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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/15/2012 Public Hearing Transcript re: BILL#2428Honorable Honorable Honorable Honorable Honorable Honorable Honorable PUBLIC HEARING FEBRUARY 15, 2012 A public hearing of the Council of the County of Kaua`i was called to order by Tim Bynum, Chair, Finance /Parks & Recreation /Public Works Programs Committee, on Wednesday, February 15, 2012, at 2:07 p.m. at the Council Chambers, Historic County Building, 4396 Rice Street, Suite 201, Lihu`e, Kauai, and the presence of the following was noted: Tim Bynum Dickie Chang KipuKai Kuali`i Nadine K. Nakamura Mel Rapozo Joann A. Yukimura Jay Furfaro, Council Chair The Clerk read the notice of the public hearing on the following: Bill No. 2428 — A BILL FOR AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE 4, SECTION 19 -4.5 OF THE KAUAI COUNTY CODE 1987, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO CAMPING AT LYDGATE PARK, which was passed on first reading and ordered to print by the Council of the County of Kaua`i on January 25, 2012, and published in The Garden Island newspaper on February 3, 2012. The hearing proceeded as follows: GLENN MICKENS: Thank you, Tim, for the record Glenn Mickens. You have a copy of my testimony. Let me read it, again, for the record. Some of it is relatively repetitious, but I don't know. The answers never seem to be given, so they're still here. Why are we so concerned about opening these campgrounds before addressing the many problems that have been raised and not taken care of? No one I talked to is in a rush or even wanting to use these campgrounds. I have never heard a resolution to the toilet facilities that are mandated to be in place if the grounds are at capacity. This was a big issue. In fact under item 8 in the latest bill there is an elimination clause of the two portable toilets for 100 or more campers that was in the original bill. So doesn't that just exacerbate the unsolved problem of toilet facilities? And what about the addition of more county workers to take care of the added facilities? What was the union's decision on this? And I never heard that answer either. And what about security? Over and over I've asked that past history be looked at showing how drugs, crime, altercations, and even a murder closed these same campgrounds. With crime even more rampant today than it was 20 years ago, why are we plunging forward to open these grounds before we are proactive enough to assure a better security and prohibit what we know will happen? We do not have enough police or park rangers to address the inevitable problems that are going to happen when these camping areas are opened up. Ask those who will be working at Lydgate and listen to what they have to say. You already heard from our police who testified here about their ability to address problems in a new area. They go after the prioritized issue first and most of what will happen at Lydgate will probably be low on their radar screen, but an issue important enough that needs to be resolved nonetheless. But if opening these campgrounds is such an important issue to the select few, then let's at least solve PH re: Bill No. 2428 2 February 15, 2012 these problems before pushing the "go" button. Again, I don't have any idea why in this latest bill Section 8 eliminated the two more portable toilets for the 100 or more thing, but to me it just compounds the problem. So anyway, thank you, Tim, I appreciate it. Mr. Bynum: I'll just answer your question. This bill is only here because of an error that was made. We've debated this bill, we voted on it, and that section that's being removed shouldn't have been there. This is just to correct an error. I hope everybody goes on that spirit and we don't re- debate the same thing for the fifth time. So thank you for your testimony. Mr. Mickens: So that was just an error that that 100... Mr. Bynum: That it was included. Mr. Mickens: ...those two toilets were put in, that was an error that shouldn't have been in there. Mr. Bynum: That's correct. Mr. Mickens: Thank you. Mr. Bynum If not, this hearing is adjourned. There being no further testimony on this matter, the public hearing adjourned at 2:11 p.m. /wa Respectfully submitted, RICKY WATANABE County Clerk