HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works FY2013-2014 DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET REVIEWS 04-01-2013
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The departmental budget review reconvened on April 1, 2013 at 9:08 a.m., and proceeded as
follows:
Public Works
Honorable Tim Bynum
Honorable Gary L. Hooser
Honorable Ross Kagawa
Honorable Nadine Nakamura
Honorable Mel Rapozo
Honorable JoAnn A. Yukimura (excused at 3:32 p.m.)
Honorable Jay Furfaro, Council Chair
Chair Furfaro: Aloha and good morning. I would like to
call back to order the Budget Review meeting, which was recessed on Thursday. Today's
schedule, we will be addressing the Department of Public Works. We have a schedule by
which I would like to follow, starting with the Department of Public Works General
Administration from the fiscal building inspections to janitorial and I think all of you have
the piece that was passed out from me. We have copies being made. Excuse me, to the
members, the copies that I said are being made and will be distributed in a minute. Then
we will go into the Department of Public Works Highway Fund, then we will go into
Beautification, Solid Waste, the Sewer Fund, and then if we still have time in the day, we
will begin CIP. The schedule will be passed out shortly. But before we do, on this
particular subject matter, I would like to ask if there is anyone in the audience that is
prepared to give testimony in today's Budget meeting on any of the subjects that we have
on our calendar for today? Come right up.
GLENN MICKENS: This is for Public Works, right?
Chair Furfaro: I will read it again. This is Public Works which
will include, Glenn, Highway Fund, Beautification, Solid Waste,Sewer Fund, and if we get
to it today, we will start CIP. But if you want to speak on CIP, you can as well.
There being no objections, the rules were suspended to take public testimony.
Mr. Mickens: Thank you, Jay. Before I read my testimony, you
have copies of it. I feel I must say how deplorable I feel it is that it is taking eighteen (18)
years for anyone to address the illegal paving of our roads, in my opinion. Our
Administration's, our Councils', and even newspapers heard my endless years of E-mails
and testimonies telling of the millions of dollars of tax money being wasted by not using the
Hawai`i. Asphalt Paving Industry (HAPI) or American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials (AASHTO) standards in paving and yet no one had ever challenged
my assertions or investigated them to say whether they were valid or not. I am not a paver
or ever have been, but have thoroughly gotten my information from my good friend Greg
Schleper (Mel, who once met him), who has been a paving contractor for thirty-seven (37)
years and was monopolized off our island. Remember that I personally met many of our
elected officials at road sites where improper paving was done, including our late Mayor
Baptiste and you, Jay, many years ago until knowing nothing has ever been done. I am
now happy to move forward, but this type of government waste has to be investigated and
stopped from the start and not eighteen (18) years later. I have two (2)...
Chair Furfaro: Excuse me, Glenn, before you go any further.
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Mr. Mickens: Yes?
Chair Furfaro: Do you know when I met with you? It was 2002,
ten (10) years ago and I personally put many of these items on the agenda.
Mr. Mickens: Right.
Chair Furfaro: Thank you.
Mr. Mickens: Right. I remember you met me up Kainahola
Road to address my thing.
Chair Furfaro: I just want to let you know, I put many of your
concerns on the agenda.
Mr. Mickens: Yes.
Chair Furfaro:
Go right ahead.
Mr. Mickens: I have two (2) roads resurfacing lists that Jay
gave me, one May 3, 2011, the other revised list of August 6, 2011. The May 3rd list shows
repaving using one ton of asphalt per ninety-five (95) square feet to give a one and a half
inch final overlay. But the revised list shows the use of one ton of air conditioning (AC) per
one hundred eight square feet to give the one and a half inches of finished grade. According
to the Asphalt Paving Job Calculator, the one ton per one hundred eight (108) square feet is
correct to give the one and a half inches and the one ton per ninety-five (95) square feet
would give about one and seven-eighth inches and is wrong. But I can go back to past
resurfacing lists and show you where we were using one ton per ninety (90) square feet,
which would make this final overlay even worse, meaning more asphalt is going to be put
on the road or should have been. I have also shown you samples verified by having Jay and
other County Officials meet me at sites, as you pointed out Jay, where paving has occurred
from our roads that are not even one and a half inches thick. I can show you toady a
pothole one Hauiki Road where this overlay is not more than three quarters of an inch
thick. The Shadow took pictures of it. I will only say as I have said for eighteen years in
my quest to get our roads paved properly, that we have wastes hundreds of millions of
dollars on roads resurfacing by one (1), not paving by HAPI or AASHTO standards, and two
(2) not having proper oversight to see that the AC we paid for is going on our roads. Going
forward, I applaud Larry Dill for finally issuing a bid that use AASHTO paving standards
and uses the correct tons per square feet to give the one and a half inches of final lift. It is
still imperative that we have an inspector at this paving site to make sure all proper
procedures are followed. The cost of the original May 3rd list to resurface was five thousand
eight hundred ninety thousand sixty dollars ($5,890,060) without the additives. The
revised August 6th list was five million four hundred ninety-five thousand five hundred
thirty-seven dollars($5,495,537), thus by using one ton per one hundred eight (108) square
feet and not one ton per ninety-five (95) square feet we saved almost four hundred thousand
dollars ($400,000) of tax money. I am not sure who pushed the magic button to do this job
correctly, but I certainly want to thank Larry for his part and I also want to especially
thank our Auditor Ernie Pasion for an outstanding job he and his staff did in the Roads
audit as I am sure it had a lot to do with the corrections. I am sure all of you guys have
copies of Ernie's audit and I think he has done just a tremendous job on the audit that he
has done. Also, I have to wonder why this repaving contract won by Grace Pacific about
February of 2011 has not seen any resurfacing going on. When I called Grace Pacific, I was
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told that the Department of Health had to stamp the contract before work could begin. At
that time, the Department of Health had not done this. In all past resurfacing contracts, I
had never heard of this, that they had to stamp it before. You guys just okayed the budget,
they went out and got it done. Why have we accumulated three (3), which is a question
that I have asked several times? Why have we accumulated three (3) year's budget into
this list without repaving our roads in that time? Always in the past, whenever this
Council approved the list it was started and finished in not too long a time as the roughly
two million dollars ($2,000,000) budget only paved about eight (8) or nine (9) miles of roads.
That is an inadequate amount of money anyway to pave our roads. If you read the
attachment to this thing there was an article. I think JoAnn brought it up too. There was
an attached article out of, I think, the Honolulu paper or something talking about how bad
our roads are and I think our roads on Kaua`i were cited as one of the worst in the State.
When will Olohena and other major roads get on this list and when are we going to see
work begins? I believe we have some of the worst roads in State and even now we are being
asked to have our gas taxes raised. So, where are the appropriated funds going? Politics
must also be eliminated from choice of roads to be repaved. Larry and Ed Renaud's job will
be monumental and without proper funding, which this audit points out very boldly, our
three hundred (300) miles of County roads will never been properly resurfaced. Since I can
only have this one chance to speak, I must ask why Public Works spent over twelve million
dollars ($12,000,000) on rebuilding the Kilauea Bridge and four million eight hundred
thousand dollars ($4,800,000) on the Olohena Bridge whereas the Acrow people who built
the bridge over the Wailua River told Ray Carpenter and myself that they could have put
both bridges in for millions of dollars less. Where is the County Manager that we so
desperately need? I sit here`and hear this Council talk about fifty thousand dollars
($50,000) as being a tremendous amount. It is a lot of money, but when they spent twelve
million dollars ($12,000,000) on that Kilauea Bridge that could have been built by under
one million dollars($1,000,000)by the same contractor that put the bridge in over there?
Why? Why has it happened? Why did we spend four million eight hundred thousand
dollars ($4,800,000) on the Olohena Bridge when they could have put it in for probable six
hundred thousand dollars ($600,000)? These are questions that I think that I have asked
for many years. I think the public is wondering the same question, gross waste of our
taxpayers' money. Anyway I ap p reciate this opportunity to have spoken. I hop e you have a
chance to read all of this, parti ul rl th e audit that Ernie was so good in doing. I hope you
have a chance to read the addendum, that I think JoAnn showed before attached to my
testimony. Thank you, Jay.
Chair Furfaro: Thank you, Glenn. Come right up.
PAT GEGEN: Good morning and aloha, Council. I am here
today representing Zero Waste Kaua`i and my testimony is just going to be relatively short,
not knowing all the details that are in the budget or anything. But all I ask is that through
your due diligence, you pay close attention to whether we are really looking at long-term
solution in the areas specifically around our solid waste. Are the decisions that the budget
is proposing, the decisions you folks are making, going to lead us towards achieving that
seventy percent (70%) reduction by 2023 that was in the Resolution, zero waste Resolution
last year or are we just doing stop gap methods like going vertical at Kekaha landfill, which
I know Mel, I have seen you get upset a number of times. I remember very clearly how
frustrating the idea of going vertical at Kekaha was to you and my question is, looking at
this budget, do we have the right items in place to increase our diversion, get to curbside
recycling, follow our Solid Waste Management Plan so that we can achieve that seventy
prevent (70%) goal, and put less trash in our land? So, that is all I ask in going forward,
please do look at it with those things in mind. Thank you.
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Chair Furfaro: Thank you. Is there anybody else that wants to
give testimony this morning?
There being no further testimony, the meeting was called back to order, and
proceeded as follows:
Chair Furfaro: If not, Mr. Dill, may I call you up? Mr. Dill,
before we go too far today, and we broke down Public Works into five (5) areas. I would like
to have you address in your presentation some of the concerns that have come up from
those that have testified or at least give some overview on Mr. Mickens' comments about
the rebuilding of the bridge, the two bridges, as well as he commented that there was a
period for three (3) years and that there was before you were the Engineer, that collectively
the right amount of money that was appropriated was not done for certain road resurfacing.
I know your philosophy going forward is one that you might even consider doing road
repaving every other year so that you can get another fifteen percent (15%) of mileage out
of getting the bulk work done and if that is part of your strategy, I would like you to touch
on that when we get to the Roads Department. The other portions here dealing with the
first phase of what I setup is, I want to talk about Administration and Fiscal, along with
building inspections, engineering, and Repair & Maintenance (R&M) repairs in general. Do
you have for your Department, a schedule that I laid out here?
LARRY DILL, P.E., County Engineer: Good morning Council Chair. This was
just handed to me.
Chair Furfaro: Yes, as well as to everybody else.
Mr. Dill: Right.
Chair Furfaro: But I do not want to find ourselves not having a
plan on what we are going to cover.
Mr. Dill: Right. So, we had established a schedule for all
of our Divisions to come up Division by Division to address each of their budget, which does
not match this schedule.
Chair Furfaro: Well, did you share your schedule with me?
Mr. Dill: No, I did not.
Chair Furfaro: Why do you not do that and we will send that
out.
Mr. Dill: Okay. Can you make a copy?
Chair Furfaro: Scott, let us see what the Engineering
Department has. Without knowing how you are making your presentation, I am at least
organized enough to prepare one for us. But I will be glad to consider what you are sharing
with us.
Mr. Dill: Okay. Thank you. Did you want me to touch
then on Mr. Mickens' comments?
Chair Furfaro: You can take that time to do it now, yes.
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Mr. Dill: Briefly as you mentioned, I was not present when
for instance the Kilauea Bridge was constructed. But Mr. Mickens mentioned Acrow
bridges and those are certainly an efficient means of installing and building a bridge. I will
speak to some other bridges that we have in the process now. The Puuopae Bridge, the
Kapahi Bridge, and `Opaeka`a Bridge. Those bridges, as I assume, the Kilauea Bridge did
all have historic significance and so with the federal aid projects there are certain
requirements that we have to follow that would almost automatically exclude the possibility
of installing something like an Acrow bridge because we are required to recognize the
historic character of the bridge. So, when we process and construct that bridge, design and
construct the bridge, we have to take into account community input and its nature, its
history, which would not allow us to put in something like an Acrow bridge because it is a
Federally funded bridge and they require us to follow that procedure. Unfortunately, that
invariably ends up with increased costs that go along with it and briefly that is the
response to the concern about the Kilauea Bridge. Mr. Mickens also spoke about the
manner in which roads would be done resurfacing. I was glad that he is happy with the
process that we are pursuing now, where we are constructing. We are taking into account
repairs of roadways before we resurface, where it is warranted. We are looking strongly at
lifecycle costs to invest our moneys a little more wisely, so that in the future, roadways will
be done and they will last longer when the resurfacing is done. He mentioned the Island
Wide Resurfacing that we are currently doing. We are actually, I am going to pull out a
number a little out of the air, but about one-third of the way through that project. So, that
contract is well underway and moving forward with Grace Pacific. So, that is actually
happening as we speak. So, we are glad that that is happening.
I will touch base on what you mentioned, Chair. We have been looking at, as you
are aware, when we put out this Island Wide Resurfacing contract that is currently being
pursued. It was the first one that the County had put out for some time and the bad news
is that no resurfacing contract went out and no resurfacing was happening. But if there is
a silver lining to that it is that because we had a larger pot of funds to deal with, we were
able to get more "bang for our buck," if you will. Contractors were a lot more interested in
proposing on the project. We got better prices. They were also able to justify the cost that
was necessary to be incurred to incorporating recycled asphalt into the program. So,
having looked at that, we are proposing that we are going to come and do an Island Wide
Resurfacing every other year. So, we will appropriate funds every year. But we propose
through the contract every other year because it will allow us to have a greater amount of
funds available in which to put out on the street to get a better contract and a better "bang
for our buck." We have been discussing with the Department of Finance, because the audit
was also mentioned. One (1) of the things that came out of audit was that Island Wide
Resurfacing should not be in the Capital Improvement Project (CIP). It should be budgeted
annually in the R&M, as part of our Operating Budget because it is a repair and
maintenance effort and that raises the flag for us that R&M budgets lapse every year,
whereas the CIP funds do not. In working with the Department of Finance, since Island
Wide Resurfacing funds are Highway Fund budgeted and when they lapse at the end of the
year, they would lapse back into the Highway Fund and so because they are lapsing back
into the Highway Fund, it would be a matter of, together with the Department of Finance,
we would track the lapse of those funds where appropriated and then re-appropriate them
together with the new appropriation every other year, if I am making sense there. Then we
would be able to keep track of those funds and budget that or actually the work every other
year with a greater amount of money and achieve better results. So, that is a brief
overview of that strategy we are looking at.
ill
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Chair Furfaro: Thank you for that commentary. From the day I
was on this Council, I pointed out that a road, an existing road that we resurface is R&M.
It is not capital. A capital actually goes to a new road and thereafter, it is Repair &
Maintenance. But certainly, please make sure that we are all in concert on the
interpretation of that. I do not want to find ourselves in a situation, if we go with your
plans, funds lapse and go back into a General Fund. Okay? That is really important that
we have a clear understanding of what the Auditors finally told us is the correct procedure
for Repair & Maintenance. Now, before we go any further and ask any questions, I will be
giving the floor to Councilwoman Yukimura. I have no problem following your schedule
this morning.
Mr. Dill: Thank you.
Chair Furfaro: But let this be a note to all other Departments, if
you want us to follow a schedule, submit one to the Chair so we can review it because the
Chair does not want to be making schedules because they do not exist. Okay? So, please
make a note of that Ernie. If there are any Departments that want a sequence that they
have setup, be submitted in advance. I believe I have three (3) Councilmembers that have
questions, Larry, before we go any further. We will start with Councilwoman Yukimura.
Ms. Yukimura: Thank you, Chair. Good morning. Larry, on the
Kilauea Bridge, I do not believe it was a historic bridge.
Mr. Dill: Oh, okay.
Ms. Yukimura: I think, and I too was, I think, maybe all of us
were shocked that it was a twelve million dollar ($12,000,000) bill. I believe it had
something to do with the foundation of the bridge. I also think there was some design
flaws, if you will, that were corrected eventually by the Engineering/Design Firm. I do not
know what that...I am not sure how much of that twelve million dollars ($12,000,000) could
have been avoided. Just like with the Olohena Bridge, it was something about the
foundation that went very deep that had to be — I know with Olohena, whether you do an
Acrow bridge on top or anything else, the Acrow Bridges do not answer the structural
foundation work.
Mr. Dill: Right.
Ms. Yukimura: I recall that was part of the issue. It would be
good to get a synopsis to clarify what decisions were made on that bridge so we are clear
that it was the right thing to do and we remember that as we work on other bridges.
Mr. Dill: Okay, I will look into that and we will review
that in-house to Public Works to make sure we have an understanding so any mistakes that
were made, hopefully we will be able to avoid in the future. I can tell you that at least of
the early budgets that we have for the three (3) bridges that I mentioned, are much less
than twelve million dollars ($12,000,000).
Ms. Yukimura: Yes, and I do understand that historic bridges
will add, will involve an additional cost in all probability. I think that there was a design
mistake that was made. I am not sure that the ultimate bridge was wrongly done, so I am
not saying that. But it was a complex issue and bridges are complex and we should really
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learn. I remember there was a design flaw and that was arguable whether it was
foreseeable or not. But thank you.
Chair Furfaro: Okay, I am going to have to recognize a number
of Councilmembers here, Larry. But I want to remind everybody, we are going to follow
your agenda now, so do not get too deep into bridges at this point. Mr. Bynum, then
Mr. Hooser, and then Mr. Kagawa.
Mr. Bynum: Regarding bridges, I was here for Olohena or
actually I watched that happen a week before I was a became a Councilmember and also
IKilauea. Those were Federally funded bridges. I think they are fine. I do not want Acrow
Bridges on every bridge that we have and that whole discussion that Olohena only
discussed the cost of the bridge, but not the footings and crossing which was the bulk of the
cost. I am fine with those bridges. I hope we do not spend a lot of time going back there,
done. They are operating, they are good. I am more concerned about future bridges and I
am supportive of historic restorations on some of our bridges that have a really well
documented historic background and provide character to our community. That is all have
I to say about that now.
Chair Furfaro: Mr. Hooser. No? Mr. Kagawa.
Mr. Kagawa: Yes, I would like to echo sort of what Mr. Bynum
has said. I would like to focus on the future. I think we have budget discussions going on
and if the members would like to talk about past events and what happened, I would
welcome a communication and we can put it in my Committee and have the Administration
ready with the correct answers. Thank you.
Chair Furfaro: I appreciate that because on those particular
items we went to 5:30 in the morning the next day. So, it should be in your Committee in
the future. Mr. Rapozo, did you want the floor?
Mr. Rapozo: No, I am good. I want to get to the budget
discussion.
Chair Furfaro: Okay. Now to your agenda, Larry. I want to
thank you for preparing one. But we seem to be thinking alike. We need an agenda to go
through your Department. Let us start with a presentation on Administration and I am
going to turn the floor over to Mr. Rapozo. I need to step out and make a phone call,
Mr. Rapozo.
Chair Furfaro, the presiding officer,relinquished Chairmanship to Mr. Rapozo.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Dill, good morning.
Mr. Dill: Good morning.
Mr. Rapozo: Go ahead.
Mr. Dill: Thank you. You have our presentation before
you. I am going to touch on some of the points in the presentation, take a look at the charts
that summarize the budget situation year-over-year, and turn it over for questions.
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Mr. Rapozo: I do not want to interrupt. But before you get
started, and this is for all the Departments, I know we have a spreadsheet which was
provided for actuals. Do you folks have, and again, this goes out to all the Departments,
the actuals up-to-date or as-of the most current actual breakdown for this fiscal year? I
know Scott just advised me we have Period 6, but that goes to December. But do we have
the ability to track the actuals?
Mr. Dill: We do. I do not have that information. I am
working on same information that you have. But we do get reports from Finance after the
close of the period.
Mr. Rapozo: So, you are working only off of Period 6 as well?
Mr. Dill: Period 6, I am not sure what the most recent one
was.
Mr. Rapozo: That would be December. Is it possible to get
up-to-date or as-of, the most current actual? I know the reports come out every quarter.
Mr. Dill: That would be a question for Finance, really.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay, that is fine, Larry. We will make that
question. Thank you.
Mr. Dill: I would like to verbatim read our mission. The
mission of the Department of Public Works is to deliver excellent service to our constituents
and support the health and safety of their communities with sustainable services and
solutions. Our goals are to seek to support the objectivities of our six (6) Divisions that
exist within the Department ensuring manpower, equipment, and materials needs are met
adequately in order to meet the overall goals of the Department. We have a goal to
implement objectives of Public Works in order to meet the goal of Mayor, including the Holo
Holo 2020 Plan. We want to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the public. We have
also been working to implement systems that will serve to reduce complaints and
emergencies which will allow us to focus on proactive activities and you will hear more
along those things with their respective Divisions when they present.
As I mentioned, Public Works consists of six (6) Divisions. Engineering Division
takes care of basically regulatory review, design, and CIP Project Management. Without
going into detail on every single one of these, we had an objective in the Engineering
Division. We are working on our reorganization of the regulatory review of the subdivision
grading and flood to maximize the Division's resources and we are looking at hiring another
licensed engineer very shortly, come on board and that will help us to maximize our efforts
there. Also, with our Floodplain Management Division, we have a young lady, Maile Aiu,
who has been doing a great job for us there and she will shortly be taking over management
herself of that effort. So, that will free up some resources to do things elsewhere in the
Engineering Division. We want to develop our manpower and training and rebuild the
design capabilities of the Division. We have a couple of young engineers or a few young
engineers in that Division and bringing in another licensed engineer with a lot of
experience will help us to do that. We want to complete the transition to a CIP
management software solution. The CIP management actual procurement and definition of
the software, Public Works played a leadership role in it and continues to do so. But with
our current CIP Manager, that effort really is transitioning over to him. So, we are a strong
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support to him in that regard and we look forward to getting that CIP solution on board
and implemented.
Complete Streets Resolution, of course you are aware. The Council passed a
Complete Streets Resolution. In response to that, the Department of Public works led by
Lyle, actually, and also now with our Transportation Planner, that we are working on can
closely with, actually that planning funded position is working in our Office. So, we have
very close relationship with Planning that has been very fruitful and he has been very
productive. He has taken over the lead in developing a Complete Streets Living Manual.
That second bullet there shows work with the new Transportation Planner to include
Complete Streets, Smart Growth, and form based code concepts in engineering projects.
We have also been in support of the Safe Routes to School initiative and you will see later
on in our Engineering Division, one (1) of our successes is the recently accomplished and
being accomplished Po`ipu Road effort down by Koloa Elementary School as one (1) of our
Safe Routes to School projects. We have been working though, with every elementary
school on the island to take a look and assess their needs so that kids walking and bicycling
to school can do so in a safe manner. You will see some of those things reflected in our
budget as well.
Our Building Division deals with code enforcement, maintenance, and project
management. Their primary objective is to ensure code enforcement and that we continue
to meet the needs of the public. Part of that code enforcement is the issuance of building
permits, you have building permits. You are probably familiar with our ePlan effort. That
initiative is one we are very proud of and excited about and it is live right now. We have
the ability to receive your plans digitally. You do not have to bring in wads of paper. We do
not have to shift wads of paper around the County Agencies and to the State Agencies to get
approval. You do not have to wait your turn, right not, to get to Agency to Agency. We are
going in parallel so we get your plan in the door digitally and we immediately shoot it out to
all the various Agencies. So, we are excited about the opportunities for efficiencies and
streamlining that will achieve. I think in April, actually maybe today, sometime this
month, we are planning to make the transition. So, we are requiring that all plans that
are submitted must be done so digitally. We had a transition period of some months where
we allowed people to do it either way and we have been working closely with the architects,
consultants, and with the Contractor's Association and pretty soon we are going to be
seeing that digitally is the only way you be able to go on your building permits which is a
great thing. We are continuing to develop personnel in-house. We are working on the
adoption of 2006 Uniform Plumbing Code. Our Building Chief, Doug Haigh, is part of the
Statewide Building Code Task Force which is a great thing for the County of Kaua`i. We
are looking at consistency throughout the State. There was a lot of disparity in the past
about which particular Building Codes each individual County adopts, follows, enforces,
and regulates. Getting consistency among the State will streamline the process Statewide.
Many contractors deal Statewide on various projects so it will help us all. I touched on the
ePlan review system. We do a lot of building maintenance projects. We have been working
closely with the Building Maintenance Division to review how those projects are prioritized
and addressed. This speaks to our earlier goal about how we want to do a better job of
implementing systems that are more proactive in nature with the goal that ultimately we
will be able to reduce our emergencies to respond to because we have done a better job of
preventative maintenance. So, looking more closely at our Building Division and how those
resources in the Maintenance Division are allocated will allow us to do that, then ensuring
continued project management of building projects. Our Building Division is a work horse
when it comes to doing, especially a lot of vertical construction. This year they have been
working on the Kapa'a Base Yard Project, for instance, is managed out of our Building
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Division. Of course, this building itself was managed by our Building Division. The
Kaiakea Fire Station and we continue to develop those resources.
Our Roads Division, takes care of base yard operations, levees maintenance, bridge
and road maintenance, and construction. As you are aware, our levees have a challenge
where we fell out of compliance with our Army Corps of Engineers maintenance
requirements. We really have made that a priority and thanks to the great efforts on our
Roads Division, brought levees back into compliance. Fortunately because those levees are
in compliance, you may be aware that the Army Corps of Engineer is funding a project, a
totally funded project. It is about a two million dollars ($2,000,000) project to conduct some
repairs on the Hanapepe levee that incurred during a storm some time ago. It is important
to keep those levees in compliance because otherwise those funds would not be available to
us. So, it is an excellent work that the Roads Division did and thanks to the funding that
is available to them. The Roads Division is looking at a few initiatives in order to improve
their preventative maintenance and streamline their activities. We touched earlier on road
maintenance issues and they are working hard on implementing software applications that
they recently acquired and they are implementing those and populating those. There is a
lot of data that goes into those so we contracted with a contractor to go ahead and help us
with the assessment of the road, all of our County roads, that we might be able to put those
into the software application MicroPaver and then that will help us do a better job of
planning and programming our roadways as far as how we schedule them for resurfacing
and reconstruction. Objective two, I already talked about levee compliance status. We are
identifying a Levee Maintenance Crew within our Roads Division whose primary objective
will be the maintenance of levees in Waimea and Hanapepe on a full-time basis. Also we
have created a Bridge and Road Maintenance Crew because we have special maintenance
requirements that are associated with bridges, versus roads, versus signage and in order to
make that as efficient as possible, we are creating a crew that will be dedicated first and
foremost to items associated with the maintenance of all of our County bridges.
Our Automotive Division. Automotive Division, like the Roads Division, is also
funded by the Highway Fund. Our maintenance shop, our objective is to ensure they
continue to meet the needs of our County Departments. We have just completed a project
in the auto shop here in Lihu`e. It was designed in-house and a lot of work was done
in-house, where we took a situation, it was we were able to convert basically two (2) bays
into three (3) bays and that will allow us to do more work by the addition of an extra day in
that Department. We are also looking at, in our Automotive Division, creating a mezzanine
for more storage to make the space more efficient. Also, this year, we are going to be
implementing our new fuel master system to replace our older gas boy system, which is due
for a replacement which will allows us to do a better job in being accountable for our
allocation and tracking of fuel that is used by all the County Departments.
Our Solid Waste Division. Solid Waste Division has few very significant tasks. I
think the number one task is the development of new landfill. The Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) process for the new landfill is well underway. We have been out to the
community, speaking to them, getting their input, and making sure that all of those
comments are receive by our consultant and addressed by the Environmental Impact
Statement. That landfill will have many needs as far as infrastructure to support it. We
are working with the State Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC), who manages
the land on behalf of the State Department of Agriculture to make sure that we continue to
move forward on that project. In the meantime, we also want to ensure that we extend the
life of Kekaha landfill as appropriate and keep that on task and scheduled for design and
closure. We have been here before you, as you are well aware with our plans for a vertical
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expansion versus a lateral expansion. While we continue to look at the lateral expansion to
keep that on task in the event that is something that is required after the vertical
expansion is complete.
Our Wastewater Division manages four (4) wastewater treatment plants on the
island and they are associated collection systems and disposal systems. Our significant
task in the Division that we will be accomplishing by the end of this fiscal year is the
expansion and upgrade of the Waimea Wastewater Treatment Plant. That will allow the
community of Waimea to continue to be provided with wastewater services, not only
capacity wise because we have greater capacity at the plant, but we also will be upgrading
treatment level to an R-1 plant. We have been working with various aspects of the.
community out there who are very interested, dry side of the island obviously, in being able
to use recycled wastewater for irrigation opportunities out there. Upgrading to R-1 by the
Department of Health rules and regulations allows us a lot more opportunities. There is a
lot more flexibility for the use of R-1 water than R-2 or secondary water that was produced
at the plant previously. Objectives are continued project improvement for all treatment
plant facilities to meet State Department of Highways (DOH) regulatory requirements.
There are various and sundry things happening at the plants that I will let the Division
Chief, when they come to the table at their turn to go over for you. So, some of our
successes and achievements that we thought we would touch on, there were many actually.
But I already touched on the Koloa crosswalk and the Waimea Wastewater Treatment
Plant expansion. Actually, one thing that is not listed here is in looking at our overtime
costs we have experienced in the Department of Public Works, we project that by the end of
this fiscal year we will be about four hundred eighty thousand dollars ($480,000) or so
better than last year as far as overtime costs. A significant factor in that was as you are
also aware, I am sure, that we changed the operating hours at the transfer stations. By
doing so, we were able to change the way that we scheduled our employees there with the
transfer stations and do so in a much more streamlined manner that would prevent the
automatic, "automatic" is not quite the right word, but it had a tendency to generate
overtime. My guess was the way that the scheduling was happened before. So, significant
scheduling change and we are pleased to see that it has yielded some results. Of course, we
still have a lot of challenges in the Department of Public Works. Planning for future
improvements and meeting the day-to-day needs and demands of the community. We have
a very educated community here and they are well aware of things that need improvement
out there and so they are not shy about letting us know about those things, which is good,
bringing those to our attention. But continuing to meet those demands and address those
as best we can is an ongoing concern. Utilizing funds in the most efficient manner possible
while maintaining satisfactory levels of service is always a challenge. In this budget we are
being stretched to do as much as we can with the resources that we have, man-power wise,
staffing wise, funding wise, and that is why we are talking about things like lifecycle costs
more, work order systems that will do more preventative maintenance which will help us to
reduce emergencies in future and things like that. Succession planning, many of our folks
are reaching retirement age and so we are making sure as best we can to stay ahead of that
curve, to bring people in a appropriate and to provide the necessary training to bring those
from the lower ranks to take care of things as they move up s their senior partners retire.
Maintaining a positive working relationship with our union partners. We deal daily with
the United Public Workers (UPW) Union and they work with us to make sure that our
employees are taken care of as best we can and that they are doing the jobs within the
scopes of those agreements. Related to that we get personnel issues, of course. Expediting
the building permit approval process is always a challenge that ePlan, we are very excited
about implementing that will address that issue. Improvements we are looking at, the CIP
Manager has now taken the lead on the procurement and implementation of the CIP
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software that we have been talking about for a little while and with our support, of course.
We are excited about getting that on board and I will leave that to him to give you an
update on that. We have been working with our employees to get them a clearer
understanding of their roles and responsibilities in Public Works. Sometimes those things
have not been as well defined as they might have been and that makes for a slowdown in
implementation of a lot of measures and by clarifying those things for folks, we have been
able to help, we believe, to move things forward on a more timely basis.
Mr. Rapozo: Mr. Dill, Mr. Chair?
Chair Furfaro: Please, I am going in and out because of calls.
Please continue.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay. Realizing that we will have individual
Divisions coming up, I know Mr. Kagawa had a question, I think it was regarding your
initial objective. But I would ask that the questions be limited to the Administration and
Fiscal part and then we will get into the Division questions as we go through the day.
Mr. Dill: Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Mr. Kagawa.
Mr. Kagawa: Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just have two (2)
questions on the Administration section. The first one is the Senior Clerk position, position
1850, is that filled? I noticed last year it was an Information Clerk instead and we reduced
the salary by about fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000).
Mr. Dill: That is true. That position has been filled.
Mr. Kagawa: That position has been filled?
Mr. Dill: Yes.
Mr. Kagawa: Is there a reason why we changed the, I guess,
description of the job from an Information Clerk to just a Senior Clerk?
Mr. Dill: We felt that for the duties that person was
taking care of in the Administration Office, that position description was more appropriate
for the position.
Mr. Kagawa: Very good. Second question. We had a savings
of about thirty-one thousand dollars ($31,000), that was one of the biggest savings in your
Administrative Division and it came from the other post-employment benefit line. It went
from one hundred nine thousand dollars ($109,000) to seventy-seven thousand dollars
($77,000). So, it went down about thirty-one thousand dollars ($31,000). Is there a reason
why that went down?
Mr. Dill: I think you will see consistently throughout the
budget that line item is reducing. I am going ask the Department of Finance, I think, when
they come forward to speak to that particular issue because that is a County-wide issue.
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Mr. Kagawa: Okay, if it went County-wide, then we can get
that answer later. Thank you, I am done. Mahalo.
Mr. Rapozo: Councilmember Yukimura.
Ms. Yukimura: Thank you. Larry, thank you for your
presentation. I want to commend you for your leadership. I think your report shows there
have been many improvements in the various Divisions and they are systemic
improvements in the examination of overtime, in the training of your employees in the
reorganization to do better work. I thank you for that and you seem very knowledgeable
about the different things that have been occurring in your Department. I have a question
about your goals. I see where your third goal is to ensure health, safety, and welfare of the
public. I just wondered about whether the issue of the safety of the employees is a focus
that needs to be highlighted more because my understanding was, for a long time we did
not even have safety programs and I do not know how much we even do now. But I know
that for many corporations, that is a key focus because it costs so much for an employee, for
a corporation if an employee gets hurt or harmed, both in terms of liability as well as in
terms of downtime and so forth. I just wondered, maybe it is already ongoing because I see
some other things that you do not really put into your goals or objectives, but is actually
happening and so I just wondered about that.
Mr. Dill: Thank you. Good question. With the new
Human Resources Department, one of the things they have affected is online Safety
Training Program for employees so that is ongoing County-wide. I can tell you also
specifically the Waste Water Division is in the process of putting together a safety program
specific to the Waste Water Division. They have a lot of unique safety issues. Our Roads
Division also does training of its employees because they spend a lot of time on the roads so
they have training programs specific to their needs as well. We do not have a Department
of Public Works-wide safety program, it is dedicated to the Department of Public Works as
a Department. But we have those various pieces. So, thank you though, that is an
excellent comment. We will look into that.
Ms. Yukimura: I do not know if you need, in format, a Public
Works Safety Program. It may be something that Human Resources (HR) now helps you
with and obviously they are doing different pieces of it. But I am actually concerned about
a safety program in Solid Waste with our transfer stations and also the collections and as
we look at some of the liability issues that the Council has to deal with in cases and law
suits. That seems to be an area of need and concern. Your part on building permits, and
congratulations on the ePlan review system because I think that is a big step forward. I am
not clear though, will this actually address the issues the building permit processing
efficiency and speed?
Mr. Rapozo: Councilmember Yukimura, we can do that when
we get to Buildings. Stick to Administration and Fiscal for right now.
Ms. Yukimura: Well, I am looking at the overall presentation
and if it gets too...I mean, like the safety issue, is an issue, I think...
Mr. Rapozo: I let you go. But I am just saying let us keep to
Administration and Fiscal. We have a schedule and we will get to Buildings when
Mr. Haigh is here and address those questions with the appropriate Department Heads.
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Ms. Yukimura: Alright. On your objective two under Building
Division, the "WO" is work order assignments? Is that what it stands for?
Mr. Dill: That is correct.
Ms. Yukimura: In terms of your objectives in all Departments,
in most of the Departments the objectives are the same as last year. So, I cannot tell
whether and how much has been achieved. I will say in our Automotive Division, that is
brand new and even your records are excellent. In Building Division the adopt 2006
Uniform Plumbing Code is clearly a new objective. Last year it was the Building Code and
you achieved that apparently. I guess, it may be a difference in understanding how
objectives are worded. But my understanding is there are specific deadlines or points of
achievement and if those could be identified, it would really help us and probably you folks
too because I think, as you noted, your successes and achievements do not reflect all of your
accomplishments.
Mr. Dill: Well, true. You will see a lot more detail as we
get to the various Divisions. To some degree the objectives remain the same each year what
we are trying to, what our objectives are to accomplish in each Division. We struggled with
that sort of part of the presentation, with not just repeating everything that is going to be
said in the various Divisions.
Ms. Yukimura: Well, I think it is certainly up to you how you do
them. But my understanding of the usefulness of objectives is when they layout specific
deadlines them you know when they have been accomplished and not. I am particularly
disturbed about Solid Waste and Roads because implement the packaged maintenance
software to include cataloging of infrastructure and work order status system, complete the
implementation of MicroPaver for a preservation program, ensure that proper manpower
and equipment is available to complete work tasks. Those are exactly what you said last
year and I have no idea what you were really intending to accomplish over this last year
and whether you have. We will get into this under Solid Waste Division, but I am amazed
that there is no zero (0) waste objective or goal.
Mr. Rapozo: Councilmember Yukimura, please allow us to go
through the schedule.
Ms. Yukimura: And I am just highlighting what we are looking
for.
Mr. Rapozo: I understand and you will have an opportunity.
We only have until 4:30 p.m. and we will have an opportunity when we get to Solid Waste
and Roads and all the rest. I hate to be the bad guy, but others have questions regarding
Administration and Fiscal. I would appreciate if you could honor the schedule and stick to
Administration. I know what you are doing. I know your concerns. But others have
questions as well.
Ms. Yukimura: Well, I am looking at the Administration's report
of goals and objectives and I am addressing them right now. I am not going into detail.
Mr. Rapozo: You are.
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Ms.Yukimura: I am just announcing that — well I am hoping
that they will have it in their presentation. But I am saying that it is missing.
Mr. Rapozo: Have you read the presentation?
Ms. Yukimura: Yes, I read everything.
Mr. Rapozo: Then you would see that in every Division there
are successes and there are challenges, in every single Division.
Ms. Yukimura: There is no goal that I have seen of their zero (0)
waste.
Mr. Rapozo: Then you can ask them when they come up.
Ms. Yukimura: I am just announcing that that is what I will
expecting.
Mr. Rapozo: I think they already know that. Do you have any
other questions on Administration and Fiscal? If not, Mr. Bynum.
Mr. Bynum: I just have a few questions cross Division and
more appropriately answered by you folks. First of all, how would you characterize our
relationship with the Union, particularly UPW, right now?
Mr. Rapozo: Be honest.
Mr. Dill: How would I characterize it? I think we have a
good relationship with the Union. There is room for improvement. We do not always agree
on things. I think that when we do not agree though, both sides show an effort to work to
reach solutions.
Mr. Bynum: Are there regular meetings between someone in
Administration and the Union?
Mr. Dill: We do not have any regularly scheduled
meetings, but there are frequent communications.
Mr. Bynum: Our negotiations particularly related to
automated recycling, our Union negotiations, have they been an obstacle to proceeding? I
mean, do you have everything lined up except the Union or are we trying to be ahead of the
game there?
Mr. Dill: Well, I would not characterize it as an "obstacle."
It is something, one of the listed on the things to do, to get done in order to implement
automated. We have to get Council approval for purchasing the trucks and that is one of
the things on the list of things to do. We have to negotiate a revised agreement with the
Union, as one of the list of things to do.
Mr. Bynum: Well, I will go into more depth when the
Department comes up. Regarding the CIP Manager, is he still housed in Public Works?
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Mr. Dill: He is budgeted out the Mayor's Office, but he is
physically located in the Public Works Administration Office.
Mr. Bynum: Right so, real good interchange because CIP
Manager is a Mayor's Office of position, right?
Mr. Dill: Yes.
Mr. Bynum: And deals with all CIP projects. But a bulk of
which are probably in Public Works. So, that relationship is developing well?
Mr. Dill: Yes, very productive relationship.
Mr. Bynum: Great. Something that has come up several times
and I just want to plant a seed because I think it is a good idea and it crosses and it has
become really cheap. About five (5) years ago there was an initiative from Public Works to
do Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking of vehicles, like real time. Actually, I think
five (5) years ago it was data would be collected by the vehicle when it drove back to the
base yard, you would collect that data so you would know how many miles were put on that
day. But the technology has expanded so rapidly and the cost has come down so
dramatically to be able to track vehicles in the field real time is cheap. I would really
encourage you to look into that. Is there initiative happening with that?
Mr. Dill: Not with this budget, no. But we are, it is one of
the things on our radar, if you will, because the implementation of fuel master, that might
be the next possible step in that direction to be explored.
Mr. Bynum: Well, it dramatically improves safety for
workers. You know where they are, you can get a hold of them, it also increases
accountable and decreases fraud. I would really encourage you to do that. I will just to
reiterate this letter that I am going to ask for a status when roads come up about the
bridges that are already out because I think a key decision was what type of design. Are we
going to go modern design or do something context sensitive? I do not know where those
are at. I will save that question. The wastewater in Waimea, the R-1 that is a commodity.
It has potential revenue, is that correct?
Mr. Dill: Yes.
Mr. Bynum: Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you, Mr. Bynum. Councilmember Hooser.
Mr. Hooser: Yes, thank you, Chair. Just a couple of
questions. You mentioned the four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000) overtime
anticipated savings. I think that is great. Congratulations on that. Do those funds lapse
basically or what happens with those funds?
Mr. Dill: It depends on what funds. Some of those are
Highway Funds so they would lapse back into the Highway Fund and if they are General
Fund they would lapse back into the General Fund.
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Mr. Hooser: So, you are not using those for anticipated
savings for other expenses in this year?
Mr. Dill: No, we are not.
Mr. Hooser: Except for the dollar funded positions, how many
positions do you have in the Department?
Mr. Dill: Roughly three hundred twenty (320).
Mr. Hooser: Three hundred twenty (320), roughly. So,
roughly three hundred twenty (320) positions and at the present time, approximately how
many of those positions are vacant, funded but vacant?
LYLE TABATA, Deputy County Engineer: We have a number in transition.
Mr. Dill: Well, we will get a number to you this morning.
Mr. Hooser: That would be an important number and how
long they have been vacant? Is it more than ten (10), just to give me some kind of a general
feeling?
Mr. Dill: I will get that number to you this morning.
Mr. Hooser: So, the number of vacant funded positions and if
possible, some idea how long they have been vacant. A question that extends across all
areas, it may be mostly Highways. But I suspect it is yours also. I have not seen any
budget items for pesticide or herbicides purchase in the budget. Is there a line item for that
anywhere?
Mr. Dill: I do not think there is a specific line item. It will
just come under supplies, I believe. But that would be under Highways. Please ask that
question, if you would, during that and they may have a much more specific answer for you.
Mr. Hooser: They are not using any wastewater or other
things like that? No? Okay, because I had asked the question to you and I hate to ask the
question to Wastewater that I asked to you in writing. I made a request in February and in
March on pesticide use and have not gotten an answer on that yet.
Mr. Dill: Ye, we have received some of the responses. I
apologize. I am still gathering some of the responses from the other Divisions.
Mr. Hooser: Okay. So, the communications that I sent to you
on that...
Mr. Dill: I believe —I am sorry. I believe the only Division
in Public Works that uses pesticides or herbicides, I should say, is our Roads Division.
Mr. Hooser: Okay.
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Mr. Dill: A small caveat on that, chlorine gas is classified
by the Department of Agriculture, as restricted use p esticide. So, I am excluding th at for
another speaking on that.
Mr. Hooser: So, that answer will be forthcoming to my
communication?
Mr. Dill: Yes.
Mr. Hooser: In a week or so or a day?
Mr. Dill: You should have it in a week.
Mr. Hooser: A week. Okay, thank you. Thank you, Chair.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you. Mr. Hooser, I made a copy. I have a
list of vacant positions from all Departments. But it is only up to December of 2012. But it
gives you an idea. I have asked staff to make copies for everyone.
Mr. Hooser: Thank you. Thank you, Chair.
Chair Furfaro: Just a note on that, the next report is due the
first week of April, the quarterly report.
Mr. Tabata: For personnel, we are in the process of transition
especially in the Roads Division. As Larry mentioned, we created the Levee Crew and the
Bridge Maintenance Crew. So, when we started in July with the present fiscal year, you
started at a level, we created a crew. We are moving people around so it kind of cascades
down. We have a fair amount of vacancies in the Roads Division that are just pretty much
shifting around and we leave some open so that as they transition, they can be filled with
people who apply for those positions. It is a moving target right now and I think we can get
more detail from Crystal. But I imagine, because I have been tracking them,we have about
eight (8) positions right now in transition, in one state or another of being filled.
Mr. Rapozo: I would say when Roads comes up, have some
explanation and maybe even if it is a ballpark figure. I think Mr. Hooser's questions are
valid and I think the funded vacant positions are a concern.
Mr. Hooser: Just a quick follow-up because it is
Department-wide. So, at any point in time there is an average length of time they are
vacant and that is the kind of information I am looking for. Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Councilmember Nakamura.
Ms. Nakamura: Thank you. Good morning and thank you very
much for your presentation. I personally appreciate some of the systems changes that you
are both implementing, both on changing the hours to reduce overtime and creating new
crews for very specific tasks that are specialized. I think that is great for the County that,
you are using our manpower wisely. Thank you for your efforts. I have some questions, big
picture questions, and I will save my details for later. But one (1) of the questions we asked
last year was to look at the overtime issue. We received a response, this is dated
May 4, 2012, looking at the overtime over time report. It is a detailed for the whole
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Department. At that time, I do not know if I am reading this correctly. But the final total
overtime, this is for the Fiscal Year 2011 to 2012 because I think that was the complete
year as of last year. So, that was eight hundred ninety-six thousand dollars ($896,000).
Now if you have reduced it by half, approximately half for the transfer station issue, the
question is, is this report accurate and is the remaining overtime approximately four
hundred thousand dollars ($400,000) to five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) in the
Department?
Mr. Dill: I want to make sure that I understand the
question correctly.
Ms. Nakamura: Yes.
Mr. Dill: You want to know what our total projected
overtime will be for the fiscal year? Is that another way to put that?
Ms. Nakamura: I guess that is the question. Yes, that is the
question.
Mr. Dill: We will find that answer for you
Ms. Nakamura: Thank you. I am just looking at the previous
year overtime and what you said the saving was so given the past practice, what the
projected overtime is?
Mr. Dill: I might add to that.
Ms. Nakamura: Sure.
Mr. Dill: One very specific thing, as I mentioned and you
acknowledged, was the change of the scheduling of the employees at transfer stations. But
we have been looking at Department wide at overtime and how it is incurred, how it is
approved, how is it recorded, etcetera and just generally speaking, without being able to
saying that we did this, we have generally been looking at overtime and making sure that
we only incur overtime for justified reasons. We have generally been encouraging our
Division Heads and their Managers and their Supervisors to keep a closer eye on overtime
and doing what we can to limit that.
Ms. Nakamura: I think we acknowledged that your Department
handles all emergencies, any hour of the day, so there is going to be some overtime. The
question is the extent of that and how much we are projecting for this year?
Mr. Dill: That is true and it is also likely a reflection of
how many emergencies we incur in any given year.
Mr. Rapozo: Mr. Chair.
Chair Furfaro: Mr. Dill, from the last flood we had, we had some
discussion that in controlling overtime, you would specifically identify overtime given to
emergencies?
Mr. Dill: Yes.
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Chair Furfaro: Are you doing that in your Department, so if I
look at eight hundred ninety-six thousand dollars ($896,000) and you cut it in half and
what was left, how much of that responded to emergencies, flooding and roads? Do you
have that somewhere?
Mr. Dill: We do that certainly for things like Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) related responses because obviously those are
dollars that qualify for FEMA reimbursement.
Chair Furfaro: But my point is regardless of if shows up for
reimbursement from an accounting standpoint, the actual incurred emergency overtime
still shows up on your departmental records. The salvage credit for getting reimbursed
shows up somewhere else.
Mr. Dill: Right.
Chair Furfaro: But I thought we had that discussion about being
able to track how many how much of that overtime was related to emergency responses?
Mr. Dill: We keep track of any overtime that is incurred
and the reason why, I will put it that way. In classifying something as an emergency does
not happen unless there is a declaration of some kind. So, if there is a big storm over the
weekend but is it not "an emergency" as defined by FEMA or Civil Defense, we tract the
fact that we have been up because there was storm, we had to clear a road.
Chair Furfaro: Right. But you would reconcile that expense in
the invoices that are reimbursable from FEMA?
Mr. Dill: Oh, yes.
Chair Furfaro: Therefore, that number has to occur somewhere.
Mr. Dill: If there is a declared emergency, yes, absolutely.
Ms. Nakamura: Could you check into that for us?
Mr. Dill: Yes.
Chair Furfaro: Thank you, Nadine. Thank you, Mr. Rapozo
Mr. Rapozo: Councilmember Nakamura.
Ms. Nakamura: The other issue has to do with the challenges
that you described in your report relating to succession planning. One of the concerns that
we see sometimes is that a certain report cannot be completed because nobody was not
trained to do it. For example, the building permit update, we waited for six (6) months
because someone had to be trained or when roads do not get done because the person
retired and it falls through the cracks. I think this is such an important place that we need
to make sure we have resources for and when I am looking through your Department's
budget through the various divisions, I see very little training in there. All I can add up is
one thousand dollars ($1,000) under Administration and four thousand dollars ($4,000)
under building inspections. But nothing for Engineering, nothing for building repairs and
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janitorial. It is of concern because you are pointing it out as a major challenge. I guess, the
other part I see is a gap, is really the mid-management training within Public Works. So, I
wanted to just get your thoughts on that.
Mr. Dill: I concur with those challenges, certainly exist. A
lot of the succession training that occurs, you will not see show ups a training line item
because it is in-house training. I think you see the budgeted training numbers for external
training resources that occur. When our Public Works Fiscal Officer retires, he plans in
advance for that by training the current gentleman you see sitting in the chambers today.
But that happens on a day to day basis.
Ms. Nakamura: Do you have resources in order to make that
training happen? Do you have to pay that person in the interim while he or she is being
trained or does it just happen informally?
Mr. Dill: In this particular situation it happened
informally because both employees were already working together in that Division and I
guess that is most of the succession training we are talking about. People are already in
place. Somebody retires, somebody has to move up to fill that position and so that training
would not necessarily show up as an extra budgeted item.
Ms. Nakamura: What about training for mid-managers? People
who have kind of come up through the ranks, have the expertise and knowledge of the
Division, but do not necessarily have the management skills to lead?
Mr. Tabata: We have a record in Public Works of all of the
trainings that have occurred over the many years previous to Larry and I coming on board.
There has been an extensive amounts of training utilizing Kaua`i Community College for
various levels of management. We rely on that and we have been looking into additional
training. I work with, now HR, to look at the needs and do an assessment and make
determinations. But at this time, as HR is reorganizing, we are communicating with them
and I think they are taking inventory of our needs and will develop programs for us.
Ms. Nakamura: Is that in your budget or HR's budget?
Mr. Tabata: Right now we are still identifying needs, so we
have not really sat down together with HR to create a budget, so to speak.
Mr. Dill: Part of the training, I mentioned earlier, that
includes safety training, they call it E-solutions Online Training. There are a lot of
management features in that training that occurs as well. That comes out of HR so that
would be part of their budget.
Mr. Tabata: In some of the other areas, for skilled
requirements for journeymen in Building Division or Automotive. What we have done was
we, in anticipation of a vacancy, once we know of someone filing for retirement, we have
used vacant positions to double man for the short period of time. So, that is a method of
using the system and getting training done before an incumbent is to retire. At that level
we have been using that method.
Ms. Nakamura: This is my final question. I think
Councilmember Yukimura touched on this and that is your objectives and your initiatives
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as outlined in your plan here. What is not clear is sort of the timeframe for completing your
initiatives and I am thinking your objectives are really goals and your initiatives are
objectives. But the objectives are not, objectives need to be quantifiable. So, what is the
task, by when? That way, when somebody is looking at it, they can see whether or not it
was actually accomplished? I think, unless you are saying these are all going to be done
this year and I think that might be unrealistic. That is why, I think, as the way you have
written it, your initiatives, it would be helpful if you could go through those and say by
what, by when and if it is broken down into shorter tasks within this year, these are many
of the subcomponents of the initiatives that could be done or you plan to get done. But
otherwise, it may reappear again and we do not have a sense of what was actually done.
So, that is what I would like to recommend.
Mr. Rapozo: Mr. Bynum then Ms. Yukimura.
Mr. Bynum: Just real briefly, I just want to tell you how
pleased I am with Public Works the last couple of years. I also want to recognize Clint
Saiki, who retired this year, who, I think, did an excellent job for the County and wish
Larry the best of luck picking that up.
Mr. Dill: James.
Mr. Bynum: James, I am sorry. I just clarified his name is
James and then I said Larry. James, good luck, you have tough shoes to follow. Also Mari
Chan, who is a good to person to get information, is always responsive. Thank you. Then
Lyle, who has become our Complete Streets Specialist, very much appreciative of the
leadership I have seen over the last year. Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Councilmember Yukimura.
Mr. Dill: Thank you. Yes, I do want to acknowledge Lyle
as part of the leadership team.
Mr. Dill: Absolutely.
Ms. Yukimura: And as someone who has really taken a lot of
initiative on a lot of key and future issues, I mean issues that will make such an impact on
the future. I concur with Councilmember Nakamura about the need for middle
management training and I wondered with respect to our base yards and our transfer
station management, what kind of training people get when they get to those management
levels?
Mr. Dill: If I can defer those to the Divisions, we will
address it at that time.
Ms. Yukimura: Alright. Then on your Public Works
Administration Budget, there is a sixty-four percent (64%) increase over actual
expenditures in 2012 in your collective bargaining line item, which shows actually major
increase from 2010 and I just wondered what those issues are, that are causing this large
increase? It shows going from six thousand dollars ($6,000) in 2010 to eighteen thousand
dollars ($18,000) in 2014.
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Mr. Tabata: That is our line item for safety equipment for our
people and with the heavy turnover that we have been experiencing, every new employee
we have to re-outfit them. So, we hav4 been having a lot of turnover and that line item is a
lot of our initial safety equipment that,comes out of Administration.
Ms. Yukimura: Well, that is an area you do not want to mince
on, but this is for the employees in your Administration Division?
Mr. Tabata: Everybody in General Fund.
Ms. Yukimura: So, it is everybody in Public Works?
Mr. Tabata: James will come up.
Mr. Rapozo: You can have a seat. Just state your name.
JAMES MATSUSHIGE, Budget/Fiscal Specialist: As far as the collective
bargaining, that account in the Administration is for the whole General Fund.
Ms. Yukimura: ( For all the employees in Public Works that are
covered by the General Fund?
Mr. Matsushige: Yes, and it includes drug testing, which, I think,
we stepped up and also preventative, in the recent years we have done for hepatitis shots
and that is a very expensive process that requires flu shots.
Ms. Yukimura: Thank you for that explanation but stay there
because I presume that your premiere pay line item, which shows a twelve thousand
percent (12,000%) increase. It is not a big dollar amount, but it is a major proportionate
increase that is the same thing, it is for premium pay?
Mr. Matsushige: Yes. Probably in the past maybe nobody claimed
and I guess you are looking at 2011.
Ms. Yukimura: Well, the increases that our staff measured were
the Fiscal Year 2014 over the actuals of 2012. So, it went from ten dollars ($10) to one
thousand two hundred dollars ($1,200.00).
Mr. Matsushige: It is more on a guess on anticipation. We do not
know if anybody is going to claim overtime.
Ms. Yukimura: Wait, wait, that is premium pay?
Mr. Matsushige: Sorry,for temporary assignments are more.
Ms. Yukimura: That is what premium pay stands for.
Mr. Matushige: Temporary assignments, nightshift differential.
That is the two major ones.
Ms. Yukimura: Thank you for that explanation. Thank you, that
is it.
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Mr. you,Thank Rapozo: Th ou Councilmember Yukimura. Any
Y
other questions? You have a question, Larry?
Mr. Dill: No, I have an answer for Councilmember Hooser
actually on his question about vacant funded positions. We have currently eleven (11) in
our Highway Division, two (2) in Solid Waste...
Mr. Rapozo: Hang on Larry. In fact, can somebody get
Mr. Hooser? Go ahead.
Mr. Dill: Eleven (11) in Highways, two (2) in Solid Waste,
and two (2) in Wastewater.
Mr. Rapozo: So, fifteen (15) vacant funded positions?
Mr. Dill: Correct. As Lyle was touching on earlier, we
recently completed a rework. We were working with the Union on our Roads Division
which helps us to establish these levees crews, bridge maintenance crews, and we were
holding off on some hiring until that reorganization was complete. So, those are in the
works now, many of those positions.
Mr. Rapozo: Like I said, when Roads come up, they can better
inform the Council of the plan and why the necessity to have and maintain those vacant
positions. Any other questions? I have one question. The difference between Fiscal
Year 2014 and Fiscal Year 2012. I am only using 2012 because that is the complete year, it
was in salaries in Administration that was forty-five percent (45%). Do you know was that
the movement of employee for HR, was that the reason for that jump?
Mr. Dill: Yes.
li Mr. Rapozo: Well, jump downwards. Then the other question,
that we will be sending over is, I want to see a breakdown of overtime, actuals versus
budget, and breakdown by Division though. So, each Division, if we could get the overtime
as close to the current dates as possible. I know I had mentioned that earlier.
Mr. Dill: Fiscal Year 2013 year-to-date, you are looking
for?
Mr. Rapozo: Correct. I am more interested in actuals by
Division. Then the other question, as far as the training, I know Lyle, you mentioned the
Kaua`i Community College (KCC) participates. I am kind of interested in how much we
take advantage of. Do you have it?
Mr. Dill: No, he does not.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay. Basically on the succession training or
training Department-wide, how much have we used KCC and how many of employees have
actually gone through KCC training, if we can get a record for that and that is obviously not
for now. But that will go over as a question, unless you have it. It looked like you were
ready to answer, Lyle.
