HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/24/2017 Department of Public Works (Operating & CIP) Public Works— Operating & CIP
Honorable Arthur Brun (present at 9:03 a.m.)
Honorable Mason K. Chock
Honorable Ross Kagawa (present at 10:47 a.m. and excused at 2:05 p.m.)
Honorable Derek S.K. Kawakami (present at 9:06 a.m.)
Honorable Mel Rapozo
Honorable JoAnn A. Yukimura
Honorable Arryl Kaneshiro
The Committee reconvened on March 24, 2017 at 9:03 a.m., and proceeded as follows:
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Good morning, I would like to call back to order
the Budget & Finance Committee and the Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Departmental Budget
Reviews. Let the record reflect that we have a quorum. On the schedule for today, we have
the Department of Public Works Operating Budget followed by CIP, if we have time. We
have allocated today and next Tuesday, because Monday is a holiday, so please do not come
in on Monday, for the Department of Public Works and CIP. As far as the agenda goes today,
the Administration can present their budget presentation, we will take any questions on the
budget presentation, when we are done with that, then we will go through each individual
division/departments. We will have Administration and Fiscal, Building, Engineering,
Automotive, Highways and Roads, Wastewater, and Solid Waste. That is the order will be
go. Lastly, CIP. As we do each morning, we will take public testimony. Is there anyone in
the audience wishing to testify today? Seeing none, I would like to call up...oh. We are taking
the testimony first thing in the morning, if you folks want. Or on Tuesday. Okay. Lyle, do
you have a presentation?
LYLE TABATA, Acting County Engineer: Yes, you are seeing double. We planned it
this way. Good morning, Lyle Tabata, Acting County Engineer. Committee Chair Kaneshiro,
Councilmembers, and Council Chair Rapozo.
KEITH SUGA, Executive Assistant to the Mayor: Keith Suga, Department of
Public Works, I guess.
JAMES MATSUSHIGE, Budget/Fiscal Specialist: James Matsushige,
Business/Management Officer.
Mr. Tabata: Good morning. We did not plan it this way, but
we walked in the office and looked at each other and said, "That is how in tuned we are."
Council Chair Rapozo: You do realize that millions of people are watching
this.
Councilmember Yukimura: No, that is the new Department of Public Works
uniform.
Mr. Tabata: Our uniform. Including the lei. As we embark on
this journey today to discuss the Department of Public Works, I welcome you all and I hope
that we can have some very healthy dialogue that we can agree that the plan that we have,
myself and my division heads of which the Department of Public Works has six (6) divisions.
We work very hard and diligently to try and put the best effort forward to prepare a budget
that will help us deliver the best service to our community in the coming fiscal year. Just to
touch on again, not to read everything that is in our report, but the mission of the Department
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 2
of Public Works is to deliver excellent service to our constituents, and support the health and
safety of the community, and sustainable services and solutions. The bottom line is that the
Department of Public Works delivers the service and we enforce the County Code and the
ordinances that follows and supports the Code.
Just to go over and to focus on the financials. For the Administration budget, we are
basically flat, but however you will see in our chart on page 6 that the benefits are a little
askew and that is to accommodate for potential increases in the ERS benefits contributions
and therefore, it is an allowance. You will see it in pretty much the entire Department of
Public Works budget and probably the entire County. That is a little out of line, but in
preparation for possible needs. In general, the Department of Public Works budget, overall,
is fifty-four million dollars ($54,000,000) for this coming Fiscal Year 2018, as compared to
Fiscal Year 2017,which was forty-eight million dollars($48,000,000). Just on the high thirty-
thousand foot view, of that increase, one million three hundred thousand dollars($1,300,000),
was the result of bringing back the utility cost payments into the Department of Public
Works. Last year as you recall, when we moved the maintenance function of the Building
Division into the Department of Parks & Recreation, the cost and the payment location,
where the funds were located was in the Maintenance Department. It has been brought back
into the Department of Public Works Administration as an overall and primarily the cost for
electricity, sewer, and water for the Lihu`e Civic Center facility. Then, you will see a
significant increase of approximately four million eight hundred thousand dollars
($4,800,000) in the Roads Division budget in Highways and six hundred thousand dollars
($600,000) in the General Fund portion of the Roads budget to accommodate for a conscious
effort by the Administration to put more money into helping us serve the community as far
as our local and collector roads systems are concerned. With that, I will open to questions on
anything in Administration that we can answer.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any questions on the presentation for the
Administration? Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: Thank you, Lyle. I am looking at your narrative,
so thank you very much.
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: I really appreciate how you laid out your goals and
objectives and your measurements and I wish every department would do that. I guess my
concern is that we have our CIP Manager both serving as kind of a Deputy and as overseeing
Solid Waste, that is like three (3)jobs. I am grateful for this great west side boy doing it, but
I am concerned about the stress and overload and the functioning of those three (3) areas.
Mr. Tabata: I agree. We are working on solutions to try and
remedy that. We are working to put into place certain actions that I hope will materialize
and I cannot speak about it at this time.
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes, I understand that there are personnel issues,
but can you give us some timetable. Is it six (6) months or a year?
Mr. Tabata: Hopefully within a month to two (2) months, we
will have everything in place.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay, that is good. Thank you.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 3
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Brun has a question.
Councilmember Yukimura: Great, go ahead.
Councilmember Brun: As far as the CIP projects, is somebody else
helping keep with that or is he doing that and...
Mr. Tabata: Keith oversees...it is a huge role of the entire
County CIP program. He touches every department that has CIP projects. We have, as far
as Department of Public Works support, project managers assigned to the different
departments and you will see that when we go to the Building Division, Doug Haigh helps
certain CIP projects for Fire, Police, and the Mayor's Office. The divisions have their own CIP
managers that oversee directly to the projects and Keith is the gatekeeper and I can let him
speak to it a little more of his role.
Mr. Suga: Excellent questions, Councilmembers. It has been
hectic for me in recent months or so, especially in preparation for the budget hearings here.
To answer Councilmember Brun's question, I do oversee the overall CIP program and I do
interact a lot with the various departments' project managers, as Mr. Tabata is saying, that
are assigned to the specific projects. So, it is not as if I manage those projects from start to
finish, if you will, but I kind of do an overview just to make sure that projects are moving
forward and if they have issues whether it be procurement or otherwise or anything like that,
I can provide support as needed.
Councilmember Brun: A lot of our concern is how much are we going to
put on Keith? It is a lot to oversee the CIP plus somebody helping him in the office with the
CIP projects, I mean, we are going to burn him out and we going lose somebody good that will
say, "I am out of here. I had enough." I think we have to look at that, Lyle.
Mr. Tabata: Yes, point well taken.
Councilmember Brun: Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: In your goals and objectives, goal 3, Ensure the
health, safety, and welfare of the public. Number 7, Support the needs of the Department of
Public Works divisions delivery of programs for health and safety of our employees. The
success measure is, ensure adherence of the countywide safety program. Is there a
countywide safety program in existence?
Mr. Tabata: We hope to create and have one working with HR.
HR supplies us all of the materials, if we so choose to see from them, training videos and so
forth. They do trainings. They have provided many trainings out there and make them
available to us and we also seek our own from our (inaudible)wastewater and they can detail
their response. They utilize our statewide training center for the wastewater operator
training and we also seek other independent training.
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes, I am glad there is a focus on training. I think
about three (3) years ago, one of your high-level managers who came in from the private
sector expressed shock that we really did not have safety programs in place and I am glad
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 4
that you are focusing on that now. But it sounds like from what you are saying that you are
actually in the process of creating a safety program, which I think is a very positive thing.
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: But that is a lot of development work given that
you did not have a comprehensive safety program in place, right?
Mr. Tabata: We have a manual for the department that we use
as a guideline.
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes.
Mr. Tabata: And previous to my coming onboard, one of the
deputies at the time was overseeing the safety program, so it is another one of the items that
the Director and Deputy assume.
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes, okay. Having a manual in place and I do not
have much experience in the private sector, but I hear in some places first thing in the
morning they have trainings or mini-trainings.
Mr. Tabata: Tailgates, we call those, yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Is that what they call it? Okay.
Mr. Tabata: We had them many mornings. Say in the Auto
Shop, when they start their day, they do mini-tailgates.
Councilmember Yukimura: I see, that is good. How about at our transfer
stations?
Mr. Tabata: I cannot speak exactly to the transfer stations, but
for example at the landfill, I was there last Friday and they conducted their safety briefing
prior to work assignments, so I was able to witness that. I do plan on visiting a transfer
station to get a little bit more familiar with that set up, from the morning standpoint.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay, I commend your focus on it and I realize
that it is one part of the big load. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Chock.
Councilmember Chock: Thank you everyone for being here. I have two (2)
questions. The first is on page 4, goal 2, Hanapepe Road Resurfacing/Improvements Retrofit.
I know we had talked about it in the last budget improvements...
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Councilmember Chock: ...sidewalk, and in that nature. It says, "May."
Mr. Tabata: So that project finally got a consultant onboard, it
took us awhile. We had to negotiate with the consultant then we finally have a consultant
onboard, and they are moving forward with this project. We did a primary design charrette
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 5
in Hanapepe Town with the community, so that is the basis of the design which we hired the
consultant and they will be moving forward in doing more community meetings to gather
more input and create the final design and go through what we call a "plans, specs, and
estimate" or PS&E to then put the project out to bid for construction.
Councilmember Chock: And the May 2018 is the completion date?
Mr. Tabata: For completing the PS&E.
Councilmember Chock: Okay.
Mr. Tabata: The final designs and so forth...
Mr. Suga: Just to add further clarification. This particular
project is a State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) project so it is eighty percent
(80%) federal funding and the eighty percent (80%) construction funding is allocated in the
federal Fiscal Year 2018, therefore, the deadline of May 2018 is when we would request that
construction funding.
Councilmember Chock: I have one (1) more question, Committee Chair, if
you want me to continue. Thank you. The other question was on page 5, number 10 under
goal 3, which is County owned roads poor conditions. My understanding from this narrative,
this is just kind of repairs, right, not things that the Mayor talked about in his budget in
terms of...
Mr. Tabata: Some of the things that the Mayor talked about is
included in this.
Councilmember Chock: Would you be able to provide which roads then?
Mr. Tabata: Yes, so when we get to the Roads Division, I have
updated information that our consultant who just this Fall completed our second islandwide
survey of all of our roads, so we asked them to focus on a few things that we will be talking
about when we get to the Roads Division.
Councilmember Chock: Thank you. Thank you, Committee Chair
Kaneshiro.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: Coming back to Hanapepe Road. That is the road
that goes through the town, the old town.
Mr. Tabata: Right.
Councilmember Yukimura: Because we also have Moi Road that is in the CIP
budget, okay, just a point of clarification on that. I know that you are going to have
subsequent divisions come up.
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 6
Councilmember Yukimura: I will just wait. I guess I do not have tell them
upfront.
Mr. Tabata: The front section in Administration, I
characterized that as an executive summary of the details of each division.
Councilmember Yukimura: Right.
Mr. Tabata: I highlighted the things that are most outstanding
from what they have done then we can go into more detail into their sections. I will start the
divisions' presentations by just kind of summarizing the financials and then you can ask
them more detailed questions to the division themselves.
Councilmember Yukimura: I have one (1) question regarding the
Administration. You mentioned in your report one million three hundred thousand dollars
($1,300,000) for Lihu`e Civic Center utilities got placed back in...
Mr. Tabata: Into the Building Division for the source of where
we fund the payments.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. Who keeps the record of all electricity
consumption by County?
Mr. Tabata: Ben Sullivan does that. He presents the
information to whoever would like it and we even have links to look at it in real time daily,
if we wanted to, to monitor.
Councilmember Yukimura: And this is for all County operations?
Mr. Tabata: Every operation, yes. Every electric kilowatt
meter that we have in the County has a location and we can look at the chart and it is a
dashboard that you can examine, your own operation if you like.
Councilmember Yukimura: Does it include the Water Department?
Mr. Tabata: I cannot answer that, I am sorry.
Councilmember Yukimura: I will ask Ben when he comes up.
Mr. Tabata: I just focus on the Department of Public Works
information.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay, thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: That amount came from the Department of Parks
& Recreation, the utilities?
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: We had it in the Department of Parks &
Recreation and we moved it back to you folks.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 7
Councilmember Yukimura: That makes sense.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any further questions for the Administration in
general and if not, we can go to the actual numbers. Any questions on the Administration's
budget?
Councilmember Yukimura: What page is that?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Page 193 at the bottom right corner.
Councilmember Yukimura: Perfect, thank you.
Mr. Tabata: If you like I have a chart that we created to give
you an overview of the Department of Public Works for the last five (5) years. I know we
have been talking a lot about trends in the past and so you will see that the Department of
Public Works budget has been very flat solely increasing through salaries and benefits, as I
am sure you are all well aware. We have broken it down to General Fund, Highway Fund,
Solid Waste, and Wastewater. We also have listed our revenues for each fund. I know you
want to get into each line item, but that is just a thirty thousand foot view.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: When we see it, let us try to hold our questions to
the actual department when they come up, if you have any questions, so we do not have
people coming up and back and forth. The revenues, I think we are going to get to revenues
later. An answer to the question on the revenues yesterday, the reason the estimate was low
was because they anticipated a lower amount of people continuing to stay with the big trash
containers. So, it was not that more trash went to the landfill. It was when residents had a
choice to choose between a bigger container and a smaller container, they thought more
people were going to move to the smaller container, but more people stayed with the bigger
container. That was the fluctuation that we heard about yesterday.
Council Chair Rapozo: That was somebody's prediction.
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: I wonder whose prediction that was?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: You want us to go back to the minutes?
Council Chair Rapozo: To keeping the big can.
Councilmember Yukimura: To the tune of one million dollars ($1,000,000),
that is amazing.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: As far as the Administration line items, do you
have any questions on that? There was not barely any change.
Council Chair Rapozo: I have one on the vacancies, do you just want to do
that as we get to each division?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 8
Mr. Tabata: We have one (1) in Administration, dollar-funded,
the County Engineer's position.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Okay, we will go through the line items.
Mr. Tabata: Okay.
Council Chair Rapozo: Just for the others who are sitting in the audience
as they get prepared to come up, that is the question I am going to be asking everybody,
vacant positions. We talked about it yesterday to come with the justification to keep it and
if there are long-term vacancies explain why, because there are some positions that have
been vacant for quite some time.
Mr. Tabata: We are prepared.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: If there are no questions for the Administration
section, we are going to move on to Fiscal. Councilmember Brun.
Councilmember Brun: Out of the positions, Executive Assistant to the
Mayor, so that is something else?
Mr. Tabata: That is Keith's position.
Councilmember Brun: Okay.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: That used to be in the Mayor's Office and they
thought that Keith was managing a lot of the Department of Public Works positions, so they
thought it was a better fit for him to be there.
Councilmember Brun: Okay.
Mr. Tabata: We transferred him to the Department of Public
Works.
Councilmember Brun: Okay, thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: We will move on to Fiscal. Any questions on
Fiscal? I have a question. What is that section 3 at twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000)?
Mr. Tabata: James.
Mr. Matsushige: The twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000),
section 3, we had anticipated retirements coming into our office. That is funds so we can hire
somebody prior to the person leaving and through on the job training.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Exactly what Janine was talking about yesterday.
Mr. Tabata: Yes. So we are planning ahead.
Councilmember Yukimura: Excuse me, are you talking about the Other Post
Employment Benefits?
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 9
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: We are on page 196.
Councilmember Yukimura: Right.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: The regular salaries.
Councilmember Yukimura: Oh, I see. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any other questions for Fiscal? If not, we are
going to move on to Building. Okay, we moved on to the Building Division. Do you want to
give a brief overview?
Mr. Tabata: Yes, I will do the brief overview, like I mentioned
earlier on the financials.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Okay.
Mr. Tabata: As I mentioned earlier, the increase in the
Building Division charts, as you see on page 9, is primarily for electricity, water, and
wastewater payments brought back to the department for the Lihu`e Civic Center. Then
another twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) increase we put it in for the funding for security
for the Lihu`e Civic Center in the Building Division. You can see that the big line on the
chart on page 9, the centerline utilities was not there last year and so it is there. Again, the
benefits are in anticipation of increases and the small little increase in operations is for the
security for the Civic Center. We will go over the vacancies in the Building Division, we will
take that first before we dive into any other direct questions to the line items. For the
Building Division, we have five (5) vacancies right now that we are in the process. Building
Inspector 1002, in continuous recruitment since January 26th and we have no qualified
candidates, as of March 15th, but we keep trying because we need to fill that position.
Council Chair Rapozo: Position 1002?
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: In the Building Division?
Mr. Tabata: Yes, in the Building Division. Building Inspector.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Okay, got it.
Mr. Tabata: Position 1439, Building Permit Clerk, we have
decided to keep that dollar-funded because if we need to flex, if building permits really take
off on us, we have the Building Revolving Fund to utilize. Supervising Building Inspector,
position 1528, is vacant because of the recent promotion of an employee to become the new
Code Enforcement Officer. We have been recruiting as of the 22nd of this month.
Council Chair Rapozo: When is the anticipated hiring of that?
Mr. Tabata: We are having problems finding a Building
Inspector.
Council Chair Rapozo: You cannot even get a Building Inspector, right?
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 10
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
DOUGLAS HAIGH, Chief of Buildings: That position, though, we were trying to
promote within and we do have one of our employees is on for temporary assignment and is
very interested in moving up into the position.
Council Chair Rapozo: Is he qualified?
Mr. Haigh: He is qualified. Now, there is a civil service exam
he will need to take.
Council Chair Rapozo: I guess I am trying to figure out when you plan on
filling that position.
Mr. Haigh: Hopefully within the next month he will be taking
the exam and hopefully qualified, passing it for the position.
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay, so by the supplemental budget, we should
have...
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Mr. Haigh: We will definitely have progress, so hopefully.
Council Chair Rapozo: Position 1002, no luck and that has been vacant
for six (6) months?
Mr. Tabata: No, since the end of January.
Council Chair Rapozo: Position 1002?
Mr. Tabata: Yes. We started recruitment on January 26th of
this year.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Position 1002 has been vacant from November.
Mr. Tabata: Yes, we had to go to the Vacancy Review and they
approved us to begin the recruitment process and so we started at the end of January.
Mr. Haigh: We are aware of one (1) applicant who is working
with HR trying to submit an application that qualifies.
Council Chair Rapozo: Position 1439 has been vacant for seven hundred
thirty-two (732) days, that is like two (2) years, almost.
Mr. Tabata: As I mentioned if we need to fill a vacancy and we
have been using to fill other vacancies by not general funding, but using the Building
Revolving Fund. Instead of hiring a permanent civil service, we have been using the
Revolving Fund.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 11
Councilmember Yukimura: Just to explain to people who are new to this, you
need a dollar-funded position so that you do not have to come back to us to create it.
Mr. Tabata: Right.
Councilmember Yukimura: And when the volume of permits starts really
accelerating, in order for us to process them in a timely way, you use the...what fund do you
call it?
Mr. Tabata: The Building Revolving Fund. It is from the
Building Permits fees.
Councilmember Yukimura: Right, which was created especially for the ups
and downs of building permit volume, right?
Mr. Tabata: Yes, it allows the division to flex the manpower
according to the needs of the community.
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes, so we do not hire somebody that is there
forever, but we only hire them when we need them for those peaks.
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay, thank you.
Council Chair Rapozo: I have a question.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Council Chair Rapozo.
Council Chair Rapozo: The asterisk where it saying, "Fully funded by
other source," is that the Revolving Fund?
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: Why would that Building Permit Clerk not
become a "T" number?
Mr. Tabata: I am sorry?
Council Chair Rapozo: I look at all of these and you have two (2)
vacancies that are funded by Revolving Fund.
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: Why would that Building Permit Clerk not fall in
that same...if you are only going to use that position number for Revolving Fund, why would
that not be with the rest of them? Like I said earlier, if you are not going to use the positions,
we are going to take them because every year we hear the same thing. If you are not going
to use it, we are going to cut it, or we are going to try anyway, I am going to make that
proposal. If I do not like...and it seems like it is like that because it has been two (2) years.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works—Operating & CIP
Page 12
If we need to Building Permit Clerk, then we hire one, if we do not, then you do not need the
position.
Ms. Rapozo: Good morning, Janine Rapozo, Human Resources
Director. The dollar-funded position is not being used for the Building Revolving Fund. It has
its own position number.
Council Chair Rapozo: That is entirely different from then what Lyle just
said.
Ms. Rapozo: No, he said he is holding that position for when
the peaks for the...
Council Chair Rapozo: And that he will use the Revolving Fund to pay.
Ms. Rapozo: He is using the Revolving Fund currently to pay
the current ones that are not vacant.
Council Chair Rapozo: No, that is not what he said. He just said they
leave that position there dollar-funded so that when the peaks come they can use that
Revolving Fund to pay for that position. That is what he just said. We should rewind the
tape.
Councilmember Yukimura: That is correct, too.
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay, thank you Councilmember Yukimura. I am
sorry, Ms. Rapozo, I should have listened to Councilmember Yukimura.
Ms. Rapozo: No, no, no. So right now...
Council Chair Rapozo: Just tell me, do you need that position or not and
if you need the position, why has the position not been filled for two (2) years. That is all I
would like to know.
Ms. Rapozo: I believe what Lyle was trying to say is that right
now he is using the Building Revolving Fund to try to access those funds versus using General
Fund and filling the Building Permit Clerk right now.
Council Chair Rapozo: In the last seven hundred thirty-two (732) days,
well it is more than that now, did anyone ever fill that position?
Ms. Rapozo: In the last seven hundred...if that is showing
vacant, no.
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay, thank you. That is all I need to know. You
do not need that position. That is all I am saying. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any more questions regarding vacancies and
salaries?
Mr. Haigh: Could I make one (1) comment on that Building
Permit Clerk? Historically, we always had that position. Because of extreme budget
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 13
constraints, rather than funding that position with the General Fund, for the last year or so,
we have been funding it with the Building Revolving Fund, but it was always one (1) of our
permit positions. As the manager of the Building Division, that is hard, but to us, that is a
necessary position to run the Division.
Council Chair Rapozo: Well as the Chair of the County Council, I do not
understand what you are saying, and what she is saying, and what he is saying. It is different
stories for the same position. The question was, in the last seven hundred thirty-two (732)
days was that position ever used and the answer was no. You are telling me that historically
you use that position and you fund it with the Revolving Fund.
Mr. Haigh: What I said is that historically that has been a
funded position in the General Fund and in the last several years because of budget
constraints, it was decided to dollar-fund that position and then we actually have a physical
body who is being paid under the Revolving Fund for that position. That is what has been
happening. That is the reality.
Council Chair Rapozo: Does the HR Director know?
Mr. Haigh: Yes, she is aware.
Council Chair Rapozo: Did she misspeak?
Mr. Haigh: No, I think it is all kind of a different shade of the
story, but it is all true.
Council Chair Rapozo: Maybe we should take a recess and then you folks
go outside and huddle up and come back with what is the real story because I am getting
frustrated. I am hearing three (3) different stories from three (3) different people. The
bottom line is that that position was not used for seven hundred thirty-two (732) days,
actually longer, because this thing was as of March 15th.
Mr. Tabata: You are right, however we had used this position
previously to that as a funded position with General Fund.
Council Chair Rapozo: I understand that part.
Mr. Tabata: As Doug said, under trying to meet budget
constraints, we have been using funds from the Building Revolving Fund to hire a body to be
sitting there...
Council Chair Rapozo: I understand. Trust me, I was here when that
position went to dollar-fund. I am not new. Just answer me this question, was that position
number ever used for another position?
Mr. Tabata: I believe...
Council Chair Rapozo: Councilmember Yukimura do not shake your
head.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 14
Mr. Tabata: ...we used it when we had somebody out on sick
leave, yes. When we had somebody out on long-term sick leave, we had to use the number to
fill and hire a temporary. I believe that is what we had to do.
Council Chair Rapozo: I cannot take away the position myself.
Mayor Carvalho: Can we have a recess?
Mr. Tabata: Can we ask for a recess?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Let us get through a few more questions, let us
move past this, then we will take a recess so you folks can come back to this and come back
with an answer that is consistent. We are going to stay on the Building Division, when we
get through all of questions on the Building Division, we will take a recess, have them come
back with that one (1) answer, and then we will move on.
Mr. Tabata: Okay, so we have two (2) more vacancies.
Councilmember Yukimura: I have a question, please.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: About this position; so that I can understand it
better, it is a dollar-funded position, but there is a warm body in the position?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Actually, let us hold the questions on...
Councilmember Yukimura: May I?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Again, they need to get together and...you know,
actually we will just take a recess now...
Mayor Carvalho: Now.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: ...have them come back with an answer and then
we can ask them more questions on it. Quick recess.
There being no objections, the Committee recessed at 9:41 a.m.
The meeting was called back to order at 9:48 a.m., and proceeded as follows:
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Welcome back, Council Chair, I will give you the
floor.
Council Chair Rapozo: They know the question.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Okay.
Mr. Tabata: We have caucused and I will let Doug explain
directly.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 15
Mr. Haigh: We are discussing position 1439, dollar-funded.
