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HomeMy WebLinkAbout 01/17/2013 Special Council Meeting-Interviews SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING JANUARY 17, 2013 The Special Meeting of the Council of the County of Kaua`i, was called to order by the Council Chair at the Council Chambers, 4396 Rice Street, Suite 201, Lihu`e, Kaua`i, on Wednesday, January 17, 2013 at 8:35 a.m., after which the following members answered the call of the roll: Honorable Tim Bynum Honorable Gary L. Hooser Honorable Ross Kagawa Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura Honorable Mel Rapozo Honorable JoAnn A. Yukimura Honorable Jay Furfaro, Council Chair APPROVAL OF AGENDA. Mr. Bynum moved for approval of the agenda as circulated, seconded by Mr. Hooser, and unanimously carried. INTERVIEW: PUBLIC ACCESS, OPEN SPACE, AND NATURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION FUND COMMISSION: • Theodore K. Blake — Term ending 12/31/2015 FIRE COMMISSION: • Eugene Keith Jimenez — Term ending 12/31/2013 Chair Furfaro: Mr. Blake, may we ask you to come up? THEODORE K. BLAKE: Good morning. Chair Furfaro: Good morning. Thank you very much for being here and more importantly, thank you very much for consideration, as this appointment is an appointment that fills one of the Council's vacancies. We also have it for a position that deals with the Koloa, Lawa`i, and Po`ipu area, of which is where your family home is. You are very familiar with the area. On that note, I would like to start by asking you to just give some background on yourself to the group. I know we are all familiar with you, Ted, but let us give you some time here. Mr. Blake: I was born and raised on Kaua`i. I attended Koloa School, Kamehameha Schools, College of Idaho, and the University of Hawai`i. I worked in the Hotel Industry for a number of years as the Sales Manager at the `Ilikai Hotel, and Tour and Travel. I also worked as a Real Estate Broker for Moana Corporation—Principal Broker. I have had a plant nursery and I have involved Special Council Meeting 2 January 17, 2013 myself in a lot of community work in the last fifteen (15) years. The present position that I hold is the Executive Director for Ma-lama Koloa, which is concerned with the preservation and maintenance of our wahi pana, which we have a tremendous amount in Koloa. The project for the island's first State Designated Scenic Byway. We just completed our Corridor Management Plan and we are on our way to apply for a National Scenic Byway. We have good remarks from the State and the National Consultants. The State feels that the Scenic Byway in Koloa will probably be the top Scenic Byway in the State. The National Consultants feel that it will be one of the top three (3). Interestingly, our Scenic Byway is only nineteen point five (19.5) miles. Most scenic byways average fifty (50) something miles. In that nineteen point five (19.5) miles, all of the history of Hawaii, as it starts in Koloa. We are a microcosm in the history of Hawaii. We have a tremendous asset, not just for our local residents Statewide, but also for our tourists. It will be an economic boom, economic stimulant to the area. We have so much history in Koloa. The first white man was in Koloa—first, Captain Cook. Sugar started there. We have a tremendous agricultural field system in an area that most people do not even consider to be suitable for agriculture. That is the Koloa Field System in Po`ipu. We want to bring all of this back. We have been in negotiations with the new trustees of the Knudsen families to maintain the remaining wahi pana that is left in Po`ipu. This is a major, major switch from the previous relations we had with the Knudsen family. The last two (2) Saturdays ago, I took the trustees on the tour of the Koloa Field System, and in the field to show them some of the wahi pana there. They were just amazed. This family has owned this land for over a hundred (100) years. They were amazed at what was there, what was planned to be demolished, and they want to save it all. Christmas came early. Chair Furfaro: Ted, may I ask you, just for the audience and maybe even a few of the Councilmembers; as we reference wahi pana, we know it as places that are special and so forth, could you just expand on that when you use it in your dialogue for the public. Mr. Blake: Wahi means "place." Wahi pana refers to our archaeological sites. You will also hear wahi kapu, which is iwi or ali i places. Wahi kapuna are older archaeological sites. They are all archaeological and historical sites. Chair Furfaro: Thank you for that. Members, are there any questions for Mr. Blake? I guess that is a good indication. I do want you folks to know that I approached Mr. Blake as a candidate from the Council and I felt that with