HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/19/2016 Council minutes COUNCIL MEETING
OCTOBER 19, 2016
The Council Meeting of the Council of the County of Kauai was called to order
by Council Chair Mel Rapozo at the Council Chambers, 4396 Rice Street, Suite 201,
Lihu`e, Kaua`i, on Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at 8:30 a.m., after which the following
Members answered the call of the roll:
Honorable Mason K. Chock
Honorable Gary L. Hooser (present at 8:31 a.m.)
Honorable Ross Kagawa
Honorable Arryl Kaneshiro
Honorable KipuKai Kuali`i
Honorable JoAnn A. Yukimura
Honorable Mel Rapozo
APPROVAL OF AGENDA.
Councilmember Kuali`i moved for approval of the agenda as circulated,
seconded by Councilmember Kaneshiro, and carried by a vote of 6:0:1
(Councilmember Hooser was excused).
MINUTES of the following meetings of the Council:
(Councilmember Hooser was noted as present.)
September 7, 2016 Council Meeting
September 7, 2016 Public Hearing re: Bill No. 2635
September 21, 2016 Council Meeting
September 21, 2016 Public Hearing re: Bill No. 2636
October 5, 2016 Public Hearing re: Resolution No. 2016-57, Bill No. 2634, Bill
No. 2637, and Bill No. 2638
Councilmember Kuali`i moved to approve the Minutes as circulated, seconded
by Councilmember Kaneshiro, and unanimously carried.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
C 2016-210 Communication (09/01/2016) from the Mayor, transmitting the
Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund Commission's
recommendation, a Resolution Authorizing The Acquisition Of A Public Pedestrian
Beach Access Easement In Land Required For Public Use To Wit:A Public Pedestrian
Beach Access Easement To Kukui`ula Bay, Kukui`ula, County Of Kauai, Hawaii,
And Determining And Declaring The Necessity Of The Acquisition Thereof By
Eminent Domain.
COUNCIL MEETING 2 OCTOBER 19, 2016
C 2016-211 Communication (09/06/2016) from the Mayor, transmitting for
Council consideration and confirmation, Mayoral appointee Daniel K. Aki to the
Salary Commission — Term ending 12/31/2018.
C 2016-212 Communication (09/21/2016) from the Acting County Engineer,
transmitting for Council consideration, a Resolution Authorizing The Mayor Or The
Director Of Finance Of The County Of Kauai To Enter Into An Intergovernmental
Agreement With The State Of Hawaii, Department Of Health For A Loan From The
State Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund For The Hanamd'ulu And Kapaia
Sewage Pump Stations (SPS) Renovations, Project No. C150059-23.
C 2016-213 Communication (09/28/2016) from the Director of Finance,
transmitting for Council information, the Condition of the County Treasury
Statement quarterly report as of August 25, 2016.
C 2016-214 Communication (10/01/2016) from the Mayor, transmitting for
Council consideration and confirmation, the following Mayoral reappointments to the
various Boards and Commissions serving the County of Kauai:
a. Building Board of Appeals
• Patrick D. Lizama (Fire Safety) — Term ending 12/31/2019
b. Board of Ethics
• Ryan M. de la Pena—Term ending 12/31/2019
• Maureen M. Tabura —Term ending 12/31/2019
c. Board of Water Supply
• Laurie K. Ho — Term ending 12/31/2019
d. Civil Service Commission
• Elizabeth Hahn — Term ending 12/31/2019
e. Cost Control Commission
• Joanne P. Nakashima — Term ending 12/31/2019
• Jan Hashizume — Term ending 12/31/2019
f. Fire Commission
• Michael Martinez —Term ending 12/31/2019
• Chad K. Pacheco — Term ending 12/31/2019
COUNCIL MEETING 3 OCTOBER 19, 2016
g. Liquor Control Commission
• Jean A. Iida —Term ending 12/31/2019
• Paul N. Endo —Term ending 12/31/2019
h. Planning Commission
• Sean M. Mahoney (Labor) — Term ending 12/31/2019
• Heather K. Ahuna (Environmentalist) —Term ending 12/31/2019
i.. Police Commission
• Gerald Bahouth —Term ending 12/31/2019
j. Salary Commission
• Lenie F.P. Nishihira — Term ending 12/31/2019
C 2016-215 Communication (10/05/2016) from the County Attorney,
transmitting for Council information, the Quarterly Report on Settled Claims which
were filed against the County of Kaua`i from July 1, 2016 through
September 30, 2016.
Councilmember Kuali`i moved to receive C 2016-210, C 2016-211, C 2016-212,
C 2016-213, C 2016-214, and C 2016-215 for the record, seconded by
Councilmember Kagawa.
Council Chair Rapozo: Any discussion or public testimony? Please,
come forward.
There being no objections, the rules were suspended to take public testimony.
ANNE PUNOHU: Aloha, my name is Anne Punohu. Earlier, I
said it was a positive agenda, but then I said, "Oops." On your first item this morning,
you have a real issue with Kukui`ula and the reason why is not because what it wants
to do, that is great and fine. The problem is that it is royal patent, which is Hawaiian
royal lands awarded to Kanehoa, unless Kanehoa and his heirs have given permission
for this and we all know that this is a huge, hot button issue. I want to make sure
that the heirs or any family member has had the opportunity to step forward and
state their opinion on the fact that a royal patent land is scheduled for condemnation
for the road. It is fine to do it and the idea of what you want to do is not a problem for
me. My problem is the fact that it is Palapala Sila Nui under the Great Mahele. That
is my problem. With everything that is going on today and my keen interest in these
matters for many years, I would say that with everything that is going on right now
with the temperature of these types of issues, it would really behoove the Council to
be very diligent on making sure that all your"I's" are dotted and your"T's" are crossed
and that everybody is aware exactly of what is going on. That is my opinion at this
point. Mahalo.
COUNCIL MEETING 4 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Council Chair Rapozo: Anyone else wishing to testify? Seeing none.
There being no further testimony, the meeting was called back to order, and
proceeded as follows:
Council Chair Rapozo: Any further discussion?