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Mr. Tabata: I can say that more than ninety percent (90%) of
our employees have gone to some sort of training through KCC right now.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you.
Mr. Tabata: Yes. We have only, I think, a couple of new
managers. But previous to that, because I have been tracking this, every other employee
has.
Mr. Rapozo: This is management training?
Mr. Tabata: Right.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay, good, thank you. Any other questions?
Mr. Hooser, while you were gone, eleven (11) vacant positions in Highways, two (2) in Solid
Waste, and two (2) in Wastewater. Okay, Larry, if you want to proceed. I noticed that you
had some charts. I do not know if you have a PowerPoint for these charts for your budget.
Mr. Dill: No.
Mr. Rapozo: Unless there is a desire to have Mr. Dill go
through these charts, I would suggest we move on to Engineering.
Ms. Yukimura: I have a question.
Mr. Rapozo: Go ahead, Councilmember Yukimura.
Ms. Yukimura: It is more on your format. But I just wondered
why you changed colors as to the Operating Budget between 2014 and 2013, when you were
talking about the segments, and this is true throughout the Public Works Divisions.
Mr. Dill: I was not in charge of the colors this year. It is a
good point.
Ms. Yukimura: But you are trying to show comparisons and
using different colors, it just did not make sense.
Mr. Dill: Right, my apologies for that and that is a good
point.
Ms. Yukimura: If you change that for next year, it would be I
think, it would help you achieve your goals of having the two (2) different charts. Thank
you.
Mr. Rapozo: Mr. Dill, if you want to proceed with
Engineering. It is 10:30, Engineering was scheduled for 9:15. So, we,are about an hour and
fifteen minutes behind. It is safe to assume you folks will be coming back on a call-back
day.
WALLACE KUDO, Chief of Engineering: I will go over our mission
statement. The Mission of the Engineering Division is the protection of the public's health,
safety, property, and the environment through proper planning, development maintenance,
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and operation of the County's infrastructure and Administration of sediment, and erosion
control measures, storm water runoff systems, driveway approaches, and land use Codes
and Ordinances. Our goals and objectives, number one (1) is the protection of public health
and safety by planning and developing safe and cost effective roadway and drainage
systems. Number two (2) is the protection of the public safety in assurance of high quality
of life by administering and enforcing subdivision grading, Drainage Ordinances, and
regulations, protection of the public safety in invest through effective project development,
improving the efficiencies of maintenance of County facilities, roadways and drainage
systems. Fourth is the improved management and delivery of CIP, five (5) is to pursue the
successful completion of ongoing projects as assigned. We have a project called the Puhi
Road (UTW) Ultra Thin Whitetopping and we are planning to complete the design in-house.
Going back, we are trying to retain consulting services for design and we will be managing
that project. Another project is the Hanapepe Bridge and pedestrian repair/construction.
Our success and achievements, we prepared the consulting services for repair and
rehabilitating the following bridges: `Opaeka`a Bridge, we issued the Notice to Proceed on
October 3, 2011 and the contract time is six hundred thirty (630) calendar days with
completion date of June 23, 2013. Secondly is the Pu`u`opae Bridge, we issued Notice to
Proceed on October 3, 2011, contract time, again, is six hundred thirty (630) calendar days
with completion date of June 23, 2013. Thirdly the Kapahi Bridge is another bridge project.
We also issued Notice to Proceed on October 3, 2011 and contract time is the same, six
hundred thirty (630) calendar days, with completion date of June 23, 2013. Another bridge
project that we have is the Hanapepe Bridge and Pedestrian Bridge. It is a federal aid
project, which is placed on the Statewide Transportation Program (STIP). It is eighty
percent (80%) Federal match with twenty percent (20%) County match. We have procured
the consulting design services for Lae Road, guardrail. This is ongoing, we are presently
going through a contract negotiation process with a design consultant. Another roadway
project is the Koloa Road Guardrail Improvements and this is a with federal aid project
with ninety percent (90%) Federal match and ten percent (10%) County match. Currently
we are procuring consulting services for Hanapepe Road Resurfacing and this would
include complete streets. Thirdly, the next item down the list, we completed the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for Chapter 343 Environmental Assessment for the
Northerly Leg of the Western ByPass Road. We gained permit approvals for, and pursuing
protective for Aliomanu Road. We are process the consulting design services for repair and
stabilization of Kanaele Road. We are also doing consulting services for feasibility analysis
of the Lihu`e-Hanama`ulu Mauka bypass road. We are processing repair work for the
Kamalu Road Bridge. It is also a Federal Highway project with eighty percent (80%)
Federal match and twenty percent (20%) County match. We are currently procuring
consulting design services for Pu`u Road improvements which will entail providing
guardrails for Puhi Road. We completed a United States Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE) study of Konohiki Stream and adjacent watersheds to update the Kapa'a Town
floodplain and concerns of Twin Reservoirs. We also completed a preliminary re-
certification study of Hanapepe and Waimea levees by the United States Army Corps of
Engineers. We completed the biennial inspection of the County twenty-three (23) Federal
aid bridges and we are pursuing the next cycle biennial bridge inspection. We are currently
working with the United States Army Corps of Engineers for the repairs to Hanapepe
Levee Toe and construction is to be initiated in April of 2013. The completed in-house
design of the structural improvement of the Automotive Shop Building. We pursued Phase
2 design of the renovation of the Pi`ikoi Building. We initiated in-house design of the
Hanapepe Parking Lot. We also pursued the consultant design services for the Driver's
License Transactions Screen area. We completed in-house design of structural
improvements to the Resource Recycling Center roof. We also assisted the Solid Waste
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Division with their various traffic volume studies for the Lihu`e Refuse Transfer Station
and space studies for the Kekaha Resource Recycling Center. We have also completed the
Koke`e Road resurfacing which is a Federal Aid Project. It is eighty percent (80%) Federal
match with twenty percent (20%) County match.
We have challenges in the Engineering Division and I will go through our section
like the surveying, drafting, and documentation. We are trying to update the drafting
capabilities to support the Division. We have regulatory compliance. We are transferring
the subdivision review responsibility to the Regulatory Compliance Section and we are
trying to get additional staff to meet work load requirements. On a project management
level, we are trying to get additional staff to manage projects while maintaining daily core
responsibilities of the Division and development of formal standard operating procedures
for project management for Federal aid and non-Federal aid projects consistent with the
Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) and Federal Highway standards as
applicable.
Improvements, we completed training and acquired necessary equipment as
participating agency in the ePlan building permit review process. We have attended
training workshop on Federal 106 process regarding historic preservation, aid in processing
of projects funded with Federal Highways Administration moneys. We have upcoming
initiatives, we are preparing and planning to adopt the Complete Streets Manual. We have
gone through the Los Angeles (LA) County Complete Streets Manual, where we are trying
to take some of their standards and apply it to Kaua`i County standards or what is that we
can be using to apply to our County standards. We are trying to re-program our Federal
Highway STIP projects to incorporate complete streets into their projects and we are also
implementing Safe Routes to Schools programs. That is it, if you have any questions?
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you, sir. Councilmember Kagawa, and
then Yukimura, and then Bynum.
Mr. Kagawa: Thank you, Wally, for the presentation. Your
Division is responsible for the flood management of Building Permits?
Mr. Kudo: That is correct.
Mr. Kagawa: Would you say that it has gotten a lot more
challenging, stricter, maybe FEMA guidelines, in the recent years which are maybe causing
some delays and problems.
Mr. Kudo: I do not think it got stricter or more regulations.
It is just that we have new staff.
Mr. Kagawa: Well, I know that Larry. In your presentation
kind of touched really quickly about, you named Maile taking over the federal flood
management.
Mr. Kudo: Maile is a certified Floodplain Manager. I think
they are capable of regulating the County's role in participating in the National Flood
Insurance Program.
Mr. Kagawa: Thank you. So, we used to handle that or is
Winn moving to another?
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Mr. Kudo: Winn will be assigned to project management
and she will be, with all the projects that are coming on board, I guess, she can do some
management. She is a licensed Professional Engineer, as well as a licensed Surveyor.
Mr. Dill: If I may, I will speak to some of the succession
planning that Winn has been grooming Maile to take over the Floodplain Management
Program for some time now. As Wally mentioned, Maile has gotten her certification as
certified Floodplain Manager. As he mentions in some of his challenges, we need help to
manage some of the projects because Wally has a long list of projects to manage. I also
mentioned earlier that we are going to be bringing on board, hopefully within a month, a
licensed experienced Professional Engineer. So, the combination of those things, we showed
the succession planning with Maile taking over. We are going to get some help from Winn
with running the projects and then the new Engineer coming on board to mentor everybody
on that side.
Mr. Kagawa: I think what you just mentioned is great. We are
going to basically utilize Winn's talents to help us accomplish all of these projects that we
have. I am just kind of worried that a lot of our residents and businesses, a lot of their
properties lay in the flood zone. In the past it was not as strict and they did not have to
spend much money to get the engineers and architects to design their houses to, I guess,
comply with the flood zones. Councilmembers are all receiving a lot of, I do not want to say
complaints, but about the delays. It seems that the engineering companies do not even
understand sometimes some of the things that we are telling them they need to do in order
to comply. I guess we are kind of caught in the painful position of how do we help, but still
comply? I do not know if you have feedback on how to help our residents and our
commercial building permits.
Mr. Kudo: I guess lands get very limited and the areas that
can be built are probably in the floodplain area. So, when you are building in the
floodplain, it becomes more restrictive. You have to elevate your lowest floor and you have
to have your plans stamped by our Structural Engineer. If you are in the floodway, it
entails more of a detailed analysis of the floodway encroachments.
Mr. Kagawa: Thank you. I just wanted to relay my concerns.
1 I know it is a tough, tough thing to handle. But I just wished there was an easier way. But
I know maybe, some things we just do not have easier ways. My last question, because I
did not notice it, I have two (2) more questions. Where is that Hanapepe parking lot? I see
Hanapepe parking lot but is does not...
Mr. Kudo: It is off Hanapepe Road. I would say between Ko
Lane and Pa Lane or someplace around there.
Mr. Kagawa: Is it in the town?
Mr. Kudo: It is close to the swinging bridge.
Mr. Kagawa: Close to the swinging bridge?
Mr. Kudo: Yes.
Mr. Kagawa: So, that parking lot is to service Hanapepe Town,
the business area?
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Mr. Tabata: Yes, it is the response to the community's request
and Councilmember Yukimura made a request to us a year and a half ago. We got it
program, it is designed, and now we are going to be implementing the construction.
Mr. Kagawa: Well, terrific. I know that was one (1) of
Councilmember Bynum's suggestions. We have to try to revitalize the town. It used to be
the most happening place, Hanapepe Town, and if we can get the businesses to stir up in
there again, I think it might be great.
Mr. Tabata: Yes, it is across several of those art galleries and
just about, I would say the first third of driving into the town from East Side.
Mr. Kagawa: Terrific.
Mr. Tabata: It is a taken lot right now, where that pickup
truck with the plants is inside.
Mr. Kagawa: How many spots will be in that lot,
approximately?
Mr. Tabata: I think it was twenty-four (24).
Mr. Kagawa: Okay. Last question. I do not see it in the
budget or in your description. I am talking about the Lawa`i Bypass Road that Kukui`ula I
guess, helped to build and it connects Lawa`i Road to Kukui`ula. There was some drain
issues that were brought up to us and it came from Russell Abreu and members of his
church. They are worried about — they had a big flood that happened from one (1) day of
hard rain and they said the water was gushing over the cement crossing. There is a
culvert, I would say about two (2) feet wide and I guess that was not adequate to handle the
flow. Whoever built a big ditch there and the ditch runs from mauka all the way down. I
am just wondering, we are so strict on the residents as far as getting flood permits and
things and here we dig this ditch that it creates more water than they have seen—they said
there was more water in that one (1) day of rain than the big twenty (20) days of rain that
we had in a row. I am just thinking that we are strict with our residents and our
businesses, but we can do what we want as far as the County?
Mr. Dill: We are equally strict with ourselves as we are
with our customers. In that particular situation, that was not a County project. But the
County reviewed and approved the drawings and that roadway in that location is designed
to function as a forward crossing during a one hundred (100) year storm. So, when it goes
over the road, it is doing exactly what it was intended, designed, and approved to do. So,
that was not a surprise to us. It functioned properly as designed. It was brought to our
attention, there was a concern of diversion of flows and we received, from the consultant, a
submittal that demonstrated to our satisfaction that there was no diversion happening.
When you get a big storm, again, that channel and that forward crossing functioned as it
was designed to do.
Mr. Kagawa: I was just wondering, do we have any moneys in
our budget to handle some safety issues that we may have? Maybe children that are going
to play by that crossing and if we have at least a barrier, like a fence that could prevent
children from...
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Mr. Dill: We did receive that communication from Council
and we have not responded yet. But we do not have anything specifically allocated as a line
item in this budget for any fencing or closer to anything in that area. We have not gotten a
chance to respond to that.
Mr. Kagawa: If I had a wish list, I would like to see that we
could add something in there for that. Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you, Mr. Kagawa. Larry, I was out there
with Ross when we met with the landowners down there. It is a safety issue because it
provides an opportunity for the kids to go into the culvert. It is big enough for the kids to
go in. I think chain link fencing, at least something in that area to prohibit or prevent the
kids from getting in there. I do not think it would be that much money. It is not that big a
culvert or crossing. We can have that discussion later. Councilmember Yukimura.
Ms. Yukimura: Thank you. I want to say that we recently met
with Winn and Maile on shoreline setback and flood issues. They were excellent and I
think, a good example of the kind of succession thoughtfulness that you are doing. So,
thank you for that. On your successes and achievements where you talked about procuring
consultant services and getting to the point of issuing a Notice to Proceed for the `Opaeka`a,
Pu`u`opae, and Kapahi Bridges I was thinking at first, you should call it a "success" when
completed. But then I thought how critical it was especially because given the function of
your Department, to get the projects to the point of Notice to Proceed and all of the
community meetings, planning, design, and that process, and it really is an
accomplishment to get that far. So, thank you. My question is about what you have
categorized as an "accomplishment," processing consultant services for a feasibility analysis
of the Lihu`e-Hanama`ulu Mauka bypass road. I am not sure that is a success or an
achievement as much it is might be an initiative or objective for this coming year. But is
this Lihu`e- Hanama`ulu Mauka bypass road, which has never been on our CIP before, is
this part of an updated current plan in the County or in the State?
Mr. Kudo: This is part of the long range 1997, Long Range
Plan that was approved by the State.
Ms. Yukimura: Yes, but that is about three (3) plans overdue for
an update. I believe their goal was to update the plans every five (5) years. 1997 is a really
old plan and I believe we are in the process of updating it. So, would this not be part of the
update process to see if that should be part of the plan, the new updated plan? Why are we
proceeding with a feasibility analysis until we are sure that it will be part of the plan, of an
updated plan?
Mr. Dill: Well, I acknowledge the question, it is a good
point. On the other hand though, we are proceeding on the best information available to us.
It is still currently the official adopted by the State of Hawai`i Department of
Transportation.
Ms. Yukimura: I know, but we are so close to an update that it
seems that we should wait that it is confirmed, that this is going to be part of your plan into
the future or if it is not, this will cost a lot of money and it would seem to be premature to
begin spending money on it until we are clear that it is going to be part of your plan into the
future.
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Mr. Dill: We can certainly change, if something happens
out of Long Range Transportation Plan that affects whether or not that plan would be
included. We did start this process some time ago because it is eighty percent (80%)
Federally funded.
Mr. Kudo: Eighty (80) /twenty (20).
Mr. Dill: Eighty (80) / twenty (20), so we did start the
process some time ago with the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal
Highways Administration in getting fund as approved for this. So, we have been
continuing along that mode rather than losing the fund.
Ms. Yukimura: Is it on the Statewide Transportation
Improvement Program (STIP) plan?
Mr. Dill: Yes.
Ms. Yukimura: How long has it been on the STIP?
Mr. Dill: Do you know how long it has been on the STIP?
Mr. Kudo: A couple of years, last year, I think.
Ms. Yukimura: Last year?
Mr. Dill: I think so, yes.
Ms. Yukimura: Who initiated it to be on the STIP plan?
Mr. Dill: The County of Kaua`i.
Ms. Yukimura: Why did you initiate it to be on the STIP plan if
it is part of an obsolete plan and we are in the process of updating that plan?
Mr. Dill: It came up in discussion with the Department of
Transportation and the work that they were doing on widening.
Ms. Yukimura: And the what?
Mr. Dill: And the work that they are doing on the
widening and general big picture things about infrastructure for transportation around the
town of Lihu`e.
Ms. Yukimura: That is true, it is part of the big picture plan.
But the big picture plan is about almost twenty (20) years old. So, it just seems very
premature, especially when all it will take is to wait another year before we finish it or
better action might be to prompt the DOT to finish the update of the Long Range
Transportation Plan, which has been doodling its way along the past three (3) or four (4)
years. Okay. You have a question related?
Mr. Rapozo: Councilmember Nakamura.
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Ms. Nakamura: Just related to that Councilmember Yukimura is
that the Council received the six-year CIP Report earlier this year from the Administration
and in that report at first there was no mention of this. But then we received an
amendment that came through the Planning Commission that added this bypass road. On
Wednesday we have an update in the Planning Committee because I have asked for an
update of the six-year CIP Report that added that project.
Ms. Yukimura: Thank you. I mean, it seems to me too, that the
Council needs to be part of this discussion and this project has never been discussed with
the Council as far as I know. Well, I am glad that it is scheduled for discussion. Regarding
the Hanapepe parking lot, which I am glad to see. Now, the wording here says, "initiated
in-house design of Hanapepe parking lot." To me, well, maybe I do not know what has led
up to it. It does not seem like an accomplishment or success yet.
Mr. Tabata: It is completed, the designs are completed.
Ms. Yukimura: The plans are completed?
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Ms. Yukimura: Thank you.
Ms. Nakamura: So, that is like your Pu`u`opae Bridge, etcetera.
So, perhaps we would know what the schedule is for actually performing and completing
the project. The plans are completed. Thank you. So, that is like your Pu'u'Opae Bridge.
So, perhaps we would know what the schedule is for actually performing and completing
the project.
Mr. Tabata: I think that will come up in our CIP.
Ms. Yukimura: So, it might be, in fact, identified as an
"objective" instead, completion of the Hanapepe parking lot by a certain date? Then can
you tell me about these structural improvements to the Resource Recycling Center roof?
Mr. Kudo: I guess with the metal roof it is close to the ocean
and it has caused some rusting and the task was to repair the roof.
Ms. Yukimura: Are there things in the design and planning
process that can be done to offset this kind of locational impact because I was really pleased
to hear how you are thinking more in terms of lifecycle costing and preventative
maintenance? But the other piece to this is in the design process? How you design these
buildings and the Kaiakea Fire Station is a prime example of that. It has a frontal assault
of salt spray, right? I trust, because I asked the Chief, that issue when they were citing the
project and he said they would take care of it. This is also—we knew when we cited it, that
is was close to ocean spray too. Is there something we could do in the design of these
buildings that would lengthen the life when we design them?
Mr. Dill: Yes and I believe in the design of Kaiakea, as the
Chief mentioned to you, those sorts of things were taken into account and supposed to have
been addressed.
Ms. Yukimura: We will see how long they last.
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Mr. Dill: I do not know when the Kaua`i Resource Center—
those sorts of things, they do extend the life. But obviously in that environment it is only a
matter of time.
Ms. Yukimura: Well, it then goes to our planning and citing as
well.
Mr. Dill: Right.
Ms. Yukimura: Okay, so thank you for that. Then what are the
speed studies for Kekaha Resource Recycling Center, what is that?
Mr. Kudo: I guess there were speeding problems on Kekaha
Road so we were asked to take speed studies on Kekaha Road because they were going
move the Recycling Center from the landfill to close to the former Kekaha AMFAC over
there.
Ms. Yukimura: So, this was a request of Solid Waste then?
Mr. Kudo: I believe it was a request of the community,
somebody had requested that.
Ms. Yukimura: The Kekaha Resource Recycling Center is not a
facility of the County?
Mr. Kudo: I cannot answer that.
Mr. Dill: It is.
Ms. Yukimura: Okay. It is about moving it or is it an existing
problem? I am sorry, I am so unfamiliar.
Mr. Dill: Councilmember, can I ask you to address that to
Solid Waste because Engineering was asked to perform a study and so they provided the
results. But we may not necessarily know the background and those sorts of things.
Ms. Yukimura: Alright, thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Councilmember Yukimura, was that request a
County request?
Ms. Yukimura: Yes.
Mr. Rapozo: Councilmember Yukimura, it is a little after
11:00, we have to take a caption break. Let us do that now. Let us take recess, ten (10)
minute recess, and we will come back. Councilmember Yukimura, you will have the floor.
There being no objections, the Committee recessed at 11:04 a.m.
There being no objections, the Committee reconvened at 11:11 a.m., and proceeded
as follows:
Mr. Rapozo: Councilmember Yukimura, you have the floor.
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Ms. Yukimura: I want to go back to the bypass road. Is this
being necessitated by the landfill location, the landfill citing?
Mr. Dill: The bypass road early on was part of the
discussion of the landfill and that is one of the things that kind of brought it back to the
radar again, though in our current proposals for the landfill does not tie it to the landfill.
In other words, the requirement if you will, for a construction of the Lihu`e Mauka bypass is
not necessitated by the construction of the landfill.
Ms. Yukimura: Well, how will the big truck access the landfill?
Mr. Dill: We are looking at other options. I think the
leading candidate right now is Ma'alo Road and Ma'alo Road would require some
improvements so that is what our consultant is looking at, is what sorts of improvements
would be required to accommodate that sort of traffic.
Ms. Yukimura: Because if this Mauka bypass was necessitated
by the landfill, that has to have been taken into account in judging whether the cost of that
road should be taken into account as part of judging whether that landfill site was the most
cost effective site, if that bypass is being necessitated bid by the landfill.
Mr. Dill: But the bypass is not being necessitated by the
landfill. So, as part of their first phase of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) work
was the review of the citing study and an analysis of those sorts of things including cost,
that was looked at and it was determined at that time that the bypass road is not
necessitated by the landfill.
Ms. Yukimura: I do not know how they are going to get big
trucks through Ma'alo Road, do you?
Mr. Dill: Well, that is what we are looking to our
engineers, to give us that information. But preliminary tells us that that is feasible. There
will be a cost, of course.
Ms. Yukimura: Well, who knows? But I would guess far less
than the cost of a mauka bypass.
Mr. Dill: Yes, a mauka bypass would be much more
expensive, from what I have seen so far.
Ms. Yukimura: Well, to me it makes no sense to proceed on it if
it is not related to the landfill unless you have the full discussions about what the road
system for the island is going to be and that is the Long Range Land Transportation Plan.
Mr. Dill: The work with the mauka bypass, which was
approved by Council in last year's budget, last year's CIP, it is planning/feasibility study.
So, it takes a look at the overall Lihu`e transportation situation.
Ms. Yukimura: That was in last year's CIP?
Mr. Dill: Last year's CIP, yes because as I mentioned, this
is a Federal Highways funded project, eighty percent (80%) of it. So, we had to have a
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twenty percent (20%) match and when that was proposed, we needed to get a County match
in place. This was all discussed at Council a year ago.
Ms. Yukimura: It was not discussed at Council. Maybe it was in
the paperwork and I missed it. But it was not discussed at Council.
Mr. Dill: Well, I know that it did come up, maybe not to
this degree. But it did come up.
Ms. Yukimura: Okay. So, on your transferring subdivision
review responsibility to a regulatory compliance section, that is part of your reorganization,
I take it?
Mr. Kudo: That is correct.
Ms. Yukimura: Could you submit your organizational charts that
are both the existing and then the new organizational structure that you are looking at? I
think it is a wonderful thing that you are doing. I just want to understand what it looks
like.
Mr. Rapozo: I have a follow-up to that Councilmember
Yukimura.
Ms. Yukimura: Sure.
Mr. Rapozo: Also, I do not see any requests for new positions
in the budget. I guess I am confused. Is this something you are looking at this year and
how are you planning to fill those positions?
Mr. Dill: The position we are looking at filling is a single
position for CE-6 and that is as a result of a Bridge Project Manager position becoming
vacant.
Mr. Rapozo: That is an existing position?
Mr. Dill: Yes, correct.
Mr. Rapozo: Is that a same level position?
Mr. Dill: Yes, not exactly, because before it was — yes or
very close, yes.
Mr. Rapozo: And as well as the project management,
additional staff to manage projects while maintaining daily core responsibilities?
Mr. Dill: Well, as I talked about our reorganization with
designation of Maile as our new County certified Floodplain Manager, that frees up Winn.
Winn will move to managing projects. So, there are no costs associated with the position?
Mr. Rapozo: So, no cost—no increased with the position?
Mr. Dill: Right.
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Mr. Rapozo: Okay. Thank you, it is just worded that addition
staff, in addition to staff.
Mr. Dill: I understand.
Mr. Rapozo: It looks like you folks are asking for new
positions and I did not see in the budget. Councilmember Yukimura, Councilmember
Bynum has questions as well.
Ms. Yukimura: I am almost done. The upcoming initiatives,
your Complete Streets Manual, that is the same thing as Living Streets Manual, right?
Okay. Then reprogramming of Federal Highway's Administration STIP projects to
incorporate complete principles, what exactly is this?
Mr. Kudo: Like the Hanapepe collector road, rather than
just resurfacing the road, we are going to incorporate complete streets for pedestrian and
bike.
Ms. Yukimura: So, that is excellent. Are you incorporating
complete street principles in selecting STIP projects?
Mr. Kudo: We are trying to incorporate complete streets in
all of the projects, like the Safe Routes to School at Kawaihau Road.
Ms. Yukimura: Yes, but then you might not have started the
feasibility analysis of Lihu`e-Hanamd'ulu Mauka as part of a STIP project, if you were
applying complete street principles. I am talking about applying it at a macro level.
Mr. Dill: For the projects, I think, when you look at that,
where do we have it listed? I am sorry. On the upcoming initiatives, that is at a micro
level. This is looking at our existing STIP funded projects, which were a simple resurfacing
effort or reconstruction effort. We are looking at going back and revisiting the scope of
those projects to incorporate complete streets principles. You are right, that is the
difference between a micro and macro application of that.
Ms. Yukimura: I would like to ask you to consider looking at
incorporating complete streets principles at a macro level and using your Transportation
Planner to look at the feasibility of doing that. Thank you.
Mr. Dill: Okay.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you, Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Bynum.
Mr. Bynum: I want to focus on the three (3) bridge projects
that are on here. In your accomplishments, it says completion of contract June 2013, is this
just the design contracts?
Mr. Kudo: That is correct, that is the design contract.
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Mr. Dill: Excuse me, if I may add in. It is ultimately a
design contract, but there is a lot of planning work that going into it as well because we
have to go through the Federal 106 process as part of that design contract.
Mr. Bynum: Right. Is that contract set to be completed on
time for the three (3) bridges?
Mr. Kudo: As far as I know, that is the date, June 23rd.
Mr. Bynum: Because two (2) of those bridges were in the mix
a number of years ago and we delayed this because of the possible need for historic
preservation on these bridges, the six-year CIP says that Pu`u`opae is to be replaced and
`Opaeka`a is to be repaired. Is that accurate?
Mr. Dill: Are you talking about replaced and repaired, are
those accurate words?
Mr. Bynum: Well, I think we made a commitment to the
community to go out with a whole dialogue about context sensitive design and how much
historic preservation there would be on these two (2) bridges. I have not seen any of that
happen so I was surprised to see this contract was supposed to be completed in June
because I have not seen any community engagement or involvement
Mr. Dill: Well, when you say you have not seen any of that
11
happen...
Mr. Bynum: I have not seen any conceptual designs. Maybe
that is my fault.
Mr. Dill: Well, we have had community meetings for all of
these bridges, multiple meetings. We had meetings at the Kaua`i Historic Preservation
Commission, a presentation to them last month, I think, on the Kapahi Bridge in particular
and some proposals were given to them and we received comments. So, there has been
community engagement and involvement.
Mr. Bynum: I just was not aware. I am not saying there is a
problem. But`Opaeka`a is a current restoration of the current bridge, correct?
Mr. Dill: We have not finalized the scope for the `Opaeka`a
Bridge yet.
Mr. Bynum: Well, it says in the six-year CIP that it is to be
repaired, not replaced. The Pu`u`opae says replaced.
Mr. Dill: Well...
Mr. Rapozo: Mr. Bynum, Mr. Dill, I will ask Mr. Kagawa to
post an item in his Committee agenda on an update on the bridges. Is that something that
we can do? Is that fine, Mr. Bynum?
Mr. Bynum: Sure.
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Mr. Rapozo: I think that is going to take some time and there
is several bridges. I agree with your concern between rebuilding and restoration. So, I
think that is probably more appropriate, the discussion be in the Committee.
Mr. Dill: Okay.
Mr. Bynum: Well, if it says the design is completed by June, I
would think those decision would be made already.
Mr. Dill: Well, the Kapahi Bridge is a lot further along
than the other two (2) bridges.
Mr. Bynum: Right, unless...
Mr. Dill: So, the other two (2) bridges, I can tell in my
opinion, will not be done by June of 2013.
Mr. Bynum: Thank you for that answer because I do not see
how that is possible. But they are funded in next year, in 2014, they are scheduled to be
funded.
Mr. Dill: We are proposing funding of construction, when
we will get this into the CIP discussion. But I believe proposing funding of the Kapahi
Bridge for construction in 2014 and not the other two (2) yet.
Mr. Bynum: Okay, well let us do a separate thing on that.
Mr. Rapozo: But, I do have a follow-up though.
Mr. Bynum: Okay.
Mr. Rapozo: Being that it is not going to be done by
June 23, 2013, when do you anticipate it? That causes a lot of confusion in the report.
Mr. Dill: I think it is referring to the original design
contract.
Mr. Rapozo: I understand. Is the design going to be done by
then?
Mr. Dill: The Kapahi Bridge will be done. The other two
(2), I am going to give you an estimate of end of this calendar year.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay.
Mr. Bynum: I will just say that I live in the Homesteads and I
think by and large people like the one (1) lane bridges. They are significant traffic calming
measures. Both of these bridges that we are talking about, the community norm are a
slowdown in what could be a high speed area. I am very interested to know whether we are
going to retain the historic character of these bridges or just do something modern.
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Mr. Dill: I acknowledge, that point has been made. I can
tell you that at the very first meeting which I attended, the overwhelming majority of the
community wanted two (2) lane bridges. It is our difficult duty and responsibility to receive
all of the community input and try to the best thing for the community. Obviously, two (2)
out of the three (3) bridges are on the National Historic register and so we have a duty to
consult with community under the Federal 106 process to take input on the historic nature
of the bridges and to consider the folks, the potential traffic calming measures of these
bridges, look at safety, look at the two (2) lane bridges, and the structural.
Mr. Bynum: I do not want to belabor it now, Larry. We are
going to do a posting.
Mr. Dill: Okay, let us do that.
Mr. Bynum: But if somebody could supply me minutes of any
public meetings that have happened on these bridges because I am unaware. I would have
attended and I was not aware. But that could easily be my fault. Thank you, I am pau.
Mr. Rapozo: I know it was posted because I saw the posting. I
never attended it, but I did see it. It was well publicized because I know I saw the notices
and you believe it came out on the County's press release. But I got to admit that I never
attended them. But I believe they were well attended by the community.
Mr. Bynum: But there would be minutes of any community
meetings, right? If I could request those.
Mr. Rapozo: So noted.
Mr. Bynum: Other than that, thank you very much.
Mr. Rapozo: Mr. Hooser.
Mr. Hooser: Just to be clear, we are going to separately post
the discussion on the bridges?
Mr. Rapozo: Correct.
Mr. Hooser: Then at least we will include the three (3)
bridges that we are discussing today at the minimum?
Mr. Rapozo: I am actually looking to expand it to also the
results of the most recent survey done of all the Federal bridges.
Mr. Hooser: Good, thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you very much. Councilmember
Nakamura.
Ms. Nakamura: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Kudo, for your
update. I wanted to ask about the challenge that you mentioned regarding the drafting, the
need to upgrade drafting capabilities to support the Division. Can you explain that and
what do you need? Is it staffing? Is it equipment?
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Mr. Kudo: It is both staffing and equipment. We have one
(1) draft person and we have one (1) licensed to the AutoCAD. Well, actually we have two
(2) other licenses for the AutoCAD. We also need training for, I guess, the engineers g g e gineers to
support the drafting technician.
pp g
Ms. Nakamura: Is there a backlog now as a result?
Mr. Kudo: There is a backlog because she services several of
the project managers. A lot of the drafting that we do, like the Resolutions are done by our
staff that they just cut and paste things. Our engineers, they can do that type of work. If
we can spread some of the workload around from the drafting technician, that would help,
too. I mean, she is the only person that does everything. So, she is backlogged with a lot of
the services that are required from the Engineering Division.
Ms. Nakamura: Do we have adequate software and equipment?
Mr. Kudo: We have software and equipment and sometimes
there is a breakdown of the equipment.
Ms. Nakamura: And you are saying that many of the engineers or
project managers do not have the training to use AutoCAD?
Mr. Kudo: Oh, not all of them.
Ms. Nakamura: And these would be the County initiated
projects?
Mr. Kudo: That is correct.
Ms. Nakamura: Some of them go out, right, that are done by
private consultants?
Mr. Kudo: If it is a consultant design work, yes, the
consultant will do all the drafting
Ms. Nakamura: What is the level of the backlog? If we are
looking at how many projects are we looking at in a given year and what is the turnaround
time?
Mr. Kudo: It could be like two (2) to three (3) months
backlog.
Ms. Nakamura: Backlog, yes. So, this is going to hold up our
getting our projects moving forward?
Mr. Kudo: Well, we try our best to do the priority projects
first. If you have a request, well, maybe the other Division will just have to wait.
Ms. Nakamura: I know the directive for this budget was not to
have additional staffing. I am just wondering, from the big picture perspective, are there
other more urgent needs or does this stand out as one of the big priorities?
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Mr. Dill: Well, it is one our concerns. As Wally said, we
have one (1) person whose dedicated job is solely drafting work. I apologize, I forget the
number. We went out last year and acquired more AutoCAD licenses and I thought the
number was half a dozen licenses. When we sent several people to training for AutoCAD.
A lot of problems that we are still working on, I think, is because our draftsmen know we
did the Hanapepe Bridge in-house, that was drafted in-house, designed in-house, drafted
in-house. We did the project, as I mentioned, for the auto shop for the relocation of that
column to create an extra base. That was all drawn up in-house. When was it done? I
think in our purchasing, the new office space was done. We did all of the drafting in-house.
So, it is a lot of in-house projects that we do ourselves that require the drafting support, and
the little miscellaneous stuff crops up as well. AutoCAD is not just a drafting tool, it is a
design and drafting tool. It is kind of a gray area sometimes and I think that is something
that we have not entirely resolved ourselves yet as to when is it design work, when is it
drafting work, where is the gray area. We need to could a better job of getting our
designers on board with the use of AutoCAD when it is not purely drafting effort by our
draftsman as necessary because I think that we can alleviate the work by our draftsmen by
doing the AutoCAD design work in the machine and then turning it over to the draftsman
to complete. That is something that we are still working on.
Ms. Nakamura: Strategically, we need to think about does it
make sense if we want to reduce the backlog or make things move more quickly, invest in
another person doing it or do we want to contract this work out to make think move
quicker. Do you have any comments on it?
Mr. Dill: I want to, with the addition of another person, as
I mention, licensed senior position, he had a lot of design experience as a person that we are
looking to get on board. I am looking to grow Engineering Division to do more and more of
these smaller projects in-house and that would require, exactly that sort of support that you
are looking at. We are not quite there yet. So, in my mind, we are not quite to the point
where we justify another position as a full time draftsman. To me, the key right now is to
develop our designers to do the design work in AutoCAD and then turn it over to our
draftsmen. But, definitely what you are talking about, about hiring other person is
something in our longer term plans.
Ms. Nakamura: I would hope that the discussion takes place over
this year so if the budget situation improves, that is something that we can try to get our
resources out, projects moving, get the money out into the economy because I think
contractors are still having a hard time. Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Any other questions for Engineering?
Ms.Yukimura: Just a very quick comment. It is really
gratifying to hear of how many women are working in your Division which is traditionally a
men's world and to have young and older women engineers is a wonderful thing to hear
about. Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Councilmember Nakamura.
Ms. Nakamura: Do we know whether the Complete Street/Living
Streets Manual will be completed?
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Mr. Tabata: We are at the point where we are just about
ready to start the road cross sections for each transects type of road that we created. We
went pretty much town by town, created four (4) generic transects for the island. We broke
out the different road types anywhere from the major collectors all the way down to rural,
community, and subdivision roads and so now we need to do the cross section layout for
each of these. I would say that we are a four (4) to six (6) months out still. We are editing
chapters that we have gone through every single chapter, there are fifteen (15) of them.
Now we are finishing the re-editing and taking pictures around the island to replace the
more generic mainland pictures with our own local pictures. So, with Lee Steinmetz, our
new Transportation Planner on board, I have transferred that role to him. He is doing an
excellent job and we are working really closely to accomplish those needs.
Ms. Nakamura: Lyle, you are confident it will get done by the end
of the year?
Mr. Tabata: Knock on wood.
Ms. Nakamura: If all goes well?
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Ms. Nakamura: Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you. Any more questions for
Engineering? If not, thank you Mr. Kudo. You are done, unless you want to stay there, you
can. Next up is Buildings and according to Larry's schedule he has, in the morning session
through Building and Wastewater.
Mr. Dill: This will take about five (5) minutes. If I may,
Councilmember Rapozo.
Mr. Rapozo: Sure.
Mr. Dill: I think Councilmember Kagawa had a question
regarding the benefits, the OpEd. As I mentioned, I think, you will see County-wide
decrease across the board. I am informed that in Fiscal Year 2013, we budgeted them
thirty-one point one percent (31.1%) based on actuarial. But based on updated actuarial
information, our budgeting for Fiscal Year 2014 is down from thirty-one point one (31.1) to
twenty-three point one (23.1). So, you will see certainly in Public Works and I will assume
County-wide that those numbers are all done.
Mr. Rapozo: It is really a correction that needed to be done
after we got the actuarial report from last year so we are more realistic to what it actually
is and it is hard to determine those things until the actuarial report comes out. Thank you
very much, Mr. Haigh.
DOUGLAS HAIGH, Chief of Buildings: I assume you have all received our
report and have read it. I am just going to focus on a few things and then I will be here to
answer any questions/comments. Just one (1) success I would like to note is that we are
proud of sitting here today. We finally got our audio visual system for this room to where
we wanted it. I am proud that we finally got there and that has been a challenge. I thank
you all for your patience because I know you with you were caught in the middle it and it
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was not pretty all the time. But hopefully it is a lot prettier now. Probably the most
significant event for the Building Division is the adoption the ePlan review and I just want
to really give a big mahalo to our Code Enforcement Officer, Ron Darville, who has been the
champion of that and has moved that forward. It is really a game changer for the Building
Division and really for all the Agencies as far as the building permit process. This month,
we are looking at making the transition and we are on track to do that. I guess I am in
danger of promising big. But I really believe that this system is going to make a significant
change and make our building permit process much more efficient and it will also allow us
to more easily identify where we have problems so we can focus our management attention
on those areas and keep the progress of moving forward. Right now the building industry
seems to be gaining steam again. So, it is really important that we have this tool in place to
help us so that we can stay in the groove with the building community so that as these
projects come up, we can respond quickly and approximately and not have the building
permit be the road block to having new projects move forward and the critical need for our
economy to have that happen. I am excited about it and like I said, the entire Building
Division Code enforcement staff and other Agencies, I really want to thank them all for
helping working on this moving forward. Especially Information Technology (IT), also.
They have put a lot of effort onto move this forward. Challenges, filling vacant positions
are always a challenge. We are doing better. We have been utilizing our Building Permit
Revolving Fund position to help us through transitions in the code enforcement. So, that
has been very beneficial. We have been doing better than we had in the past in keeping
knowledgeable — bringing people in before somebody retires and getting them trained. We
are in a unique position of all the agencies because we do have that fund and we have
positions approved, contract hire positions. So, what we do is hire somebody under contract
and we can make the transition. So, that has been very helpful. I am concerned in our
upper management area. The Chief of the Building Division and Maintenance Officer both
are getting to the age where retirement is on the horizon. So, both of these individuals do
not have staff below them who have the training, education, and skills to move into those
positions so that is of concern and hopefully in next year's budget we can start addressing
that. This year's budget with the decision for no hires, that put that on hold for now. But
hopefully next year we will be able to look at that because it is becoming real and it is going
to be more than just a couple of month. It would be really nice to bring in lower level
person with the education and some experience and then get them trained to be ready
because right now there is no one there getting the training and the experience. Of course
managing multiple projects with minimal staff, that is what we do and we do it. It is
nothing new. We have been doing it for years, it could always be easier. But we manage to
get by. That is pretty much, to me, the key issues with the Building Division right now. I
will be happy to go into depth in any particular area you are interested in.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you for the brevity. Any questions?
Councilmember Kagawa.
Mr. Kagawa: Yes, Doug, this relates to Buildings because I
think you folks install it. Regarding the parks, I know there was a press release that we
are going with stainless steel fixtures at the bathrooms, that will be incredible at
beginning. Are we still on that plan?
Mr. Haigh: Right now, and I want to give a big mahalo to the
gentleman on the right, Lyle Tabata. He is playing a key role in integrating Building
Division maintenance and parks managers. I do not know why it took us so long. But we
are now really making sure that we are meeting weekly. -We are identifying our priorities
and working together. We are a Service Agency. So, it is very important for us to know
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what our client/users need. So, these meetings with Parks are helping. Parks is taking the
lead on purchasing the upgrade fixtures. Then now we are closely coordinating with them
on when we are going to be installing the fixtures.
Mr. Kagawa: I guess, we still incur a lot of vandalism, right,
Niamalu, Hanama`ulu Beach, are they going to get those expensive fixture?
Mr. Haigh: We have areas where vandalism is more
concentrated than others. Overall, I would say overall we do fairly well with minimum
vandalism, but we do. Yes, we are following the lead of Parks. We expect them and we
acknowledge them as they are the people with the eyes on the site and they are the
managers responsible for managing the facility and the users so we are helping them, so
where they identify the need, we will be there to assist them.
Mr. Kagawa: I guess, my line of question is just as the person,
that your people see the repair requests. I am just wondering if we are thinking about the
risk. There are certain areas that always get damaged and what have you. Maybe we can
consider not buying the expensive things for those parks because the risk is high and those
fixtures cost a lot.
Mr. Haigh: Well, this is the beginning demonstration project.
I have seen on O`ahu where the stainless steel was not that beneficial because it does get
vandalized also. So, with this demonstration project we will be able to see and get a track
record. Building Division, we have resisted stainless steel in the past just because they also
get damaged. But we are moving forward with it and we will see how well it works out.
Obviously, if they work out real well then we will be looking at expanding the use.
Mr. Dill: Let me add to that. We do consider vandalism,
so we do look at products that are not vandal proof, but vandal resistant I guess, for the
things we specify and looking at that more as we design things for our facilities that serve
the public as well.
Mr. Kagawa: I know that we are in a budget crunch and I was
just thinking that that may not be the wisest direction to go in, to put a lot of money into a
toilet and a sink and whether we can stay with what we have. I have been told from people
at the State level that they have stainless steel fixtures at Waimea Boat Harbor, Kikiaola
Boat Harbor and they said that it is very hard to maintain, that you have to scrub it. The
Kikiaola Boat Harbor basically became all brown in a short time. Instead of being nice and
silver, it is brown. I do not know if we want to take the risk that our janitors will spend
more time scrubbing it. So, that is another consideration. But as far as if it is going to help
to make our parks more attractive and it is going to last longer, I am all for it. But I just
have a few concerns and wanted to make sure in this time of budget crunch, we know that
it may require more labor to take care of and that replacement costs will be much higher.
Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you, Mr. Kagawa. I think if the State
cleaned the toilet every day, it would not turn brown. But I think that the biggest issue
with those stainless steel toilets, you have to have regular cleaning and I am not sure that
was being done. I am a strong proponent of stainless steel because it is better as far as
being —nothing is vandal proof. But I think the opportunity to destroy a porcelain sink or
toilet is much more attractive to the vandal than a stainless steel, but I appreciate the
efforts. Any other questions for Buildings? Councilmember Yukimura?
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Ms. Yukimura: Yes. Thank you for a very succinct and well
organized report, Doug. I wondered, and congratulations on the ePlan system. Is there a
way that you get systematic input from users and maintainers, i.e., the people who clean
and take care of the building and facilities, as well as users, to monitor what is needed?
That is number one (1). What is needed in terms of ongoing maintenance, but also what is
needed in terms of designing good and user friendly and easy to maintain facilities?
Mr. Haigh: We are very fortunate right now that we have a
very strong janitorial supervisor and she is doing a really, really good job. She does not
hesitate to communicate to upper management. So, we are getting good feedback. The
maintenance and the facility development sections are very close. Our facility development
section two (2) individuals, and we sit and we work right next to our counterparts in
maintenance so there is a lot of communication. We are very concerned about designing
buildings for minimum maintenance and we do have interaction with our— one (1) example
and this if for our janitors, we are putting special coatings on our ceramic tiles. It cost more
during construction, but it makes it so much easier to clean. I do not know if you have
noticed, but in the men's restroom in this building downstairs.
Ms. Yukimura: I have not noticed.
Mr. Haigh: Unfortunately, the original architect chooses a
very light colored tile. Before this recent renovation it was always kind of dingy brown, but
with this new coating you were seeing a much — keeping that finish. We are really using
this coating in almost all of our restrooms. So, that is an example. An example of
coordination with maintenance, right now we are looking at in partnership with Parks,
renovations at Lydgate Park. One (1) is the main restroom on the beach by the lifeguard
tower. As we were developing the scope of work, we brought in some of our key
maintenance supervisors and said, "Let us talk about what you think is going to work here
because our beach facilities are very difficult, it is a very tough environment." Kaiakea Fire
Station is probably — you could not get any tougher for a building. We tried to do
everything that we could when we built it and we are still learning of some of the things
that have worked better than others and we are still making corrections to some of the
things that did not perform as well. Kapa'a Base Yard Structural Renovation, that one, we
were fortunate we had a very detailed oriented architect who developed the project plans
and we work closely with him to make sure that — because that is another very vulnerable
building. We adopted a building from State DOT which had not been maintained for fifteen
(15) years. So, it had extensive corrosion of the metal and metal is especially hard in the
East Side of Kauai's salt environment. We are using special paints with primers and we
are using calvalikind with a kynar coated metal. So, we are doing everything we can to
minimize using a lot of stainless steel where appropriate. So, we do that. I heard mention
earlier of the roof down at Lihu`e Transfer Station. Actually, we did an investigation for
Solid Waste to take a look at the amount of corrosion. There are areas that are tough. But,
overall, that building is almost twenty (20) years old so it is not at all surprising. You are
coming to the life of the roof and actually the roofing has held up well. So, we have some
successes. But anywhere particularly on East Side of the Kaua`i, it is really a challenge as
far of the corrosive environment.
Ms. Yukimura: But there is sort of a feedback loop and a loop
that goes from use of the building, back to designers of new buildings, who are rehabbing
our buildings so that we can keep upping the level of best practices.
Mr. Haigh: That is correct.
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Ms. Yukimura: And save money and ensure longer life to our
buildings. You just mentioned you are working with Parks, so your repair budget is
covering or your crews do repair and maintenance of park facilities?
Mr. Haigh: That is correct.
Ms. Yukimura: But how you cost it out or share the costs, that
are divided up in the budget?
Mr. Haigh: Yes. We primarily buy the maintenance
materials. Then Parks sometimes, will buy some of the enhancements and then they also
have projects that they fund.
Ms. Yukimura: You are showing a sixty-five percent (65%)
increase on R&M building, Fiscal Year 2014 over 2012, which admittedly we do not have
the 2013 or this ear's actuals. But that at i s caused by the fact that you are paying more
attention?
Mr. Haigh: It is really a reflection of the budget. Last year
was another year when we were on a very tight budget so we did not fund all the projects.
We have never. There has never been a year were we have funded all the projects that the
Building Division has identified as preventative maintenance projects that are ready to
occur. So, really, it is a matter of budget and we set our lists and priorities and we tackle
what we can with what moneys that are available.
Ms. Yukimura: So, you do have a preventative maintenance
analysis that gives you a work plan and a cost for doing it in a preventative maintenance
approach? But then the budget comes in and you are only able to do a portion of that.
Mr. Haigh: That is correct.
Ms. Yukimura: What portion is it?
Mr. Haigh: It depends on what year.
Ms. Yukimura: Well, this year, what is it going to be?
Mr. Haigh: My best guess, I have not looked at this in detail.
I would say we are about fifty percent (50%) of what we have identified of work that we do.
Ms. Yukimura: And to the extent that there is deferred
preventative maintenance that will turn into larger bills ultimately.
Mr. Haigh: That is the general theory of maintenance.
Ms. Yukimura: Right. What is your maintenance budget? Is it
this line item or scattered all over the place?
Mr. Haigh: Well, we have R&M building, which are projects.
We are also challenged by limited manpower to manager these projects. So, even if we got
all the projects that we asked for, we would be in a challenge to produce them, to get them
completed. This year we are looking at almost one million dollars ($1,000,000) of R&M
-
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projects and primarily that is stuff that is contracted out. Then, when you get further into
the budget, you have R&M equipment and you have R&M materials, other supplies, and
that is where our building materials, electrical materials, and plumbing materials are that
assist us in doing the regular maintenance type projects when we get a work order, a door
broken somewhere and then we go fix it. That is the small, everyday maintenance where
our staff responds to work orders and maintain our buildings. That is a more immediate,
small type of repairs.
Ms. Yukimura: Right, that is ongoing repair?
Mr. Haigh: Yes. You are always going to have that to some
extent.
Ms. Yukimura: But, there are the roof repairs that you did, that
are more long-term and they are preventative maintenance. If you do it this year, this will
cost so much and if you wait another five (5) or ten (10) years, it will cost a lot more.
Mr. Haigh: Well, there is a risk. You never know exactly
how things will deteriorate. But the longer you defer, the more risk you have, there will be
additional damages caused by the deferral.
Ms. Yukimura: And you do some kind of annual inspection or
something that allows you to check on this or do you just do it as your janitors report that
maybe we need to change the roof or something?
Mr. Haigh: Well, we rely on our Maintenance Officer and
Lead Supervisor to keep an eye on our buildings and identify which projects are critical.
We also hear from the users.
Ms. Yukimura: But do you not have a system?
Mr. Haigh: We do, and then with the new computerized
work order system, it is identifying preventative maintenance work that we plug into the
system also.
Ms. Yukimura: Well, what would be helpful to me, is for you to
have a total R&M budget that shows your large preventative maintenance projects and
some of them you do contract out and that job is for our contractors. Then your ongoing
maintenance and I presume you do some more extended maintenance even in-house, too or
not?
Mr. Haigh: Well, I mean, our budget is setup that way. We
have the R&M which are the projects. So, this is a large size...
Ms. Yukimura: No, but I am talking about allocation of
manpower as well, in the total picture that shows us how many people you need? How
much money you need, how much is done by contractors, how much is going to be done
in-house? Every year show us that and say if you fun at this level, you are at fifty percent
(50%), if you fund at this level you are at one hundred percent (100%). That would be very
useful and important budgetary information. Is that possible?
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Mr. Haigh: That is possible, but then you have to have the
manpower to put together that study and that is a challenge, too.
Ms. Yukimura: Okay, but otherwise you are doing it ad hoc.
Mr. Haigh: Well, we are doing it based on experience, years
of experience. Our staff has twenty (20) years experience at the supervisor's level. We have
been dealing with these buildings, we have been dealing with budgets, we have been
dealing with Administrations, and there is a system of how it works. Yes, the system could
get better. But we look at our staff and our management staff, the level of management
staff who can do that sort of thing. You are looking at one (1) person in the maintenance
side and that same person has to get all the contracts out, he has to manage that section.
So, you are limited by your manpower. We try to be as efficient as we can and we definitely
want to identify a project that need to be done and that is what we could do in the budget
process. But to be able to do a detailed, thorough analysis of our maintenance system is
beyond capabilities when we are trying to run the Division at the same time.
Ms. Yukimura: I am hoping that we would have a goal of having
such a system, just like we have asked for such a system on Roads and I am going to be
asking a lot of questions that way. I am thinking this is part of succession planning as well.
When you retire with all of that in your mind and you are experienced and I do not discount
experience, we need experienced people. But we need a system so that when people leave,
there is a structure there that can be turned over and is easier for the person coming in to
succeed.
Mr. Haigh: We are working towards that with our work
order system because that system has the capability and we are starting to plug in the data
that lets you know when the last roof was done, lets you know when the building was last
painted and then you start scheduling. Our individual wastewater septic tank system, we
schedule that within our work order system that when inspections are supposed to be done
periodically. So, we are working toward that and we have a tool that is helping us to do a
better job on that.
Ms. Yukimura: You are going to have that system in place before
you retire, Doug?
Mr. Dill: Yes.
Mr. Haigh: That system is in place, but in not fully
populated.
}
Mr. Dill: We had the discussion along these lines within
the last couple of months. We talked about developing our Asset Management System, that
it is not being fully utilized and implemented rights now. As Doug mentioned, it is a big
task. It is a big bite to take. But for the reasons that we are discussing right now, I think it
is something that we need to because those things are happening now, not ad hoc. But
obviously Doug and his staff prioritized the most important ones and minimize the ones
where deferred maintenance will not cause a lot of problems down the road. But we need to
formalize that and that is why we need to put in place an Asset Management System,
utilize what is available to us now.
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Ms. Yukimura: Well, I am so glad that you are talking about it
and thank you for the terminology, which I was grasping for, an "Assessment Management
System." I know that Ray McCormick, I think, had some of you at his workshop on asset
management, there was an asset management workshop. I think a lot of concepts that
applied to roads, road systems, apply also wherever you have assets. It would help us, as
part of the budget decision makers, to have that kind of system and data in place. But
more than that, I think it would help you folks not only in your work, but in the succession
of people coming through your Departments and in training your new leaders, managers.
So, that is great that you have started discussion and I would encourage you to include it as
your overall goals. Even if it is a multi-year process of coming to get the system in place,
maybe include that. Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you. Councilmember Nakamura.
Ms. Nakamura: Just a follow-up on that point. It was just in
Sunday's paper, they talked about the backlog of repairs at University of Hawai`i where
because of deferred maintenance, they now have a half a billion dollars worth of repairs to
get done. I think that is why, I think more so, we need to really look at having a
Replacement Reserve Program for our buildings. What I am hearing is that everyone is
overwhelmed with just the everyday work, that you may have some of the tools available.
But I am kind of getting to the point where I am thinking that for an organization this
large, not having an Asset Manager is something that we need to take a look at. If it can be
accomplished with existing staff and do it right, that is fine. But if we do not, we really
need to look at that as a very specific function that makes sure we are taking advantage of
our technology that we have and either we get a consultant to do the Replacement Reserve
Study or use our existing tools. I am just open to whatever option, but to get that function
assigned to someone that is really going to take it on and focus on it.
Mr. Tabata: To answer, I guess, the strategy of Replacement
Reserves. That is insurance company technology or activity that most of all of the private
entities have to create. It is harder for us with Annual Ordinances because you cannot put
money away for reserve because you only encumber what you use the following year. So, if
we are putting money away for the next thirty (30) years for something, I mean the
mechanism has to be designed for government entities. That is a great idea. So, when you
need it, it is there. However, I do not think the Annual Ordinance— I have not figured out
how to do that yet.
Ms. Nakamura: That is right, you are not putting it aside. But at
least we would get a better handle on what is the range of improvements that are needed?
I guess, you are making those decisions internally. But I guess is it would be good to know
what is falling through the cracks
Mr. Tabata: I guess we need to give the people more credit
than I think what we are giving them now. They do a really detailed, concise data
collection.
Ms.Nakamura: Lyle, the only reason why I bring this up is
because when you look at what is happening from 2010, 2011, and 2012, we went from one
million seven hundred thousand dollars ($1,700,000) in repair & maintenance, down to one
million eight hundred thousand dollars ($1,800,000), down to three hundred eighty-four
thousand dollars ($384,000) in 2012.
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Mr. Haigh: That was an accounting decision to shift
maintenance projects to CIP projects that year. So, that is a false indicator there.
Ms. Nakamura: It is sort of at the million dollar level that we
maintain and we feel like we have enough staff to do.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you. Councilmember Yukimura.
Ms. Yukimura: Yes.
Mr. Rapozo: You have one (1) more question? I asked
Wastewater to stay because I wanted to get to them before lunch. But if you folks are going
to take much long, than I will let them go.
Mr. Bynum: I am just going to take a minute.
Ms. Yukimura: I just wanted to do a follow-up on what I think is
an important issue. We are setting aside monies. We set aside monies for the landfill,for
closure of the landfill. We have Reserve Funds in our housing projects, in Pa'anau and
Kalepa, because we have to. I am sorry I do not know the exact mechanism. It might be
just reauthorizing it every year. But they are Reserve Funds and the reserved to the
project, they come from the projects. I am very proud of the fact that our projects, unlike
State projects, are putting aside Reserve Replacement Funds so that we can ensure the
sustainability of these very important rental projects. If our County facilities and buildings
are important, I am guessing Finance could develop a system that would help us put aside
those moneys. It would seem important to do so. If it is an insurance issue as well, I mean,
in the risk management part of it and it is related to ensuring of our assets of well, there
might be some things we should do. The way I am seeing it, and I certainly could be wrong,
but the Asset Management in each Division would be, to me, the place to do Assessment
Management rather than having a central County person. I mean Roads should be taking
care of their assets, Buildings and Parks take care of their assets. I am not sure of what
the best corporate organization is of it, we should have more discussion. I really appreciate
Council Vice Chair's attention and focus to this idea of replacement reserves and an Asset
Management. But what form it takes, I guess, we should really discuss. To the extent that
you folks are talking about it and beginning to set up systems to do it, that is very
important and I hope there will be ongoing dialogue. Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Mr. Bynum.