Correction, we have not used that position in the last seven hundred thirty-two (732) days
for other purposes. It has been vacant. We did dollar-fund it and the reason why we dollar-
funded it was because of fiscal constraints. The intent is that that position is one of the
critical positions for the base of the Building Division. That is where we separate the base of
the Building Division and the temporary Revolving Fund positions. The purpose of the
Revolving Fund is to allow us to react to the market and be able to increase manpower when
it is busy and be able to slow down manpower when it is not busy. The decision was made
because of fiscal constraints, this one position even though it is one of our base positions, we
are going to dollar-fund it, and then we will be hiring clerks under temporary fund, under
the Revolving Fund to take care of the function that we have been taken care of by that clerk.
Now, typically a person working for the County feels better when they are under the General
Fund than under a temporary fund because a temporary fund is...while they get all the
benefits, there is that temporary aspect to it. It is not quite as secure. For the long-term, we
would like to be able to get back to that point where we can fully fund that position, but
because of fiscal constraints, we are still dollar-funding it.
Council Chair Rapozo: Has that position number been used for any other
purpose?
Mr. Haigh: As far as I and HR can recollect as of this morning,
no.
Council Chair Rapozo: How long does your recollection go back?
Mr. Haigh: Well I have been here for over twenty-four (24)
years.
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay, so for over twenty-four (24) years, that
position has not...
Mr. Haigh: I have no knowledge of it being used for any other
purpose.
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay. I guess it is very clear to me that it is not a
critical position. Seven hundred thirty-two (732) days at an SR-13 level, thirty thousand
dollars ($30,000) a year. This County is not that broke that a critical position, I mean if you
came and asked, and again, at the time you need that position, you can come back and ask
for it. That is how I feel. And this is just one (1), we are on day two (2) of the budget and like
I said yesterday, "Be prepared to justify every single one," because every year we hear the
same thing, "We need it. We might need the position." There are some positions with one
thousand (1,000) days, one thousand three hundred (1,300), three thousand two hundred
(3,200) and I am glad that there are members of the public here because now you get to see.
If you do not need the position, it goes. When you need the position, you come back, and you
get the position. Jade, it takes two (2) months, maximum, to get a position created. Again, I
am only one (1) Councilmember, but I hope my colleagues can understand that we cannot
continue to play this game. I am done.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Chock.
Councilmember Chock: If that position goes away, the temporary position
that you are utilizing right now, cannot be funded or cannot be utilized any longer?
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 16
Mr. Haigh: No, the temporary position is being funded and is
being utilized.
Councilmember Chock: Right. I know the one that is vacant.
Mr. Haigh: But by funding an intended permanent position
with the Revolving Fund, it limits our ability to react to an increase in if there is an increase
in the construction, which increase demands of our services, it would limit our ability to
respond to that increase of demand of services.
Councilmember Chock: And for the last few years, you have not been able
or needed to do that.
Mr. Haigh: For the last few years, we have been able to
maintain with what we have.
Councilmember Chock: The temporary position.
Mr. Haigh: Yes.
Councilmember Chock: Where is that temporary housed?
Mr. Haigh: In the Building Division.
Councilmember Chock: Okay, can you be more specific on where that is?
Mr. Haigh: In the budget?
Councilmember Chock: Yes.
Mr. Haigh: Down there showing all the "T" positions in the
Building Division budget.
Mr. Tabata: Building Permit Clerk.
Mr. Haigh: There are two (2) Building Permit Clerk positions.
Councilmember Chock: Okay, so here it is. These "T" positions, that is
where it is?
Mr. Haigh: Yes.
Councilmember Chock: Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: So the situation you have now is you are actually
using Revolving Fund moneys to fund a position that is permanently needed.
Mr. Haigh: That is correct.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works—Operating & CIP
Page 17
Councilmember Yukimura: And you did that in the throes of the really high
pressure to balance the County's budget and relieve the draw on the General Fund?
Mr. Haigh: That is correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: However, if now you are hit with a really high
level of volume permit applications, you may not have the money because you are using the
Revolving Fund moneys for a permanent need and you do not have a position in which to
quickly put...even if you had Revolving Fund moneys, you do not have that position to put
Revolving Fund moneys into to rev up your capacity quickly.
Mr. Haigh: That is correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: So the real remedy would be to make a realistic
budget and actually fund from the General Fund a permanent position, so put in the moneys,
I think you said it is about fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for this dollar-funded...how would
you do that? This dollar-funded position is a permanent position, so you would put money
into that, then what would you use for Revolving Fund moneys, oh, you have other positions.
What do you call it, "T" positions?
Mr. Haigh: Well what we would do is if this position was
funded, which from the Building Division perspective is the right thing to do, but those who
are looking at the entire picture, they have a lot more constraints and issues to deal with
than the Building Division. Those decisions are made at a higher level for higher reasons,
but what we would do if this position was funded, we would probably promote within, one of
our temporary positions and move them into the permanent position.
Councilmember Yukimura: And you would then have that temporary...
Mr. Haigh: And then now we would have a temporary
position available.
Councilmember Yukimura: For the peak times when you would use your
Revolving Fund money?
Mr. Haigh: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay, thank you very much.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Okay. Any further questions? Any questions on
the budget line items? I have a question...
Mr. Tabata: I just wanted to just clarify something that HR
just informed me that that position was never used for another position.
Committee Chair Rapozo: Okay.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: I have a question on the other services, security
services. Last year, we budgeted fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000), was that because it was
only partial year?
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 18
Mr. Tabata: It was only partial day. We expanded the amount
of hours per day in this budget.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: What was the previous and what is the new?
Mr. Haigh: This is just the day; it does not meet the need.
Mr. Tabata: Okay.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Well, you can get back to me on it.
Mr. Tabata: We need to get back to you on this.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: I know we put it in the budget last year because
when people staying out late at night, I guess homeless people, they were hanging around
the County buildings, or early in the morning and employees were not feeling safe. I did not
know if we expanded the services, expanded the hours, the security walking around during
the day too.
Mr. Tabata: We intended...we need to get back to you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Okay. And let me know also if having an actual
security guard is the permanent solution or putting flood lights and cameras or something
like that, maybe spending money on that would be another solution or option. It might not
be viable, but having the security is going to be money that we are going to be paying every
year. If we put in a security system with lights and maybe just a one-time cost and then
maintenance of it, so just let me know what you folks decide on it. Any further questions on
this? Any other questions in the Building Division's budget? Okay. If not, we are going to
move on to Engineering.
Mr. Tabata: Our Engineering Division Head is on vacation.
He planned it a long time in advance; therefore, I will cover the Engineering Division.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Also, as a follow-up, I remembered last year we
said on the security, if an option was to have police come by and monitor the area every now
and then too. We already have to pay them anyway. Okay, Engineering Division.
Mr. Tabata: I think the answer to that one was they are not
always available to be able to swing by on a routine basis. If they are out on calls and so forth,
they would not be available, so that was the reason we went with our own security. So, the
Engineering Division, the budget also remains flat. With the increase of thirty thousand
dollars ($30,000),just for operations because we have not been able to recruit a Surveyor. We
are reallocating the Surveyor position to be an engineering, CE-6, so that we can better utilize
that position. We are having a hard time finding surveyors willing to come work for the
County. I believe the upswing in construction has limited people who are available to want
to come to work for the County at the wages we offer. We are putting in an additional thirty
thousand dollars ($30,000) line item in the budget to source surveying services as needed
rather than hire a full-time surveyor. That in a nutshell speaks to that. That position is
1431.
Council Chair Rapozo: That position, you folks chose to outsource?
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 19
Mr. Tabata: The surveying, yes. But we are reallocating in this
budget, 1431, to be a CE-6 and utilize an engineer to be able to do engineering work in the
Engineering Division, run projects, help with the regulatory needs.
Council Chair Rapozo: Position 1431, Land Surveyor, SR-24 at
fifty-seven thousand dollars ($57,000), that has been vacant for six hundred fifty-three (653)
days. You are saying that you are going to reallocate that position.
Mr. Tabata: Right.
Council Chair Rapozo: To a what?
Mr. Tabata: CE-6.
Council Chair Rapozo: But that is not reflected in this budget because a
CE-6 is what? What kind of pay are you talking about in at CE-6 position?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: We have a CE-6 right below it and it says,
"Ninety-eight thousand dollars ($98,000)."
Council Chair Rapozo: That is my point. But what I do not understand
is if I look at the vacancy report, March 5th, it is showing that 1431 is a CE-6.
Mr. Tabata: It's position number 1061, I believe.
Council Chair Rapozo: At ninety-seven thousand dollars ($97,000) a
year?
Mr. Tabata: Right.
Council Chair Rapozo: And you are going to keep the Land Surveyor at
fifty-seven thousand dollars ($57,000) a year?
Mr. Tabata: No, we...I have to get back to you on this. I am
sorry.
Councilmember Yukimura: Who is your engineer?
Mr. Matsushige: We have more than one CE-6. We have two (2)
others right now.
Mr. Tabata: Yes, two (2) others.
Mr. Matsushige: Those are different people already in those
positions.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: I think we are talking about...
Mr. Matsushige: And the amount is based on the experience and
things like that.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 20
Council Chair Rapozo: Maybe we need to bring the board to draw on
because Lyle just said 1431 became 10...
Mr. Tabata: No, it did not. I misspoke.
Councilmember Yukimura: Where is the Head of the Engineering Division?
Mr. Tabata: I mentioned that Mr. Moule is on vacation.
Council Chair Rapozo: This is very difficult.
Mr. Tabata: He had this vacation planned in advance.
Council Chair Rapozo: During budget?
Mr. Tabata: Well.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: The question was 1431 says Land Surveyor II that
has been vacant.
Council Chair Rapozo: I am going to need a recess pretty soon. Okay, can
I start all over again? Let us try this one more time.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: Do you need this Land Surveyor or not? I guess
HR can answer this one, on the vacancy report position 1431 is listed as a Civil Engineer VI,
SR-28, pay scale between sixty-nine thousand five hundred dollars ($69,500) and one
hundred two thousand nine hundred dollars ($102,900), was that position reallocated or not?
Ms. Rapozo: Yes, that position was reallocated. It looks like
that budget may have not caught that particular position to be Civil Engineer VI.
Council Chair Rapozo: So we have a Land Surveyor at fifty-seven
thousand dollars ($57,000), it morphs into a Civil Engineer VI that can go up to one hundred
and two thousand dollars ($102,000), and the Council is not notified, but just do it. Is that
how this thing works?
Ms. Rapozo: The department determined that an Engineer was
more necessary and they cannot fill the Surveyor, so that is what the reallocation was for,
and yes in answer to your question, that can be done without Council approval.
Council Chair Rapozo: Really? But this Council can determine whether
or not we fund that position.
Ms. Rapozo: Fund or keep that position, yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: Right. Is that the kind of cooperation that we are
going to have then we can fix that real quick and make you come and ask? Mayor, we talk
about this all the time is this collaboration and talk story and I am over here, and there is a
Land Surveyor for fifty-seven thousand dollars ($57,000), if not for this vacancy report, we
would not know. The people would not know. We would think that we are approving the
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 21
budget for fifty-seven thousand dollars ($57,000), but in essence, it is not. I do not know what
to say. Was that on purpose?Was that on purpose that this budget does not reflect what that
position is?
Ms. Rapozo: I do not believe so.
Mr. Tabata: No.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: So in effect, if you want to have the budget that
you need, we need to add...I do not know. What is the salary of the Civil Engineer VI?
Mr. Tabata: We need to get back to you.
Councilmember Yukimura: We would need to know what in the range they
have it at and we need to add that amount...is there a warm body in it?
Ms. Rapozo: No.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay, this is an empty position.
Ms. Rapozo: Yes, it is vacant.
Councilmember Yukimura: Alright. I guess we need to know what your needs
are for this position.
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: And you are going to get back to us?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: We will send the question through so that we
know if it is going to show up on the supplemental or not.
Councilmember Yukimura: Right.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: As a Civil Engineer VI and with whatever
budgeted number they expected to have.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay, so we will ask that question. Where is the
money for the contracting out for the surveyor?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: That is under "Other Services." Surveying cost,
thirty thousand dollars ($30,000).
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Council Chair, did you want to go over position
1048?
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 22
Council Chair Rapozo: Honestly, I do not know. I mean, is that position
filled right now? Is he planning on filling that position?
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: And at what...
Mr. Tabata: 1048, Supervising Construction Inspector, our
current Construction Inspector III recently qualified for this position and will now be
available for us to recruit to fill this position.
Council Chair Rapozo: And forty-eight thousand seven hundred ninety-
two dollars ($48,792) is the pay or is it going to be higher because that is the minimum? I
am looking at this position and it is forty-eight thousand seven hundred ninety-two dollars
($48,792) to seventy-eight thousand one hundred sixty-eight dollars ($78,168).
Mr. Tabata: I believe it is.
Ms. Rapozo: The Construction Inspector III that will be moving
to the Supervising Inspector has been there a while, so that is the starting pay, so it would
have to be more. However, the position he is going to be vacating would go down to the
minimum.
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay. So the forty-eight thousand seven hundred
ninety-two dollars ($48,792) is not accurate?
Mr. Tabata: I stand corrected, yes, it is not.
Ms. Rapozo: Yes, this was a recent promotion, like, in this
month. It probably did not make the budget.
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay. I am done.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Okay. Any further questions for the Engineering
Division? If not, we are going to move on to Automotive. The only other variance in the
Engineering Division was that surveying cost, so we will move on to Automotive.
Council Chair Rapozo: Automotive had other vacant positions.
Mr. Tabata: We will start with page 11 and you will see a
summary of the Automotive Division, financials is that...
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Automotive, before you start, is on the bottom of
page 284. We are going to have to skip around.
Council Chair Rapozo: Page 285 is the actual.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Lyle, do you want to say something about
Automotive first?
Mr. Tabata: Yes. The increases is reflected of again, the
collective bargaining. Increase in vehicle equipment lease is a result of new purchases.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 23
Decrease in operation reflects moving more funds from the Highway Fund to the General
Fund operations. As we have been splitting the General Fund cost out of the Highway Fund
after the audit I believe in 2012, we have been gradually adjusting the budget to meet the
needs of the different funds. But at the end of the day, the Automotive Division expenses
remain flat, as you can see. In fact, minus three point eight percent (-3.8%).
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any questions?
Council Chair Rapozo: Can I ask about positions on this one?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: Same question. 897 Heavy Vehicle and
Construction Equipment Mechanic I.
Mr. Tabata: We went to the Vacancy Review Committee and
they reviewed all of our operations and they recommended that we not fill that position.
Council Chair Rapozo: 897?
Mr. Tabata: Yes and in lieu of that I asked for them to consider
allowing us to reallocate that position to be a Heavy Construction Equipment I, and so that
is reflected in the budget.
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay, 897 is a Heavy Vehicle and Construction
Equipment Mechanic I.
Mr. Tabata: Yes, listed in the new budget.
Council Chair Rapozo: What was it before?
Mr. Tabata: It used to be the Repair Shop Supervisor.
Council Chair Rapozo: So, you do not have a Repair Shop Supervisor?
Mr. Tabata: Yes, we do not.
Council Chair Rapozo: But that position is showing vacant, 150, is that
counting back to the Supervisor position or has this Heavy Vehicle and Construction
Equipment...
Mr. Tabata: We...
Council Chair Rapozo: When was the reallocation done?
Mr. Tabata: We are doing it right now and we bring it to you
in this budget process. We asked for it to the Administration to allow us to use the position,
not eliminated, but allow us to put another mechanic on the floor and that is what we are
submitting for approval here.
Council Chair Rapozo: You know...is that in the narrative anywhere?
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 24
Councilmember Yukimura: It is in the Mayor's message.
Council Chair Rapozo: I am talking about the Department of Public
Works.
Councilmember Yukimura: Page 5 of the Mayor's message.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Yes, I do not think it is in...
Mr. Tabata: No, I guess...
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: That is not what we received.
Council Chair Rapozo: Again, that is a substantial change. I just will not
go down there. What about the Heavy Vehicle and Construction Equipment Mechanic I, 1342.
Mr. Tabata: That position is also being reallocated right now
through this budget process and used to be designated as the Body and Fender Repair
Worker. Because of our heavy need to get more mechanics on the floor, we are requesting to
reallocate this Body and Fender Worker to be a Heavy Equipment Construction Mechanic I.
Council Chair Rapozo: So you had two (2) Body and Fender repairs?
Mr. Tabata: We had two (2) and one (1) was vacant for an
extended period.
Council Chair Rapozo: Yes, for two thousand six hundred ninety-one
(2,691) days.
Mr. Tabata: Yes, and we are asking through this budget to
reallocate it to another mechanic.
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay.
Councilmember Yukimura: Question.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: Actually, this is kind of showing the value of the
Vacancy Review Committee.
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Because they have seen what you have, and it
matches the Council Chair's concern about positions that are opened for a long time, and now
you are reallocating it to something I presume you need.
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Dwayne, you are the Superintendent, and you
folks are embarking on what looks like a major initiative to solve your heavy equipment
repair problems. Is this part of it?
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 25
DWAYNE ADACHI, Superintendent: Yes, somewhat.
Councilmember Yukimura: Is this going to serve your needs?
Mr. Adachi: Well, in reality, I still need that supervisor
position, but this is the next best option.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay and that position was 897.
Mr. Adachi: Yes, I need that position.
Councilmember Yukimura: And then the Body and Fender Repairer would go
also into a mechanical...
Mr. Adachi: Yes, the best thing would be for us to move
that...make the best use of that position in another area. So, instead of two (2) body men...
Councilmember Yukimura: You can do it with one (1).
Mr. Adachi: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: And if you reallocate that...
Mr. Adachi: That makes the most sense for that
particular...yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Can we discuss amongst the both of you, your
whole initiative to address the issue of heavy equipment because that is like, how much in
the budget? Is that one million dollars ($1,000,000) or something?
Mr. Tabata: In the last two (2) years, in my narrative, I state
that we had multiple retirees in the Automotive Division. That has stressed the shop. In
addition, we have not replaced vehicles and it is evident in this year's push to fund a lot of
heavy equipment replacements, as the Mayor has stated in his address. So, we are trying to
address equipment availability, one by funding some new equipment and two, increasing the
amount of manpower available to do work on the floor. Every day I have been tracking with
doing the daily operations repair reports and every day the mechanics spend maybe twenty-
five percent(25%) to thirty percent(30%)of their time working on the equipment on the floor.
The rest of the time, we are sending them out into the field to address emergency calls or
drive-ins. With this effort, from kind of like burning the candle from both ends, buy some
new equipment to help us get some breathing room and adding more mechanics to help deal
with the daily stresses with emergency repair call-ins or drive-ins.
Councilmember Yukimura: I do not know much about heavy equipment
repair, but I am thinking in terms of root causes, it would be that the machine is too old, you
tell me then. Either too old or there was improper operation, so then it is not properly...
Mr. Adachi: It is a combination of many things.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 26
Councilmember Yukimura: I was thinking there were three (3) reasons. One
is, it is just too old and it needs to be replaced, one is, it needs better training, and then the
other is it needs...
Mr. Adachi: The normal wear and tear.
Councilmember Yukimura: Excuse me?
Mr. Adachi: The normal wear and tear because nothing lasts
forever. Everything breaks. We are there to address repair issues as they arise. The cause of
the repair issue can vary. It can be operator error, it can be just fatigue of the equipment,
age, or just normal wear and tear; stuff that needs to be replaced.
Councilmember Yukimura: What about failure to maintain regularly? For
example, if I do not service my car...
Mr. Adachi: Well for us, the amount of time the equipment is
in the shop, I would say that maintenance is...I mean sometimes you will see trucks in the
shop more than it is on the road, so that means it is...
Councilmember Yukimura: That is not a good sign.
Mr. Adachi: But it is maintained very well because it is in the
shop.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay, well, that is not good work. I think it would
be a source of concern if it is not out there being used.
Mr. Tabata: Right.
Councilmember Yukimura: Right.
Mr. Tabata: Some of the pieces of the equipment that we are
replacing are aged. We are talking about equipment such as a roller for roads 1999, GMC
dump truck 2005, backhoe 2003, clipper mower/bushwhacker from 2005, and refuge trucks
from 2011. The new side load trucks need to be replaced on a regular basis to keep up kind
and we have seen some need to replace these trucks now as we get into the second generation
of vehicles that we need to purchase.
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes, that sounds good. I am looking at your FY
2018 Heavy Equipment Replacement schedule.
Mr. Tabata: Yes, that is it.
Councilmember Yukimura: And you have criteria legend "A" total cost to date
is equal to or exceeds the replacement cost, is that total cost of repair?
Mr. Adachi: Yes, for parts, labor, and the life of the unit.
Councilmember Yukimura: And then "B" general condition of the unit may
create health or safety issues.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 27
Mr. Adachi: Right.
Councilmember Yukimura: And then "C" replacement due to age of unit.
Mr. Adachi: Right.
Councilmember Yukimura: So then that is your criteria legend, but then
under your criteria column, so you got every piece of equipment and you tell us under the
criteria column why it is being replaced. I see one (1) "C" due to age, but the other one is
deferred from 2015, deferred from 2017, deferred from 2012,which means that in those years,
you thought it was supposed to be replaced, but you did not replace it because of tight budget
constraints.
Mr. Adachi: Right.
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: But in 2012, when you decided...you had one of
those criteria: A, B, or C in 2012.
Mr. Adachi: Right.
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Do you have a question, Councilmember
Yukimura? If not, Councilmember Brun has a question.
Councilmember Yukimura: Go ahead.
Councilmember Brun: Do you have a suggested preventative
maintenance schedule that you give out to each department?
Mr. Adachi: We do.
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Councilmember Brun: If a machine or a truck comes in, do you report to
the department heads that they are abusing the vehicle or do you just fix it?
Mr. Adachi: If we can identify abuse, we do. We address abuse.
Councilmember Brun: Okay. We just have to make sure that we keep
the communication going. Many of these folks having the thought that, "It is not mine."
Mr. Adachi: Right, we are trying to eliminate that cycle.
Councilmember Brun: Please, let us try to eliminate that part. I can see
the wear and tear, but not the abuse.
Mr. Adachi: We agree.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works—Operating & CIP
Page 28
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Council Chair Rapozo.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you. Mr. Adachi, in this new...whatever
you want to call it, this new system, who supervises the shop?
Mr. Adachi: When I am there...
Council Chair Rapozo: I know you are the Superintendent.
Mr. Adachi: Yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: But it is like we have a Clerk, she cannot
supervise every employee in this place, so is there a supervisor?
Mr. Adachi: We do not have a supervisor.
Council Chair Rapozo: I know it is awkward for you to be here because I
know how these things work, but we here we pound, we pound, "Your equipment broke. Your
equipment this." We know because we see the claims and see damages to the equipment that
is not even the County's, and that is clearly operator error. If there is no supervisor in your
shop, and I do not expect you to supervise...
Mr. Adachi: Twenty (20) people.
Council Chair Rapozo: We are asking for trouble. I am not asking for a
response, I guess, but for me it makes no sense that we would have a mechanic shop, all that
employees, heavy equipment, and no supervisor. I think that is something we need to look
at.
Mr. Adachi: Please.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: You have a preventive maintenance plan for every
piece of equipment, right?
Mr. Adachi: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Which you folks monitor. You call in and say,
"That truck is due for servicing, bring it in."
Mr. Adachi: Right.
Councilmember Yukimura: That system works pretty well?
Mr. Adachi: Yes, that system is tied into the fuel management
system. We have a three (3) month schedule. All of the units we have are scheduled within
those sixty (60) working days.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 29
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay.
Mr. Adachi: So, every three (3) months, we see every vehicle
we own. Based on five thousand (5,000) miles limit, the interval, that they should be coming
in for service. The system will lock them out if they do not show up for service. They would
not be able to get fuel and they would have to show up.
Councilmember Yukimura: That is a great idea.
Mr. Adachi: So pretty much the fuel management system is co-
leasing the preventive maintenance schedule.
Councilmember Yukimura: Sounds very good. What about operator error?
That is harder for you folks to monitor because you are not supervising the operators.
Mr. Adachi: Right.
Councilmember Yukimura: The equipment goes out to the transfer stations
and they go out to...where else do they go? Parks.
Mr. Adachi: We rely on the working supervisors in the
respective divisions to provide us with that information.
Councilmember Yukimura: Right.
Mr. Adachi: Or to help us monitor cases of abuse and address
those issues.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay, so I guess the question for Lyle then is how
are the supervisors in those different divisions being train or held accountable?
Mr. Tabata: As I am made aware I follow-up with the division
heads to say that I would like an equipment damage report. If warranted, appropriate
discipline or training or retraining.
Councilmember Yukimura: It seems to me that you should not have to really,
personally be involved in it if there is a system where the supervisors are trained to do that
kind of monitoring and there is a system...I mean I was told recently by a Solid Waste worker
when they drive the truck to the landfill and bring it back, they are supposed to file a report
on the condition of the truck, so that the next user knows if there is a problem. They are
supposed to tell the supervisor if the brakes do not seem to be working so well or whatever,
but I do not know if those reports are being filed by those drivers in a consistent way. That
is about setting up systems, I guess, right?