The motion to receive C 2016-210, C 2016-211, C 2016-212, C 2016-213,
C 2016-214, and C 2016-215 for the record was then put, and unanimously
carried.
COMMUNICATIONS:
C 2016-216 Communication (09/15/2016) from the Chief of Police, requesting
Council approval to apply for, receive, and expend Federal funds in the amount
of $648,245.00, from the recurring National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) grant to be used towards the following traffic related
functions: Data Traffic Records, Distracted Driver, Occupant Protection, Pedestrian,
Road Block, Speed, Youth Deterrence, Traffic Services, purchase of equipment,
supplies, training expenses, media expenses, et cetera: Councilmember Kuali`i
moved to approve C 2016-216, seconded by Councilmember Kaneshiro.
Council Chair Rapozo: Any discussion? Public testimony?
There being no objections, the rules were suspended to take public testimony.
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting was called back
to order, and proceeded as follows:
The motion to approve C 2016-216 was then put, and unanimously carried.
C 2016-217 Communication (09/19/2016) from the Director of Economic
Development, requesting Council approval to receive and expend State Funds subject
to availability under the Title I Federal grant, in the amount of$339,594.00 per year
for a four-year contract, from the Workforce Development Council to be used for the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 WIOA, Adult, Dislocated Worker,
Youth Service Programs, and other administrative costs: Councilmember Chock
moved to approve C 2016-217, seconded by Councilmember Kuali`i.
Council Chair Rapozo: Any discussion? Public testimony?
There being no objections, the rules were suspended to take public testimony.
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting was called back
to order, and proceeded as follows:
The motion to approve C 2016-217 was then put, and unanimously carried.
COUNCIL MEETING 5 OCTOBER 19, 2016
C 2016-218 Communication (09/21/2016) from the Fire Chief, transmitting for
Council consideration, proposed amendments to Ordinance No. B-2016-812, as
amended, relating to the Operating Budget of the County of Kauai, for the Fiscal
Year 2016-2017, by revising the amounts estimated in the General Fund, to
replace the Kaua`i Fire Department's (KFD) 50 Automated External
Defibrillators (AED) and includes, rechargeable batteries, carrying case, data card,
and training packs. (Kaua`i Fire Department, Training Bureau, Other Small
Equipment, Fifty (50) Automated External Defibrillators — $151,000.00):
Councilmember Kagawa moved to receive C 2016-218 for the record, seconded by
Councilmember Kaneshiro.
Council Chair Rapozo: Any discussion? Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: I think this was in the budget proposal for this
fiscal year and because the Chief had a grant request and we thought it would be
covered, we did not fund it, and now that all grant options have been exhausted, the
Chief is back to ask us for this. It just shows us the importance of the reserve and
the tightness of our budget because if we had to fund it in the budget, the three
hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) plus, that we set aside for highway/road repair
would have been less. Just to point out how tight the budget is and the importance of
keeping high enough reserves for problems like this. I just wanted to point that out.
Council Chair Rapozo: Councilmember Kagawa.
Councilmember Kagawa: I really do not want to make this sound like a
pity party for the Fire Department because as you have seen by the reserves that go
on, they are not holding back even though the budget is tight with travel and all types
of things. I am not the Fire Chief, but I do not believe those are necessary when the
budget is tight, but again, it is up to this Council to decide whether or not we should
make the Fire Department go into their budget and cut things that can be cut or just
go on with business and keep coming back through the reserve.Again, it is very tough
from the Council's side to know what is a legitimate cut or not and that is what makes
this job so tough. Thank you.
Council Chair Rapozo: Anyone else? If not, the motion on the floor is
to receive.
The motion to receive C 2016-218 for the record was then put, and unanimously
carried.
C 2016-219 Communication (09/21/201.6) from the Fire Chief, transmitting
for Council consideration, proposed amendments to Ordinance No. B-2016-812, as
amended, relating to the Operating Budget of the County of Kaua`i, for the Fiscal
Year 2016-2017, by revising the amounts estimated in the General Fund, to replace
the Kaua`i Fire Department's (KFD) 60 Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
and includes air cylinders, rechargeable batteries, and chargers. (Kaua`i Fire
Department, Fire Operations, Public Safety, Sixty (60) Self-Contained Breathing
Apparatus (SCBA) — $390,000.00): Councilmember Kuali`i moved to receive
C 2016-219 for the record, seconded by Councilmember Kaneshiro.
•
COUNCIL MEETING 6 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Council Chair Rapozo: Any discussion? Public testimony?
There being no objections, the rules were suspended to take public testimony.
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting was called back
to order, and proceeded as follows:
The motion to approve C 2016-219 was then put, and unanimously carried.
Council Chair Rapozo: Motion carried. Next item, please.
C 2016-220 Communication (10/03/2016) from the Prosecuting Attorney,
requesting Council approval to receive and expend State General Funds, in the
amount of $25,000.00, from the State Office of Youth Services contract
DHS-16-OYS-624, to be used to subcontract to Hale `Opio Kaua`i, Inc., for Kauai Teen
Court Services from December 1, 2016 to November 30, 2017: Councilmember Chock
moved to approve C 2016-220, seconded by Councilmember Yukimura.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you. Is there any discussion?
Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes. I just want to say how happy I am that
this is going to continue the Kauai Teen Court because it is evidence-based, it shows
that it really helps to keep our young people from further problems with violations,
and it helps to get them on the right track in a very effective way. So I am glad that
we are able to fund this.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you. Is there any other discussion?
The motion to approve C 2016-220 was then put, and unanimously carried.
Council Chair Rapozo: Motion carried. Next item, please.
C 2016-221 Communication (10/12/2016) from the Emergency Management
Administrator, requesting Council approval to receive and expend grant funds from
the United States Department of Homeland Security, via the State of Hawai`i
Department of Defense, in the amount of$4,929.91 in addition to the FY 2014 State
Homeland Security Grant Program which was previously approved (C 2014-272), for
efforts to upgrade the 800 MHz radio system.