Mr. Bynum: When the Parks Department was originally
created, the plan was to move maintenance into Park and then they came back the next
year and said, "No, we are not going to do it yet." My assumption is that plan is no longer
fruitful? We are going to keep the Division the way it is, is that correct?
Mr. Dill: That is right. There are no plans like now, to
break up that and move anything to Parks. We have discussed that continually, but right
now we feel it is best to be left where it is and as Doug said, we are working closer with
Parks to make sure that we are meeting their needs.
Mr. Bynum: Well, that is the key, right? I followed this repair
& maintenance and work order issue for more than ten (10) years and I want to
acknowledge at one point the Building Division was the only Division in the County that
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had any kind of systematic repair & maintenance tracking. I believe that is now the norm
in the Departments and that leadership, I think, came from the Building Division to begin
with. I hear you saying that you are increasing dialogue because what I hear from Parks
folks is that it has been broken for ten (10) months. Did you put a work order in? "Well,
no."
Mr. Dill: We are looking to improve those things.
Mr. Bynum: That needs to be really stayed on, that
communication. I was glad to hear you say, without me asking, you said you are taking
that initiative to make sure the communication was increased between them that. That is
all for now.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you. Councilmember Nakamura.
Ms. Nakamura: Thank you. Just a couple of comments and
questions. On the ePlan review, when I was at the Hawai`i congress and Planning Officials
meeting in October of last year on O`ahu, Ron Darville did a presentation and that is where
I really learned a lot about what was behind this and the efforts to go to ePlan Review and
that it was really—we are the first County in State doing this.
Mr. Dill: Well, actually, City and County of Honolulu
already fully implemented this. We are both working parallel and they jumped ahead and
they are regretting it a little bit. They have had some issues. But it is kind of nice because
both of us have different based computerized systems, but the ePlan Review, we are using
the same software. So, we are able to work with them and learn from their process.
Ms. Nakamura: I am very happy to hear that. I guess I wanted
to ask just in terms of time savings, what is our goal here with ePlan Review? How much
time do we want it to shave off your processing?
Mr. Haigh: We are hoping thirty percent (30%) to fifty
percent (50%).
Ms. Nakamura: Also, the other question that I had, had to do
with your goals and objectives. I feel like there should be very specific goals and objectives
relating to the main County building offices and what is it do we want to achieve over this
next year with respect to the assets that are most important to us and that is our
personnel. We talked earlier about what we wanted to accomplish and the timetable, but I
think we need to really articulate what is it, when will the changes in the office based
master plan be carried out and when are we going to start checking off these? I know it is
being done in phases. So, it would be good to have that articulated in this section.
Mr. Haigh: Okay and that is a little bit of a challenge right
now because the responsibilities have been split. So, that is a little bit of a challenge.
Ms. Nakamura: Can you explain that?
Mr. Haigh: Well, Engineering has been leading up the
planning for the Pi`ikoi Building.
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Mr. Dill: That is right. Engineering is the lead Division
for the project right not so they own that project right now. Our plan is to update the
master plan and part of updating the master plan will be to generate, I think what you are
looking for, a timetable with phases, cost estimates as to how that plan will be implemented
for the renovation of the Pi`ikoi Building. Right now, I am reluctant to put anything
forward to you knowing that that plan is going to be generated with this coming work.
Ms. Nakamura: If that is the case, then the objective should be
when will that plan be completed by and then that will set the stage for the
implementation.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you. I just have one (1) question and it is
Hanama`ulu Beach Park, the old pavilion, is that you or Parks?
Mr. Haigh: Parks is taking the lead. We are assisting them.
Mr. Rapozo: Any update on that?
Mr. Haigh: We are trying to move forward with demolition.
We have a demolition permit being processed. I am not sure on exactly what is happening
with the Planning Department and their potential issues there.
Mr. Rapozo: The plan is to demolish and rebuild?
Mr. Haigh: That is correct. We are hoping that we will be
able to do it as part of the bike/pedestrian path project because it is included in the
environment documents and then we could use Federal matching funds to help build it.
Mr. Rapozo: We should not expect anything soon?
Mr. Haigh: I would defer to Parks. They may want to take a
more aggressive.
Mr. Rapozo: I will ask Parks. Many years ago the funding for
the renovation or restoration or whatever it was of the pavilion and the community has
been asking for a long time. But we will ask Parks when they get here? Any more
questions? If not, thank you, Doug.
Mr. Haigh: You are welcome.
Mr. Rapozo: I appreciate it. It is 12:15, Wastewater.
Questions?
Mr. Bynum: Can I just, really briefly?
Mr. Rapozo: Question?
Mr. Bynum: Yes.
Mr. Rapozo: Doug.
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Mr. Bynum: I am sorry. Thank you very much for the actuals
in here, but building R&M 1.7, down to 1.1, last year expenditure three hundred eighty-four
thousand dollars ($384,000). This year's budget, nine hundred seventy-three thousand
dollars ($973,000). Does that reflect us getting back on track at the level we need to? I
mean, as an increase this year, right, building R&M?
Mr. Haigh: That is correct.
Mr. Bynum: Then you do not have to answer this now, but as
a follow-up. During decision making last year, Council voted to add back some R&M
related to repair of the Police Station roof and I would like an update on the project. I do
not mean right now.
Mr. Rapozo: We will send it over in writing.
Mr. Haigh: Part of what happened in last year's budget is we
were still working on the projects that had not shifted to the CIP Budget. So, that is one (1)
of the reasons why last years' budget was a little bit lower because we still had these funds
in the CIP budget that we had not utilized.
Mr. Bynum: Because we had the same issue where
occasionally we were putting R&M projects in CIP and we are not doing that any longer?
Mr. Haigh: That is correct, yes.
Mr. Bynum: Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you. I will be sending over a question to
provide a breakdown to the best of your ability for R&M projects going forward for the next
fiscal year, as best that you folks can put together. I would agree that there has to be some
standard of R&M, even if we do not have an Asset Management System in place right now,
a computerized version. But there has to be some sort of justification, there has to be some
projects that we know we are doing R&M on. I would like to see some breakdown of what
we expect to use going forward as well as they did deferred maintenance projects as well.
We will send that over as well in writing. Mr. Tschupp, Wastewater, you get us before
lunch.
EDWARD TSCHUPP, P.E., Chief of Wastewater: I think the kind of big
picture approach is a good way to go to kind of highlight on the goals and objectives. Our
employees, employee development, staff development, facilities, facilities maintenance, we
are a maintenance organization. We are coming off of some CIP as has been discussed here
today. Our Waimea Wastewater Treatment Plant Project is nearing completion, will be
completed this fiscal year. We just completed a couple of other smaller projects,
replacement of the emergency generators, and a renovation of our laboratory facilities. We
have those kinds of things, we have been trying to leverage Federal Funds, which have
been very helpful. We have also got a pretty good network of funding availability called the
State Revolving Fund (SRF) Program, State Revolving Fund Program, Federal monies
administered by the Health Department that are dedicated to our CIP needs. But this is
primarily at this point, I think, more about the Operational Budget and in the current
budget request, we are trying to tow the financial line and maintain the systems in the
same kind of not going forward and increasing budgets particularly. At the same time, we
have through our scheduled rate increases, increased the revenues that the customers are
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paying into the system, reducing our dependence upon general fund transfers. Just as with
any other maintenance related organization, we have the challenges of aging
infrastructure. We serve a relatively small customer base compared to something like City
and County of Honolulu and yet operation and maintenance of wastewater plant is
inherently an expensive proposition. So, that small customer base is carrying relatively
high costs and limited funding, small customer base, but still it costs money to run a
wastewater plant. We have tried to achieve a balance in our Operating Budget for the
upcoming year. I guess I do not have any other general questions. Those are sort of our
goals and objectives. Larry was just pointing out the improvements and upcoming
initiatives section of the budgetary write up. We basically have completed three (3) CIP
projects this year. The Waimea WWTP (Wastewater Treatment Plant) Expansion, the
Lihu`e Laboratory, and `Ele`ele Generator replacement project. We have got a couple more
in the pipeline. One of them has already been bid and contracted, that is the Wailua
WWTP Process and Electrical Improvements. We are cued up and ready to go out to bid for
a similar set of improvements at `Ele`ele. The island-wide SCADA (Supervisory Control
and Data Acquisition Systems) system, we are reviewing contractor proposals right now.
Coco Palms Pump Station Odor Controls, we have proceeded with the design and we are
working with the vendor to tie down the contract provisions for the direct purchase of the
equipment. We did get the R-1 distribution System Grant for the Waimea R-1 Distribution
System, understanding however, that there is some risk with the sequester on a Federal
level that some of those kind of grant funds could be pulled back. But we are proceeding
with hiring the design consultant for that project.
On the upcoming initiatives, one of the big things is that we are looking, always at
our employees' safety and our safe practices. We have a great deal of need on an ongoing
basis, which is reflected in our budget with budget allocation for ongoing training. That is
actually a licensed maintenance requirement for our operators. We are looking very
seriously at our energy footprint and I cannot jump the gun too much, other than to say
that Mr. Dill was on the mats last week in my absence, haggling with the consultant that
we are very close to, hopefully, executing an agreement for implementing the energy audit
recommendations. We also have recognized the need to try to divert our Bio-solids from the
land still landfill and we will be working on that into next year.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you. Councilmember Kagawa, had a
question and then followed by Councilmember Nakamura.
Mr. Kagawa: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a question regarding
Kalapaki Bay. It is kind of disturbing to me that periodically, I would say twice a year or
so, we announce that there is a sewage spill in that area. I am just wondering, in this year,
we included any moneys to try and eliminate that from happening.
Mr. Tschupp: It is actually much less frequent type of an
occurrence than I think you may be thinking of. We did have an incident in May of last
year that led to posting signs, "Sewage Spill." On average, we do not experience more than
a couple sewage spills system-wide from Waimea all the way up to Wailua at any one of our
four (4) systems. More than two (2) or three (3) in a year is very unusual and a lot of those
are small. We have an intense rainstorm and we have a manhole overflowing somewhere.
The Kalapaki prior to last year's incident, we had not had an incident for many, many
years, I think in early 2000's there was a prior one that was significant enough to close
Kalapaki Bay.
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Mr. Kagawa: Well, just memory may serve me wrong. But I
just recall more than one (1) happening. But anyway, what is the reason for that
happening ,basically?
Mr. Tschupp: Well, Kalapaki — with that being the focus, that
actually would end up being a pretty big occurrence that would reflect an operational
breakdown of some kind. The most recent occurrence, which was May of last year, was at
the plant, our plants are not manned twenty-four (24) hours. We work one (1) shift a day,
seven (7) days a week. So, that one was a situation where we had an upset condition, a
power outage, a partial power outage at the plant that shut things town and at the same
time we also did not get a call out through our SCADA system. So, that was a rather
unusual set of circumstance. The much more common—and we issued a press release
because it is part of the spill protocol if we have a manhole overflow and that would one
thousand (1,000) gallons of sewage, perhaps.
Mr. Kagawa: Thank you.
Ms. Nakamura: Thank you. Thank you, Ed. I wanted to ask you,
in your initiatives here, looking on page 4 of the Department's Report, fund a new position
for the Waimea Wastewater Treatment as the plant upgrade nears completion in order to
meet the operational standards as required by State DOH. Is that position in the budget?
Mr. Tschupp: It is not at present. I think there is — we are
going to be one (1) Assistant Operator short when the plant is finally classified as the grade
4 plant that it will be. But there is a time lag between when the project is complete,
construction complete, and it cycles through the Health Department's process of
reclassifying the plant. Our present staffing at Waimea is two (2) Operators and two (2)
Assistant Operators. My expectation is that we will come out with the Operation &
Maintenance (O&M) Manual recommendations for the upgraded plant to be a staff level of
five (5) instead of four (4).
Ms. Nakamura: What happens if we do not fund this position?
Mr. Tschupp: Well, immediately probably nothing. But I am
thinking that it probably will be pretty much essential by next year, by 2015. That by then,
all the paperwork will be in that says the staff level needs to be at five (5).
Ms. Nakamura: So by June, 2014, there is no need for this
position?
Mr. Tschupp: It may come a little ahead of that, which is why
we were thinking about putting that in. But it did not survive into the actual budget
document that you have.
Ms. Nakamura: About when would you need that position?
Mr. Tschupp: I am sorry?
Ms. Nakamura: About when do you think you next year, where
you might need this position? I am thinking that you need this to be certified?
Mr. Tschupp: Right.
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Ms. Nakamura: Is it a standard?
Mr. Tschupp: No, it shows up more in the Operation and
Maintenance Annual Inspection Report that the Health Department does every year. It
would show up next as more of a deficiency, that we did not implement the O&M Manual
requirements. It is a little hair splitting.
Ms. Nakamura: Well, no, I am just wondering. If you had the
position in the second quarter, I mean, March of next year?
Mr. Tschupp: We would dearly love to have the position as soon
as we could get it. We would take every measure to proceed to fill it as quickly as we could.
Ms. Nakamura: If you get a deficiency, is there a consequence?
Mr. Tschupp: Yes, the Health Department classifies the
operations as "unacceptable," conditionally acceptable. They sort of have acceptable,
conditionally acceptable, or unacceptable. We would really rather not find ourselves being
classified as you been unacceptable. I think long-term, if you are a flagrant constant
offender, that the powers of the State would probably be able to come in and financially
penalize the County.
Mr. Dill: Councilmember Nakamura, if I can add to that a
little. As Ed says, they would not be any consequence — the first consequence would be
when the State does their— that there is supposed to be annual Operation & Maintenance
inspections and they would see if our staffing was in compliance with the Operation &
Maintenance Manual that was generated in conjunction with this upgrade still being
completed at the plant. We felt that it would not be until later in this year at the earliest, I
am sorry, later in Fiscal Year 2014 at the earliest, that that might happen. I think it is
reasonable to anticipate that when we get those inspection reports from them, we respond
point by point to those with our Action Plan. Our Action Plan response would be that we
would be to budget and hire that in the following fiscal year which I think is a perfectly
acceptable response to the Department of Health, that they would be willing to accept. So,
to me, that would be the worst case scenario, would be that we would tell them we
recognize that, we will budget that next fiscal year, and we will get that taken care of.
Ms. Nakamura: There are some increases in your budget for this
year. One (1) of them has to do with collective bargaining and I thought one (1) of the
assumptions that we made at the very start is that there were no provisions for increases at
this time. I just wanted to clarify that.
Mr. Dill: That is not speaking to wages or salaries. That
is speaking to the requirements for us to provide certain personally protective equipment,
for instance, to all the employees according to the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Mr. Tschupp: Eye wear, boots, and so on, safety equipment.
Ms. Nakamura: Thank you.
Mr. Dill: I had the exact same question when I first saw
that.
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Mr. Rapozo: Thank you. Mr. Chair, hang on just real quick.
Earlier you said that all of the Collective Bargaining safety equipment Funds came out of
Administration budget.
Mr. Dill: The general funded ones. This is Sewer Funds.
Mr. Rapozo: So, separate. This one, you maintain our own
expenses?
Mr. Tschupp: Right and that is a difference that you will see
probably in this account because it is the!Sewer Fund, that there are things that are
accounted for within the utility operation that might otherwise be more in the General
Fund kind of category.
Mr. Rapozo: Mr. Chair.
Chair Furfaro: Thank you, Mr. Rapozo. So, clarify this for me. I
would have much preferred to hear your rationale on the staffing needs for the Wastewater
Plant in Waimea as being a directive you are waiting for from the Health Department. Is
that how I should interpret it? I am serious, because you just said "it did not make the cut."
Did you have the position in or not?
Mr. Dill: It was part of the discussion because we are
aware that we will eventually have to have another employee there at the plant.
Chair Furfaro: Okay. I want to make sure that I understand
what I am hearing, and because you do not have it in this particular budget, you are willing
to let the Health Department comment on a deficiency rather than have it in the budget for
the third or fourth quarter of next year.
Mr. Dill: That is the possibility, yes.
Chair Furfaro: That is your strategy?
Mr. Dill: Yes.
Chair Furfaro: I want to make sure, that is your strategy.
Thank you Mr. Rapozo.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you. Council member Yukimura.
Mr. Chair, is it okay if we go to 1:00.
Chair Furfaro: That is fine. I have a 12:30 meeting. I am sorry.
Mr. Rapozo: No problem.
Chair Furfaro: Some of you are aware what I am discussing out
of the meeting. But I will leave it with you and you take it where you want to take it.
Mr. Rapozo: I do want to wrap up Wastewater. So, let us try
to wrap up no later than 1:00 and the we will come back and hit the afternoon calendar
from 1:45.
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Ms. Yukimura: The SCADA system which is, I learned, thank
you, Larry, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition. There is four million seven hundred
thousand dollars ($4,700,000) CIP item in the, is this the bond fund?
Mr. Tschupp: Yes, bond fund.
Ms. Yukimura: Is that paid back by the sewer users or is it paid
by all the people of the island?
Mr. Tschupp: As a bond funded initiative presently, the utility,
the Wastewater Division, Sewer Fund does the debt service on the SRF funded projects.
We have not had a discussion about adhering this particular bond funded project to have it
is funding repaid by only the sewer utility, at present. There may be something that...
Ms. Yukimura: You talked about, like the Golf` Course, like
sewers, like Solid Waste which are fee based systems, you talk about trying to make it more
self-sufficient. If it is not paid back by the Sewer Fund itself, then it means that it is a
subsidy and should be shown as a subsidy. I guess, the same question that we asked
Buildings in terms of asset reserves, I think you do have a reserve, I saw in your budget. I
do not know if it is used for as a replacement reserve or as an operating reserve.
Mr. Tschupp: No, that is more of an operating reserve. That is
in the event of a major — like we lose some kind of pump station or something like that,
then we have got a pretty rapid mechanism to respond.
Ms. Yukimura: Okay.
Mr. Tschupp: But it is not a replacement reserve in the sense
that the discussion has been this morning.
Ms. Yukimura: I do not know what a life of a sewer treatment
plant is. But I bet we are nearing it with our Wailua Plant or we have exceeded it and we
are beginning to address that, I take it. But is the life so long that we do not think about
how we are going to replace it when we come to the end of the life of a sewer treatment
plant?
Mr. Tschupp: I have to relay back to when I was at Water
Department and we were looking at possibly setting up a replacement reserve account for
some of the assets that the Water Department had. At that time, and what I am about to
say is that I do not have enough information to know all of the details. But I was made
aware at that time that there are limitations on how government can handle, by law, some
of those kinds of replacement accounts. Fund acquisition for replacements may be
problematic under Hawai`i Statutes. Rather the approach that we have been using, I think,
just as a general County position and certainly within Wastewater, is to identify the
seeming deficiencies as they come up and try to proactively take care of them. Any public
facility that is now forty (40), fifty (50), sixty (60), however many years old is undergoing a
constant sort of infusion of repair/replacement, new capital expenditure type of activities. It
is not like a car, that you go buy a car and at the end of its life you turn in the car. Now you
have got concrete that has some finite life and you have steel that has other and you have
machines. The life expectancy of the fundamentally equipment tends to be more like fifteen
(15) years, but the concrete could be a lot longer than fifty (50).
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Ms. Yukimura: I am just thinking that actually, the bond process
is a way of taking out a loan and then people, over the time of the life of that, paying back.
There is still the distinction of user versus overall County taxpayer that we need to think
about philosophically.
Mr. Tschupp: True, and philosophically one (1) of those
considerations in that discussion is to the extent to which the Operation and Maintenance
of a sewer system is a County-wide benefit. I would make the case there are County-wide
benefit to be derived above and beyond those of the immediate user or customers in the
system.
Ms. Yukimura: Thank you. On your R-1 Distribution Grant, you
said you have hired a Design Consultant. What is the scope of work for that?
Mr. Tschupp: We are in the process of hiring Design
Consultant and going through professional services procurement processes.
Ms. Yukimura: So, once you hire, then you would hammer out a
scope?
Mr. Tschupp: Right. We are in the scoping discussion, right
now, with the consultant that we have tentatively selected.
Ms. Yukimura: At the last budget discussions a year ago, we
discussed how R-1 systems are a C-Change or it is a real new aspect of sewage treatment or
wastewater management and that there are many policy issues that have to be addressed.
Who owns the water? Who charges what? How do you charge rates? Is this Design
Consultant going to be addressing those issues and if not, who?
Mr. Tschupp Included in the scope is a discussion or a kind of
assessment, if you will, of what the utility, the wastewater , the R-1 distribution company
utility, what that management structure should be. So, we are trying to put that in at the
front end to be able to benefit from the best practices.
Ms. Yukimura: This Design Consultant, has expertise in best
practices of R-1 systems?
Mr. Tschupp: We looked very carefully in the—I mean we ended
up with a stack of documents this big from various consultants and we have gone through
the screening process and have settled in on who we believe is the most qualified. They
made their representations about their knowledge and experience. We are in a position to
confirm some of that. I would like to say yes.
Ms. Yukimura: You are looking for an expert in best practices in
R-1 systems and you are checking their representations to confirm that?
Mr. Tschupp: Yes.
Ms. Yukimura: Then lastly, you are showing in your fiscal year
budget "other services" of seven hundred percent (700%) increase, you are going from one
thousand dollars ($1,000) to ten thousand dollars ($10,000) and I just wondered what is
behind that and in Fiscal Year 2013, you had eighteen thousand dollars($18,000) there.
MOE
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Mr. Tschupp: Right. That was a budgetary provision made for
part of our billing system and it is not something that we have made any changes in the
past. Actually that eighteen thousand dollars ($18,000) had been there for a while and we
did some small expenditures in prior years, but that all ties to automating some of our
billing processes. Although it was not identified specifically as that. It was "Other
Services," which is not very illuminating as to a title.
Ms. Yukimura: You have abandoned the idea of doing billing
with Water Department?
Mr. Tschupp: We have not abandoned that. I think that for
quite a while, the Water Department was trying to sort out their changes to their billing
system and they were not in a position to really take on the challenge of trying to integrate
our billing system into theirs. I think it is a possible best solution, but not necessarily the
best solution. There may be better systems. We really need to have further discussion with
the Water Department, which I think we can do at this time now that they have actually
gotten their system up and running.
Ms. Yukimura: Is that one (1) of your goals for the year?
Mr. Tschupp: I do not think we illuminated that as a specific
goal.
Ms. Yukimura: Is it or is it not a goal?
Mr. Tschupp: The thing that I would like to say that we have
accomplished over this last year is that we have managed to close the billing gap between
when the services are rendered versus when they are billed. We had a significant gap in
the amount of times a month between the service period and when we billed for them. We
have accomplished closing that gap by sending out extra billings to the customers that were
affected. I think that was the main thing that showed up as an audit concern, although the
Auditors say in their suggestion about how to solve it. They said, "Go hook up with the
Water Department and combine your billing." I think that they probably were focusing on
a solution that maybe was not necessarily the best solution. I am not in a rush to solve a
problem that no longer exists because we solved it this year.
Ms. Yukimura: Okay. But I think when we looked at it, there
could be cost savings in terms of using the same system so that seemed to be something to
look at in a system that you are trying to save costs.
Mr. Tschupp: I would agree that is worthy of looking at.
Ms. Yukimura: Water has recently gone to a monthly billing
system too. So, even their lag time has changed significantly.
Mr. Tschupp: Right.
Ms. Yukimura: Okay. Anyway, that is not one (1) of your goals
for this year?
Mr. Tschupp: It is not one (1) of my major attempts to try to
resolve something.
1
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Ms. Yukimura: But we will see it sometime in future?
Mr. Rapozo: Just say yes.
Mr. Tschupp: Yes.
Mr. Rapozo: Otherwise we will be here until dinner.
Ms. Yukimura: No, do not just say yes. Thank you.
Ms. Nakamura: Only if you mean it.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay, Mr. Bynum. You remember your question,
Mr. Bynum?
Mr. Bynum: Yes, because I do not have many. Thank you for
the presentation. I want to specifically get an answer about one (1) of the things that you
wrote in here that you are working on. The odor mitigation in and around Wailua
Houselots. What is the progress of that and the most important question, does it include
the manholes near Kinipopo? If not, why not and what are we going to do about that
because it is a half a project? If it does not include that, a manhole right in the middle of
the business district that the people have been very, very, very patient about.
Mr. Tschupp: Thank you. I will tackle this in sort of two (2)
different ways. One (1) is the first step, the thing that we have been engaged on mostly is
over at the pump station across the street. On that, we have identified the equipment. We
p p �
have gotten the vendor's proposal. We have gotten the approval of the Finance Director to
proceed with a direct purchase. We are pretty close to inking a contract with that vendor to
fabricate and ship the equipment. Meanwhile, we have also proceeded with our
consultants' schematic plans for the site work needed to mount that equipment at the pump
station. I am reporting some progress on all of that, not as quickly as I would have liked it
to be at this stage. The vendor's, the supplier's terms and conditions have been a little bit
tricky and we have had some legal discussion between our Attorneys and the supplier's
standard Terms and Conditions of Sale. With respect to the Kinipopo side, I agree that
that is — we have collected a lot more data now. We know the magnitude of odor and the
sources and causes of odor over at the Kinipopo manhole side and we have also, I think,
there is a couple of different approaches that may be a more cost effective, localized solution
to that localized problem right there that may or may not be exactly the same solutions we
are doing at the pump station.
Mr. Bynum: Well, Ed, as you know, this is not a new topic for
you and I to discuss and six (6) years ago we talked about carbon baskets and other things
you could do in the hole, which you did and it did not mitigate the problem. The business
owners there are great. They are dealing with construction that over the last six (6)
months, have lost some parking and they are okay with that, brought by and large the ones
I am talking to. But that odor thing, I get my haircut there, I visit the bakery. When you
go up to that bakery and you are competing with fresh baked goods and the smell of
sewage, it is not very conducive to the bakery operation, I do not think. This is like a seven
(7) or eight (8) year issue that I have not heard an answer to and I am not hearing a
commitment to do anything about it now. If you are just going to put carbon baskets or
whatever you tried in past that failed. Then there was this experimental program that put
the bugs in the system sooner so some of the treatment was occurring in the sewer lines. I
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do not know what happened with that, but I have been patiently, along with the business
owners, trying to get a commitment from the County to address this issue. The first
question I want to ask is did anybody go talk to the owner of Kinipopo because you said you
may need some place to put the mechanism. Has anybody approached the owner?
Ms. Tschuppp: We have not had that discussion with the
property owner.
Mr. Bynum: Because if I approached the owner, that would be
inappropriate, right? I would be crossing the boundaries if this was identified as a goal of
the Administration? You know what I am saying? It is so tempting to call up the landlord
and say, "You have the space over here, would you be willing?" But I am not going to do
that because that would be inappropriate right, would you agree?
Mr. Tschupp: I am not sure.
Mr. Bynum: I am just not hearing an acceptable answer about
when this long, multiple year problems is going to be addressed. Driving out of the
Houselots, it is a real bummer to smell the sewage treatment there. But when you go to do
business at these retail stores, to me, it is even worse.
Mr. Tschupp: Well, I do appreciate the frustration of both
yourself and the community. The budgetary allocation to work on the problem actually
came with last year's CIP Budget.
Mr. Bynum: When we had a briefing here, it was like we
wanted to include Kinipopo and we will find out what our options are. I am not hearing
anything new from that discussion seven (7) months ago, right? I hate to bug you about one
(1) issue, but I at think it is an important issue for the business community there.
Mr. Tschupp: I can say that we have learned more about
systems and what can be done. We have not settled in on a solution for Kinipopo at this
point.
Mr. Bynum: What would you recommend to keep that as
something we are actually going to move on and we are not here in five (5) years from now,
when I will not be here saying, "Well, we have identified this problem."
i
Mr. Tschupp: Suggestion is to keep up with the soft pressure
that you are applying in meetings such as this.
Mr. Bynum: Okay. Well, that has not always worked out and
we will see during the budget things, there are things that I have been putting soft
pressure on for five (5) years that are now set back six (6) more years. A bigger question is,
I see one (1) project in our six-year CIP that would expand the customer base in Hanapepe,
that we have a plan to put sewer lines in. I assume those homes currently have septic
systems, is that correct?
Mr. Tschupp: I am not sure what project that is.
Mr. Rapozo: Is that a CIP?
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Mr. Bynum: It is in the six-year CIP.
Mr. Rapozo: We will get to that, Mr. Bynum with CIP.
Mr. Bynum: It is the Wastewater. Okay, then.
Mr. Rapozo: Unless you can answer that now.
Mr. Bynum: Let me reframe the question then. Do we have
any plan in the future to expand the customer base and to bring more neighborhoods into
wastewater treatment?
Mr. Tschupp: Yes. That shows up in two (2) ways. One (1) is
with community growth and development by a subdivider and that is where we, the
County, can say, "We have the capacity at the plant, build the lines, connect in." There is
all kinds of structural things that make that desirable so that with a new subdivision going
in on say Hanamd'ulu triangle or with some of the Grove Farm properties in Lihu`e, those
are all predicated upon connecting to the existing wastewater system. The other approach
is a lot harder because it involves going into areas that are not currently sewered and it
involves a commitment to go forward with Capital Improvement Project, to lay the lines
and connect those people. As part of the Strategic Master Plan, I think that the next step
for the utility will be to start looking at here is a street that is a good candidate to do that
kind of connection and some of those kinds of projects have been done in the past. A lot of
the sewer system expansions in Lihu`e occurred that way. But we have been focusing more
recently, on some of the plant improvement work and we are kind of coming to that point...
Mr. Bynum: I do not mean to cut you off but for the sake of
time I get the answer. But I am thinking of neighborhoods like the Houselots. We are
talking about a sewer main that drives right by the Houselots, but the Houselots is not
sewered. It gets into this bigger issue of who is footing the bill for waste management? I
think that may have been JoAnn's question. It was like, when we use bond funding, all the
taxpayers pay for that, right? But you could argue it only benefits those hooked up to the
sewer. The flipside is, those of us on septic systems are not paying sewer bills every week,
right? I believe, and I think that was your point if I understood it correctly, is we are all
responsible as citizens of this island to deal with the waste management in a way that is
environmentally pono. Are we going to get the point that we do not allow new construction
to put in new septic system, but new construction always — and are we ever going to retrofit
those?
Mr. Rapozo: We will send that over in writing because we are
running out of time. I think Mr. Bynum's question about retrofitting neighborhoods is not
reflected in this budget anywhere, right?
Mr. Tschupp: That is correct.
Mr. Bynum: I will just close with this.
Mr. Rapozo: Go ahead.
Mr. Bynum: Hanapepe's sewer system installation, two (2)
sewer collection of un-sewered areas of Hanapepe. It is in the six-year CIP plan for design
in Fiscal Year 2015 and construction in Fiscal Year 2017. That is the first thing since I
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have been in the County where I have seen a retrofit to sewer in existing neighborhoods.
Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you very much. I just have two (2) real
quick questions and we will break for lunch. It pertains to page 4 on the budget, R&M
building, R&M equipment. R&M building, this year, you are almost up to $200,000 and
Mayor's budget is sixty-five thousand dollars ($65,000). R&M equipment, we are not done
with the fiscal year yet nine hundred fifty-three thousand dollars ($953,000) expenditures
to date versus a budget request of five hundred thirty-eight thousand dollars ($538,000).
My question as far as R&M equipment, it says replace parts required to repair and
maintain numerous mechanical and electrical equipment at pump station and Wastewater
Treatment Plant. Due to the age of the equipment, breakdowns are occurring at increased
frequency. Have those equipments been replaced?
Mr. Tschupp:c pp: What we have done with the R&M equipment
over the years has been to try to —based on experience and the operator's knowledge of age
and condition, to identify pro-actively, it is time to replace this pump. We have done a fair
amount of that. This year, we have actually scaled back on that in a deferred maintenance
kind of approach to try to reign in budgetary and be fiscally responsible.
Mr. Rapozo: Well, I just want to make sure there is enough
budget for the R&M for sewer. I am looking at — it is a substantial reduction on both
buildings and equipment.
Mr. Tschupp: Yes.
Mr. Rapozo: You are comfortable with that?
Mr. Tschupp: I think that we have tightened things up to the
point where we are at the point where it would be hard to tighten it any more.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay. Last year, the budget was five hundred
twenty-six thousand dollars ($526,000) and up until now, I mean the adjusted budget was
one million two hundred thousand dollars ($1,200,000) and so far you have almost reached
that. I just want to make sure you are comfortable with that substantial cut because we
are not going to have the ability to go find money this year like we usually have.
Mr.Tschupp: I must say I am somewhat nervous about this
year's fiscal budget.
Mr. Rapozo: I am nervous, too because we approved the
Money Bills that come through and we approved the emergency repairs for your
Department. I want to make sure that we are not cutting so much into areas that affect
public health and safety. I will be sending over a question to you what you would feel
comfortable with. I know that it puts you in a tough spot politically, but it is what it is and
we need to know the real numbers because I do not want to fudge these numbers. I want to
know what it is going to cost to maintain your system. So, that will come over in writing, I
do not expect a response right not. It is 1:00, we will break for lunch. Please be back at
1:45 so we can continue. Just for the Councilmembers, when we come back, if the Chair is
not here and if I am still here, we are going to do it differently. We are going to go around
the table and each Councilmember will have one (1) question so each everyone will have an
opportunity to ask. So, recess until 1:45.
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There being no objections, the Committee recessed at 1:03 p.m.
There being no objections, the Committee reconvened at 1:47 p.m., and proceeded as
follows:
Mr. Rapozo: The budget meeting will come back to order.
Next up is Automotive. Unless Wastewater wants to stay, I would leave. Any questions of
Mr. Dill while we are waiting for Automotive?
Chair Furfaro: I do, Mr. Rapozo.
Mr. Rapozo: Sure.
Chair Furfaro: As we go into Automotive, I would like to know —
it seems that last year when visiting the shop, we seemed to be having some difficulties
with the trucks associated with our automation for pickup and I do not know if we ever
heard how that was going to be resolved or is resolved? Was there a time and exposure
issue that the trucks were delivered earlier than we began using them? Was there a
manufacturer's briefing that had to be done with our teams that were on the road? What
would you be able to share with us regarding the mechanical issues with the automated
trucks and is that issue from last year resolved?
Mr. Dill: I not sure exactly what the issue is. I am aware
though, that in our initial order of automated trucks for automated refuse collection, that
the trucks arrived some period of time before we were able to put them on the road. I
believe we had not concluded negotiations with the Union in order to implement the
automated collection. So, the trucks did sit for a period of time and during that period of
time, I believe rats got into the hydraulics and did some damage to the vehicles.
Chair Furfaro: You mean like they ate the hydraulic hoses?
Mr. Dill: Do you not have any more detail on that?
Mr. Tabata: Hydraulics and electrical wiring. They nested in
areas where we could not get to without removing major panels. They nested and gnawed
away mostly at the wiring. We were getting intermittent shorts and we are still dealing
with some of that, but most of that is behind us now.
Chair Furfaro: Okay.
Mr. Tabata: And since we have one hundred percent (100%)
redundancy at this time, we have been able to turn over the vehicles back out and get them
back on the road.
Chair Furfaro: Was it necessary for us to contact the State's
Vector Control to treat any nests or anything by the base yard?
Mr. Tabata: No, we just moved the vehicles from where they
originally where. We did not know they would be invaded, so to speak, and so now we
ensure we park the vehicles in areas more away from possible threat.
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Mr. Dill: But we did address some Vector Control issues at
the same time when we knew of that.
Chair Furfaro: Are Y ou satisfied?
Mr. Dill: Yes.
Chair Furfaro: And the problem has not been reoccurring?
Mr. Dill: Correct. I will say that automated collection is
still relatively new for us. So, to some degree we are still getting to know these trucks. We
have been having discussions about — we are finding out that when you have a double axel
vehicle we get a lot more tire wear than we do for a single axle vehicle. So, having
discussions about should we be ordering trucks with single axle versus double axel? When
you order the bigger trucks, of course, they get much lower miles per gallon. So, we are
looking at should we get a twenty-eight (28) yard truck with a double axel or should we get
a twenty-two (22) yard truck with a single axle, that gets better mileage but has to make
more trips to the transfer station to unload. So, we are looking at all of those things with
these trucks as we learn more about them.
Chair Furfaro: You are lookin g at all of those variables and at
the end, how many trucks will we have, Larry?
Mr. Dill: At the end, we are looking to complete
automation and actually you do not see it in the March submittal, but you will see in the
May submittal. We currently have six (6) full sized automated trucks, and as Lyle
mentioned that is three (3) on the road and three (3) backups. I think we were a little
conservative in doing that, partially because it was a new thing for us so we may have been
conservative in our estimate for have a one-to-one backup. What we are looking to do now
is complete automation where we will have six (6) trucks on the road and we are probably
going to go with a fifty percent (50%) backup. So, one (1) truck backup for every two (2) on
the road.
Chair Furfaro: Just in closing because I will let Mr. Rapozo, as
the Vice Chair of the Committee of the Whole continue because I am dealing with some
phone calls and appointments on some other items. I have had three (3) questions today
and you know that every question that you have responded to me, this is the common
theme, "It is not reflected in this budget, but will be part of our May 15th submittal." I
thought on all of my instructions to the Administration, we were going to try to put as much
upfront in this budget so that we can look at everything as a whole.
Mr. Dill: Well, I think this is the first time I have said
that. I know we talked about the Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator, that would be
actually we are looking at Fiscal Year 2015 budget, not the May submittal for Fiscal Year
2014. I am sorry, I do not recall the first item that we discussed that you are referring to.
Chair Furfaro: Well, I will share it on my notes.
Mr. Dill: Okay.
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Chair Furfaro: My point was with the Wastewater Operator is,
you should have gave us the answer the first time where it is not necessary right now. The
way you gave it to me, it was removed. It was removed is how your response was.
Mr. Dill: Okay, well I might have characterized it better
than for clarity.
Chair Furfaro: Well, I hope I am the only one who has questions
that is saying, "You will see the corrected answer in the May 15th submittal." I thought we
were going to really put as much needs assessment in this first round.
Mr. Dill: I will say for Public Works, the inclusion of the
automated trucks is the only item, I would say, that we are contemplating at the moment
that would be different between those two (2) submittals.
Chair Furfaro: I might hold you to that, Larry.
Mr. Dill: That I am currently contemplating.
Chair Furfaro: You are contemplating the only two (2) you have.
Thank you, Mr. Rapozo.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Councilmember
Yukimura, did you have a question?
Ms. Yukimura: Yes, I did actually. In terms of storage of our
trucks to prevent that kind of damage from happening again, we have paid attention to it.
Though I suppose if a rat tried to make a nest again, they would be killed the next day and
part of it was because of extended lack of use or something like that, that the problem was
caused by?
Mr. Dill: Yes.
Ms. Yukimura: But in the same way that we are having to think
about the base yard for buses and storage of buses, the issue of the storage of those trucks
is addressed?
Mr. Dill: Yes.
Ms. Yukimura: And they will be where, at the base yards?
Mr. Dill: I do not know where the trucks were stored.
Mr. Tabata: They are stored at the two (2) base yards right
now that we have implemented, automated.
Ms. Yukimura: We do not have six (6) yet or we will?
Mr. Dill: No, we currently have six (6).
Ms. Yukimura: We are at the complete level?
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Mr. Dill: No. We are currently approximately half
automated island-wide and so we have three (3) on the road with three (3) as backups in
order to accomplish that. When we get to complete island-wide automation, we would need
to have six (6) on the road, but instead of having six (6) backups, we plan on three backups.
So, one (1) backup for every two (2) on the road.
Ms. Yukimura: Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Any more questions? Mr. Kagawa.
Mr. Kagawa: We can just maybe let Dwayne do his
presentation.
Mr. Rapozo: We have a tape change coming up in a couple of
minutes. Let us take a very short recess for tape change.
There being no objections, the Committee recessed at 1:56 p.m.
There being no objections, the Committee reconvened at 2:00 p.m., and proceeded as
follows:
Mr. Rapozo: Budget session is called back to order.
Mr. Kagawa had a question, Larry before we get into Automotive.
Mr. Kagawa: I do not know if Dwayne wanted to do a
summary or are we just going into questions?
Mr. Rapozo: Is your question pertaining to the Automotive?
Mr. Kagawa: Yes, it is.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay. Why do we not let—you can go ahead and
do your overview.
Mr. Dill: If I may, I would like to respond to a question
that was asked earlier during the Building Division's presentation about the Police Station
roof status. I will just read back to you the information I have, that bid package for
construction is currently being reviewed by Purchasing. So, it is over with them now.
Tentatively it will be out to bid mid April to early May with award mid to late May. We
expect contract execution late June to July, actual construction will then be in August to
December. It is in the Operating Budget and the basic bid includes air conditioning (AC)
chill coil replacements, flat roof cording with hydro-stop, repairs and replacement of metal
roof hip a parapet wall, flashing replacement of deteriorated gutter sections, additives
including recaulking of pitch break and roof panel cuts, cap and pitch break cuts, and
adding access control hardware to the Chiefs office lobby door restroom tile restoration. So,
hopefully that answers the question and negates the need for a question going across.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you very much.
Mr. Dill: You are welcome.
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Mr. Rapozo: Go ahead, sir. If you could just state your name
for our captioner.
DWAYNE ADACHI, Automotive Repair Shop Superintendent: I will just
give you a brief overview of this year's budget. The mission of the Automotive Division is to
manage and maintain the equipment and vehicle fleet of the Department of Public Works
as well as other County of Kaua`i Agencies, enabling the County to provide core services to
all communities. Some of the goals our Division has is modernize the County's vehicle
equipment fleet providing all Agencies with reliable and efficient vehicles and equipment,
allowing the County to operate effectively, offer support and disaster relief services to all
Agencies and the community in emergency situations, and provide vehicle and equipment
maintenance and support for all Departments and Agencies to ensure a safe environment
for both employees and public citizens. Some of the successes and achievements we had
over the past year, we have been successful in meeting the demands and requests of the
various Departments and Agencies in the community in regards to equipment supply and
vehicle and equipment maintenance and repairs, despite our inadequate facility conditions
and staffing issues. We were able to procure some new vehicles and equipment to
modernize the fleet and keep the County operating efficiently, such as Utility Trailers,
Rotary Mower Decks, flail attachments for excavators, refuse trailers, one (1) bushwacker,
Skid Steer leader, a few hybrid vehicles, and one (1) bushwacker for the Parks Department.
Some of the challenges we face is meeting the demands and requests of the many different
Division, Department, and Agencies we service on a daily basis as the County continues to
grow and expand. Also, timely hiring of fully qualified replacements for personnel
vacancies, and operating efficiently and effectively within our limited space has become a
daily battle. The vehicle equipment inventory has increased by thirty percent (30%) over
the last thirty (30) plus years and continues to grow. Some improvements we have made
last fiscal year was our renovation to convert a two (2) vehicle service bay into a three (3)
vehicle bay. This involved relocation of a supporting column that was directly in the middle
dividing the space into two (2) equal portions so we moved the column to one side to allow
two (2) vehicles on one side and one (1) on the other, so we can fit three (3) vehicles now in
that space. Another project we have underway right now is the design — actually it is a
design and construction, but it is still in the design phase right now of one thousand five
hundred (1,500) square foot second floor storage area that will allow us to move materials,
tires, spare parts, and accessories to this upper floor and free',up a lot of space right now on
the ground that we are using to store all of these things. Upcoming initiatives is we have
continue to update the fleet with energy saving, environmentally friendly vehicles and
equipment, analysis of manpower needs, and addressing need for transitioning from
retiring employees to new hires, analysis of workplace facility capacity, identify
performance metrics. For example, Repair & Maintenance service interval on time
completion is currently eighty percent (80%). Average vehicle and equipment repair
turnaround time is average four (4) days and we are trying to reduce our industrial
accident rate, we currently average one (1) per year. Right now in the process of
purchasing and installing a new computerized fuel management system to replace the
obsolete and inadequate system that we have right now. The manufacturer has two (2)
months to complete that project.
Mr. Rapozo: Are you done? Mr. Kagawa.
Mr. Kagawa: Mr. Chair, before I start, are we sticking to the
rule we said before lunch, one (1) question?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes, unless the Chair decides to...
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Chair Furfaro: I have given you the floor.
Mr. Kagawa: But do we have another chance, should we go
around?
Mr. Rapozo: Oh, yes.
Mr. Kagawa: Oh, thank you. I have no pressure I picking my
good question. Mahalo, Dwayne, very alarming things that you brought up, huge increase
in vehicles that you folks have to service and yet your Department is pretty much the same
size. Those are one of the concerns I have heard from some of the workers down there.
They said, "Ross, we could use an extra mechanic or two." I guess, my one question for now
is you have had a big reduction in salaries as far as this worksheet. It goes down, and it is
because of this reduction for services to other Department and Divisions, one hundred
eighty-one thousand three hundred forty-four dollars ($181,344). What is that line and
what positions does that...
Mr. Adachi: Actually, what that indicates is, what we plan to
do next fiscal year, is directly charge Divisions and Departments for repairs that we do, we
make on their vehicles. Actually the funding is just being dispersed throughout the County
rather than have me, my budget, handle all the expenses for that. So, we will be just
charging. We have already notified the various Divisions and Departments to create a
budget for vehicle repair/equipment repair.
Mr. Dill: Dwanye's Department is funded by the Highway
Fund. So, this is in response to the audit that occurred and found that we should be
funding only Highway fundable items with the Highway Fund and it turns out many other
Department were being subsidized, if you will, by the Highway Fund. So, that is
addressing the auto requirement that another Department needs to pay for their own gas,
pay for their own vehicle repair, things like that. So, that is why you see a drop in
Dwayne's, because is only funding because he is no longer funding those things. He is only
funding the Highway Fund related items.
Mr. Kagawa: Follow-up question to that. You came up with
that number as an estimate as to percentage of how much time your workers are working
on cars that are not related to Highway Fund?
Mr. Adachi: Right.
Mr. Kagawa: Very good, thank you. I will save my questions
for later.
Mr. Rapozo: Any follow-up questions to the reduction? Thank
you. Go ahead, Mr. Chair?
Chair Furfaro: This recommendation came from the Auditors?
Could I anticipate something coming from Finance to show us in a future discussion how
these cost centers/profit centers are going to be keeping track of this? I would just like to
share that now. I think it is an excellent idea, but I would like to know what is our plan in
actually doing the accounting for these cost credits?
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Mr. Dill: Basically it is twofold, to answer your question.
One is simply the purchase of fuel products and with the new fuel master we will be able
to...
Chair Furfaro: I am okay with that.
Mr. Dill: Okay.
Chair Furfaro: I want to talk about the servicing of vehicles that
are not associated with the Highway Fund. What is going to be the accounting process of
that? I am not expecting you to have that answer right now, but I think we need to have a
future discussion.
Mr. Dill: Well, the basis of it will be that we have a Work
Order System in place. So, the Work Order System tracks all equipment, materials, labor,
and supplies that are used against any effort. If another Department sends a vehicle for
repair with a scope of work, Dwayne tracks all of those things to go against that and the
basis, that will be the accounting.
Chair Furfaro: I understand that. But if I took my car to King
Auto Center, I get an itemized breakdown of what they did to service my car. I would not
expect them to do that off of a Work Order. I mean, the Work Order ticket asks for the
work and accordingly. That is great, we are turning around these things in four (4) days.
But what about the details for the work that is done? How is Accounting going to handle
that because that will involve Purchasing, that will involve manpower, changing filters,
those things have costs. I would like to have a little bit more information. I think it is a
great target, but I would like to understand how you are going to do it, I think, rather than
just by a Work Order.
Mr. Adachi: But basically, what you just stated, most of that
would be reflected on the Work Order and that basically, is what is going to get charged
back to the Department, labor and parts.
Mr. Dill: The Work Order request as you are stating,
comes in very simple to us. But when we respond and complete the work, we add all of that
information back on. We are tracking that. We have that information.
Chair Furfaro: Okay. Well, maybe that will come up again in
Accounting. First time I have heard it. First time I have been able to frame the question. I
like what you are doing. My compliments to the shop for turning equipment around in four
(4) days. That is to you folks, congratulations on a short turnaround. But when we start
allocating costs to other Departments, I want to make sure that we are doing it fair and it is
detailed and it could survive an audit trail at the same way. Thank you. Thank you,
Mr. Rapozo.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess it will be treated
as an auto shop. So, you get a Work Order. Basically I put in, "brakes squeaking." You
folks take the car or truck and you do the work. Then when Department gets the bill, you
will have the breakdown that the Chair is asking about?
Mr. Adachi: Exactly.
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Mr. Rapozo: Okay, and that will show up in each
Department's budget as "auto maintenance costs?"
Mr. Adachi: Well, initially they might just get the cost for the
repair, not the breakdown. That would be reflected in the individual Work Order.
Mr. Rapozo: I understand. But as far as the budget is
concerned.
Mr. Tabata: I think the mechanism is going to be a journal
entry.
Mr. Rapozo: But as far as the budget...
Mr. Dill: Each Department was responsible for budgeting
for their own auto maintenance and fuel.
Mr. Rapozo: We should be able to see that line item as a new
line item in each Department and they should have a pretty good idea, based on the work
that you folks have been doing. I would assume that they are going to call you and say
"Dwayne, send me all the Work Orders we had in the last couple of years so we can see a
trend, so we kind of have an idea what it would cost us." I would assume, and I have not
seen it, I have not really looked for it because it is new. But I would assume that the Police
Department and Department of Parks & Recreation would have a line item that says
"Auto."
Mr. Tabata: Part of the budgeting process, Dwayne and his
Clerks did a breakdown for every user and Department.
Mr. Rapozo: So, they have the information?
Mr. Tabata: They were given that information ahead of time.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay.
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Chair Furfaro: Mr. Rapozo, may I? So, you are telling me that
this is going to be handled by a journal entry at the end of the month?
Mr. Dill: I would defer to the Department of Finance
about how they work that.
Chair Furfaro: Therefore, I will put my question to Finance
later. Gentlemen, thank you, you have given me a good idea how this will be covered.
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Rapozo.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you very much. Did have you a question
Councilmember Nakamura?
Ms. Nakamura: Yes.
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Mr. Rapozo: Go ahead.
Ms. Nakamura: Thank you, Dwayne, for your presentation. I
think what I am most impressed about is the performance metrics that you added to your
presentation. I think in talking to Finance, it looks like that is the direction that we want
to move with these budgets. Hopefully, in the future is to have performance measures. I
think that if we could have every Department doing this level, it really makes this level of
detail — I think it holds everybody accountable. You may not reach it all the time, but at
least it is a great goal to have. I wanted to just ask you on the refueling fuel management,
did you say that it is probably going to be complete or in place in May?
Mr. Adachi: Can you state the question again?
Ms. Nakamura: On the refueling purchase and install new
computerized fuel management system, when did you say it was going to actually be?
Mr. Adachi: The contractor was given the Notice to Proceed a
few weeks ago. So, he has sixty (60) days to complete the installation. I would say by the
end of May, the third week in May he should be complete.
Ms. Nakamura: Thank you very much.
Mr. Adachi: One more thing to go along with what you said
about the performance metric. I have a handout that you folks can look at. It is a summary
of our monthly production rate. So, it shows how many times we had hit that eighty
percent (80%), how many times we missed. It all depends on the nature of the job.
Sometimes we get jobs that last three (3) weeks, four (4) weeks.
Ms. Nakamura: Thank you very much for doing this work. I
know tracking data takes a lot of effort, but this is really good information. Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you.
Mr. Tabata: If I might add to Dwayne's credit, every week he
sends me his operation backlog and I circulate it to the major users including Kaua`i Police
Department (KPD) who requests an update and we pre-send them the following week's
schedule along with that for maintenance. Dwayne is doing a very good job.
Ms. Nakamura: Great work. Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: It is definitely an improvement over several
years ago. I know I would get a lot of complaints, mostly from the Police Department and I
have not had any complaints, really. Congratulations, eighty percent (80%) is a great
number. I like the four (4) day turnaround, that is better than you can get in a shop, really
in some of these jobs.
Mr. Adachi: Some days we can, some days we cannot.
Mr. Rapozo: I understand. But an average so that is a good
number and of course, the one (1) industrial accident, we would like to see zero (0). But we
have to be realistic and obviously you run your shop well, a safe shop. So, congratulations.
Mr. Hooser.
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Mr. Hooser: Yes, thank you. Following-up on Councilmember
Nakamura's question about the fuel software systems. Is that going to be installed and
working in May?
Mr. Adachi: The contractor has sixty (60) days to finish,
install, and get the system running.
Mr. Hooser: Will people need to be trained, will it go into
effect immediately?
Mr. Adachi: Basically it is not much different from what we
have in place right now. It is a more modern version and it is supposed to be more trouble
free, more reliable.
Mr. Hooser: Myself, and I think Councilmember Kagawa
have never really been briefed as Councilmembers on the gasoline issue. I know there were
issues of managing it and some abuses, if will, that involved I believe, this Office as well as
Board of Transportation. Will this new system address those issues, will they keep those
kinds of issues from happening again?
Mr. Adachi: Well, basically the issues arise when the system
goes down and we need to switch back to manual and that involves manually keeping logs,
logging transactions in the County for fuel disbursement, and that is where we run into the
problem. Hopefully this system will afford us more up time than down time and eliminate
the problems that we ran into for the past year and a half with this old system. We are
looking forward to getting the system running.
Mr. Hooser: When the system does go down, are there any
changes to policy or procedure as a result of the issues that happened a little while?
Mr. Adachi: Basically, we probably expect to run into the
same type of problems. Once the computer system goes down, we can only revert back to
manual entries and that is the backup plan right now.
Mr. Hooser: But whoever is doing the manual entries, have
they been briefed or educated or reminded on the importance?
Mr. Adachi: It is a constant battle to get people to remember
what the procedures are and what needs to be done.
Mr. Hooser: Are there repercussions for those that forget too
many times? I am serious, it is clearly an issue people are concerned about. I understand
manual, people forget or do it wrong. But are there any repercussions or systems in place
to get better?
Mr. Adachi: The full fueling sites, they have been cooperative
and trying to do the best they can in keeping manual entries. We hope to minimize the
issues that arise in the past few years.
Mr. Hooser: I believe that the system allows for Global
Positioning System (GPS) tracking, is that correct?
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Mr. Adachi: No. That is a totally different system that we
need to add onto this. All this tracks is fuel disbursement. It tells you where the fuel went
and who put the fuel in the vehicle.
Mr. Dill: The GPS would be an add to this system.
Mr. Hooser: GPS, just so everybody in the public
understands, that would mean that County would have a record of where County vehicles
are and where they go. Again, the public is concerned that people are taking their cars
home unnecessarily or whatever. The GPS system would give a hard record of County
vehicle use by everybody. Are there any plans to implement that?
Mr. Adachi: Not right now.
Mr. Dill: Not with this budget.
Mr. Hooser: How much would that cost to implement?
Mr. Adachi: We have not done any cost estimates in that
area.
Mr. Hooser: Mr. Dill, did have you any input on what the
costs might be?
Mr. Dill: Not at this time, no.
Mr. Hooser: Okay, thank you very much. Chair, I think at
some point I would like to get...
Chair Furfaro: I will clarify something for you right now. Amy
Esaki is working on an Executive Session posting for the purpose of addressing issues with
fuel including our own.
Mr. Hooser: Okay.
Chair Furfaro: That is dialogue going back and forth between
the County Attorney's Office and the Chair and we will be having a briefing on these policy
changes and implementation and part of that will also include a discussion about
consequences. I would just like to leave it at that.
Mr. Hooser: Chair, you have many, many talents and I
discovered that mind reading is one (1) of your skills also. Thank you, that is exactly what I
wanted to know.
Chair Furfaro: You will see that posting within the two (2) next
weeks, I think.
Mr. Hooser: Thank you. Thank you, Chair Rapozo.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you. I just have one (1) follow-up question
as it relates to the contract that we have with the vendor. Do they guarantee us a certain
percentage of up time? Especially in the electronic world, the computer servers, when you
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want to put your website online, they guarantee ninety-eight percent (98) / ninety-nine
percent (99%) up time number, is that in our contract?
Mr. Adachi: We did not get a guarantee from the contractor.
But from speaking to the companies in the State, the companies in the State that repair
fuel management systems, there is just a handful of people that do this type of thing and
the feedback I get is that they spend ninety percent (90%) more time fixing everybody else's
system than the system that we bought because this system rarely fails. He would say
maybe ninety percent (90%) up time, ten percent (10%) down time.
Mr. Rapozo: But that is not in the contract though? So, in
other words, if they go down to seventy percent (70%) that we have no recourse, that is not
in your contract?
Mr. Adachi: No.
Mr. Tabata: Actually, one (1) of the added benefits is this is a
new system and the old system was obsolete and we could not get parts anymore. So, this
will have a lot more backup capability in the State because there are other users and as
Dwayne mentioned, the up time has been tremendous.
Mr. Rapozo: I definitely agree that the current system was
obsolete. But that is Fred Flintstone/Barney Rubble kind of system compared to what is
available. On the new system, will the individual employee, is it an electronic system
where they use a card that is assigned to them?
Mr. Adachi: We would issue each an employee identification
card and the computer would track who is operating the vehicle and what vehicle it is.
Mr. Rapozo: Unlike the system now where you could punch in
any four (4) digits and the pump will go. So, that is going to be corrected?
Mr. Adachi: Right.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay. Any other questions as it relates to the
fueling system. Any other new questions? Councilmember Yukimura.