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: I know that you folks are making major changes
to try to ensure good supervision, but...
Mr. Tabata: It is all about follow-up and having our managers
be held accountable and in turn hold their people accountable.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 30
Councilmember Yukimura: Exactly.
Mr. Tabata: It is uphill all the way and we have taken
measures and we are moving forward. The division heads understand the focus that I am
placing on equipment and I have been spending a lot more time in the shop with Dwayne and
his working supervisors. Yes, he did not have a supervisor, but he has working supervisors
on the floor where we work together. It is a burden on Dwayne, but I believe I am not going
to leave him out in the cold. I am there with him. I expect that I, myself, would have to step
up and more involved with him in turn to support him.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. So you have Solid Waste, Parks,
Wastewater, Building, those are the divisions that have equipment and that cycle of reports
and supervision of operators, in that order.
Mr. Tabata: I have been meeting quite often with the auto shop
folks. When they tell me that they have notified and there is no follow-up, then I get involved,
when I am notified to go and seek out the rationale for nonresponse to them.
Councilmember Yukimura: My last question is you folks have an equipment
maintenance plan so that...I mean an equipment replacement plan for the long-term?
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: And it actually been in place, but you just have not
implemented it because of budget?
Mr. Adachi: Right.
Mr. Tabata: So I understand with this new vision of a long-
term budget, looking down the road for five (5) years, they have created a plan to fund
equipment replacement on an annual basis.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay, very good.
Mr. Tabata: Instead of going peaks and valleys, straight line
it, and be able to replace equipment more regularly moving forward.
Councilmember Yukimura: I believe that is what the Fire Department has
too, right? For all of their fire trucks and stuff. Okay, very good, thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Brun.
Councilmember Brun: For the (inaudible) schedule, do we have a
checklist that the operators need to use every single day to see what they checked on the
machine?
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Councilmember Brun: Are the papers collected?
Mr. Tabata: When they jump on the machine, they have a
checklist, and at the end of the day when they leave, they fill out another checklist.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 31
Councilmember Brun: Is that information collected?
Mr. Tabata: Yes, it is.
Councilmember Brun: Is it kept, checked, and make sure they are going
over it?
Mr. Tabata: And if a repair is required, that checklist is
brought to the shop and a work order is generated.
Councilmember Brun: Is there a greasing schedule? Do you need to
grease every so many hours, for example, do you need to grease ten (10) hours, fifty (50)
hours...
Mr. Tabata: We have a service truck that goes out into the field
that provides that service.
Councilmember Brun: That greases the machines for them? I should be
an operator for the County.
Mr. Tabata: They do the greasing. The man goes out there and
provides that.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any further questions for the Auto Maintenance
Shop? I have a question on the gasoline estimate because it went down a lot. Is that because
the system is more efficient on tracking gas?
Mr. Tabata: Yes, that is part of it. The price of fuel went down,
but it is coming back up, so we are kind of doing a conservative look at what we believe might
happen. It is a budget.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: I want to ask about training. Is our training
program sufficient for the operators?
Mr. Tabata: It is run through HR now, Steven Carvalho, I do
not know if I should have said the person, but the incumbent is in HR department. As
supervisors see that they need training for their employees, we put in a request for the
training to happen.
Councilmember Yukimura: Related to this, I also had, how do you hire and
promote Heavy Equipment Operators? That is the first step, hiring people who know how to
operate that...
Mr. Tabata: Can we have the operations, maybe when Roads
is next, you can ask them the process.
Councilmember Yukimura: Who?
Mr. Tabata: The Roads Division.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 32
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay.
Mr. Tabata: I do not think the shop oversees that function.
Councilmember Yukimura: That is true. Excuse me. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Chock and then Councilmember
Brun.
Councilmember Chock: I am just referring to the list that was introduced
earlier today. My understanding is that the top half is what was slated for in the budget.
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Councilmember Chock: The second half is everything else that proceeds.
Is that in terms of all the replacement needs, is this everything, and that we will be replacing
in total within the next fiscal years or is there a longer list that we need to be looking at for
the long-term replacement?
Mr. Tabata: There is always a longer list, however, as I
mentioned earlier the long-term budgeting program that we are embarking on and I
understand funds will be set aside annually for us to replace equipment on an annual basis
versus some years we have not, and in the next years we go in for a huge amount and you get
that swing on the debt service. I believe what we are going to do is try to flat line the
replacement process and spend the same amount of money annually so we can control the...
Mr. Adachi: I have that list projected out until 2030 and
everything we own, everything that should be replaced based on the recommended interval
of replacement for that type of vehicle is schedule for the next—until 2030. I do not provide
that for you...of obvious reason.
Councilmember Chock: No worries. So after the two (2) fiscal years, what
is the flat budget that we are looking at?
Mr. Adachi: It varies depending on...like now let us say this
year we replace a lot of vehicles, okay so those vehicles have life expectancy and so let us say
twelve (12) years from now, we might be replacing a lot of vehicles that we are buying now
based on the life of the type of vehicle we are buying now. For example cars, trucks, heavy
equipment, they all have different life expectancies, so we calculate the replacement at
different intervals. But buying a lot of equipment in one (1) year does create a burden for us
in the future when all of those vehicles are scheduled for replacement.
Councilmember Chock: We have to stagger them.
Mr. Adachi: Yes, that plan was pretty much trying to divide
our fleet into equal portions so that we would not have a burden in one particular year having
to come up with a lot of money.
Councilmember Yukimura: That is good planning.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Brun.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 33
Councilmember Brun: Mr. Tabata, this is just a suggestion, but the
trainer, I would think would better fit in the shop because then he will see everything that
comes in, he has mechanic incompetence and he knows if he has to go back out and train men
because they are abusing machines. I do not understand reporting to HR, I just heard that.
I just think that your trainer should report to the shop and get some mechanic background
so they know exactly what is happening. I do not think it belongs in HR and that is just my
opinion. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Council Chair Rapozo.
Council Chair Rapozo: Do you think this County would benefit or it would
be feasible for us to have a central motor pool where departments would basically share? I
look at this list and there are a lot of equipment. I am assuming that different divisions have
different equipment that they are not using every day. I do not know. You know it better than
me, but I have to believe that if we had a central motor pool and I brought this up yesterday,
last year, and the year before—if we had a central motor pool in which a motor pool, somebody
like yourself would basically reserve a piece of equipment. The things that they use every
day, I can see it staying in the shop, but the equipment that is not used every day.
Mr. Adachi: It is kind of hard to centralize because equipment
is dispersed throughout the island and so that is the reason why we have baseyards in
different districts. But for repair, it might be a good idea.
Council Chair Rapozo: Was an analysis ever done?
Mr. Adachi: We tried. We came up with a plan when Larry Dill
was the Engineer and he was not able to get that going.
Council Chair Rapozo: Why? Is it not feasible?
Mr. Adachi: Financial reasons, probably.
Council Chair Rapozo: Financial?
Mr. Adachi: No money.
Council Chair Rapozo: No money? We have the equipment now.
Mr. Adachi: Right, but we need a bigger facility, right, to
accommodate all of that. If we centralize everything, we need more land, we need a bigger
facility, and we do not...
Council Chair Rapozo: But you would need less equipment. I am looking
at the cost of these things, half a million dollars ($500,000) for some of these things.
Mr. Tabata: I was told about your concerns yesterday and part
of it is the equipment that the Roads Division uses is funded through the Highway Fund.
When the Auditor came in and said that the General Fund services needed to be separated
out of the Highway Fund, we had to create this whole new world where we had funds in the
Roads Division for General Fund and for the Highway Fund. Same thing with the Auto Shop,
we have the Highway Fund work that gets done and then there is the General Fund work, so
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 34
this whole new different accounting separation of these two, so it holds true for the equipment
also that certain equipment for the Roads Division is funded through the Highway Fund and
not the General Fund.
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay.
Mr. Tabata: To cross over to use them in Parks or in Solid
Waste, based on the Auditor's finding, is not proper use of...
Council Chair Rapozo: What percentage of our equipment is Highway
Fund?
Mr. Tabata: I believe about sixty percent (60%), it used to be
higher when the solid waste refuse was part of the Roads Division, now it has been carved
out, I need to relook at give you a better separation. I believe it was as high as seventy percent
(70%), previously.
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: I have a follow-up to Councilmember Brun's
question about having the trainer in the Auto Shop, which I find a little funny, but I share
his goal. If there is, what do you call it, a trail of documentation of where the machine has
been and when it came in and I do not know if those of you in the shop can tell when it has
been an operator error or not, sometimes you can probably and sometimes you cannot. Seems
to me that just having a really careful documentation of who used it and for how long and for
what purpose that that would help you determine who needs more training.
Mr. Adachi: Right, true.
Councilmember Yukimura: Is that true?
Mr. Adachi: But in some cases the equipment is operated by
more than one (1) person.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay.
Mr. Adachi: And so identifying the person responsible for the
damage might become difficult.
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes.
Mr. Adachi: So that is one of the major problems.
Councilmember Yukimura: Alright, thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any further questions? I think we also have
another account, Public Works Road Maintenance Other, I would like to go to that too. Oh,
not Road Maintenance, but Auto Maintenance.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 35
Mr. Tabata: We have the General Fund portion of the Auto
Shop.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Let us go through those questions now, so that we
can be done with Auto Maintenance. It is on page 208.
Mr. Tabata: This is the General Fund carve out, so it is like
parks, other services, you know like the other departments have vehicles.
Mr. Adachi: Anybody else but Roads.
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Mr. Matsushige: Committee Chair Kaneshiro, this is actually
Highways, not Repair Shop.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Oh.
Mr. Matsushige: Page 208.
Mr. Tabata: Oh, yes. The Auto Maintenance one is page 210,
sorry.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Our pages might be different from yours.
Mr. Adachi: Are you talking about the General Fund accounts?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Our page is 208.
Mr. Matsushige: Yes, it is 208, but it is like 001-2076, is that yours?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: No.
Mr. Tabata: The Road Maintenance.
Mr. Adachi: 2077, right?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Ours is 2077.
Mr. Matsushige: Oh, okay. I guess I do have the wrong page, I am
sorry.
Mr. Tabata: This is the General Fund portion of the Auto Shop,
so gasoline and diesel, also is in there.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: R&M equipment went up, can you just explain the
variance. Maintenance of generators by auto maintenance.
Councilmember Yukimura: Which one?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: For eighty thousand dollars ($80,000).
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 36
Mr. Tabata: As I mentioned earlier as the fleet was aging, we
saw a need to move more of the expenses from Highway Fund to General Fund because we
were running short on funding. The increases have been to accommodate the higher
expenditures and General Fund equipment. For instance, the majority of this is Parks.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: I guess I did not understand the description, it
says, "Maintenance of generators," by Auto Maintenance.
Mr. Adachi: That might be just a repair that was included in
that account, besides generators, we use that account for repair of other units besides
generators.
Councilmember Yukimura: Question.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: That is repair of heavy equipment that is not
Highway related.
Mr. Adachi: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay.
Mr. Tabata: Excluding Solid Waste because Solid Waste has
money in their own budget from the Solid Waste Fund.
Councilmember Yukimura: Oh, yes. So the repair of heavy equipment, not
Highway and not Solid Waste.
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Okay. Any further questions? If not, we are going
to move on to Highways and Roads. Okay, thank you.
Mr. Adachi: Thank you.
Mr. Tabata: Can we have another seat for Scott?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: We are on page 264 in the binder.
Mr. Tabata: Highways, Roads and Construction Division,
starting on page 19 of the Department of Public Works written presentation. You will see
that everything pretty much remains flat, except for operations. The significant jump is
reflected by the commitment by the Administration to help us towards islandwide
resurfacing, the normal funding was previously$1,200,000 a year and has increased to a total
of$6,000,000. The plan is to utilize a blend of pavement preservation techniques of which we
have a menu anywhere from just crack seal coating, slurry seal, to thin layer resurfacing
overlays, and some deep structural repairs in segments, or total reconstruction of a road. In
addition, we want to use a portion of the $6,000,000 we are getting to be able to match federal
aid 80% match to double this amount to $12,000,000. We are proposing to take about
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works—Operating & CIP
Page 37
$1,500,000 to get to another $6,000,000. That whole process for collector roads is housed in
the Engineering Division, which is one of the reasons why we were wanting to reallocate the
surveyor position to be an engineer. Part of the questions, I believe, we are going to receive
is, "How are we going to pull this all off? Is it practical for us to do this work?" Some of the
things that Mr. Renaud has been doing...we kept talking about the last few years, we hired
this consultant to come in, do an evaluation of our roadway surface, and they recently just
completed a reevaluation last fall of our roadway surface. They came up with this summary
report for us because we kept getting called to explain the $100,000,000 and the Mayor
recently said, "It is more like $126,000,000 now. The longer we put the repairs or the
maintenance off, the further we fall behind and the dollar keeps growing. We have a
summary over here and I asked them, "With all of the different maintenance techniques we
have on our plate, what would it take on an annual basis based on their most recent survey,
to get us to what we feel after consulting and discussing with them, is something that is real
for the County to move forward with?" Our target remaining service life is ten (10) years.
Therefore, keep that in the back of your mind that if we target a remaining service life, in
general, on the average for all of our roadways, over the next five years they are saying that
for year one, we need $14,900,000 or say $15,000,000. For year two, another $15,000,000.
Year three, $16,000,000. Year four, $15,500,000. Year five, $15,100,000. So, it is kind of like
the presentation I did about a month and a half ago or two months ago that there is a
parabolic curve that we are going to start at one point, we are going to have to ramp up spend
about this amount, $15,000,000 to $16,000,000, and then we are going to hit this peak, and
then we are going to start back downhill. That was to do 100% of everything. We are just
saying now that we are going to refocus, as I have been asked time and time again, to make
it real just to get to what we are saying is acceptable is 10 years remaining service life. They
have helped us and we have these charts that show how we can get there. Like I said, they
recertified every road that we have by driving out and videoing and doing analysis of the
condition and help calculate back the service life for all of our roads. It is a huge spreadsheet,
I did not want to burden you with that, but it is available and how are we going to pull it off,
I will let Mr. Renaud explain that. I just wanted to say that this is hot off the press. They did
the reassessment for us in the fall and we are saying that...to give you better answers, we
keep crowding them to get us better data and information. With that, I will open the floor.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: That is great progress because I remember about
6 years ago when I asked you, "What is the condition of the roads? How much money do you
need to repair it?" You did not have an answer, but you have since set out, you got the
MicroPaver Software and now you have a system at least that you can monitor and we can
know what the bill is so we can plan out a budget.
Mr. Tabata: Right.
Councilmember Yukimura: Now all we have to do is get the money, which I
commit to working on. I remember in your 30 year chart when we complete the backlog, then
we go back to a regular maintenance schedule and it dropped from $10,000,000 a year to
about $5,000,000 or something like that. I wanted to know approximately what our regular
bill would be if we could get rid of the backlog.
Mr. Tabata: I believe somewhere down the line we will get
back to that point between $5,000,000 and $7,000,000 a year, but based on the most recent
survey...we will never get to 100% on all of our roads. I asked them, "What is a reasonable
target?" They answered that the industry standard and Ed can correct me if I am wrong, it
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 38
has been 10 years remaining service life, so within 10 years, we are going to still do some
preventive maintenance. They breakdown the maintenance into preventive maintenance,
rehab, and reconstruction. We have three (3) categories that they are pricing out for us.
What is entailed in each of these,we need to get into more greater detail, of course. In general,
they kind of summarized for us that if you spend this amount of money every year for the
next 5 years, we can get to this target of all of our roads, in general, have 10 years remaining
service life.
Councilmember Yukimura: I noticed from your narrative that you are
reporting on your crack fill and surface seal coating, you did that first one successfully, do
you want to tell us about that in terms of how you are going to use that system now? Is that
part of what is going to done with the $6,000,000 or is that another part of the budget?
ED RENAUD, Chief of Field Operations & Maintenance: Ed Renaud, Roads
Division. It is going to be part of the moneys current. We need to get into those areas and
every year we are going to be doing resurfacing, a type of resurfacing which certain
treatment, and also fill and seal and that is a preventive maintenance.
Councilmember Yukimura: That is under preventive maintenance?
Mr. Renaud: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: Well, congratulations that you did the first one
successfully, so now you plan to use it as a regular technology or regular strategy for
extending the life of roads.
Mr. Renaud: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay, thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Kagawa.
Councilmember Kagawa: I hear the MicroPaver and everything, but I think
you know in general, you do need that kind of MicroPaver system to know that the roads are
bad. Like Kekaha in the interior roads where you get grass growing through and it is like
riding through speedbumps, or Moi Road, up Hanapepe Heights, same thing, all bust with
speedbumps. You knew the road was bad already. My thing is we talk about needing more
money and money will solve the paving, but 6-7 years ago, we had $50,000,000 surplus, so
we had money, how come we did not do it? Because at that time we did not think it was
important or only now we know it is important? I am trying to find out if it is just money or
will, political will, or whatever. What is the answer? Is it money?
Mr. Renaud: I cannot answer that. The thing is that we have to
move on and we need your support, bottom line. You have to believe us. We are investing in
programs to help us make things very simple, but the thing is things happen out there, okay.
Now, I am talking more about...I look at the overall collector roads, I assisted in that setting
up schedules when it is going to happen and also I manage with my team the local roads.
With the initial report that came out, real fast, maybe you folks do not know about this. It
told us where the worst areas on the island was. Now, for us to concentrate in that particular
area, it would not work out well with the community, so I would not go there. But the thing
is, we looked at the most used roads in those areas, we set up a schedule across the island,
and the worst roads...now grass is coming through the roads, does not mean that much right
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 39
now, but when it is deteriorating and it is falling apart, that is really...we look at that. But
the grass, we are still considering those roads and hopefully we will get to them, but it is per
the limited money we have, working with the schedules to get to all those areas.
Councilmember Kagawa: So the ones where, like Hanapepe, Moi Road,
where the grass is growing through the roads is not that bad?
Mr. Renaud: I am not saying that, but the thing is...let us use
this as an example, Olohena or KOloa Roads. Those roads are worse than up there, but up
there is on our schedule very shortly. Because of some of the moneys that I just received, let
us call it $6,000,000, I made a list out that we would have to do a fill and mill on that until
we can get the overall, okay? Now, I am looking at all the complaints that came in for the
same type of road is going to be worked on and I call it special projects, besides what is
happening.
Councilmember Kagawa: I looked at this list. There are a lot of roads. Do
you have a shorter list like a priority? For example, with this property tax increase, with the
$6,000,000 we are going to put to roads, which roads are going to be completed? Do you have
a list of that? So that we can...because you said to trust you, so I am going to trust you. You
tell me what roads are going to be fixed and I am going to tell the public right now what roads
will get fixed in one year.
Mr. Renaud: Okay, that is not that easy for me to do right now.
The money, we just got. I am still working on it, but what I did was I made a list of some of
the worst roads that we had complaints on and I will go down the list real fast. Maluhia
Road, Koloa Road, Maka Road, Olohena Road, Kukui Road, Ulu Road, and Haleko Road right
now.
Councilmember Kagawa: Haleko, right here?
Mr. Renaud: If you go all the way and ride the road, you are
going to see it.
Councilmember Kagawa: I think Moi Road looks worse than Haleko, but
anyway. Go ahead.
Mr. Renaud: This is the specialist, okay. Now, I have to go back
out there and look at other roads and make another list. As for the $6,000,000 you said, I just
got notice about the $6,000,000 so that is still in the planning and I can get something in
shortly.
Councilmember Kagawa: Yes, I think it would be good to just have a
guaranteed list so that you can say...like how you are saying, "Trust us," well if I trust you,
you have to tell me what you are going to deliver and then I will deliver you the votes...or my
vote to support the tax increase for the property tax.
Mr. Renaud: Okay.
Councilmember Kagawa: So that you will get your $6,000,000. I just need
to have that. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Brun.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 40
Councilmember Brun: Koloa Road is on your list, right?
Mr. Renaud: Yes.
Councilmember Brun: What is the total cost to get that fixed?
Mr. Tabata: We are going to do interim repairs because Koloa
Road is a collector road. The final resurfacing and fixes that we feel are needed for that road,
is going to come with the STIP project. In the meantime, as Mr. Renaud states, we are going
to do some immediate interim repairs. We are going to mill and fill in the extremely bad
areas.
Mr. Renaud: I did it yesterday. The spreadsheet is on my desk,
I have to complete that, then I will put the numbers in.
Councilmember Brun: Okay. So, then we are looking for funding to help
with the rest of that, right?
Mr. Tabata: Yes, since we have funding now, we cannot get on
the STIP without funding, so now we have funding, we can apply to get on the STIP.
Mr. Renaud: Excuse me, that $6,000,000 we have, there is a lot
of other things we are going to have to do with it. What is the emergency right now, but I am
looking at everything.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: You are talking about having the $6,000,000, but
you are talking about having the $6,000,000 that is in the budget that is yet to be approved,
right?
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Mr. Renaud: Correct. I believe it is going to be approved.
Councilmember Yukimura: Well, I am glad you have that faith.
Council Chair Rapozo: Do not look at me because if I had to vote
today...but we still have time for me to settle down. I am not joking. Today is...we want
these roads to be fixed, obviously, but...
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: We will take any further questions on the roads
that he mentioned or any more questions on the roads and then we have to take a 10 minute
caption break. If there are no more questions, we will take 10 minutes and come back for any
new questions. Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes, as long as we are not closing Roads, I will
wait.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: No, we are closing the questions along these lines
and then we are going to come back with any new questions. You can still ask the question
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 41
later, but I want to get everybody's train of thought done now before we take the caption. So,
we will take the 10 minute caption break and then come back.
There being no objections, the Committee recessed at 11:03 a.m.
The meeting was called back to order at 11:14 a.m., and proceeded as follows:
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Welcome back. We have Roads and
Administration up so, any further questions for them regarding roads? Councilmember
Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: Thank you. Those bumpy Kekaha roads were
mentioned, can fill and seal...is that what you were calling it? Is that appropriate as a
preventive that will also solve those bumps?
Mr. Renaud: (Inaudible)because if it is a bump then we have to
correct that, but if it is flat...
Councilmember Yukimura: No, it is really mini bumps.
Mr. Renaud: When we did one portion of Kekaha Road, we
thought it was roots and it was not roots.
Councilmember Yukimura: It could not be roots.
Mr. Renaud: It was expansion underneath there was moisture.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay, that is what I wanted to ask too. What is
the cause of that and was that in the last repaving that was not done properly? Those are
not usual, those little bumps.
Mr. Renaud: The only thing I saw when they opened it up
because it was a big concern; "why are the roads like that?"
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes.
Mr. Renaud: The base was not properly...I guess it is old, way
back, I do not know, but a lot of sand was there. Sand collects moisture, it has to get a way,
and it pops and makes those bumps. That is the only thing we have seen there when they
open it up.
Councilmember Yukimura: So to solve that, it might take a reconstruction if
it is in the base?
Mr. Renaud: Yes, big time. I am trying to talk to the contractor,
what would happen if we try to plane that area or saw cut it or something, but moisture has
to be released, so the base has to be corrected otherwise it is going to come back.
Councilmember Yukimura: But if your consultant evaluated all the roads on
Kaua`i, the consultant must have assessed those roads in Kekaha, too, right?
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 42
Mr. Tabata: I guess what Mr. Renaud is saying is, to take it
down that when the road expands because of heat and we get the cracking with the heat, it
opens up and Kekaha has a lot of sand, the sand fills the gap, at night it cools and it creates
that bump. The expanding and contracting opens up the roadway, allows sand to get in, and
the sand does not compact to the flat level. It compacts to a mound and so if we had caught
the crack early on, before it created the mound and crack fill, as you asked, I believe, that
would be a solution. But at the point where it is at where it is a mound now, as was explained
to me when we did do that road in Kekaha next to the park that connects to the Kokee Road,
it needed to be completely constructed.
Councilmember Yukimura: So in doing the specs for the repair or
reconstruction of the road, you folks will spec it out so this will not happen again or is it
something that always happens over there?
Mr. Tabata: With the heat—it is heat driven.
Councilmember Yukimura: It is heat driven, so there is nothing you can do in
the original construction of the road?
Mr. Tabata: Well when we see the initial cracks, we need to
crack-fill so that the sand and moisture cannot get under the road surface.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. Maybe you can take a little stretch of pilot,
do a pilot project and see how you can get to a good result.
Mr. Tabata: I believe that is what Mr. Renaud is speaking to
that based on recommendations by the professionals, who do the resurfacing, maybe they can
suggest interim measures that can be taken before we have to tear up the road and
reconstruct it entirely.
Councilmember Yukimura: And when you reconstruct it, you can try to do it
in a way that...
Mr. Tabata: I believe that what we did in this instance was
reconstruct the base and then we inlaid a, what we call asphalt treated base and then we did
the overlay.
Councilmember Yukimura: Did you get a good result?
Mr. Tabata: I believe time will tell, but it was constructed
using the best information that we had.
Councilmember Yukimura: When was that constructed?
Mr. Tabata: 2012 or 2013, Scott?
SCOTT SUGA, Assistant Chief, Highways & Roads Construction: I believe it was
three years ago. As Lyle stated, with time, we will see what the end result will be, but I think
as these fractures in the road occur, maintenance would have to need...some mitigated
measure would have to be...