JADE K. FOUNTAIN-TANIGAWA, County Clerk: Council Chair
Rapozo, we received a transmittal from the Emergency Management Administrator
informing the Council that the grant amount should be revised to eight thousand six
hundred sixty-nine dollars and seventeen cents ($8,669.17). They were notified by
the State Department of Defense that additional moneys are available.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you. I am looking for a motion to
approve with an amended amount of eight thousand six hundred sixty-nine dollars
and seventeen cents ($8,669.17).
COUNCIL MEETING 7 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Councilmember Kagawa moved to approve to receive and expend the amended
amount of eight thousand six hundred sixty-nine dollars and seventeen
cents ($8,669.17), seconded by Councilmember Kuali`i.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there
any public testimony?
There being no objections, the rules were suspended to take public testimony.
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting was called back
to order, and proceeded as follows:
The motion to approve to receive and expend the amended amount of eight
thousand six hundred sixty-nine dollars and seventeen cents ($8,669.17) was
then put, and unanimously carried.
Council Chair Rapozo: Motion carried. Next item.
(Councilmember Kaneshiro was noted as recused from C 2016-222.)
LEGAL DOCUMENTS:
C 2016-222 Communication (09/21/2016) from the Acting County Engineer,
recommending Council approval of a Wastewater Facilities Cost-Share Agreement
from Ha`ili Moe, Inc., a Hawaii Corporation, for a public-private partnership between
Grove Farm Company, Inc., and the County for renovation to the County's existing
Hanama`ulu and Kapaia Sewage Pump Stations (SPS) situated at Tax Map
Key (TMK) Nos. 3-6-02: por. 1, por. 4, 17, por. 18, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27; 3-7-01: por. 1;
3-7-02: por. 1 and por. 12; and 3-7-03: por. 20.
• Wastewater Facilities Cost-Share Agreement Between Ha`ili Moe,
Inc. and the County of Kauai
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you. With that, Councilmember
Kaneshiro will be recusing himself from this item.
Councilmember Kuali`i moved to approve C 2016-222, seconded by
Councilmember Yukimura.
Council Chair Rapozo: Is there any discussion? Councilmember
Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: Are we having a presentation?
Council Chair Rapozo: If you want one.
Councilmember Yukimura: I think the public should know what is going
on.
COUNCIL MEETING 8 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay, we can suspend the rules. Is someone
here from the Wastewater Division or from the Administration?
Councilmember Chock: They were here.
Council Chair Rapozo: Did they want this approved or not? If not, we
can just send it to the Committee. I do not want to waste too much time during the
Council Meeting.
Councilmember Kagawa: Council Chair Rapozo.
Council Chair Rapozo: Go ahead, Councilmember Kagawa.
Councilmember Kagawa: I think we have a pretty light agenda, so
maybe we can push it to the end of calendar.
Council Chair Rapozo: Yes, let us move on. If they are not ready, we
will move on. Let us take the next item. Tell them that we are going to move it to
the end of the agenda, not the next item when they come. It is at the end of the
agenda. Thank you.
C 2016-223 Communication (09/22/2016) from the Executive on Aging,
recommending Council approval to enter into a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) and Network Partner Agreement with Halawai Counseling
and the National Kidney Foundation of Hawai`i, which will be involved with the
Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC).
• Two (2) Memorandums of Understanding Between the County of
Kaua`i Agency on Elderly Affairs and the above referenced
Community Partners; and
• County of Kauai Agency on Elderly Affairs Network Partner
Agreement.
Councilmember Kuali`i moved to approve C 2016-223, seconded by
Councilmember Yukimura.
(Councilmember Kaneshiro was noted as present.)
Council Chair Rapozo: Is there any discussion? Is there any public
testimony? Councilmember Kagawa.
Councilmember Kagawa: We are not going into depth with this, but it
just seems like it is something probably related to diabetes, which is a huge problem
on Kauai and in the State. I think we need to proceed on anything that can improve
our service to those that need help in those areas, so I do not need any deep discussion
on this one. Thank you, Council Chair Rapozo.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you. Is there any discussion?
COUNCIL MEETING 9 OCTOBER 19, 2016
The motion to approve C 2016-223 was then put, and unanimously carried.
Council Chair Rapozo: Motion carried. Next item, please.
C 2016-224 Communication (10/07/2016) from the Deputy County Attorney,
recommending Council approval of a Confirmation Quitclaim Deed involving Tax
Map Key (TMK) (4) 2-5-003:001, Lot 37-B, by ONE DIVA, LLC, to be used for public
roadway purposes, located on Wawae Road, Lawai.
• Confirmation Quitclaim Deed
Councilmember Yukimura moved to approve C 2016-224, seconded by
Councilmember Kaneshiro.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there
any public testimony?
There being no objections, the rules were suspended to take public testimony.
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting was called back
to order, and proceeded as follows:
The motion to approve C 2016-224 was then put, and unanimously carried.
Council Chair Rapozo: Motion carried. Next item, please.
CLAIMS:
C 2016-225 Communication (09/29/2016) from the County Clerk,
transmitting a claim filed against the County of Kaua`i by Mahasen H. Katoush, for
damage to her vehicle, pursuant to Section 23.06, Charter of the County of Kauai.
C 2016-226 Communication (10/03/2016) from the County Clerk,
transmitting a claim filed against the County of Kaua`i by Gary T. Mack, for damage
to his personal property, pursuant to Section 23.06, Charter of the County of Kauai.
C 2016-227 Communication (10/04/2016) from the County Clerk,
transmitting a claim filed against the County of Kaua`i by Iris Ijima, for damage to
her vehicle, pursuant to Section 23.06, Charter of the County of Kauai.
C 2016-228 Communication (10/06/2016) from the County Clerk,
transmitting a claim filed against the County of Kauai by Susan Hatch, for damage
to her rental vehicle, pursuant to Section 23.06, Charter of the County of Kauai.
C 2016-229 Communication (10/07/2016) from the County Clerk,
transmitting a claim filed against the County of Kaua`i by Carolina Santos, for
reimbursement of medical bills, pursuant to Section 23.06, Charter of the County of
Kauai.