Ms. Yukimura: First of all, I just want to say as I told you before
lunch Dwayne, your overall initiatives, you are the only Division that had completely new
statements for this year over last year. I do not know if that is the reason you have shown
so much — if it is related to the amount of achievement that we see in your Division? Last
year, the issue of work space was a real dilemma as we heard it and you have moved very
progressively to change that situation within the limits of your resources. So, to go from
two (2) bays to three (3) bays, do a second story for storage which will clear up your first
floor, to move small equipment to the Transportation, and then to have this kind of
statistics or indicators about performance so that we know you are tracking and measuring,
that is all really commendable. I am really pleased. My only question is about your
spreadsheet where you show training, a huge increase in training, which to me is just a
positive. But I thought maybe you could explain some of that. Then you have Worker's
Compensation Medical which is a really big jump, not from last year's budget, but previous
years' budgets and I just wondered if you could explain those two (2). Actually the jump is
not from last year's budget, but from Fiscal Year 2012.
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Mr. Adachi: The Worker's Compensation?
Ms. Yukimura: Well, both training and Worker's Compensation
show big jumps.
Mr. Adachi: It is still the same as last year.
Ms. Yukimura: Yes, it is. Like I said, it is not about last year's
budget because we do not have actuals. We only have actuals from 2012. If you want to
explain how it jumps from one thousand four hundred dollars ($1,400) to fifteen thousand
dollars ($15,000) last year, that is good too.
Mr. Adachi: The Worker's Compensation?
Ms. Yukimura: Yes.
Mr. Dill: Councilmember, I think we will have to get back
to you on that one.
Ms. Yukimura: Okay. The training shows a big jump too from
2012.
Mr. Adachi: Actually, we stayed the same. We had three
thousand dollars(3,000).
Ms. Yukimura: From 2013, yes. From last year to this year is
the same.
Mr. Adachi: We added training for mechanics because we
were paying to send mechanics to training classes at night. But there has been a reduction
in the availability of the training classes that we can send mechanics to so we have not been
expending the funds.
Ms. Yukimura: There is a reduction at KCC, is it?
Mr. Adachi: Well, it has to do with the demand for training
with us and the private sector because normally people have to arrange for somebody come
down here, pay that person to come down here and train the people, and there has to be
enough popularity, people who will attend and make it feasible for the person to come down
here. I guess with the way the economy was the last few years, people were cutting back on
that kind of thing. Hopefully in the future we have more opportunity to send people to
training and make use of that.
Ms. Yukimura: This is heavy machinery repair or just
mechanical?
Mr. Adachi: Some automotive things that would be applied to
equipment, too. The training can be a cross training between auto mechanic and heavy
mechanics.
Ms. Yukimura: Is it sponsored by the Community College or is it
separately?
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Mr. Adachi: It is by the local part stores.
Ms. Yukimura: I see.
Mr. Adachi: It helps them, too.
Ms. Yukimura: Yes.
Mr. Adachi: Drum up business.
Ms. Yukimura: Okay, thank you very much.
Mr. Dill: Councilmember Yukimura, if I may. On the
Worker's Compensation question, I can tell you through six (6) months of this current fiscal
year we have incurred over five thousand dollars ($5,000) and I am is not sure if that is
expected to be a long-term situation which is perhaps why we budgeted that amount. I will
have to get back to you. But I believe that is what is happening.
Ms. Yukimura: Alright. Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you. If I remember correctly the training
was increased because of the new equipment, the hybrid vehicles, and the automated
vehicles, if I remember correctly from discussions in past budgets.
Mr. Adachi: Right. We were trying to prepare for that, but
then the opportunities to send people to training decreased.
Mr. Rapozo: I see. Any other questions? First time
questions? Mr. Chair.
Chair Furfaro: I just want to tell you how very pleased I am on
this aging report for vehicles. I mean, it is exceptional how many vehicles are coming in,
how long they were in the shop, and so forth. If this template could be used in Public
Works for things that are out for repair and so forth. I mean, my compliments, well done.
If you could use this scheme for other facilities that are out of order and so forth, it is
probably exactly what we have been looking for, Larry.
Mr. Tabata: We do have a report for Building Division,
Maintenance.
Chair Furfaro: You do?
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Chair Furfaro: Well, I would love to see it when the next time
permits.
Mr. Tabata: Okay.
Chair Furfaro: Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you. Mr. Kagawa.
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Mr. Kagawa: Dwayne, one (1) of the things that have been
brought up to me from some of the workers is that they are concerned about the duties you
have to maintain and fix the police cars. It was brought to our attention during the pre-
budget meetings that the plan from the Administration was to save money and not
purchase new police vehicles in this fiscal. So, we might be running our cars pasted the
normal date of turnover for the cars which brings out a concern that there might be more
repairs that might be needed. I do not know if you folks are concerned about that. What is
your take on their decision and where do we go from here?
Mr. Adachi: It is something that we pretty much have to do
what we have to do. If they take away funding to purchase new vehicles, only stands to
reason that we increase the funding to repair the vehicles. The amount of space we have
within that facility we operate out of, it is not possible to add more mechanics because there
is no space to operate. You cannot add bodies if there is no place to allow that person to
perform his work. We are handcuffed pretty much.
Mr. Kagawa: What do you think about the new - I think we
are thinking in the future of following O`ahu, in the program where the Police Officers will
buy their own vehicle, maintain their own vehicle, and we will pay them based on — and
Darryl, the need is on you folks and you folks can focus on Public Works side. What do you
think about that?
Mr. Adachi: That is a possibility, yes.
Mr. Kagawa: I also agree that might be the right way to go. I
know with Mike Layoso before, it was a battle trying to see which cars we can fix and keep
going. I know that it places a lot of burden on you guys because the Policemen really need
the cars back soon. That is their job, to have the vehicles.
Mr. Adachi: If we stop purchasing vehicles and equipment we
are going to run into that same situation the next couple of years.
Mr. Kagawa: Thank you, Dwayne.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you. I have always been a very strong
advocate of the Police having their own mechanic shop because it is their function.
Obviously, this year is not the year to even entertain that right now just because of the
budget situation. But definitely something I would like to see happen in the future. We
understand your plight and like you said, it is what it is and we have to make the best of
what we got. I know with the Police Department now and their take home car program, the
cars are much better maintained because it is assigned to one (1) Officer. So, it is not
running the twenty-four (24) hours like it used to. So, we have seen some improvement
there. But the fact remains that these vehicles are run hard and they are run constant and
they put on a lot of miles.
Mr. Adachi: It is just the nature of the job.
Mr. Rapozo: I am sorry?
Mr. Adachi: It is the nature of the job.
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Mr. Rapozo: Yes. So, we can only hope that the resources are
there to make sure that those vehicles are safe and available for public safety. Anything
regarding that? Councilmember Nakamura.
Ms. Nakamura: I have a question about the budget relating to
diesel. I noticed that there is a pretty significant decrease in your budget line item over
last year. I wanted to ask you, does this include diesel for the buses or is that separate?
Mr. Adachi: No, Transportation has their own budget for fuel.
Ms. Nakamura: Okay. So, what explains the decrease?
Mr. Adachi: We did the same thing with the parts and
repairs. We distributed the costs among the other Departments and Divisions.
Ms. Nakamura: Okay, great. Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Any other questions regarding the diesel? So, we
will see an increase in other Department's budget for diesel. Any more questions? If not,
thank you very much, sir.
Mr. Adachi: Thank you. Thank you for your support.
Chair Furfaro: Congratulations on an effective year, too.
Mr. Adachi: Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Alright, Highways. Oh, go ahead.
ERNEST W. BARREIRA, Budget & Purchasing Director: Councilmember
Kagawa, just to clarify the vehicle situation for the Police this year. We will be acquiring a
total of twenty-five (25) vehicles, ten (10) new cruisers which will come up by way of lease
financing and fifteen (15) by way of the subsidized program. So, we are purchasing
emergency vehicles this year. Even though we want to expand the life of the fleet, we have
acknowledged that the emergency vehicles do have the higher standard of accountability.
So, we are trying to replace as many as we can based on affordability for this year.
Mr. Kagawa: Follow-up question.
Mr. Rapozo: Go ahead.
Mr. Kagawa: Thank you, Mr. Chair. On the leased vehicles,
we are talking about police vehicles, correct?
Mr. Barreira: Yes.
Mr. Kagawa: So, there is a high risk that there will be some
dents to it. Do we have to pay for the dents? I know when we own it, if we put the dent, it
is up to us whether we fix it. But I think when we lease it, we have to return it back to its
original state, right?
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Mr. Barreira: Let me clarify, it is actually a lease by way of
monthly payments. But we own the vehicle outright. So, there is no provision. It is not
similar to that type of situation where the company or the bank institutional will actually
own the vehicle. We make lease financing payments toward the vehicle as a way to limit
our debt service on that purchase. But I am not aware of anything in the Lease Financing
Agreement that mandates a certain level of maintenance, although it is governed quite
strictly by Dwayne's operation.
Mr. Kagawa: Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: It is actually a Lease to Own Program.
Mr. Barreira: Yes, sir.
Mr. Rapozo: At the term of the lease we own the vehicle.
Mr. Barreira: We own the vehicle.
Mr. Rapozo: Unlike your standard leases.
Mr. Barreira: And unlike our copiers.
Mr. Rapozo: Which cost as much as the car.
Chair Furfaro: Follow-up question.
Mr. Rapozo: Mr. Chair.
Chair Furfaro: Yes. When we get to a point that we look for
salvage credit on these vehicles that have expired in their time, how are we handling the
credits for the sale of these vehicles and where does it appear in the budget?
Mr. Barreira: You are talking about our auction process,
Chair?
Chair Furfaro: Yes, salvage credit.
Mr. Barreira: Yes, essentially, I will double check on where it is
actually allocated. But as I mentioned to Councilmember Rapozo last week, the auctioning
is something that we try to do once a year.
Chair Furfaro: I heard that. I was here last week.
Mr. Barreira: Very good.
Chair Furfaro: My question is where will it appear?
Mr. Barreira: It appears in the General Fund. It is realized
into the General Fund.
Chair Furfaro: Okay.
rx ;.
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Mr. Barreira: It is unfortunate because of the high depreciated
value of the items that we sell, it is not a large amount of money. But every little bit helps
of course.
Chair Furfaro: Especially when we have two (2) years of it to
credit.
Mr. Barreira: Yes, sir.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you very much.
Mr. Barreira: Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Highways. Go ahead and do your presentation
and then if we could follow the template that was provided to us. We will start off with
Roads Administration and so forth. But you have the floor sir.
EDMOND P.K. RENAUD, Chief of Field Operations & Maintenance: I am
going to go straight over to goals. Our goals are to keep the roads and bridges safe for
public use, to anticipate and address road, bridge, and drainage needs, to make the best
and most efficient use of the Division resources, to improve internal and public
communications, and to install pride in the jobs that we perform. I am going to go to
success and achievements. Implementing the improvement in the recording and tracking of
public complaints has improved, responses and accountability through the Maintenance
Management Information System (MMIS), which is the roads maintenance information
system and that has been working out perfectly well without consulting with our people.
This is going all the way down to the District Road Overseer (DRO) and their number two
supervisor, selective other supervisors below that grade and also our Clerks and our Office
— our Administrative Assistant person. I guess she is the Clerk of works and everything
else. She is involved in it and also a person from Roads Administration that is the
Administrator of this. So, this way nothing changes. Just a little bit about this program.
This program, if a complaint comes in. We have it for complaints and we have it for Work
Orders, scheduling, and planning, the whole thing. When we get through a year, we are
going to know for example, if we want to know what is on Rice Street we will know
everything that we have done out there, labor, material, costs, bottom line. This way, if a
question ever arises from Council, they want to know what we spent there, we are going to
have everything that is inputted. Ongoing training in the base yard on maintenance
planning, scheduling, and reporting and supervising management. A lot of training is with
Management Productivity Enhancement Tool (MPET) and we go through the whole
procedures. The other training is we work with the Local Technical Assistance Program
(LTAP) and they fund our transportation to there, or they come here, or we have other
Counties that they present the programs on and it is for supervisory training, skills in
different, in our case, road re-pavement and all of that. Then we have in-house. We have
me, we have Scott Suga, who comes with a lot of experience from working in construction
and we have picked up a Construction Manager to manage our Island Wide Road
Resurfacing. He is the former District Manager for Grace Pacific where they reorganized
and we picked him up on contract. Right now, we have a super team of people out there
that is really looking at everything that we do.
Ms. Yukimura: Excuse me, Ed? Excuse me, Chair?
Mr. Rapozo: Go ahead.
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Ms. Yukimura: Can you just speak out the acronyms like you
talked about training with so and so and have I no idea who these people are.
Mr. Renaud: LTAP is the local training at the University of
Hawai`i (UH) that works with all the Counties, especially Public Works, Engineering, and
other Divisions that assist us with training. It is all provided by their funding.
Mr. Dill: If I may add to that, LTAP is the Local Technical
Assistance Program funded by DOT, for the benefit of the Counties.
Chair Furfaro: Say that one more time, Larry.
Mr. Dill: Sure. The LTAP is the acronym, Local Technical
Assistance Program funded by Department of Transportation for the benefit of the
Counties.
Chair Furfaro: Thank you.
Ms. Yukimura: There was one (1) more acronym you used.
Mr. Renaud: MMIS.
Ms. Yukimura: Yes.
Mr. Renaud: Which is our program that we receive with Four
Winds. The consultant and it is Maintenance Management Information System and that
does all of our trackin g and .d ever thin Y g
Ms. Yukimura: That is a software program?
Mr. Renaud: Yes, it is.
Ms. Yukimura: Okay. Thank you.
Mr. Renaud: The other one is implement documentation Road
Division Management Procedures and Statement of Purpose (SOP). This is so called my
project and help from my other people in the Roads Division that we are trying to complete.
So, this way we have something had that we can refer to as a so called "manual". Using
County forces, letting out contracts to enable Waimea Levee to be restored to active status
with the Army Corps of Engineers Continuing Eligibility Inspection. That has been going
on real fine. We have a really good relationship with the Corps and they are coming here
this coming June, the week of the 17th and we are going do inspections on both levees. Like
I said Island Wide Resurfacing, we picked up a super individual with a lot of knowledge so
it makes my work easier and that is Mike Lingaton, former District Manager with Grace
Pacific. The other thing we are also working on, you know that we have MicroPaver.
MicroPaver is a program that we have in place, but we have not used it yet. This August,
we have training with a UH professor who they hired especially for MicroPaver and he is
working with the City and.Department of Transportation,. But we are going to have him
for five (5) different sessions to work with two (2) of our people so that we can get on board
with MicroPaver for our input data entry of everything that we are doing out there on the
roads.
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Some of our challenges have been the economic downturn which we understand
what is happening and we have to just live with it and continue on. The other things is
Roads in Limbo, Paper Roads, drainage maintenance, that is a big issue that our Public
Works Administration and the Attorneys are looking at. Shortly, I guess, we will be coming
to the Council, also. Meeting new mandate traffic sign reflectivity requirements, that is
ongoing and we will be closing that very shortly. The mandate is this year with the Federal
Government, but with the company that we picked up to do our inventory of roads, signage,
and pavements existing what is happening on Kaua`i, iWORQ, which comes out of Utah,
they have done a superb job in making everything accurate. So, this way we can input it
back into MicroPaver and into our road systems and assisting Engineering on where we are
at with the different inventory statistics.
Chair Furfaro: Mr. Rapozo, may I get some clarification?
Mr. Rapozo: Sure.
Chair Furfaro: Yes. You mentioned in part of the Public Works
program, Roads in Limbo. I want to make sure that we are using the same terminology.
Most of the challenges with "Roads in Limbo" dealt with, goes back as far as 1927 where the
State did not want certain roads due to the repair costs, the Counties did not necessarily
want the roads for their liability and there is this whole definition whether it is roads that
are down at Anini or roads that are down at Pukamu or Moloa`a or so forth. What are we
doing with Roads in Limbo, if we are using the same terminology and what exactly is the
County Attorney's Office doing because they have had that correspondence over two (2)
years ago? Express to me, Larry, what approach we talking to Roads in Limbo?
Mr. Dill: As you know, Council Chair, Roads in Limbo
issue is an old one and it is a matter of owner dispute between the State and Counties.
Occasionally, we will receive a complaint about a road on Kaua`i and we will do our
research if we are not sure about the ownership of the road. If it turns out that the Road in
Limbo, Ed's Department Division is kind of stuck between a rock and hard place. My
understanding of the Roads in Limbo issue, and it is very technical legal wise, so I do not
protect to be pretend to be an Attorney. But it is a road that from the State's perspective,
their position that they maintain is that they have conveyed to the County. But our
understanding, according to the law, is that until the Council, this body, acknowledges and
accepts those roads, they are not County roads.
Chair Furfaro: So, we are on the same track here because I have
a whole bunch of documents on Roads in Limbo. But exactly what you conveyed is what
happened to us at Hapa. First of all, they are said to us, "This road was conveyed to you,
the County." Then they did an about face and they are saying, "No, that is part of our
inventory." So, I just want to make sure I clearly get an understanding of how you are
approaching this with the County Attorney's Office.
Mr. Dill: At the legislature's direction, a task force,
working group was put together of the four (4) Public Works Directors and State Highways
Director to try to address this issue. One thing that has come out of that is a Bill going
through the legislature, I think which has two (2) key provisions to it. One (1) is a concern
that we have always had again, as the public Works Department, Highways and Roads
Division, our desire is to have roads out there that service our community that are safe and
usable. So, when a complaint comes in, if we find out it is a Roads in Limbo, it is very
frustrating for us because our understanding from a legal perspective, that if we do respond
3
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and do work on a Road in Limbo, we are effectively indicating to the world that we are no w
responsible for that road liability wise, maintenance wise forever. So, that is why we hold
off on those issues. The Bill in the legislature makes it clear that under the law that is
being proposed, that we would be able to do maintenance on a road without that being the
case. We would also be able to use Highway Funds towards that purpose and we would be
immune from any liability, I believe, the comments that I gave back along with the Maui,
and I think, the Big Island Director and I believe City and County of Honolulu were
immune for a period of ten (10) years from liability which would give us some time to get
that road up to standard. It helps in the issue and the Counties are not all on the same
page exactly as where we stand on this because the County of Maui has already brought to
their Council,I believe, their Council has agreed that they want to move in the direction of
ownership on these Roads in Limbo on Maui. But we are not at that stage yet. However,
the Bill does not commit us to anything. It allows us the opportunity should we choose. So,
from that standpoint, we are supporting the Bill.
Chair Furfaro: Let me share it with you. I will probably ask
Mr. Rapozo to put this in his Committee because this Council has always been interested in
those settlements on the Roads in Limbo. The fact of matter is you should never turn away
free land if they are willing to give it to you. But they have done an about-face in Po`ipu on
us. So, you answered my question, we are all talking the same terminology and soon,
Mr. Rapozo, we will have discussion in your Committee. Thank you for allowing me to ask
that question
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Go ahead.
Mr. Renaud: Okay. Just a little bit about Roads. Roads are
made up of one hundred (100) positions. We have a staff of one hundred (100) people, of
that one hundred (100), twenty (20) is Refuse Collection and the rest is HR Maintenance.
Of the positions we have —I am going to say "re-organization," I do not like that word. But
we have moved positions here and there so that we could make up the special Construction
Crew and also the Levee Crew. The levee, as you all know, we have six (6) assigned
positions, thanks to you folks, that we are working on and right now we have two (2) on
board and we need to take up two (2) more Operators and we are going through the process
and another laborer to bring them on board shortly. The other Operator is within
Hanapepe that we selected. He was the senior member. So, he is already moving on and
transaction is happening, they are on relocation. On the Special Crews, we have completed
the last portion of the Maintenance Worker. The Supervisor is completed. We have a
supervisor, but he is not on board yet. We are waiting for his physical. He was selected.
He took his exam and everything. Then we have two (2) other positions that out of eight (8)
positions, two (2) were selected by Human Resources. We looked at their names, they went
through the written test and everything. They are highly qualified. Then shortly, also will
be coming on board upon scheduling of their medical physical. Other than that, everything
is happening, we have required some retirements at the end of this past March, so there so
going to be some transactions happening on relocated people and putting it out for
recruitment. But it first goes through in-house and then we go from there. Other than
that, I am open for questions.
Mr. Rapozo: Councilmember Yukimura.
Ms. Yukimura: Thank you. Ed, congratulations on your
reorganization. I think it is very creative and resourceful. I think it is a real plus that the
Army Corps of Engineers, well, first of all, that you have gotten us back on the eligibility
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and that they are is fully participating with us. I want to ask about the Roads. Last year
we were told that with the MicroPaver system, we would have clearer ideas of how much
we need to repave on an annual basis in order to keep our County roads preventatively
maintained, so to speak. I want to know what the results are in terms of what we know
now of our inventory and what our plan is for our repaving system.
Mr. Renaud: First of all, the inventory of our iWORQ, a
vendor from Utah, we are in questions and answers (Q&A) right now with them because I
need a lot of things answered and a lot of this information then goes to our MMIS,
maintenance Management Information System that we implemented through the program.
We are finalizing that phase, the inventory, so that we understand everything that they did
for us because they put it in a lot of code numbers and everything and we had to break that
down with them. So, the answers come back and it is all on the Geographic Information
System (GIS), which Information Technology (IT) has played a very major part with us in
interpreting a lot of that language.
Ms. Yukimura: Well, I mean, what is the total number of roads
that we have?
Mr. Renaud: We are not there yet and that is going to be one
of the final things that we will have to come back to you with that. The other thing is your
question on the future roads and that is where we are heading. The future roads after we
go through this programs and how we select everything. We need to input it into
MicroPaver, the inventory, and then MicroPaver would come back to us when we go into
the system to tell us the most critical collector roads, the most critical major roads, and so
on. Then with our moneys that we receive, and then we will allocated it that way. By
discussions with the Administration and my team of people, with the moneys that we
received annually is not enough to really do damage to the roads.
Ms. Yukimura: You mean do the opposite, right?
Mr. Renaud: Yes.
Mr. Renaud: So, what we are looking at, two (2) years maybe
three (3) years the worst. By that time we have enough moneys and we can get a better
deal for our money with the contract.
Ms. Yukimura: Well, I kind of felt like I was promised that we
would get a lot of good information this year and so how are you justifying this fuel tax
increase that you are asking for then?
Mr. Renaud: We have the information. I need to make sure
that the information is clear, so this way when I pass it on to the next vendor and my staff,
that it is clear and understand everything because not everybody out there has a computer
and that is the thing. I do not have time to have them to go on the computer and then
break it down. So, I am trying to make it as simple as possible so this way we can give
them hard copies, electronically instead of the breakdown of the inventory. But we are
going to have that shortly and we can get it to you.
Ms. Yukimura: Well, what kind of timeframe are we looking at
for being able to have this thing in full use so that we can get data and we know? I mean,
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you said or Larry has said that we are going to be doing our repaving—we are going out to
bid on our repaving contracts twice a year.
Mr. Dill: No, every other year.
Ms. Yukimura: I am sorry, once every two (2) years. Thank you.
I think it makes a lot of sense that you get the economies of scale and so forth. But I am
not clear how many miles we expect to pave and whether that puts us on a schedule where
we know that we are paving all of our roads in a timely manner? In an objective manner,
too, that has been a concern.
Mr. Renaud: Well, I guess the bottom line is we are looking at
two (2) years, like I said, maybe three years. By that time we will be ready to select the
roads through our programs that we have purchased. The thing is this iWORQ right now, I
will not give it to our other vendors that need it for data entry until I am completely
comfortable with it that. That is my bottom line. Then the thing is we can get you all the
information. Out of this program that they did for us, there are five (5) different areas.
Two (2) of the areas I have released, there are three(3) more other areas that I have to be
concerned about and real roughly speaking, one (1) is the existing payment marking, what
we have out there because I need to understand the coordinates on how they set it up. The
other one is our bridges and whatnot and crossings that goes through or beside our County
roads, that is the other one. Then guardrails, I need to be sure that every existing
guardrail out there that we understand the way that they set it up and that is all. It is a
simple thing, but it takes time.
Ms. Yukimura: Three (3) years?
Mr. Renaud: No, not three (3) years. I said within the—before
this next budget we will be ready.
Mr. Dill: I will add, we did believe that we would be
further ahead with the implementation of the MicroPaver by this time. In looking at the
work that needed to be done, at first thought we could populate the application ourselves.
But in order to get a more comprehensive, accurate database to begin with, which would
give us better information by which to manage our roads and select which roads to pave
and how to scope that work, we felt it was more appropriate for us to go ahead and hire this
outfit iWORQ to do a complete inventory of our roadway assets. It has delayed what we
had hoped to do to get MicroPaver going, but we feel it will give us a much better working
product moving forward.
Ms. Yukimura:: I agree with you, garbage in, garbage out. So, if
you get good data in there, you will be better off than if you did not. I am not troubled by a
delay caused for that reason. I mean as you said, you will have the information before the
next budget. Are you meaning the supplemental in early May?
Mr. Renaud: We will have it before June. Right now as we
speak, we are in communication with that vendor.
Ms. Yukimura: And what will we get in June? Will we get an
inventory of all of our roads, the condition that they are in, and how much we need to
repave on an annual or is it biannual basis? So, we know, that sets standards for all of us,
right? In terms of how much we have to allocate in terms of money and how much you have
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to do in terms of manpower and time in order to get the job done in a timely way. Will we
p g J Y Y
know that in June?
Mr. Renaud: I have it know. Like I said, JoAnn, I have
everything. But I have to put it into layman's language. It is just on computer right now
and the thing is it is in a GIS system, whereby if you go into the system. I do not have a
problem getting it to you shortly.
Ms. Yukimura: Okay. In terms of the — what are we allocating
this year for repaving and resurfacing?
Ms. Nakamura: One million two hundred thousand dollars
($1,200,000).
Ms. Yukimura: Okay. So, if we have one million two hundred
thousand dollars ($1,200,000) and can you tell us how many miles of road that is going to
pave? The plan to accumulate it for another one million two hundred thousand dollars
($1,200,000) next year, is that the plan?
Mr. Renaud: Well, we will get the answers back to you. I will
not give it to you now because the thing is that we have to look into everything. It is not
that simple just to put out the price. That is an estimated number that we are going to get.
So, the thing is we add on more to it and I do not want to do that. I want to be as accurate
as possible with the industry up there.
Mr. Rapozo: Councilmember Yukimura, can you put those
questions in writing and how long do you need, Ed, to get that to us because I think it is
very important information as we move forward in the budget? Is that something that can
be done in a week? I am just asking, if not, let me know.
Mr. Renaud: Let us say a month because I have other projects
too. Can that work?
Mr. Rapozo: I think it is important for us to get it as we go
into decision making. But I guess as soon as possible.
Mr. Renaud: Okay.
Ms. Yukimura: What puzzles me is how you folks can propose a
raise in the fuel tax and propose this biannual process without knowing all of this
information. I mean, I really was expecting a full plan from the Administration for how we
are going repave our roads in the next year or two (2) if it is part of the biannual.
Mr. Rapozo: I think what I heard that they have the
information, they just do not available right now. I, like yourself, that sat here last year
when we talked about MicroPaver, had assumed that we would make this information
readily available.
Mr. Renaud: We have that.
Mr. Rapozo: I share your concerns
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Mr. Renaud: What you want, I have it and we can get it to
you. That is not a problem.
Ms. Yukimura: When are you getting it to us by?
Mr. Renaud: Pardon?
Ms. Yukimura: When are you getting it to us?
Mr. Renaud: In two (2) weeks.
Ms. Yukimura: Okay, thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Great, that is wonderful.
Ms. Yukimura: Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Appreciate that. I think Mr. Kagawa had a
follow-up question and then Mr. Hooser.
Mr. Kagawa: Thank you, Ed. Just a personal observation.
One million two hundred thousand dollars ($1,200,000), I cannot see that really doing a lot
of road repair considering how much roads. I noticed that needed to be fixed. But I had a
specific one because ironically, me and Councilmember Rapozo went out to Kekaha Host
Community Meeting and I kind of got worried when I heard you say that you are worrying
about the main traffic roads because some of the roads in Kekaha were beautiful. We were
admiring how nice had a job the contractor did in repaving Kekaha Road and, I believe, the
other main road there. I do not know if it was Elepaio. But I noticed that the connector
roads were not repaved and I brought it up to Councilmember Rapozo and I said, "I wonder
if they are going to do the interior roads too?" His answer to me was, "I would think so,
right?" But now that I heard your presentation, I am not so sure.
Mr. Renaud: It is in the process. But it is not for this Island
Wide Resurfacing. It is in the future.
Mr. Kagawa: It is in the future.
Mr. Renaud: Yes. I did a survey, there is a lot of roads in
there. I can give you the spreadsheet that need repair. The same thing identical problem
where we have to do a preservation reconstruction, same thing, big, big bucks.
Mr. Kagawa: Well, I guess...
Mr. Renaud: Excuse me, I am sorry. One million two hundred
thousand dollars ($1,200,000) is not enough to do the rest of those roads so we have to
select what is the most used roads out there. Then by listening to the community and they
kind of assist us. We want this road first, we want that road first or second, and that is
what we have done.
Mr. Kagawa: Yes, because I saw the same thing at Hanapepe
Heights. They did the Ali`i Road, it just looks beautiful and that did not do the rest. I am
kind of now gathering from your presentation that we are trying to do the heavily used
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roads and we will do the side roads at a later time. Okay, well, that just give me more
concern that we may need to actually instead of cut the budget, add to the budget because
some of those roads are really in poor shape. I would like to see us at least fix some of those
roads that are really in terrible shape. It is like riding on speed bumps with grass and
cracks. Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: It is a great traffic-calming measure though, I
have to say. You cannot drive fast. A follow-up to Ross' comments that, I know that the
quality of the repaving today is much better than of past. I do not know if you folks are
including the shoulder work or I am not sure what the difference is. But the...
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Mr. Renaud: Everything.
Mr. Tabata: Just an example, Alai Road in Kekaha which is
the main road that connects up to the Koke`e Road which was completely rebuilt also. We
examined that with the contractor and we were going to do specified repairs. But they
came back and said, "No we just need to tear this whole road up and reconstruct it." We
took their lea and it ended up being a little bit higher than the original cost. However, it
would have cost more just to piecemeal it. So, those are initiatives that Ed has been
making, that I think for the long run, it is going to provide longer life.
Mr. Rapozo: Well, I agree. I think the maintenance costs
long-term are much lower. Mr. Hooser, then Councilmember-I believe you had a follow-up
as well.
Mr. Hooser: I agree with much of what was said. I would like
to see more roads paved for less money and no tax increase. So, if we could do that. I
understand perfectly well, that this stuff costs money and we have to work within our
budget. My core question is regarding how the budget process works and the biannual
process. So, round numbers is one million two hundred thousand dollars ($1,200,000) for
road paving, but then I heard you say that every other year we are are going to contract
out. So, is this money going to sit there and combine with another year, that is what the
intent is?
Mr. Renaud: Correct.
Mr. Dill: Yes.
Mr. Hooser: Rather than just fund it all the next year?
Mr. Dill: Correct.
Mr. Hooser: Because that would be another way to do it. So,
from a budget perspective, theoretically because we are not anticipating spending this one
million two hundred thousand dollars ($1,200,000) during this fiscal year we could zero it
out and deal with it next year, theoretically?
Mr. Dill: Theoretically.
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Mr. Hooser: Right, because the money is not going to be
spent. It will not be encumbered, it will not need to be spent. So, I just wanted to clarify
that that is the case and that is the case. The second question that I have, I understand
that as a result of the Auditor's suggestion, there has been a change of policy with regards
to CIP funding, Bond funding, and Operating funding in term of road repaving. That is
correct, right?
Mr. Dill: Yes, though I do not think bond funding was an
issue. It was whether it should be in Capital Project or Repair & Maintenance project?
Mr. Hooser: But you could fund CIP? I guess my point is if
you want to do — we talked about a major road repair, tear it up completely and put in a
major reconstruction. I would think...
Mr. Dill: If I may? The issue specifically was regards to
how the Island Wide Resurfacing was funded and historically, for whatever reason, it was
in CIP budget and remember these are always Highway Funds, for the Island Wide
Resurfacing. But now you see it budgeted in Operating Budget.
Mr. Hooser: But we could use bond money, correct, to do
major highway improvements, CIP improvements? I am not speaking about patching
potholes. I am sorry, go ahead.
Mr. Dill: Can I ask for a recess for a few minutes to
discuss that, please?
Mr. Hooser: Sure, I am not the Chair.
Mr. Rapozo: I do not have a problem.
Mr. Hooser: Well, let me finish my question.
Mr. Dill: Sure.
Mr. Hooser: It is one thing, we are talking potholes and minor
resurfacing. But if we have roads that need to be dug up and new base core, rebuilt, then I
would think that you would be able to use bond money, make that a CIP project and be
within the spirit and the law and all of that. So, that is the point I wanted to make.
Mr. Renaud: Can I just say one thing?
Chair Furfaro: Excuse me, I just want to remind you, it was you
folks that requested the break. Do you want the recess or not?
Mr. Rapozo: Well, believe it or not, my apologies. We are
beyond the caption break time. So, we will take a ten (10) minute caption break at this
point, that will give you folks some time. When we come back, if it is a finance issue or
whatever it is, then if we could have Finance up to answer the question, I would appreciate
it. Recess, ten (10) minutes.
There being no objections, the Committee recessed at 3:15 p.m.
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There being no objections, the Committee reconvened at 3:24 p.m., and proceeded as
follows:
Mr. Rapozo: Budget session will come back to order and let
the record reflect the presence of our Director of Finance, Mr. Steve Hunt.
STEVEN A. HUNT, Director of Finance: Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Now, I really cannot remember who asked that
question.
Mr. Hunt: Councilmember Hooser did. In response to
Councilmember Hooser's question regarding whether the use of the moneys that are being
suggested in this year for appropriation in the Highways Fund for resurfacing, if we were to
zero that out and put a zero in that. Those are not moneys that can be reused for General
Fund. These stay within Highway Fund, these are specific to Highway Fund. The intent is
to is accumulate by budgeting this year to get, again, more bang for the buck because we
believe there will be additional savings for doing more greater projects by doing it in two (2)
year increment as opposed to annually. But the bottom line is, if we zeroed out that line
this year in trying to fund all of it next year, there would not be savings realized in terms of
moneys to be used elsewhere unless it is in the Highway's Fund that generally supports not
only road paving, but also transportation.
Mr. Hooser: Follow-up question.
Mr. Rapozo: Sure.
Mr. Hooser: So, the proposed increase in the fuel tax would
then likewise just be used to accumulate or to create that one million two hundred
thousand dollars ($1,200,000)?
Mr. Hunt: Twofold. Yes, it is to create some balance for as
well, but also to additionally support transportation because that added routes have been a
bigger drain on General Fund. So, this is again, because it is running as it is own fund or
can be used from Highway's Fund that we are trying to support that as much as we can.
Mr. Hooser: Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Follow-up?
Ms. Yukimura: Yes. Well, first follow-up is about the Kekaha
roads that needed reconstruction. The need for reconstruction, was that caused by us not
paving in a timely way?
Mr. Tabata: No. The fractures or the failure that we found on
the road was due to inadequate initial base construction of the road and with the heat out
there, and I know everybody reading all of these articles in the newspaper of O`ahu's
problems, but the extreme heat in Kekaha during the day of expansion and at night
shrinking, is problematic if you do not have a firm foundation. The fix that we did, using
new asphalt base, time will tell. But all by sound engineering practice, should give us
extended life of this road.
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Ms. Yukimura: What you are saying is how the road is initially
constructed is very important.
Mr. Tabata: Right.
Ms. Yukimura: So, when we have new subdivisions, it is
important for inspectors to make sure that those roads are properly constructed or else we
are going to pay?
Mr. Tabata: Right.
Ms. Yukimura: For lack of oversight.
Mr. Tabata: Yes. I think I mentioned a few meetings ago that
a large, I am not going to say majority, a large amount of our County roads were
constructed with macadam base. So, macadam base, for those who do not know is rock and
clay as a base versus today used on uniform base and we use asphalt as the foundation and
compacted properly and built from the bottom up, versus in the old days macadam, was you
just use this rock and mud base and you compact it with oil on it and then you pave over.
The clay that bound the base together, especially moisture seepage, rain, and you get a
pothole, it starts the degradation process. The mud gets washed out and then you get the
structural failure of the road.
Ms. Yukimura: Well, so in the assessment of the old roads that
were constructed in the manner you just described, we have to be aware that it may not
just be resurfacing. But it might be reconstruction and so the calculation of our budget and
how far it is going to go has to take that into account.
Mr. Tabata: Exactly. So, some of the information that Ed is
gathering is not only the surface condition, but also speaking to members in the community
who know these sections and how these roads were built and getting a better
understanding and adding this feedback, so to speak, into what he is gathering.
Ms. Yukimura: Then on a follow-up for Steve, or did you want to
say something?
Mr. Hunt: I was just going to add to that end because this
was Councilmember Hooser's question as well earlier. If you were to basically dig out that
road to the base core and redo it whether that would be eligible for CIP funding and our
read is "no" on that still. Once it becomes a County asset, it still becomes R&M, whether it
is fixing a pothole or redoing an entire road, it is still a County asset at that point and it is
not eligible for CIP.
Ms. Yukimura: Which means that bond money cannot be used?
Mr. Hunt: Correct.
Mr. Tabata: So, some of what we are right now doing, what
we call co-plaining so we can recycle the asphalt. We are finding that there is macadam
base underneath there and when we go down and co-plain, it is exposing the macadam that
we did not know, that that was the composition of the foundation. So, at that point in time
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we are making quick decisions out. We have some plus or minuses, some roads we are
using less money. So, it is going to balance in the end, so far, right now.
Ms. Yukimura: Right. I think Councilmember Hooser expressed
some doubts as to whether it is true that we can use bond funds for major reconstruction.
But maybe that is something that you can document for us. Then I have one other
follow-up regarding Steve's response to Councilmember Hooser, and that is in proposing the
$0.02 additional fuel tax that the Administrations intention was that part of it is used to
fund the Transportation Agency?
Mr. Hunt: It was more twofold. One was getting to the
current standards Statewide as to what other Counties are charging for fuel tax and two (2)
is to start to offset some of the demands from General Fund for Department like
Transportation and knowing that we have now having to budget within Highways Fund for
repaving, which we had not had to do before because we were using CIP. Those are
certainly expenditure has we are addressing in this budget, but need to be funded
Ms. Yukimura: So, the addition that I made to the purpose
section of the Fuel Tax Bill for an Ordinance, is it correct to say that the purpose of these
moneys — one (1) of the purpose of these moneys to provide for sustainable roads and public
transportation?
Mr. Hunt: Yes.
Ms. Yukimura: Okay, thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Councilmember Bynum, follow-up?
Mr. Bynum: I have a different question.
Mr. Rapozo: Any other follow-up and not related to fuel tax,
that is for Thursday. A follow-up, not to fuel tax?
Mr. Hooser: It goes to the issue of Bond versus CIP. If you
could look into that as little bit more and maybe provide us a response to that. It is my
understanding that the criteria basically are based on the life of the improvement. If you
are repainting a house, then that it repair and maintenance. If you are rebuilding the
house, then that could qualify for Bond Funding. That is my experience in the past
working with other budgets. If you could check, I guess, it would be the Bond Counsel or
the Auditor...
Mr. Hunt: Yes, Bond Counsel.
Mr. Hooser: ...who made the recommendation in the first
place? If you could check with that, I would appreciate it. Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Mr. Hooser, if you could — I will write it down.
We will get it over in writing.
Mr. Bynum: This is a really important thing to research. I
believe renovations on this building were done with Bond funding or CIP funding. I believe
that there is a point where existing infrastructure gets to such a point where it is
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replacement as opposed to repair. I would also have questions about I think we intend to
do more pedestrian elements when we do road projects, that becomes a new amenity or
something. So, I think this is an important question to research for a number of reasons.
My questions, I gave Larry a heads up yesterday, and I do not know if he shared it with
you. The same question I have asked six (6) years, thermal striping. I want thermal
striping and so do a lot of people who live here. They do not even know it, but at night
when it is raining, if the roadway was painted lines, they would go away when they are
about a year old. I think we all know that. What is the status of us doing so I can get it
all said at once? The commitment a couple of years ago was to make sure that any contract
that we sent out...
Chair Furfaro: Larry, please come back for Mr. Bynum's
question.
Mr. Bynum: The commitment that I heard a couple of years
ago was that any new contract to a vendor that went out would have as a scope of service,
that kind of striping and that we would invest in the equipment next year. I heard that for
three (3) years and I did not see it in the budget. So, this is an important issue to me
because I think it is a safety issue and it is a cost issue too. We have an upfront investment
that will save us money, but will keep our roads safer. That is the most important thing.
Mr. Renaud: Well, the thing is we are in the process of picking
up a machine. That is where we are at right now and it is not a big machine. But a
machine that we can handle, that we can do the work right now because we only have (x)
number of people working. So, the thing is we are doing striping. Now with the striping in
there, there are beads that are put in there for the edge pavements and whatnot. I do not
know if we have done it correctly. But the thing is that we are moving in different areas
where we are doing an inspection of what we are doing out there so that we know
everything that we are doing. But there is a machine on its way. When the machine comes
in—it is shortly.
Mr. Bynum: I think that is good news and then there are
some red flags in what you said. I do not know if we are doing it correctly in using the right
materials.
Mr. Renaud: What I am trying to say is when we looked at
some of the older roads, I do not know who striped it and I do not have history on it and I
will just leave it at that. But there were roads that maybe were not striped properly
because there are beads that you put in there that reflects at night and when I look at some
of them, I do not see it. I do not know what happened there, but these are the things that
we are going to correct.
Mr. Bynum: When you paint, you put things in the paint?
Mr. Renaud: No, it comes in the paint or we hand spread it
and it is a reflective type of bead that goes in the paint.
Mr. Bynum: I do not want to act like I know a lot about this.
Mr. Renaud: So, what I am trying to say is, we are looking at
the process of what we do and we are changing everything to make it uniform in what we
do. As with the machine coming in, we have a small machine coming in to do the job. If we
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get good at that and the economy change and whatnot, then we will look at a bigger
machine. A bigger machine like State has, it that runs for five hundred (500) plus, a big
truck, so we are not there yet.
Mr. Bynum: Five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000)?
Mr. Renaud: Correct.
Mr. Bynum: Yes. I did some research on this a couple of years
ago.
Mr. Renaud: Then collector roads, we are with the contract,
they are going to do all the striping and whatnot.
Mr. Bynum: And that is part of the Scope of Service, the type
of striping?
Mr. Renaud: Correct, thermal plastic.
Mr. Bynum: Other than that what I understand to be correct.
I just wanted affirmation is that we have a commitment when we resurface roads now, to
deal with the underlying surface and if you come up with this substandard road bed you are
replacing. Is that correct?
Mr. Renaud: Correct.
Mr. Bynum: To me, that in the long run — and I think that is
a lot of JoAnn's questions were okay, we made this commitment, that is great. How many
fewer roads are we going to be able to do if we committed to do them right and do we need
to find resources to get back on top of the game? I hear the answer being that you will have
a better answer a year from now.
Mr. Renaud: Yes.
Mr. Bynum: Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you very much. Any follow-up questions
to striping? If not, Councilmember Nakamura.
Ms. Nakamura: Thank you, Ed. Let us see, I wanted to ask you
under the Signs and Roads Marking division detail, there is a four hundred seventy percent
(470%) increase over 2012 when we had our last actuals. Can you explain that increase
from six hundred thirty-eight thousand dollars ($638,000) to one million nine hundred
thousand dollars ($1,900,000)?
Mr. Renaud: Traffic Signs and Marking, it is not the correct
name for the special construction group. In traffic sign they call it Traffic Signs and
Markings, that is what we have right now. But it will all change to "Special Construction."
Now, in Special Construction, you have traffic signs and markings, you have logistics,
equipment mobilization and then you have bridge maintenance and road maintenance. So,
what is happening there, since the Logistics Crew has moved to Traffic Signs, some of the
moneys from the Kapa'a Base Yard has not transferred over. So, some of that cost, I have
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to talk to my fiscal side and see why it is not coming from the other side that. That is what
is happening, that is why it is high because of that extra cost of moving equipment and
whatnot.
Ms. Nakamura: So you are moving funds from some of the base
yards?
Mr. Renaud: No. When they went over to Traffic Signs and
Markings, all of those crews are there right now. But we do not have the correct name on
top. It should be "Special Construction" section.
Ms. Nakamura: So, that is a coordination issue with the Finance
Department?
Mr. Renaud: Yes. Well, maybe with my fiscal and then they
go from there.
Ms. Nakamura: I am trying to get a handle on your total
overtime and I have to kind of look at each of the subsections. But it looks like it is about
one hundred ninety thousand dollars ($190,000) for all of your Roads Division. Does that
sound about right?
Mr. Renaud: Correct.
Ms. Nakamura: What would you say is the main reason for that
overtime?
Mr. Renaud: A lot of it has been the weather conditions, call
outs, we have been getting a lot of call outs. Then the other is Traffic Signs and Marking,
trying to change that pattern to Safe Routes to School. We have been doing a lot there that
was not planned in the budget.
Ms. Nakamura: That comes out of overtime?
Mr. Renaud: Some of it has been overtime, some of it has been
all of the special projects that are out there.
Ms. Nakamura: And so what is going on with the base yards
because I see that funding has increased?
Mr. Rapozo: The Chair has a follow-up on the overtime
question.
Ms. Nakamura: Sure.
Chair Furfaro: I would like you to break down the overtime
specifically, especially what portion is emergency and what portion is Safe Routes to School.
Mr. Rapozo: Mr. Chair, I do have a question going over, a
breakdown of overtime by each Division in Public Works, including Roads. But I do —
because it is very difficult to follow with this budget because it is all over the place. So, one
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(1) of the questions that we are asking is a breakdown for each and I would ask we will
further specify what you have been asking.
Chair Furfaro: Then one other part to that, at what point do you
use Roads Department personnel for the landfill?
Mr. Tabata: So, James can...
Chair Furfaro: James, you heard my question? At that point do
you use Roads personnel for overtime with the landfill?
Mr. Matsushige: I do not think we really use a lot for landfill. But
we do use a lot of Highway personnel for the refuse collection.
Chair Furfaro: For the refuse collection?
Mr. Matsushige: Yes. I guess when the refuse collector is sick,
Highways Division fills in.
Chair Furfaro: Mr. Rapozo, I would like to get that breakdown
too.
Mr. Rapozo: Yes, so would I. I think a lot of my questions on
this sheet will cover that.
Chair Furfaro: Okay.
Mr. Rapozo: Does that happen often?
Mr. Matsushige: Quite often. It can happen a lot because anytime
that somebody is sick or off and also on holidays—every holiday we have collections.
Mr. Rapozo: If somebody calls in sick from collections we take
somebody from Highways?
Mr. Matsushige: Highways, yes.
Mr. Rapozo: Is that from somebody on a day off?
Mr. Matsushige: No.
Mr. Rapozo: Why would we pay overtime?
Mr. Matsushige: Many times, I guess, they would continue their
job because Highways also needs their people. I do not know how often that happens
because it is Uku Pau, so they will finish their job and they can...
Mr. Rapozo: So, they would go to work, collections, get
overtime because it is pre-shift?
Mr. Matsushige: On occasions they go to the transfer stations to
cover shortage at the transfer station.
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Mr. Rapozo: They are basically working a double shift?
Mr. Matsushige: Yes, because of the Uku Pau.
Mr. Rapozo: So, when a Highways person gets called to go
work collections and we know it is Uku Pau, so do they get paid eight (8) hours overtime
even though they do not work a full eight (8) hours.
Mr. Matsushige: Yes, well if they work their full shift, they have
the eight (8) hours.
Mr. Rapozo: But if it is Uku Pau, they are not working the full
shift. Let us say, what time do they start collections, 4:00?
Mr. Renaud: 4:30.
Mr. Rapozo: 4:30?
Mr. Renaud: I mean 4:30, they start.
Mr. Rapozo: So, they would come in at 4:30 in the morning
and they would go to work and what time do they start at the transfer station or I am sorry,
at the Highways?
Mr. Matsushige: I need to check.
Mr. Dill: Councilmember Rapozo, I think that might be
better answered by Solid Waste. They are more familiar with this.
Mr. Rapozo: Well, it is a Highways guy though. It is
Highways overtime. So, my question is this, and it is a Highways fiscal issue, it is not Solid
Waste because who pays overtime for that Highways employee?
Mr. Matsushige: Highways pays.
Mr. Rapozo: Right.
Chair Furfaro: Here is the point, which tail is wagging the dog?
I want to know which Supervisor is accountable for that overtime. If it is coming out the
Highways Department, then it is Ed. If you are telling me ask the question of the landfill
people, will I get the same answer from them? Then that overtime should be in Solid
Waste, not showing up in Highways. Excuse me, I should not have interrupted,
Mr. Rapozo,
Mr. Rapozo: No, you read my mind again. You read
Councilmember Hooser's mind earlier and now I am really getting worried
Mr. Dill: I will tell you Councilmember Rapozo, there are
specific Union rules for how the call outs happen and who gets requested to call out of offer
the opportunity and those are the criteria that we follow. I cannot quote you those criteria
right now. But we can certainly let you know. But everything happens in accordance with
the Union contract.
NEE
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Mr. Rapozo: I understand. My question is if it is a Highways
employee and a Highways person is getting—I mean you said it happens often.
Mr. Tabata: For refuse. For the landfill, it is pretty much
self-sustaining and at the transfer stations it is very rare that we have to use a Roads
Division employee. It happens, but pretty much with the separation that we are in the
process of completing, which the final phase is the refuse crews to Solid Waste, this should
disappear. Until we complete the transfer of refuse personnel from Roads to Solid Waste
and this situation will still occur.
Mr. Rapozo: Well, I guess what I am concerned and I hope
what is not happening, is that we are paying someone for more hours of work than what
they are working. I understand the Uku Pau system for the transfer employees.
Mr. Tabata: There is no other way right now with the rules as
Mr. Dill spoke with the contract with UPW. There is no other way at this time, until we
fully remove the refuse crew from Roads to Solid Waste.
Mr. Rapozo: The Highways employee that gets sent over to
collections qualifies for the Uku Pau as well?
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Mr. Rapozo: And that is in the Union contract?
Mr. Tabata: Because they are transferred, temporary
transfer.
Mr. Rapozo: They work their shift at collections and then they
go back to work?
Mr. Tabata: The refuse is still under Roads Division at this
time, so the rules apply.
Mr. Dill: But we are in the process of looking at getting
that transferred to Solid Waste, so all the refuse collectors would be under Solid Waste
then.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay. Well, we will follow-up on that.
Ms. Nakamura: Follow-up question
Mr. Rapozo: Go ahead.
Ms. Nakamura: Do you anticipate any problems with doing that?
Mr. Dill: With making the transfer?
Ms. Nakamura: Yes.
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Mr. Dill: We have had preliminary discussion with the
Union — I am not sure how to answer that question. It will certainly not be without its
challenges.
Ms. Nakamura: And timing wise, what is your goal to work on
this?
Mr. Dill: We plan to work on it before the end of this fiscal
year. I do not think it will be accomplished by the end of this fiscal year, but I hope to
accomplish it during next fiscal year.
Ms. Nakamura: Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Any other follow-up questions? I do not even
know how to put that question in writing.
Chair Furfaro: It is not the first time that that question has
come up. Mr. Dill, I want you to know that many years that we have talked about this, the
answer that we got basically said that as we go to automation, this roadside crew, possibly
there will be an element of transferring some of them permanently to the landfill and that
the landfill people might eventually be filling in for the overtime. That is the answer we
have gotten for many years. I think the bigger question is can you show us something in
writing that says if an individual works eleven (11) hours for the day, but ended up getting
paid at premium rate for sixteen (16) hours of work, we actually understand that
compensation is in the bargaining unit agreement, can you show us that?
Mr. Dill: I can, yes.
Chair Furfaro: I think that is where we have to start, okay?
Mr. Dill: Okay.
Chair Furfaro: But the other point that I was trying to make is
if the overtime is in Ed's area, then it is Ed that has to manage the overtime, not just
because the Roads guys are now in collections and we do not have an idea of who is
overseeing the overtime. That is concerning, that is concerning. I will come up with some
appropriate wording for that.
Mr. Rapozo; You will? Thank you. Any other questions
pertaining to overtime? Go ahead, Mr. Kagawa.
Mr. Kagawa: I just have a, maybe a suggestion that if the
Highways worker goes over and works the Uku Pau job, that we say you cannot do your
day's work after you are done with that. This is why, I am worried that we will open
ourselves up to liability because what the worker will say is, "I hurt my back because I had
to work the refuse job and I had the work the other eight (8) hours." To me, it puts us in a
bad spot. I am wondering, it is incentive enough to work the Uku Pau shift, work half the
time, get paid for eight (8) at their normal Highway salary and I think that would be an
advantage for them. But to allow them to work another eight (8) hours after that is, to me,
putting ourselves in a bad spot. That is just my— I am not an Administration worker. But
I am just giving my advice because I want to avoid any liability as much as possible. You
have any comments on that?
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Mr. Dill: No, I appreciate the thought. We would have the
same concerns about somebody being overworked and possibly subjecting themselves to
injury for that reason. Thank you.
Mr. Renaud: That does not happen. Let me say something,
that does not happen. The thing is, in the mornings when the refuse crews calls in, they
call into the Roads Supervisor and say I cannot make it because of whatever. He has to call
in before 4:00 and all of these things, and normally they do it. Now the district DRO,
whoever he is, whichever district, he has to look for people now because when it comes over
to Roads that means that they did their good diligence, they went out, they checked this,
checked that, they do not have the people that want to volunteer. So, they come to Roads.
Roads, what they do, they make a call. They have a hard time because not everybody wants
to go on the back of the truck. So, now they come on duty, and per the Union, once he
comes on, he is Uku Pau. That is it, he just worked those hours and he goes home. He does
not come back to work, no way. We had some instances where I found out — this was way
back and I stopped all of that because the thing is if you are going to go Uku Pau, you
accept that, that is the bottom line and that is where we are at. We can break it down. We
can get all of that information.
Mr. Kagawa: Thank you, Ed. I was under the assumption that
they were getting paid overtime because they were working their regular job after.
Mr. Rapozo: That is what was said earlier, that is why you got
that impression.
Mr. Matsushige: I am sorry.
Mr. Rapozo: Because I got that same impression.
Chair Furfaro: That is how we all understood it.
Mr. Rapozo: Where is the overtime then? If that is not
happening, what was said earlier, where is the overtime? If you call a Roads person to
come in and he is going to work, basically what will happen, rather than starting — what
time?
Mr. Renaud: The base yard starts at 4:30. Let me add
something else to that because you have to be so many hours in advance to make a
schedule, if you call that individual at a certain time he gets overtime, eight (8) hours.
Mr. Rapozo: A portion of it, not the full day?
Mr. Renaud: Refuse.
Mr. Rapozo: They get the whole day overtime?
Mr. Renaud: They work four (4) hours or something. It is
eight (8) hours because that was not his assignment for the day. So, it has to be a planned
thing. If we know this individual is going to be out in advance, then he gets normal pay.
Mr. Rapozo: Well, we will follow-up.
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Mr. Tabata: The additional overtime is for us to support Solid
Waste with hauling green waste.
Mr. Renaud: And landfill hauling dirt.
Mr. Rapozo: Well, I do have a lot of questions as it relates to
green waste hauling. But we will do that with Solid Waste because it is not you folks. I do
have some concerns that were brought up last year that I understand is continuing to occur.
But we will save that for Solid Waste. We have dismissed Solid Waste today. So, we will
pick up with them first thing in the morning. We have another thirty-five (35) minutes
with Roads. Is there another question? Go ahead, Councilmember Nakamura.
Ms. Nakamura: Thank you. I am looking at page 2 of the budget
presentation. At the very bottom under "Objective 1," you have several initiatives. In
terms of complete the implementation of the MicroPaver for a pavement preservation
program. When do you expect to have that in place?
Mr. Renaud: We got a hold of the professor, like I talked about
from UH. He is the master that UH brought him in and we are having that individual
program training starting in August. We have five (5) sessions with him as we go along the
year to complete that session with two (2) individuals. So, this way they can do data entry.
Ms. Nakamura: That is the training, and then your data entry
would be the next step?
Mr. Renaud: Correct.
Ms. Nakamura: How long do you expect that to take?
Mr. Renaud: He has five (5) sessions and I think it goes all the
way to December. In August, the first week of August, he comes here for two (2) days
training with the two (2) individuals that we have. Then he comes back — he has different
sessions all the way to December and one day presentations and then everything that we do
on the computer back and forth.
Ms. Nakamura: When do you expect data entry to be completed?
Mr. Renaud: Completed, he comes the first two (2) days in
August, they should be ready to move into that position and we have everything else ready
to be implemented in the data entry so, December.
Ms. Nakamura: By the end of the year, the data would be
completed?
Mr. Renaud: Yes. We have a qualified individual that is very
simple of this. Like I said, Mike Lingaton.
Ms. Nakamura: At the end of the - Lyle brought this up about
the articles in the paper over the past few weeks about the road conditions in Honolulu. So,
what they have is this report that shows...
Mr. Renaud: Yes, I picked that up too.
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Ms. Nakamura: The different condition of the roads by color, is
that kind of what we are going to get?
Mr. Renaud: Same thing and that is the Professor that we are
working with.
Ms. Nakamura: This is the same? So, we will get an idea of how
many poor, failed roads, serious, in this same type of category?
Mr. Renaud: Similar.
Ms. Nakamura: Similar?
Mr. Renaud: The thing I said in two (2) weeks or sooner,
everything is in the report.
Ms. Nakamura: So, that is what we will get in two (2) weeks?
Mr. Renaud: Correct.
Chair Furfaro: You will do all of our roads in two (2) weeks?
Mr. Renaud: No, the information Councilwoman Yukimura
requested.