his background and the need to prioritize some of these particular areas as we build funds; he would be a great resource for the Committee. Special Council Meeting 3 January 17, 2013 Ms. Nakamura: Thank you, Chair, for helping to fill this position that has been vacant for quite a while. Thank you, Ted, for being willing to fill in this position. We have tried to make some changes to the Open Space Commission Ordinance to give the Open Space Commission more tools to do things beyond just an annual list of recommendations. What we are doing is working with the Commission more closely to develop a set of criteria in how to select once you do the annual report, to prioritize, and really to work with the dedicated Staff people there to carry out and implement some of these recommendations. That is one area that I hope—it looks like you will be appointed to this Commission, that you will focus on that and implementation. There has been so much talk and great recommendations,but not enough action and implementation. I think that can only come from not only the Council's interest, but also the Commission's review of the Staff and what they are doing. That is just more of a comment than a question, Y g just q but... Mr. Blake: Can I share something with you? Ms. Nakamura: Sure. Mr. Blake: As I look at Open Spaces, this is something that has come about maybe twenty (20) to twenty-five (25) years ago. Prior to that, there were no problems with Open Spaces. I think we have to move towards balance. We have a lot of malihini that has moved to the island. They come with a different perspective of aina. As residents of Kaua`i, we kind of grow up learning to be good hosts, welcoming hosts. We just have to teach though, that the malihini that come, to be welcoming guests. I think this is something that I would like to move towards because if we can do that, all the legalities that we face right now will probably dissipate. It is just a matter of...it is just getting back to taking the high road and treating them with respect and dignity as we ask them to treat us with respect and dignity. Not everybody has the opportunity to live on the beach and when somebody does live on the beach, it is not like, "This is mine, and you are out." This is not how we live here and I think if we can put that forward in a respectful and dignified way, I think we will have a lot less pilikia. Thank you. Ms. Nakamura: Thank you. Mr. Bynum: Ted, I do not really have any questions, but I do want to comment about Open Space. I am thrilled that you would join this Commission. It is I think, a great Commission right now—a real active and diverse group of individuals. As Councilmember Nakamura mentioned, the Council passed regulations and passed an Ordinance that gave the Commission more authority, more latitude to address advocacy, and access that has been denied. Unlike other Commissions, they have a substantial amount of funds coming in every year. They have a full-time Staff person at Planning. They are currently pursuing accessed Special Council Meeting 4 January 17, 2013 denied through eminent domain at the Hoban property in Po`ipu. They are also looking at reestablishing the access at Kauapea that was lost to the community and the Council recently passed a Resolution asking them to look at Papa`a Bay and options for that lost access. They are not just about access, but I am really anxious to see how this Commission proceeds. Over the last couple years, they are poised to do wonderful things for our community, and I am thrilled that you could be part of it. Thank you. Ms. Yukimura: Thank you, Chair, for inviting Teddy to come on board. I wish I had thought of it. I do have a question. There is so many—first of all, I really appreciated your comments about being able to find common ground and how we treat each other, both kama aina and malihini. There are a lot of places that need potential work with the Commission and potential acquisition. Land is so expensive, so the resources cannot cover everything we want to inquire. How do you see setting priorities amongst the various possibilities? Mr. Blake: I would look at it where the areas that are most utilized and prioritize your...like if it is in Po`ipu, a lot of people go to Po`ipu. If it is Lawa`i, probably not as many people go there. I would prioritize it that way. Another thing that is a big problem on your accessing...I have been gathering limu for many years. You have accesses but they are overgrown with plants coming from either side. Opening it up, if you open up the access, and make it accessible, I think the perception from the public is that we are all working together. When they see...just in the Koloa area, I know of three (3) accesses where naupaka has grown over from adjacent lots and block the access. No