COUNCIL MEETING 10 OCTOBER 19, 2016
C 2016-230 Communication (10/12/2016) from the County Clerk,
transmitting a claim filed against the County of Kaua`i by Island Insurance Company
as subrogee for Anahita and Babak Azar for damage to their fence and personal
property, pursuant to Section 23.06, Charter of the County of Kauai.
Councilmember Kuali`i moved to refer C 2016-225, C 2016-226, C 2016-227,
C 2016-228, C 2016-229, and C 2016-230 to the County Attorney's Office for
disposition and/or report back to the Council, seconded by Councilmember
Yukimura.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you. I just want to make a noted that
a couple of these claims, C 2016-226 and C 2016-230, involve damages caused by trees
along the roadway. We did send a request to have the Department of Public Works
to take a look. These residents are relatively close to each other, so that is a definite
problem. We did receive some concerns from the community and those two (2) involve
kind of the same issue. Then, I believe there are couple more that are involving traffic
accidents by County vehicles. It seems like we are getting a lot of those. Please see
if we can get a compilation of the motor vehicle accidents because I think we have
been having quite a bit and I am getting concerned that we need some driver training
or something because from what I have been reading, it is our cars hitting other cars.
Is there any further discussion? Councilmember Kagawa.
Councilmember Kagawa: I asked for hat numerous times, I think even
when Chair Furfaro was here. I wanted to see a breakdown of what were the reasons
to see if there was a common denominator that was happening that caused a lot of
these. When we are weed-whacking, are we weed-whacking rocks that are hitting
windows? When I personally weed-whack near the roadway, I stop weed-whacking
when I can hear a car coming or see a car coming through the side of my eye because
that is definitely an immediate cause that would crack a windshield or dent a car. Is
it being caused by a car following large vehicles? I do not know if the mudflat is not
sufficient to prevent that. Again, if we had a nice breakdown of the history going
back four (4) or five (5) years showing all of the different causes, then maybe we could
come to some kind of solution that we can ask the Administration, "What are you
doing to correct it? How are you preventing these?" There are times when we say,
"Well, we are going to fight it. We do not believe that the claimant is correct," but
then again, if we can prevent that from even happening, it will save our attorney's
time from working on things that are nonsense in nature. Again, having the Council
have to approve or disapprove these types of claims and the Council not receiving
information that we ask for, and I am not saying that the Office of the County
Attorney are the ones, I think the Department of Public Works, the Department of
Parks & Recreation, the Transportation Agency, and whatever Department needs to
have that compilation. They need to know what the causes are; how we can prevent
it; and if it is negligent action by the drivers or the operators of these equipment, then
what are we doing to make sure that it does not happen again? I have not seen that
in four (4) years. I have been asking for that type of information and it is frustrating
because we are looking at how we can save money and how we can make our offices
more efficient. In any private business, you would get these types of answers just
like that. Somebody would be working on it tomorrow and would get it in a week or
what have you. Again, I have not seen any list of what the causes are and what the
COUNCIL MEETING 11 OCTOBER 19, 2016
common denominators that are causing these types of things to happen are for
four (4) years. C 2016-230, "damage to their fence and personal property," if it is not
a tree that fell for some reason, we do not know, what was it? Was it a County worker
that banged the fence? If it was, then obviously, you have to be more careful. You
should not be treating your vehicle as your own. You should be more careful because
it is the County taxpayers' money. You are required to be careful. Again, I am
frustrated in not knowing more details as to what we are doing to prevent these
things from happening. Thank you, Council Chair Rapozo.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you. We will compile that list for all of
us. The claims are kind of disturbing. Again, I am more concerned about the claims
where vehicles are hitting other vehicles from the back. The real simple answer to
that is, inattention, and I think that has to be addressed. With that, the motion is to
refer.
The motion to refer C 2016-225, C 2016-226, C 2016-227, C 2016-228,
C 2016-229, and C 2016-230 to the County Attorney's Office for disposition
and/or report back to the Council was then put, and unanimously carried.
Council Chair Rapozo: Motion carried. Next item, please.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
PUBLIC WORKS / PARKS & RECREATION COMMITTEE:
A report (No. CR-PWPR 2016-15) submitted by the Public Works / Parks &
Recreation Committee, recommending that the following be Approved:
"Resolution No. 2016-57 RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING TRAFFIC
LANE MODIFICATIONS AND BICYCLE LANES ON RICE STREET AND
HO`OLAKO STREET; ESTABLISHING CROSSWALKS ON RICE STREET,
PUA`OLE STREET, HO`OLAKO STREET, KALENA STREET, HO`ALA
STREET, AND MALAMA STREET; AND REPEALING, AMENDING, AND
ESTABLISHING PARKING RESTRICTIONS AND BUS STOPS ON RICE
STREET, COUNTY OF KAUAI,"
Councilmember Kuali`i moved for approval of the report, seconded by
Councilmember Chock.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there
any public testimony?
There being no objections, the rules were suspended to take public testimony.
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting was called back
to order, and proceeded as follows:
The motion for approval of the report was then put, and unanimously carried.
COUNCIL MEETING 12 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Council Chair Rapozo: Motion carried. Next item, please.
BUDGET & FINANCE COMMITTEE:
A report (No. CR-BF 2016-22) submitted by the Budget & Finance Committee,
recommending that the following be Approved as Amended on second and final
reading:
"Bill No. 2638—A BILL FOR AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTION 2,
ORDINANCE NO. 891 AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL
OBLIGATION BONDS OF THE COUNTY OF KAUAI FOR THE PURPOSE OF
FINANCING CERTAIN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS AND REFUNDING
CERTAIN BONDS OF THE COUNTY; FIXING OR AUTHORIZING THE
FIXING OF THE FORM, DENOMINATIONS, AND CERTAIN OTHER
DETAILS OF SUCH BONDS AND PROVIDING FOR THE SALE OF SUCH
BONDS TO THE PUBLIC,"
A report (No. CR-BF 2016-23) submitted by the Budget & Finance Committee,
recommending that the following be Approved on second and final reading:
"Bill No. 2637 — A BILL FOR AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
ORDINANCE NO. B-2016-812, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE
OPERATING BUDGET OF THE COUNTY OF KAUAI, STATE OF HAWAII,
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 2016 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2017, BY
REVISING THE AMOUNTS ESTIMATED IN THE GENERAL FUND (Office
of Economic Development, Grant In Aid (Special Events Security) —
$43,473.00),"
Councilmember Kuali`i moved for approval of the report, seconded by
Councilmember Yukimura.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there
any public testimony?