Mr. Tabata: This is a multiple part data acquisition and
loading into the database software. So, we have iWORQ which is a contractor who went out
to do the road surveys for us. We have this data now, it is in this format that still needs to
be loaded into the MicroPaver software. The MicroPaver, we found after we purchased, is
not as simple as we thought, as Larry stated and even the City, if you see and you follow
their story, they had to get the same training like we are. We bought the same software as
the City and they took that long for them to catch up, as you see. They have it paved also
at a steady pace while they were inputting this data and creating the database and
learning how to use it. We are just behind them and Ed, finally getting time in August
now, for the formal train coming to us to learn how we manipulate the data, input and code
the data specifically because the data is all collected, but then you have to code it
specifically for this software and be able to use the data that we collected in the format that
is presented in that article. We are learning as we move forward. The main thing is that
we are still moving forward and we are not professionals in this area as far as this new IT,
the software stuff. So, we are moving towards that end. We will get there eventually. Not
as fast as everybody wants us to.
Ms. Nakamura: What we get in two (2) weeks is preliminary?
Mr. Tabata: I think it is raw data, that is not going to be a
result of what MicroPaver will give us.
Ms. Nakamura: What we get in a year, would be a much more
detailed inventory.
Mr. Tabata: Right.
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Mr. Nakamura: Based on actual conditions in the field.
Mr. Tabata: And coded per how what is going to make
MicroPaver work.
Ms. Nakamura: Will we also at the same time get an assessment
of are we investing enough to deal with the most serious conditions of our roads?
Mr. Tabata: I think that is something that we are going to
learn as we move forward. It is going to give us state of the union, so to speak and then we
are going to be able then drill down to specific needs that we are looking for. Then it is
implementing what is the cost per pound or per cubic foot of material of the asphalt and
that will in turn come back to say, this is your highest priority, next level, and down the
line.
Ms. Nakamura: One (1) of the questions that we asked at the last
budget hearing was how much do we get for—I think at the that time it was seven hundred
thousand dollars ($700,000) in our budget and the response was one point five (1.5) to three
(3) miles paved road if it is assuming a twenty (20) foot roadway. So, even if we are going
up to one million two hundred thousand dollars ($1,200,000) per year, so we are at two
million four hundred thousand dollars ($2,400,000), so that buys us maybe twenty-four (24)
miles if we use that same metric.
Mr. Renaud: That is only resurfacing.
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Ms. Nakamura: That is just resurfacing. Okay, got it.
Mr. Tabata: So, you then there is the structural repair,
shoulder repair that we have increased in our scope.
Ms. Nakamura: So, that is going to reduce the actual number of
miles.
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Ms. Nakamura: I think that is what we will be looking for,
probably not in two (2) week, but in next budget is when we will be really looking for that
analysis of this is really the bread and butter of what the County should be do and making
sure that we are not following behind like Honolulu where it is really a crisis there. Thank
you very much.
Mr. Renaud: One other thing with that, we are investing in a
cord machine. So, even if the report states that, we are going to do core simples to see what
is under there. We have to be sure before we agree on a negotiated price with the paving
contractor.
Ms. Nakamura: Thank you.
Chair Furfaro: Mr. Rapozo.
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Mr. Rapozo: Mr. Chair.
Chair Furfaro: Thank you, Nadine, you clarified a lot of my
comments. Gentlemen, I want to remind you to please, when you speak in terms of what is
going to be accomplished, make sure it is something that you are implying that is
achievable in a specific time. So, bottom line here it turns out, bottom line here is we are
probably a year away from having the kind of results. It is not something that is coming in
five (5) visits and then it is magic and it is going to happen. Here is my caution though,
Larry, we went a period of almost three (3) years not paving any roads or resurfacing any
roads. In that year, we had given you an extra one million dollars ($1,000,000) that I put in
the budget for it. I do not want to find out that we are not resurfacing during this time
where we are collecting data. Okay? I am really concerned because you said that if we did
it in two (2) year increments, we would probably get about ten percent (10%) to fifteen
percent (15%) more paving down if we issued a bigger contract. So, here is my one (1)
chance to ask you, is that what you are anticipating now? You are not going to pave for
next year? You are going to wait to do a bunch in a two (2) year funding?
Mr. Dill: That is correct. If you see in the CIP Ordinance
this year in response to the Auditor's report we zeroed out the CIP funds that had been
appropriated. So, we would start again this Fiscal Year 2014 with the one million two
hundred thousand dollars ($1,200,000) that was identified in the Operating Budget.
Chair Furfaro: I just want to say that I make it very clear
because I do necessarily need to hear from Glenn and others that we did not pave, we did
not pave. That is your position and that position is based on the fact that as Nadine
reconstructed everything that you said to us, it is this year that we are going to do a lot of
investment in the road quality, the thickness. Is that a correct statement?
Mr. Dill: Yes.
Chair Furfaro: Okay. Even though I would prefer you continue
to resurface until we have the data because we went a couple of years ago, Ed, you know
this well. We went without repaving. So, as long as we are all clear, that is where our
focus and our attention is going to be. Then I have one (1) more non-associated
announcement that I would like to do real q uick, since you ou announced the fact that we are
going to do Solid Waste starting tomorrow. We have the CIP documents. Are you prepared
to pass it out to the members today, before we end so that everybody has a start for
tomorrow? Thank you very much. Scott, if you can work on that. Thank you, Mr. Rapozo.
Mr. Rapozo: Mr. Bynum.
Mr. Bynum: The one million two hundred thousand dollars
($1,200,000) that is in there is Highway Funds right? It is not General Funds?
Mr. Dill: Correct.
Mr. Bynum: There is no General Fund money going into the
Highway Fund this year.
Mr. Dill: Correct.
Mr. Bynum: Okay, I just wanted to clarify that.
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Mr. Rapozo: Any questions? I apologize, I forget about the
CIP. So, we can try to get through the CIP today, Public Works CIP. That is what the
schedule says, right?
Chair Furfaro: I would suggest with twenty-five (25) minutes
doing this tomorrow.
Mr. Rapozo: That is fine with me.
Chair Furfaro: That would be my recommendation.
Mr. Rapozo: Any other questions for Roads? I have a
question. Lyle, you said — I guess it was Koke`e, the contractor suggested a reconstruction
versus a repaving?
Mr. Tabata: No, no that was Alai Road.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay, and that we went along with the
contractor, which is probably the right thing to do. But what was the difference? I mean, is
there a ratio like in that example, what would it have cost if we just resurfaced versus what
we p aid to reconstruct? Is there a standard or is it a case-by-case?
Mr. Renaud: What would have happened if we just resurfaced,
the cracks would have come back up.
Mr. Rapozo: Oh, no, I understand that. But the costs?
Mr. Tabata: Oh, the cost. We can get that.
•
Mr. Rapozo: Is there like, let us say five hundred thousand
dollars ($500,000) to resurface, but if we reconstruct, is that something we could figure out?
Mr. Renaud: Yes, we can. We have it.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you. I thought I heard you say it was a
little bit more to do the reconstruction, but of course we know it is much wiser to do it that
way because of the long-term maintenance costs. So, if we could just get that.
Mr. Tabata: When Ed came to me with the change, we
discussed it, he showed me savings from other roads already completed and we would cover
the extra costs. It was not that much, really.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay.
Mr. Tabata: Because the specifications already said to do
structural repairs and that just escalated, that was going to be way more.
Mr. Rapozo: I am not disagreeing with that. I think it is the
right way to do it. I think in a lot of our roads getting repaved over and over and you hear
criticism from the community. I remember one time they even said because I live in Wailua
Houselots, my road got paved several times and that is not true. My road is yet to be paved
since I lived in the Wailua Houselots. But it does not need paving, it is perfectly fine. But I
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agree that Kekaha and Waimea, going up past the neighborhood center going up mauka. I
joke around and say after you go up that road, you have to go to the dentist afterwards to
tighten up your teeth. Any more questions for— I say that not to be funny. But that is the
reality of it. Any more questions for Roads? If not, thank you very much. Mr. Chair, I will
turn it over to you for closing comments.
Mr. Rapozo, the presiding officer, returned Chairmanship to Chair Furfaro.
Chair Furfaro: Well, I think we covered a lot of area today and
we will start tomorrow with Solid Waste, okay? Mr. Dill, that works for you? We will try
and organize the more detailed questions that we need going forward. But two (2) items to
clarify today is what you are presenting to us is also a strategy, not just the budget,
especially on this road repaving piece as well as some of the things that we talked about
earlier. Yes?
Mr. Rapozo: I apologize. There was a question that I had
highlighted here and may I?
Chair Furfaro: Yes, go right ahead?
Mr. Rapozo: Two (2) items on page 239 of the budget. Other
services, which was the disposal of abandoned vehicles of three hundred thousand dollars
($300,000) and special projects, which the text is Beautification Projects of one hundred two
thousand six hundred sixty dollars ($102,660). That is not a new item, that has been in
there for the current budget, right? I do not know who to ask.
Chair Furfaro: James is coming up.
Mr. Dill: What page number was that again?
Mr. Rapozo: 239 on the budget. It might by a Solid Waste
question, I apologize. Scott just reminded me. It is probably Solid Waste. But if you can
answer that. I am just curious as to the disposal of abandon vehicles, that would be Solid
Waste?
Mr. Matsushige: Yes.
Mr. Rapozo: So, let me just hold that for tomorrow.
Mr. Matsushige: That is part of our contract with Puhi Recycling.
Mr. Rapozo: I noticed, but the year-to-date expenditure is zero
(0).
Mr. Matsushige: For?
Mr. Rapozo: For the disposal of abandoned vehicles.
Mr. Matsushige: For which year?
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Mr. Rapozo: I am looking at this year's budget. It says
original budget three thousand dollars ($3,000), adjusted budget three thousand dollars
($3,000) year-to-date expenditures.
Mr. Matsushige: Probably that is because it is with a contract. So,
when we write the contract, we encumber the money at once.
Mr. Rapozo: But this is showing that we did not encumber the
funds. In other words,this is saying that we did not spend anything off of that budget line
item.
Mr. Matsushige: Yes, probably—I am not really sure. But you ask
them.
Mr. Rapozo: We will ask them tomorrow.
Mr. Matsushige: But I think when the contract is renewed or
extended another year, they will take their money out and put it into the contract until that
contract expires, we are not going to add money.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay, I will ask them tomorrow. If anybody is
listening, give them a head's up and maybe a Finance question, I do not know. But that is
the two (2) items that I am inquiring, three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) and one
hundred two thousand six hundred sixty dollars ($102,660) for disposal of abandoned
vehicles and the Beautification Project. I am sorry Mr. Chair, thank you.
Chair Furfaro: No problem. To the Mayor, I want to thank you
Mayor for your commitment for the day, your staff I think we had spirited discussions
about items that needed discussing. But for now we are going to recess this meeting until
9:00 tomorrow morning and we are going start with Solid Waste and then CIP. Thank you
for the distribution on the CIP worksheet. Okay, if you could tap the mallet, we are
recessed.
There being no objections, the Committee recessed at 4:12 p.m.
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Department of Public Works (continuation) (lc)
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The departmental budget review reconvened on April 2, 2013, and proceeded as follows:
Department of Public Works Continuation
Honorable Tim Bynum
Honorable Gary L. Hooser
Honorable Ross Kagawa
Honorable Nadine Nakamura
Honorable Mel Rapozo
Honorable JoAnn A. Yukimura
Honorable Jay Furfaro, Council Chair
CHAIR FURFARO: Aloha, and good morning. I would like to take
this third day of the budget reviews, and call us back from recess, and focus on today's two
(2) agenda items, which will be a review of Solid Waste and a presentation on CIP for the
day. Those are the two (2) agenda items for the day. Now, before we start on those items, as
posted for 9:00 a.m., I would like to see if there is any public testimony on these two (2)
items that are intended for the agenda today. Is there anyone in the audience that wishes
to either Solid Waste or Capital Improvement Project (CIP)? Good morning, Mr. Chang.
There being no objections, the rules were suspended to take public testimony.
■
DICKIE CHANG: Good morning, sir.
Chair Furfaro: I saw you on television (TV) last night.
Mr. Chang: I saw you all on TV last night, but you had a
little more air time than I did. Chairman, Vice Chair Nakamura and Members of the
Council for the record, I am Dickie Chang. I want to thank first of all Chair for Public
Works, Mel Rapozo, I just ran into him in the parking lot and he said come on up, now is
the time. So happy to be here and good luck on your budget to yourself and to the
administration of course, and I also want to say to Yvette, thank you very much. I ran into
her a little earlier and just a human interest story and she said it is like déjà vu, I thought
you were here. So did I, I thought I had a lanyard with my key so I could use the restroom,
but I did not have that. Anyway I wanted to take this opportunity, and I am unprepared as
always. I wanted to talk about a CIP Project as many of you folks know I live in the Puali
Subdivision and prior to being a Council member four years ago we had a problem with just
dedicating that subdivision. I do not know what it was, when I got here we tried to rectify
that problem, which I believe it was rectified. I have a letter dated January 31, and also a
response letter back and I think I circulated that with several of the members here, but, for
a long, long time we were trying to get that subdivision dedicated and trying to get it legal
through the County and I believe it finally is. We were working with our Clerk, Ricky
Watanabe and Ian Jung and Mr. Larry Dill. One of the things that we agreed to do is to do
an 1800-foot path from the Puali Subdivision to connect Halelani out to Kaneka Street.
That was an one thousand eight hundred (1,800) foot four foot sidewalk that was going to
link the community, community, community. Now as most of you folks know it is a very,
very dangerous road, the Puhi road is very, very dangerous road. It is very well traffic and
of course that is the home of the industrial area. Now to my understanding it has never
been paved before so we were given the go-ahead, on the third page, and I can get this
circulated too. We are proposing and this is from the administration. We are proposing to
do the design and provide construction management of the project in-house and seek your
favorable funding approval. Should you have any questions contact Wally Kudo, at 241-
04-02-2013
Department of Public Works (continuation) (lc)
Page 2
4891, now this particular project and I can have your staff circulate this, but it is for street
light installations.
If you folks ever have a chance from Kaneka to the end of the road, if you turn off
your lights there is only one light and it is across the street leading into the industrial area.
So that is a concern, not just for safety reasons, but also for security reasons that we've had
some crime across the street, burglary and what have you. But it is the sidewalk along
Puhi Road to Kaneka Street through Haleukana and the street lights and drainage and the
total package was $357... may have an additional three minutes?
Chair Furfaro: It is different from Wala'au, here you are on a
timer. Yes you may have another three minutes.
Mr. Chang: Thank you very much. I am asking us to take a
look at this because I know how important safe routes to school is, Get Fit Kaua`i and this
is a project that is, I believe long, long overdue. If you see the amount of people walking
there, like going to work, it is a very, very like Kauai, it is a very, very active community,
and people walk to work and walk to school. A lot of times when you walk to work you are
walking in the dark and walking to school you are walking with the traffic and believe me,
cars are flying by and it became very apparent with me as anytime you need to shift the
routing throughout Puhi road that road is here, there, and everywhere. If you have a
chance to walk the road it is only going to take us another big rain for it to once again
re-open again and then we do that little patch work action. I did receive and you can follow
up with the staff, while I was on the Council in June of last year, I did get a response back
from the Administration and I was always hoping to get this on the CIP Project but I got
the report back saying that we are going to put that in the Statewide Transportation
Improvement Project (STIP) Project and we hope to complete the sidewalk and the lighting
by 2018. All my indications is that the rail system in Honolulu will be done by 2017, so it is
one thousand eight hundred (1,800) feet for the community and as I mentioned it is a very
active community.
At one time I did have a database as to how many kids were actually walking to and
from school, how many people was actually going shopping and what have you. I can tell
you because we are a newer and more lighted subdivision in the subdivision itself, we
receive a lot of kids from Halelani or the older part of Puhi during Halloween, and their
walking on the dark road just to get into that subdivision. I am just asking you folks to
please take a look at that because I think to no fault of the association and to the
community there were things that happened for whatever reason that it was never able to
get deeded or dedicated and consequently lawfully taken cared of awhile back through Ian
Jung. I do want to thank Ian, Larry Dill and also Ricky Watanabe for help in guiding
through this process. I do not believe it is in the CIP it could be, but I do not believe it is. So
I am just asking you folks to consider doing that for the community and doing that in what
we all call in the realm of Get Fit Kaua`i and safe streets. Myself personally I do not think I
can wait until 2018 and I do bike it and I do walk it very frequently, any questions?
Chair Furfaro: Dickie let me ask you, can we have copies of the
correspondence that you have because I remember calling Wally Kudo on this item and he
lead me to believe that is was going to be a decision made by the administration and since it
III
is our first day to be looking at the CIP, when we go on to make reference to the those
sidewalks we would like to have that.
Mr. Chang: Thank you Chair and you can get this from the
staff and by the way there is also an illustrated map here as to where the lights are going to
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be, where the mitigation as far as the drainage is going to be and how the sidewalk will
connect Puali to Halelani, to Kaneka and from Kaneka as we all know you take a right turn
and we are at Chiefess Kamakahelei. If I can while we are on that subject since I can
ramble. One of the things I was passionate about was trying to get that sidewalk that I
tried for a long time from Kaua`i Community Federal Credit Union (KCFCU), from Costco
and that area by Home Depot, there was no crosswalk to link that road to Kukui Grove
Shopping Center. Many kids go to Fun Factory but on Mondays you will see a lot of seniors
with their bags trying to get to the Farmers Market there on Mondays so while we are on
that subject, I do not know who's responsibility that is, I do not know if that was included
with the deal with Safeway when they open up if they will be responsible. I have been
getting several different responses and my last request would be something that I believe is
very simple.
I have been going to functions as we all have at the War Memorial Convention Hall
and a lot of these are Hula Halau's that are doing fundraising and the more and more when
I ,go to the fundraising efforts, seventy if not eighty percent of the audience are visitors.
They want to see the culture, they want to see the experience and get involved with the
history and the hula and many of these visitors are the ones that are funding these very,
very well deserved Hula Halau's. Baby Luau's and everything else if it is possible I think
some signage just to let people know where the War Memorial Convention Hall is. When
you say oh the War Memorial Convention Hall, It is hard to describe that especially to the
seniors or people coming from off Island. If they do not have a GPS or what have you it is
hard to say come on down Rice Street and take the left turn across the Fire Station and
nobody knows the roads of Hardy or what have you so, I do not know if there's a way to do
this on the main road or do this on Rice Street but I think some sort of a signage. It is a
Historic landmark and it is a very important place for not just our community but our
neighbor Island visitors and more importantly the visitors that come here to support our
arts. So if we can just take a look at some signage as far as that very important building
that is so helpful to the community members here in fund raising efforts.
Chair Furfaro: Thank you Mr. Chang. We have questions for you
from Mr. Bynum.
Mr. Chang: Thank you.
TIM BYNUM: Hi Dickie, nice to see you again.
Mr. Chang: Great to see you.
Mr. Bynum: I was tracking this last year and I thought it was
a done deal and it was going to be done in-house and now you are saying it got re-
programmed to try and put it under the STIP and...
Mr. Chang: That was my understanding, I thought we were
ready set go and I wasn't trying to push and I just felt verbally we were going to move on
and I did have several discussions. There is a letter that was dated back to me that your
staff can find and I believe it was June of last year saying that we have decided to move it
in the STIP project to get additional funding's, but like I said the completion date on that
would be in or around 2018. At that point I was a little shock or a little disappointed
knowing that this multi gazillion rail system is going to be done before we get this sidewalk
on Puhi Road. I just thought it was important to speak up.
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Mr. Bynum: I think that is a really high valued area for a safe
route to school because you have the industrial road with the trucks and you already have
sidewalks on Kaneka that connects to Chiefess and there are tons of kids and families at
Halelani, so I thought this was going to happen. And my first question would be about
whether programming it in STIP, STIPS been for repaving and not for putting in new
facilities like pedestrian facilities so I'd like to see it move forward.
Mr. Chang: Correct and I might be mistaken but I do believe
from the main highway Shell Service Station — Kaua`i Community College, all the way out
to Kaneka would be paved, but from Kaneka to the bypass road that is going to be a part of
the STIP Program. My understanding is STIP is basically to help with the roads and not
the sidewalks along the side of the road. If you take a drive by there is a lot of room for a
sidewalk and connectivity. As a matter of fact it was a while back that I was out there with
Lyle and Larry and Wally and Paul Togioka and Ed Renaud, there was a whole bunch of us
that went out there to go look and do a little field study and I got the response back
immediately, I got it back immediately from Public Works so I want to thank them. I
thought it was ready-set-go but there were some legalities that we had to take care of and I
was told way-back-when we were ready-set-go as far as legal terms were concerned and I
know a lot of you help me get through that process also. As I mentioned I wished I was a
little more prepared but I want to thank Councilmember Rapozo he saw me in the parking
lot and I said what is going on and he said get up there right now and I am happy that I did
just to share the voice on behalf on the community and that area itself.
Chair Furfaro: We have other questions for you so if you could
hold on and as you expand the narrative I just need to remind you that we are at a point
here where we ask the questions.
Mr. Chang: Yes I understand.
Chair Furfaro: I know you do.
Mr. Chang: I understand the rules.
Chair Furfaro: JoAnn you had a question?
Ms. Yukimura: Yes I want to say to that Puhi because of its
density you really get a lot of value that as it serves a lot of people every foot of sidewalk
and so forth, so I just want to thank you for bringing it up because I think it is a good smart
growth project. I wish there had been more thought in the design of how all the different
subdivisions connect to each other but now we are doing retro-fit and I think it is a worthy
project so thank you.
Mr. Chang: Thank you.
Chair Furfaro: Mr. Rapozo and then Nadine.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you Mr. Chair. Dickie when was the Puali
Subdivision completed?
Mr. Chang: I believe that November would be seven (7) years
and if you remember it was a seven (7) year buy back clause and I was blessed to be one of
the original owners so November of this year would be 7 years.
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Mr. Rapozo: So seven (7) years it was completed and people
were able to move in or purchase?
Mr. Chang: Yes.
Mr. Rapozo: And when was the dedication?
Mr. Chang: That was the problem...the dedication...
Mr. Rapozo: You said that it was finally dedicated and I think
you said the dedication was finally legal in the last year.
Mr. Chang: Yes within the last year and again people have
tried prior to myself becoming a Councilmember, but when you see the letters and this one
was dated January 31st of 2011 and we are writing a letter to Susan Brinks, then the
President of the Association and say you know it is kind of like in the hip-hip hooray we
sent it off and everything's looking good, we are going to move forward and get it done. So,
personally it was a little embarrassing for myself when everyone would say what is up,
what is up, I am the Council guy driving through the end of the road and I have to kind of
duck down because I told them stuff and I did not get it done.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay so it was your understanding that it was
going to be on the CIP and as far as you know right now it is been moved to the STIP so we
are looking at a five year projection to complete this thing.
Mr. Chang: And to be accurate that is my understanding
however I would ask you folks to look at the correspondence and I believe that
correspondence was in June of 2012.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay thank you very much.
Chair Furfaro: Okay Nadine.
NADINE NAKAMURA: Thank you Mr. Chang for being here.
Mr. Chang: Thank you.
Ms. Nakamura: I have a couple of questions about the
crosswalks. The first one you said is between Home Depot and Kukui Grove?
Mr. Chang: Yes.
Ms. Nakamura: What was the second one? You talked about
Safeway as well.
Mr. Chang: Well this is, when KCFCU opened up the lead
certified West KCFCU there location, the first thing that was approached to me during the
dedication was a lot of people do their banking than they go at that time Big Save or Star I
beg your pardon. There was a lot of activity going around and I pass that area quite a bit
and you see that is why they put those plastic so you do not cross. You have such a busy,
busy area between Costco, Home Depot, KCFCU, Chiefess Kamakahelei School gets out
people cross the street and go to Fun Factory, meet their parents or do whatever they do to
kill time at Kukui Grove and you will see people running across the street because guys
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aren't driving slow. I see seniors and I can tell it is a Monday because a lot of people are
carrying their recyclable bags to and from so that would be that area.
Ms. Nakamura: Thank you.
Mr. Chang: You are welcome.
Mr. Furfaro: Mr. Hooser, then JoAnn.
GARY HOOSER: Good morning.
Mr. Chang: Good morning.
Mr. Hooser: Thank you for bringing this up, I know other
members from the Community had asked me about this issue and I was interested for this
discussion today and to be the first guy at the table is really good. It is an important project
and again there aren't a lot of things that people come and really ask for in some respect
and this is of them. Did you have an idea and you may have mentioned it already but the
cost?
Mr. Chang: Yes, three hundred fifty seven thousand
($357,000).
Mr. Hooser: That is for construction?
Mr. Chang: I believe Mr. Dill can clarify this but it is the
total cost. Three hundred fifty seven thousand two hundred dollars that would be done in
house.
Mr. Hooser: For the sidewalks as well as the paving?
Mr. Chang; Yes.
Mr. Hooser: Because there are two elements to the
improvements right? The paving of the road or the re-paving?
Mr. Chang: Well not the paving in the road. This is
specifically a four foot wide sidewalk going eighteen hundred feet connecting Puali,
Halelani, and Kaneka.
Mr. Hooser: Okay so it is a sidewalk?
Mr. Chang: Correct but we also do have a lighting situation
there for security purposes. The Association requested a light in front when your turning
into the subdivision there is no light and also there are four lights that will be across the
street on the industrial side because there is no lighting within that area.
Mr. Hooser: So it is your understanding that the original idea
was to do it in-house?
Mr. Chang: Yes.
Mr. Hooser: Not just the planning but to actually do the
project in-house.
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Mr. Chang: The...
Mr. Hooser: It seems like a relatively small amount of money.
Mr. Chang: And the wording goes again. We are proposing to
do the design and provide construction management of the project in-house. We seek your
favorable funding, should you have any questions, please contact Wally Kudo. And this was
sent to me on March 20, 2011, but I do believe there are other correspondence in regards to
this and the STIP that the staff can get to you.
Mr. Hooser: Okay thank you, thank you very much.
Chair Furfaro: Any more questions? JoAnn do you have
questions?
Ms. Yukimura: Yes I believe when you were on the Council,
either between you and I we requested the crosswalk by the present times.
Mr. Chang: Yes and the staff can give you the
correspondence because I think I have requested...
Mr. Yukimura: But that hasn't yet been done?
Mr. Chang: Yes and my understanding and I may be wrong
was that it might have been part of the Safeway responsibility and I couldn't figure that out
because Safeway would be across Chiefess Kamakahele versus I do not know what the
name of that road is... Nuhou Road or what have you. So that was something that came on
the radar screen as soon as KCFCU opened up and that was something that I was right on
it at that time.
Ms. Yukimura: Right.
Mr. Chang: I can tell you when you folks do drive through
there, you know how busy Costco, Home Depot and that area is and of especially to get
across the street to shop or what have you.
Ms. Yukimura: Okay so I will look into the history of it and see
where we are on it. Thank you for raising it again.
Mr. Furfaro: Anymore questions for the speaker? Dickie I
would like to make sure you leave your correspondence with us although you indicated we
have that I want to make sure we have it all. So if you could do that.
Mr. Chang: I think there may be about two more documents
that you need to follow-up on.
Mr. Furfaro: Okay. Thank you very much.
Mr. Chang: Thank you and it is great to see all of you, good
luck in this process. Thank you.
Mr. Furfaro: Thank you very much. Is there anyone else in the
public that wishes to testify on CIP or Solid Waste?Yes go right ahead.
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ROSS KAGAWA: Just one comment and I think one of the ways
that we can handle this situation... well two situations is we can put it in my committee
and I would be more than happy to try and work on the crosswalk across from Times and
we can also have some detailed discussion with Mr. Kudo to see how we can make it a
reality.
Mr. Furfaro: Well that sounds like the right approach so when
you are ready we will put it in your committee. Thank you, on that note I have another one
of those days where I will be in and out but I would like to start with Solid Waste if we can
today. Before we go into that I would like to see who's going to speak on behalf of solid
waste because I have some follow-up correspondence that I have been working on and I
would like to get some clarity on it. So Allison, Larry, and first of all Larry let me let you
know that I has written to the Solid Waste Consultant to talk about the workshop we had
planned. They did respond to me and the only thing I could find on our engineering detail
system wide on the monies was AECOM's service fees identifying one million eight hundred
forty eight thousand, five hundred and seven thousand dollars. That is not the entire
amount we contracted to them is it?
TROY TANIGAWA, ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES MANAGER: I would say
Chair that that amount is pretty close to what I recall also.
Chair Furfaro: Okay and when you say pretty close, would you
know because I do not have access to the contents of the contract right now, I was a little
delinquent in trying to get it sent over. Is there a contingency in there proposal like five
percent or something of that nature that is not detailed but is rather put on to their
contract as a contingency?
Mr. Tanigawa: No there is no contingency; every dollar in that
contract is allocated to specific tasks. I can get that number for you in a few minutes.
Chair Furfaro: I would like it and I am a little surprised it is a
project released and we do not have a contingency at even five percent or something or in
detailed to the penny.
LARRY DILL P.E., COUNTY ENGINEER: For the record Larry Dill, County
Engineer. In our consultant professional services contracts, every task is laid out and dollar
amount is signed and there's no contingency. We typically have a contingency is our budget
to take care of change of contract, amendments or unforeseen items but in the proposals on
the contracts there are no contingency line items.
Mr. Furfaro: So that is something I know you and I in the
private world are not used to. There is usually a five percent contingency for something
that might occur as a very basic change order.
Mr. Dill: Well we do keep when we do our budgeting and
request to our Council appropriation, we include a contingency amount so the appropriator
amount is more than the contracted amount. But for the consultant it is difficult for them to
anticipate unforeseen change orders and then price those out so we just price out the actual
task we contract for.
Chair Furfaro: I just want to let you know and that is the corner
of my note here is the contingency for the workshop. They had responded to me indicating
that they recognize the resource recovery program as being a very important one to us and
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they would be happy to serve the Council in our workshop and that we are entitled to two
sessions with them. The first one we had on January 30th and then the contract specifies a
return visit when we had the draft of the Environmental Impact Study (EIS), but then it
goes on to say between themselves and their sub-contractor our (inaudible) they feel that it
is necessary that even their subs attend the planned workshop and without them we might
not be able to get all the technical portions or questions answered. So they strongly suggest
their available and they also do not think that the workshop will not have any impact on
the existing project schedule dates. The total Larry they are asking me for eleven grand to
attend the workshop.
Mr. Tanigawa: I believe so.
Chair Furfaro: Eleven on a one point eight million dollar
contract, they want to charge the client and additional eleven thousand dollars.
Mr. Dill: I believe its ninety two hundred Chair.
Chair Furfaro: No and then Towill coming over from Honolulu is
another grand on the next page.
Mr. Dill: Yes and that is included from the first page.
Chair Furfaro: Your microphone.
Mr. Dill: Oh sorry. The Towill amount on the second page
is included on the first page and the second page is back up so that should break up that
cost. You can see (RMTC) workshop participation under other direct cost, sub-contracts.
Chair Furfaro: Got it, but it is really interesting, even if I work
this for the Kaua`i workshop even to have them come over for conference to go on a
conference call they want four thousand seven hundred dollars.
Mr. Dill: Four thousand seven hundred I understand
would help take care of getting R.M. Towill and AECOM from their Honolulu office over
here.
Ms. Yukimura: Excuse me.
Chair Furfaro: JoAnn I know your excited about this but let me
ask the questions.
Mr. Dill: This is the reality that it cost to this this sort of
nosiness.
Chair Furfaro: Let me ask you this.
Ms. Yukimura: You got the wrong consultant.
Chair Furfaro: Please JoAnn let me go through the questions,
and even doing that am I reading that even for the day that if they are available by
conference call there going to charge us a seventy five dollar per diem... is that for box
lunches for the staff?
Mr. Dill: If it is by conference call Chair I would have to
review this to see, because this is for them to be present over here. I would have to confirm
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that but I believe the per diem would not be charged if they were just here by conference
call. That would make sense.
Mr. Chair: Well I am reading their detail to their contracted
services and so if you have corrected me I did not have to add page 2 to page 1. They do
want nine thousand two hundred thirteen dollars. I will take them to Hamura's and buy
them lunch I mean I have never seen a consultant go through that kind of detail to us a
client. I do not believe the information that I gathered covers all of the particulars, but if I
further interpret this than let me ask you if we stay with the date for the workshop and the
contract says we are entitled to these two visits, the Council still makes the request to have
them attend, and the way we would address this would be to say. Pleas plan to come over
this is an important item and we are entitled by contract to two visits, but we would than
rethink their second trip as it is directed to the Draft EIS. I mean we are not going to make
this decision today but I think in the whole County we need to start thing we are the client,
we are the client and these guys do not find clients like us to nickel and dime us through
this thing. There is no contingency in their 1.8 million dollar bid. They are going to come
over twice but if we expect a workshop so we can get good information, its nine grand. I just
wanted to say that and I do not want to pursue any questions about it right now but it is
really sticky for me to be thinking to have these guys come over and give us extremely good
information about their progress and their professional recommendations, it is a huge
charge of nine thousand bucks. Now granted one of the guys is coming from Canada but we
do have some things to consider here Larry. I do not want to change the workshop or
anything like this but this is the best way for me to share the information in solid waste
with the Council and I am having a hard time understanding this as the client. So let's
leave that for future discussion and I will circulate the response. JoAnn cannot we just
leave it for future discussion?You will have the correspondence.
Ms. Yukimura: Well Chair, I am concerned that this workshop
will be arranged without the input and I believe it was my questions that...
Chair Furfaro: It was your questions JoAnn and I want to say to
you that I want to circulate all the information to you before we get into this discussion. I
just trying to make you aware of how disappointed I am and I wrote the letter because I
know you wanted the workshop and I supported it.
Ms. Yukimura: And I share your disappointment.
Chair Furfaro: This is not acceptable.
Ms. Yukimura: I share your disappointment I do, I just want to
say that the first workshop shouldn't even be paid for, I mean the first appearance was
pretty much useless as far as I was concerned. They did not present their feasibility study
and they just presented a list of general things that they're going to do. They weren't able to
answer questions so I do not think you should even count it as the first appearance.
Chair Furfaro: Do not respond to that you heard her opinion
okay. This has to be further discussed with the group and I honor JoAnn's questions but I
do not want to go into that discussion until I have shared this with all the members. Our
decision is not made by a single Councilmember but by the body and I haven't even shared
this with everyone yet. I think JoAnn's point, my point, it is almost unacceptable Larry. If
they value there first visit as being a ten thousand dollar visit, I wonder if we are even
getting the value that we should expect.
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Ms. Yukimura: Chair will we have another discussion on this?
Chair Furfaro: Yes we will JoAnn. JoAnn we will have another
discussion, I will circulate this. Can you find Aida for me?
Mr. Rapozo: Mr. Chair, aren't they here tomorrow? They are
here tomorrow right?
Mr. Chair: Yes it is either tomorrow or next week.
Mr. Rapozo: No I think it is tomorrow.
Mr. Dill: AECOM is here tomorrow, but not their resource
recovery consultants but the Honolulu...
ROSS KAGAWA: I have a question?
Chair Furfaro: Yes.
Mr. Kagawa: Can the staff check if tomorrow's agenda item is
appropriate for us to talk about all of these things?
Chair Furfaro: Yes it will be very appropriate. It is tomorrow in
Committee.
Mr. Kagawa: Thank you.
Mr. Dill: Okay if I may tomorrow's agenda item is about
the Kekaha Landfill expansion, not about the results recovery part.
Chair Furfaro: But it would be appropriate if it is on the agenda
because we will be discussing the landfill, to have further dialog of the issue. I just wanted
to convey to all the members the responses I got and the huge disappointment we have for
the cost and we will be pursuing it separately. JoAnn I wouldn't let something like this go
to sleep under the table okay. Aida will you please distribute this particular piece to all the
members. So, Larry I think you heard from us with this concern. Do you have a
presentation for us this morning?
Mr. Dill: Yes we do. So this morning Council Chair the
presentation for the budget for the Solid Waste Division Head Troy and we also have asked
Allison also as our Recycling Coordinator to give us a short presentation of what we are
doing to expedite waste diversion for the County. So I will turn it over to Troy.
TROY TANIGAWA, PUBLIC WORKS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
MANAGEMENT ENGINEER: Thank you Larry. Good morning
Councilmembers. I wanted to cover a few things before we get into the detailed questions in
the budget and my intro will also include a brief summary of what we do for the benefit of
the new Councilmembers this morning, so I'll get right into it. The Division of Solid Waste
Management is an agency with several areas of responsibility for managing solid waste
generated on Kauai. Our filed operations include four Refuse Transfer Stations, One RCRA
Subtitle "D" Landfill and the division also currently manages the annual budget for
curbside refuse collection and we are managing the transition to the automated refuse
collection system. Our other operations include, residential recycling and waste diversion
programs. We have standalone programs and we also have programs that you'll find at our
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disposable facilities for convenience for residents. We also manage these service contracts
because many of them rely on services of professionals of private contractors so to get those
contracts out we manage the procurements, the bid documents and once the contracts are
let the administration of those contracts. We also do promotions, public awareness and a
technical assistance program to assist not only residents, but some businesses is getting
these diversion programs started in their agencies.
Some of the highlights of these programs include Green Waste Diversion Programs,
Where we've seen significant increases in the past year due to and this is increases in the
incoming volume of green waste due to the recent passage of the no burn rule. Now
residents cannot when they generate green waste on their property they cannot burn it
according to this rule so they need to take it somewhere and they bring it to us. We also
have residential diversion programs at the transfer stations like I mentioned earlier. These
include white goods diversion, scrap metal, propane tank disposal and scrap tires. Again
these are residential programs. We also have the standalone programs including eight
residential recycling drop sites under the Kaua`i Recycles Program that Allison heads up, it
is that section that manages all these Kaua`i Recycles Programs and all these diversion
programs at the transfer stations. Also the Hi-Five programs with the implementation of
the bottle deposit law several years ago. We have two weekly Hi-Five beverage container
redemption events at two locations, Koloa has two days that they operate and Kekaha by
the old Kekaha Mill is also two days. The new electronic recycling program has also been a
new contract for both residents and businesses this operation is projected to open up
sometime early summer at the Kaua`i Resource Center. We will have more information on
that when that is ready to go. These operations make up approximately half of the divisions
annual operating budget request. We also as part of the division, we have the residential
refuse collection assessment and everyone knows that covers residential use of the transfer
stations as well as our curbside collection. An additional component of our billing system is
our billing s for our business refuse collection program. We also have special projects we
work on and develop our infrastructure through CIP Projects which we are going to be
discussing a little later on today. Also as I mentioned earlier we manage the transition to
the automated collection program contracting for carts and the repair shop helps us develop
specifications for the trucks. We manage and plan the cart distributions island wide so it is
a pretty big undertaking once that occurs. We have some current measures that I would
like to also mention to the Council this morning is performance measures for our solid
waste program. We have the compaction rate results on a daily basis at the landfill that we
use to make sure we are maximizing our airspace at that facility. We also keep track of the
diversion rate in terms of materials diverted from the landfill.
We have regular inspections at our transfer stations and these facilities are heavily
used by the public and by our own refuse collections operations they have managed tons of
waste on a daily basis. It is a seven day week operation and so we pay attention to those
operations to make sure they are conducted properly abided by our Department of Health
permits and make sure they are open on a regular basis to be a reliable area for the public
to use to dispose of their waste. I also wanted to mention that this year's proposed budget
reflects some significant changes that I would like to highlight prior to getting into the
detailed questions. The highlights are as follows: We have new increases line items for fuel
and repair and maintenance of our facilities and our heavy equipment. Per the Council
recommendations I believe it was during the last budget session that waste diversion
programs that were in the disposal portion of the budget be transferred to the recycling
portion of the budget so that was done this year. Funding of individual line items in the
past it reflected what we estimated as annual cost and this year to help balance the budget
we funded these programs in less than 12 months, many of them just into the next fiscal
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year, fiscal year 2015. Our request is for where 2015 funds will be available to continue
those programs. I wanted to make note that this is a temporary measure to get some relief
from cost for these programs but it is very important that next fiscal year that full annual
funding be appropriated to make sure we avoid any lapse in these important programs. Our
program promotions...
Ms. Yukimura: Excuse me, can you please just repeat what you
said. I think it was really important and I did not quite understand.
Mr. Tanigawa: Okay, I mentioned that to help balance the
budget we did not fund programs like we normally do. Normally we fund a twelve month
period for all of our programs so when we renew contracts we renew it for a full year. This
year in order to cut costs we funded it only enough to allow the programs or contracts to
continue on into fiscal year 2015. So like for contracts that normally expire in March for
May or for some time during the fiscal year. We would fund a full year's term so that it
would expire the next full year after that extension but to cut cost we are only funding it for
a few months into the next fiscal year when fiscal year 2015 funds become available to
continue those contracts are the ones we mentioned earlier for green waste, scrap medal
and white goods, scrap tires and propane tanks. Those programs have really help cut the
illegal dumping around the island and we need to see them continue.
Chair Furfaro: Well we do too so I would expect you are going to
give us a list of those contracts that are expiring, the date their expiring and some kind of
recognition of the urgency to renegotiate those that benefit us. So I will be sending that
over a as a question to provide us that contract action list.
Mr. Tanigawa: Okay and just to reinforce that we reviewed that
information carefully when we prepared the budget so these programs have enough funding
to last at least until fiscal year 2015. As I mentioned very important that this year's action
to do that is a temporary measure and the fiscal year 2015 budget, you'll see the full years
allocation for estimated for those programs.
Chair Furfaro: Okay Mr. Bynum has a follow up question and it
is a follow up question.
Mr. Tanigawa: Okay.
TIM BYNUM: So your just (inaudible) the remainder of the
fiscal year and all these contracts than will be on the fiscal years basis all wound up at the
same time.
Mr. Tanigawa: - Just a little more than the remainder of the fiscal
year, into the fiscal year 2015 so we do not have any lapse.
Mr. Bynum: Right so there's... okay I understand. Thank you.
Mr. Tanigawa: And the last item I wanted to cover is some of
our popular programs have been initially cut, so we are looking at hopefully dollar funding
those programs to include the used cooking oil, recycling grants and catalog choice are just
to name a few of them that aren't regulatory which is why they did not make the priority
list. They are programs that have become popular and used regularly by residents and it
also helps our diversion efforts in keeping what we can out of the landfill.
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Chair Furfaro: Did you expand your list to include those that
you referred to as a mandated contract?
Mr. Tanigawa: Yes.
Chair Furfaro: Please.
Mr. Tanigawa: Okay that is all I have and we are available to
answer questions.
Chair Furfaro: Okay, Allison would you like to add anything
please?
ALLISON FRALEY, SOLID WASTE PROGRAM COORDINATOR: Aloha
Council, for the record Allison Fraley, Solid Waste Program Coordinator. I wanted to also
follow up on what Troy said about budget and in an effort to balance the budget we did
have to make a significant cut to the education budget for recycling this fiscal year. What
we plan to do is utilize at no cost efforts to continue to educate the public at low to no cost I
should say. We have our recycling guide that highlights all of our programs at very minimal
cost for printing and we make sure to distribute that at all of the redemption centers at our
recycling locations and at community events. We are going to be doing public speaking for
community events, we are at the County Fair and we are going to be using social
networking and our website to continue those efforts to educate the public. I wanted to take
this opportunity to do a presentation because waste diversion is a priority for our division,
to talk about the efforts we are taking to expedite waste diversion. I do actually have a
power point presentation if we could get that going.
Chair Furfaro: Allison may I ask you to include in the list I am
asking Troy for could you include those educational programs that will be expiring and not
reflecting funding at this point so we can see everything on one list.
Ms. Fraley: Yes those cost programs are basically radio ads
and print ads, but we can put that in there.
Chair Furfaro: But I do want it on the list.
Ms. Fraley: Certainly thank you.
Chair Furfaro: Thank you.
Ms. Fraley: Alright Council we've been over this before but
we do have a little bit of new information that we can share with you about our efforts to
expedite waste diversion. As Troy mentioned we do track the diversion rate also known as
the recycling rate every year and in the last five years we have a graph for you as it has
continued to increase. The main reasons for the increase have been an increase in green
waste diversion as we've seen a lot of public participation in that program and that is by far
for County programs the largest amount of diversion that we see as well as some
contributions from the private sector. Here we actually have the diversion rate for 2012
broken down for you, as you can see its overall by about 40 percent. We have broken it
down at the top programs that we manage and as I said green waste is by far the largest
chunk of that but all of the other programs that we manage that contribute to that tonnage
are listed here for you. Our residential recycling programs, our scrap medal programs, back
yard composting. We also include in that a very low cost efforts and etc... and we also have
the private sector programs which as you can see are a really large portion of our overall
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diversion rate. In contributing to that a lot of the Hi-Five redemption centers are privately
run and we have commercial recycling efforts by all the private agencies. Commercial
backhaul is what happens when a large box store actually ships their cardboard back to the
Mainland instead of running it through programs so that does count for part of the
diversion. We conduct surveys of these stores to estimate those quantities. We have a big
contribution by asphalt concrete a concrete asphalt recycler on island as well as the
commercial green waste activities and a little bit of food waste diversion too. So here we
have the total the 40 percent diversion.
We wanted to p
the over g o th potentials for the increases and in this chart it doesn't
include all of our existing programs as well as all the potential programs, but these are the
lowest hanging fruits for us. The left column there is what we are currently doing as far as
diversion for each of these different programs and what we've estimated on the right
column is what is possible when we develop new programs and those programs mature. At
this point we are calculating maturity timeline at about 5 years for each of the programs
that I am going to go over in the next slides. This maybe a slide that we would want to come
back to as we go through the presentation so I would be happy to do that. So we've talked
about it before about our ordinances...yes?
Mr. Bynum: Did you skip a slide?
Ms. Fraley: Oh did I? Oh hello, Okay the Materials Recovery
Facility (MRF) excuse me. The MRF is critical to us developing a strong residential
recycling program. A materials recovery facility is a facility that sorts a mix stream of
recyclables and allows us to do a curbside recycling program. We've been working hard to
site a fast track MRF so we can get this program running as soon as possible within 3-4
years. At this point site selection is something that has been a challenge for us and we've
looked at many different sites and came close to different sites but now we are looking at a
site that is by far in the way the best site because it is located next to our current Kaua`i
Resource Center which also does a lot of diversion activities. So we are looking at the
former papaya disinfestation facility and right now we've drafted an interim memorandum
of agreement so we could move forward with our conceptual design and environment
assessment activities. We are working with the land owner to get approval to use the site
and hopefully can have a long term low cost lease or a transfer of that property to the
County through executive order.
Our next steps actually a current step that we are taking as we have gone out for
professional service solicitation for the conceptual design and environmental assessment of
the MRF and we are using this fiscal year's funds as we have some monies allocated for
that. You will see in our CIP request that next fiscal year we have a request to do an
engineering design a more formal design as well as the specifications for the actual
equipment that would be used at the site and that is the funding for next fiscal year. In
2015 would be the actual construction funding through CIP and the installation of that
equipment. The final step to this process would be of course to complete the construction
and then to contract for private operations of the facility. Another measure is to put
ordinances in place requiring commercial recycling and we are seeing some huge success
with our current ordinance where we restrict cardboard, medal and green waste from the
landfill. We have not even implemented fines but seen some major compliance by both
generators and haulers with very few mistakes at the landfill on an annual basis, so we
know that this works. So the top bullet is a new addition to that which would be to restrict
concrete asphalt and pallets as soon as we have permitted facilities to take those materials
in. The next two bullets are our ordinances that we have been drafting and will be sending
over to the Attorney's this week so they can do their first review. So just briefly to explain
04-02-2013
Department of Public Works (continuation) (lc)
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the business recycling ordinance what we would do is require businesses that generate
certain amount of trash each month to develop and maintain programs to divert specified
materials where there are programs available. Right now we are talking about card board,
mix paper, scrap medal, green waste, glass and Hi-Five containers. For the construction
demolition ordinance this would be any project of a hundred thousand dollars and above
that is seeking a building permit would be required to develop plans and provide us with
reports on mandatory diversion of card board, scrap medal, green waste, concrete and
asphalt and also to look at salvage and re-use.
The timing on these ordinances is we plan to present them to Council but first we
have to go out to stakeholders and make sure this is something they are buying into and we
know they can participate in and then bring a complete ordinance to Council within the
next few months. We would continue to work with the stakeholders after the ordinances
were passed so that we could set all these businesses up for success. The ordinances we
plan to go into effect at the end of the next fiscal year. Although we do have a lot of work to
do to get these ordinances off the ground before that we plan to use in-house staff to take
those steps but next fiscal year there would be a budget request for a Compliance Officer to
monitor these programs and continue to assist businesses. Automated collection as Troy
mentioned we are managing that program and we need to complete it. We are half way
there as half the island is automated and in order to have a successful "pay as you throw"
program. To reduce our cost for collection we will be completing automated. So these are
the steps in finalizing union negotiations to make the purchase of the trucks and carts and
because of that we would be able to in future fiscal years initiate our curbside and green
waste collection program so that we have a 3 cart system at the curb. That also requires
continued union negotiations and more purchases. We had made a presentation back in
September on "pay as you throw" and just briefly to cover it "pay as you throw" is an
incentive program, it is an economic incentive for the customer to reduce their waste. It is
variable rates for trash cans, the more trash cans the more trash you produce the more
trash you pay and the more you participate in diversion programs, the more you save.
The first phase of"pay as you throw" would be at the point of full automation and at
that point we would be adding a 64 gallon cart option. At this point automated customers
have a 96 gallon cart and so this would allow people to actually and we'll be talking about
when we go for the ordinance, we'll be talking about the actual rates but at this point we
are thinking that people can continue to pay the same rate that they are now if they use a
smaller trash can. If they want to use a bigger trash can they're going to pay more and we
will be discussing that through the Legislative process. That is phase one, that is when
people are participating in our existing drop off programs. Phase two is when we kick in our
curb-side diversion programs when we have the 3 can system and at that point there would
be 3 different size options for garbage we would add that 32 gallon option and hopefully pay
the exact same rate that we are paying now. If you want to continue to reduce your rate you
can have the smallest can available if you produce more trash you can pay more. There is a
third option not listed which would be to Phase 3 when we continue to adjust rates once
people are used to participating in these diversion programs. A "pay as you throw" doesn't
just show an increase in recycling which could be up to fifty percent more recycling. It also
incentivizes people to source reduce and reuse and to make these choices when they're at
the store and to participate in second hand clothing stores and things like that.
We've discussed that center for hard to recycle materials and the reason we have it
( here it is not a big diversion element; however, it allows us to manage these potentially
toxic materials that could have significant environmental impacts. We have seen in our
landfill meetings that this is a major concern of the public and of us as well so this is an
I's
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interval part of our diversion program. A CHARM would manage household hazardous
waste, electronics and also some difficult to recycle materials like mattresses and books and
things like that that we just do not have programs for. We do want to target conditionally
exempt small quantity generators and these are small businesses who aren't regulated by
the State but still produce enough waste that it really needs to be managed, so that is a
goal. At this point we are ramping into having more programs. This fiscal year we have
more programs 2013, we are doubling our household hazardous waste diversion so twice a
year events instead of once a year. As Troy mentioned we have already contracted for the
Kaua`i Resource Center to have an electronics recycling program and that is at once a
month, actually two events every month. We are very proud of that and want to continue in
that direction.
This is the final piece of the pie and this is something kind of down the line because
we do need to have permitted composting facilities to support this but food waste diversion
is a big opportunity for us in the future. We are talking and we can go back to that initial
site about 12 thousand tons a year which is about 10 percent diversion is associated with
food waste. There's the commercial recycling where things that are generated at
restaurants and at stores can be participating in this program and what is key to that is to
develop an efficient collection system. As an integrated solid waste management plan
mentions there may be some grants or public funding that needs to be put towards that to
make this work. We also would need to support the establishment of these permanent
composting facilitates first and foremost. Right now there is a composting facility that is
permanent and that is heart,and soul on the North Shore, they have a small space on their
property where their doing that and the permit is limited at this time so we need to support
that. Finally, food waste could be part of our curbside program but there would need to be a
major education and outreach effort to make that successful especially with our worm
environment but it can be done. Finally we have a timeline for you and here is the timeline
to the left is project start so for the bands we are talking about and the ordinances this
means drafting these ordinances and getting them through. The start of the other programs
like the MRF and the refuse collection means funding... funding those carts, funding that
equipment. To the right are the end dates and that is when the program kicks when we are
implementing that program. We wanted the Council to keep in mind that there's a five year
timeline after that where these programs come to maturity. These are things we are
working on, things,that can be done to really get us actually to the 70 percent goal so I want
to go back to the first slide to remind you of where we are at now and where we can go. If
you look at those maturity tonnages we are talking about 68 percent diversion but that
would be at a five year maturity point.
Chair Furfaro: Just for some clarity before we go around and
Troy your presentation is finish right?
Mr. Tanigawa: Yes.
Chair Furfaro: Okay. First of all Allison excellent layout for us
thank you very much, excellent. I just want to get some clarity though on the infestation
plane. Am I understanding this is the short term of five years?
Ms. Fraley: Correct.
Chair Furfaro: While we develop a location for a permanent
MRF. May I ask that question?
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Mr. Dill: The planning resource recovery park is to make
it available for a MRF to be located up there but as you noted it will be some period of time
before that will be developed. So knowing this is an urgent matter for us we are moving
ahead with this site. It could be an interim site because we cannot say for sure at this point
in time that a MRF would be situated at the resource recovery park in Hanamd'ulu, so we
are proceeding on this site as our MRF right now.
Chair Furfaro: Well first of all thank you very much for putting
the urgency of the MRF in the plan. Secondly for clarification, this isn't the end of
developing a MRF. This is responding to the urgency to have something now in what seems
to be a location that will work. Okay, thank you for an excellent presentation. I want to
remind everyone that mid-day yesterday was suggested by Mr. Rapozo that we will go
around the table several times with several questions, but will allow Councilmembers to
have questions asked and then pass it on to the next and the next so no one series of
questions is more dominating then the whole Council as a body. I am going to turn the floor
over to Mr. Kagawa for a question first, then Mr. Rapozo, and Mr. Rapozo I am going to
have to step out after you have your first turn and if you could continue and thank you for
the excellent idea in taking turns at asking questions. Mr. Kagawa.
ROSS KAGAWA: Thank you Mr. Chair. Just for clarification
yesterday I kind of stuck to my one question but other members ask more than one so can I
go with two or three or what? Because I have two in front of me right now.
Chair Furfaro: We are going to go around the table several
times.
Mr. Kagawa: Thank you.
Chair Furfaro: But you can start with your first one and we'll
get back to you six turns later. Go ahead.
Mr. Kagawa: I do not know if I got my answer but thank you. I
will ask my most important one first. I noticed in the collection side we have (18) refuse
workers if I count right. We have (3) Equipment Operators, (5) Crew Leaders and (10)
Refuse collectors. Is that correct about eighteen? How much is spread out to each district?
We got Hanapepe, we got the Westside, we got how much?
Mr. Tanigawa: Our collection system is distributed this way over
3 base yards. So starting from the North Shore there is (1) Crew Leader and (2) collectors
that is still under our manual system.
Mr. Kagawa: Okay.
Mr. Tanigawa: And moving towards Kapa`a, we had originally
before the automated system was implemented we had (3) crews there, so (3) Crew Leaders
and (6) Collectors.
Mr. Kagawa: Okay.
Mr. Tanigawa: When we started the automated system we
replaced (3) of those crew so we ended up with now what we have is (3) Truck Drivers
reallocated from those (18) positions. Actually I am sorry (1) was a new position at the time.
Mr. Kagawa: Okay.
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Mr. Tanigawa: So we have (3) Truck Drivers to operate the
automated collection trucks that we have in the system now, (1) Crew Leader and (2)
Collectors to operate the one manual route that still exists under the Kappa Base yard.
Mr. Kagawa: Okay.
Mr. Tanigawa: The Han apepe Base yard is still under the
manual system so we have (2) Crew Leaders and (4) Collector positions at that base yard.
Mr. Kagawa: Okay which leads me to my next question
basically is when we went with the machine operation I think we anticipated at some point
to get some labor savings. Instead of(3) people on the truck you only need one.
Mr. Tanigawa: Right.
Mr. Kagawa: I know because I wake up early and I see what
use to be Mark Soto driving and he could do it all by himself. Those two workers no longer
are basically needed right?
Mr. Tanigawa: Correct we do not use the two collectors, it is just
one truck driver servicing the routes.
Mr. Kagawa: So back when we decided to change did we
anticipate possibly in the future using those two workers to perform other tasks?
Mr. Tanigawa: Yes and so right now we are under consultation
with the Union in the transfer from the Roads Division to Solid Waste Division
Management. We are looking at using those additional workers as a utility crew where
they could substitute for the refuse collection operation as if it is their primary back-up for
being the refuse collections primary back-up, but also be able to perform in other wide
varieties of duties to assist or support the other operations in solid waste.
Mr. Dill: Council I am sorry if I may. I just want to
reinforce the point that when you make the transition from manual to automated collection
we are not losing any positions, so the staff that was previously assigned to picking up
trash on the truck will be assigned other duties now. So we are not losing any men as a
result of this transition.
Mr. Kagawa; Okay here is the million dollar question. Do
they still keep their huki pau hours from when they got in all the way until they retire?
Mr. Tanigawa: Well that is the...
Mr. Kagawa: That is what the public is asking me. They said
they went to the automated now so what are those other guys doing now. The public is
asking that and a lot of people do not pay attention to Government but they kind of figured
that one out. They are asking me that question so I just want to get the true answer to that.
Mr. Tanigawa: Okay and the way we are addressing that is
through attrition. Right now where there is still warm bodies those people have to only do
collection activities but because we require less workers to actually perform on a daily
basis, we haven't been filling vacancies that have been created through retirement. So
through attrition that is how we are going to address that answer and like I mentioned
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earlier we are working on developing a utility crew where these vacant positions will be
filled to support both the refuse collections operations and other areas of solid waste.
Mr. Dill: That is an issue we are obviously talking about
with the union as we conclude negotiations or open negotiations or open negotiations for the
completion of automated. So that is definitely something we are well aware of that
needs to be addressed as part of that negotiation.
