiicounty.gov) and Electronic Processing and Information Center (EPIC) System | Hawaii County, HI Public Works Preauthorized Design Code: Q: C. Kusch - Is there any leeway for pre-approved design be modified and still expedited? A: Projects utilizing model plans with pre- approved designs are flagged and expedited. Any modifications of the pre- approved plans would place the project with custom designs for review. Inconsistent Inspections: Q: C. Obenski- Anecdotal stories of inspections rejecting certain aspects of a project without a clear, written direction as to how to remedy, causing re-do(s) and wasted time. A: Department requiring inspection rejections all done in writing in clear language and cited to the code in violation . If in a gray area, the interpretation of the code will be included and published to the public. Q: C. Obenski - Remedies to inspections that are complaint driven. A: The Department follows proper procedures and has data on complaint driven inspections in order to close files and avoid repeat inspections. Staffing: Q: C. Matson - Known applicants applying for positions in DPW have not received a call back A: Recruitment and hiring are priorities of the Department of Public Works – the Department of Human Resources reviews incoming applications and the Department receives a list of qualified applicants and will schedule interviews. Permits: Q: C. Kusch - Are any categories of permits being de-prioritized? A: No – DPW is working on a weekly system to systematically review all categories of permits in a timely manner. Permit Costs: Q: C. Kusch - Are the permitting costs appropriate? A: Yes - Pursuant to County Code. Comments: C. Konowicz - A 2022 Uhiro analysis shows that Hawai‘i County faced greater delays in the permitting process due to regulation burden (as compared to the mainland). \[2:51\] Roads/Traffic/ Engineering: Director Rodenhurst agreed it would be nice to have a Contract Management System and is working with Finance to determine the best software toward this goal. Q: C. Obenski – Are there guidelines to trivial projects that do not require a permit A: Rules found in in Chapter 5, Section 3 – 21 with exemptions in Sections 22, 23 and 24 Q: C. Obenski - What is the process that triggers a traffic safety study? A: Any change in conditions in intersections prompts a traffic safety study. State procurement laws followed to hire design consultants. There are inventories of the historical studies stored although often research on past projects is researched in both paper and digital storage. \[3:06\] 7(b) Follow-up questions and answers by Scott Uehara, Director of Information Technology (PowerPoint slide presentation on File) Points: Staffing and recruitment is a Departmental issue . Pay is not in-line with private jobs in the same category. Labor Unions across the state determine pay grade for the IT sector. Q&A follows. Q: C. Konowicz - What is the future of GIS? A: Partnerships with UH, NOAA on shoreline modelling, analysis of flood planes for planning / city design, GIS to understand and plan for natural events and impact. Q: C. Konowicz – Can the systems be integrated through Departments? A: The systems are broken up for security reasons. Cyber-security is a constant issue. Q: C. Kusch – Are staff assigned to specific departments? A: We use a Helpdesk/General system and rotate staff for specialized/unique applications (i.e., Fire, Dispatch) Comments: Discussion on effective and efficient ways to manage mass computer deployment including the installation of software using imaging. Bulk computer purchases need better coordination between Departments and DIT with such limited staff. \[4:04\] Comm. Wakat made a Motion to place the Cost of Government Amended Rules on the 5/26/2022 Agenda for discussion. Comm. Herbert Seconded the Motion Discussion: None Voice Vote: (8) Ayes Unanimous Motion passes \[4:05\] Comm. Herbert made a Motion to place Ethics Training on the 5/26/2022 Agenda for discussion. Comm. Obenski Seconded the Motion Discussion: None Voice Vote: (8) Ayes Unanimous \[4:06\] Motion Passes ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON NEXT AGENDA  Presentation and overview of a cost analysis of the County of Hawai‘i Boards and Commissions by Pomaika‘i Bartolome, Office of the Mayor  Discussion on the Cost of Government Commission Amended Rules and next steps  Discussion of the new Hawai‘i State Ethics Bill \[4:09\] ADJOURNMENT Comm. Obenski made a Motion to Adjourn Comm. Herbert Seconded the Motion Discussion: None Voice Vote: Ayes: (8) Unanimous Meeting adjourned at 4:09 p.m. *****