There being no objections, the rules were suspended to take public testimony.
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting was called back
to order, and proceeded as follows:
The motion for approval of the reports was then put, and unanimously carried.
Council Chair Rapozo: Motion carried. Next item.
RESOLUTIONS:
Resolution No. 2016-57 RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING TRAFFIC LANE
MODIFICATIONS AND BICYCLE LANES ON RICE STREET AND HOOLAKO
STREET; ESTABLISHING CROSSWALKS ON RICE STREET, PUA`OLE STREET,
COUNCIL MEETING 13 OCTOBER 19, 2016
HO`OLAKO STREET, KALENA STREET, HO`ALA STREET, AND MALAMA
STREET; AND REPEALING, AMENDING, AND ESTABLISHING PARKING
RESTRICTIONS AND BUS STOPS ON RICE STREET, COUNTY OF KAUAI:
Councilmember Kagawa moved for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-57, seconded by
Councilmember Yukimura.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you. Is there any discussion?
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Council Chair Rapozo, we do have a
registered speaker.
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay. Is there any preliminary discussion? If
not, we will suspend the rules if there are no objections. Can I have the first
registered speaker?
There being no objections, the rules were suspended to take public testimony.
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: The first registered speaker is Glenn
Mickens.
GLENN MICKENS: Thank you, Council Chair Rapozo. For the
record, Glenn Mickens. This is the fourth time I have testified on this issue.
Obviously all of you know that I am against it. If any of you folks, Councilmember
Yukimura too, would be good enough, at least I know you cannot verbally answer me,
but if you can E-mail me or something; if I am right, tell me, "Okay, you are right."
If I am wrong, tell me where I am wrong. You have a copy of my testimony, let me
read it for, as my dear friend Ray Chuan used to say, "let me read it for the viewing
public." My review of the County's Lihu`e Town Core Mobility Revitalization Plan
has brought me to one (1) conclusion, that the reconfiguration of Rice Street making
it two (2) lanes from the existing four (4) lanes; putting bike lanes along it, narrowing
it even more; adding crosswalks; and repealing, amending, and establishing parking
restrictions and bus stops is somehow going to revitalize the Lihu`e area. In my
opinion, this is totally false. Nothing has been said in this Resolution or Plan where
or if the business that left will come back. The giants like Costco, Walmart, Home
Depot, Safeway, and others are located where they want to be and are not going to
move back to the Lihu`e area. The central Lihu`e district is now for County and State
operations like the Historic County Building, this one; the Kaua`i Museum; the State
building; banks; credit unions; and all of the County-run offices for planning, driver's
license, and permitting. These are the operations made for the downtown area. Our
number one problem on Kauai is traffic for locals and visitors. This Transportation
Investment Generating Economic Revenue (TIGER) grant plan only exacerbates that
problem by slowing and stopping vehicular travel on Rice Street. As Council Chair
Rapozo said, "Vehicles will just avoid Rice Street and use Ahukini Road or other
streets and compound our traffic problems." Areas like the Kukui Grove Shopping
Center and Coconut Marketplace with plenty of parking and stores will draw people,
not like the Lihu`e business district. To think that people will come to Lihu`e to walk
or for any other activity other than for government or banking business is a dream.
We certainly do not need to spend sixteen million dollars ($16,000,000) of our tax
money for an experiment that can only fail. Those pushing this plan have yet to show
COUNCIL MEETING 14 OCTOBER 19, 2016
the taxpayers, who are paying for this dream, where a comparable operation has been
successful, and by "comparable," I mean one on an island like Kaua`i with seventy
thousand (70,000) people. When you want proof any plan being a success or failure,
you look at the Kapa'a Bypass Road, which did take traffic off of Kuhio Highway. It
was a success until it got overused. It needs more alternate cane haul road open to
do what it accomplished, or the contraflow lanes working every day showing that
adding one (1) more lane will work. These operations have proven to be successful on
Kaua`i, but why spend sixteen million dollars ($16,000,000) on a project...
Council Chair Rapozo: Glenn...
Mr. Mickens: I only have one (1) more sentence and then I
am done.
Council Chair Rapozo: One (1) sentence?
Mr. Mickens: That is all.
Council Chair Rapozo: How long is that sentence?
Mr. Mickens: Okay...on a project that there is no proven
background for success.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you.
Mr. Mickens: Thank you, Council Chair Rapozo.
Council Chair Rapozo: You are welcome. I apologize. I was
distracted. Who is the next speaker?
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: There are no further registered speakers.
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay. Is there anyone else wishing to testify
on this matter?
There being no further testimony, the meeting was called back to order, and
proceeded as follows:
Council Chair Rapozo: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: Council Chair Rapozo, I have a question for
our Acting County Engineer.
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay.
There being no objections, the rules were suspended.
LYLE TABATA, Acting County Engineer: Good morning, Lyle Tabata,
Acting County Engineer.
COUNCIL MEETING 15 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Councilmember Yukimura: Thank you, Lyle. Last night at a legislative
forum for people who have disabilities, but we would like to call them, "People with
possibilities and abilities." There was a question about crosswalks and whether the
crosswalks will be designed to signal people who are blind that it is okay to cross. I
just wondered if this TIGER grant project will address that in any way or even
whether flashing lights can be developed with the crossing signal; I guess it is that
bleeping that tells people who are blind that it is safe to cross.
Mr. Tabata: I will bring that information forward to the
designers. The intent of the regulatory items that we have listed right now is so that
we can have the designers design in one (1) direction and not look at any more options.
The body will approve the regulatory changes for Rice Street and the other streets
and then we will have them design to the changes. We will bring forward the items
you have mentioned for the blind and possible rapid flashing beacons. The intent is
to make everything that we design to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
compliant, and so I will bring it forward for the blind.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay, that would be really good. Thank you.