Mr. Kagawa: I guess my question revolves around the fact that
we obviously went to the automated because we anticipated less back injuries and less
labor needed for that very hard tasks and maybe even quicker because it just picks it up so
quickly and dumps it all in so to me if we do not have the benefit of labor savings than no
sense we doing that. We are buying a brand new truck, we are training a new person but
we still got those guys on the huki pau hours which what are they doing when there not
needed on the truck? What are they doing currently right now when they're not on the
truck?
Mr. Tanigawa: They are used to support the collection operation
and there's not many of them. We've transitioned three routes and there are just two
employees that are left collectors that are left. They support the refuse crew, especially the
manual crew that needs the support when people take vacation. When they are not
supporting the manual crew they have done other manual tasks in the base yard like
washing the trucks, all related to collections.
Mr. Kagawa: But they have the huki pau hours?
Mr. Tanigawa: Yes.
Mr. Kagawa: Well that is where I mean I think the public is
not very happy with that fact and I guess it is the understanding if you picking up garbage
that is a benefit that you get the huki pau hours but I think the public will have a difficult
time accepting those times that they're not picking up rubbish and they have the huki pau
hours. I think that is a dilemma that we need to try and work out with the union because in
government we have to try and be fair and when we are fair I think the public can accept it.
Mr. Dill: We are definitely on the same page
Councilmember and that is something we will need to work out with the union.
Mr. Kagawa: I understand thank you.
Mr. Dill: Only the folks who are actually actively doing
the refuse collection will benefit from the huki pau.
Mr. Kagawa: Very good thank you.
Chair Furfaro: Mr. Rapozo if you have a follow-up question to
that one and then your own question go right ahead.
MEL RAPOZO: Thank you. I think he did answer my follow-up
question about the huki pau. So these guys although they're not on the truck they still
work? So how does that work when the truck people go home they get to go home and they
get paid the full hours? How many of those do we have?
Mr. Tanigawa: Right now just two.
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Mr. Rapozo: Just two?
Chair Furfaro: Did you say two or three?
Mr. Tanigawa: Two.
Mr. Rapozo: All the rest have been transitioned into other
positions so they do not qualify for that huki pau?
Mr. Tanigawa: Well we haven't filled the vacant positions yet, so
positions still vacant will remain vacant until...
Mr. Rapozo: Yeah but you had more than two right?
Mr. Tanigawa: Correct.
Mr. Rapozo: When we went to automated we ended up with
more than two employees displaced because how many routes did we pick up?
Mr. Tanigawa: We have 3 routes now.
Mr. Rapozo: Three routes, so we have three automated
trucks?
Mr. Tanigawa: Correct.
Mr. Rapozo: So you had nine employees at one time?
Mr. Tanigawa: Well actually the Kapa'a base yards always had
nine than we added on or we requested a new position a driver position that was filled.
That operated the first truck and the three manual routes still remained active after that
first route first automated route was created.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay but from the three routes if my math is
correct, three times three is nine and we added another position that is ten.
Mr. Tanigawa: Correct.
Mr. Rapozo: And then you subtract the two per route that
were no longer needed that is six right?
Mr. Tanigawa: Correct.
Mr. Rapozo: So ten minus six is four, so two of them with into
other County positions?
Mr. Tanigawa: No.
Mr. Rapozo: Or they retired?
Mr. Tanigawa: Well two of the drivers are now driving the other
two automated trucks.
Mr. Rapozo: Oh okay, so they were just transferred.
Mr. Tanigawa: Yes reallocated into the other positions.
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Mr. Rapozo: Okay so just those two remain?
Mr. Tanigawa: Yes.
Mr. Rapozo: That is my follow-up Mr. Chair. The other
question is yesterday we had a discussion and I am sure you were made aware of the line
item and it is actually in roads administration page 239, in the budget for three hundred
thousand dollars for disposal of abandoned vehicles and another hundred two thousand six
hundred for beautification. When I look in your solid waste recycling budget this year on
page 252, there's another three hundred forty three thousand dollars for vehicle Metals
recycling and another fifty five thousand for abandoned derelict vehicles. Can you explain
what those are? Let's start with the three hundred thousand in roads administration.
Mr. Tanigawa: Okay.
Mr. Rapozo: And the only reason why I am asking you is
because that is where I was lead too. I asked yesterday and they said its solid waste.
Mr. Tanigawa: Okay just real um... generally what happens is
we use a portion of that beautification fund to fund the contract that we have with the
resource recovery solutions now at the Puhi Recycling Center. That contract currently is
roughly about forty six thousand five hundred per month and it comes out to over half a
million dollars. A portion of that beautification fund funds that contract and the remainder
or balance under that contract is funded through that motor vehicle and scrap medal
processing line item we have under our recycling budget.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay, I am sorry how much is the contract for
Puhi?
Ms. Fraley: Approximately forty seven thousand a month
with the tows.
Mr. Rapozo: So about six hundred thousand a year? I do not
know if I do the math forty seven thousand times twelve it comes out closer to six hundred
thousand.
Ms. Fraley: Yes close to six hundred.
Mr. Rapozo: Product of Kaua`i High School. Okay and if I add
up all these amounts and I get disposal of abandoned vehicles is three hundred plus the
vehicle Metals recycling, that is six forty three and then beautification and see the
beautification amount is under special products but it is not defined. The other part I had
the question about yesterday is both of these amounts, three hundred thousand and a
hundred two thousand six hundred hasn't been expanded this year I mean it is zeroed out
and I am not sure why.
Ms. Fraley: The current contract for services is through the
end of this month so we are actually in the process of negotiating a new contract and that is
when the remainder of that funding would be spent to fund the new contract.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay so are you saying that the three hundred
thousand enrolls administration, the hundred two thousand six hundred enrolls
administration, the three hundred forty three thousand in solid waste recycling and the
fifty five thousand for abandoned and derelict vehicles are to pay for that contract?
1
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Ms. Fraley: The fifty five thousand actually is a different
contract for hauling abandoned vehicles.
Mr. Rapozo: For Hauling?
Ms. Fraley: I mean for towing.
Mr. Rapozo: So we pay people to bring it to...
Ms. Fraley: Yes that is a separate... those that are
abandoned on the side of the road it is a separate contract.
Mr. Rapozo: So three forty three in your recycling budget is
for the contract.
Ms. Fraley: For the Metals processing contract correct.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay and in Roads Administration the three
hundred thousand as well?
Ms. Fraley: It is not a full three hundred though.
Mr. Rapozo: Well that is what is been budgeted and there is
no text assigned to it is just...
Ms. Fraley: It is a portion of that actually is what we have
access to it is not the full three hundred.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay maybe I guess we'll just send that over
because it is very difficult to follow because it sits in different department's budget.
Chair Furfaro: James did you have something to add?
JAMES MATSUSHIGE, BUDGET/FISCAL ANALYSTS: James
Matsushige for the record. On that 205 account.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay hang on, which one is the 205?
Mr. Matsushige: It is under beautification.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay the hundred two thousand six hundred?
Mr. Matsushige: Yeah the hundred two thousand is not really a
public works account. The three hundred thousand is for all solid waste. The hundred two
is I guess beatify the highways and I guess it was originally under public works when
beautification was which is parks and recreation was part of public works. When they
moved out that beautification fund kind of moved with them.
Mr. Rapozo: The only reason why I am asking them is
because I was told yesterday to ask them.
Mr. Matsushige: Yeah they have to resource for the three hundred
thousand that goes into the (inaudible).
Mr. Rapozo: I kind of figured that out now.
04-02-2013
Department of Public Works (continuation) (lc)
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Mr. Matsushige: But not the hundred and two thousand that is
not a public works money.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay well public works maybe should have said
that yesterday. Okay so that three hundred thousand and I am just trying to get a better
understanding of what that is for. Is that the only expense just the contract for Metals
recycling with that whatever is?
Mr. Tanigawa: Yeah resource recovery solutions, they have also
towing of derelict vehicles that is separate from towing of abandoned vehicles. So that is an
additional cost to their contract in addition to processing and recycling what is brought to
the facility.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay so what is the fifty is that part of the fifty
five thousand the abandoned derelict? I am going to have to draw a picture pretty soon
because I am getting...
Mr. Tanigawa: Yeah I think like you suggested send it over to us
and we can present in a way where in a table where...
Mr. Rapozo: Okay what is the other contract for derelict
towing that we pay who? Where is that in the budget?
Mr. Tanigawa: It is part of that allocation.
Mr. Rapozo: Which allocation?
Mr. Tanigawa: There's an abandoned vehicle towing... If you
look at page 252 of the budget under the 208 account other services towards the top of the
page. If you go down the list of text items about maybe two thirds of the way down you will
see the line item abandoned derelict vehicles.
Mr. Rapozo: That is the one the fifty five thousand that I am
referencing.
g
Mr. Tanigawa: Yeah.
Mr. Rapozo: So that is for Puhi as well?
Mr. Tanigawa: We can use that interchangeably for also the
derelicts that we tow from Puhi.
Mr. Rapozo: So who else will tow?
Mr. Tanigawa: Right now the derelict tow's are under RS's
contract.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay so all derelict vehicles that are called in
gets towed by Puhi?
Mr. Tanigawa: Correct.
Mr. Rapozo: No private tow companies will tow a derelict
vehicle?
04-02-2013
Department of Public Works (continuation) (1c)
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Mr. Tanigawa: Well they sub-contract the services so it is...
Mr. Rapozo: But as far as we are concerned we only pay Puhi?
Mr. Tanigawa: Correct.
Mr. Rapozo: RSS or whatever?
Mr. Tanigawa: Correct.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay and then abandoned is dealt differently?
Mr. Tanigawa: It is under different contracts and they go by
zones and we pay for the actual tows that are made.
Mr. Rapozo:` Okay yeah we'll just send it over and get a better
break down.
Mr. Tanigawa: Okay.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you.
Chair Furfaro: Okay now I am going to recognize Nadine and at
the same time I am going to turn over the meeting to Vice Chair Mr. Rapozo. I do want to
make an announcement right now if I can. When we get to CIP, I would like a presentation
made that shows all of the bracketed numbers. I would like to go through all if the projects
that have been removed first, when we get to CIP. I t is very clear to me that we need to
understand where monies have been shifted okay. Mr. Rapozo I will give you this as Vice
Chair and I am going to be in and out most of the day so Nadine.
NADINE NAKAMURA: I want to go back to Allison's presentation and
thank you very much Troy and Allison for that overview. I wanted to talk about the papaya
disinfestation facility.
Ms. Fraley: Okay.
Ms. Nakamura: Some of you may not know that that was the site
being looked at for the slaughter house and commercial kitchen until we were informed
that Larry Dill was very interested in this site for other purposes. As Council people we
have to look at the big picture and the multiple needs of this community and I wanted to
find out if your discussions well first of all who ultimately owns the land and will it be a
discussion with the land owners before we move into the EA, are we going to get site
control?
Mr. Dill: The short answer is we certainly want to get site
control before we move into the EA. For the work that is budgeted in Fiscal year 13, which
as I also mentioned the EA and the conceptual design will be part of that effort. We are
very close to getting a consultant on board; we want to get site control first for the facility
before we kick-off that work. A little bit of an overview of the history of our efforts to get
site control over there is still a work in progress. We understood that that facility had been
programmed for tropical fruit disinfestation facility had conducted a feasibility study and it
turned out and I am not an expert on what happened on this but my understanding is it
turned out the feasibility study recommended against pursuing that facility, that location.
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Department of Public Works (continuation) (lc)
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Ms. Yukimura: For the tropical fruit disinfestation?
Mr. Dill: Yes, yes. As soon as I found out that was the case
obviously next door neighbor to our Kaua`i Resource Center, next door neighbor to our
Lihu`e Refuse Transfer Station, good access utilities ideal well a very good location for our
MRF. We found out that the site was under control with the ADC, ADC had a lease with
the University of Hawai`i, University of Hawai`i has the land under an EA with the State of
Hawai`i. Initially we began discussions with the University of Hawai`i and after speaking
with them for a while we found out that they actually they had it by EA and they were open
to the pursuit of the site as a MRF understanding benefits it had for the County of Kaua`i.
Also understanding that as you mentioned shortly after the feasibility study was conducted
for the fruit disinfestation facility that I do not know how to name the group I call the
cattlemen was interested in it as a potential site for the meat processing facility. When an
alternate site was proposed for the meat site facility we felt we were the leading candidate
for the facility there.
Ms. Nakamura: Right and I wanted to just make sure that
everyone around this table knew that history that Big Save wasn't the first site or only site
being considered.
Mr. Dill: What is happened fairly recently as I also
mentioned in our presentation we have drafted an MOA because we wanted to get
something from the University of Hawai`i who had control of the site to indicate to us that
they were willing to work with us on a MRF there and then follow-up with whatever needed
to happen in order to get it is official and firm site control. What is recently come up is DOT
Airports has indicated that in a mid-1990 environmental assessment they may have done
for Lihu`e Airport had looked at that site as a potential expansion location for their facility.
So that is pretty late breaking news and that is just come on the radar for us so as I
mentioned we do not have site control yet and airports at least 20 years ago was interested
in that site as a potential expansion. So we have to deal with that issue now so
unfortunately we've been a little hung up on pulling the trigger on getting our MRF worked
on until we've identified the site. We do feel and as again as I also mentioned it is far and
away of all the options we were able to explore the best options for a MRF for us so we are
pressing to get that site control for that facility.
Ms. Nakamura: Do you know what the State DOT in their EA
identified the use for that site?
Mr. Dill: I believe that they looked at as some sort of
additional maintenance facility. From our perspective I believe they have plenty of land,
plenty other opportunities out there for that facility but we have to work with that as part
of our work.
Ms. Nakamura: Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Any follow-up questions? Follow-up question
Mr. Hooser?
GARY HOOSER: Yes this is for Ms. Fraley and before I ask my
questions I couldn't help from thinking that you've got a tough job holding down the gender
balance formula in the Department of Public Works as I look at the audience. Thank you for
the work that you do. The MRF Facility and I am coming a little bit late to the discussion
but I thought I was familiar with the concept and most the MRF's I am familiar with it
04-02-2013
Department of Public Works (continuation) (lc)
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seems like they're adjacent to H-Power or a landfill, the trucks come in and they deposit the
materials the recyclables are pulled out than it is either burned or landfill. Is that how this
works? I do not want to spend a lot of time on it because I know others are more familiar
that I.
Ms. Fraley: Well actually the best location for a MRF is near
port because your product is going to be hauled to port so that is one of the biggest
considerations actually.
Mr. Hooser: So all the trucks do come and deposit the
materials there and it is sorted out?
Ms. Fraley: Yes.
Mr. Hooser: So than it has to be hauled again?
Ms. Fraley: Well the recycling trucks, so it is different from a
truck that contains garbage, these are dedicated trucks.
Mr. Hooser: Oh it is a mix recycle, okay.
Ms. Fraley: Right this is a cleaner and we are only taking the
clean recyclables.
Mr. Hooser: Okay that was it is a clean MRF as opposed to
the other...
Ms. Fraley: Yes.
Mr. Hooser: Thank you that was my question thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Do we have any follow-ups? You do not really
have to JoAnn. You do not have to ask on every issue.
Ms. Yukimura: Well you know the MRF has been one of the top
priorities as far as I am concerned and well first let me just say... Allison this is an
excellent report, thank you very much. I am very excited about how detailed and how
integrated it is and how very specific time tables and goals you have but for the MRF, is
there room for expansion?
Ms. Fraley: Yes.
Ms. Yukimura: Long term?
Ms. Fraley: Yes.
Ms. Yukimura: Okay. My other question and we can take it up
now or if Committee of the Whole Vice Chair thinks we should make it as a separate
subject I am willing. Is there a way we can accelerate the timetable to make it available
faster?
Ms. Fraley: I do not believe so, I think this is an acceleration
on the table.
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Department of Public Works (continuation) (lc)
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Ms. Yukimura: So in your timetable it shows the MRF being
completed that is your last slide, by the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 which is when it
would begin operations.
Ms. Fraley: Correct.
Ms. Yukimura: And it is timed with the curbside recycling. We
are going to be fully automated and will have "pay as you throw" in place so that you will be
able to have full operation of the MRF with all the supporting structure?
Ms. Fraley: Correct and you can see actually the MRF comes
online one quarter before we implement the second phase of"pay as you throw" when we
have the curbside recycling.
Ms. Yukimura: Sorry it comes...
Ms. Fraley: The MRF is completed right before we implement
the curbside recycling program.
Ms. Yukimura: Right before?
Ms. Fraley: Correct, just one quarter before of course we
wanted to be fully operational before the program kicks.
Ms. Yukimura: Okay, okay. So that means it will actually be
fully operational by the end of Fiscal Year 2016 or at the beginning of Fiscal Year 2017?
Ms. Fraley: Correct.
Ms. Yukimura: And to get the full maturity will be another five
years?
Ms. Fraley: Correct.
Ms. Yukimura: And so that means that assuming all the other
programs are put in place for their maturity to dove tail we will reach a 68 percent
diversion by 2022. Is that the plan?
Ms. Fraley: Yes.
Ms. Yukimura: Ok.
Ms. Fraley: Which is in line with our goal of 2022.
Ms. Yukimura: For the solid waste which is 70 percent?
Ms. Fraley: Yes.
Ms. Yukimura: Ok.
Ms. Fraley: As I said this doesn't include all of our programs
so we expect to achieve the 70 percent additional through other programs.
Ms. Yukimura: So have you as we have with our multimodal
Transportation plan figured out the budget up to year 2022?
04-02-2013
Department of Public Works (continuation) (lc)
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Ms. Fraley: We do have the program cost. We've been
figuring those of course the actual budget would be dependent on competitive bids for
service and things like that.
Ms. Yukimura: Yes right no these would be budget.
Ms. Fraley: We have an idea of what the cost would be.
Ms. Yukimura: These are budget estimates so...
Ms. Fraley: Yes.
Ms. Yukimura: And it includes both CIP and Operating
projections?
Ms. Fraley: Yes.
Ms. Yukimura: Well that is excellent. I am still going to look for
ways to accelerate but the fact that you have a time table and you've cost things out and
you sequenced them in terms of practical implementation is very excellent. Thank you for
that.
Mr. Rapozo: I know it seems like a long time but think of it
this way. It will be done before Dickie Chang's sidewalk.
Mr. Bynum: Hopefully not.
Mr. Rapozo: Councilwomen Nakamura and then
Councilmember Bynum.
Ms. Nakamura: How many acres is this site?
Mr. Dill: Three point six acres. I had it in my head it was
four or five but maybe it is a little less. I cannot give you an exact number but it is
neighborhood of four to five acres I believe.
Ms. Nakamura: So it is a thinking that we build this and it will
be ready in 2016 to operate and in the meantime the new landfill is being worked on, the
resource recovery park and is it thinking that those two facilities will be built at the same
time? Or with this MRF, how long do you think this MRF will be in operation?
Mr. Dill: This MRF will be in operation until it is
something that the County decided needs superseded.
Ms. Nakamura: So it could be forever?
Mr. Dill: That is a possibility.
Ms. Nakamura: What will this facility provide that the resource
recovery park would... what would not be provided that the resource recovery park will?
Mr. Dill: Well if you recall the presentation the resource
recovery park looked at feasibility of every waste diversion program under the sun. The
MRF specifically will look at curbside recycling so it will be as Allison did specifically
switched things as this clean MRF will be accepted.
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Department of Public Works (continuation) (lc)
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Ms. Fraley: Well to address the question of the difference
between the two MRF's. The MRF that is recommended at the Resource Recovery Park is a
highly mechanized MRF for the full diversion potential and so it is a more expensive MRF
than the one that we plan to build now. However the MRF that we build now can be retro-
fitted with more mechanized equipment and expanded into the site behind it if the land is
available so it does have flexibility. The recyclables are your fiber so cardboard, mix paper
as well as your containers so plastics, Metals, medal containers as well as it would contain
a glass processing, a glass crusher as well. So those are the different materials that would
be accepted.
Ms. Nakamura: It could be mechanized right?
Ms. Fraley: It could be mechanized. Initially we do not see
that there will be enough volume to have a heavy mechanization it would be a lot of manual
equipment for a stream of this side that is appropriate.
Mr. Dill: It will be mechanized but to a low tech degree
compared to some that are out there. So there will be a sorter and a bailer but many of
these things when you go to a larger facility that exists in the world these are highly
automated but these will be a lot of manual sorting done on the sorting machine and then
go to a bailer.
Ms. Nakamura: (inaudible)
Ms. Fraley: Yes similar to Maui.
Mr. Bynum: Thanks for the report. I am going to stay future
oriented and for the last couple of years I have always asked this question so I am going to
ask it again. We have a historic opportunity here when this work is operational to provide
employment for our citizens with disabilities. I want to make sure that is still an option and
something you are incorporating into the plans and in terms of construction it is only minor
changes that we might consider in order to accommodate that. When you go for an
operation contract we have to have a commitment to that so I just want to make sure that
commitment still stands?
Mr. Dill: We are considering that as an option.
Mr. Bynum: I just want to say consider it very strongly, it is a
historic opportunity and we have (inaudible) that need equal employment and have
disabilities (inaudible) and this is a successful operation within the community so it allows
us to have (inaudible). I am invested in a separate budget looking at our integrated solid
waste plan and a timeline that were set there and found through the discussions of where
we are at now and how we changed from that. So we are all clear as to what elements of
that plan we can follow and what elements we can (inaudible) thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you Mr. Bynum. So are we planning for
two MRF's?
Mr. Dill: No we are planning right now we are
incorporating as part of the environmental impact statement which addresses the landfill
I'I
and the resource recovery park. We are covering it in the environmental impact statement
so it is included from that scenario if and when it makes sense to site a MRF up there then
we would consider that, but for now we are proceeding with this MRF in this location. This
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Department of Public Works (continuation) (lc)
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makes a lot of sense for the County right now to include it and only if there is an
overriding reason for us to re-locate it would we do so.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay that is clear, go ahead.
Ms. Yukimura: So how much money are we spending on figuring
out the feasibility of a resource recovery center that might not happen?
Mr. Dill: I do not know how it is broken up in the contract
I would have to get back to you on that one.
Ms. Yukimura: Please. So that is a question yes?
Mr. Rapozo: Yes that was your question, any follow-ups to
that question? See how she tries to sneak it in as a follow-up.
Ms. Yukimura: No mine was a follow-up to your question.
Mr. Rapozo: From the MRF to the entire Resource Recovery
Park so any follow-up to the resource recovery park?
Ms. Yukimura: I will wait my turn.
Mr. Rapozo: You just used your card...okay JoAnn, go ahead.
Ms. Yukimura: AECOM is doing the feasibility on the resource
recovery park right? Okay so what is the question that they are answering? Is the resource
recovery park feasible? Is that the question you gave them?
Mr. Dill: No, the question they are answering generally
speaking and I do not have the scope of work in front of me is the County is interested in
setting a resource recovery park in the vicinity of(inaudible) landfill. What waste diversion
activities would it be feasible for us to site there?
Ms. Yukimura: What waste diversion activities would it be
feasible to site there? You could ask that question of any place so what is going to be the
value of that answer. Okay because the question that we should be asking where we have
limited money is what is the most cost effective design of our resource recovery system?
And are we getting the answer to that question?
Mr. Dill: We have not posed that question to them.
Ms. Yukimura: So how much money are we spending on asking
questions that are not the real questions we need to ask?
Mr. Dill: Well I disagree with you because we believe after
reviewing the issue that the resource recovery park has a potential to have a very valuable
asset to the County of Kaua`i and its waste diversion activities. Often as was pointed out by
Mr. Hooser, these facilities are located adjacent to existing landfills because they are more
efficient that way and it serves the public better and it serves the purpose better.
Ms. Yukimura: Only dirty MRF's are efficient to locate near
landfills.
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Mr. Dill: That is right and so we would have the potential
of setting a dirty MRF there. But also not only dirty MRF's there are other waste diversion
activities that happen adjacent to many landfills, not just MRF's.
Ms. Yukimura: But you still have to make sure that that system
is going to be the most cost effective for the island. So we need to ask that question first.
Mr. Dill: Well we have a system now that is not operating
in that manner it is a decentralized system and we wouldn't relocate any facilities up there
unless those facilities made sense or were cost effective to relocate them.
Ms. Yukimura: But what if a decentralized model were more cost
effective given the goals of the system?You make it user friendly, you want to make it close
to people so it is convenient. I mean you have to consider all those aspects in developing a
system so do not you have to know that before you put money into a site that is far away?
Do not you have to know that the design, the centralized system is better than the
decentralized system? What if you were to put the money into a decentralized system that
might be less money needed and more benefit or more usefulness? Wouldn't it be wrong to
do a centralized system in that case if it cost more and doesn't deliver the convenience and
the whatever you need out of this system.
Mr. Dill: Yes and that is why we wouldn't situate
anything up there if it wasn't cost effective and efficient to do so.
Ms. Yukimura; But how do you know?
Mr. Dill: This was an opportunity when we did the EIS for
the landfill to possibly provide the implementation and resource Recovery Park.
Ms. Yukimura: But how do you know that is it is the most
system unless you are looking at all the other possibilities too.
Mr. Dill: We will know if and when for instance the MRF.
We will not relocate a MRF up there if it doesn't make sense to do so.
Ms. Yukimura: But your assuming it makes sense to do so by
asking them to evaluate it.
Mr. Dill: I am assuming that it may make sense to do so.
Ms. Yukimura: Well if we pursue all the may make senses we
won't have any money.
Mr. Dill: But we are not doing that. I am sorry but we may
just have to agree to dis-agree on this because...
Mr. Rapozo: That is perfectly fine with me.
Ms. Yukimura: Yes you are right, you are absolutely right on
that.
Mr. Rapozo: That is perfectly acceptable in this Chambers,
that is what budget sessions are for.
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Department of Public Works (continuation) (lc)
Page 33
Ms. Yukimura; Right but I hope you see it as your responsibility
to develop the most cost effective systems for the infrastructure that Public Works is
responsible for?
Mr. Dill: That I do agree with you a hundred percent.
Ms. Yukimura: Okay thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you very much. I happen to disagree with
Councilmember Yukimura, I would agree to have it all in one place is the most cost effective
way. I also remember I think the dialog we had about originally planning for a MRF up the
resource recovery park and I just got to believe this expedited action. I happen to disagree
with Councilmember Yukimura, I would agree to have it all in one place is the most cost
effective way. I also remember I think the dialog we had about originally planning for a
MRF up the resource recovery park and I just got to believe this expedited action to relocate
that MRF down at the airport and I think Councilmember Yukimura's persistence had
something to do with that as well as she pushed this Administration to getting it done
sooner.
Mr. Dill: We take Council's input very seriously.
Mr. Rapozo: And that is how I see it so I just wanted to make
that point because when you mentioned that slide I looked at Councilmember Yukimura's
face and she was smiling and I hadn't seen her smiling, I hadn't seen her smile like that in
a long time. I told Kagawa hey check JoAnn she's happy...but not happy enough so anyway.
Ms. Yukimura: Not at wasting one point eight million dollars.
Mr. Rapozo: I understand JoAnn and your points are well
taken and again we are all in that canoe. We are going to take a caption break, we are going
to take a caption break for ten minutes thank you.
CAPTION BREAK: 10:59-11:14
Mr. Rapozo: Budget session will now come back to order. Any
more questions as it relates to the resource recovery park? Thank you, any other questions
for Solid Waste?Mr. Kagawa.
Mr. Kagawa: So Allison and Troy, I really like the percentage I
think we are at 68 percent is a realistic number percent that we can divert and the other 32
would basically be things that we cannot divert. Things such as galvanize or whatever...
Ms. Fraley: Well composite materials that may not be
recyclable that two different materials combined together or else things like treated lumber
and other things that just aren't recyclable.
Mr. Kagawa: Yes there are many things that I guess we
cannot recycle like a shirt right?
Ms. Fraley: That is a textile and that could be recycled.
Mr. Kagawa: Could be?
Ms. Fraley: Yes.
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Department of Public Works (continuation) (lc)
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Mr. Kagawa: So that sixty eight might even go higher?
Ms. Fraley:a ey. It could and some communities with mature
programs have seen diversion rates above seventy although it is rare.
Mr. Kagawa: I mean like for a lot of us it almost goes for that
second use like the shirt would turn into a rag and we use that to polish our car and we end
up throwing it away but at least instead of buying a rag from the store a lot of us are
recycling it. I guess my question is this and I talked to Troy about it and even other
Councilmembers and that was the (inaudible) type percentage if we cannot divert the
thirty. My focus is on that and I do not want to bury anything because I have seen Kekaha
when it was flat until now and that is my 30 something years of observation. I am just
thinking and I am going to say the same thing when I am eighty or ninety about Maalo and
I am just hoping and the answer that I get is that (inaudible) and stuff we do not get the 30
percent that we are looking at is not enough we need a bigger population to create more
than that to make it feasible.
Ms. Fraley: Correct at this time through put is an issue the
quantity of through put, however as these technologies evolve it could be that in the future
we would have an alternative technology to deal with the remainder of our refuse.
Mr. Kagawa: Yeah and I guess that is my hope because if you
look at it our household need like an outdoor grill you have a small weber you have a big
weber and basically that is what (inaudible) is you are going to cook our rubbish and make
it into road material or that kind of reusable source. I know the availability of rocks are
going down on our Island and that possibly could be used for underlayment for our roads
and I actually went to a plant some 20 years ago with Senator Kouchi besides going to visit
our Congressman in D.C. we went to visit a site and they showed us what looked like lava
rocks or whatever but this was back like 30 years ago. I am just really looking forward to
the day that we can buy one but like you said the day isn't here that we have the small
weber but that is my only suggestion that we keep pursuing it because even if we end up
paying a little it might be worth it because the cost of landfilling is going to go up too. So
let's always keep our options open because anything is better than burial to me.
Mr. Dill: We remain open to all that possibilities as
Allison has said we haven't seen one yet that is appropriate for our Island. I think I may
have mentioned to the Council that the County of Maui has issued a RFP I believe for
waste energy proposals and received several so we are in close touch with them and they
will keep us posted on the results of their RFP and we'll take a look and it might be
applicable to our situation.
Mr. Kagawa: Yeah and I think it came up from another
Councilmember and I thought that was brilliant so I brought it up to that we could actually
if we were looking for more volume we could dig up our own landfill and pull up that
rubbish and that might be an option but I do not know. Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Any follow-up questions? Go ahead.
Ms. Yukimura: Allison your second slide of your presentation
which is showing your diversion graph... you show a couple of slopes between 20- 2009 and
2010 and then it was flat between 2010 and 2011 and then went up significantly but doesn't
look like as good a slope as 2009-2010 but 2011-2012, we should maybe put that on...
04-02-2013
Department of Public Works (continuation) (lc)
Page 35
anyway while they're doing that have you examined why or how you got these increases in
diversion and why between 2010 and 2011 it was flat?
Ms. Fraley: I do not have an answer for you right now about
those particular years and the difference but I can tell you that getting the data together
has been a challenge in years past and we are really working on our efforts to have some
standardized way of measuring our diversion rate and access to accurate data. In the past
we haven't received information for programs that we do not control and we also haven't
been able to access information from the State Department of Health that permits those
activities because they did not get it. It is been very difficult to get accurate information
however, usually the large spikes are a result of shipments of Metals for instance when a
barge goes out in a particular fiscal year although during the prior fiscal year they were
stop piling stop piling and then boom the barge goes out. That is where you see that
number increase...
Ms. Yukimura: I see.
Ms. Fraley: Things like that and like and as I said for this
last fiscal year a lot of green waste diversion. Green waste is...
Ms. Yukimura: I am looking for the graph, its page 2.
Ms. Fraley: There we see the last 5 years of diversion. Green
waste right now, I am sorry if you show the next slide I just wanted to show the next slide.
You see how our County programs were showing green waste, nineteen thousand tons in
fiscal year 2012 was attributable to green waste alone.
Ms. Yukimura: Wow.
Ms. Fraley: So just to let you know that if there's some
change in participation then that is where you are going to see those increases.
Ms. Yukimura: I command your effort to get accurate
information. In all throughout the hearings we've been having and will continue to have
this concept of accurate data is pervasive because you cannot really do good planning or you
can do good measuring of whether your work is having any impact without getting the data.
Ms. Fraley: Yes and it is been a problem as I said and we are
excited that we have filled a vacancy for our Recycling Specialist recently and that is going
to be one of the assignments of our new specialists to really get a handle to have someone
keep their eye on that and continue to see that its accurate.
Ms. Yukimura: And make sure the system collects that data?
Ms. Fraley: Yes.
Ms. Yukimura: Okay thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you very much, any other questions on
the presentation? Go ahead Councilmember Nakamura.
Ms. Nakamura; Allison when did you say we would need a
Compliance Officer?
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Department of Public Works (continuation) (lc)
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Ms. Fraley: That would be and we would want to hire Fiscal
Year 2013.
Ms. Nakamura: And...
Mr. Dill: If I may add to that. The main purpose for the
compliance officer would be those two ordinances we are proposing and a large part of the
bulk of that work would be processing the permits because the (inaudible) with the
ordinance will be done in conjunction with billing permit applications. That person would
be responsible for reviewing billing permit applications to make sure they were proposing a
recycling program as part of their construction work and it is a fair amount of work for
someone to be doing to review all the building permit applications that come in. We are still
working with exactly how that would work we'll probably establish a threshold that we
would implement at least in the beginning probably over a certain value we would have to
comply and projects below that value would not have to comply. We would lower that
threshold as time went on and worked the kinks out in the program. I also wanted to
mention that we would use existing staff in the first year because there is still a lot of work
to do which has already begun to get the ordinances reviewed, approved and adopted by
Council. A lot of education and outreach would happen as well also to the Community and
so a lot of effort since we are not asking for additional staff this year actually would be
(inaudible) by the Environmental Services Officer himself, by Donald Fujimoto, so he would
do a lot of leg work in getting this up and running this fiscal year.
Ms. Nakamura: And how many and this is another personnel
related question. How many bodies do you need to operate?
Mr. Dill: I do not think we have that number yet for you.
JOHN HARDER, WASTE PROGRAM ADVISOR: Hi I am John
Harder, Waste Program Advisor of some kind. Essentially for the facility we were looking at
that would process say initially about 10-15 tons a day and maybe up to about 30-35 tons a
day at maturity, we would be looking at probably a staff of eight to ,nine. It would be a
Supervisor, probably a Floor Manager and Mechanic, a Spotter, a Scale Operator and
maybe four Sorters that would work in the facility. At the beginning they could probably do
with two or three less people and scale up as more material went through.
Mr. Dill: Keep in mind that we are envisioning this now as
a privately run operations, we would contract out the operation.
Ms. Yukimura: What you said at maturity at the beginning the
MRF would process 10-15 tons a day at maturity you said what twenty?
Mr. Harder: I think we are talking about thirty plus and part
of this depends on how much commercial material comes into the MRF. The main purpose
of the facility would be to have all the Counties curbside recyclables, but ultimately that
could provide also a more efficient more effective processing of commercial material and
they wouldn't be mandated to go there. I would say 30- 35 tons at maturity.
Ms. Yukimura: I think one of the reasons you are looking to
contract it out is it is going to be operated somewhat as a business. I mean they're going to
be selling commodities the result the MRF is a place where trash comes in and commodity
goes out, I mean material that people will pay for whether it is recycle paper or cans or
whatever. Thank you.
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Department of Public Works (continuation) (lc)
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Mr. Rapozo: If you can do your closure than Ms. Nakamura:
Mr. Hooser: The private contracting out of the operation
management, so there are companies interested or have we reached out there are
companies interested?And is this an operation where the County would pay a fee or do they
pay us?
Ms. Fraley: We anticipate that we would pay them.
Mr. Hooser: So we would pay them, provide them the facility
and they would also get the benefit of selling the recyclable goods?
Ms. Fraley: Correct.
Mr. Dill: Yes there are different means we could put in the
contract and of course commodities is pretty volatile to their value. So generally speaking
what you are saying is correct and what we are implementing for the first time in our
Metals recycling contract is a threshold so when that commodity of Metals goes above a
certain level the County shares in the profits to some degree. We are looking at those things
and implementing them so that these things make more and more sense for the County as
well, but there would be basically a floor blow which the cost would not go for the contract.
Mr. Hooser: And the amount of money the County would
anticipate paying out to operate the facility versus the offset of the cost of landfilling it. Has
that been calculated?
Mr. Dill: We have looked at that but we do not have that
information with us right now but we have looked at that.
Mr. Hooser: Is it a net financial benefit?
Mr. Dill: Yes.
I'I Mr. Hooser: I mean in terms of just operating costs not
capital costs?
Mr. Dill: Yes.
Mr. Hooser: Okay, thank you.
, an Y
Mr. Harder: Part of the contract that Larry mentioned that
we are in the process of implementing with our consultant that will do our conceptual
design and our environmental assessment, another part of that is to draft our procurement
documents. We will be basically telling them what we would like it to look like and they will
be putting it into a professional form based on other types of contracts, operation contracts
that they've worked on the Mainland.
Ms. Fraley: So in other words we are getting technical advice
on how to structure that contract so it would be the best benefit to the County.
Ms. Nakamura: That is good to hear because and it would be the
consultant would be someone who does this all the time and has a lot of knowledge about
how the County can share in growth?
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Department of Public Works (continuation) (lc)
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Ms. Fraley: Correct someone with a lot of experience. One big
challenge for us is competition of course so we do let these contracts competitively but it is
been a challenge.
Ms. Nakamura: Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Well the competitive nature is a good thing for us
because we should be getting the best deal.
Ms. Fraley: Sorry what I meant to say is that it hasn't been
that competitive.
Mr. Rapozo: Well there comes a point I think it is more
beneficial for the County to operate it themselves and I think Puhi is a good example. I
mean for many, many, many years we paid them a lot of money and yet they benefited from
all the commodities of the medal as well as their little junk yard that they had going and
charging people cash and I am talking about the former Puhi Metals Recycling. We received
a lot of complaints about that guys go in take a part off the car and pay a hundred bucks
and the County benefits absolutely nothing and we paid them to operate that... what
Councilmember Nakamura calls a windfall or a land mine... I mean a gold mine not a land
mine well that too, that too. I think we also have to be cognoscente of the fact that and I
have said this numerous times on the floor that the commodity is not always in demand.
There are times—it is seasonal or I would say it is cyclical. Very volatile and when I was in
San Francisco years back, I mean it was in a time no one was buying the plastic and they
were forced to store the plastic and wait for someone to want to buy it. That is the other
part of the equation as we do the contract, but I definitely believe that the contract has to
be written in a way that benefits the County. There is nothing wrong with benefiting the
County and if they do not want to play ball with the County and they want their cake and
eat it too, we manage the facility ourselves because I do agree that the commodities that
comes out of those MRF's are very, very valuable if we strategize correctly. Councilmember
Bynum.
Mr. Bynum: I visited a MRF in Oregon and their contract
with the County, they basically were guaranteed enough to operate and then commodity
sales were kind of split half/half. And in the time, you know because that was so volatile, at
one point they were doing all their mixed paper in one place and the price of white paper
was so high that they started to do a secondary sorting of white paper and ended up being
largesse for the County and the non-profit and it was all transparent and clear. Kind of
like if our commodity sales can go above a certain amount, we both benefit. At one point
they had to pay people to take the plastic away, because at one point they were getting
money for it and a year later they actually had a cost incurred to take the plastic away. You
can negotiate those contracts where there is a shared benefit and a floor so the County
knows it won't go below a certain amount and I hope we do that.
Mr. Dill: That is how we are doing more or less the
current metals recycling contract but as Allison mention there is not a lot of competition out
there. So that is kind of a limiting factor in our ability to implement that as much as we'd
like to, but nevertheless, that was part of the solicitation and part of the contract.
Mr. Bynum: Okay, Thank you.
04-02-2013
Department of Public Works(continuation) (lc)
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Mr. Rapozo: Again like I said earlier there is a point that the
County is better off doing it themselves. So that the vendor or the bidder has to understand
that they cannot be too greedy, because they are just going to lose it all. It is about to get
half of something than all of nothing. So I would encourage us to look at what is that
threshold? Also encourage to look at that with the Humane Society as well. Any other
questions as far as -- and we are actually in a good point, because we are still an hour
away from lunch and if we can get through solid waste through lunch, we can finish up
CIP in the afternoon. So we are in a good spot right now. Councilmember Yukimura.
Ms. Yukimura: This is related to contracts that we are talking
about and it is related to your line item budget. You have a departmental contract
specialist in your budget?
Ms. Fraley: Yes, yes.
Ms. Yukimura: Who is that and what do they do?
Mr. Tanigawa: Yes, the Departmental Contract Specialist comes
under Allison's supervision. But just let me generalize, what that person does is takes care
of all our contracting, contract processing needs from the division.
Ms. Yukimura: Okay.So how many contracts does your division
oversee?
Ms. Fraley: I do not have that number. I would say about 20.
I want to mention too that that specialist actually oversees -- manages certain programs as
well.
Ms. Yukimura: Okay.
Ms. Fraley: Very efficient worker by the way.
Ms. Yukimura: So I would like to get all the contracts that you
oversee and the values of the contracts? Does this include the AECOM contract?
Mr. Tanigawa: The processing portion yes, but the
administration is taken care of by me and the Environmental Services Officer.
Ms. Yukimura: We are paying out huge liabilities due
to -- that arise out of these contracts. The Puhi metals site is one of them,
$2 million in the upcoming budget to pay that. You know we had operational liabilities with
our recycling center. That is downtime, having to go out to bid again different kinds of
things. So I am concerned about contracts management and how we are doing that and it is
a tough area. I wouldn't know how to do it, but where we do our operations by contract, we
have to get really good at doing this. So I am just wondering what kind of training we are
getting for those who oversee contracts? And I mean, I believe we appropriated monies for
special counsel for the AECOM contract oversight; right? That is public information?
Mr. Dill: It is a special counsel to help us with legal issues
related to the environmental impact statement is how I would characterize that. I agree
with you 100% with the contract management issues, solid waste does gave a lot of
contracts they manage on-going operation contracts and so we sat down and reviewed all of
04-02-2013
Department of Public Works (continuation) (lc)
Page 40
solid waste contracts with the division to address how those contracts are being addressed
to make sure that we are doing a better job of paying attention to some of the details there.
We have not at this point gone outside for some training, but I appreciate that input and we
will look into that.
Ms. Yukimura: I am not sure what form the training would take.
I just see a need to have training.
Mr. Dill: Thank you.
Ms. Yukimura: And Allison, the 20 contracts that you
mentioned, did that include the AECOM contract or are there other contracts that are not
under that?
Ms. Fraley: That was just a guess. I would have to give you
more accurate information later.
Ms. Yukimura: Right but when you say but when you say 20
contracts were you thinking of AECOM's contract too?
Ms. Fraley: Yes.
Ms. Yukimura: Okay.
Ms. Fraley: That is a big one.
Ms. Yukimura: Right. And I mean, you know, you have so much
going on and we do not do it all by County personnel. And I think it is appropriate at times,
especially when we are limited by budget and otherwise. But if we decide to go contract
rather than County personnel doing the work, we have to get really good at contract
management and both writing of the contract and then the oversight once it is
consummated. Okay thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you. One of the good things about
government contracts, its public record. So we really do not have to reinvent the wheel. I
mean we can look outside and I know you mentioned that earlier about how that is done in
the mainland with the MRF's and how those contracts are written up. And we also have our
County attorney's office as well that should be guiding you folks in drafting together some
good contracts.
Mr. Dill: The attorneys review every contract that goes
out the door.
Mr. Rapozo: I understand and they are reviewing for legality
and the format and the substance is beyond the scope, as far as what we want to see out of
contract. We want to see a more favorable contract for the County. I do not expect the
County attorney to know that. I do expect the County attorney to review the contract to
make sure that we are protected in the event that we get sued, but as far as the substance
and the profit-sharing number and the threshold, that stuff we could probably solicit from
other agencies that are in similar situations.
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Department of Public Works (continuation) (1c)
Page 41
Mr. Dill: And we do that, Council member. As you know,
our County attorneys primarily look at contracts with form and legality, but I can tell you
we have received above and beyond that from our County attorney's office, but what you are
talking about with what is at the appropriate threshold and we are in contact with other
counties in what they're doing and we get input when we do our solicitations as well.
Mr. Rapozo: Well I know Maui does it a lot different as far as
how they manage their metals recycling and cars. Their vendor pays the people to bring the
cars. So they will go out and independent tow companies will go out and pick up cars off the
side of the roads and bring them in and they get paid, I think it is $25 a car.
Ms. Yukimura: $100.
Mr. Rapozo: $100 on Maui. So everyone is different. We could
pick up and learn from some other places and I am not saying it is the right way, but it
definitely encourages the community to bring their junks in. Right now if you call them up
and say, I know you have to bring your car in and you try to get your car towed to Puhi, it
is not worth it and just say let's put it on Kanahele Road and rip off the plates, take off the
J Y p p p
vin numbers and no one will know. We have to encourage and incentivize the delivery of
this metal. The car is worth a lot more than the $100 bucks that their paying the metal.
What was the number that they gave us on the tour? $700 or $800 or $1200 that they
make per car once they cube it and crush it and send it off.
Mr. Dill: At that time.
Mr. Rapozo: Yeah I do not know now, okay go ahead.
Ms. Nakamura: I have a question. I am looking at slide
no. 4. And I wanted to -- this is very helpful, because it tells us where we are getting, like
you said the biggest bang for our buck. I think another column would be helpful and that
would be "what does it cost the County to get this -- to make this diversion happen per ton?"
That way we can look at where we really want -- not all solid waste diversion is really the
same. It is telling us that we get so much more green waste being half, almost half of the
total diversion and business recycling is right up there. So what does it cost us, the County,
to make that happen?And where should we really focus our energy and limited resources?
Ms. Fraley: Well we want to do all of these things in a perfect
world, yes, but with limited resources where do we get the most for our funding?
Mr. Dill: And a great point and we certainly look at that,
as to which is the lowest-hanging fruit of course, and where we do get the biggest bang for
our buck with the least amount of resources. That is certainly what we consider when we
proposing this list to you and implement our schedule. So there are a lot of factors that go
into that schedule and the ordinances are something that is some of the low hanging fruit
and is already underway because that will eventually cost us one body to implement those
programs.
Ms. Nakamura: It would be good to see that third column to see
what is the County's cost, and then we can say, look if we want to do more in this
residential green waste or commercial green waste, maybe we should put more resources
there if the costs are lower?
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Department of Public Works (continuation) (lc)
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Ms. Fraley: That column would be projected costs. We do not
know the true cost, but yes, that would be helpful.
Ms. Nakamura: Our best guess based on the numbers that we
have today that number that we have today to work with.
Ms. Yukimura: I love the suggestion of cost per ton and I want
to say that that goes to my question about the system of diversion? Some systems will cost
more and make per ton cost more, depending on what the design of the system is. So that is
why I keep questioning that whole resource recovery issue. I also think what might be
another column that is of interest is
"cost avoided." right? It is avoided costs because if it
doesn't go into the landfill you are saving something there. So you need to see that cost, too.
And those are not always easy costs to calculate, but they are all part of the picture. We
are doing diversion, but that means that -- and if you are not paying for the amount to
operate that landfill in a given timeframe, because it is going to fill up in a given timeframe
and then you have to include the closure costs, which are for 30 years. You have to pay for
a landfill for 30 years after you close it to capture the methane gas and whatever and that
is a cost that our grandchildren and great-grandchildren have to pay and not us.
Mr. Dill: That is an excellent point and at this table we
have 16 numbers. There are reams of data that are backups to this and I can tell you that
we look at both of those cost as parts of our analysis and we come to recommend to Council
and show us our proposed implementation schedule. That backup is what the basis is for
this. So that information is that we are taking those into account.
Ms. Yukimura: That is very good. Thank you.
Mr. Rapozo: Good point. Air space at the landfill is a
commodity. There is a cost or a value, I should say to that airspace. So that all has to be
considered in the formula. Mr. Hooser, did you have a question? Any other questions? All
right, let's break for lunch now.
Ms. Yukimura: Another April fool's joke huh? I am looking at
your solid waste narrative and at the very end of your operating budget discussion you say
increase in operations are due to... increases in R&M equipment, R&M vehicles and diesel.
In doing the Multimodal Land Transportation Study our consultant pointed out that the
cost of diesel right now is thirty percent of our operating costs and if that costs of gas or
diesel were to double in the next ten years, that would make fuel 60 percent of our budget
assuming everything else stays the same. So part of the plan is to look for an alternative
fuel and in the search for alternative fuels that is a renewable fuel. What is come up is that
in order to spur the development of that you need enough buyers of the fuel, you need a
market for the fuel and that the County's together may really have a good market. And so
Celia Mahikoa our transportation executive is going to be talking to all the other bus
systems neighbor Island counties to talk about possibilities of doing bulk purchase together.
And to the extent that we as a County have other diesel needs. We might want to see what
our total diesel needs are and the budget thereof is you know the amount of money we are
spending on it now and see if there are opportunities to encourage people like Pacific Bio-
Diesel or others who are producing renewable fuels to see if we can begin this transition off
of fossil fuels to renewable fuels. So I just wanted to point out that there are some
discussion going on in the transportation community so to speak that may be worthwhile to
link too.
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Department of Public Works (continuation) (lc)
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Mr. Tabata: Yes and we have had those discussions.
Ms. Yukimura: Good.
Mr. Tabata: However the equipment manufacturers spec
engines that do not allow for an increase percentage mix of the fuel. So at this point our
options are very limited.
Ms. Yukimura: My understanding of bio-diesel is it works in
diesel cars.
Mr. Dill: Okay we are looking into that right now and
there are some challenges but we are looking into that and I will also mention that with
thanks to some very forward thinking fellows in the Office of Economic Development, we
are also discussing with them the possibility of converting landfill gas to compress natural
gas as another opportunity to potentially fuel our bus fleet. So we are looking and exploring
all those opportunities that we see for that.
Ms. Yukimura: That is good and it makes sense to involve the
energy coordinator because we may need to take a County wide view of these things. Thank
you.
Mr. Rapozo: Any other questions, budget questions? I have a
question on the solid waste disposal budget under other services. There's a two million
dollar line for Kekaha Landfill, is that just a transfer to subsidize the operation or
something specific?
Mr. Tanigawa: That is the operational subsidy for our waste
management contract.
Mr. Rapozo: Is that every year? We did not do that last year
right?
Mr. Tanigawa: We have it every year since 1994 was the start.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay, any other questions? Couple more just
general questions and we'll send it over in writing and if you can answer them here that is
fine if you need time that is fine as well. Have or are we able to show a direct correlation
between the reduced hours at the transfer station landfill with the overtime reduction? Is
there a correlation that is directly related to the hours versus maybe the reduction because
of automated versus manual? Is there a direct correlation between reduction and the only
reason I ask is that is one of the more prominent complaints from the Community, was the
reduction and hours at the transfer stations and landfill.
Mr. Tanigawa: Yes there is a direct correlation and we were able
to satisfy minimum staffing requirements, more on a daily basis with the reduction in
hours because we have added staff, that otherwise wouldn't have been there because they
were scheduled for another day.
Mr. Rapozo: You guys were on the 10 hour day right?
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Department of Public Works (continuation) (lc)
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Mr. Tanigawa: Correct.
Mr. Rapozo: Four days a week so by reducing the hours you
get that body for 5 days? So you get that extra body so that in itself was able to cut you out
of the overtime.
Mr. Tanigawa: That is correct and also we through consultations
with the Union, we were able to open up that pool of people to support other transfer
stations across the Island.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay and the other questions was... some of the
li employees were saying that the Sunday operation at the landfill is a very slow day and was
that an option to close the landfill on Sundays?
Mr. Tanigawa: Actually Sundays it is a little slower but some
days a lot slower so it is a good day to catch up on projects, whether it is area's that need to
be cleaned up because of the busy week and they couldn't get to it. I wouldn't consider
closing it on Sundays at least at this time.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay. That was just employee feedback and I
would assume you guys meet with the employees out there and try to figure out ways to
make the operation better.
Mr. Tanigawa: Correct.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay. That is pretty much all I have.
Mr. Dill: Councilmember, if I may just to follow-up on a
couple of things I know came up over the last day or so. One of the issues we talked about
was the management of overtime for our refuse collection employees and one of the things
that we are in the process right now to improve that situation is right now our refuse
collection employees are supervised by the roads division but we are in the process of
transferring that supervision over to solid waste. So that will clarify lines of communication
and help us to minimize the overtime incurred by refuse workers or collection workers. Also
it was just a point made just for clarification on solid waste. The increase in operational
cost was mentioned was equipment repair and fuel issues. Those increases are a result of
again consistent throughout the County that previously funded highways was not being
allocated to the various divisions and departments so that division is seeing an increase in
that for that reason. Just for clarification.
Ms. Yukimura: I have a question?
Mr. Rapozo: Go ahead.
Ms. Yukimura: So you are saying your last point was that it was
a paper shift it is not really an increase in cost, it is coming out of the division which I
support and command.
Mr. Dill: It is a net zero overall but its allocated to the
department or division incurring the cost.
Ms. Yukimura: Okay thank you.
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Department of Public Works (continuation) (1c)
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Mr. Rapozo: I did ask in yesterday's questions in writing to
send over basically the organizational charts of the proposed reorganizations and the
various public works division. It is very difficult for us to follow and when you see a spike in
a line item we do not necessarily there's no record in a downwards spike in another
department so it is very difficult to follow at times so with the org chart at least we'll be
able to determine where the transfers will occur. And the necessity of maintaining those
vacant funded positions until the reorg is complete and I can appreciate that so. I am going
to ask one last question for me and Mr. Chair it looks like we can probably break at twelve
and come back at one and go right into CIP.
Chair Furfaro: Sounds like a plan.
Mr. Rapozo: I got to ask this question and I going pull a
Councilmember Yukimura, I going ask the question again hoping I get a different answer.
Ms. Yukimura: Because it works.
Mr. Rapozo: I am learning that if you ask it enough times you
get your MRF, I mean you do. Shredding, shredding as a variable option when we look at
the cost of these alternatives and as we move forward down the road to capacity at Kekaha.
Is that something that we can look at? I know you folks have looked at it and I know it is
expensive but is there a way of even... we looked on the slide for mandatory diversions or
when we are looking at construction debris, can we do limited shredding something that we
can just divert or reduce the footprint I guess if you will of the trash going to the landfill?
Make it smaller so we can at least enjoy a little more extended life, something we can look
at.
Mr. Tanigawa: Yes Councilmember Rapozo we have continued
looking at that option especially for bulky items. Most recently within the past week we did
talk to Department of Health to see what would be involved in getting something like that
implemented here as far as permitting and regulatory stand points. We got some feedback
unfortunately we had discussed during our budget administration a shredding component
but because of the budget constraints that did not make the final cut. We do continue to
evaluate that and we will propose it to the administration in the future when we find some
good information that we can put together.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay I will send over a request for the
preliminary numbers because I think as we sit around the table earlier there is a cost of not
reducing or diverting and continuing to fill up the landfill. I think we need to
compare that cost or that value of basically using up landfill space that we do not have to
use and I kind of want to see what that comparison is. So we'll send it over in writing, any
more questions?Mr. Chair I will turn it back over to you and you can send us off to lunch.
Chair Furfaro: I think we shall recess for lunch. I just want to
share with my colleagues at the table Senate Bill No 1194, which deals with the TAT Tax
deadline today for testimony I just signed off on is today by 2:30 and the hearing is
tomorrow. I do not know if anyone is planning to attend but... if you have not sent any
testimony, please try to by 2:30 today. And on that note...
Mr. Rapozo: Real quick...addition.
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Department of Public Works (continuation) (lc)
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Chair Furfaro: Yes.
Mr. Rapozo: I am not sure but I am sure you are all aware but
it is to reduce the TAT.
Chair Furfaro: Yes.
Mr. Rapozo: So fast (inaudible) to get you off some testimony
today by 2:30.
Ms. Yukimura: Question?
Chair Furfaro: Go ahead.
Ms. Yukimura: It is reducing the raw value not... we are cap
right now... it removes the cap so...
Mr. Bynum: It makes the cap permanent.
Ms. Yukimura: Oh it makes the cap permanent, Okay. And
reduces the percentage?
Chair Furfaro: Yes.
Ms. Yukimura: Okay thank you.
Chair Furfaro: Mr. Hooser, I will recognize you.
Mr. Hooser: I did submit testimony today and I believe there
are a number of fiscal bills that are going to be going into conference to be used as tools to
balance the budget. So my prediction would be it would pass in some form and then
hopefully not pass out of conference. But it will be one of the tools that they are looking at I
am sure, Thank you.
Chair Furfaro: And you are correct there's several versions of it,
III there's one that makes it permanent, there's one that makes it two additional years. So
please note that by 2:30 today if you want to give testimony, it is due for tomorrow. On that
note, it is 12:00 and we are in recess until 1:00. We'll come back with CIP.
RECESS/LUNCH- 12:01-1:05
Chair Furfaro: Aloha, and welcome back from our lunch break.
We are going to focus on CIP and the capital improvement plan as laid out. And I believe I
am asking for Mr. Dill, Lyle, and Keith Suga, if you folks can come up now? Okay, first of
all let me once again say and extend gratitude and thanks to Mr. Keith Suga, who is
relatively new to the approach of tracking and managing our capital improvement projects.
We have a new project worksheet that he has laid out for us that helps pretty much us
follow items. The particular first column references a project and that they are now listed
alphabetically and the project numbers starting with various alphabets again relate to the
following. If it is a "W" it is a project from public works. "R" comes from parks and
recreation. "H" is housing. "D" is economic development. "Z" is planning. "X" is it. "F" is
for the fire department and "P" for police, so you have an idea from this layout, exactly
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what departments are benefiting from these investments. The columns also reference what
are appropriate and approximate balances on projects because some projects are in motion.