Councilmember Yukimura: Timely maintenance.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 43
Mr. Suga: Yes, but I think as Councilmember Kagawa said,
Moi Road, I do not know when the last time that road was resurfaced, but it is obviously
getting worse and worse at the time, driving up there every day too.
Councilmember Yukimura: I am seeing a lot of roads everywhere, here in
Lihu`e with grass now all starting to come up and you that is kind of the beginning of the
end. I did not realize that it was that recent. Two years ago those cracks appeared, but we
did not respond in the timely way, so...
Mr. Suga: No, the road was already in poor condition, so this
project was already set forth back in 2011 or 2012 and the project actually occurred in 2013.
What they did was they took out the whole road, restructured, put new asphalt paste down,
as Lyle eluded to, the treated base.
Councilmember Yukimura: That one stretch.
Mr. Suga: Yes. So, you have a new foundation on the road
and you have the new asphalt on top, so now it is an entirely brand new road and with that,
we will see how long the longevity is. They were saying it is 10 years or so, but in the
meantime we are going to have to look at some mitigated measures for preventive solutions.
Councilmember Yukimura: I am glad that you folks are paying attention.
Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any other questions? Follow-up, Councilmember
Kagawa.
Councilmember Kagawa: I know there are a lot of environmentalists that
have concerns, but when those pockets of grass start to grow, is there anything that prevents
us from straying it with Roundup or something? I do that on my driveway. If they come and
tell me not to do it, I will tell them that it is legal.
Mr. Renaud: 10 years ago, we used to do that when we were
paving roads, okay, but environmental concerns were not that bad. Then what happened
other times was we put pellets of that type into the AC, that is what the industry did, but
now, we would really have to look at the environmental.
Councilmember Kagawa: So, there might be concerns about doing that?
Mr. Renaud: Yes.
Councilmember Kagawa: I even see it...I do not want to say it is only at hot
places because I even see it right here in Lihu`e. It is kind of frustrating because the road
integrity looks pretty good, it is just those grass speed bumps.
Mr. Renaud: Yes, I believe what happened was because
maintenance was not really done fast enough and the technology that we have today, cracks
were there, we did not do anything, and now grass started growing.
Councilmember Kagawa: Okay, thank you.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works—Operating & CIP
Page 44
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Chock.
Councilmember Chock: Thank you for all you are doing. I realize that if
the amount of money that is being requested in this budget is passed, you still are working
up with coming up with a plan. But you mentioned, and I just wanted to clarify for the public,
mostly, you mentioned 7 pretty major County roads here, but I want to be clear that what
you are talking about with these roads particular is right now just a mill and fill.
Mr. Renaud: Yes.
Councilmember Chock: The community cannot expect brand new roads
with the $6,000,000.
Mr. Renaud: Yes, what is going to happen is that we are going
to mill and fill, it is like portion of that is being reconstructed and then when the schedule
comes out that it is going to be resurfaced, the possibility is maybe it is only going to be
overlay, but hopefully it is just going to be overlay.
Councilmember Chock: When would that occur?
Mr. Renaud: I would have to check with Engineering.
Mr. Tabata: We would have to get on the STIP and that is
usually a year and a half process.
Councilmember Chock: Two years or so. Again, we are not going to expect
that kind of work to occur in this budget with what we are currently talking about?
Mr. Tabata: We would do some local roads, yes, we will be
looking at local roads where we will resurface.
Councilmember Chock: And as you develop this soon before this budget
decision, we would be able to get more specifics and the details of how that money will be
utilized properly.
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Councilmember Chock: Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any other questions? We can take questions on
the budget.
Council Chair Rapozo: I rather just save that for last.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Okay.
Council Chair Rapozo: Let everybody ask the other questions first
because that is the painful exercise.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any other questions on the other numbers besides
regular salaries? I just have a general question and this will...if you can answer me for all
the departments, I will not ask it at every department. Obviously when you do road work
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 45
there is overtime involved based on when you have to do it, you try to not inconvenience the
community, but are you folks taking any steps to try to reduce overtime and premium pay.
Mr. Suga: Right now as far as overtime, we have to get
preapproval for scheduled overtime work. A good example would be we have overtime work
scheduled for Maluhia Road next weekend on Saturday, but throughout the year, we do have
emergencies that we have dispatch calls in and we have to go out and remove a rock, trees,
landslides, and so forth. Yes, it is a much more controlled environment now as far as with
overtime pay, so yes, it is kind of a hit or miss because it depends on emergencies and so
forth. But yes, as far as I can tell, right now we are a bit more controlled in that aspect.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Okay. Any other questions? We are on the
Administration. If not, we can go into the...do you want to ask the salary question? They
have one position vacant, position 336.
Council Chair Rapozo: Yes, the Principal Project Manager for 221 days.
Mr. Tabata: That position went through Vacancy Review and
they granted us to re-describe the position based on looking at the overall division and their
recommendation was for us to reallocate the duties of this position among members of Roads
Administration staff and convert them to reallocate it to a Roads Project Manager position.
We are working with HR to re-describe this position to meet the needs of the field operations
group.
Council Chair Rapozo: What will that become? What rating and what
pay?
Mr. Tabata: It would be a Roads Project Manager, SR-24.
Council Chair Rapozo: What will the pay be?
Mr. Tabata: The SR-24, I believe is $57,168.
Council Chair Rapozo: That is what that position...
Mr. Tabata: That is what is listed there, yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: Yes, it is listed here, but the SR-24, there is a wide
range of SR-24's. I just want to know what you folks are seeking for this position. Maybe we
need to get another briefing on a Vacancy Review Committee. So the Vacancy Review
Committee, what I thought was they reviewed to see if that position is still needed.
Mr. Tabata: And they also look at opportunities.
Council Chair Rapozo: Yes, but I did not think they were going to use that
committee to restructure, reallocate, change names, change pay scales, and use that as a way
without coming to Council and that is what I am seeing. There is another one of that that
this is going to completely change.
Mr. Tabata: When we go in, we go in looking at opportunities
within divisions and departments in trying to get more efficient. Like for instance last year,
we came forward to you, Vacancy Review made a recommendation that when we went to
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 46
them to recruit for a Tire Repairer Worker and our Lubrication Worker, we looked at how
can we make this 2 positions more flexible and they recommended that we create a utility
position whereby you can cross train the tire worker and the lubrication maintenance worker
and create 1 new position, Utility Repair Worker, that they could both be able to be used to
be more flexible. That has worked out pretty well for us for the Auto Shop. When we went in
to look at this Principal Project Manager, they looked at our staffing and they saw us deficient
in needing support in the field and they made the recommendation based on our discussions
with them on balancing the needs of the division.
Council Chair Rapozo: But last year, you came to us and discussed it.
When does the Vacancy Review Committee, when did you folks meet for this position?
Mr. Tabata: I have to go back.
Council Chair Rapozo: I mean...
Mr. Tabata: I need to get that specific...
Council Chair Rapozo: ...was it longer than a month ago?
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: Was it before this budget was prepared?
Mr. Tabata: Yes. We need to find the time...we need to
prioritize getting this...
Council Chair Rapozo: I think it is just the common courtesy and if you
folks are going to be changing around positions, I think you should let us know and not
because we are asking about it. It is a hit and miss. I do not know how many other positions
were reallocated. There is no way I could tell. I would expect that if you are going to change
that position from, I do not care what to, I do not care what, that should come before this
body. This is another one that we would not know if we did not ask the question. I do not
know when the reallocation would take place. I am not sure if you folks do this on purpose to
hide it from the Council. I do not know what to believe. Was it this year? Was it last year
the Vacancy Review Committee...when...
Mr. Tabata: Last year, 2016.
Council Chair Rapozo: So, there is no excuse for putting the old position
in here unless you did not want us to know. That is the frustration, I guess, and I do not
know how many more of these we going through and that is going to be the case. I have a
feeling it is a bunch more. We are not batting too good right now, but we are only on
Administration. I will stop. You were not earlier here, Councilmember Kagawa, but this is
not the first one.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: And I put in a question, which will not help today,
but for next week that the divisions come in and let us know if any of the positions have been
reallocated or what they have done with it ahead of time because they are going to get that
question anyway, so they have to be prepared to answer it. Councilmember Kagawa.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 47
Councilmember Kagawa: It is the same thing as last year, we had the
Building Division where they wanted to give away the Building Repair and Maintenance and
then they had like three "EMs" in there; EM-7 and two EM-5s, I think. That was just
frustrating. We are just growing so much EMs all over the place and then even when you add
project managers, I mean, at some point we are getting more Chiefs than Indians. We have
to cross...if we take away some job from the Building Division, then let them help you folks
on the Roads. We have to work together. If we are just adding, adding, adding, then there
is no trust. That is how I feel right now. I agree with Council Chair Rapozo. We have to get
the trust back. If we keep adding, adding, adding...we already mentioned our concerns last
year.
Mr. Tabata: We have not added a single body to our line. We
are reallocating this down. Our manpower right now is 272 positions. 225 are active and 47
are vacant.
Councilmember Kagawa: So, this is not an add then, this Project Manager?
Mr. Tabata: Not an add. This is reallocating a position that we
had. The employee retired and with the help of Vacancy Review, we looked at the overall
division and looked at areas to help us get stronger and we felt that we needed support in the
field section of the Roads Division. They have helped us move this into the operations side.
Councilmember Kagawa: So, we need this Chief then.
Mr. Tabata: This is a Roads Project Manager.
Councilmember Kagawa: Okay. Thank you.
Mr. Tabata: SR-24 down from SR-26.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: So in terms of the budget, there is no real change
in the salary amount listed.
Mr. Tabata: No, it is down. It was at 26, previously.
Councilmember Yukimura: It is a reduction?
Mr. Tabata: It is a reduction, yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: So, there is no addition of costs or position.
Mr. Tabata: No.
Councilmember Yukimura: It is just a morphing of the position to something
that is more useful.
Mr. Tabata: To fit the needs in the Roads operation side versus
Administration side.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 48
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes, and I think that is a real logical right of the
Administration to do because the conditions keep changing and you have to be able to adjust
positions to the changing needs.
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: Just a clarification, Committee Chair Kaneshiro.
It is not a reallocation down. You said it was a SR-24 and it is an SR-24, so it is the same.
Mr. Tabata: It was a SR-26 down to a SR-24.
Council Chair Rapozo: That is not what is showing in here. It is showing
that Principal Project Manager is an SR-24.
Mr. Tabata: I believe that is an error.
Council Chair Rapozo: That is another error.
Mr. Tabata: My record shows that it was an SR-26.
Council Chair Rapozo: I do not know what we are supposed to rely on —
this budget or...
Mr. Tabata: I am sorry...
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: Actually what you are saying is that the title is
inaccurate, it is not the Principal Project Manager, it is the Roads Project Manager.
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: But the SR rating is accurate.
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: And previous to that, it was SR-26.
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Council Chair Rapozo.
Council Chair Rapozo: I guess it is not so much the SR, it is the principle,
and maybe Councilmember Yukimura being the former Mayor feels that, "Yes, fine, do what
you can. Do what you like." As a Councilmember and the members of the public, this is one
that is an even, even, but the one earlier almost doubled in pay. The salary almost doubled
and you are telling me that it is okay. It is not okay. 221 days of vacancy and it is more than
that, but as of this report, you are telling me that the Administration could not come to the
Council and say, "We want..." is that too much to ask? Just sneak it in on the budget and
just say, "Oh, mistake. My records show this." I am shocked Councilmember Yukimura is
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 49
saying that is okay because the old Councilmember Yukimura, the one that I used to know,
would be going nuts right now. It is not about the number, it is about the principle. It is
about the process that we have in place and it is not for the seven of us, it is for the public. I
think we deserve that. I mean I really do. Just to come in and again, we will go through the
rest of the divisions, but at the end of the day, it is really about this...again, I think
Councilmember Kagawa says it right, the trust. Now, I have to go through every single one
of these positions in the whole budget between now and the passage to see what was
reallocated. I do not think I should not have to do that. I really do not.
Mr. Tabata: So in Roads Division, of my 15 positions, this was
the only reallocation. The other 14, I can go down the numbers for you. Position 865, DRO-1,
Hanalei, interview in process.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Let us hold off until we get to...so that I can get
through the Roads Administration budget and then as we get to Hanapepe Baseyard, we can
go through them. If not, we are going to be jumping around. Any further questions on the
Roads Administration? If not, we are going to move to the Hanapepe Baseyard.
Mr. Tabata: Okay. Hanapepe Baseyard, position 877, Labor
Working Supervisor, we need to input a requisition before Vacancy Review.
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay, that is the 104, again the numbers I am
using is from the report that was generated on March 15th.
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: But on that report, it was 104 days.
Mr. Tabata: The status right now is we need to input that into
getting a requisition in to HR to get us to Vacancy Review. Position 914.
Councilmember Yukimura: Excuse me. It has not yet gone through Vacancy
Review?
Mr. Tabata: No.
Councilmember Yukimura: And it is 130 days, so that is what, three months.
Because I was thinking that we really should not count the vacant days when you are before
the Vacancy Review because you sort of do not know yourself what you are going to do and
there is no way you are going to fill it before it goes to Vacancy Review process.
Mr. Tabata: Right.
Councilmember Yukimura: But in this case, why would you take so long before
it goes to Vacancy Review?
Mr. Tabata: Go ahead.
Mr. Suga: Can I answer your question?
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes, please.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 50
Mr. Suga: Some of these positions, there is a warm body
before this person retired and in order for this person...which is a supervisor level, the person
has to have so many months of experience, so we cannot quickly just come out and say, "We
are going to hire for it." We need to person to TA, kind of get him cross-trained before we can
open it up and say that he can go in and take a test and so forth and interview for the job.
We have willing and able bodies to do the job, but there is a process that I work through right
now to try and cross-train them ahead of time, so when the time comes...
Councilmember Yukimura: That is good.
Mr. Suga: So, unfortunately 100 plus days, Council Chair
Rapozo, yes. It takes a little time for me to try, and work with them and get them up to speed
to a level of a supervisor level and so forth.
Councilmember Yukimura: I love that you are cross-training ahead of time
while he is getting the experience that he needs to qualify, so that all makes sense and you
are encouraging filling positions from within.
Mr. Suga: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Those are all things that we want to promote and
it is very instructive what you told us about those first days after a vacancy is created, so we
should not hold it against you for those days where good things are happening in order to fill
that position well. What confuses me is you are doing all of this then you go to Vacancy
Review?
Mr. Suga: Part of the process, the policies that have been in
decisions made in prior budgets, if you remember, we do not have money set aside anymore
to work off of vacations, so before we can even get to the point, we have to run off the active
accrued vacation of the employee. When a person comes in and sends us a retirement notice,
that we calculate what the back amount of vacation that person has in accrual and how many
days that equals to and so we cannot begin the process until those days are worked off. We
then apply to the Vacancy Review and within that period between, say if a person has four
months worth of vacation, we cannot fill the position, so within that body, we apply for
Vacancy Review to discuss and then at the end of the term, we will be able to then be allowed
to fill the position. If the Vacancy Review finds that it is a position warranted being filled,
so a person's salary for a FY is a set. If you were to retire in July and you had three months
of vacation, then the amount of fund that was there for his vacation needs to be expired first
before we can hire somebody new.
Council Chair Rapozo: I have a clarification.
Mr. Tabata: Maybe Ernie can explain more clearly.
Council Chair Rapozo: That makes no sense, but...
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: I just have a question just to clarify because you
are talking about when the employee is still on the County's payroll, right?He is on vacation.
The clock, as far as the vacancy does not start until he or she is gone, therefore, vacation is
irrelevant.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 51
ERNEST BARREIRA, Assistant Chief Procurement Officer/Budget Chief: The
vacation payout initiative brought into the budget process two years ago because we stopped
budgeting for vacation payout in all of the departments, except leaving a small amount for
HR for those smaller departments who could not be able to function if the vacation payout
could not be taken care of in a timely manner. In order to save that money, if you have a
person, for example in civil service, you can accumulate up to 90 days of vacation. If you
separate and retire, that is a large sum of money to payout that has to be paid off by our
current policy with the current salary appropriation and until that salary is paid in full, they
cannot seek filling of that position.
Councilmember Yukimura: So, it does not make sense if you know that that
this retirement is coming up to not be able to plan for filling it, so I do not get why we have
to wait until the salaries all paid off before we start going to the Vacancy Review, getting
their opinion, and I am not even sure why would have to go to the Vacancy Review if you
know you are going to fill it.
Mr. Barreira: The policy that is directed by the Mayor is
every...since the inception of the Vacancy Review Committee, every position that vacates in
the County, must be reviewed by the Vacancy Committee unless it is waived.
Councilmember Yukimura: I can understand some of that, but then why could
you not start reviewing the position before the vacancy actually occurs so that you can fill it
right away and there is no interruption of...
Mr. Barreira: In the ideal world where we would have advance
notice of a retirement, I would not necessarily be opposed to that. The problem is that there
is nothing that is required within the law of an advance notice in terms of retirement
intention. We have people that retire sometimes with very, very short notice and some are
courteous enough to tell us that they are going to be retiring in a few months.
Councilmember Yukimura: How do they do it in the private sector?
Mr. Barreira: I could not speak to the private sector. The
private sector is not governed by the same rigid requirements under Chapter 26 that we are,
they can just fill a position without any due process. We have very rigid due process
standards that we have to follow.
Councilmember Yukimura: But could you not envision a reasonable due
process being...that everyone shall give at least 60 days notice or 90 days notice of retirement
except for cases of suspension that leads to retirement, that type of thing.
Mr. Barreira: I would love that type of courtesy, but what I am
trying to explain is that we cannot mandate that because there is nothing in the law that
requires such an advance notice.
Councilmember Yukimura: Why can we not change the law?
Mr. Barreira: That would be...
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Council Chair Rapozo.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 52
Council Chair Rapozo: Help me out, I do not understand how we got to
vacation. This position, let us just use 877. According to the report, Position 877 got vacant
December 1, 2016, that means the person was gone, right? Out of the County. Between
December 1 and today or when this report was written, it was 104 days, I guess the question
is, how long does it take to get before the Vacancy Review Committee? That is the question.
I do not know about vacations, payouts, I am not sure why we got there, but just 104 days
and how long does it get before the Vacancy Review Committee?
Mr. Barreira: It depends, Chair. If there is no vacation payout
restriction where the selection and recruitment has to be deferred until the vacation payout
has been paid out of that salary appropriation, it could be relatively quick. The NEOGOV
entry is what allows us to queue me that a position has been vacated at which time I begin
the process of review. Some of it is dependent upon the vacancy review policy, some of it was
dependent upon the department making the appropriate referral or processing it through the
NEOGOV system.
Council Chair Rapozo: What is the story with 877?
Mr. Barreira: I would have to research that, Sir, I am not sure
offhand.
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any further questions?
Council Chair Rapozo: I have on the others, but I do not have any more
questions on 877, but the next question is on 851, which is only 74 days, but 939 is a dollar-
funded position and has been vacant for more than 1,100 days. 1990, which is a Labor I
position has been vacant for 592 days, which is fully funded. 877 is fully funded. I am not
counting 74 days. 939 is dollar-funded, but you have 1990 which is...
Mr. Tabata: 1990 is currently in the hiring process.
Council Chair Rapozo: I think we heard that last year too. How far long
are we on the hiring process of this one?
Mr. Tabata: Mr. Suga, do you know?
Mr. Suga: We are just waiting on the applicants so we can
interview the individuals for this position.
Council Chair Rapozo: What do you mean you are waiting for the
applicant?
Mr. Suga: We are waiting for the labor list. Individuals will
be selected off of this list and then they refer the names...
Council Chair Rapozo: Where is that list now?
Mr. Suga: We have the list.
Council Chair Rapozo: You have the list of...
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 53
Mr. Suga: I do not have it, personally, but our department
has a list so we are just waiting for the names to be referred and then we will set up the
interview process.
Council Chair Rapozo: How does that work? So, when you get the list,
who refers the names to you?
Mr. Suga: Typically HR or actually I believe Lyle sends them
to us.
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay, so for this position 1990, when was this
list...you folks had a test, I am assuming?
Mr. Suga: No test for this.
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay, so people apply.
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Council Chair Rapozo: They apply through HR online. When did that list
come from HR to your department or to you?
Mr. Tabata: I need to double check on this one.
Council Chair Rapozo: So, you do not have any names yet.
Mr. Suga: Not yet.
Council Chair Rapozo: That is a long time, 592 days. I can tell you that
plenty of people want to work as a Labor I. 592 days is way, way too long for a Labor I
position not to be filled, but who am I?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any further questions for the Hanapepe
Baseyard? If not, we are going to move on to the Kapa'a Baseyard. Kapa'a Baseyard. Any
questions? You have position 910 vacant, but it was only 14 days.
Council Chair Rapozo: Yes, I am really only interested in the ones that
are over 90 days.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Okay.
Mr. Tabata: Yes, it was recently vacated on March 1 due to
promotion. We need to place a requisition so that we can go to Vacancy Review.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Yes, and there was not much movement in the
budget besides the equipment that they are getting. Any questions for Kapa'a Baseyard? If
not, we will move on to Hanalei Baseyard. Questions?
Council Chair Rapozo: Again, those vacancies are relatively new.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 54
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Yes, and the only movement is the equipment
which has been the big budget item. If there are no questions, we will move to Sign & Road
Maintenance.
Council Chair Rapozo: They have four positions there that are: position
899 at 150 days, position 542 which is 195, position 879 which is 165, and position 856 which
is 440.
Mr. Tabata: Position 879 and 856, we needed to complete a 105
consultation with the union.
Council Chair Rapozo: What does that mean?
Mr. Tabata: Inform them of these positions being put into this
roads special construction crew.
Council Chair Rapozo: I am sorry, what was that?
Mr. Tabata: When we created this special construction group,
we did not consult with the UPW. They are holding us up right now.
Council Chair Rapozo: UPW is holding us up...
Mr. Tabata: We need to complete the consultation.
Council Chair Rapozo: What is their issue with this position? I would
think they would be supportive of it. And position 856 is 440 days, that is well over a year.
Is the union holding us up for that? If that is the case, we should take the union to court. I
cannot see how the union going stop us from hiring people that we know or we need, I mean.
Have these positions been filled before?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: And if you cannot answer, maybe send something
in writing.
Council Chair Rapozo: Somebody has to be able to answer this. I mean
somebody has to be able to answer this. I apologize, Committee Chair, I know it is your
committee, but I not going sit here and say, "If you cannot answer, we are going to send it in
writing for a simple question such as `is this position had someone in there before?"' Why is
the union involved in us hiring someone?
Ms. Rapozo: Which position number are you talking about,
again? Sorry.
Council Chair Rapozo: Lyle brought up position 879 and 856.
Ms. Rapozo: Okay, so both of those positions are what we call
in the logistics team and we have been trying to work with the union on this to create this...
Council Chair Rapozo: I am sorry, what are they called?
Ms. Rapozo: Logistics.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 55
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay.
Ms. Rapozo: So, we created this team of employees that are all
going to be in logistics which is creating a team of workers that would be flexible and would
all be deemed as, I believe, logistics, I forget what we call them, logistics workers. So, they
would all be priced at the same level, but they would all be able to work various equipment
within that grouping. The equipment we are talking about in logistics usually has to go from
different baseyard to different baseyard and so this would be like a generic team that could
go anywhere and be priced the same way; they could jump on any equipment. It is kind of a
new concept for UPW, they are usually one equipment, one employee. We have been working
with them. I have done several calls to the union. Sometimes it does take a while with them.
Council Chair Rapozo: What is their concern?
Ms. Rapozo: I think moving away from having different
specific employees assigned to specific equipment.
Council Chair Rapozo: When did we go into this logistic system?
Ms. Rapozo: Quite a while ago, right, Ed?
Council Chair Rapozo: Like, how long?
Ms. Rapozo: At least a couple years we have been trying to
work with them to...it is a reorganization so they are involved in order for us to move.
Council Chair Rapozo: Position 879, 166 days ago when that position was
filled, what was that position?
Ms. Rapozo: This was the HCM supervisor within logistics who
retired in November. He was part of this logistics group, so rather than filling it at that level,
we want to be sure to convert the position to this logistics team before we fill with someone
and then convert them. It would be better that we have the position converted before we fill
it. I believe that one was in logistics and position 856 was another one in logistics that retired,
I think, in December or somewhere around there.
Council Chair Rapozo: This one is showing 440 days.
Ms. Rapozo: I think November or somewhere around there,
yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: So the person in that position, Equipment
Operator III, he was in logistics.
Ms. Rapozo: Yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: And the union did not have a problem with that?
Ms. Rapozo: Well we have them grouped that way. There are a
few positions in there that has to be repriced in order for them to be part of this team and so
again, rather than filling it as an Equipment Operator III, we would fill it as a logistics
worker or whatever we have classified it as.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works—Operating & CIP
Page 56
Council Chair Rapozo: Which is going to be a higher pay?
Ms. Rapozo: Not necessarily, but some within there might be,
so I am not sure which ones it is. But they would have to meet a specific requirement...they
would have to be able to drive all the equipment within logistics.