So what you are saying is that upon approval, assuming that this body approves the
Resolution, you folks will be proceeding with the design of the project?
Mr. Tabata: The final designs for the project, yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Are you under a tight timetable?
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Therefore, being able to start on the design
will be important to you?
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay, thank you.
Council Chair Rapozo: Any other questions for Lyle while he is up
here? Lyle, I just had one (1) question and it is relating to the county match. The
county match is what I guess is being portrayed as the "two million dollars
($2,000,000)?"
Mr. Tabata: Yes, bond funded.
Council Chair Rapozo: Is that to satisfy the grant amount?
Mr. Tabata: No. We were told that if you put a match, our
chances would be a lot better. It is only fifteen percent (15%) or just slightly under
fifteen percent (15%). The normal county match for federal aid projects is twenty
percent (20%) and we placed fifteen percent (15%).
COUNCIL MEETING 16 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Council Chair Rapozo: But that does not mean that that will be the
limit of what the county will spend?
Mr. Tabata: Our intent is to stay within our budget.
Council Chair Rapozo: I know what the intent is and our intent is
always good. I know what the rail's intent was on O`ahu and their intent was good.
Many of our projects on this island when we estimate the cost, by the time it is built,
it is significantly higher. I guess my question is if the cost of the project goes beyond
whatever is beyond the grant amount...
Mr. Tabata: We do not have to put a match.
Council Chair Rapozo: Who is going to pay for it?
Mr. Tabata: We are going to work within our budget.
Council Chair Rapozo: Yes, but that may not be possible, Lyle, is
what I am saying. You have what you want to do...
Mr. Tabata: The grant amount is fixed; that will not
change.
Council Chair Rapozo: So anything beyond the grant amount is a
responsibility of the County, correct?
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay. That was the question. Councilmember
Chock, followed by Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Chock: The grant was written with the fifteen
percent (15%) match and I just want to clarify what I thought I heard you say was
that that is optional?
Mr. Tabata: It was at the time, but we put it up forward,
so it is counted as the total amount of the project.
Councilmember Chock: Will the grant be in jeopardy if the two million
dollars ($2,000,000) were not approved?
Mr. Tabata: Well, we will not have enough money to
complete all of the planned projects.
Councilmember Chock: I am just trying to find out the worst case
scenario. What would happen if the money was not approved?
Mr. Tabata: I need to revisit that. I cannot answer that at
this time.
COUNCIL MEETING 17 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Councilmember Chock: Okay. Thank you.
Council Chair Rapozo: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: My question is similar to Councilmember
Chock. In applying for the grant and stating that we would be contributing the
amount, it was a commitment that the County made to the federal government, right?
Mr. Tabata: Correct, yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: And if we are not able to finish the project
successfully, I would guess that it would jeopardize any future federal applications
that we make.
Mr. Tabata: ' I would defer to Mr. Suga.
KEITH SUGA, Executive Assistant to the Mayor: Keith Suga, County CIP
Manager. Good morning, Chair, Vice Chair, and Councilmembers. With regards to
the funding, like Lyle mentioned, there was not a requirement for a match because
of our designation, so when we put forward the application it was identified to us that
to be competitive, whatever match we could bring to the table would be put into
consideration in terms of the competitiveness. What Chair Rapozo and
Councilmember Chock is bringing up is a good point in terms of as we develop this
project, the Resolution here will provide a base guideline to which the consultants
will design accordingly. As you mentioned Councilmember Yukimura, with regards
to the flashing beacons or those types of considerations, that is something we can
bring forward to the consultants and have that be options that is looked into. As we
develop the construction design-build documents, which is something we could
possibly have a list of additive alternates or that sort of thing. Therefore, we can
assure that we can at least get the base contract awarded and if there are items that
come within our budget, then we could include those items as well.
Councilmember Yukimura: But the fifteen percent (15%) that we have put
on the table is part of the overall base contract, is it not?
Mr. Suga: Correct. That was the commitment that is
ironed out in our project agreement with the United States Department of
Transportation (USDOT) and the Hawai`i Department of Transportation (HDOT).
Councilmember Yukimura: I understand from Mr. Costa that our track
record on Economic Development Administration (EDA) funds from post-hurricane,
like our papaya disinfestation plant and other projects have affected our ability to get
EDA moneys more recently. I am thinking that our performance of this project will
influence future requests we have before the federal government.
Mr. Tabata: Yes, we are under, as Mr. Suga explained, a
very tight schedule and our contract with USDOT included the matching funds. It is
part of the contract that was signed with DOT to pull this project off, yes.
COUNCIL MEETING 18 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Councilmember Yukimura: But our commitment does not go beyond the
fifteen percent (15%).
Mr. Tabata: Right.
Councilmember Yukimura: Council Chair Rapozo is concerned about
additional costs, but any additional costs will have to come before the Council for
approval, I would guess.
Mr. Suga: Absolutely.
Mr. Tabata: We are very aware of that, so the effects to
which we design will be closely monitored to stay within the budget.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay, thank you very much.
Council Chair Rapozo: Any other questions? Councilmember Kuali`i.
Councilmember Kuali`i: What is the time span for the project from
start to finish? When will you start?
Mr. Suga: Currently, we have a hard deadline of
June 30, 2017 to which we have to request federal funding obligation for the
construction funds through USDOT. That means we have to have our thirty percent
(30%) drawings completed, we have to have our environmental completed, and we
have to have our design-build documents completed and ready to request that
funding.
Councilmember Kuali`i: Therefore, actual construction will not begin
until some point after June 30, 2017?
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Councilmember Kuali`i: And do you have a sense of when that is?
Mr. Suga: I think we anticipated around the ending of
2018, beginning of 2019, potentially is when construction can start.
Councilmember Kuali`i: Beginning of 2019. How long will it be after
you start?
Mr. Suga: I think we are anticipating a year.
Councilmember Kuali`i: One (1) year?
Mr. Suga: Yes, for total construction. The project,
because of the components, will probably be phased and once we get a schedule from
the contractor, will better determine the deration.