Here is also a number that references a proposed budget for new projects. And any
appropriations balances after an ordinance has passed. So obviously, we start with
bikeway and bond funds and we'll go through this top to bottom alphabetically, if we can.
But so that none of us lose our way, I would like to ask Keith, if you could give us a
summary on those projects that show credits or brackets in there, because that money has
either been moved or transferred to complete other shovel-ready projects. So if we could just
go through that listing real quick, real quick, and then we'll come back for the projects
overall. Now before I go any further, let me just send our gratitude from the Council for
putting it in this format and let me turn the floor over to you, to add anything that you
would like there, along with the County engineer and the deputy County engineer.
KEITH SUGA, CIP MANAGER: Thank you Chair, thank you. Good
afternoon Chair, Vice Chair, Councilmembers, This is my first time here and a little bit
nervous but I think I am prepared as well as can be for the first time. Chair if it is okay
with you what I would like to do is just go through and overview introduction that I had
prepared than speak about the bracketed items that...
Chair Furfaro: That would be perfect.
Mr. Suga: Excuse me, Keith Suga, CIP Manager. First
time, first time, first time. So just to provide an introduction I had started with the County
last August, August 1, after working for 13 years in the private sector for a construction
company. So coming over to the County was something that in my professional career was a
good change for me at that time, something that I needed and recognized. However, within
the Government arena there are a lot of processes and procurements and procedures that
are laid out that I needed to get familiar with. I still do not claim to be the expert on it as I
am still learning all of those processes. In the construction industry out in the private
sector it is easy to have a challenge that arises and you can immediately address it and
here on the government side again that is something I am not quite used to that I need to
get familiar with the process that although there is probably ways to streamline things that
once I am familiar than I can help try to move that along efficiently. I have heard from
Administration and working with public works that this has been one of the toughest
budgets to go through and I acknowledge that. I guess that is one of the best ways to learn
is just jump right into the fire in one of the toughest situations and try to pick up and roll
with the discussions and I have been able to participate on the CIP discussions of course,as
well as sitting on some of the operation discussions so again learning on the fly if you will. I
want to just acknowledge the support that I have received from Administration and the
Finance Department Steve Hunt, Ernie Barreira, and the Budget Analysts. Of course I am
housed in Public Works Administration next to Larry and Lyle and they've been really good
in having open lines of communication and supporting my efforts and in turn me
supporting theirs. Again, I just want to say thanks to all of them for helping me along to get
familiar with all of the things I need to be aware of.
I want to speak to some of the successes within the CIP program this past year. So
real briefly for CIP we've spent through March I believe it was about 13.7 million dollars'
worth of projects that have moved, with another 6.4 million pending award, we've received
bids and their pending award. Some of those projects that I want to highlight are the Civic
Center ADA site improvements, `Ele`ele Waste Water Treatment Plant improvements, The
Kaua`i War Memorial Convention Hall seat replacements, Hardy Street improvements,
Island wide resurfacing which is on-going, Kapa'a Stadium improvements, Kokee Road
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resurfacing, General Plan Technical Studies, Land Acquisition for Lihu`e Elderly Housing
at Rice Camp, Ann Sheehan parcels in Hanalei, The Comprehensive Road Maintenance
Program, The Planning, Zoning and Engineering which is really the e-plan review that is
being implemented. Also as a success I would like to bring up the CIP software
management system that really public works had done a lot of work prior to me coming on
board, in terms of research and developing the initial information for the RFP. When I
came on board and met with Larry and Lyle they handed me over the information that was
put together thus far and allowed me to take it from there and go through the procurement
process with purchasing. Where we are currently we have had the priority list established,
3 priority listed offers established and we've had them invited down to perform a
demonstration phase for us that we've sat in and witnessed.
I think the capabilities and the potential for the software system that we saw during
the demonstrations were really eye opening and I think will provide the ability for the
County to manage a project from initiation phase all the way through construction and
completion, as well as be able to store the data historically so it is available electronically.
So there are a lot of benefits I see within the CIP software and we have just received last
week Wednesday, excuse me last week Thursday best and final offers from the vendors and
once this budget sessions kind of die down I will meet up with the evaluation committee so
we can go through the best and final offers and do the final analysts and be able to award
here in mid-April. Out of all of the 3 proposers they have indicated to us that roughly about
4-6 months for training and implementation before its up and running so about 6 months
from now. Again I think that would be a huge benefit not only for public works but for a lot
of departments and divisions that have projects within the CIP. Being that this is my first
time I do not really have a last year to go back or compare to, I wanted to just maybe speak
on some goals as I have observed it this first eight months on the job. I think there is
certainly room for improvement like anything else there's always room for improvement
and I think the CIP program is no different. I feel and what I have been able to explore and
extract and provide to the department of public works and will continue to learn and
provide additional information is within the AS-400 software that we currently have, our
accounting software. I was able to work with Ken Shimonishi and Ann Wooten, the budget
analysts and they helped me to become familiar with the AS-400 on the project side. I was
able to go in and extract a lot of project data because the AS-400 is difficult to manipulate
and get into so what I was able to do is extract a lot of that information and put it in a
spreadsheet to illustrate it for the project manager so they have that information for the
projects when it comes to project budgets, project expenses, project encumbrances. Again
give then a good overview of their projects and they can use that as a tool to manage their
projects better.
The CIP software that we are looking into obtaining, does have the components to
integrate into the accounting software so that can happen more automatically versus me
doing it manually which I am currently doing. So that is a big plus. I just want to speak to
another goal would be in my prior employment one of my mentors along the way had
always said to me... Keith it is not about necessarily working harder all the time but it is
about working smarter and trying to do more with less. I think with my involvement with
public works and all of the other departments as it relates to the CIP projects, I am looking
forward in trying to help in any way I can to streamline processes and connect the conduits
that maybe aren't so strong right now between inter-departments just to help that process
along, and be maybe the conduit for communication and again whatever it may be to help
support the development and expediting of projects within CIP. Also I have been able to as I
mentioned in the opening I have been able to build quite a bit of relationships already
within public works and the various department heads and other individuals within the
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department that handle projects. I have met with Chair, Vice Chair and some of the
Councilmembers and I want to continue to do that because building the relationship will
help everyone as a whole to improve the CIP program.
The Chair spoke about the spreadsheet and this was something when I met with
Chair a while ago he recommended it and I asked for his input. This was what I was able to
on the first attempt to put together to provide as guide as we go through the CIP projects
and as something that I just want to make all of you aware of if you look at the draft
ordinance that was submitted, really the first one, two, three, four, the first five columns
are exactly as shown on the draft ordinance. I just wanted to keep that consistent to what
was submitted by the same order by funds and by alphabetical order for the projects. I went
ahead and added in the column for the back ground information and tried to provide some
status updates on the status column and estimated project completions on the far right
column. Also does everyone have a copy of that spreadsheet in front of them? Okay, when
you are looking at the spreadsheet what I tried to identify is for projects that reside within
public works I had them highlighted kind of gray if you can see that. All of the other
projects would be projects that reside within the other departments, so as you flip through
and you want to try and follow along a little bit easier you can see the shaded is for public
works.
So now at this time to speak to what Chair requested in the opening about bracketed
items within the proposed budget ordinance column, and just to throw out there on the
table ahead or in the beginning also is for this year's CIP this annual CIP discussion we
certainly did not have any new funds come into the CIP. We were just dealing with all of
the existing funds that was previously appropriated for projects and tried to manage or
work the projects within that budget. Within that process there was several projects that
were identified that via permitting or time wise or not being shovel ready if I can use that
term. We ended up defunding certain projects to move funds over to projects that were
ready to hit the pavement if you will or other priority projects that were brought up that
needed to be funded, so those have been proposed. Let me flip through really quickly and
Chair I will try to just hit on the bigger...
Chair Furfaro: Yes that would be fine and just a brief
understanding of what monies have been shifted, but very brief.
Mr. Suga: What I'll do is let's go over to page 9, page
numbers are on the bottom center. If we flip over to page 9, the first project that I'd like to
speak towards is the Kekaha Landfill lateral expansion as I know there has been previous
discussion on the Kekaha lateral expansion at previous meetings. This was a project that as
public works had indicated... yes this is for lateral expansion for cell one as Larry is
pointing out. Cell one was something that I actually worked on with my prior employer and
the project is complete and so those were monies that we were making available to spread
out through the rest of the project list that needed funding. The lateral expansion cell two is
roughly the
9 million dollars that I am sure all of you are aware of due to the vertical expansion that is
being proposed I believe via the money bill. The roughly nine million dollars' worth of
funding that was associated with cell two has now been spread out through the other
projects. Some of the new projects that are being proposed that the funding got reallocated
to be the eight hundred MHz radio system and again this is a project that we will go
through in more depth and detail, that is one project. Kekaha Gardens being ready for
construction so construction monies were allocated to that and more additional funds were
needed for the Hanalei Courthouse for construction as well so monies were allocated for
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that. Also for the seawalls that are wrapping up design and ready for construction soon,
Moana Kai and Pono Kai's seawall got additional funding also. I know I am missing a
couple but those are the major projects that got funds from the lateral expansion. There are
some other projects and again I apologize I do not know in what detail you wanted to go
through these but there's some projects similar like Wailua Emergency Bypass
Improvements on page 18. That has a reductions originally it was appropriated at 1 million
and has a reduction of 4 hundred thousand and that is due to discussions with public works
and the ability or the estimated that they anticipate that will come in within six hundred
thousand for that particular projects, so funds were removed for other projects. Also I will
make note that for a lot of the bracketed projects as you read through and I should have a
description in the background or the status if the project were complete and that was just
left over balances that are getting spread out to new projects that needed funding. Also for
projects that were funded within the general fund and exercise that we did through the
budget discussion process was to try
and see which projects were a pp p ro riate to be utilized
for other bond funding that was made available. So if you look at the general fund section
which starts on page 22, you'll see that there are a lot of bracketed items starting with
"Aliomanu... and so forth. If you follow the list of projects there's a lot of projects there that
got transferred over to bond where appropriate and some certainly were completed as
indicated in the notes. Just so you are aware if the projects show up twice perhaps in bond
fund and in general fund, that is what is going on there. The projects weren't deleted or
eliminated those projects where the funds were reallocated into the bond fund.
Chair with that if there is any additional items you'd like to go through its certainly
welcomed. I think that is kind of a good overview and what I would like to do is with Larry
and Lyle to my right here have them walk through the public works projects as we move
forward.
Chair Furfaro: I think that would be appropriate right now, I
just want to make sure we gave everybody some information as for the shifting of the
money than we can start going through from public works.
Mr. Suga: Okay.
Chair Furfaro: Mr. Bynum has a question for you.
Mr. Bynum: Before we get into projects specifics if I could ask
some general questions?
Mr. Suga: Sure.
Mr. Bynum: I realize Keith that you may need assistance
from Lyle or Larry to answer some of these questions or maybe even Mr. lieu who is in the
audience. Just generally and I will try to be really brief. When the economic down turn
came we had projects we just cannot get money out the door in this County. It is just
frustrating and that is why you are here. I supported creation of this position with someone
like you with that kind of background so we could move these... be more efficient at moving
projects out. We pretty much had had a pretty bad and we had millions of dollars sitting
there that if we could have put out quickly would have helped during the economic
downturn, but we cannot. But in that whole discussion that I have been pressing very
heavily for five years how do we improve this resulted in your position. One of the things,
the commitments that were made was that there would be this project initiation document.
I do not know if we abandoned that, but the idea was to create a living document for each
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CIP project, so we know who is responsible for it? It gets updated, so you do not need a
bunch of memos coming over from Council, what is the status of this? We go online or in
the County's, if it is confidential information into the County's system and we can -- any of
us can find out real time what is the status of that project. Is that still the goal?
Mr. Suga: Excellent point, excellent point, and I will
answer that. The PID's are still being utilized and I with the help of the Planning
Department and input from Public Works modified that PID a little bit. I agree with you
that is a good living document to provide information for the project and I have worked with
IT to post that information on our share point site our CIP share point site. There is still
some fine tuning that needs to be done so that that information can be made available
certainly for the project managers and the next step would be for all of the Councilmembers
to be able to access some project information like that. I just thought rather than bring in
binders and binders of PID's, I kind of consolidated it here on this worksheet with the
project background and the project status update. The PID is still something that we do
utilize.
Mr. Bynum: Okay so it is still the intention that it be a living
document meaning that its updated and when someone accesses it they can have some
assurance that its current information?
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Mr. Bynum: Because let me tell you my experience with the
PID is a great thing and we get a bunch of them and we are relying on that information and
it is like oh, no that changed and that is not the case anymore. This is the case. Well, why
did not we get and update PID?A living document is something that you can rely on and it
is something that is updated and we know who is responsible for it. So we have been
talking about this for five years. It could have been here by now, you would think, but that
is a goal right we are going to have that at some point?
Mr. Suga: I think what I have done is expanded that a little
bit more. Because although the PID document is a good and living document, to be able to
search for projects by, I am going to call it "district locations" or by
"project managers," I have extracted the data from the PID and created a spreadsheet if you
will that I have on the share point site. That gives you the ability to search really easily and
quickly among the different projects. So if you had a project in Koloa for example and the
pull-down menu selected Koloa, and you wanted to look at a project related to "parks"
maybe you would go to department and click `parks," and it would filter all of the projects
for you and have the project description, the project id number, the project background, the
project status, the project manager. So again, it is an easier way because the PID although
it is a good document it is hard to sort through that really quickly and I think allowing me
to sort through that data and present it in like a worksheet fashion, it just provides an
easier to sort through and filter. So that is something I am working on the share point site.
These are all discussions that we had with the priority list vendors for the software
management system that the PID document and this type of information is something that
we want to have that can be a living document or provide that up-to-date information for
projects as we move forward. So they have all indicated that they can support integrating
something like that also.
Mr. Bynum: Were you involved in the creation of the six-year
CIP plan?
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Mr. Suga: This year I did help provide input in the update
of the six-year CIP plan.
Mr. Bynum: I May need help from the chair or the Staff here
that the Planning Department worked on that and sent it to the Council. Is there Council
action required on this?
Mr. Suga: I am not sure.
Mr. Bynum: so we just received. So there is no input? These
are the administration's priorities without Council input?
Chair Furfaro: I would just add that those administrative
intents are reviewed by the commissioners then the document is sent to us.
Mr. Bynum: Right but we do not act on the document, we
cannot amend it or...
Chair Furfaro: We act on it now.
Mr. Bynum: The reason I been here eight years and do not
know these answers is because the six-year CIP has been a meaningless document in the
entire time I have been here. That was explained to me the first months on Council. Oh,
that is just something that we have to do and update every year. Do not pay any attention
to it. So what is the point of doing it? Because we have a real serious access to information
and communication problems in our County we are we are improving. But this hurts our
credibility and generally these changes priorities, CIP is a multi-year project and when the
priorities change, we do not even get clued in, much less the public, when they see this, like
this week, we'll come up to a conclusion and fund these projects and does that mean they
will actually happen? In the history of the County no? Because a new Mayor comes in, new
priorities and new things and then nobody is told about it, nobody is updated. So for
instance, the six-year CIP, I have reviewed it and there are proposals in this document that
are inconsistent with what was presented in the six-year CIP just a couple of weeks ago. So
that is another systems thing, that 6-year CIP should be an updated thing; right? Even
though we only do it every so often, but if this Council takes action on the request of the
administration, and we defund a project, you know, there should be some awareness of
that. And it should be reflected in the 6-year CIP. Do you agree with these things?
Mr. Suga: I agree and this being my first year providing
input to the update of the 6-year CIP and again, this is something that I believe by charter
the planning department takes the lead on.
Mr. Bynum: Yes.
Mr. Suga: So I agree with you it should be and needs to be
a good guide or tool to be provided to forecast for upcoming major CIP projects. I think just
for me seeing it this first go- around what I hear from other people there have been some
improvements made from previous years to last year and I hope that from last year to this
year there are some improvements as well. And I agree with you that it should have
information that can be utilized and referenced. I think with the process that starts with
the 6-year CIP report, because I believe we started in just after I started, maybe
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September/October, is when the process to update that report happened. So from that
standpoint, or that point in time, until when the actual report got formulated to budget
discussions here as we are going through right now, certainly there is a timeframe there
that things do change. Because when we initially start the CIP 6-year process, I am going
to departments and requesting their best estimates and that is what gets imped
implemented and as we get to actual budget,certain things have changed and that is part
of the inconsistencies that you are seeing right now.
Mr. Bynum: And the other is about financial planning right
and in this CIP budget we are starting projects that are going to have huge cost in the
future. We should project that and say we are going to have these huge revenue issues in
two or three years so we can plan for it. I appreciate those opportunities to as these general
questions for my side and I just want to say that getting this together will save us all kinds
of money, and particularly for all of the departments and the first thing is to get memos
from Council and please tell me this information right. And give it to me by this date and I
do not want the administration spending a bunch of time doing that in answering my
questions. I would rather go online and look and know that I can rely on those documents
that are there. So I am glad to hear that still a goal and every time you come up here I will
ask you where are we at with that. Thanks for the opportunity for my general questions
regarding the projects specifics.
Mr. Chair I would like to add something that also there is
two of us in the audience that have been Planning Commissioners, myself and
Mr. Heu. Okay, and twelve years ago we did it with the understanding that because the
Council cannot commit money for more than one year by charter. The planning document is
in fact one that puts projects on the radar screen especially as it deals with infrastructure
and I think that is the wisdom in the charter. If we see a project coming up for a subdivision
five years from now both water, utilities they all need to be on some kind if radar screen.
But, I will go along with Mr. Bynum that we are glad you are refining those documents.
Council women Yukimura you have the floor.
Ms. Yukimura: I just want say this is such an easier document to
read than what we had last year and we were running back and forth between folders and
PID's and so forth. Thank you for that and I just have a suggestion that whatever you do
that Councilmember Bynum has been speaking about whatever the system is, it not be
called PID's "Project Initiation" right? Documents, is that what it is? Because we are going
to be following it way beyond initiation and it is kind of a misnomer it would be project
status document or something. I just believe in names that make sense so that is just my
suggestion.
Chair Furfaro: I would concur with that. This document and
thank you very much for working on it and taking some of my suggestions as well, but we
should refer to this as a current project management report. I think Mr. Rapozo had a
question?
Mr. Rapozo: It is a general question. Is the PID not the
industry term though? Or is that a Kauai County term?
Mr. Suga: I think that is an industry term because I believe
the form that was introduced the prior year was something that they found within the
industry. In speaking to the need of what Councilwomen Yukimura and Mr. Bynum are
saying. I agree that technically it is a project initiation document and that is how projects
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get initiated and it shows the general information that really technically that should stay
with the project as it moves forward. It is not necessarily as I looked at it when I first got on
board as a tracking mechanism because that doesn't really provide the tools to do so. So
that is where I tried to modify it and I thought to try to take the key component so that we
could implement some kind of a current update is really how I ended up coming to
something like this. That type of information that I referred to on the share point site that
is in like a worksheet like an excel worksheet that you can sort and filter and that is easy
for someone like me to update the project status and again provide the information that is
more ongoing if you will. But you are right it is a...
Mr. Rapozo: I believe it is an industry term and the only thing
missing on this that is on the PID is the date that the project was initiated. So I cannot tell
as some of these funds have been sitting in these accounts for a long time and with this
form I cannot tell how long that project has been on hold. I think if you can add the column
of when it was initiated because it would be a lot easier for me to prioritize. If you have a
project here that is six, seven, eight years old, than maybe we can move those funds in the
general fund.
Mr. Suga: To speak to that point Councilmember Rapozo,
and I am certainly not the expert on this but from what I understand the project id
numbers in the second column. The alpha character as Chair Furfaro explained ties in to
departments. The next two digits, the numerical digits would really be associated with
when I think in speaking to what Councilmember Rapozo is asking is when the project was
funded. So for example Island Bike Pedestrian Path, that was something that was initiated
in 2005. So that is kind of a way too as you guys go through and I am sure that is not the
only way to...
Chair Furfaro: But that was the intent that you can interpret
the year and the dates along with the departments so as we went through "w" represents
public works and date and so forth.
Mr. Suga: Yes.
Chair Furfaro: If you can refine that in another way that is fine
but that was the intent.
Mr. Rapozo: One more general question?
Chair Furfaro: Go right ahead.
Mr. Rapozo: As far as the... and I know this question has
come up in the last few weeks from the Chair and myself about when we transfer bond
funds. What the process? I am sure when you get involved with that, is there a process in
place to make sure that the transfer of these funds or defunding of a project satisfies the
bond requirements? I know we sent over a communication regarding a bond amendment
and I think our bond counsel in their response said we looked at this one and it looks like it
is okay, however we did not review the others. So what is the process if you want to defund
a project and put it somewhere else in the bond fund?
Mr. Suga: For the bond funded projects in that example
that you are using in my experience at this first go around in the budget process. For those
projects I believe I think last week Wednesday a money bill was submitted to amend bond
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ordinance 891. From what I understand I believe that is a process that we communicate
with bond counsel to give them a list of projects that we want to defund and then add on to
projects that weren't previously bond funded to make sure we get their blessings and
approval. That is part of why that money bill was submitted for prior fiscal years 11-12 and
12-13.
Mr. Rapozo: So is the bond counsel, because from the memo I
got and I believe it was circulated I am not sure was that they cannot answer to the
transfers of the past and they could only answer to that one. So I guess the question is, are
we getting an approval if you will from our bond counsel to make we are in the restrictions
of the bond. The bigger concern is when we went out and got the bonds there was a time
limit put on these projects and I do not think the time starts or stops or resets when we put
a new project. I believe the clock starts when those bonds are sold so that kind of makes me
nervous when we are adding in new project close to that deadline date. So I just want to
make sure we are getting or we are abiding by the bond rules so we do not get penalized
with higher interest or anything like that.
STEVEN A. HUNT, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE: For the record Steve Hunt,
Director of Finance. To answer that question, yes we have been in consultation with Brian
Hirai our Bond Counsel and you are correct we have not asked on every specific project.
Some are more routine in nature and they qualify under capitol and it is not even a
question it is the ones that we are asking for BAB's compliance the Build America Bonds
that we have a more gray area that we need to have resolved. We do run those by our bond
counsel before we consider using those types of funds for this. In terms of bonds in general,
there are no restrictions in terms of the projects that were listed on the on the initial bond
ordinance in terms of swapping them out. If we in fact had a hundred projects and next
year we decided to have a hundred new projects that is not a restriction in any way
provided that all of those projects that are replacing them are eligible for those specific
types of bonds.
Mr. Rapozo: But the restriction is that we have to complete
those projects in the specified time?
Mr. Hunt: There is a time in which you have to spend down
the total bond fund that is correct.
Mr. Rapozo: Right and that is my concern. If we are adding
projects getting closer to that spend down date than it...
Mr. Hunt: Right and to that end that is just specifically why
we are looking at those that are shovel ready to spend down those instead of having
earmarked funds for projects that may not come to fruition for three, four year, why not
earmark those and spend down on projects that are ready now?
Mr. Rapozo: Okay.
Chair Furfaro: As a follow-up to that. I do not think what we
got back from Brian was an absolute affirmation in my opinion after reading it. And I do
want you to pursue. We need to get real clarity there, as I was up on the last trip for the
most current bond money and I think it would be important for us just to ask you to
continue to evaluate what he said because to me it wasn't a pure affirmative.
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Mr. Hunt: And part of that again was a response to
questions that you initiated to us and in the response we got from Mr. Hirai, There actually
was that caveat about amending the bond ordinance itself, the initial document which will
be done annually after each CIP project to make sure that we are incorporating those
projects part as art of the ordinance.
Chair Furfaro: Thank you. And yes, that was one of the reasons
that I initiated the queries. And thank you so far but we need to stay close to it, we need to
stay close to it and this was distributed by me to all members.
Mr. Hunt: Thank you.
Chair Furfaro: Mr. Rapozo, can I pass it on to Nadine.
Ms. Nakamura: Thank you. I have a question about the amount
that we are spending annually on the CIP. So you said $13 million spent and $6.4 million
pending in contracts, so approximately $20 million that we encumbered this past year?
Mr. Suga: Yes, or anticipate to encumber in the next few
weeks or so and granted there is a couple more months within the fiscal year that I think
there are some projects that would fall into that window also.
Ms. Nakamura: Last year, I remember Larry Dill giving us some
historical data on annual encumbrances to the CIP and I was just wondering, is this pretty
consistent with past practices, past capabilities of the County to expend these funds?
Mr. Dill: I would have to get back to you on that how we
did versus prior years.
Ms. Nakamura: I was going to dig out my notes because I know
you presented it, but I think it was in this general amount.
Mr. Dill: I can tell you, I believe we are pretty consistent
with what we projected back then where with we are at with the budget.
Ms. Nakamura: So does that tell us then if we have a $49 million
CIP budget, that in any given year we'll spend $20, maybe $25 million?
Mr. Dill: That is very hard to generalize. Because you
know, the way we encumber projects the entire amount upfront. So if we have a couple of
big projects, the actual expenditures may take over the course of a few years. So there will
be spikes in that, so it is really difficult for me.
Ms. Nakamura: We could be very close to utilizing the chunk of
the CIP funding and I guess as a finance department question, are we looking at or what
is the timing of the next potential bond fund for CIP projects?
Mr. Dill: That is a question for the Director of Finance.
Ms. Nakamura: And do you want to respond to that, Steve?
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Mr. Hunt: Obviously one of the biggest challenges with the
issuance of new bonds is that is an increase in the amount of debt service that the County is
going to be required. As we get through the maturity of the older bonds and their paid off
than that frees up some of the ability to issue new bonds. In absence of that you are looking
at using other sources of revenues to pay that debt service so with projects like the landfill,
the materials recycling facility, those types of things on the horizon, I think it would be
appropriate at that time to be looking at bond issuances for those larger projects as we
spend-down what we currently have, I do not know how much of a stop-gap there is going to
be for new projects in between. A lot of that has to do with the necessities of these projects
coming online, too.
Ms. Nakamura: This is on the Planning Committee's agenda
tomorrow, but since everybody is here, that is really why I think I am very happy with the
six-year CIP report and the direction it is moving. And I think it is an incredible leap from
where we were, but it is -- I am hoping it will be a tool that we can all use to help
anticipate not only the capital costs, but what our operating costs are going to result in as a
result of these capital costs. So I am hoping that as this document evolves, that there will
be a section in here, especially because we were just talking about the MRF, and maybe
that might not be a good example that is going to be a privately-run operation. But if we
look at other types of projects, park facilities, for example, it will result in increased staff
needs. So that is what I am hoping that a companion to this report, the 6-year CIP will be a
report that talks about operating costs associated with the capital projects. And I am
hoping that is the direction that we move into. Thank you.
Chair Furfaro: If we can get Keith back, I would like to start to
go through the actual projects.
Mr. Dill: Again, good afternoon Council Chair and
Members of the Council. As Keith has highlighted the public works projects in gray I am
going to go in order through the projects, I will touch on each project briefly. Please stop me
at any time that you have questions if you want more elaboration, but in the interest of
time and moving forward I will give a brief description of each one and of course, again,
stop me if you have any questions. We have our division heads if we need more detail from
them. I do want to mention a couple of things before I start. Very glad that Keith Suga is
here, he has been great to work with and has helped us in pursuing our CIP projects. It has
been a great relationship and as you know,he is out of the Mayor's Office, but houses in the
public works administration. So we have a close working relationship with Keith. Also a
little bit of a tangent. I distributed after we came back from lunch, the reorganization that
are proposed so you have those.
Chair Furfaro: Thank you very much.
Mr. Dill: Okay. So I am going to be working off the large
spreadsheet, and on page 1 the very top, the first project listed is the Islandwide
Bike/Pedestrian Path. This is actually not a "project," it is a Fund which receives funds, as
you see on the right there from the bike licensing programs. ADA Projects, Building
Facilities, this is the Kekaha ADA Improvements, $640,000 is moneys remaining. Turning
the page, top of page 2, Aliomanu Road. You may recall Fiscal Year 2012 CIP, we had
three projects listed individually...Aliomanu Road, Pono Kai Seawall and Moana Kai
Seawall. Aliomanu Road was budgeted in Fiscal 2012 at $3 million. The other two
seawalls are $1.5 million each. They were taking a long time getting through permitting
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mainly with the Department of Health. Recognizing that last year, we did not think all
three projects would be shovel-ready. In Fiscal Year 2013 we budgeted all three into one
line item at $3 million. This year, Aliomanu Road has come out of permitting and we are
getting our construction lined up. That is about $3 million. So that has taken care of our
Fiscal Year 2013 budget. So what you see is the $3 million line item and that is for
Aliomanu Road that remains and I will jump ahead, as you see further in the budget, we
are now refunding and bringing funding back to Moana Kai Seawall and Pono Kai. One is
$1.5 million and one is $1.6 million. I forget which is which. So we refunded those projects
and anticipate those coming out of permitting the middle of the fiscal year or late this
calendar year. Aliomanu Road revetment, you see an $8,887 here. This is the
unencumbered balance.
LYLE TABATA, Deputy County Engineer: So the planning and
permits for the revetment...this is just the unencumbered balance remaining after the
permits we realized this year and this is the unencumbered balance and we just need to
keep some money in there.
Mr. Rapozo: Question, Mr. Chair.
Chair Furfaro: Go ahead, Mr. Rapozo.
Mr. Rapozo: That is where I am confused because if you look
at the number, W08, this item showed up in 2008.
Mr. Dill: Correct. That was the design work and then
this is the corresponding construction work.
Mr. Rapozo: But the $8,887 is in proposed budget ordinance
and if it is leftover money, should it be in the appropriation balance?
Mr. Suga: Good question, Councilmember Rapozo. That
was last year funded through the General Fund. If you were to flip back to the General
Fund. That was a project that got moved from General Fund to Bond Fund, which is why it
is showing up and you do not see the appropriation balance prior.
Mr. Rapozo: Why would we do that, I guess? I hate to ask
these dumb questions, but if it was in General Fund and this is just the extra moneys,
where why would we put it back in the Bond Fund?
Mr. Tabata: Because we are not closing out the project.
Mr. Rapozo: I understand but it could sit in CIP-General
Fund. Why would we put it in the Bond...now those funds are restricted?
Mr. Suga: Good question. As part of our budget discussions
that we had this year, what we tried to do knowing there were going to be some defunded
projects within Bond and to obviously utilize and get to fund balance, there were projects
that needed to be either new proposed projects or projects moved over. The strategy was to
look at General-Funded projects that could be moved over to Bond Fund and essentially,
create the fund balance in Bond and also potentially free up some moneys in the General
Fund that could be...you know.
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Mr. Dill: This helps lessen the burden on the General
Fund and helps us to spend down the Bond moneys.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay. That project is done though?
Mr. Tabata: Well, it is not closed out yet, because we just
received the permit approvals. So until we totally close out the consultant's contract, it is
just part of the process.
Mr. Dill: It keeps it alive until the construction is done, in
case any design issues come up.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay, I understand. I do not understand, but I
understand. Thank you.
Chair Furfaro: Mr. Hooser?
Mr. Hooser: A brief question that could take all day to
discuss, I am sure, in terms of the County's policy on seawalls. So Aliomanu and Pono Kai
and Moana Kai. I can see Aliomanu, I guess it threatens a County road. I guess Pono Kai,
the owners would want it protected? How is that decision made? How is the decision made
I guess to see where we are going to build seawalls and where we are going to spend our
money?
Mr. Tabata: We are not building seawalls. These are
revetments and go through the whole gamete of Army Corps. Of Engineers.
Mr. Hooser: I understand there are permitting requirements
with all of those. But how is the decision made at the County level where to spend the $3
million, the $5 million? Instead of spending it on another project?
Mr. Dill: These are not new seawalls, these are
replacement of failing seawalls. As to how those decisions were made, these are projects
that predate us. I could not tell you what the basis of those decisions were.
Mr. Hooser: In general does Public Works submit a priority
list to the Mayor and the Mayor prioritizes it? How is that decision made?
Mr. Dill: More or less and that is true for all of our
projects. We develop a priority list and discuss amongst the Administration as to what the
priorities are.
Mr. Hooser: So these seawalls and revetments were part of
your priority list?
Mr. Dill: I assumed so back in 2008 when they were
originally approved.
Mr. Hooser: It was in 2008...I am just trying to figure out the
process. You just carry it forward if it was on the list before?
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Mr. Dill: When we came on board, these projects were
already being prosecuted.
Chair Furfaro: If I could interrupt?
Mr. Hooser: Sure.
Chair Furfaro: Thank you. Good question and I can see
Councilmember Yukimura is anxious to give us a little history and I will give you the floor.
There is history that deals with some work that was done by the County in the same time
and there was some State work along the channel entry and there were scenes after Iniki
that we responded to emergencies and the circulation which in the tide currents and
movement of sand has then complicated the matter. There is a lot of dialogue on this and
how it was selected. I think Councilmember Yukimura would like to add on what was an
emergency response. Go ahead, JoAnn.
Ms. Yukimura: Several of us were here in 2008 and the
Aliomanu Road is a County road that is essential for people to access homes and other
things. The Pono Kai wall is part of a County park and protects both the park and the path
there. And what is the third one? Moana Kai. County road again. So there is a lot of
history to this, but in terms of policy decisions, one it would be a different policy call if there
were not any hardening already, because there is the whole issue about not hardening
coastal areas. But because they are hardened already and they support very important
facilities for our people to operate and use and there was this need to fix the problem. I
believe and these kinds of fixes are very difficult because they involve the shoreline area.
We got both the Sea Grant people and others to at least review our plans and analysis to
make sure that be we were not worsening the situation in our repairs and we would be
doing it in the least impactful way in terms of adverse consequences. I think a lot of this
came from at least Pono Kai came from the County Council in those concerns that were
raised and then sent to Public Works. And there was a lot of back and forth in terms of
analysis and so forth.
Chair Furfaro: I think Mr. Bynum wanted to add something.
Mr. Bynum: I just wanted to add that Pono Kai Seawall was
built as an emergency after Hurricane Iniki and it was not built with the standards in
mind. Behind the seawall started having sink holes and it became a safety issue. Moana
Kai I do not think that was an Iniki thing but that is where Baby Beach is and the seawall
is starting to fail. When this comes up as a project, I am going to want to discuss it because
of the Kapa'a Ocean Study which gives us an alternative that we should consider as a
County. I do not think anybody is that aware of it right now. I will save for that when we
come up with that one.
Chair Furfaro: We are there now, Mr. Bynum.
Mr. Dill: Can we do specific projects as we go in order?
Chair Furfaro: We will come back to that specific project there.
Mr. Dill: Next line is Aliomanu Temporary Road Repair
Construction, this is basically a source of funds to keep them available because we have an
ongoing need to protect that road so this provides us a source of funds to do temporary
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sandbagging when we need to go down there. Down to the next shaded project Anini
Bridge, you see we have County Match there. We are proposing since it is a new project, we
are proposing $400,000. We are in the process of requesting STIP funding. So this is our
20% match for a $2 million project and the Anini Bridge, you can see the description this
recent inspection in November 2012 that is part of our regular biennial inspection for all of
our Federal highways and roads. This bridge was listed as critical and so we are requesting
funding for this project to pursue it immediately and we are hoping to get STIP funding in
Federal Fiscal Year 2013, the current Federal Fiscal Year to match the $400,000 of County
funds. This bridge was downgraded as a result of the inspection and we want to move on
this right away. Questions?
Chair Furfaro: Go right ahead.
Mr. Bynum: Even though we do not like having to replace
bridges, this is kind of good news, right? Because several years ago we found bridges that
we had to move immediately. It was kind of a dangerous situation, and now is that we are
doing routine inspections, we are kind of ahead of the game here, right?
Mr. Dill: Yes.
Mr. Bynum: And so even though we do not like replacing it,
we would not be doing this if we had not recognized the need to assess these bridges for
safety. Have I got this right?
Mr. Dill: Yes.
Mr. Bynum: Thank you.
Chair Furfaro: Larry, describe for me where this `Anini Bridge
is?
Mr. Dill: I believe this is the first bridge that you come to
before you get down to the last turn before `Anini Beach.
Chair Furfaro: The one in front of Loo's house?
Mr. Dill: I believe so.
Chair Furfaro: I want to make sure it is not the bridge at the
end of the road because that is a private bridge. Mr. Rapozo?
Mr. Rapozo: That is not a historical bridge, right?
Mr. Dill: I would have to get back to you.
Mr. Rapozo: If you do not know, it is not. If it is, you would
know. Going back to the Acrow Bridge, because that project would qualify for an Acrow
Bridge. An Acrow Bridge would be less than our 20% portion of a $2 million bridge. This is
the argument that we have on this floor a lot. Just because Federal funds are available or
State funds are available does not mean it is the right process. $400,000 is a lot of money.
That is not a big bridge. The bridge is a very small bridge and an Acrow bridge would be
ideal. And Acrow is good enough for the State, for Wailua Bridge, for Wainiha Bridges. It
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is a great bridge used all over the country, but to spend $400,000 as our portion to replace
Anini Bridge is not acceptable.
Mr. Dill: Well, part of the history and I will explore that,
but first I have to confirm it is not a Historic Bridge, but we will explore that Council
member. Acrow Bridges I would assume that the abutments are okay and part of the
problem with this bridge is that it is settling, the foundation.
Mr. Rapozo: I understand, Larry, but if you remove that
bridge and start all over and Keith, I think you would agree, $400,000? I mean, how long is
that bridge?
Mr. Dill: Just over twenty feet.
Mr. Rapozo: We can put a culvert over there. You know what
I mean? I just want to explore that because I will not support $400,000 to replace Anini
Bridge for $2 million. I just cannot do it.
Chair Furfaro: Your comments are well-received especially for a
single-lane twenty two foot bridge. Thank you. Let us move on.
Mr. Dill: Next is the Auto Shop Improvements, to create a
storage space, a mezzanine up above. I believe we have completed April 2013, just
completing the in-house design and going out to bid July 1st for the construction. Next is the
Biennial Bridge Inspections, this is the next round of my bridge inspections that we are
required to do by Federal Highways.
Chair Furfaro: Council Vice Chair?
Ms. Nakamura: Sorry but going back to Anini Bridge. Was that
one or two lanes?
Mr. Dill: That is two lanes.
Chair Furfaro: Currently that is a two lane bridge?
Mr. Dill: A very narrow two lanes. Middle of page 3. CIP
Management System Consultant this is Mr. Keith Suga's project to add $15,000 to the
scope to get this accomplished. This is the fact he received best and final offers and plans to
award by this month, mid-April. Civic Center ADA Site Improvements. This is the project
that we just received construction bids in February 2013. This is largely improvements to
the parking lot around the Lihu`e Civic Center and I believe this is focusing on the Rice
Street side. It is focusing on the Rice Street side is the first phase of this project. And the
Kele Street intersection on the Post Office side of the road. The next line is Coco Palms
Sewer Pump Station, this is the project to address the odor complaints. We anticipate
construction to be bid out June 2013. We were estimating an additional $225,000 in costs
for that and that is a total appropriation balance of$467,000.
Chair Furfaro: Go ahead, Mr. Bynum.
Mr. Bynum: I will keep this brief. I said it the other day, if
we are not addressing Kinipopo, we are being irresponsible. This has been an issue for that
1
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community for a long time. We have a project that can deal with one manhole and one next
to our retail friends there is not being addressed in this. It is not in the 6-year CIP plan
and we are just going to leave that problem and it is something that I have been talking
with Ed about for eight years at least.
Mr. Dill: Well, Ed is closer to this than I am. I know our
consultant did analyses at each manhole that were suspected of being the source of the
problem and my understanding and correct me if I am wrong, the majority of the source of
the odors are coming from the pump station.
Mr. Bynum: When you are getting out of your car to go to
dinner, the bakery, the hair facility...
Mr. Dill: I was there a couple of days ago and I was on
Papaloa and I did not notice anything. Maybe it was the wind.
Chair Furfaro: One at a time.
Mr. Dill: When you are on Papaloa Road you may sense
what is coming out the wet well at the Coco Palms Pump Station.
Mr. Bynum: Ed knows. It is not always there, but when it is
there, it is overpowering. We have a responsibility to deal with this issue and we are only
dealing with half of it. That is my personal opinion.
Mr. Dill: Well, my opinion is different and based on the
work that the consultant did and the analysis.
Mr. Bynum: The next time I am at the bakery and have to
leave because I am feeling bad about it, I will give you a call.
Mr. Dill: Okay, you have my number.
Chair Furfaro: Ed do you have anything to add to that?
ED TSCHUPP, CHIEF OF WASTEWATER: No, I think we have had this
discussion.
Mr. Bynum: Apparently I am beating a dead horse and I just
needed to say it.
Chair Furfaro: I addressed the question to you, would you
answer me?
Mr. Tschupp: I am sorry.
Chair Furfaro: How long has the well been there, the Lift
Station?
Mr. Tschupp: The lift station has been there prior to 1992. It
has been there a while. I do not remember.
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Chair Furfaro: Were there any recent upgrades to the lift
station?
Mr. Tschupp: The last major upgrades to the lift station were
circa 1992 when there was an emergency generator building built at about that time. So we
did a rehab project that did not include odor controls approximately 2007. But that was a
concrete deterioration rehab.
Chair Furfaro: Are you comfortable that this new allocation of
money that is here for the total project about $454,000 will, in fact, resolve the problem?
Mr. Tschupp: I am comfortable that that is the right amount
for the pump station side. And with respect to Mr. Bynum's concern, the next step will be
over on that side and that may or may not require additional funds.
Chair Furfaro: Thank you for the answers. Go ahead, JoAnn.
Ms. Yukimura: So are you saying that it could be connected? So
your plan is to fix the Coco Palms pump station first and then see if there is still a problem
across the street at Kinipopo and to address that and if the fix at Coco Palms does not
hopefully solve the one at Kinipopo?
Mr. Tschupp: I agree that is the strategy that we are going
down.
Ms. Yukimura: Thank you.
Chair Furfaro: I understood your response the first time, even
though JoAnn restated it. But Mr. Bynum has an additional question now.
Mr. Bynum: Well, when you came up with the plan, you did
the test right? I read that document very thoroughly. I do not think you are saying, Ed,
fixing the Coco Palms Station is going to impact directly this? So I do not know how you
could say dealing with this is going to have any impact. The stuff flows downhill right?And
Kinipopo comes prior to the pump station right?
Mr. Tschupp: You are correct about the flow of sewage through
the sewage system. What I think is the public needs to be aware of is that the odor problem
is an airborne/aerial situation that depends upon the direction of the wind and if you have
got this odor source over here across the street, it by itself is contributing to odor problems
on the other side of the street. So the pump station is the most direct and most significant
part of the problem and solving that, I think, will go a long way to resolving Kinipopo side.
Whether it is sufficient in and of itself, I say remains to be seen.
Mr. Bynum: I hate to belabor this, I really do, but what you
are doing there at the pump station is not going to have a direct effect on the manhole at
Kinipopo right? What you are saying if it smells over there, if there were Kona winds or
prevailing winds and I read the study, the mist, suppressing the odor right?
Mr. Tschupp: The mist will not travel, but the odor mitigation
from the project I think will be beneficial on both sides of the street.
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Mr. Bynum: I understand what you are saying. When the
winds are right, I agree. The manhole will continue to be a problem?
Mr. Tschupp: I do not know.
Mr. Bynum: I give up.
Mr. Tabata: Let me clarify?
Chair Furfaro: No, let me talk to the Wastewater people. You
have heard from us. We have serious concerns about managing that bouquet, okay? It is
urgent for us, Ed. And we want you to make it a priority. It has gone on too long, and you
have the technical skills, and between the three of you right there, you guys all have a
handle on Wastewater management and you are all fluid engineers.
Mr. Bynum: That is true.
Chair Furfaro: So we need to make that happen. And I would
just like to leave it at that for right now.
Mr. Tschupp: Understood.
Chair Furfaro: Okay we will move along here.
Mr. Dill: On the top of page 4, this is one of our Holo Holo
2020 projects. Complete Streets Safe Routes to Schools Project, Kawaihau Road. We are
requesting an additional $55,000 to look at the intersection of Kawaihau Road intersects in
the vicinity of Kapa'a High School and St. Catherine's School. This is a very unusual
intersection area. His is work to get a consultant on board to give us the design, which may
involve some sort of roundabout at that location, pedestrian improvements, and possibly
cyclist improvements to make it safer and more efficient. That is $300,000 after this
appropriation that we are looking at.
g
Chair Furfaro: Question from Nadine, Mr. Dill?
Ms. Nakamura: So that will be just for the design portion?
Mr. Dill: Correct.
Ms. Nakamura: Then you will come back after that?
Mr. Dill: Yes.
Ms. Nakamura: With construction? I think it is such an
important project and a huge need because of that dangerous intersection.
Mr. Dill: I agree.
Ms. Nakamura: Thank you.
Chair Furfaro: Go ahead, Mr. Kagawa.
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Mr. Kagawa: Does this include all the way up Kawaihau
Road? Because there is, like existing one right now. It is like asphalt, I believe. And I was
just wondering if we are improving that? Because that one is...I think it is old and it could
use an upgrade. But I do not know if it does include that?
Mr. Dill: This is just in the vicinity of that intersection.
Mr. Kagawa: Okay.
Chair Furfaro: Mr. Kagawa, are you good with that? Okay.
Moving on.
Mr. Dill: Next project is the `Ele`ele Wastewater
Treatment Plant renovation. You can see that we have a balance in 2013 of almost nothing.
Completion of this, the improvements to the `Ele`ele Wastewater Treatment Plant it was
determined that it was appropriate to replace the existing diesel fuel tank due to its age
and we are requesting additional$95,000 to get that work done as well at this time.
Chair Furfaro: Councilmember Yukimura?
Ms. Yukimura: So this is sewer project being funded by the
General Fund or the Bond Fund, which is going to be paid back for by all of the citizens of
Kauai?
Mr. Dill: Correct.
Ms. Yukimura: Why would we not make it a Wastewater project
paid back by the Wastewater Fund?
Mr. Tschupp: Councilwoman Yukimura, one of the things if
you look on the side note there, this project was actually divided up into two phases,
because we had an immediate projected with the generator that failed and has now been
completed. The replacement has been completed. Originally when we went forward with
the project we did not believe that we were going to be eligible the SRF funding that we
typically try to use for Wastewater projects. It became possible for us to apply for SRF
funding for the Phase II project which we are ready to go out to bid with now. We went
forward with the Phase I with Bond Funds, but we were able to transfer out the larger
Phase II project to SRF, when those funds became available. So to a certain extent, the fact
that the funding for the Phase I work was allocated from bonds has everything to do with
the historic availability of SFR funds.
Ms. Yukimura: Why would SRF funds not be available for this?
Mr. Tschupp: SRF funds are not available for design projects.
Ms. Yukimura: This is a design project?
Mr. Tschupp: Actually the spreadsheet description does
actually have a slight error in there. The current funding, I think the $95,000 is the
services of the design consultant through the construction project. So the fuel tank part of
that actually I am not sure where that error cropped up, but it ended up we did replace the
3
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fuel tank already. This allocation is for services during construction. That is not a design
engineer service during construction...that is not available for SRF funding.
Ms. Yukimura: And the services during construction of what?
Mr. Tschupp: Of the Phase II project. Typically we will fund
some of the engineering design either out of operating expenses a lot of times.
Chair Furfaro: On that note, right there, we have to change the
tape, okay? I have let it go and we have been at it for an hour and a half already. So we
will do a tape change and caption break. Ten minutes, members.
We are back from recess. We are going to focus on CIP.
Mr. Dill: We are at the bottom of page 4 the Fuel
Management System we have discussed this during operating. This basically replaces our
outdated system we currently have in place and adding $75,000 to this and with those
additional moneys with the replacement system,incorporate an upgrade of modules for the
vehicles. "modules" means we'll install in each vehicle a communication device that talk to
the pump and that will take a lot of opportunity for mistakes, as I will call them, in
accounting for our fuel usage. So the pump speaks directly to the vehicle without that
human interaction?
Chair Furfaro: Larry, excuse me. For the purposes of us
understanding the operational piece, is there a separate item that reviews the key points of
control?
Mr. Dill: I am sorry I am not following your question.
Chair Furfaro: Is there a receiver end for controls?
Mr. Dill: Yes.
Chair Furfaro: Could we have that portion?
Mr. Dill: Yes.
Chair Furfaro: Because we have something coming up with Amy
and I would like to see the manufacturer's control polices.
Mr. Dill: Okay. Next item is the Fuel Tanks at Kapa'a
Base Yard. This is a new proposed project funded with Highway Fund moneys. We have
identified that we need to replace all of the fuel pumps at the base yard due to their age and
condition and Kapa'a is a top priority. So we are proposing to replace those fuel tanks in
Fiscal Year 2014 and island wide eventually get them all replaced, but Kapa'a is at the top
of the list.
Ms. Yukimura: I have a question.
Chair Furfaro: JoAnn, you have the floor before we go to page
number 5.
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Ms. Yukimura: So all your fuel tanks, what is the reason all of
these fuel tanks need to be replaced?
Mr. Dill: Unfortunately Dwayne Adachi is at a doctor's
appointment. But due to their age, they are deteriorating and requiring a lot of the
maintenance to keep this up and running. So we have $132,000 in the Highway Fund. So it
is about $170,000 for this project to replace the fuel tanks.
Ms. Yukimura: $170,000 total. Was it due to lack of preventative
maintenance?
Mr. Tabata: No, just corrosion. We are converting these to
stainless steel fixtures. Right now it is galvanized, and they just outlived their useful life.
Mr. Dill: They are old.
Mr. Tabata: We need to have them replaced.
Ms. Yukimura: That is excellent that you are going with
stainless steel, because that should last even longer; right? Okay. So all of the base yards,
I mean this is kind of to me, the tip of iceberg in terms of maintenance of our base yards. Do
you have a preventative maintenance plan for base yards?
Mr. Dill: For the buildings, as we mentioned earlier in the
discussions, Building Division is looking at assessment management. On the equipment
side with the implementation of the maintenance management information system that
was discussed, those things will also be part of that program and they will be looking at
those as well.
Ms. Yukimura: Excellent. Does that include your transfer
stations as well?
Mr. Tabata: To the Building Division we already have a
system that they are using. So those facilities are under the Building Division's
maintenance.
Ms. Yukimura: So it does include your transfer stations?
Mr. Tabata: Right. Presently, yes.
Ms. Yukimura: Thank you.
Chair Furfaro: Before I recognize Mr. Hooser, I want to let
Planning, IT, Office of Economic Development, Housing, and Transportation, you have been
relieved for the rest of the day on CIP. These CIP items for those five Departments will be
covered on April 16th. You are excused. We will do Parks and Recreation after Public Works
today. Mr. Hooser, you have the floor.
Mr. Hooser: Yes, because the fuel tank item is split between
the Bond Fund and the Highway Fund, in some sense I am jumping ahead, but I thought
Highway Fund was limited to highways and buses, not general County operations.
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Mr. Dill: Yes, but fueling system is something that is
fundable by the Highway Fund. So the Auto Shop, and the highway...Roads Maintenance
issues, and Transportation Agency are all fundable by the Highway Fund. So the fuel itself
has to get paid for by the various Divisions, the actual equipment is funded by the Highway
Fund.
Mr. Hooser: You were able to obviously fund it by the bonds
also? So we could shift that from the Highway Fund to the Bond Fund if we wanted to?
Mr. Dill: Yes.
Mr. Hooser: Okay. Thank you.
Chair Furfaro: Other questions on this particular one? If not,
we can move on.
Mr. Dill: Page 5, first project for Public Works is the
Hanalei Courthouse ADA Improvements and Septic System. This is a Parks project, that
Public Works is pursuing on behalf of Parks. Basically the project right now is in the
Planning Department for getting its zoning and use permits in the first step of that process.
So we are showing $400,000 as a new appropriation for that project.
Chair Furfaro: Question coming, Nadine?
Ms. Nakamura: I just want to get some clarification on when a
project is done by DPW or by Parks? How do you make that determination?
Mr. Dill: Well, we work together on so many projects it is
hard for me to answer that because we do a lot of support for Parks. I think that Public
Works does the majority of the major projects. Parks does some of their own work. I think
they are still developing that resource within their own Department. And likely as they
continue to develop that resource, they will take on more. But Public Works has been the
workhorse, I guess, for development of Park projects historically and we continue to support
them. So I would say probably the default for the larger projects is Public Works and they
take care of a lot of smaller projects at this time.
Chair Furfaro: Larry, let me ask you something, in the private
world, you know of the same procedure that I know when we sign off on CIP improvements
and so forth. Is there some point in time, if Parks is doing the project, they have the control
on it? And it deals with some repair or maintenance or new roofing or something? Is there
any way it comes to you to sign off that you concur on materials, construction standards?
How does that happen? And please do not say to me because we have an Architect in the
Department, because we may not always have an Architect in the Department. What is the
procedure that you looked at, building specifications?
Mr. Dill: Well, for clarification, the Architect is in the,
Parks Department, not the Public Works Department.
Chair Furfaro: Let me say we will not always have an Architect
in the Parks Department.
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Mr. Dill: It goes on a case-by-case basis and I think Parks
know well when they need our support, and so they certainly call on us when it is
warranted. And then we support them in that situation.
Chair Furfaro: Case-by-case, huh? Okay. JoAnn, you have the
floor.
Ms. Yukimura: Thank you. So there has been a discussion with
the community in terms of the needs of the community for that facility as a community
center. So that all of the things that may be necessary are being included in this design.
Mr. Dill: Since the Parks Director is present, maybe I can
ask him to come and answer that question.
Chair Furfaro: He is not present and he is up next. He is up
next.
Mr. Dill: You can ask him that question.
Ms. Yukimura: We will defer that until then, I guess.
Chair Furfaro: Mr. Rapozo?
Mr. Rapozo: I believe that item is on the agenda tomorrow.
So maybe we can reserve the discussion for tomorrow, because it is specifically on the
agenda for discussion on that. In the interest of time?
Chair Furfaro: Okay. Mr. Dill, continue.
Mr. Dill: Next project Hanapepe and Waimea Levees, you
know the Roads Division did a Yeoman's effort to get it back into compliance. This is the
final phases to complete the necessary work to install irrigation system and get the
grassing installed. The next project Hanapepe and Waimea Levees planning study, the
United States Army Corps of Engineer's study and this is remaining funds in the balance.
This was the study you may recall that the levees were determined to be providing less
than the standard 1% chance storm or 100-year storm protection, less than that. So the
Corps has done a study that they recently submitted to us the results, which indicates
what the status of protection is and what might need to be done in order to achieve 100-
year storm protection.
Chair Furfaro: Mr. Kagawa has a question for you.
Mr. Kagawa: Is the grassing and irrigation on the backside of
the levee? The front side is cement?
Mr. Dill: No, there are parts that are cemented, but the
majority is actually grassed on both sides. As you go all the way up...
Mr. Kagawa: I am talking about the Waimea levee.
Mr. Dill: Right.
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Mr. Kagawa: You are talking about the Kekaha side of the
river or are you talking about...Waimea?
Mr. Dill: Wherever it is grass currently we would install
new grassing and irrigation and I would have to ask our Roads Chief to come up if you have
more specific questions about those specific locations.
Chair Furfaro: Is he here?
Mr. Dill: Yes.
Chair Furfaro: Why do you not have him come up?
Mr. Kagawa: I ask this because I often wonder when they say
that they spent a lot of time and we have basis point been trying to create a Department
within the Division to take care of specifically the levees. Where is all our labor and time
being spent regarding the Waimea levee and regarding the Hanapepe levee?
ED RENAUD, Chief of Roads Maintenance: Ed Renaud for the record. Repeat
your question one more time.
Mr. Kagawa: Is it on the backside of the levee or front side
facing the water?
Mr. Renaud: We are grassing areas that are eroded and that
is what it is, it is here and there. The key is getting irrigation, getting water there from the
river. So we are going to set up stations to pump water out from the river itself.
Mr. Kagawa: So basically, we are talking about areas that are
not cemented?
Mr. Renaud: Correct.
Mr. Kagawa: we want to keep the dirt from eroding by
planting grass?
Mr. Renaud: Correct.
Mr. Kagawa: What kind of grass? It is not buffalo grass?
Mr. Renaud: I am not at liberty to discuss the grass because
we are working with a consultant. It is grass that would use that type of water.
Mr. Kagawa: I really want to support that project. I hope that
the consultant gives us some good advice, because it is the levees that have allowed us the
residents to not have to pay that high a flood insurance. The levees really protect the rates
of the people living in the valleys because it is added protection that is done and it was done
way back and it was done with the biggest flood that we had, we haven't had one that went
over so far. Knock on wood. Thank you.
Chair Furfaro: JoAnn, you have the floor. Ed, I think we may
still need you for JoAnn.
-j+ Q
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Ms. Yukimura: I want to compliment and commend you folks for
the work have you done on the levees. I just wanted to make sure that I understand what
you said Larry. A study has been completed by the Corps with recommendations for what
we need to do to make our levees, make sure our levees can handle a 100-year storm?
Mr. Dill: Correct.
Ms. Yukimura: So these moneys will be used to implement the
recommendations?
Mr. Dill: The monies will be used...actually it is the
project right above it. Since that is moneys for the levees, we are proposing to use that
money as well to support the irrigation and grassing project.
Ms. Yukimura: Because that will be sufficient to make the levees
able to handle 100-year flood?
Mr. Dill: No, that would be a whole, separate new project
and probably very expensive and we would look to the Corps to fund that project or some of
that project.
Ms. Yukimura: I see. And you need this additional $100,000?
Mr. Dill: To complete the irrigation and grassing.
Ms. Yukimura: So we are looking at a total cost of $260,000 for
grassing and irrigation?
Chair Furfaro: Our question is dealing with is there a quarter of
a million of dollars there? Is this 360 Bermuda to use for the fairway?That is a lot of money
for grass and it is not getting us into compliance.
Mr. Renaud: his is more than grassing. It is irrigation.
Chair Furfaro: Expand on what it is.