Council Chair Rapozo: So you are saying that these positions will morph
as what, but Lyle just said that only one was the only one that was going to be restructured,
earlier.
Ms. Rapozo: I am not sure what Lyle said, but yes, these.
Council Chair Rapozo: That is what he said. I know that is what he said,
but you are saying that these positions will change?
Ms. Rapozo: As long as we get the union approval to move
toward the direction of converting them into logistics team.
Council Chair Rapozo: And then 899 and 1542, what is the deal with
those?
Mr. Tabata: Position 899, the employee is in his probation
period and so he needs to complete the probationary period before the position can be offered
and same with position 542.
Council Chair Rapozo: So they are in a different position right now?
Mr. Suga: Yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: They are sitting in a different position waiting to
get...
Mr. Suga: Yes, correct. We are going to open up the position
here probably within the next month, actually early-April. The person has completed his
probationary period.
Council Chair Rapozo: Where is he sitting now? In one of these other...
Mr. Suga: Yes, he is sitting...I am sorry, I do not have the
work chart.
Council Chair Rapozo: But he is in one position that is on this budget?
Mr. Suga: Correct, yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: So he is going to pass probation and basically get
promoted.
Mr. Suga: Yes, promoted to a higher position.
Council Chair Rapozo: And the other one will open up.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works—Operating & CIP
Page 57
Mr. Suga: And then somebody else below will move up
higher and then we will hire the lower positions, yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Okay. Any other questions? Councilmember
Kagawa.
Councilmember Kagawa: Is the opening up of river mouths anywhere in this
budget? Where is the money that we use to open up Waimea river mouth, Hanapepe river
mouth, Hanalei?
Mr. Tabata: Waimea River is controlled by DLNR.
Councilmember Kagawa: Okay.
Mr. Tabata: We do not control that. Hanapepe is A&B's
responsibility. Wailua River is also DLNR.
Councilmember Kagawa: When my dad was Deputy County Engineer, they
used to do all of those river mouths. So we do not do it anymore.
Mr. Renaud: No, the owners do it or they contract it out.
Councilmember Kagawa: So when the public tells us, "Open up the river
mouths," they have to go contact those folks or do we contact you folks and you will contact
them?
Mr. Suga: The procedure now, and let us use Waimea River
as an example, if it is backed up, we tell the public to call KPD dispatch. From dispatch, they
then notify DLNR, and DLNR then notifies the contractor to go out and open it up.
Mr. Tabata: They have on-call contractor.
Councilmember Kagawa: So Wailua and Hanalei are not ours as well?
Mr. Suga: Right now it is Wailua, Kealia, Hanapepe, and
Waimea. We often at times we take care of, I believe, it is Anahola River for DHL, they will
call us and we will open that from time to time.
Councilmember Kagawa: We do it or we hire somebody?
Mr. Suga: We do it.
Councilmember Kagawa: Because Luis Rego was the person that used to do
all the river mouths.
Mr. Suga: No, we have equipment and manpower to handle
it ourselves.
Councilmember Kagawa: And are we good at it?
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 58
Mr. Suga: Yes, sir.
Councilmember Kagawa: Because I mean, I know that equipment takes a
toll when you do that. The other question is about the overtime. Where does the overtime
come from?
Mr. Suga: For which item?
Councilmember Kagawa: Give me a scenario of the most common causes of
overtime.
Mr. Suga: Some of the overtime incurred is we could be
substituting for employees at the transfer stations, often times Solid Waste may not have
enough employees for coverage so they will notify us as the next branch to go in and fill in.
We have call-outs, special events and we had to do traffic control for parades and so forth,
and often times too with our larger size equipment we are required to move them before 6:30
in the morning just to avoid the heavy congestion with traffic. Often times I schedule the
work prior at the start of the day to move things.
Councilmember Kagawa: Okay. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: When you use the highway people to run the
transfer stations because the lack of labor, then the cost is allocated to the Solid Waste fund,
right?
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Mr. Suga: Right now it is reflected on budget.
Councilmember Yukimura: Really.
Mr. Suga: And then eventually I total for the month, I guess
you could say, and then it gets transferred over to Solid Waste. So right now some of the cost
is still sitting within our budget as far as overtime, and then it will get transferred over to
Solid Waste's budget.
Councilmember Yukimura: On a monthly basis.
Mr. Suga: Well, as I turn it in. I have done it up until
December. I have not done it since January, so I still have January, February, and March to
turn in.
Councilmember Yukimura: We do not have that automated or computerized?
Mr. Suga: Not to that...
Mr. Tabata: Not yet.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works—Operating & CIP
Page 59
Councilmember Yukimura; Not yet, yes, I would think that we should be able
to address it through our computerized payroll system. What do you call it...a cost allocation?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Yes, I think they said they are not able to do it.
Councilmember Brun: You still have to enter the hours, right?
Mr. Suga: Yes.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: HR.
Mr. Suga: Yes, they are doing the work, so they are going to
get paid the overtime for that. We do have a maintenance management program that we
utilize that allows us to track the cost. It is kind of fairly accurate and then we can use that
to transfer and head over to our fiscal office and then they can then transfer the funds over
to the appropriate...and it varies. We have police sometimes that we help, Civil Defense, and
things could vary, it is just overtime. It could be things that we do during the regular work
day and we transfer those funds over to the appropriate agency.
Councilmember Yukimura: It is called job allocation or cost allocation. Okay.
Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any further questions on signs and roads
marking? If not, we will move on to Road Maintenance/Other. Any questions? I have a
question on other services: tree trimming, multi-motor improvements, and road safety.Those
are all things that we are contracting out?
Mr. Suga: Yes.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: And we have a tree trimmer, right?
Mr. Suga: Parks does. In our division, we have several
employees that can trim, but we have what we call exceptional trees throughout the district
and those require a certified arborist and you have to be a licensed trimmer. The activity
that we are doing next week, at Maluhia Road, all of those trees in the tunnel are considered
exceptional, so we actually have to hire a specified arborist so they know where to trim and
not cut the whole tree down, but only what is appropriate.
Councilmember Kagawa: On that Maluhia Road, those big mango trees, I
have talked to an arborist and he said that we really butchered those trees. He said you do
not cut trees in that manner and I am just wondering if you received those complaints and if
you evaluated those complaints as being valid. He said that when you slice off the large arm
of that big, huge mango tree, it is not a healthy way of trimming and it needs to retain its
balance. He said there is a proper way of cutting and he said the way we did it was really
unprofessional. Do you have any comments on that?
Mr. Suga: That was a decision that I made to my folks
because the issue at-hand was the mangos were falling on the vehicles, which could possibly
lead to issues with claims of broken windshields, so I made the decision at the time that it is
best that we just trimmed as far back as we can because instead of just trimming a little, we
are going to have to come back next year. Unfortunately, it is what it is right now so at least
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works—Operating & CIP
Page 60
it is safe for the vehicular traffic going through the area. The other option would be to cut
that thing down, I mean, the entire tree.
Councilmember Kagawa: Who do we rely on for our arborist? Do we have
somebody that we use and is that free or do we pay?
Mr. Suga: We do not have actually anybody right now. It is
something that we would have to contract out if we wanted to have specifically a person to
make decisions on trees like that.
Councilmember Kagawa: Now I understand the reason why we did that and
I can appreciate that.
Mr. Suga: It was the decision that I made.
Councilmember Kagawa: Those mango trees are so high that they must be
like over 100 years old. Some people that saw it thought that we could have done better, but
that is okay. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: Where were those trees? I am sorry.
Councilmember Kagawa: The Tunnel of Trees road.
Councilmember Yukimura: Oh, Maluhia.
Councilmember Kagawa: As it extends, there are several huge mango trees
that we just sliced the arms off, but...
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay, thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Okay. Any other questions? I do want to
congratulate you on the cost savings with the LED retrofit, though, I think it saved us
$350,000 this year. Is that project complete or are we still doing more?
Mr. Tabata: Yes, KIUC completed the project for us. The
credit goes to Ben Sullivan who spearheaded this whole project. It was completed over two
years. We started in 2015-2016 and was completed in February. Yes, the entire island,
though Roads pays for the electricity, all of the County and State, fixtures have been replaced.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes. Thanks goes to KIUC as well, right, because
they did all the work.
Mr. Tabata: Right.
Councilmember Yukimura: I really commend you for doing that too. It shows
how much savings there are in energy conservation and efficiency.
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 61
Councilmember Yukimura: If we can find more of those, we will be better...
Mr. Tabata: I think the genesis was the Mayor signed the
MOA with KIUC...
Councilmember Yukimura: Oh, Mayor, thank you.
Mr. Tabata: And we worked close together with them and said
the, "What if," and they came through to help us facilitate.
Councilmember Yukimura: And we are the first island.
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: First County, bravo.
Councilmember Kagawa: Just a final question, I was just wondering if long-
term, we were looking at some of these huge Albizia trees that abut our County roadways
and if we take the time to identify perhaps when we have dead time within our crew or with
our contractor, that we say, "Hey, this tree here, should we have high wind this thing will
fall guaranteed on the road," so I am talking about having a priority list of what Albizia trees
present the most problems should we have high winds or what have you that would cause us
to end up like the Big Island where it shuts down a community for weeks, such as Puna. I
am wondering if we have a plan to remove some of those trees that cause the most risk at
this time.
Mr. Suga: The answer is yes. We kind of started. Maluhia
was our first project that we started. We removed substantial amounts of Albizia. Now, the
challenge is this, if the trees are in a residential area and you have powerlines. Maluhia is
wide open, you do not have the hazard of electrical lines. So, there are some contractors that
are not able to address those, but a lot of the problem is most of the Albizias are on private
land and we are not going to send forces to go and trim the trees on private land. If it is
residing on County, then we will be responsible and address those. Coming up here within
the next month to two, Olohena Road has some Albizia trees there that we are going to be
addressing and cut down.
Councilmember Kagawa: So if we have members of the community who can
help us and tell us which areas they think are dangerous, I can forward those roads to you
and you will look at them?
Mr. Suga: Sure.
Councilmember Kagawa: I think that is a good plan.
Mr. Tabata: Yes, the process is...
Councilmember Kagawa: Because disasters will come.
Mr. Tabata: Right.
Councilmember Kagawa: It will come. It is just a matter of time.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 62
Mr. Tabata: The process when we find trees that may
endanger our public on our roads that are on private land, we have been writing them letters
and notifying them of the potential liabilities and then we cannot force them. So, it is their
decision whether or not to remove the trees.
Councilmember Kagawa: I understand. I do not expect us to do the private
property ones, but at least we take care of whatever we can on the County end. I appreciate
it, thank you.
Mr. Tabata: We have notified...
Councilmember Kagawa: Thank you, Scott.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Kawakami.
Councilmember Kawakami: But some of these Albizia trees are extremely
brittle and pose a public health and safety hazard to our roadways, so if it is on private
property, but it poses a public health and safety issue and they refuse to cut it down, can we
go in and cut the trees and send them a bill? Because it is public health and safety.
Mr. Tabata: That is a good question and we are working on an
ordinance to allow us to do just what you are suggesting. We just need to get through a couple
more hurdles and we will be there.
Councilmember Kawakami: Let us work on that ordinance and let us also
include other detention basins that may be property of community associations that do not
maintain, so we can go in, if it is public health and safety.
Mr. Tabata: Right.
Councilmember Kawakami: Let us clean it out and bill them because it should
not be a hazard for the rest of the public and I would be willing to support something like
that.
Mr. Tabata: Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any further questions? If not, we will move on to
our final portion, which is Public Works Roads Maintenance/Other. It is on page 206.
Councilmember Kagawa: We just did it.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Oh, no, we did the auto maintenance. So this has
the money for the beach parking lot improvements. It is on page 207. Do you have a list of
the various parking lots that will be improved with this money?
Mr. Tabata: Primarily the first order of task that we have been
asked to address are the unimproved dirt parking lots on the North Shore. I believe the
Mayor mentioned Black Pot, Ha'ena, Kealia.
Councilmember Yukimura: Kalapaki.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 63
Mr. Tabata: And Kalapaki, yes.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Kagawa.
Councilmember Kagawa. Who receives the salaries for special projects? Do
we hire somebody as we need it or is that a County employee that comes over from another
division? There are salaries of$77,000.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: I am not sure we can mention names.
Mr. Suga: Those moneys are actually used for when we were
doing work for non-highway funded things. For example, Civil Defense when we went up to
Crater Hill to trim back some vegetation. Now, we cannot use Highway Fund to maintain
that, so that money is then used to help us to go and maintained that for Civil Defense.
Councilmember Kagawa: But the salary has already been paid from the
department that they are working.
Mr. Suga: But we have to separate out what is Highway
Funds and what is General Funds.
Councilmember Kagawa: Oh, so the Highway Fund salary will actually...
Mr. Suga: Is mainly only for road activities.
Councilmember Kagawa: So, we will have excess in the salary of the
Highway Fund at those times.
Mr. Tabata: No, we proportion it out. In the end, it gets
proportioned out according to how much...so, this is a deduct from what is in the Highway
Fund. Maybe James can explain it clearer.
Mr. Matsushige: If you look at Hanapepe Baseyard, let us just say,
on the bottom of the salaries, there is a minus amount.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Yes, at the very bottom of the salaries for the
baseyards, it will have labor for projects and special events, negative...which is the allocation
to the General Fund.
Councilmember Kagawa: You know, some would take this that when you
are trying to confuse us that you are trying to trick us here...I am just kidding.
Mr. Tabata: It was all to meet the needs of the Auditor's
findings.
Councilmember Kagawa: I am just joking. I take that back.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Yes, not being able to use Highway Fund money
on General type projects.
Mr. Tabata: Right.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works—Operating & CIP
Page 64
Mr. Suga: Yes.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any further questions? Councilmember
Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: So exactly how are you planning to make the
parking lots better because I was so pleased when after several years, I do not know who did
it, I mean the County did it—Kalapaki parking by JJ's. It really needed it. It was terrible.
Mr. Tabata: We do not have enough money to resurface with
asphalt, so the money will be used to bring in fill material and grade and level. At this point
in time, we are not going to surface with asphalt or some other more permanent...
Councilmember Yukimura: That is my concern because you folks did a really
nice job and then within six months, it was back to the same thing. So, we are going to do
the $600,000 every two years, is that what we are going to do? That is why I think we have
to start thinking about a more long-term solution. I do not know whether it is pervious
concrete, Grove Farm did you...Arryl, you folks did a parking lot with it and maybe that is
not a good solution. I do not know.
Mr. Tabata: I understand where you are coming from.
Because there are beach parking lots, we have in certain locations, we have to get through
the permitting process, SMA permits, and so forth. There are restrictions on...and every
there are restrictions on the kind of material we can use at certain areas, so we have a lot of
recycled material available to us. The State has been doing a lot of work, they go in and they
cold plane and they have these large stockpiles of cold plane which they make available to
us. Scott cannot use that to fill in certain areas in the community because we are so close to
the ocean and because it is asphalt base, there is a petroleum component to it and we cannot
use it. We have to use crushed coral or other materials. Scott can go into more detail on the
restrictions.
Councilmember Yukimura: Maybe it is a request for assistance from the Sea
Grant Program because I think we want to find a more permanent solution than this
$600,000 bill every two years.
Mr. Tabata: I believe it is a start, like the Mayor said it is a
start. We have a starting point that we need to study, first of all, I asked for a transfer of the
asset information. Parks supposedly is using the same computerized maintenance software
that we are using, we need to enter it into our database, and identify the exact asset and
square footage we are dealing with, and identify special requirements to handling and so
forth. Then probably, like you said, meet with the Planning Department and identify what
we can and cannot do.
Councilmember Yukimura: I fully support this. I am just asking that maybe
as more long-range, we look at some long-range solutions. Thank you very much.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any further questions on this? Councilmember
Kawakami.
Councilmember Kawakami: So, we are not talking about paving that road area
by the surf break, right?
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works—Operating & CIP
Page 65
Mr. Tabata: Surf break?
Councilmember Yukimura: Which beach?
Councilmember Kawakami: Kalapaki.
Mr. Tabata: We cannot.
Councilmember Kawakami: Okay.
Mr. Tabata: That is why I am saying. There are restrictions,
different locations close to the water.
Councilmember Kawakami: Are we just going to grade it and then you folks
are going to use that crushed coral, whatever that material is.
Mr. Tabata: I believe that would be the best fix right now with
what we are restricted to do.
Councilmember Kawakami: Because when there is a big swell, the water just
comes up through that grade and just washes everything away anyway.
Mr. Tabata: And so I know where you are talking about and it
is a bigger fix then just putting fill right now because the water that comes over is under
cutting and returning, so I believe some sort of geo-fabric needs to be laid down to prevent
the loss of the soil and the fill.
Councilmember Kawakami: Okay.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: So are we talking about all along the breakwater
or just by JJ's—to the makai side of JJ's Broiler?
Mr. Tabata: We need to create a scope.
Councilmember Yukimura: And it is our jurisdiction up to the breakwater.
Mr. Tabata: I believe so, the high water mark. Then it will go
back to shoreline setback and so forth.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay.
Mr. Tabata: That is why I mentioned we need to meet with the
Planning Department to see where our restrictions are.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any further questions? If not, we are at a
breaking point. I think we will take our one hour lunch, we will come back, Highways, you
folks are done.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 66
Mr. Tabata: Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: You will likely have questions coming your way
and then we will take Wastewater, Solid Waste, and if we can get to CIP also, we will take
all of those when we come back from lunch. One hour lunch.
There being no objections, the Committee recessed at 12:21 p.m.
The meeting was called back to order at 1:32 p.m., and proceeded as follows:
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: We are going to Wastewater. Council Chair
Rapozo will, hopefully, be back in a good mood or a bad mood depending on the call, but he is
on a conference call with HSAC regarding the TAT with the State. We hope that goes well,
but we will see. Let us get on to our actual business. Wastewater.
Mr. Tabata: Okay, again, I will do the financial overview. As
you can see from the chart on page 24 and 25, the bar and pie charts. There is a summary
sheet, the budget in Wastewater increased 3.1% of which the majority is due to the increase
in the benefits, as we stated and set aside. Utilities, just a small increase and equipment
lease cost due to equipment replacement and a purchasing of a new vehicle. Operations in
cost increased by $300,000 to accommodate for increased debt service for SRF loans. I will
open the floor to questions.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Brun.
Councilmember Brun: You said you have an increase for a vehicle.
Mr. Tabata: Yes, we have a need for a vehicle for a chemist who
travels around the island to collect samples. She was using the pool vehicle, but they had
some problems associated with getting a pool vehicle and also the material she carries or they
carry, is wastewater.
Councilmember Brun: Okay.
Mr. Tabata: And so if you spill in the vehicle, it is...yes, rough
to be cleaned up.
Councilmember Brun: So the line crew, used to have three people, right?
They used to ride in that one multi-cab and now they have four people. To get to the job site,
we have to use two trucks. Do we have plans of getting a duel-cab...I think Hanapepe
Baseyard has plenty trucks that not utilizing the super-cab or whatever, can we move that
over instead of wasting two trucks to get to the job site.
EDWARD TSCHUPP, Chief of Wastewater: Our new vehicle equipment
purchases for things like line crew, we are planning on going to the crew-cabs. The last truck
that we purchased was at Lihu`e Plant and that was a crew cab. With our line crew, we often
have the big, heavy equipment that end up getting transported too, so we end up with
multiple pieces of equipment, but your point is well taken and I agree to budget for crew cabs.
Councilmember Brun: Or we can rotate it with somebody else. We have
plenty of vehicles within the County.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 67
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Kagawa.
Councilmember Kagawa: The overtime account, I am just wondering why do
we need so much. $390,000 seems like a lot.
Mr. Tabata: I will let Ed explain the details, but in general,
most of that is to cover for standby charge.
Mr. Tschupp: Wastewater has I think that everybody knows is
a 24/7/365 operation, but we only staff the plants one shift a day. We do staff seven days a
week, but it is one shift a day. Well people have problems with laterals getting blocked that
come in inconvenient times or we have problems with the pump going out, not during our
regular shift. Because there is significant risk of a sewage spill if these things are not
attended to right away, we have a pretty robust system of standby. That is actually shown
as a separate line item under the overtime budget as a standby expense and those costs are
per contract.
Councilmember Kagawa: So the standby pay gets paid even if they get
called or not?
Mr. Tschupp: Just to be on standby per the bargaining
agreements, you are compensated for being on standby and that is fair because it restricts
your ability to go enjoy yourself, go to a party, or go to the other side of the island, or go to
the beach. It is an imposition on the people to take standby. They reasonably should be
compensated whether they get called out or not.
Councilmember Kagawa: Do we have any reconciliation of how much
standbys were actually called to work to justify $275,000 to be paid for somebody standing
by?
Mr. Tschupp: We have detailed records of call-outs.
Councilmember Kagawa: Where are they?
Mr. Tschupp: Not here. We can...we did not anticipate that you
would have this question and want to see a record of call-outs, but we can certainly provide
that.
Councilmember Kagawa: I am scrutinizing the Police, Fire, and everyone's
overtime because you folks are asking for a tax increase, so I want to see some kind of
summary as far as what justifies $275,000 to be paid for standby because if there is not
enough standby demand, let us just call people out when there is a problem.
JASON KAGIMOTO, Civil Engineer: I think for that...they would not actually
have the responsibility to respond if they are not on standby, so that is sort of like the risk
we are taking. So, we are paying a person so that he is available so that he has a required
amount of time, which is an hour to respond to that call out. He needs to be responsible there
so there are a bunch of requirements that go in to being in the standby rotation and
responding. If we do not pay him, there is also the backside of that, which means that we
cannot necessarily count on somebody responding.
Councilmember Kagawa: Can we hire out private?
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 68
Mr. Tschupp: Not on a "respond in an hour" basis.
Councilmember Kagawa: Not in an hour.
Mr. Kagimoto: For instance, it a pump goes down and the
response time for them to reset the pump, the flow is coming no matter what, so if they do
not respond in time, then we risk the chance of a spill.
Councilmember Kagawa: How much of the standby of the non-usual
working hours were actually called out in the past year, I would like to see what that total
was because if not, we need to address it with the unions or we just adjust the budget to
reduce it and let you folks go and figure it out. If it does not justify that amount of money
being in, then it is not good business practice. I do not care if it is an emergency or not. I
want to see how much of those emergencies were actually called out—if I can get a record for
the past year at least...or at least two years.
Councilmember Brun: I understand the standby. According to the
contract if they do get called out, is there a minimum that we pay?To do a fifteen minute job,
do we pay them eight hours?
Mr. Tschupp: Per contract, a call out is a three hour minimum
and that is probably tracks parenthetically, I would say, tracks pretty close to the actual time
that that employee then spends to go address whatever the call out was.
Councilmember Brun: And the clock starts from the phone call, right, not
when they get into the shop or the job, right?
Mr. Tshcupp: Right. They are getting up at 2:00 a.m. and going
in to service a pump.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: The standby overtime does not encompass that
amount.
Mr. Tschupp: No, the standby is purely the standby.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: The overtime amount would encompass the three
hours that they are out there to do a job.
Mr. Tschupp: That is correct.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Yes, the standby is like a standard to keep the
folks on-call and then if they actually go out, then we start incurring this overtime cost for
them actually being out there.
Councilmember Brun: So the standby is we paying them for...how much
hours?
Mr. Tschupp: It works out to be sixteen hours a day, roughly.
The person goes on standby on Tuesday after work and then he is on standby sixteen hours
a day until the next Tuesday when the rotation happens to the next guy in standby. So, a
person is on standby, typically for a week at a time.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 69
Councilmember Brun: And we are not paying them for their whole
sixteen hours a day, right?
Mr. Tschupp: That is per contract, yes.
Mr. Kagimoto: But that is a percentage of their wage.
Councilmember Brun: Yes.
Mr. Kagimoto: You are not paying their full hourly rate.
Councilmember Brun: Yes, somebody is not making twenty-four hours a
day of salary, right?
Mr. Kagimoto: No.
Mr. Tschupp: No.
Councilmember Brun: Okay, it is certain percent. Can you get that
percent, please.
Mr. Tschupp: I think it is a quarter of their salary.
Councilmember Brun: Per hour.
Mr. Kagimoto: Yes, hourly wage.
Councilmember Brun: So, whatever they are making - $10.00 an hour, it
goes $2.50 an hour.
Mr. Tschupp: We will get back to you with that because that is
something we can look up in the contract.
Councilmember Brun: Yes, please. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any further questions for Wastewater? I have a
question. Under equipment we have a replace Coco Palms SPS generator, is that the same
generator we just approved or are you going to purchase already?
Mr. Tschupp: That is correct.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: So that is going to get taken out of the budget, the
supplementary budget?
Mr. Tschupp: Yes, that would make sense.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Okay.
Mr. Tabata: We had planned to replace it this coming FY, but
it died before then, so that is why we came to you for the emergency on Wednesday.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works—Operating & CIP
Page 70
Mr. Tschupp: This budget was developed long before that thing
died.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Yes, no problem. Any other questions.
Councilmember Brun.
Councilmember Brun: How many generators do we have right now?
