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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/07/2014 Public Works/Parks & Recreation Committee minutes MINUTES PUBLIC WORKS / PARKS & RECREATION COMMITTEE May 7, 2014 A meeting of the Public Works / Parks & Recreation Committee of the Council of the County of Kaua`i, State of Hawai`i, was called to order by Ross Kagawa, Chair, at the Council Chambers, 4396 Rice Street, Suite 201, Lihu`e, Kaua`i, on Wednesday, May 7, 2014, at 10:50 a.m., after which the following members answered the call of the roll: Honorable Tim Bynum Honorable Mason K. Chock, Sr. Honorable Gary L. Hooser Honorable JoAnn A. Yukimura Honorable Ross Kagawa Honorable Mel Rapozo, Ex-Officio Member Honorable Jay Furfaro, Ex-Officio Member There being no objections, the Committee recessed at 10:50 a.m., to convene in the Economic Development (Sustainability /Agriculture / Food / Energy) & Intergovernmental Relations Committee. The meeting was called back to order at 2:43 p.m., and proceeded as follows: C 2014-89 Communication (03/05/2014) from Council Chair Furfaro, requesting the presence of the County Engineer, to provide an update on the Ala Kalanikaumaka Street off-site drainage area and the efforts of the Department of Public Works to address the reported problems that occur following heavy rain. [This item was Deferred.] Chair Kagawa: We are going to take a motion to defer after we have some updates from Councilmember Rapozo and Council Chair Furfaro. Councilmember Rapozo, would you like to go first? Chair Furfaro? Mr. Furfaro: I just want to inform you that Mr. Rapozo and I met with the individuals that have mutual concerns along that flooding area which included representatives from Kukui`ula as well as the engineering firm, as well as the church association and residents in that area. They have concluded with Mr. Rapozo some dates to actually walk the site and therefore the request for the PWPR COMMITTEE MEETING 2 MAY 7, 2014 deferral. I want to thank Mr. Rapozo for being with me to meet with the group. Mr. Rapozo. Mr. Rapozo: Thank you, Mr. Chair. What is being passed out is the letter from the church at Koloa and some signatures of concerned citizens. The drainage issue over there...and Mr. Kagawa and I went down there at one (1) time and I do not know why, I believe everyone got the video of the last rains that went and affected that area. When the Kukui`ula Bypass was built they supposedly improved the drainage and it is causing a lot of water to funnel into that community. The engineers used existing studies and topo maps to design that system and it is apparently causing more problems for that community than previously. We did meet yesterday and the Chair was there and in fact they will be meeting with former plantation employees who managed the ditches so that we can come to some resolution because it is now a safety issue for the residents in that area. It is a dangerous situation when the rains come. Although the engineers assure us that it is built to sustain a one hundred (100) year flood, there is a question to whether or not it can. Again, from the three (3) day rains that we had not long ago and the video that I saw I think it definitely deserves to have a second look. Our Public Works Engineer, Mr. Larry Dill and Lyle Tabata have committed to the Chair and I that they are going to work in the next two (2) weeks to relook at this area and hopefully come to us with some recommendations or suggestions in two (2) weeks. For that reason, I would suggest we defer for two (2) weeks. Thank you. Chair Kagawa: Councilmember, looking at the letter from the church at Koloa and they have a seven feet (7') in circumference culvert. They mean seven inches (7"), right? Mr. Rapozo: Yes. Chair Kagawa: So it is a seven inch (7") size culvert and it is pretty scary because you see on the news in `Oahu where you have these dry drainage canals or ditches and when it rains it is like a river and that is what I think that video looked like. When you go there, on site it is dry. It is all overgrown with weeds and stuff. I think the one they showed us was a three (3) day rain. I thought it was a one (1) day rain but the water was just...a young kid would have a high chance of drowning there. It is so swift, very scary. Something, hopefully can be done and worked out and I want to thank you, Councilmember Rapozo and Council Chair Furfaro for meeting with Mr. Abreu and the church members. Any other discussion, members before we...go ahead. Mr. Rapozo: It is seven feet (7"). What they are talking about is the culvert at the end towards the Paanau Village side. The water would actually escape and go under the road on that end towards the ocean so they are PWPR COMMITTEE MEETING 3 MAY 7, 2014 talking about the seven foot (7') circumference culvert. What we saw...they have I believe it is three (3) culverts, the little pipes... Mr. Furfaro: Manifolds. Mr. Rapozo: There are three (3) right now, probably I would say twelve to eighteen inches (12"-18") that they feel is sufficient but again from what we saw in the video, that was nowhere near a one hundred (100) year flood but the engineer from...and I cannot think of the name...Christiane, help me. CHRISTIANE NAKEA-TRESLER, Legal Analyst: Towill. Mr. Rapozo: R. M. Towill & Associates did recognize the local knowledge that was discussed yesterday and will be taking a look at what the residents believe was the original flow, the original drainage flow which is in dispute right now by the engineers because they are using maps but I think it is pretty clear the local knowledge is very clear that the original flow prior to the improvements did not send the water to that little ditch by the property. We will see what happens. Mr. Furfaro: I believe he agreed to walk that area and also that we are going to contact the State portion of the housing for Paanau and include them as well. Mr. Rapozo: Thank you. Chair Kagawa: Thank you. Any more discussion, members? If not, can we have the motion to defer? There being no one to give testimony, the meeting was called back to order, and proceeded as follows: Upon motion duly made by Councilmember Chock, seconded by Councilmember Yukimura, and unanimously carried, C 2014-89 was deferred. The Committee proceeded on its agenda items, as shown in the following Committee Reports which are incorporated herein by reference: PWPR COMMITTEE MEETING 4 MAY 7, 2014 CR-PWPR 2014-04: on Resolution No. 2014-26 — RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING CROSSWALKS, BUS STOP, SHARED-USE PATHS, ONE-WAY TRAFFIC LANE, AND INTERSECTION MODIFICATIONS ON `EIWA STREET, LIHU`E DISTRICT, COUNTY OF KAUAI [Approved as Amended.] CR-PWPR 2014-05: on Resolution No. 2014-28 — RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING CROSSWALKS, REVERSE ANGLE PARKING, BICYCLE LANES, AND INTERSECTION MODIFICATIONS ON HARDY STREET, LIHU`E DISTRICT, COUNTY OF KAUAI [Approved.] There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:35 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lori L. Marugame Council Services Assistant I APPROVED at the Committee Meeting held on May 21, 2014: ROSS KAGAWA CHAIR, PWPR COMMITTEE