Mr. Renaud: I said earlier it is irrigation that is what it is
about, getting water to the grass. A lot of grassing, with our crew there we are going to do a
lot of project. These guys, our consultants will train our people to do all of the grassing, but
the irrigation is the big thing. That costs a lot of money.
Ms. Yukimura: It sounds like a system that you said you are
going to take water from the river?
Mr. Renaud: Correct.
Ms. Yukimura: That is good.
Mr. Dill: As much as we can.
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Mr. Renaud: We have to, because when we did the study with
the Department of Water, it would cost us a couple of million and they said no way, and we
understand that.
Ms. Yukimura: It makes a lot of sense to take water from the
river, but I would be concerned at the vulnerability of the irrigation system and then what
do we do?
Mr. Dill: The levees have withstood storms over the years.
The problem we have seen around the river and actually the levees where the irrigation
system would be irrigating the lawn is up the slopes. The levees have survived the floods.
Ms. Yukimura: I am worried about the irrigation system.
Mr. Dill: They should be protected.
Ms. Yukimura: I hope so. It is a wonderful idea to take water
from the river, but it means that the whole system will be close to the river. If it is costing
$300,000 and gets wiped away with one big flood, it is very worrisome.
Mr. Dill: Yes.
Ms. Yukimura: So hopefully there will be some real ways to
protect the system. I am glad that our people will be trained. So it is not like we have to
hire consultants every time. And to develop a crew, a special crew that will have some
specialized capacity. That sounds good, too. Thank you.
Mr. Dill: I might mention so there are actually three line
items funding that effort. The last one on that page, we had budgeted some money there
and doing some small repairs ourselves and waiting for the Army Corps of Engineers to
come through with their project. I mentioned to the Council that the Army Corps has
appropriated $1.9 million in a project totally federally-funded for a project this summer and
they will do the repairs. 1.9.
Ms. Yukimura: Great job in accessing Federal resources.
Chair Furfaro: Councilmember Nakamura?
Ms. Nakamura: Larry, as I recall, the improvements are
important to the impacts to getting flood insurance for residents in and around that area?
Mr. Dill: Yes. Well, I mentioned the $1.9 million project
and the reason we are eligible for that project is that our levees are in compliance with the
Corps' requirements otherwise we would not be able to access the funds. Originally the
Corps constructed the levees, our duty is to maintain them in accordance with their
standards and if we do so, they will take care of repairs. Also as Councilmember Kagawa
pointed out, it allows folks behind the levees that are afforded protection from the levees to
have lower flood insurance premiums.
Ms. Nakamura: At one point that was in jeopardy?
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Mr. Dill: Well, I will not say we are out of the woods yet.
They are not out of woods yet and that is part of the reason for the study that I mentioned
earlier that was recently completed. Because the Corps, they have certain criteria and if
you are protected from the 100-year storm, that is a well-defined criteria and you qualify for
a certain level of flood premiums, flood insurance premiums, but there is no continuum.
For instance in the levees provide like a 70-year protection, it does not matter. If you below
100, you do not qualify for the protection. So that is as far as they have looked at for us
what it would take to get the levees back into the 100-year level of protection? There still
exists the possibility that the Corps will go out and revise the flood insurance rate maps
that would affect the flood insurance premiums that people pay, but they have not done
that yet.
Ms. Nakamura: It is just a huge improvement from where we
were a few years ago to where we are today and good works on those changes.
Mr. Dill: That is our road guys who have done that work.
Chair Furfaro: Mr. Rapozo or Kagawa, did you have a follow-up?
Mr. Rapozo: No.
Chair Furfaro: Next item then, please.
Mr. Dill: Hanapepe Bridge Pedestrian Walkway.
Chair Furfaro: Thank you, Ed.
Mr. Dill: We have an appropriation balance of $90,000
carrying forward from last year that. So our 20% County match for federal-funded project.
And this project I believe we just got bids recently opened. And we are moving forward,
hopefully to contract the construction soon on this project. So that will be to repair the
bridge, the historic 1911 bridge, as well as redo the pedestrian walkway that hangs on the
side of the bridge. Page 6.
Mr. Rapozo: I just want to make a comment about that last
meeting that you folks had in Hanapepe, Lyle, Larry was there and who else was there?
Chair Furfaro: I was, there.
Mr. Rapozo: The last meeting regarding the pedestrian bridge
where you unveiled the architect design? I wanted to say that the residents that were
there left really satisfied with...they did not all get what they wanted, but they were very
happy with what you folks provided. And I just wanted to say thank you for a great job.
Because you know, if you followed them from the beginning, it was rough. And I am not
sure what you folks fed them or gave them to drink that night. They were very pleased
with what I would say was a compromise. The Mayor was there, too. That is why they were
scared. You scared them to death. They were very satisfied with what was recommended. I
want to say thank you, because I was pleasantly surprised that they were so happy. Thank
you very much.
Mr. Dill: Thank you for being there at that meeting. We
appreciate that.
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Chair Furfaro: My compliments as well, Larry, to you and your
team in that kind of success.
Mr. Dill: Why do not you address this one?
Mr. Tabata: The next project is the Hanapepe Town parking
lot. We have completed the in-house design and scheduling with the Roads Division to
complete the construction. And they also at the same time, securing...procuring the paving
work. So the parking lot will be asphalt paved, and we are going to install a street light in
the parking lot that is PV-powered.
Chair Furfaro: Mr. Kagawa?
Mr. Kagawa: We kind of discussed it again, so I do not want to
beat a dead horse, but do we own that land?
Mr. Tabata: The property is Executive Ordered from the
State.
Mr. Kagawa: In the old days, people who wanted to use that
swinging bridge would actually park on the grass. They had their own parking lot, so now
it will be really making it user/tourist-friendly. Thank you very much for your work on that.
Chair Furfaro: JoAnn?
Ms. Yukimura: Yes. Thank you for that work. A question about
the light. Is there any shearwater problem over there?
Mr. Tabata: They will be shearwater-friendly lights.
Ms. Yukimura: That is really thinking ahead.
Mr. Tabata: Everything that we install.
Ms.Yukimura: From now on?
Mr. Tabata: Yes. All the items on our checklist.
Ms. Yukimura: Very good. Thank you.
Chair Furfaro: Nadine?
Ms. Nakamura: And the new lights, are they all solar-powered or
just in this particular situation?
Mr. Tabata: Just for this area.
Ms. Nakamura: In the future?
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Mr. Tabata: Right now, there is a KIUC street light at the
entry of this parking lot. And so further down, because it is darker, we are installing a
light that is PV-powered.
Ms. Nakamura: That is not a new policy, but it just works in this
situation?
Mr. Tabata: Yes, I guess you could say this is a test case.
Ms. Nakamura: Thank you.
Chair Furfaro: Okay. Moving on.
Mr. Dill: Hardy Street. Managed by our Building Division.
This project we are in the selection process and we will be ready to issue the contract soon.
This is a Complete Streets project, Hardy Street from Kuhio Highway all the way to rice
Street, et cetera. So that is coming up shortly, design-build project. Our next project, you
are very familiar with is the Historic County Building project. And another project taken
care of by our Building Division winding up and hopefully wound up soon.
Chair Furfaro: Larry, may I say I appreciate you and Doug's
assistance in the last meeting that we had that dealt with the basement railing, the
entrance stairs, as well as the stairways leading up to the Council Chambers. I look
forward to bringing that to a conclusion, because that will pretty much complete the County
project here for the building.
Mr. Dill: You are welcome.
Chair Furfaro: You wanted to say something, Lyle? We only
have been waiting for several months to work on the railings? So we will celebrate it and I
just want to say is there any chance it will be done by May 9th? This building will be 100
years old on May 9th when we open the doors to go to work. Is there any chance?
Mr. Dill: Unlikely.
Chair Furfaro: Okay. Fair answer. JoAnn?
Ms. Yukimura: Just again, the work that was done on this
building was really excellent and people enjoy using the building, both as visitors and those
of us who work here. Thank you for that. I want to go back, if I may, just to one more
question on the Hanapepe Town parking lot.
Chair Furfaro: Go right ahead.
Ms. Yukimura: At one point, I think the request from the town's
businesses was for a pervious concrete and I think that is not in the plans because it was
too expensive is that correct?
Mr. Tabata: It costs three times more. So when I met with
the key community members, they told us to save the money and just use asphalt. They
were loud and clear they did not want to spend that amount of money for the parking lot.
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Ms. Yukimura: That sound like the right decision, although if
there is any flooding issue.
Mr. Tabata: The engineer designed it, so we have a swale at
the tail to catch the runoff water.
Ms. Yukimura: And it is not that big of an area anyway. Thank
you for looking into it.
Chair Furfaro: Mr. Dill?
Mr. Dill: Yes?
Chair Furfaro: Moving on.
Mr. Dill: Top of page, Island wide SCADA system. I
believe we just recently received bids on this one. Bond Funded project. We are going to be
updating/upgrading the existing SCADA, the supervisory control and data acquisition for
the three plants.
Chair Furfaro: JoAnn?
Ms. Yukimura: Will this help you respond to emergencies as
well?
Mr. Dill: Yes, it does.
Ms. Yukimura: So it makes it a really important project because
of heavy fines if it gets into the ocean.
Mr. Dill: You have communications tied to a lot of key
locations at the plant systems. So whereas in the past, you know, a light would go on and a
bell would ring and hopefully somebody would hear it in the neighborhood. Now we have a
callout list and calls outstanding the operators and tell us what the problem is at locations,
so we can respond directly to the problem and we will respond a lot quicker. A great system.
Ms. Yukimura: Larry has this great background in Wastewater
treatment. Was this qualified for SRF funding?
Mr. Dill: I will have to ask Ed to address that. Because I
had the same question when I came on board.
Ms. Yukimura: $4 million from the General Fund, which is
actually the Bond Fund, which is a lot of money.
Mr. Tschupp: We have this on the SRF list, but it is low-ranked
by the State because the way they qualify projects and as a practical matter, the funds are
not available from SRF?
Ms. Yukimura: This too, this Bond money will be paid back by
the General Fund rather than the users of the system?
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Mr. Dill: Correct, by the citizens of Kaua`i, the County
pays the debt service on the Bond Fund. This is a good example where the indirect benefits
of the SCADA are strong in direct benefit to the entire community island wide. Because we
pointed out our ability to respond to alarms and protection the environment and that is a
benefit to everybody.
Ms. Yukimura: We all know the costs. We do not always
quantify it, but there are huge costs when a hotel has to shut down their guests from using
the ocean and there are costs that are also to residents, whether it is staying out of the
water or getting sick from using the ocean. So I can see that argument. Thank you.
Mr. Dill: Thank you.
Chair Furfaro: Thank you, Ed. Page number, Larry?
Mr. Dill: We are near the bottom of page, Kalaheo Fire
Station improvements. Next item is Kamalu Road culvert improvement and the quick fix
was done and we have got a design now to replace the culvert, and design...it says "under
review" but it should be out to bid by the end of the month.
Chair Furfaro: Next item?
Mr. Dill: Kanaele Road slope stabilization, a leftover
project. We need to look at this remaining from last year. We have not moved forward on
this one as I would have liked. We are in the process of preparing designs and hope to get a
consultant on board to do the design work for us for this project.
Chair Furfaro: Because it deals with the guardrails?
Mr. Dill: No. This is an issue of slope stabilization.
Chair Furfaro: Go ahead, Mr. Kagawa.
Mr. Kagawa: Larry, where is this road?
Mr. Dill: In Kapa'a.
Mr. Kagawa: Are you going to remove that tree or the trees
that the roots are growing onto the shoulder? I am thinking if you dig and cut out the roots
it will just grow back in time. I do not know what the safest way is.
WALLACE KUDO, Chief of Engineering: Right now we are going through
desi n/sco in of the project. It may entail removing those trees. It is a very p g p � y g ve y steep drop-off,
like a 30' drop-off to the lower land and we have houses along there. The guardrail along
there is just hanging in the air. There is no support to hold up the guardrails. So it is going
to take engineering to fix that steep slope. There is no drainage on that road, so everything
that falls on that road falls on the embankment.
Mr. Kagawa: So you guys have to worry about the erosion, plus
the trees?
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Mr. Kudo: It is going to be a difficult task to fix, because of
the limited road right-of-way, you know? You will probably need to...and it is 30' down. So
it is going to be a very great task to accomplish.
Chair Furfaro: Wally, it will address the guardrails?
Mr. Kudo: Yes, because it is a 30' drop.
Chair Furfaro: Mr. Rapozo.
Mr. Rapozo: Is this one of the Shadows? I remember seeing a
picture and I see the Mayor nodding about the floating guardrail.
Mr. Kudo: This area connects it to the road that goes to the
refuse transfer station.
Mr. Dill: So we have road barriers there now.
Mr. Rapozo: So we have barriers? So that safety issue has
been resolved?
Mr. Dill: That is the temporary measure.
Mr. Rapozo: Thank you and we will thank Shadow for
bringing it to our attention.
Chair Furfaro: Thank you, Wally. Next item?
Mr. Dill: Kapa'a base yard structural renovation and two
line items there, funding this project. We are winding that up. The project was...
construction was managed by our Building Division. We are requesting an additional
$20,511 to complete the final resurfacing work to get done there to complete that project.
Very close to completing that project. The next two line items both relate to the Kapaia
Swinging Bridge that had fallen into disrepair and after the storms of last year, we have
done the drawings to reflect the condition of the bridge after the March storm and those are
being reviewed by various agencies. I know some of the reviews are complete already and
when that comes out, those reviews, we'll be able to then move to procurement of initially
replacing the two towers and requesting an additional $100,000 to construct another
construction work to get that bridge restored. We have been working closely with the
community, the Kapaia Swinging Bridge Foundation, and they have quite a passion for this
bridge. We are talking to them about a stewardship agreement by which once the County
restores the bridge, they will take over responsibility for maintenance of that bridge.
Chair Furfaro: Thank you for working on that so diligently and
getting us there. Mr. Bynum.
Mr. Bynum: So you would anticipate that the $241,403 is
sufficient to complete the project?
Mr. Dill: Yes.
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Mr. Bynum: Okay. That is a big difference between $2.5
million.
Chair Furfaro: $2.5 million included the land acquisition.
Mr. Dill: The scope is significantly different.
Chair Furfaro: This is just restores the bridge. JoAnn?
Ms. Yukimura: So what do you mean by "complete?" You mean
that the bridge will be repaired or restoration of the bridge will be complete and usable?
Mr. Dill: That is correct. This is an estimate, so I do not
have a firm construction estimate on the second phase, because we do not have the
drawings for that yet. This is our estimate, our plan is that these moneys would complete
reconstruction of that bridge. So it will be a usable bridge.
Ms. Yukimura: When will the drawings be done?
Mr. Dill: Well, the first phase of the drawings is complete
and almost completed review by the various agencies. We have not done the second phase.
Ms. Yukimura: What is the second phase?
Mr. Dill: The first phase is to construct the two towers and
the second phase is whatever work has to be done on the stringers and deck and two
approaches.
Ms. Yukimura: Okay. That sounds great. Thank you.
Chair Furfaro: Again, thank you, Larry. Next item, please.
Mr. Dill: Top of page 9. Kekaha Landfill. As Keith
mentioned the first item is cell 1. That is basically work for cell 1 is complete and that
work is wrapped up and removed that funding and we are zeroing it out. The next three all
right pertain to the lateral expansion of cell 2 as we have discussed that one quite a bit. So
we had approximately $9 million for that effort and that money. The next item, a new
project that we have discussed that item quite a bit. The next item Kekaha Landfill
closure, $800,000 is a previous appropriation remaining in the budget to take care of
required closure work to be done at the Landfill. And we may begin tapping some of that
work now for the portions of phase 2 that are ready to accept closure construction. The Fire
Department helicopter hangar pad. The helicopter is housed in a temporary space and is
being rented and this will allow us to construct a facility on a site that is leased on a
long-term basis. This is a project for the Fire Department that the Department of Public
Works has conducted.
Chair Furfaro: Larry, is this a hangar or a landing pad or is it
both?
Mr. Dill: It is a hangar.
Chair Furfaro: It is a hangar. Okay. Larry you have a question.
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Ms. Yukimura: Where is this?
Mr. Dill: It is at Lihu`e Airport.
Ms. Yukimura: There is no rent or anything associated with
that?
Mr. Dill: Not with this project. I am not able to speak to
the rent side of that project. This is just a construction project.
Ms. Yukimura: Is that the full amount that is needed?
Mr. Dill: This is the full amount to construct the hangar
facility. Again, rent would be in addition to this.
Ms. Yukimura: Well, it says that the Department has recently
acquired a long-term lease to a nearby site where permanent hangar facility can be
constructed. So I guess it is presumed it is a lease with the DOT Airports, but can we
confirm that staff?
Mr. Dill: Keith has more information.
Mr. Suga: I apologize I should have worded that more
detailed. The Fire Department has an agreement with the Lihu`e Airport, not Public
Works.
Ms. Yukimura: I assumed it was the Fire Department and the
$380,000 is sufficient to build the hangar?
Mr. Suga: That is the estimate that we received through
the Engineering Division to construct...design and construct the concrete pad to be used as
a base for the hangar facility.
Ms. Yukimura: Do you know the issues of the helicopter or not,
this cost was included?
Mr. Dill: I do not know
Chair Furfaro: Let us not duplicate the question. It is a pad and
a hangar?
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Ms. Yukimura: Okay. But I just want to ask staff to ask, this is
not just the CIP-related, but that we get the total cost of equipment?
Chair Furfaro: We will have that sent over and have it answered
when the Fire Department is here.
Ms. Yukimura: That is what I was hoping. Thank you.
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Chair Furfaro: You know, I am going to excuse the Parks
Department. We are on page 9 of 25, okay, members? Parks, you will be rescheduled for
the 16th of April.
Mr. Dill: Kokee Road, 90% of that project and winding up
with final punch list items. It is managed by our Engineering Division. Koloa Fire Station
improvements, similar to the Kalaheo Fire Station renovations and permits to that facility.
Chair Furfaro: Question? JoAnn?
Ms. Yukimura: It says here project scope includes replacing the
defective roofing materials? So were the materials that were in the Fire Station when they
were first built defective?
Mr. Dill: I see our Building Division Chief has left the
building for the moment. Can I ask when he returns...here he is.
Chair Furfaro: JoAnn, would you repeat your question?
Ms. Yukimura: Narrative says project scope includes replacing
the defective roofing materials. Is that word accurate, they were defective?
DOUGLAS HAIGH, Chief of Building: It is more deteriorated, I think
would have been a better word.
Ms. Yukimura: Okay. Well words matter.
Mr. Haigh: This is KOloa, correct.
Ms. Yukimura: Yes, Koloa. Well, Koloa is?
Mr. Haigh: It is almost 20 years old is my memory.
Ms. Yukimura: Thank you, I am just glad it was not defective.
Chair Furfaro: Please make a note to correct that verb.
Mr. Suga: My apologies, Councilwoman Yukimura. I was
copying off information from the old PID.
Ms. Yukimura: Well it should not have been in the old PID
either. Thank you.
Mr. Tabata: Next project is Koloa Crosswalk, lighted
crosswalk. The first phase of it is completed. Crosswalks are installed and in operation.
We have been working with...and it is a Holo Hobo 2020 project and we have been working
with the school crossing guard and the Principal to time the lights. So we completed those
changes last week, Friday. The Principal just sent me an E-mail last night, very
appreciative and the crossing guard is so enthusiastic. He even has enough time to get back
after the children cross. We still have some work to do yet with the Roads Division to
complete all of the striping. And then we are going to come to you with a resolution for
traffic modification at the Waikomo Road intersection and creating one way out and one
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way in only. Because there are two directions out, on each side in and out on each side of
the tree.
Chair Furfaro: You have a question?
Ms. Yukimura: Yes. Well, a comment on the narrative. It is just
that you are missing a bit of history on this. It was not that the community association and
group of developers just came together and created $300,000 for an area of circulation plan.
It actually had something to do with the County Council, which was considering a bill to
establish a moratorium on the building of new...building moratorium in Po`ipu /Koloa and
I am glad that it is unfolding in a way that is supporting safe routes to school.
Mr. Tabata: Because part of our sidewalk is not ADA
compliant, we are using part of the travel way a pedestrian way and include bicycle facility
coming uphill, and share the road with bicycles on the lane going down, southbound to the
ocean.
Chair Furfaro: Just make a note over here, as a result of Council
and developers coming together for a common cause. Okay?
Mr. Dill: Thank you.
Chair Furfaro: Let us move on. Some of the narrative, quite
frankly, we can do without. Okay? We can send you notes. It is 3:30. We have 17 pages
more to go. I do not want to do Public Works again. Okay?
Mr. Dill: I will try to move it along quicker. Top of page
11, Kaua`i Police Department Kapa'a Substation User Needs Study. This is to do a user
need study for a potential new substation in the area of Kapa`a. Managed by the Building
Division.
New proposed project. La'e Road Safety Improvements.
Chair Furfaro: Question, Larry? At least look up between items,
okay? Okay. Nadine, you have the floor.
Ms. Nakamura: Now is this related to Armory Mahe lona
or Mah ona
properties?
Mr. Dill: It is not related to any particular property, but to
identify what their needs are. This is the first phase in addressing a future permanent
location. The armory as I understand is a temporary location...I guess I should say this is
looking at what the needs are at the Mahelona Site and what would be appropriate for
them to build there? Okay.
Chair Furfaro: JoAnn.
Ms. Yukimura: Did you say that the Building Division is
managing this?
Mr. Dill: Yes. It is $85,000.
Ms. Yukimura: Have we done these surveys before?
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Mr. Dill: They will do the study to assess the needs in the
area and what is appropriate for a Police Station in the area?
Ms. Yukimura: I was seeing how that might interface with the
physical arrangements of service, you know? So I think it is appropriate to do a study.
Thank you.
Mr. Dill: Thank you.
Chair Furfaro: Keith, what would we have done if we had the
old forms and we did not have all of this narrative to expand on? You have done us a great
service by having all of these explanations, but for each one that comes up that need to be
corrected, make sure we correct those pieces.
Mr. Suga: Absolutely.
Chair Furfaro: It is very, very much appreciated of Larry, next
item.
Mr. Dill: La'e Road safety improvements, we are in
process of executing a new design contract. This is to address safety issues on La'e Road
especially as it goes by the Elua reservoir. Top of page 12, Lihu`e Bypass Feasibility Study.
This is a County match 20%. 80% Federal funds. This is currently negotiating with the
design consultant to look at the feasibility and initial cost and issues related to a potential
for Lihu`e-Mauka bypass. Lihu`e Wastewater Plant Chemical Lab renovation, this project is
complete.
Chair Furfaro: Wait, go back to the previous one. JoAnn, asked
us to hold on?
Ms. Yukimura: Please, thank Y ou. So this is the one that is part
of the...that is recommended in the 1997 Land Transportation Plan?
Mr. Dill: Correct.
Ms. Yukimura: And why are we doing it instead of the State?
Mr. Dill: We are doing it...it was originally discussed it
would be a possibility considered in conjunction with the landfill and in recognizing that
possibility, though now that is no longer the case. It was initiated at that time but because
it is on the long-range transportation plan and it will determine whether or not there is
something to continue with at that time. So we still recommend that we can complete this
study and determine the feasibility of this project. It will address overall traffic conditions
in the Lihu`e area.
Ms. Yukimura: And what is the projected cost?
Mr. Dill: $100,000 County and $400,000 Federal.
Ms. Yukimura: That is the feasibility study. If it were to be
built, what is cost we are looking at?
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Mr. Dill: That is what this study will tell us. I can just
say it would be a very expensive effort.
Ms. Yukimura: About $600 million?
Mr. Dill: No.
Ms. Yukimura: Well, give me a ballpark. You must have a
ballpark?
Mr. Dill: I would ballpark $50 million.
Ms. Yukimura: $50 million. And repeat again, if we do not need
it, why we are doing it and not the State?
Chair Furfaro: You know, we can take up these discussions a
little bit. We just negotiated it down from $600 million to $50 million. The question is still
alive and should be handled in JoAnn's Committee that deals with Transportation and you
have given us the appropriate answers, but we will have continued dialogue going forward.
Ms. Yukimura: I am guessing that the Wailua-Kapa'a bypass
that was started over ten years ago was probably projected at $50 million, too, when they
started. And I believe now it is about $600 million.
Mr. Dill: I believe that is because of the river crossing.
They have a huge expense with the river crossing which they do not have on the Lihu`e
Mauka Bypass, but I hear you.
Chair Furfaro: Yes, and you heard what I said, right? When we
get these items into Committee on Transportation, we can have further discussion...the
agenda item right now is to understand the CIP piece and why it was plugged in. Mr.
Hooser, you have the floor.
Mr. Hooser: The agenda item is on the budget and just for the
record, I would like to say that I also believe that this money would not be money well-
spent. You are going to look for other important needs with this $100,000 could certainly
be shifted elsewhere, because I do not think we will see this bypass or the Kapa'a Bypass in
our lifetime or the lifetime of our children, given the condition of the federally-funded in
Highway Funds and State needs. Thank you.
Chair Furfaro: And well-said and you can expand on that when
we get it into Committee. Okay? This is an item that shows up here for now. Mr. Bynum?
Mr. Bynum: Process question, Chair? So we are going to put
this in Committee for further dialogue prior to budget?
Chair Furfaro: Write me a Transportation item that you want in
Committee and that is how we will put it in? Okay? So JoAnn can do that. Again, I do
want to go through everything here. we do not necessarily have to go through all the
details, but Keith, it is well-accepted that you are expanded the narrative, but I guarantee
if we did not have this narrative, we would not be spending this kind of time right now. So
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it is an advance placement. So JoAnn, if you want to put in that in a discussion in your
Committee, we are certainly open to it. Next item.
Mr. Dill: Lihu`e Wastewater Treatment Plant Chemical
Lab renovation, complete project. So remaining funds we are taking out of that
appropriation. Next page, page 13, Maluhia Road Pedestrian Bridge replacement this is a
new project we are proposing, $150,000. Maluhia Road Pedestrian Bridge is by Anne
Knudsen Park, but the scope turned out to be more and we are building a new bridge there.
Chair Furfaro: Question from Mr. Bynum.
Mr. Bynum: Sorry. There is no pedestrian walkway from this
bridge to Koloa Town at this point?
Mr. Dill: I believe, yes.
Mr. Bynum: We need the bridge. It would be nice to look at
connectivity to Koloa Town between the park and Koloa. When you replace, it has to be
ADA compliant and with that include some connectivity to something, you know?
Chair Furfaro: JoAnn. We are going to talk about connectivity,
we are never going to be doing all of everything in a reasonable timeframe that might
happen with JoAnn, Mr. Hooser, and my lifetime. We do not have the resources. We are
going into the end of this budget year and we are not going to be able to put even $10,000
back into CIP because we do not have that kind of surplus. Okay? So that is a bigger
discussion that needs to happen. We need to be honest and truthful about how we are
going to approach this connectivity, because we cannot do it all. Okay?
Ms. Yukimura: May I?
Chair Furfaro: Go right ahead.
Ms. Yukimura: The reason why we are bringing these up, is
because CIP is the time where you might have an opportunity to make some connections, or
to just structure it...I mean, the time of design and planning is when you might really link
into opportunities. So I know I spoke with George Costa once about why do not we use that
corner property where the trees are, which is, I guess zoned for commercial, but was very
controversial. You know, for our Sunshine Market? And why do not we have a connecting
pathway from Koloa Park into town, where people could park at Koloa, in the parking for
the park and get to someplace in Koloa Town and even move the Sunshine Market there? I
am not saying it should happen, but when you bring the market into the town, then there is
even more benefit to the town's businesses and you might solve some of the traffic problems
that now are there. So that is the opportunity and I guess, I just want to ask you to look at
that, as you design this project. Thank you.
Chair Furfaro: Members, if you want to talk about expanding
Farmers Markets and new locations to go on that, you can certainly put those in the
Planning Committee. Mr. Kagawa?
Mr. Kagawa: Yes, I agree with you, Chair. I would like to try
and get through this, as much as we can. You know, fellow members if you have any
specific questions about the bridges, staff has informed me that I have an item on April 17th
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in my Committee and please, be ready and I want Public Works to be ready also. You have
been hearing some of the concerns of the members about what bridges and if you do not
have the answers at that meeting we can always defer it, but let us try to get through this
CIP as fast as we can, please. Thanks.
Chair Furfaro: Thank you very much for extending that
courtesy, and the fact that we are going to have something in your Committee soon on
bridges. Let us move forward.
Mr. Dill: Next project, another of the Mayor's Hobo Holo
2020 projects, Materials Recycling Facility and we have also discussed this at length.
$200,000 last year, doing the Environmental Assessment and preliminary design,
contingent upon site selection, which hopefully will be confirmed shortly. We are
requesting another $300,000 to get final design done in Fiscal Year 2014. Moana Kai
Seawall. Next line item, another one of the Mayor's.
Chair Furfaro: Mr. Bynum?
Mr. Bynum: I will be real brief as I will ask for a posting
about the Kapa'a Ocean Study, which we received, because it gives us some alternatives
and it is just something that I do not think we are all aware of and we all need to discuss. I
have an issue now, but I will ask for a future posting to look at those bigger issues. Thank
you.
Chair Furfaro: Any more questions? What page are you on, Mr.
Dill?
Mr. Dill: Bottom of page 13.
Chair Furfaro: Periodically announce the page numbers.
Mr. Dill: I will try doing that with each new page. This is
moneys to fund the ongoing work with the Resource Recovery Park and draft
Environmental Impact Statement. Top of page 14, NPDES compliance, our consultant has
identified for us some concerns about National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
compliance issues and basically the handling of storm water runoff at our transfer stations.
So this is design moneys whereby we would design systems to manage our runoff in a more
environmentally friendly manner and in compliance with NPDES requirements.
Chair Furfaro: Next item.
Mr. Dill: Next one is the Opaekaa bridge replacement.
This is a project well-underway. This is one of three historic bridges in Kapa`a...Opaekaa,
Puuopae, and Kapahi Bridges. We are into the 106 process that leads to the design work
and remaining appropriation for $157,000 as we encumbered the funds for that line item.
Pi'ikoi Interior Renovation. We have an appropriation...I am sorry, a contract that
we are negotiating with the consultant to do the initial design work...the final design work
I should say, for the Wastewater and Solid Waste Divisions. And also to update of the office
space planning effort that was conducted, I believe in 2010, by Architects Hawaii. Middle of
page 15.
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Chair Furfaro: Excuse me, Larry, what is $974,000 get me?
What do I get for $974,000? Will this be some turnkey office space?
Mr. Dill: The work that we are pursuing currently is
design funding.
Chair Furfaro: I heard what you said. I just wanted to
reconfirm that for this building we are going on with almost $1 million of design money?
Mr. Dill: What this does not reflect...you remember is a
money bill to transfer to the Hardy Street project?
Chair Furfaro: Yes, thank you. Nadine has a question.
Ms. Nakamura: Larry, does this mean this is less the $700,000?
Mr. Dill: Yes. A little over $200,000 is remaining in that
line item.
Ms. Nakamura:
Which would then be used for?
Mr. Dill: To design the Solid Waste and Wastewater
offices and update the office space plan.
Chair Furfaro: Could you give us an exact number?
Mr. Dill: Not at the moment, we will get back to you?
Chair Furfaro: Mr. Rapozo?
Mr. Rapozo: Hardy Street Improvements, that is what is
showing in balance as of March 8, 2013, right?
Mr. Dill: Sorry, what page are you on?
Mr. Rapozo: Hardy Street is on page 6. So what we are
showing is the balance on that account for that line from March 8th, which that was the
moneys that the Council transferred?
Mr. Dill: No, we added $760,000 from Pi'ikoi to the
$768,000 and that is our 20% County match. So that is a $7.5 million project. Okay. Back
to page 15.
Chair Furfaro: No, we are not. I am going recognize
Councilmember Yukimura now.
Ms. Yukimura: I am sorry, I was not following the discussion.
What are you taking from Pi'ikoi renovation?
Mr. Dill: Moving $765,000 from that project W12353 on
the bottom of page 14 to on page 6, the Hardy Street project, W12020. So $760,000 plus
$768,000 we have appropriated for that line item.
3
..� _
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Chair Furfaro: So it leaves $200,000 something?
Mr. Dill: Correct.
Chair Furfaro: And that is what is being used for design, not a
million bucks?
Mr. Dill: Yes.
Chair Furfaro: Thank you.
Mr. Dill: Pono Kai Seawall, that we are returning funding
to, $1.5 million and anticipate these projects will be out of permitting late this calendar
year and will be able to go to construction. Puhi Road. This is...these are design funds...
Puhi Road is Phase 1. Puhi Road is a collector road by the County, but only identified so by
DOT. From Kaumuali`i Highway to Kaneka street. This is Phase 1 and also white topping
and concrete road and our first white topping project. So we are adding funding to this as
we are trying to expand the scope to include some complete streets improvements here. But
I am not sure that we will be able to get those on the STIP. So we are working with Federal
Highways and DOT to accomplish that. We are also...the State is going through a
reclassification effort and we are strongly encouraging them to include Puhi Road from
Kaneka to the Hulemalu Bypass.
Chair Furfaro: Mr. Bynum?
Mr. Bynum: This funding is from the college to Kaneka?
Mr. Dill: Correct.
Mr. Bynum: I know you are making the rest of that road a
collector, so you can access STIP funds?
Mr. Dill: Yes.
Mr. Bynum: There was a commitment to deal with the
sidewalks in-house? And now you are saying maybe we can get Federal funding for it, but
that is going to take at least five years.
Mr. Dill: I do not know if it will take at least five years,
but it will not happen overnight and in looking at that project, the estimate that was quoted
was $357,000. I do not think it will cover that necessarily. I also, to me, it doesn't make
sense for us to piecemeal our projects, in other words, I do not want to build a sidewalk and
come back later and build the rest of the road later. Also with that project, $350,000 is
correct, we can spend it as County project or use that to leverage Federal funds and get a
project five times that amount. So it just makes sense from my standpoint to do that project
when those funds become available.
Mr. Bynum: Bear with me for a few minutes, because I do not
disagree with anything that you just said. This is the frustration for Councilmembers and
more importantly for the community. You work two, three years lobbying, getting direction
and get commitments and move down this road. You share that with your constituents or
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with the Administration and everybody goes home saying it is going to happen. Your
rationale makes sense, but it is then turn, shift gear and go.a different direction and nobody
is informed, right? I did not know there had been this big change. I tracked it this way.
That is frustrating.
Chair Furfaro: Let Mr. Bynum finish and then you can respond.
Mr. Bynum: If you understand from the community's point of
view, you go through years down the road and get commitments and it changes and nobody
knows and it hurts all of your credibility, when we go this direction and change gears and
sideline something for five, six years and that is my concern. My other concern is when we
are accessing these funds, they generally have been for repaving, but now we are talking
about putting new elements on the streets, like sidewalks or some kind of pedestrian
facility. Are the Federal funds eligible for that as well, for upgrading the existing streets?
Mr. Dill: Yes.
Mr. Bynum: That is good news. I did not know that that we
give our share for the repaving, but we will give our share for making complete streets.
They will do that?
Mr. Dill: Yes.
Mr. Bynum: That is good news and I applaud your efforts to
expand the streets that are identified as collectors, because that one certainly is. It is not
like you are trying to...like we have done in the County in the past, and rename a street
just to put something on it. You know, that is a logical thing, right? That is a collector.
Maybe it was not 20 years ago, but now with the new subdivisions, it is. I just wanted to
share that frustration about going down this direction and switching gears.
Mr. Dill: Well with all due respect to Mr. Chang and
yourself, I do not feel we made a commitment to do this and we brought up what it costs
and I think we have spoken with Council about Puhi Road and this issue because it is been
a long ongoing issue about the reclassification of the roadways. So we discussed this at
Council last year.
Mr. Bynum: I recall and that is why I am saying that I
applaud your efforts and I think Lyle has been working on this particularly with
negotiating these streets and I have nothing, but praise for that effort. I just want to not,
communications is really important. Because this is going to be news to some people who
live in that subdivision. Whether it was fair that it got communicated to them or not, they
felt there was this plan. Thank you for letting me make those comments.
Chair Furfaro: Okay. Larry, do me a favor please go back and
check the $354,000? That bid came from your Engineering Office. Okay? So I think I
should alert that to you before you say it is just not enough again. That came out of your
engineering department. We will move on to the next item.
Mr. Dill: Top of page 16.
Chair Furfaro: Hold on a second, we have another question.
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Ms. Yukimura: Just this ultra-thin white topping, I thought I
heard you say this is a pilot?
Mr. Dill: It will be the first County road that we are using
the ultra-thin white topping like the State has been doing on Kaumuali`i Highway and
Kapule Highway.
Ms. Yukimura: O n which?
Mr. Dill: On Kaumuali`i and Kapule Highways.
Ms. Yukimura: So what they are doing we would be doing on
Puhi Road?
Mr. Dill: Yes.
Ms. Yukimura: It really increases the life of the road like about
five-fold.
Mr. Dill: I do not know the numbers, but lifecycle costs
pencil out because the cost of asphalt is a lot more expensive than it used to be and concrete
is more competitive and as you pointed out the life of the road is longer.
Ms. Yukimura: Excellent. I will be interested in the results.
Mr. Dill: Okay. Top of page 16. $111,000. There are
safety concerns around Pu'u Road and we are currently negotiating with the design
consultant and have them under contract shortly. Rice Street crossing improvements
another one of the Mayor's Holo Holo 2020 projects and we are actually removing some of
the funding to assist other projects. Restriping to include improvements. Salt Pond
improvements. This is...wait a second. This is not the sewage. This is an effort supporting
Parks on reconstruction work and we anticipate going out to bid in May of this year. No
new funding. Existing project. The next one, Salt Pond was not the Wastewater
improvement. We are looking to connect the wastewater systems at Salt Pond Beach Park
to the existing`Ele`ele Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Mr. Kagawa: I have been informed by people in the Building
Division that have to go out and service. So when we have stuck toilets and what have you.
A lot of it is the leach fields that have not been functioning with heavy rains. So
connecting, as much as possible our Park facilities are a good thing to do.
Mr. Dill: Middle of page 17. Twin Reservoirs Equalizer
Tunnel. The County is one of multiple owners and moving towards decommissioning, but
these are moneys to do maintenance work. Next page 18. That is Wa'a Road.
Chair Furfaro: Question, JoAnn?
Ms. Yukimura: It is about the Twin Reservoir. What is the end
goal of this?
Mr. Dill: The end goal, moving towards likely is
decommissioning of those reservoirs.
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Ms. Yukimura: Is that on County land?
Mr. Dill: The County owns the roadway that forms the
dam. But there are multiple owners that own portions of that area. So we are working
together with all of those owners.
Ms. Yukimura: Decommissioning, meaning, you are going fill up
the land...the reservoir? I mean how are you going to?
Mr. Dill: Essentially you breach the dam. So it does not
impound the water or any water impounds will fall below the regulatory threshold. Our
concern is what would the impacts be on downstream flooding by decommissioning the
dam?
Ms. Yukimura: Right.
Mr. Dill: So we just had a study done by the Corps of
Engineers to assess that and that has brought some other areas to light that we have to
address as parts of this issue. So we are working through those details.
Ms. Yukimura: That is very complex and for right now that
$95,000 is just to keep it maintained?
Mr. Dill: Correct.
Ms. Yukimura: Okay. Thank you.
Chair Furfaro: Larry, May I expand on that?
Mr. Dill: Sure.
Chair Furfaro: Those two reservoirs are very, very delicate
situations for the flooding and the flooding downstream, okay? And we need to make sure
that we pay great attention to the decommissioning and we are following everything as
recommended by the appropriate engineering consultants.
Mr. Dill: Absolutely.
Chair Furfaro: Thank you.
Ms. Nakamura: Have we talked to the agricultural users about
the decommissioning and they are on-board?
Mr. Dill: Yes.
Ms. Nakamura: Thank you.
Chair Furfaro: Thank you, Larry, go right ahead.
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Mr. Dill: Page 18. This is actually the Wa'a Road
Drainage Study. So we are going to be conducting a drainage study down there to figure
out how to mitigate drainage problems there. New proposed project, $100,000.
Mr. Tabata: In addition, to add to this, there was a sinkhole
over there, and Grove Farm Museum took on the responsibility and completed the project.
Ms. Yukimura: May I, Chair?
Chair Furfaro: Yes, I just was thinking, because I was going to
say something, but I will wait. It is Waha or Wa'a.
Mr. Dill: Wa'a.
Ms. Yukimura: Thank you. I am familiar with this, because I
made a personal request about it. It is right across Rice Street, right here and I am
thankful that you are paying attention to it. It was a difficult situation, especially with the
sinkhole. So the proposal is to do a drainage study.
Chair Furfaro: May I just interrupt you for a second?
Ms. Yukimura: Sure.
Chair Furfaro: You gentlemen need to know there are tunnels
under Lihu`e that go to the reservoir by the Airport? As the plantation is closed and the
tunnels dry out, we are apt to have additional sinkholes, so please make sure that we are
very close to this one. I have met with Planning and the County Attorney on this two years
ago. I am sorry, JoAnn.
Ms. Yukimura: No problem. This $100,000 is for a drainage
study?
Mr. Dill: Actually to come up with a drainage solution,
yes.
Ms. Yukimura: And are you planning to get consultants or are
you doing it in-house?
Mr. Dill: We are going to procure consultants.
Ms. Yukimura: Thank you.
Chair Furfaro: Moving along.
Mr. Dill: Next is the Wailua Emergency Bypass
improvements as we have actually worked to establish a scope for this work, we have
determined that we can actually give up $400,000 in funding and we are finalizing the
scope and specifications for the project and anticipate going out to bid by the end of this
fiscal year to get this work done. Page 19 at the top. Wailua Wastewater Treatment Plant.
This project is winding up and should be complete by the end of this fiscal year.
This is various improvements at the Wailua Wastewater Treatment Plant.
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Highway Fund biennial bridge inspections. They are funded out of the Bond Fund.
Next project comprehensive roads maintenance plan. This is additional funds we are
requesting for implementation of the program. This is the maintenance management
information system we talked about earlier. The full tanks at Kapa'a Base Yard.
Chair Furfaro: Go ahead, Gary.
Mr. Hooser: So this could be funded by the Bond Fund as
well? It could be shifted out if that was the desire?
Mr. Dill: Yes.
Mr. Hooser: Thank you.
Mr. Dill: Top of page 20. We talked about Hanapepe
Bridge and this is where a portion of the funding is coming from. Hanapepe Road
Resurfacing. This is a County Match project. We are talking about resurfacing that main
loop of Hanapepe Road and we are currently negotiating with the design consultant. This is
a Federal Highways funded program and this represents our 20% match of the project.
Island Wide Resurfacing, this just reflects again the comments made by the audit we are no
longer funding this in CIP and we are removing the funding from the project.
Chair Furfaro: I would like to hear from the Finance Director
right now about how exactly this is carried over to a two-year program. Could you respond
to that, just so we are all clear? And then I will give the floor to Mr. Hooser.
Mr. Hunt: As you are aware we had to move the Bond CIP
into an operational within Highways Fund per the audit. Within the Highways Fund, those
funds lapse annually from the operational budget, but they stay within the Fund. So we
are going to be earmarking and tracking those funds to get that leveraging every two years.
Chair Furfaro: Okay. Because I am a little hazy on this, but
typically, if we let funds lapse, a portion of that can just be regenerated into CIP money
from General Fund and so forth. This one you are going to actually earmark it as a carry
over?
Mr. Hunt: It has to stay in Highway Fund.
Chair Furfaro: It has to stay in Highway Fund?
Mr. Hunt: Correct.
Chair Furfaro: So this is very, very certain we are going to do it
this way based on what is being presented here? Thank you. You answered my questions
we can go to Mr. Hooser.
Mr. Hooser: So is it correct $1,891,000 is transferred into this
budget and operating resurfacing?
Mr. Hunt: In the operational side, I believe it is a
$1,200,000.
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Mr. Hooser: Where is the difference between $1.2 million and
$1.9 million?
Mr. Hunt: It has gone into other Highway Fund projects. It
is staying within the fund, but absorbed in other projects. It came out of CIP and went into
operations, correct?
Mr. Hooser: Okay. Thank you.
Chair Furfaro: Thank you, Mr. Hooser. JoAnn?
Ms. Yukimura: Steve, so what is the system or the way that you
will be accumulating the moneys for a biennial resurfacing project?
Mr. Hunt: Within the budget itself, we are noting the
amount that is being allocated to specifically the road surfacing and operations in Highway
Funds. That amount will be again whatever appropriation amount we ask for, for the
second year will be added to this year's rollover or lapse within that Fund and will be
requested to be spent within that next year.
Ms. Yukimura: So you are just going to keep it in the operating
budget, and lapse it and then reappropriate it along with the second year's appropriation?
Mr. Hunt: Correct. It will be in the operational budget and
we anticipate it lapsing bringing to the ledger on the fund side within Highways and then
for the second year, once it is been approved and appropriated, that full amount, last year,
this year's amount and next year's amount will come back for those projects.
Ms. Yukimura: This is very trusting of the Council and the
Mayor.
Chair Furfaro: We will have more people able to bid and bring
over expanded equipment and we might do 10-15% more work by bundling it in a two-year
project. That is the benefit? At least that is what I heard.
Mr. Hunt: Correct.
Chair Furfaro: Mr. Hooser?
Mr. Hooser: I want to be clear, what it looks like that we
are...we had $1.9 million set aside for road resurfacing and now we only have $1.2 million
set aside for road resurfacing and we are raising fuel tax when we have the money for road
resurfacing, but instead we are using it for Kapahi Bridge replacement and other projects
that are not road resurfacing projects, but are available to be funded by the Highway
Funds.
Mr. Dill: Well, remember the fuel tax does support all the
other road-related projects and it is not simply for resurfacing and so the fuel tax supports
all manners of road improvements.
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Mr. Hooser: Right but the line item here is road resurfacing
and you shifted those items to other highway improvements.
Mr. Dill: Those are all eligible for fuel tax.
Mr. Hooser: They are also eligible for Bond Funding, is that
correct?
Mr. Dill: Yes.
Mr. Hooser: So the bridge improvements and fuel tanks could
all be Bond Funded?
Mr. Dill: As long as they meet the Bond Funded criteria.
Mr. Hooser: They are Bond Funded now?
Mr. Dill: All those projects that are Bond-Funded meet
those criteria. It is not a simple maintenance project.
Mr. Hooser: For example the Kapaia Bridge, $400,000, fuel
tanks, $132,000, $532,000 that could be funded in the Bond Fund and what is the 2% fuel
tax generate? About the same, $500,000. Is that correct?
Mr. Rapozo: $569,000.
Mr. Hooser: So in effect we could shift those projects to the
Bond Fund and not have any net impact on the road paving?
Mr. Hunt: To the extent that you could find projects eligible
for the Bond Funding. This is Island wide road resurfacing within CIP that is not eligible
for CIP because it is operational. Again, we have absorbed a lot of those back in other
projects here and, as much as we can within Highways because some of these are specific to
Highway funding. It is not always opening up necessarily in the General Obligation Bond.
Mr. Hooser: I think the two I mentioned, they would be
eligible to shift over therefore freeing up the $1.9 million, if that was the will of the Council
and Administration. It would be also supplanting other projects such as the $100,000 and
$400,000 to the Lihu`e Bypass that we just discussed. Thank you Chair.
Chair Furfaro: Thank you very much. Moving on.
Mr. Dill: I believe we just talked about the Hanapepe
Road Resurfacing, Island wide road resurfacing. Next Kamalu Bridge Stream Erosion, we
did this in-house and open bids in February and awarded bid and goes to construction
shortly. Kapahi Bridge Replacement is one of the three historic bridges that I mentioned
earlier, this is first on our list of projects that we want to move forward with construction
and we are requesting $400,000 this year and requesting also matching STIP funds for that
to proceed with construction of this bridge. In the bridge inspection of the three bridges this
was rated in the worst condition so we are prioritizing it as the first of the bridges to go to
construction. Koke'e Road Resurfacing, I believe we already talked about this one. Another
of the Mayor's Hobo Holo 2020 projects. 98% complete, winding up.
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Chair Furfaro: Larry, we have a question from Councilwoman
Nakamura.
Ms. Nakamura: On the Kapahi Bridge, is that a one or two-lane
bridge?
Mr. Dill: One lane. Existing one-lane, proposed one-lane.
Ms. Nakamura: Okay, thank you.
Mr. Dill: Top of page 21, Maluhia Road Improvements,
this is a project that we had on the STIP for widening of Maluhia Road, in light of other
priorities and in discussions with our local Department of Transportation staff and when
they envisioned their widening of Kaumuali`i Highway, we are proposing to remove funding
from this project for this year. Next project, the Northern Leg of the Koloa Bypass, we have
gone through, and have completed an extensive Environmental Impact Statement Process
and we are in the process of acquiring the land now from the landowners there. That is
what we are proposing also on this project to put this on the shelf for now. Proposing to
leave $40,000 in there to complete the land transaction necessary. But like Maluhia Road
we are proposing to defer this project until a later date.
Chair Furfaro: Mr. Bynum and I know we have had this
discussion about the land acquisition prior. Mr. Dill,Mr. Bynum has a question.
Mr. Bynum: So the NEPA is good for five years? So your
intention would be to get back on during that five-year period?
Mr. Dill: Likely.
•
Mr. Bynum: And if we do not, we have to redo the
environmental study?
Mr. Dill: As you mentioned the NEPA has a shelf life to it.
I believe it will not be a complete redo, but the longer we wait, the closer we get to the
complete redo. That is correct.
Mr. Bynum: I concur with this decision. Last year,
Councilmember Yukimura suggested that we remove this for the same reasons that you are
stating. So I am glad you have come around to that conclusion. Thank you.
Chair Furfaro: One more question, Larry, Mr. Rapozo.
Mr. Rapozo: So why? Why is it being taken off?
Mr. Dill: In favor of what we consider to be more higher-
priority items?
Mr. Rapozo: Really? Okay.
Mr. Tabata: Anini Bridge, because it is a health and safety
issue moved up and we had to find money.
swismsmam
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Mr. Rapozo: Okay. Again, 'Anini Bridge, I would disagree
with the cost. I think it is way too high. I do not know, I thought this was a big component
of that Po`ipu Plan. So we just are putting it on the shelf?
Mr. Dill: For the time being in deferring to other
priorities, yes.
Mr. Rapozo: Okay.
Chair Furfaro: JoAnn?
Mr. Rapozo: I am sure JoAnn is happy.
Ms. Yukimura: Well, the way I read the Koloa-Po`ipu Circulation
Plan, this project is a much lower priority and then a lot of projects in the Koloa area, and
so I voted against the land acquisition but when I thought about it, actually the best of all
worlds is to secure the land
Chair Furfaro: Thank you. I think that is what I said four years
ago.
Ms. Yukimura: I was thinking about and I reflect on my votes so
secure the land and not build until we are sure what kind of land transportation system we
are going move towards. As Councilmember Hooser pointed out, Federal monies are going
to be really scarce and we could spend millions up front and then not be able to complete
the project. So not very smart to do that. So I think this is a wise decision and the Council's
decision to acquire the land, you know, which I voted against was the right decision, too.
Chair Furfaro: Thank you very much for that, JoAnn. I do not
think you ever turn away land, no matter what you are going to do it, but let us move on.
We have 16 minutes left.
Mr. Dill: Okay. Bottom of page 21, Puhi Road
Construction I have already spoken to. This is additional...this is additional funds for that
same effort and we are looking for County match to match funds for this project. We are
currently in the process of processing a design contract for this project. Pu'uopae Bridge
Replacement this is an existing project, $34,000 is remaining at one of the three historic
bridges in Kapa'a and moving towards final design as we get through the 106 process.
Resurfacing of collector roads. This is a line item that we use to go to resurface our
collector roads we can use this line item. $255,000 remaining in there. Speed hump traffic-
calming program, the County has this program on a case-by-case basis, when need for
traffic-calming arises and it is appropriate to install a speed hump, this is where we get the
funding.
Chair Furfaro: We have a question here.
Ms. Yukimura: About the speed hump program. I was going to
initiate a change to the Speed Hump Ordinance because it is so limited and we have seen
how well the speed tables work at Weke Road leading to Black Pot Beach Park. I think we
need flexibility in how we do our traffic-calming. So if it is something Public Works is
interested in, I would like to partner in terms of modifying the Ordinance to be more
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Department of Public Works (continuation) (lc)
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current with Smart Growth and traffic-calming and modify it to embrace those different
possibilities. May I go back to Pu'u'opae?
Chair Furfaro: Yes.
Ms. Yukimura: Is this one lane or two lanes?
Mr. Dill: Existing all three bridges are one lane.
Ms. Yukimura: The design for repair is to keep it one lane?
g p p
Mr. Dill: We have made that determination for Kapahi.
For Pu'u'opae and Opaekaa we have not made the official determination yet. I hope to be
finalized design next fiscal year. We are requesting construction funds in Fiscal Year 2015
for the other two bridges.
Chair Furfaro: Mr. Bynum?
Mr. Bynum: I think I heard we are going to have a bridge
g
item on a future agenda. So I have been saving my questions, but I do have one. My read
of this narrative was that when you did the bridge inspections, Opaekaa was not as strong
a concern as Puuopae? So Opaekaa can wait a little longer.
Mr. Dill: The only thing that I can say for sure is that
Kapahi was rated the worst of the three. I cannot remember about the others.
Mr. Bynum: I will wait for that posting for a lengthier
discussion.
Mr. Dill: Okay. Top of page 23. Hanapepe-Waimea Levee
Erosion Control, we have a small amount of funds towards the grassing/irrigation work.
Hanapepe Pedestrian Walkway that is a little bit of funding that we are using towards the
previously mentioned project. Kamalu Bridge Stream Erosion, this is a previously
mentioned project. The Kapa'a Fire Station. We are pretty much waiting the LEED
Certification. Actually it is the Kaiakea Fire Station.
Chair Furfaro: Mr. Bynum has a question.
Mr. Bynum: Kamalu Bridge that is the one-lane bridge? The
only bridge I know of on Kamalu.
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Mr. Dill: Koloa Improvements. This is a 90/10 match on
the Federal highways. So this represents our 10% match, 90% Federal Highway funds.
Moana Kai Seawall. Piikoi Retrofit. Is this closed? We are working on final payment.
Page 24 the top of 25, this lists all the FEMA projects as a result of the March storm last
year, when we came to Council and requested funding to initiate that work. So I am not
going to go through those.
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Chair Furfaro: Just tell me how are we reading this? Are we
reading the balances as referencing what are going to be our reimbursements? How are we
reading this?
Mr. Dill: These are the 25%, right? These are the 25%.
Chair Furfaro: So if I reconcile this to a money bill I should come
out to these numbers?
Mr. Dill: Correct.
Chair Furfaro: We can go through the FEMA page, there is
nothing.
Mr. Dill: We are pau.
Chair Furfaro: Okay, let me just make a footnote for everyone.
We have moved the CIPs for the following: Parks, Planning, IT, Economic Development,
Housing, and Transportation to start on the extra day that was put in the schedule at 9:00
a.m. on April 16th. Okay? Is that correct? We have Planning in the afternoon? We are not
finished yet. We are not adjourned. Planning is 9-12. And so this will be 1:00-4:30,_okay?
Before we end I am going to ask the Mayor if he wants to come up and say something?
Mayor Carvalho: Just quickly. First of all, Council Chair, thank
you very much and for the healthy discussion today. I just wanted to focus on the CIP
program and just a little history and acknowledge some people. And you are correct,
Councilmember Bynum, when we started to discuss how we are going to better manage
CIP period, knowing the many challenges and the different projects that we have had on
the table, I said to our team members at that time, that I wanted every project to have a
story. So that when somebody asks about any project, they would know what is the
objective? What is the goal? What is timeline? What is the cost? How far into
construction are we? Is it just design-build first? How far? What is the reality of every
single project that we have, every single project? So that was the first thing and then
secondly, find out how we can manage and get to a place that we can share information
and that was the second thing. And so whether it is enhance the PID, Project Identification
Document, that is what it was at that time. And I wanted to acknowledge Tommy
Contrades and acknowledge Joe Blevins and I wanted to acknowledge Ed Renaud and of
course Ken Teshima. Those are the guys at the beginning who took it in the beginning and
things shifted around and new teams members added on the other pieces, whether it is
tying it into the fiscal system, tying it into IT and making sure that we the right software
and making it come to life. So there were many different parts that started from one place
and now we are here today discussing it. I believe it is still a work in progress, in process,
if I may and I know you folks being a Department Head once upon a time sometimes you do
not want to give too much information and my message is that we want to give as much
information as we can to we get to the place that the information is flowing back and forth
and on your side of the table, you are being questioned on how are the projects being
managed and, by the way, your staff is awesome.
There are so many things that you folks do that they are working closely with our
staff and our team members and I wanted to point out that CIP in general is such a big, big
part, just one part of all the other stuff that we have to manage. So with the team members
in place and work collectively, I think each project has a story and we will continue to
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develop the story together, so in the end we will develop the foundation, if it is going to
happen and God forbid if we are here or not, it will continue because we have built a solid
base and we have imbedded it already and moved forward. That is all I wanted to say in
the CIP part. I know there is much more coming forward and much more discussion and we
may disagree or not, but be assured until today, I have talked to a lot of ours who...I will
not use the word "afraid," but at least being open and talking about it and there will come a
time that we disagree and that is okay and we move on and make adjustments and we
move on again. So that is all. Thank you so much. I look forward to more discussion.
Mahalo. Thank you.
Chair Furfaro: Thank you for being here today, Mayor and I just want
to remind everybody, we are going to recess until Thursday, 9:00 a.m. Remember,
Thursday, we started this last year, we are going to focus on revenues for Thursday, okay?
On that note, I would like to recess this meeting, and tomorrow we have a regular Council
Committee meeting. We are in recess until Thursday, 9:00 a.m.
There being no objections, the Committee recessed at 4:46 p.m.