Mr. Tschupp: Our fleet of fixed generators, I think is thirteen,
roughly, one at each plant and those tend to be pretty large. The one at the Lihu`e plant is
1.5 megawatts it is really large, but that is in a building. I believe there are nine pump
stations that have permanent generators and some of those generators power other pump
stations, so like Coco Palms pump station has a generator that also serves the SPS III further
up stream. The fire station at`Ele`ele serves the riverside pump station, so initially virtually
all of our pump stations have permanent fixed generators. We also have some mobile
generators.
Councilmember Brun: So, we have thirteen fixed generators that are at
stations or wherever. How much of those thirteen are running? How many of those are in
working condition because I know Coco Palms, we just fixed it and from what I am hearing
we are running on couple other stations...we are running on back up pumps or generators.
Mr. Tschupp: We have had a slate of generator failures this
year and actually some of that is reflected in this budget. Our fleet of generators, if you will,
some of them are thirty years old. We just opened bids for replacement from the current
budget year, we test the generators weekly so that this year we just had a couple that have
shown up as, "When we went and tested it, it did not kick on." They are fundamentally to be
back up so that if we lose KIUC power, the generator comes on, they are auto transfer
switches. We test them weekly, but this year we have a couple that are out.
Councilmember Brun: I guess for me, and even when the Coco Palms one
came I had no issue with it and for me any pumps or any generators that we do need for any
of this wastewater, I think we should look into it and get it right away and not wait. Because
if we get a spill in the ocean, we pay $1,000,000 fine, we get nothing for the $1,000,000. Why
do we not spend the $1,000,000 on pumps or generators?
Mr. Tabata: We agree.
Councilmember Brun: I think we have to be really proactive on this and
make sure we are on it and I have no issue with, "If we need it, let us go and get it," because
it is better than paying a fine that we are not getting anything for and we have to pay the
money anyway. It is a big issue for me and I want to make sure that we are on top of it
because you hear about"how stink" everyplace you go and I want to be sure that we are doing
our part to make sure that we are running sufficient. Thank you.
Councilmember Kagawa: I just want to jump back one last time to that issue
I was talking about standby pay. The standby person for some reason does not pick up his
call or anything, is there a backup plan where you know what to do or your assistant knows
what to do or Lyle knows what to do to make sure that even if the standby person is not
standing by, that we still have back up plans like number two option, number three option,
number four option to make sure there is no further contamination or what have you. Do you
have the key and the switches?
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 71
Mr. Tschupp: I appreciate that question and I would like to
describe briefly. Most of our alarms, not all of them, but most of them come in through our
SCADA system which is each plant and pump station, most of the pump stations, we have a
few that have yet to be converted fully on to SCADA, have electronic devices that monitor the
functionality of pumps. On the screen at the plant, the operator can look at that pump
station and see that pump is running, but that also triggers alarms to the auto dialer when
something fails the runner, when we get a high level, and the pump does not turn on. That
is the typical kind of an alarm situation that our SCADA system then triggers the call that
goes directly to the operator in that system. If they do not pick up, it rolls over to this phone,
which I carry with me all the time. When I am not here, I hand it off to Jason. We do get some
calls either from the public or through KPD dispatch and those may come directly to me, but
KPD dispatch people also have the plant phone numbers. We are a couple deep on the SCADA
system call-outs.
Councilmember Kagawa: Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any further questions for Wastewater? If not, we
will move on. I know Ed always does a good job in detailing all of this equipment purchases
that he needs for the year and he really lays it all out, so I do not really have any questions
either. Okay. Thank you.
Councilmember Kagawa: One final question. Much has been said about
Wailua Golf Course and I guess there is a good partnership because it is a tremendous
benefit, you get free very healthy water to use from the effluent and you can tell the golf
course's grass is beautiful. I think a lot is due to the effluent which is very healthy and it is
a nice way of using it. I think it is a recommended way, right? The sun dries it and takes
out all of the impurities and so, where does the effluent go from the Lihu`e plant, the `Ele`ele
plant, and the Waimea plant. I think the public should know. Where does that water go and
then if we do not have something like valuable Wailua Golf Course to take it, then where
does it go from there?
Mr. Tschupp: Wailua, as you identified, most of the water from
the Wailua Plant does go to the golf course and also the soccer fields, where there is a
subsurface irrigation system. The backup, we are required at all our plants to have backup
disposal in addition to our primary disposal, so the backup disposal at Wailua is our ocean
outfall and that does create permit issues that were constantly having to stay on top of.
Moving on to the other plants, Lihu`e, we are producing R-1 quality water and at some day,
we will be selling it to Kaua`i Lagoons Golf Course. Right now, we are not selling that water.
We got a long-term contract with Kaua`i Lagoons Golf Course. Our back up at Lihu`e is a field
of injection wells also. `Ele`ele Plant does not do reuse, it is the only plant that we have that
does not have reuse. It is primary and back up into injections wells that actually sit right
across the fence line from KIUC's power plant and they pump ground water for their cooling
towers and they pump more ground water than we inject, so I guess you can say that is a
reuse, but it went through the aquafer for a little bit. Then, our fourth plant at Waimea, we
pump to the irrigation system that Kikiola land maintains so that is also a reuse plant and
it has back up injection wells.
Councilmember Kagawa: Would it make sense to even give it almost for free
to Kaua`i Lagoons? Would it be better than treating it internally?
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 72
Mr. Tschupp: Well we have to treat to a pretty high standard for
golf course, so we have the obligation to treat. We view it as a commodity that has a value.
Actually in our ordinance, we do have a rate for R-2 water and then we have a provision for
R-1 quality water that will allow us to charge for R-1 water in the future. Kaua`i Lagoons
built and donated to the County the R-1 upgrades, so for a period of time, it is not fair to
charge them for using what they built for us.
Councilmember Kagawa: Thank you. You answered my questions.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: And we were looking at reusing the Waimea
water, right, rather than pumping it to Kikiola?
Mr. Tschupp: That is correct.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Okay, thank you.
Mr. Tabata: We have a project that is being funded partially
through the EPA to help us with design and construction for the distribution system to get
to our parks and other users. That will in turn allow us to save some portable drinking water
so that there is more water available to the community.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: It is in the CIP. Councilmember Chock.
Councilmember Chock: Because we are talking about the future, I was
wondering if you might be able to give us a little bit of an overview of where you foresee us
in the next...it is not outlined here in terms of expansion so much in your budget, but what
can we anticipate in the next few years in terms of where we will be focusing.
Mr. Tschupp: Over the last several years, I think we have
developed and did a lot of work at the treatment plants. We have excess capacity for the
community development at all the plants. Right now, some of our CIP focus is on maintaining
the pump stations and starting to work on the old sewer collection systems. So, we are
fundamentally a maintenance organization, but we are also part of community development
and no sewer system makes it hard for people to develop. We are seeing now after several
years of very low levels of housing growth, as I am sure you are all aware, we are starting to
see some housing developers come in and starting to create affordable as well as
nonaffordable housing. I would like to ensure the Council and the public that the sewer
treatment plants do have capacity in the near term for that kind of community growth and
development.
Councilmember Chock: Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any further questions? If not, thank you. You
folks are done for today. Solid Waste is next.
Mr. Tschupp: Will we be back for CIP?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Yes, if we can, we will try to get to CIP.
Mr. Tabata: Solid Waste. If I may draw your attention to page
31, our pie charts and bar graphs. Basically again, Solid Waste budget is a flat budget. 2.8%
increase of which the largest is in the benefits area again. Slight drop in operations. As you
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 73
saw in the Mayor's address getting another influx of equipment similar to last year, so we
are at the point where the side-loading refuse trucks need to be replaced, so we are moving
forward with those efforts. If we get approval for this year, we will order the next batch of
trucks. So, we will be replacing two a year, since last year, which was the first term that we
started replacing trucks since we started doing the automated refuse pick up in 2010. With
that, any questions for the financial side? If not, questions for operations per the written
presentation, Keith and Allison can...and I want to say that Keith is here in the interim
helping assist as you heard this morning, he wears many hats. We in the Department of
Public Works are trying our best to hold it all together.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Brun.
Councilmember Brun: On this presentation, Recycling Education and
Awareness.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Oh, we will hold off on recycling.
Councilmember Kagawa: Where are we?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: We will go to Solid Waste Disposal first.
Councilmember Brun: Okay.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: And then Solid Waste Collections and then we will
end on Solid Waste Recycling.
Councilmember Brun: Okay.
Councilmember Kagawa: So, we are on Solid Waste Disposal right now?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Yes. Any questions on Solid Waste Disposal
because once we get through those, we are not going back.
Councilmember Kagawa: On the regular overtime, $75,000, where is the
overtime coming from, mainly?
Mr. Suga: Keith Suga, Public Works. That particular
overtime line item for Solid Waste Disposal, the Solid Waste Disposal budget section does
cover the administration office as well as the landfill. So the majority of the overtime was
accumulated at the landfill, while we were in the process of getting a work site supervisor
onboard, we had a lot of TAing going on, as well as other movements to get the proper
coverage at the landfill, and as well as just from a manpower standpoint as well to make sure
that the landfill is fully staffed for operations.
Councilmember Kagawa: So, the landfill is closed on the holidays, so the
overtime is being incurred after the normal working hours?
Mr. Suga: An example of that could be let us say that have a
scheduled staff of seven and a couple guys call in sick for whatever reason and we have to go
and find the proper staffing to replace those people and a lot of time those people come from
our refuse collections and a lot of times those are being called out on overtime to get the
proper coverage.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 74
Councilmember Kagawa: Is it impossible to just staff at five? Do we have to
go up to seven? Why do we need the extra two? Has it become a safety problem or it slows
down and you get backlogged with people wanting to bring waste. What is the reason why
we need the extra two workers?
Mr. Suga: Correct. I do need to double check on the exact
requirement. I have heard that the minimum staffing is seven, a lot of times we have more
than seven at the landfill, but due to...I am not sure if it is really up to union requirements
or Department of Health permit requirements, but we can double check.
Councilmember Kagawa: Okay, so there is a reason. I just want to make
sure that it is not where we just get into the same flow where "You can make more money
working overtime in this opportunity." I want to make sure that as we go on with these tighter
budgets and less and less to spend, as we try to achieve that, I just want to make sure that
we try to scrutinize and say, "We can get away with five," and everybody will just have to
work a little harder because that is what the private sector does. But if there is a really valid
reason, of course, we cannot get away from it. I just want to make sure that as we go forward,
we try to do more with less and say past practice or past approvals are not the same anymore.
Mr. Tabata: I believe, and we will confirm, that it is based on
our permit to operate minimum staffing requirements, but we will confirm and send you the
information.
Councilmember Kagawa: Thank you.
Councilmember Chock: Can you give me an overview of the gas collection
system as it relates to the loan amount in the budget at $25,000?
Mr. Suga: The construction for the gas collection system was
completed at the end of the calendar year 2016, ending of December. The funding for the
construction came through the DOH SRF loan program. The amount allocated in the budget
would be the debt associated with that loan. As laid out in Wastewater's budget, it will be
tracked in the budget process in terms of which year we are in, in terms of the amount.
Councilmember Chock: And this is the first year.
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Councilmember Chock: Is that the amount we project every fiscal year
until the term of the loan?
Mr. Suga: I believe so, yes.
Mr. Tabata: Yes, twenty years.
Councilmember Chock: Thank you.
Councilmember Yukimura: Methane gas collection process, that is what we
were talking about, right?
Mr. Suga: Correct.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 75
Councilmember Yukimura: I do not know if it was the Mayor's message or
your message about—we are in the process of getting an operator or something like that?
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: Is that a third party contract?
Mr. Suga: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: And so the cost of that is what?
Mr. Suga: I believe it was $260,000.
Councilmember Yukimura: That is per year?
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: $260,000 a year is the cost of...
Mr. Suga: Operating the system and maintaining the
system.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. That is just collecting that, so what are we
doing with it?
Mr. Suga: We will end up burning it. Through this process
when the operators are onboard, we will be doing testing and working in close collaboration
with OED to provide them the quality and quantity of the gas per the samples that are taken
throughout, because it obviously takes some time to fine tune the system to optimize it, if you
will. Once those samples are obtained and results are provided and shared with OED and
their consultant, we can best try to strategize the approach in terms of a...utilizing the gas
for energy, the potential and possibilities there.
Councilmember Yukimura: So how long will it take to get the data and then
develop an approach to utilizing the gas?
Mr. Suga: Based on the initial dialogue with several
consultants, as well as OED's consultants, it sounds like once we get the system and operator
onboard and start running the system, it will probably take a good six months to get it
equalized or running at optimum. At that point, the samples and the information gathered
could be anticipated through the life of the system, so that would provide us some good
baseline data to then make the next decisions related to gas to energy or that sort of thing.
Councilmember Yukimura: Will the next step, after we stabilize the system
enough to get good data, would the next step require a consultant contract to develop or help
us make a decision or whatever? I am just thinking if that is our intention, it would be good
to use the six months while we are waiting for the good data to procure the consultant you
need instead of waiting after six months and then taking another six months or so to procure
the consultant.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 76
Mr. Suga: Correct. I certainly do not want to speak on behalf
or for Ben Sullivan and that might be a little bit better suited towards him, but I know they
have worked on securing a consultant...they have a consultant onboard for development of
an RFP type of solicitation to explore and look at the different potentials given when this
data is made available.
Councilmember Yukimura: So they might have a consultant onboard already?
Mr. Suga: I believe they have a consultant onboard within
the current scope to look at those possibilities.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay, good. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any further questions for Solid Waste Disposal?
The Kekaha Irrigation Wells Feasibility Study, what is that for?
Mr. Suga: Currently, what we are looking at is the landfill
utilizes water from the navy base for potable water and the feasibility study as what has been
done for several companies in the area with the type of soil and being close to the ocean is
exploring the possibility of wells and also the idea for this study is to have an alternate source
for fire protection at the landfill.
Councilmember Yukimura: I am looking at page 305, that is the page we are
on, right? Okay. Under other services post-closure maintenance of Halehaka and Kekaha,
those landfills of$420,000. Is it about half and half for each landfill?
Mr. Suga: I would have to get back to you on the exact split
on how is towards Halehaka and Kekaha phase I. I do not know it off the top of my head. It
is one contract that we solicit for those services, but we can certainly double check on the
breakdown.
Councilmember Yukimura: And is it a one shot deal or is this an annual cost?
Mr. Suga: This would be an annual reoccurring cost.
Councilmember Yukimura: What do they do?
Mr. Suga: There is certain testing and data-gathering that is
required per DOH that they need to submit as well as that at Halehaka there is a gas system
as well there that they have to monitor and do the maintenance on as well as other
operational items related to the DOH permit for the closure.
Councilmember Yukimura: So Halehaka has been closed for about twenty
years, I think.
Mr. Suga: Okay.
Councilmember Yukimura: I was Mayor when we had to close it. I mean when
I was Mayor the lease was going to expire in thirty days and we had no alternatives. People
were going to have to take all the trash to Kekaha.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 77
Councilmember Brun: So, it is your fault we have the rubbish dump in
Kekaha then?
Councilmember Yukimura: No, the dump was already there. No, it is my fault
that you have the Lihu`e Transfer Station. Is the closure about thirty years, are we coming
on the end of Halehaka? How much longer is projected for it?
Mr. Suga: That is a good question. I am not certain.
Councilmember Yukimura: I mean $420,000 a year is a lot of expense and
Kekaha phase I, was that the one we closed? That is the unlined landfill that we closed, also,
so the closure is also about twenty years now too, I think. Yes, so if you can find out how
much longer we have to pay these bills.
Mr. Suga: Okay.
Councilmember Yukimura: Shall I continue? What is that other services,
State Solid Waste Surcharge at $28,000?
ALLISON FRALEY, Solid Waste Program Development Coordinator: By law, the
State requires the Counties to pay a fee for each ton that goes to the landfill. I do not know
the exact number, but off the top of my head, it is pennies per ton.
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes, so it is apparently about $28,000 a year.
Ms. Fraley: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. And the tipping fees do not include that. I
mean is this included in the tipping fees?
Ms. Fraley: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: So the tipping fees pretty much pay for the actual
cost?
Ms. Fraley: Yes, well, you mean our tip fee at the landfill?
Councilmember Yukimura: Right.
Ms. Fraley: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: They are set so that...
Ms. Fraley: It covers that and other costs.
Councilmember Yukimura: Even including post-closure cost?
Ms. Fraley: We had calculated that several years ago. That
was to come up with our current fee and at the time it was at around $119 at the time.
Councilmember Yukimura: Does it also include the cost of the lateral
expansion?
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 78
Mr. Tabata: The post-closure?
Councilmember Yukimura: Do our tipping fees cover the cost of the lateral
expansion?
Mr. Tabata: No.
Councilmember Yukimura: That is why it is cheaper to put things in the
landfill than recycle because we are not actually charging the real cost, right?
Mr. Tabata: We only have an estimate at this point. We are
still in the process of design.
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes, but it went from $9,000,000 to$15,000,000 or
something.
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: In three years. And the end is not in sight. Okay.
So, the Kekaha Landfill operation, is that the contract fee for the contractor? That is the
annual contract fee of$2,000,000?
Mr. Suga: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Plus all the labor that we pay in the other part of
the budget, right?
Ms. Fraley: This is the funding that goes to the contractor.
Councilmember Yukimura: To the contractor.
Ms. Fraley: And it is an estimate and it is based on tonnage,
so that is just the budget.
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes, because there are different modules in the
contract depending on what happens during the year.
Mr. Suga: Right.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay, but that is not the full cost of running the
landfill.
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: It is all the labor, hourly labor costs, and
everything which are in another part of the budget.
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 79
Ms. Fraley: Yes, there on the prior page, actually, the labor for
the landfill.
Councilmember Yukimura: The NPDES facility monitoring $100,000, those
are the sites where that is going on?
Mr. Tabata: This is for the landfill.
Councilmember Yukimura: That are listed.
Mr. Tabata: For the landfill.
Councilmember Yukimura: It says Hanalei, Lihu`e, Hanapepe, Kaua`i
Resource Center, Kekaha Landfill, and Halehaka Landfill.
Mr. Tabata: Yes, you are right.
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay, so that is for all sites. Is that an amount we
have been paying annually too?
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: So that is not out of the NOVO.
Mr. Suga: No.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay, thank you. I have other questions, but you
should let other Members ask.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Brun.
Councilmember Brun: This is a follow-up to Councilmember Kagawa's
question. How many people do we staff every day at the landfill and what is the minimum
we need to staff? If you can get both of those answers back to us.
Mr. Suga: Sure.
Councilmember Brun: Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: I think you might have covered the Kekaha
Irrigation Well Feasibility Study, that is the one that you are checking to see the potential of
using the nonpotable water, but the ditch water for fire control and maybe even for daily
watering and things like that?
Mr. Suga: For dust control, correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: Where you do not need potable water, okay. What
is the cost right now? I mean if we find a substitute, how much will we save?
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 80
Mr. Suga: That is a good question. With regards to the
amount of water utilized for dust control, I am not sure.
Councilmember Yukimura: Maybe you can send that as a follow-up because
we are paying for potable water right now.
Mr. Suga: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes, okay. I would be interested in knowing that
cost.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: I think everyone asked their questions already, so
whatever questions you have.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. I am on page 306 on other rentals. The
green waste site rental at Princeville, is that a fee? We are paying for the existing transfer
station.
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: And we pay this every year?
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: Is the transfer station called the green waste site
or is there another site?
Mr. Suga: There is a right-of-entry agreement that is
typically executed with an entity and the requirement is $1,000 a month payment for that
right-of-entry agreement.
Councilmember Yukimura: So it is basically without it, we would not be able
to have the transfer station? Okay. I thought I heard talk from the Mayor's message that we
are looking at another site for Princeville/Hanalei, long-term for a transfer station. Is that
totally my imagination?
Mr. Tabata: I believe that the Mayor mentioned that they are
transferring the asset to us, the property.
Councilmember Yukimura: The existing site?
Mr. Tabata: The existing site, yes, the ownership.
Councilmember Yukimura: Have we made an assessment about whether that
site is really suitable for the long-term?
Mr. Tabata: Some of the improvements that we are going to
make for the NPDES requirements does look at the volume anticipated moving forward. The
reconfiguring of the property and we are also asking for a little bit more property to provide
for expanding needs and so part of it is the design that we are putting forward to permit at
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 81
the DOH will brings us into compliance and be able to operate the facility within the existing
NPDES requirements.
Councilmember Yukimura: Is that a twenty year plan? What is the scope of
time?
Mr. Tabata: I cannot recall what we did.
Councilmember Yukimura: Is it part of our Integrated Solid Waste
Management Plan vision because the transfer stations, as we head toward a no-waste
framework, is that transfer stations are going to change in their nature.
Mr. Suga: Potentially as diversion increases, yes, the
requirements or the availability of various waste diversion opportunities may change
throughout the years.
Councilmember Yukimura: Well, I mean it is not a redemption site, right now,
is it?
Ms. Fraley: Right.
Mr. Suga: No.
Councilmember Yukimura: I mean the transfer stations in the future, and
they may even have a different name, if it is like 70% to 80% recycling, it is going to be a
different scenario.
Ms. Fraley: Yes, that was recommended in the Plan that they
also be redemption centers, but Hanalei is one of the few sites where we have recycling at
that site. That was also called out in the Plan, I mean, non-HI5 recycling, a draw point for
residential.
Councilmember Yukimura: Right, that is happening right now.
Ms. Fraley: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: But do we have plans in the future for using it as
a redemption site, which would also then...because it is a one-stop, right? People can come
and they put in all the recycling and then they throw away their trash. They would not have
to go to separate places, I mean I think that is the vision of Integrated Solid Waste
Management Plan. Do you have enough space for that future vision of these satellite sites?
Is my question.
Ms. Fraley: That space is quite restrictive.
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes. That is why I asked.
Mr. Tabata: Let me just summarize by saying that we are
trying to focus ourselves on becoming compliant with our NPDES requirements. I believe as
we transition into getting to the vision, we will have to make adjustments, but right now, we
are just trying to get ourselves complaint. So, I think that is our main focus for the short-
term and we are cognizant of what you are asking for the long-term.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works—Operating & CIP
Page 82
Councilmember Yukimura: I understand the urgency and the need to focus,
but I just want to say that if you can make it fit your long-range plan, you might save a lot of
money in the future.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Okay, any further questions? If not, we will move
on to collections. Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: Earlier when we were talking to the Automotive
Shop, we talked about the plan for new equipment and amongst the equipment that is on the
list to be purchased, there are some solid waste equipment. The question came about training
operators and systems of tracking who needs training, who operates the systems of
accountability, so in looking at your Solid Waste Work Site Supervisor positions, which I
presume are the ones that are supervising our transfer stations. If it am wrong, please correct
me.
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. Are we giving them training to be good
supervisors so they can oversee the use of equipment and make sure the equipment is being
used where we are minimizing operator error? Keith, I acknowledge that you have not been
on for about a month or whatever it is so...
Mr. Suga: The Work Site Supervisors have been provided
training relating to the various pieces of equipment at each transfer station. Each equipment
operator that is assigned at a certain transfer station also goes through required training
and those are logged with our County trainer. There is refresher training that is available
and on some occasions, some of the workers do request a refresher training, so that is
available as well. Relating to some of the discussion that we had earlier this morning with
Automotive, there is a renewed effort, let us call it, to emphasize to supervisors, as well as
our equipment operators the importance of having those daily checklist filled out every day
and for the supervisors to be able to go through and collect the daily checklist every day to
identify what items are being recorded and making sure that those work orders are put into
the shop system so that they can address things as thing arise. Hopefully they are small
issues versus waiting until they are big issues. As Dwayne Adachi mentioned earlier, there
is a schedule that is set up in terms of serving tractor trailers and that sort of thing, so as
those tractors go in for simple oil change, if the work is put into the system, they can pull
that up, and while they are attending to the regular maintenance of that piece, they can
address the things that are already in the work order system to try to maximize the time that
is at the shop and bang out whatever they can. That has been reemphasized to our
supervisors and our working staff out there.
Councilmember Yukimura: Thank you. Two follow-up questions to that. You
said that the refresher training is at the request of the operator, is that the only kind of
refresher training there is or like the attorneys, who have continuing education requirements
that you have to do?
Mr. Suga: I know that there has been specific situations
when the operators have requested it and it has been provided. I am not aware in terms of
regular refresher training that is provided, but I can look into that. I am not sure.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works—Operating & CIP
Page 83
Councilmember Yukimura: And when new equipment comes aboard,
everybody gets trained.
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. Is there a way that you are going to be
measuring the problem of operator error or do you think that operator error is a problem with
your equipment?
Mr. Suga: It is definitely a concern that contributes to the
shop being filled with pieces. It does go hand in hand with what Dwayne said earlier. A lot of
it is wear and tear because the trucks run hard, almost five days a week, and there is a lot of
miles that are logged on to those pieces, but at the same time, if there are things that we
control, as operators, whether it be abuse or that sort of thing, the supervisors are to write
incident reports immediately and that can be evaluated and investigated in terms of what
was the cause, how could it be avoided. That could be a way to trigger refresher training if a
particular employee needs it in terms of the incident that occurred.
Councilmember Yukimura: But that is going to take a supervisor really
checking those daily sheets.
Mr. Suga: Not only the daily sheets, but again, as incidents
happen, that has to be documented right away.