COUNCIL MEETING 19 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Councilmember Kuali`i: As far as the grant, do you get all the money
upfront or will you be getting it in.pieces?
Mr. Suga: No. The June 30, 2017 deadline would
obligate all of the construction funding.
(Councilmember Kagawa was noted as not present.)
Councilmember Kuali`i: You will have it planned to be under budget
when you start, but as you move through; three (3) months, six (6) months,
and nine (9) months, you will be able to track whether you are staying on budget or
not. I would assume that as you get near to the end, you may have to alter your plans
to stay under budget?
Mr. Suga: Like any construction project, that is the
typical process. When we award the design-build contract, at that point we would
have a contract amount that would be within budget. Surely, throughout the
construction process, we would have to closely monitor the progress.
Councilmember Kuali`i: And if there are items that you want and the
community want to include such as the flashing lights and the crosswalks that are
accessible to the blind that is not part of the budget, could you not go after additional
funding from other state or federal funds? For example, for that particular purpose,
such as Safe Routes to School or what have you.
Mr. Suga: I think the idea here would be to try to include
those opportunities within the contract as additive alternates or some type of
mechanism like that. During construction, if things were to arise, there is a potential
that additional county funding would have to be brought forth to this body for
approval, if that was the case.
Councilmember Kuali`i: My final question is as far as all these federal
funds and then the fifteen percent (15%) of the county funds, can we spend our funds
last? Could we move along this project and I know it always takes longer and it goes
over budget because that is how construction projects seems to be, but once in a while
you have a good project that could come faster and under budget. If that is the case,
if we were spending our money last, our committed fifteen percent (15%) and we were
under budget, then we would be saving the county money.
Mr. Suga: I will double-check the project agreement that
we have with USDOT in terms of expense of the funding if there is a correlation
between the percentage of county funds and the percentage of federal funds that
would be billed. I am not one hundred percent (100%) sure. At this point, we would
have to double check.
Councilmember Kuali`i: Thank you.
Council Chair Rapozo: Councilmember Chock.
COUNCIL MEETING 20 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Councilmember Chock: That is the direction of where I was going with
my questions as well. Will you be asking to encumber all the funds on June 30th?
Mr. Suga: Yes.
Councilmember Chock: So the fifteen percent (15%) match as well?
Mr. Suga: Yes.
Councilmember Chock: Will you check to see if there is a possibility
that you can actually ask for that in increments rather than all at once?
Mr. Suga: Correct, and what I hear is that as we draw or
as the invoices come in from the contractor, whether we can expend the federal dollars
first before our funds.
Councilmember Chock: Okay, thank you.
Mr. Tabata: I want to expand on that. Normally at the end
of the term of a project when we get audited by the federal government, we need to
show our expenditures accordingly, and whether it is in the front, middle, or end, we
still have to show that we spent the amount that we said we were going to spend.
Councilmember Chock: Can the two million dollars ($2,000,000) be
derived from our grant sources?
Mr. Suga: Currently, the two million dollars
($2,000,000) is approved in our CIP budget and that was the allocation to utilize for
the match. I am not sure at this point if other funding potentials would be able to
supplement that or supplant that.
Councilmember Chock: Thank you.
Council Chair Rapozo: I guess I want to make sure that the public
understands. This is not to approve the funding. This is to approve the Resolution for
the traffic changes and things.
Mr. Suga: Correct.
Council Chair Rapozo: How many design-build projects have we
done? Both of you were not here, but...
Mr. Tabata: The County has done, I believe...
Council Chair Rapozo: The police station was one, I think the
Kaiakea Fire Station was one.
COUNCIL MEETING 21 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Mr. Tabata: Waimea Wastewater Treatment Plan
Upgrades, Hardy Street, I believe we have done at least a little over half a dozen; I
believe seven (7).
Council Chair Rapozo: I know for the police station and what was
designed and the intent when it started out, all of a sudden we had to reduce, reduce,
reduce, cut this and cut that; and that happens typically if you want to stay within
the budget because there is no budget that is going to be adequate. You are saying at
whatever amount—fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000), construction will start in the
year 2018 or 2019, prices are going to be higher, construction costs are going to be
higher, and then with all the changes that occur between now and then will be change
orders that will have to happen. We all know that change orders is a reality and most
of them come with an increase in cost. My only point or question is that it was
represented here and I cannot remember who said it, but it was represented early on
in these discussions that we would not pay more than two million dollars ($2,000,000)
and that is not true. If we do go over budget, the County has to pick up the tab. Is
that not the truth? Is that not accurate? Whether it is county match federal money
going into the account for this project, if we use up all that money, where is the money
going to come from? The County, right? Again, I use the rail. That is a graphic
example, but it is the same thing, right? Yes, you have to come back to the Council
before we release the money or allow the money, but then you end up with the
situation like the rail. What will we do? Do we tear down all those pillars and things
and waste the billions that we already spent or do we manage to find more money?
That is a big example and the point I am trying to make. It is not just the two million
dollars ($2,000,000). It can be higher depending how long this process takes and that
we are basically committing to that project at whatever the cost is. That is not a bad
thing, I am just saying that is the reality of it. That is how the system works. The
feds will give you that much, you said you will give this much, if it goes beyond that,
you are responsible. The feds will not give you more money, correct?
Mr. Suga: Chair, what you bring up is certainly a
possibility. What we hope and I use the word "hope," is through the design-build
process that we can really look into not only the scope that is brought forward and
maybe some of these additive items, but also try to lean on the contractor towards
value-engineering type of solutions that could hopefully keep us within the budget
we are in. Therefore, the design-build process would allow us also to try to do that.
Council Chair Rapozo: Being the realist that I am, I am just saying
that as we get closer to the construction or completion and as we start running high
on the budget, then the things like Councilmember Yukimura was talking about like
the flashing crosswalks, "hey, that has to go, sorry. That has to go because we need
to stay within the budget."That is all I am saying. Things change and they can change
quite drastically in this process with such a huge project. Any other questions? If
not, thank you very much.
Mr. Tabata: Thank you.