one does anything about it. We cannot expect the County crews to go over there, they have enough problems as they have with Guinea Grass growing all over the place. Thank God Guinea Grass does not grow on the beach. It is this type of thing and to prioritize what areas get the most used because it does not make sense to spend a big, bunch of money on someplace that a few people use. Ms. Yukimura: Unless the value is natural area preservation. But you are right about...I think you are alluding to the fact that public access, too, can be a double-edged sword because if you have overuse, sometimes people not knowing about the place actually protects it. I am remembering when I walked with David Chang, Dot Towell, and others at Mand'ulepu with the Trust Republic Lands who came from San Francisco. This was in the late 80's...no, the early 80's. They were not in favor of making it into a park or anything because at that time, they were worried that it would just be overrun. When you do give access, you also have to have a management plan of some sort. Mr. Blake: That opens up a whole different can of worms because you have all these publications that Ultimate Kaua`i and this, that... Special Council Meeting 5 January 17, 2013 Ms. Yukimura: That is what they were thinking about. Mr. Blake: When I go down to Mand'ulepu and I see local families there on weekends, but during the week, it is just inundated with visitors; which is not a problem. Say for the fact that they are not ma a to the ocean conditions or anything else, that becomes a problem. Ms. Yukimura: That is correct. All of those issues of education and management come up. It is a big job that you folks have taken on but I am glad you are willing... Mr. Blake: One step at a time. Ms. Yukimura: Right. Thank you. Chair Furfaro: Mr. Blake, thank you very much. We will be voting on your Resolution later on today. I also want to say that next week we will have Dorothea Hayashi on the calendar to fill the last vacancy of the Council's appointment, and thanks very much to Mr. Kagawa, we have a candidate from the Hanapepe, `Ele`ele area. Within a two (2) week period, we should have a pretty full body. I look forward to voting for your appointment today. Mr. Blake: Thank you for the confidence you shared by nominating me. Chair Furfaro: Thank you. Mr. Blake: Aloha. Chair Furfaro: We have our second interview next on this Special Council Meeting. It will be an interview for the Fire Commission. The Fire Chief is here as well. Would you call up Mr. Eugene Jimenez. EUGENE KEITH JIMENEZ: Good morning, Chair Furfaro and members of the Kaua`i County Council. My name is Eugene Jimenez and I am interested in serving on the Fire Commission. Chair Furfaro: Thank you very much, Eugene. I was very pleased to see your name come up over to us. I want to say that your finance experience in serving the County will certainly serve the Fire Commission well. I do want to also share with you that the Fire Department is a Department that year after year, that comes in within one and a half percent (1.5%) of their Budget margins, so we could have used some of your talents on another Commission, but this is the Commission that we have you on. I am sure that the Chief will be pleased with your Special Council Meeting 6 January 17, 2013 contributions and your history there. I will be supporting you later today and now let me ask if other Councilmembers have questions for you. Now is the time. Mr. Jimenez: Thank you for your comments. Mr. Bynum: Eugene, thank you for coming and thank you for being willing to serve on the Fire Commission. I am sure you will be a great asset to that Commission who has some outstanding Commissioners on it already. I want to thank you for your thirty (30) years of service to the County of Kaua`i and I congratulate you on your retirement. I told you when you retired, that we would bring you back in some form, and it did not take that long. I am thrilled to have you become a member of the Fire Commission. Mr. Jimenez: Thank you very much. My wife was wondering why I wanted to come back and serve in the Commission but that is neither here nor there. Chair Furfaro: Members, other questions for Eugene? We will be voting on your appointment later today. Again, thank you for the experience you will bring to the Fire Commission, especially as it relates to the financial end. I will be supporting you, but that vote will be later on today by the Council as a body and someone from our Office will then be contacting you. Mr. Jimenez: Thank you. Chair Furfaro: Thank you very much. Thank you for stepping forward. ADJOURNMENT. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:55 a.m. Respectfully submitted, ,, ) L-�Ti' '' "'� ' EDDIE TOPENIO, R. Ai Administrative Assista to the ounty Clerk :cy