Councilmember Yukimura: And that, I take it, is something that is being
reemphasized with your entry to this.
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any other questions? If not, we will move on to
Solid Waste Recycling. The $20,000 grant-in-aid for commercial non-HI-5, what is that for?
Ms. Fraley: That is a commercial drop point for non-HI-5
recyclables in Kilauea and it is behind the mini golf course and it runs on the days that KCRS
is doing HI-5, so it is a one-stop drop. That actually started in 2013 with a grant program
that sort of then...and this is being utilized by north shore businesses that include
restaurants, stores, schools, associations, housekeepers, and resorts. We actually have a list
of who uses it because they weigh the material as it comes in. It does provide a convenience
for remote businesses that need to recycle, they cannot go to the Kaua`i Recycle drop bins
because it is only for residents. We held a series of business advisory committee meetings
back in 2014-2015 when we were thinking of proposing a law requiring recycling and that is
what we heard from businesses the most that in remote areas, they need a place to be able
to drop their recyclables.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Thank you. Councilmember Brun.
Councilmember Brun: Recycling. Did we fix the mess that we had?
Ms. Fraley: We are in the process.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 84
Mr. Suga: Yes, the permanent solution is still being worked
on.
Councilmember Brun: Can we figure out...because we have money for all
these things, but how we can let people know that the HI-5 places are closed? I know a person
drove from Hanapepe, two truckloads, went all the way down to Koloa, and they were closed
with no notice. So, now the person has to unload his truck. I did the same thing with my truck
with Kekaha and knew nothing about it. There was a paper there, but you know, the only
way you are going to see the paper is if you get there. Can we advertise on the radio? Because
if not, it is not people's fault, it is our fault that we are in the situation. It is us, as the County.
It is our fault.
Ms. Fraley: Yes, I understand.
Councilmember Brun: Can we do a better job of letting people know when
they are going to open, when they are not going open...
Ms. Fraley: The problem has been the closures have been
intermittent, they have not been permanent. So what we have been doing is daily, actually,
we are calling every redemption center and asking, "Are you going to be open?" because they
cannot tell us in advance and we are posting it on the website and we are telling people to
call the notices to please call ahead so we know. Lately though, the last week actually, we
have seen that they are all being reopened, so that is the good news, but I understand that it
has been a huge issue and we could not do a radio ad every day, but what we can do every
day is find out and post it on our website. That is what people have been doing. So that is
how we are trying to solve it, but obviously it is a huge problem that needs to be fixed.
Councilmember Brun: Yes, I mean, we need to figure out a better way to
notify the public because we are in a bad place right now and after all that work you folks
put in to get where we are at with recycling, and then we went 100 steps backwards. The
older people do not have internet or go on to a computer.
Ms. Fraley: Yes.
Councilmember Brun: We need to figure out a better way to let people
know, until we can fix this situation.
Council Chair Rapozo: Why can we not call the radio stations or E-mail
the radio stations every day to let them know we are closed?
Ms. Fraley: I mean, we could, but I do not think they would be
able to do a daily. First of all, it is a little confusing because once they say something, people
think it is for the next day. I am not sure how we can coordinate something that is daily on
the radio. We can look into it.
Mr. Suga: Perhaps Council Chair, we can talk story with the
radio and see what we can...
Council Chair Rapozo: Ron Wiley and the rest of the radio stations would
not hesitate to...
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 85
Mr. Tabata: We get daily E-mails before 8:00 a.m. In fact, I
just checked this morning at 7:51 a.m., I knew exactly who was open and who was closed.
We will huddle to figure out how to get this message out. As soon as I know or we know.
Council Chair Rapozo: I think the radio is much better than the website
because there are a lot of people out there, especially the older crowd that recycle that does
not have...
Mr. Tabata: We will work with our PIO to see what is the best
method.
Council Chair Rapozo: Yes.
Councilmember Brun: Also, Facebook.
Ms. Fraley: Yes.
Councilmember Kawakami: Can we not utilize our connect CPY system that
broadcasts emergencies?And how much subscribers would we have?
Ms. Fraley: Okay, I can work with Sarah Blane.
Councilmember Kawakami: Yes, because if we have a high enrollment, that
might be the most effective way to get a text message saying...I mean everybody is going to
get it and I do not know how much it costs every time you deploy a message, but since we are
already subscribing, it might be something we might want to look in to.
Ms. Fraley: Okay.
Councilmember Yukimura: And the elderly and others who do not take text
messages also...we still need the radio. This uncertainty of opening redemption centers, is
that due to the resource center not being fully operational?
Ms. Fraley: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Now, they have not yet gotten the redemption
permit?
Ms. Fraley: No, not yet.
Councilmember Yukimura: When is the expected date, because I think two
weeks ago, the State was inspecting...
Ms. Fraley: They inspected yesterday so we are hearing that
it could be next week. There are just a couple of issues that need to be ironed out.
Councilmember Yukimura: Because that would be the best solution to the
problem, right?
Ms. Fraley: That would open the operation of the Lihu`e
Redemption Center. The problem of the materials needing to be processed from all the
redemption centers still is an issue too though.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 86
Councilmember Yukimura: Where do those get processed?
Ms. Fraley: At the resource center.
Councilmember Yukimura: And the contract anticipated that, right?
Ms. Fraley: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: So...
Ms. Fraley: There have been equipment issues and other
barriers in the way materials have been brought in that have prevented all the materials to
be processed immediately when it is hitting the door. So, that is what has been causing the
closures of the other centers. That is getting better, but we need it to be perfect all the time
so all the redemption centers can be open.
Councilmember Yukimura: I think if there is a real end...I mean an end in
sight, that would be helpful. Okay.
Councilmember Kawakami: Is there an end in sight where we as a County,
"Look you cannot perform the contract" and we just have to yank it and go out to bid again.
Do we ever get to that point? Is there a timeline where —look, it has been three months, six
months...I mean for us...
Mr. Tabata: I think it is a question for Mauna Kea to answer
because some of our communication problems has been because of the legal aspect.
Councilmember Kawakami: Got it.
Councilmember Yukimura: So the most time for the previous contractor was
four months, so the existing contractor is still within the four months, but coming up soon, is
that correct?
Ms. Fraley: No, we issue notice to proceed in phases and those
were goals of things happening so each contract is different, but you are right, there was a
four-month time for the contract.
Councilmember Yukimura: When did you...
Ms. Fraley: End of December is when this new contract
started.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any further questions? What is the cost for us to
dump everything in the landfill rather than recycle? Just our solid waste recycling is
$3,000,000. The public constantly tells us to cut cost, but we have real life decisions to make.
Do we want to continue recycling, which cost a certain amount and you weigh the opportunity
cost or do you just dump it in the landfill. Of course, it may shorten the life of the landfill,
but...
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 87
Mr. Tabata: We are prepared to answer that. The cost as you
know to recycle is approximately $3,500,000. The County programs presently divert about
30,600 tons a year. The private sector also assists us in recycling and their volume is about
34,000 tons a year. The total diversion is about 64,700 tons. In addition, our present landfill,
last year or our expected amount that is going to be delivered this year is 83,740. So if we
were to take all of this 83,000 plus the 64,000, that is 148,000. Based on the present landfill
air space or expected life of eight years, we would lose two years of air space and we would
not meet the timeline that we are planning to have the new landfill ready and available for
operation. So we would lose the two years of air space, not being ready. We looked at options
where we could send the refuse, and 2014 we looked at the H-POWER option and our recent
retest or checking of the cost there, one of the major things that changed was the tipping fee
for each power increase. Just H-POWER cost alone is about $23,000,000 and then we still
have to keep our refuse system and our transfer station systems available and a minimum
amount of operation at the landfill because we still going have items that we cannot ship off
island. Part of the deal with H-POWER is that if they take our refuse, we need to take the
ash back. When you added all up...
Councilmember Yukimura: Ash is a problem.
Mr. Tabata: ...the cost comes to about $32,000,000 a year.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: $32,000,000 for H-POWER.
Mr. Tabata: To deliver our refuse to O`ahu to H-POWER.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: What is our cost to dump it in the landfill? We
know what our cost to recycling is $3,500,000.
Mr. Tabata: Our present today is about...if we just add up our
two line items. It is a little over $12,000,000.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: No, I am sorry. I am trying to make a comparison
between the decision to continue the recycling program and this is...I never asked this
question...but continue our recycling program at $3,500,000 or the cost to put that into the
landfill.
Mr. Tabata: So, we had no recycling, right now, our total cost
is about $13,600,000 just for refuse and collections. With no recycling.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: What is the cost to add another 64,000 tons to the
landfill of material?
Ms. Fraley: The cost would be lost in airspace, is what Lyle is
saying.
Councilmember Yukimura: It is 6,400.
Mr. Tabata: 64,000.
Ms. Fraley: Well what the County is responsible for is about
30,000 tons. That is what we divert and then businesses divert more than that through other
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works—Operating & CIP
Page 88
means. The cost is not monetary, it is the loss of that space, so we would not have any more
to go before we built a new landfill, would be the problem.
Mr. Suga: But I think to answer Committee Chair
Kaneshiro's question and maybe what we could do is provide you a list of the different
recycling opportunities provided now, the amount of tonnage it collects, and the cost to do so.
I think that is kind of what you are looking at in terms of breaking down...
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Obviously, I am two years short of asking this
question, but this would have been a serious question two years ago if we said, "The cost to
recycle is $3,500,000. The cost to put everything in the landfill is..."I do not know what
number it would be and that is the opportunity cost that we as Councilmembers need to
analyze when we are trying to save major cost for the County. But, if we are two years too
late, then...
Mr. Tabata: There is also, in our waste management contract
when we go over a certain threshold, we have to pay x more per ton, so we will gather all of
that.
Ms. Fraley: I just want to point out that all the programs do
have different costs, so the green waste program per ton is much less than household
hazardous waste, for instance, which is they are managing toxic waste so the cost per ton is
very high. So, if you were going to evaluate this, you would want to probably do it on a
program by program basis where you are looking at the program cost and also toxicity, some
things cannot go the landfill, like tires. We can show you the breakdown of the different
programs cost per ton for each program.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Just an analysis so that we can say going into the
future, if or when we do get the landfill, that is another decision we are going to make — do
we want to continue to recycle or do we want to put things in the landfill? That is like a big
area that you can look at what is our cost.
Councilmember Yukimura: If you do this scenario of not recycling, you still
have to add to that scenario the cost of recycling hazardous waste and tires because you are
not going to be able to recycle that.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Yes, I think Allison understands the picture that
she will put together as far as what we can absolutely recycle in the landfill, what we cannot,
and just an analysis. I have never seen it. I know it sounds bad to not recycle, but when we
are talking about hard costs to the County and being able to save the county money, it is an
analysis we have to at least look at.
Councilmember Yukimura: But how do you cost out the fact that you are not
going to be able to make the deadline for opening the new landfill?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Yes, I do not need that cost. I realize we are two
years too late already, so...
Councilmember Yukimura: Well, the thing is that is a real cost and then how
do you take into account the future...I mean, it might be a new operating cost for the new
landfill, so you have to get real accurate cost of landfill into the future if you are going to
compare both.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 89
Mr. Tabata: Right. Some of the cost for the new landfill
including increased diversion rates so you are correct and we are going to have to figure that
part out too.
Councilmember Yukimura: How do you cost out that recycling will create a lot
of jobs as well as economic development?I mean, if you can recycle glass into golf course sand,
what kind of plus is that because (inaudible) that is part of the...
Mr. Tabata: I believe that is in line with Committee Chair
Kaneshiro's description of opportunity cost, it falls in the same realm. I think I have a clearer
direction now and we will put our heads together.
Councilmember Yukimura: And hiring people.
Mr. Tabata: We did something rough and it was just based on
airspace, but we got you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Okay, thanks.
Councilmember Yukimura: Please include the opportunity cost of hiring
people with disabilities to run the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF).
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Okay. I am not sure how you folks are going to do
that, but for me, it was just material being recycled versus material going in the landfill. Of
course, there are opportunity costs, I am sure aluminum, if the price goes up, people are going
to want to recycle aluminum somehow. It is just knowing the tonnages and what are our
opportunities.
Mr. Tabata: We will create drafts and if you allow us, we can
meet and say, okay, is this in line, the direction, or no...get feedback.
Councilmember Kawakami: Can we use our glass and create glass fault and
use it in our road repairs?
Mr. Tabata: We investigated that across our various
partnering agencies across the State and there were issues of which I need to recapture what
those were that stop the use of glass as recycled material for road resurfacing.
Councilmember Kawakami: Okay, because I know they utilized it in New York
so I do not know what the end result was, but I mean, we could fund the pilot and find out
for our own instead of relying on somebody else's trial and errors...because I know it is being
utilized. They are even utilizing crushed glass to identify underground infrastructure, you
know when they are digging, so if they run into glass...so there are other uses. It might be
something that we want to explore.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any further questions regarding Solid Waste
Recycling?Okay. If not, we have Roads Maintenance. I do not know if we will have questions
on that. These are General Fund expenses.
Mr. Tabata: Right, that we are funding Solid Waste Fund as
we do General Fund into Roads because Roads does support solid waste as a last resort with
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works—Operating & CIP
Page 90
personnel, so the Solid Waste Fund needs to have a budget to pay back the Roads Division
as we had spoke of earlier, what Scott Suga brought up.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: And the Auto Maintenance is similar.
Mr. Tabata: Same thing. The Auto Maintenance is a carve out
from the Highway Fund, strictly for solid waste, and especially since now the refuse group is
completely out of the Roads Division. So they have to pay their share of solid waste funds. I
believe when we get to revenue, you will see it at the Solid Waste Fund is...we just short of
60% of the total cost for solid waste operations.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Okay. If there are no other questions, I think we
will just take a caption break. We will regroup and look over CIP and that is the last item
we have today.
There being no objections, the Committee recessed at 2:51 p.m.
The meeting was called back to order at 3:07 p.m., and proceeded as follows:
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Welcome back. We are on our final item for today,
which is CIP. My plan is to use the sheet that Keith provides every year and we will go page
by page and we are not going to turn back once we pass the page. Keith has highlighted all
the new projects and on this there are a lot projects that have been completed, so just let me
know when you want to stop and if there is a new project, then Keith will explain it. The
first page has no new projects. The Moana Kai Seawall is on here showing that it has some
money for 2018, but that project is completed. It was just a clerical error on that one. Any
other questions on the first page of the CIP?
Councilmember Yukimura: We just got this, right?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Yes, but we also had our other CIP.
Councilmember Yukimura: Well I am looking in the other CIP, where is the
landfill moneys? It is hard for me to...
Mr. Suga: If I may clarify, so the worksheet that I provided,
in addition to the ordinance, the way that it is set up in terms of order is we have it broken
down by the Department of Public Works division. The first few lines are Auto and the next
section is Building. If you look at the column number 4 under managing agency, so the
worksheet is sorted by Public Works Division in alphabetical order, so Solid Waste,
Councilmember Yukimura, I believe is on the last page or second to the last page, for their
projects.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay, that is helpful. And you said the Moana Kai
Seawall, these three line items are off now because they are done?
Mr. Suga: Correct, they are complete.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: We really only have four projects on this list,
actually one is completed also...do we have any questions on any of these projects?
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 91
Council Chair Rapozo: I know you said something about it being a typo.
So, you are saying that the first Moana Kai Seawall construction project, which showing the
FY 2018 of$193,942 is a mistake? Is that a typo?
Mr. Suga: It is a mistake on my part for not reallocating the
funds.
Council Chair Rapozo: Oh. But that money is going to another project.
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay.
Mr. Suga: The project is complete so those are funds that can
be reallocated.
Council Chair Rapozo: Do you know where it is going to go?
Mr. Suga: Not off the of my head, but most likely to collector
roads.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any more questions on page 1?
Councilmember Yukimura: The Piikoi Interior Renovation, what is the
timetable for that?
Mr. Suga: Currently the consultant that is onboard and
contracted has put together various...has completed its design and has put together various
packages for Public Works and Administration to review. At this time, construction funding
is not assigned or allocated to this project, so for the remaining funds that was associated
with the design elements, those are getting reallocated.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay, it is a reallocation, as is the Pono Kai
Seawall. Is that done too?
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: So, you do not need any more money?
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: For Pi`ikoi.
Mr. Suga: Correct, the moneys are left in the current
consultant contract is sufficient to have them finish their scope of work.
Councilmember Yukimura: When is the timetable for construction?
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works— Operating & CIP
Page 92
Mr. Suga: Currently, construction funds have not been
identified so I do not know the current timeline because we need to identify construction
funding for that.
Councilmember Yukimura: Is that going to be among the projects for the bond
float?
Mr. Suga: It was discussed internally in Public Works and
with the Administration and I do not believe it made the cut.
Councilmember Yukimura: So, this project will be put on the back burner.
Mr. Suga: It seems like it may get deferred a year or so until
appropriate funding can be identified for the construction.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay, because is it not true that the Planning
Department is bursting at the seams?
Mr. Suga: The Planning Department has identified that
there are space issues that they are currently dealing with.
Councilmember Yukimura: What is the estimated construction cost?
Mr. Suga: Again, it varies based on the components, but
roughly speaking...as an example to address let us say Planning and to incorporate the
mezzanine second floor storage, if you will, because it makes sense to do it all at once with
the initial construction, put in the appropriate mechanical and utilities — the estimate was
roughly about $6,000,000 to $7,000,000.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. Can I keep asking? Hanapepe Fuel Tanks
at $350,000, it is that expensive?
Mr. Suga: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Is that what the others cost in Hanalei...
Mr. Suga: The previous one was in the $200,000 range, I
believe in Hanalei. This particular tank is a little bit bigger for the area that it covers and
the amount of departments that utilize Hanapepe Baseyard as a fueling system. So, this
would be a 15,000 gallon tank.
Councilmember Yukimura: I see, okay.
Mr. Suga: So, a little bit more cost than the other locations.
Councilmember Yukimura: Alright. This money is from? Is this Bond money?
Mr. Suga: Yes. The funding is bond for the Hanapepe Fuel
Tanks.
Councilmember Yukimura: Alright. Thank you.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 93
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Okay. We will move to the next page. Keith, can
you explain the two projects on there.
Mr. Suga: Sure. For the first shaded item on the top,
Kalaheo Fire Station Improvements, there is CIP item just below that with $200,000 worth
of funding that was to be utilized for facility improvements at Kalaheo. Since the scoping of
the work has progressed. It has been identified that another item that should be added to the
scope is to address the driveway along the fire station, the asphalt driveway. The estimate
requested to be added in to CIP was $150,000 to address the pavement issues which also
incorporates design elements to handle storm water runoff because I think the ponding of
storm water is also contributing to the driveway failures that the Fire Department is dealing
with.
Councilmember Yukimura: Basically, what the asphalt apron going into the
station is busted up.
Mr. Suga: Yes, it is more the apron that goes to the back of
the station, so when the truck comes in and goes around back to enter the base.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. And so we are going to re-asphalt it?
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: Or are we going to put in concrete?
Mr. Suga: I do not know if that has been specifically called
out yet. This is a project that Brian Inouye is working on. I can double check in terms of the
type of material that the estimate was based on.
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes, I do not know what the cost of asphalt will be,
but concrete will last a lot longer, right, especially with those heavy trucks going over it.
From a lifecycle standpoint, it might be better, but then I do not know if the $150,000 will
cover it. It seems like it should.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: They priced it out, so...Any more questions on
Kalaheo Fire Station Improvements?
Councilmember Yukimura: Well, it is actually...
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: The driveway improvements.
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: If not, Keith, can you go over the Police Evidence
Building.
Mr. Suga: Sure. There was a request by KPD to add a
mezzanine storage in their police evidence building. Public Works and Doug Haigh took the
lead to come up with the scope of work and project specifications and so this funding which
is being transferred from asset forfeiture will accommodate the actual purpose of the
mezzanine system and the insolation of this system.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 94
Councilmember Yukimura: So, you said it was asset forfeiture money or
General Fund money—what is...
Mr. Suga: Ken Shimonishi can clarify, but I know what we
have done in the past for other KPD projects like the KPAL training building. Moneys were
transferred from the asset forfeiture and transferred into General Fund CIP to be utilized for
those particular projects.
Councilmember Yukimura: I see. Is that the case here?
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: But it is shown as General Fund money?
Mr. Suga: It does show up in the General Fund CIP.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay, but it is in fact asset forfeiture money that
we are using.
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: Same thing with the KPD training building
because I remember distinctly that they said it would be done with assets forfeiture money.
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: Can we do a General Fund and then in
parentheses assets forfeiture in the future?
Council Chair Rapozo: It says it in the status.
Councilmember Yukimura: Does it?
Council Chair Rapozo: Funds transferred from assets forfeiture.
Councilmember Yukimura: Oh, excuse me. Correct, thank you.
Council Chair Rapozo: You are welcome. I have a question. The Waimea
Police Substation, the substation renovations to add the shower, is that the old substation or
the new?
Mr. Suga: Up on the hill.
Council Chair Rapozo: At the Easter Seals.
Ms. Suga: Correct.
Council Chair Rapozo: They are allowing us to go in and do the
modifications?
Mr. Suga: Correct.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 95
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any further questions on this page?
Councilmember Yukimura: The Islandwide Bike/Pedestrian Path is
actually...I mean I am interested in the planning that is going in to the west side path. This
$50,000 is going for that?
Mr. Suga: The match for that work, yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Oh okay. So that is the total amount.
Mr. Suga: The grant was for $200,000 and so the $50,000
is...
Councilmember Yukimura: Where did the grant come from?
Mr. Suga: DOT.
Councilmember Yukimura: It was DOT's moneys anyway.
Mr. Suga: I think it was an SPR grant.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay, yes. That is really great. So, at the end of
expending this, we will have the design? It is for design of it, right?
Mr. Suga: I think this initial focus would be looking at the
planning aspects and not the final design, but more the planning and environmental type of
work.
Councilmember Yukimura: Right, EA, probably.
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: What are the facilities improvements to Koloa
Fire Station?
Mr. Suga: Facility Improvements to Kaloa Fire Station
similar to Kalaheo. The bulk of the funding is for reroofing the station as well as some other
improvements which may involve other renovation work. I do not have the specifics for those
other items laid out at this time.
Councilmember Yukimura: So, Kalaheo Fire Station Facility Improvements,
not the driveway improvements, that is also roof replacement, basically.
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: This would go out as two separate projects.
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any further questions on this page?
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works—Operating & CIP
Page 96
Councilmember Yukimura: Waimea Police Substation addition of an ADA
shower, was that an oversight?
Mr. Suga: KPD could speak to this better, but I believe this
ADA shower is a requirement for their...I do not know if it is directly tied to their
accreditation or...it has something to do with that. There was a requirement that was needed
to be installed and it was not installed during the initial renovation work, so moneys were
identified to put in this ADA shower.
Councilmember Yukimura: I mean it is probably costing us more to do this
retrofit than it would if we had put it in the design initially, right?
Mr. Suga: Probably.
Councilmember Yukimura: And so we are going to embark on another big
substation right in Kapa`a, is that not on the CIP list? Oh, that is on the Bond Fund.
Mr. Suga: That is being proposed, I believe.
Councilmember Yukimura: I mean I just hope that whomever is designing it
will catch these things so that we do not have to do retrofits.
Mr. Suga: Understood.
Councilmember Yukimura: What is RPA Counter Renovations?
Mr. Suga: That is Real Property.
Councilmember Yukimura: RPA stands for Real Property Assessment?
Mr. Suga: Yes.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Okay, we will move on to the next page. There are
no new projects in here. Do we have any questions on any of the projects?
Councilmember Yukimura: Which page are we talking about?
Mr. Suga: Page 3.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: I am glad to see Moi Road in there.
Mr. Suga: Yes, sir.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any questions? If not, we will move on to the next
page. We have a new project on that one.
Mr. Suga: At the bottom of page 4, the Pua Nani Road Drain
Repair, this is $500,000 out of the Highway Fund. This is to address drainage infrastructure
issues in the Pua Nani Subdivision which at one point in time during a heavy rain had created
a sinkhole in the subdivision. Public Works went out there and working collaboratively with
Department of Water addressed the sinkhole that appeared and there were water line issues
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 97
that also needed to be repaired. At that point, we identified the drainage infrastructure, the
existing corrugated metal pipe was corroded and with that we did some additional
investigation in the drainage infrastructure system going down into the pipe and taking
pictures. We actually contacted some consultants and had them come down to take a look at
the drainage infrastructure as well and so we have a rough idea as to a possible solution to
address this drainage repair, which would likely be a system where...if you can imagine a
drainage pipe that is connected like a multi-plate system bolted up with various pieces, so
this could be incorporated and constructed inside the existing drain pipe, whereas not to have
to open up the entire road with a big trench and inconvenience the public by having steal
plates. At the depth of this drainpipe, this hole would be big, so even shoring and plating it
and making it safe for residents. We are exploring that particular system and option that we
can incorporate construction within the existing drainpipe and this is a rough estimate
provided by the consultants that came down to take a look and advised us.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Okay. Any questions?
Councilmember Yukimura: Where is Pua Nani?
Mr. Suga: At the bottom of page 4, in the shaded.
Councilmember Yukimura: No, no —where is it on the island?
Mr. Tabata: (Inaudible), the last road.
Councilmember Yukimura: Ulumahi? That is by Nawiliwili Road, yes?On the
other side of the valley.
Mr. Tabata: The valley side. So you go in from the turn...
Mr. Suga: Behind King Auto.
Mr. Tabata: Behind King Auto and you go...is that Pua Loke
Road? And then you drive all the way to the end and then when you go down the hill, at the
bottom of the hill next to Pua Nani Road.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. Because we had a sinkhole right here
behind the service station, same valley. So, these sinkholes are really expensive, but thank
you for what appears to be very innovative good thinking.
Mr. Suga: This particular drainage infrastructure is, I forget
what was the year on the old plans we were able to dig up, but these are big drainpipes,
corrugated metal pipes, 144 inch, so 12-feet. diameter.
Councilmember Yukimura: Wow.
Mr. Suga: These are big pipes.
Councilmember Yukimura: And they are drainpipes?
Mr. Suga: Yes.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works—Operating & CIP
Page 98
Mr. Tabata: We did the subdivision installation that was
started just before Hurricane `Iniki.
Councilmember Yukimura: It was a private developer, but we then took over
all the...and it is about twenty-five years old, if it was just before Iniki. Is it just a matter of
age and circumstance that this thing occurred?
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: Well, that is expensive, thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Council Chair Rapozo.
Council Chair Rapozo: It is going to be a whole lot more to complete that
project in its entirety.
Mr. Suga: Based on the materials costs and the labor and
equipment estimates provided by the consultant that we had come down, that should be
sufficient, but again...
Council Chair Rapozo: To do it all?
Mr. Suga: Well what they did was we identified the sections
that is in need of repair right now. There are certain sections of that 144 inch pipe that are
in good integrity and based on the consultant's information that those will be okay for a period
of time. What we want to avoid obviously is the massive failure type.
Council Chair Rapozo: Right. I would assume that we are planning for
the rest of it at some point.
Mr. Suga: Correct. Monitoring would be in order
to...because for this particular stretch, which I think is about...I do not want to guess, but
maybe about three hundred feet or so worth of pipe. The bottom portion of the pipe where
the water typically runs was corroded out and it does one of these type of things, therefore
the soil comes into the pipe and creates the void and therefore everything is kind of like a
trickle-down effect when it rains really hard. The idea is to address this critical areas right
now and then monitor...like any of the corrugated metal pipes around the island, it does
corrode and usually it corrodes on the bottom area.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any further questions on this page?
Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: Your Kawaihau, Hauaala, Mailihuna Complete
Streets, is that the peanut?
Mr. Suga: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Very good.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Okay. We will move on. We are on page 5. Any
questions on page 5? If no questions, we will move on.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 99
Councilmember Yukimura: The Rice Street Crossing Improvements, what are
those?
Mr. Suga: The Rice Street Crossing Improvements initially
was to address work along Rice and with the TIGER grant coming along, a lot of the work
that was initially was going to be part of the Rice Street crossing is included in the TIGER,
so the Rice Street Crossing Improvement item is funds that can used towards supporting the
TIGER in the event anything that arises during the design-build process.
Councilmember Yukimura: I have to say that...I guess it was also preliminary
work that that path that connects the Lihu`e Court to Rice Street that goes along Kalapaki
Villas is a completed project, I believe. I see it being used so much.
Mr. Suga: Good.
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes, it is very good. I think the TIGER plan is to
put a place for the school bus to stop there and that is going to be a huge improvement over
what is happening now where the bus is going by Kalena Park and trying to turn around and
there is car traffic and kids getting off the bus. I think that will all be good.
Councilmember Chock: The Speed Hump/Traffic Calming Program, can
you be more specific as to which roads or how many we are anticipating?
Mr. Suga: That is actually funds that has been carried over
year after year. The traffic calming program for speed humps, there is a process to which the
community can come forward and request a speed hump. To date, we do not have anything.
Councilmember Chock: So, this is just carryover.
Mr. Suga: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: There is one coming from Waimea.
Mr. Suga: Okay.
Councilmember Yukimura: I think they are collecting...
Mr. Tabata: Criteria is listed on Engineering's website of what
needs to be met before we can consider a speed hump.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: We just saw one come through our E-mail recently
that we forwarded all the documents to you.
Mr. Suga: Okay.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any further questions on this page? If not, we will
move on to page 6.
Councilmember Yukimura: Can I just ask one question regarding Pu'uopae
Bridge.
Mr. Suga: Yes.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works—Operating & CIP
Page 100
Councilmember Yukimura: $692,000 is only to develop the plan?
Mr. Suga: That is actually the match for construction bid.
Councilmember Yukimura: Oh, it is.
Mr. Suga: Yes, 20% match.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay, so the total project cost is $780,000.
Mr. Suga: I think the total construction estimate is like
$3,200,000 or so.
Councilmember Yukimura: The $692,000 is our match.
Mr. Suga: Our County's portion, correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Okay.
Councilmember Brun: Salt Pond Wastewater Improvement.
Mr. Suga: Yes, sir.
Councilmember Brun: Are we going forward with that?
Mr. Suga: Yes, sir.
Councilmember Brun: Because I know we had one community meeting
in Hanapepe and...
Mr. Suga: Correct, and I think there is still some work to be
done there in terms of involvement with the community, but just to be able to make sure we
have the moneys in place to move forward with the construction. The $656,000 is money being
added to this line item to cover the estimated cost.
Councilmember Brun: Okay, because I know some of the folks that came
to the meeting and they had some real concerns with the salt beds and things. I do not know
if this got back to you, but one of the ideas was why do we not work with G&R and put them
on the opposite side of the hill and run it that way instead of running it along the highway.
You are talking about the pipeline, right?
Mr. Suga: Yes.
Councilmember Brun: They are rerouting that entire pipeline, right?
Mr. Suga: Installing a pump station and a (inaudible).
Councilmember Brun: So, running the pipes through G&R's land and run
it all the way that way instead of on the sides of the salt beds. I think that was a big issue.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 101
Mr. Tabata: So that property is leased by G&R, but it is owned
by DLNR. If we go outside of the current footprint, it will open up a whole series of delays,
which includes probably an EIS.
Councilmember Brun: Because the way the meeting went, I do not think
it is going to happen soon.
Mr. Tabata: The pipe is presently planned to be totally encased
in concrete.
Councilmember Brun: Yes, but that concerns the...
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Councilmember Brun: I was at that meeting and they were...she was
there, and even the Mayor said, "We have to go back and look," so the impression I got was
that we are not even close to even finishing this because they had some concerns. The
Administration was not confident that they could address those concerns right there, so I did
not get the feeling that we were...
Mr. Tabata: I saw the response to that meeting and I believe it
was approved by the Mayor's Office to send back to the constituents.
Councilmember Brun: Okay, yes, because they were on two different
pages, I promise you.
Mr. Tabata: Okay, we will definitely follow-up.
Councilmember Brun: If it is close, good, but if not, if we can look at
getting them away from the salt beds as much as possible.
Councilmember Yukimura: I was not able to be at that meeting, but it was the
concern that the pipes would break and there would be a sewage spill into the salt ponds. It
is not usual to make the pipes concreate, but you folks are...is it?
Mr. Suga: Part of the design is to have a dual-contained
HDPE pipe system.
Councilmember Yukimura: Right.
Mr. Suga: So, it will have a containment within a
containment, if you will.
Councilmember Yukimura: Right.
Mr. Suga: And then in addition to that, it will be concrete
encased.
Councilmember Yukimura: In addition to that?
Mr. Suga: Yes.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works—Operating & CIP
Page 102
Councilmember Yukimura: So, it is like a triple safety thing and it is done
specifically because that is a sensitive area?
Mr. Suga: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: I think there has been concern on the septic
system contaminating the ponds too, right?
Mr. Tabata: This would be totally removed from any septic. It
would be a pump station to pump raw sewage, not effluent anymore, away from the area.
Councilmember Yukimura: Right. Therefore this whole sewage line is to
address the inadequacies of the septic system and the concerns that it could affect the salt
ponds, right?
Mr. Tabata: The short answer is yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Also the fact of the use of the park seems to be
creating a lot of overflow problems, right?
Mr. Tabata: We have not had overflows since we solved several
operational design issues. We doubled the size of the leach field and the source of the water
ponding, we found was a leaking portable waterline. When we were digging for the leach
field we found that a portable waterline was leaking all this time.
Councilmember Yukimura: But the leach field is a little "iffy" thing to have
also so close to the beach, right? I mean are you thinking the septic system was adequate?
Mr. Tabata: I do not have that information readily available.
The consultant did a study on the products of the leach field and where the pattern of flow
reached.
Councilmember Yukimura: This is an $800,000 project.
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: So, I am trusting that we are doing it because the
present system does not work.
Mr. Tabata: I believe we are doing this to...as Councilmember
Brun states, appease all concerns of the salt makers in the area regarding a potential
intrusion.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Brun.
Councilmember Brun: This, what we have in front of us, is to run one line
at total distance, right?
Mr. Suga: Correct.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 103
Councilmember Brun: Because I know they talked about running two
lines when we were there.
Councilmember Yukimura: Two lines?
Councilmember Brun: They were going to add one more later on. They
talked about a second line just in case it gets more busy or what have you, so the question
was raised, "Why do they not just put the two lines at one time, they would probably save
money?" This is just for a two inch line or something, right?
Mr. Suga: Yes. I mean that could still be added in and the
materials costs and labor to install two lines versus one would certainly increase the amount,
but I do not think substantially.
Councilmember Brun: Because you already have everything open...
Mr. Suga: Right.
Councilmember Brun: By just putting two lines instead of one, you would
save...because if you come back, you going pay the same or even more to re-dig the entire
thing. I just think putting it in one time, both of them, would make more sense.
Mr. Suga: Okay.
Councilmember Brun: Can you check on that?
Mr. Suga: Sure.
Councilmember Brun: I know they talked about two lines, but I did not
understand if it was going to be later on or if they were just going to put it in just in case. If
you can check on that and if we can do two at one time, it would make more sense because
we would save money that way.
Mr. Suga: Okay, can do.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Chock and then Councilmember
Yukimura.
Councilmember Chock: Have we looked at the new technology that sort of
provide dispersal that I think might be an option instead of the sewer line option? I just
wanted to hear if you have looked into some of those. I have been hearing more and more
about them, so leach fields that actually dissipate into the surrounding area that are utilized
around the Country.
Mr. Tabata: When the consultants were brought onboard, they
looked at various options. The sentiment from the community and the Administration was to
go in this direction, so all other research stopped and we just focused on this.
Councilmember Chock: I will try to connect the resource, I think there is
someone on island that is looking into that and might be able to provide information on it as
an option.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 104
Councilmember Yukimura: It is a two inch line?
Mr. Suga: Two inch force mainline, yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Force main, okay. What is it going to be made out
of?
Mr. Suga: Plastic HDPE.
Councilmember Yukimura: And then it is going to be a two inch line inside of
another what...four inch?
Mr. Suga: I do not recall off-hand of the exterior pipe, but
either four inch or six inch.
Councilmember Yukimura: And inside of a concrete?
Mr. Suga: It will be concrete encased.
Councilmember Yukimura: Encased, which is like another pipe?
Mr. Suga: I do not know how to...it is like a...
Councilmember Yukimura: But it follows the line, right?
Mr. Suga: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: So, if you put in two, you would put two within the
second pipe, arguably?
Mr. Suga: There would be two exact same type of pipes side
by side.
Councilmember Yukimura: So, two pipes within another pipe?
Mr. Suga: You would have one pipe that is a dual
containment, you would have a second pipe that is also dual contained, and they will be
sitting side by side in a trench and it would be encased with concrete.
Councilmember Yukimura: Right. Seems like you could save if you could put
two of them inside a second...but...those pipes lasts forever, so they would not deteriorate
from no use.
Mr. Suga: I do not know the specifics with HDP, but I know
they are very durable and handle a lot of the current day elements.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay, thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any further questions on this item?
Councilmember Yukimura: Not on Salt Pond.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 105
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any further questions on Salt Pond? Okay, we
can move on.
Councilmember Yukimura: The Wailana Bridge is done, right?
Mr. Suga: Currently there is a pending change order that
needs to be executed for the remaining guardrail work, so the funding there you see is to
address it. It certainly more than likely will not be the entire $125,000, but in terms of what
you see out in the field and work remaining, the guardrail is the last component, if you will.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. That is in Koloa, oh, that is the one in Koloa
Town that goes to the park.
Mr. Suga: Near the tennis court.
Councilmember Yukimura: Right. Is it a pedestrian path? So, there is a
pedestrian path on the bridge or around the bridge?
Ms. Suga: This particular project is a pedestrian bridge that
was installed adjacent to the existing bridge. The previous structure was a wooden structure
that was deteriorated and closed down and so this new infrastructure replaces that old
wooden structure.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay, I will just go and look. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any further questions on page 6?
Councilmember Brun: Sheltered Bus Stops. I know we were doing
them...(inaudible) something that did the first couple, right?
Mr. Suga: Yes.
Councilmember Brun: So, we are at where? Are we going through a
private contractor to do it because I know the community was doing it, right?
Mr. Suga: Yes, so the first phase of the bus shelter project
was six that were completed and there was an element that the community could contribute
into the installation. Phase two was solely bid out to the contractor; contractor did the install,
and phase three is going out to bid very shortly here. In two to three months, we would
incorporate the remaining twenty-three to twenty-six shelters, I believe, to get the total up
to forty-nine. The funding that was here was for the phase two portion and since we have
the State moneys to cover the phase three, than we are reallocating this money that was
associated with phase two.
Councilmember Brun: Okay. Sorry, I was not here. Phase one, how much
did it cost per shelter to put up?
Mr. Suga: About $40,000 per, I think.
Councilmember Brun: And phase two was?
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works—Operating & CIP
Page 106
Mr. Suga: I do not remember off the top of my head.
Councilmember Brun: It was less than that, right?
Mr. Suga: I apologize, I do not remember.
Councilmember Brun: Can you check on that? I was just
wondering...because I heard that it was more expensive for us to have volunteers to do it
than to do a private contractor to do it.
Mr. Suga: I think the cost is associated to the quantity too.
The more quantity, the more efficient the contractor can be, so just by that analysis, I could
see the cost per location being cheaper. Again, like anything else, the higher the quantity,
the better the unit price.
Councilmember Brun: I thought it was volunteer helpers, can you check
on that.
Mr. Suga: Sure.
Councilmember Brun: Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Yukimura, do you have a
question on page 6?
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes, I do. The Kekaha Landfill Lateral Expansion
Cell II, it says, "Funding to complete leachate system modification complete by the end of
2014. Cell design and construction will be provided by SRF." Did it finish yet?
Mr. Suga: This particular line item initially covered the
leachate system modification, so the modification to the manholes and some of the leachate
piping lines, and that was completed back in 2014. In addition to that, now this particular
line item is funding the consultant design work for the Cell II lateral expansion of which the
construction funding is being funded through SRF.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay, so it is actually now a different purpose.
Consultant design work for Cell II.
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: And you are telling us that there is construction
money once the design goes through.
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: This is only part of a larger project or if you
finish...okay, wait. Consultant design work for Cell II, okay, so that means once you construct
it, we will be done with the lateral expansion.
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: And the timetable for that?
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 107
Mr. Suga: Currently we have application in with DOH. We
have received comments back from DOH for this next phase of lateral expansion at Cell II.
We need to respond back to DOH, get their approval for the permit, and then once that is
achieved, we can finalize the design. So all we are forecasting currently is that this project
will be able to go out to bid next year.
Councilmember Yukimura: 2018.
Mr. Suga: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: And be completed...
Mr. Suga: I think estimates are about a year to a year and a
half for completion.
Councilmember Yukimura: About a year or two?
Mr. Suga: Year to year and a half.
Councilmember Yukimura: So that would be completed in the end of 2019 or
early 2020.
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: And in the meantime, we are just going up.
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: Is this construction of the lateral expansion going
to be done in a timely way? Will we be able to just keep up the normal waste stream...you
know we will not need the lateral expansion until when it is ready?
Mr. Suga: Ideally, yes. We are pushing to get the approvals
through DOH and timely final design completed by our consultants so we can go out to bid
as soon as possible so we can try to get this construction started as soon as possible to ensure
that we are well complete, DOH certified, so when the need arises and we need to shift over
to this expansion, that everything is in place and completed to receive waste, yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: So I guess I am asking, right now we are filling up
existing landfill...
Mr. Suga: We are going vertical.
Councilmember Yukimura: And we are doing lateral expansion of the landfill
that we are filling up vertically.
Mr. Suga: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: And so we will have the lateral expansion done
before we fill up the vertical space?
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 108
Mr. Suga: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: And so the projection is that the vertical space will
be filled up after 2020?
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: Based on these tonnage volumes and projections?
Mr. Suga: And surveys that the contractor at the landfill
provides to us.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any further questions on this or on this page? If
not, we will move on to page 7. Page 7 is the final page that we have. How bad do you folks
want to go home? Just kidding. There are no new projects on page 7, so if you have any
questions on the projects on page 7?
Councilmember Yukimura: On the new landfill there is $5,000, so are we
going to use the bond money for the rest of the work on the new landfill?
Mr. Suga: For the current scope of work that the consultant
is contracted to provide.
Councilmember Yukimura: You mean the contract work that is being finished
here in these projects that are listed, that is going to be finished and they are going to give
us an estimate for construction?
Mr. Suga: The scope of work that the consultant is currently
contracted to provide is directly related to the EIS process. Therefore, as part of the EIS
process, the Wildlife Hazard Assessment was done and the Wildlife Hazard Management
Plan is being constructed right now and finalized. The next step after that, provided that we
get the HDOT...we work through HDOT items is the final design, which is not currently
funded and we are seeking SRF funding for that future potential design.
Councilmember Yukimura: And how much is that...are we going to borrow
from SRF?
Mr. Suga: The current estimate was $6,000,000.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. Do you happen to know the timetable for
that?
Mr. Suga: For the final design? Not at this time because we
are still working through with DOH and HDOT Airports.
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes, because in your report, you know, the
narrative. The report in this year's narrative is exactly the same wording of last year's
narrative. "The County continues to work on securing the commitment of landowner and will
continue to work to mitigate vehicle traffic related issues and the Wildlife Hazard Mitigation
Plan relative to Lihu`e Airport in conjunction with completion of remaining tasks."
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 109
Mr. Tabata: I believe that we, at the tail-end of the last hurdle,
with the Wildlife Hazard Management Plan to then finalize the EIS, as Keith suggested. And
then publish the EIS and look towards doing the final design after we publish and receive
final comments.
Councilmember Yukimura: And what is the estimated cost of construction of
the new landfill or is that not yet determined?
Mr. Suga: Yes, dependent upon the final design. We have, I
think, some ballpark projections, but I do not think they're accurate enough to throw out
there because we do need to refine the actual scope of the design a little bit further, I believe.
Councilmember Yukimura: So, will the landfill be designed to take
what...about 83,000, well, you are projecting the tonnage for when the landfill opens, do you
know what that tonnage is? Is that in the draft EIS? Are you making assumptions about
diversion as well, right?
Mr. Suga: Correct. So right now the proposed landfill site at
Ma'alo will be developed in phases, if you will, by Cell. Similar to Kekaha. Kekaha has
various cells. The initial Cell I, let us say, the actual volume quantity has not been clearly
identified yet, but it would be engineered in a manner that would accommodate the projected
trash, if you will, at that time in consideration with ongoing and hopefully improve with
diversion. It is going to be a phased landfill system.
Councilmember Yukimura: So the only cost we have to be concerned about is
the cost of phase one?
Mr. Suga: Initially, yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Do we have a projection for that?
Mr. Suga: Like I said, we have some ballpark estimates, but
I would not want to throw that out there at this time because there is a little bit more design...
Councilmember Yukimura: But you folks have already thrown out
$63,000,000, I think.
Mr. Suga: They are rough estimates, but at this point...
Councilmember Yukimura: Is $63,000,000 the cost of phase one? I mean the
figure you threw out. Are you referring to the first phase?
Mr. Suga: Correct, but again, that initial phase based on
what quantity the design for could vary too.
Councilmember Yukimura: Does it include the cost of building the road to the
landfill—the $63,000,000?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: If you do not have the answer, you can send it to
us rather than give us a number that...
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works—Operating & CIP
Page 110
Mr. Suga: Yes, I do not remember.
Councilmember Yukimura: We need to ask that question.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Any further questions on this final sheet?
Councilmember Yukimura: What happened to the Wailua Zone of Mixing
Study? It has been blanked out.
Mr. Suga: The project is actually fully encumbered, so there
is no unencumbered funds available.
Councilmember Yukimura: I see. Okay.
Mr. Suga: Ed folks have a contractor onboard that is on the
tail-end of that particular study.
Councilmember Yukimura: It says, "Completion date March 2017," which is
right now? Did we get the report?
Mr. Suga: Not yet.
Councilmember Yukimura: Once we get the report, that should show us the
improvements that we are going to need?
Mr. Suga: That will lead us to the next steps, which is what
Ed folks are working towards, in terms of how to deal with the outfall and the potential work
at the golf course that was kind of spoken about a little bit earlier.
Councilmember Yukimura: What are we headed toward? What is the end in
mind here? It is getting a permit to let our outfall continue, is that...
Mr. Suga: That is more specific to Ed folks, but I think
having the outfall in the ocean is something DOH is wanting Wastewater to move away from.
Councilmember Yukimura: Right, but I thought we were opposing their
requirement or something.
Ms. Suga: There are some strict requirements that Ed has
mentioned previously that is some thresholds that are not easily achievable, in so many
terms. Again, that is something that Wastewater, I believe is working with the attorneys
to...
Mr. Tabata: We have on the docket a contested case
hearing...okay, we cannot talk about it.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Okay.
Councilmember Yukimura: Who's contesting it, though? You can talk about
that right?
Mr. Tabata: We are contesting.
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 111
Councilmember Yukimura: Oh, okay. So, that is what the study is to support
our position, right?
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Mr. Trask: Aloha, for the record, Mauna Kea Trask, County
Attorney. Currently all the Counties...a "contested case" is a legal term of art for what it is.
So when you go for a permit and there is due process hearing, it is called a contested case.
Right now, I think Oahu is before the Department of Health, City and County is doing theirs
first, and then both Kaua`i and County of Hawai`i are...the understanding is everyone is
waiting to see what happens with that contested case prior to moving forward with the other
contested cases. That is what is happening right now.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. Thank you. So, the purpose of this study,
which is pretty expensive is to...
Mr. Tabata: To provide data.
Councilmember Yukimura: To provide the background for the case, the
hearing.
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. Thank you.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Okay. Any further questions? If not...
Councilmember Yukimura: What is R-1 Water Distribution System?
Mr. Tabata: That is the Waimea project that we spoke of
earlier.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. Was I here? So, are you developing policies
for reuse of that water?
Mr. Tabata: The policies are driven by the DOH. We follow
their guidelines, the reuse guidelines.
Councilmember Yukimura: They will tell you what it can be reused for, but
the policies I am talking about is who gets the water, what will it cost, if anything.
Mr. Tabata: That is what Ed was speaking to earlier and so we
are developing these.
Councilmember Yukimura: Those policies?
Mr. Tabata: Right.
Councilmember Yukimura: I mean, the easiest is if we use the water on our
park and other facilities, but are we going to be able to use all of it and if not, where does it
March 24, 2017
Department of Public Works —Operating & CIP
Page 112
go next? What is the priority use and whether we require...because we are going to have a
Mote to pay off, right?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: I think Ed mentioned for this particular project,
the water was going to Kikiola property and they were using the water and then...
Mr. Tabata: Right now it is going to Kikiola property for
irrigation for farmers in the area. Part of this distribution system includes tankage for
storage and then the distribution to the various users. Part of this is to do the design and I
believe the mainline is supposed to supply our County park.
Councilmember Yukimura: Just one park?
Mr. Tabata: The immediate need is Waimea Canyon Park, I
believe.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. We are going to have enough things to give
the water to, so we will not be wasting...
Mr. Tabata: I believe there are more users than water
available at this time.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. Yes, you are going to need a written policy.
Mr. Tabata: Ed stated that he was.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. Thank you.
Councilmember Brun: My question was going to be if we were going to
use it for Waimea Park.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: Okay, it got answered. Okay.
Councilmember Yukimura: What about Waimea School?
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: It would be for irrigating their lawn, if anything,
but it is State land.
Councilmember Yukimura: It is really close though.
Committee Chair Kaneshiro: We will take care of our things first, unless we can
get State money. Thank you for today everybody. It was extremely productive because we
actually finished everything we needed to do. We have a holiday on Monday, Prince Kuhi`o
Day, and on Tuesday, we were going to go over whatever we did not finish today, so we
actually saved the County some money by not having to come back. We will not be on
television. We have also saved some productivity with these folks not having to come back.
Our next budget meeting will be Wednesday. We will be going over the CIP budget for all of
the departments and that is it. Have a good three day weekend. Enjoy not having to come
back on Tuesday and we will be here on Wednesday. Again, we will reconvene at 9:00 a.m.
on Wednesday, March 29, 2017.
There being no objections, the Committee recessed at 4:08 p.m