The meeting was called back to order, and proceeded as follows:
COUNCIL MEETING 22 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Council Chair Rapozo: Any further discussion? Councilmember
Kagawa.
Councilmember Kagawa: Thank you, Chair. When you look at
approving this Resolution, it is basically putting the TIGER grant into motion and
giving the blessing to move forward, that this is the direction that the County will go
for their taxpayers. I look at the pros and cons. The pros is that it will slow down
traffic significantly. It will allow for sight visibility so it is much safer for walkers,
bikers, and drivers, no doubt. Aesthetically it will be more beautiful, more inviting
for businesses, because there will be a lot more on-street parking. The big one for me
is that we will recognize thirteen million eight hundred thousand dollars
($13,800,000) of federal grant moneys that will help to stimulate our economy,
especially our local construction workers. I just had a construction worker tell me
that they are almost done with Nawiliwili Road and cannot foresee where the next
major job will be. At least there will be a bright future there for a portion of our
workers. When I look at the cons, the major con that I see is what will happen to
traffic congestion for vehicles. According to the presentation that we saw, it will
actually improve the flow with the...not two (2) lanes, Glenn, it is three (3) lanes. It
will be a turn lane in between. We are going basically in areas that are high traffic,
we have four (4) lanes, and it will go down to three (3) lanes. Whatever math I use, I
do not know how that will improve traffic flow, but I am going to take the advice of
our engineers who are engineers. They went to school for it, they studied it, I did not.
We will see. I believe that traffic congestion, not to be a "Debbie Downer," but it will
be significantly worse. I hope not. I know that the pros will happen. Those pros will
work, which I mentioned, but as far as the con, my major cons is that I feel like traffic
congestion will be significantly worse on Rice Street and I am concerned about that
going forward. However, I will be supporting the Resolution. I am going to place my
trust that I am hopefully wrong that it will not be significant. Getting thirteen
million eight hundred thousand dollars ($13,800,000) of federal moneys to our
taxpayers on Kaua`i and our workers is significant. It is a huge accomplishment and
one that is very difficult for any Councilmember to deny. A lot of us look at the big
question asked nationwide, where does our federal tax moneys go? How do we spend
it? You take out up to a fourth to a third of people's income in the middle class because
of the federal income taxes plus the Federal Insurance Contributions Act Tax (FICA)
or social security tax. For a family making eighty thousand dollars ($80,000) a year,
you are talking about a minimal of twenty-five percent (25%) out of their incomes
going to the federal government. Then you ask the question, well, with a fourth of
our taxes of our people in the middle class to poor being taken out of their incomes,
how are we still going one trillion dollars ($1,000,000,000,000) a year more in deficit?
What is wrong? Do they have to take half of our paycheck and maybe we will not go
a trillion dollars ($1,000,000,000,000) every year? We have a huge spending problem
in the federal government, but that is not our job here. Our job here is to try and
garner whatever federal moneys we can so our taxpayers will know that they are
getting something more, something more than we had yesterday. This thirteen
million eight hundred thousand dollars ($13,800,000) is something more than we had
yesterday had we not gone for this grant. I just hope that as Council Chair has said
many times, that perhaps going forward in the future we can get grant moneys that
would not have this big question mark of what will happen to traffic congestion-
COUNCIL MEETING 23 OCTOBER 19, 2016
something that the public can totally agree on. I do not think this grant satisfies that
need. Thank you, Chair.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you. Councilmember Kaneshiro.
Councilmember Kaneshiro: I want to reiterate the TIGER grant is a
Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant. It is not a traffic
improvement or road improvement grant. Road and traffic improvements are a
priority, but this is not the grant for it, unfortunately. The money is specific to this
project and cannot be moved elsewhere, no matter how much we say, "We want the
money to go on that road or this area." That is not a consideration. That does not have
anything to do with the grant. The grant is specific to Rice Street and that is the
decision we have to make. Do we want the money for Rice Street or not? It is not,
"No, let us move the money elsewhere around the island." That is not possible. You
look at the biggest "bang for the buck" and we are talking about a two million dollar
($2,000,000) bond fund bringing in thirteen million eight hundred thousand dollars
($13,800,000). A bond fund is not two million dollars ($2,000,000) of cash. Again, if
you look at our budget, we did not have two million dollars ($2,000,000) of cash sitting
around. A bond fund is in the CIP projects. A bond fund will cost us at two point four
percent (2.4%), three of principal delay, approximately one hundred twenty thousand
dollars ($120,000) in cash a year. That is what we will be paying a year. How do we
get a big bang like that? How do we get a bang paying one hundred twenty thousand
dollars ($120,000) a year for thirteen million eight hundred thousand dollar
($13,800,000) project? If we put one hundred twenty thousand dollars ($120,000) a
year to a road project, I do not think it will get us very much. We can ask Mr. Tabata
later, but I can almost guarantee it will not get us very much roadway. So, you look
at what is the biggest "bang for the buck" and it is a big bang for our buck. What do
we get with it? We get improvements, more parking along Rice Street, greater
visibility, and more crosswalk opportunities. There was a great presentation on the
wider crosswalks have the lights, the crosswalks that did not have lights, they moved
the sidewalks closer so it was a shorter walk and more visibility for the drivers. We
had lots of community input and very clear presentations. I think pretty much all of
the questions that we had were addressed. We had very clear maps of what we were
looking at. It was very organized on how we were able to go through it and I think
that helped. Also, the community input. There were many opportunities for
community input and community input was actually taken into consideration. If you
look at a road such as Pua`ole Road where the citizens had concerns on it, they
adjusted the plan. They adjusted the plan according to the citizens' concerns. I think
it was a good plan. I think it is a positive thing for the island. I would have liked to
see money for infrastructure such as water and sewer, but again, that is not what the
money was for. Hopefully, we can look for money like that where if we are going to
do major road improvements, we can find money to help improve our water and sewer
in the area also. I think it is a good grant. I think it will improve Rice Street and I
will be voting in support of it.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you. Councilmember Chock.
Councilmember Chock: Thank you, Chair. I will be supporting the
Resolution. This money is in the CIP budget and I think it will do us really good to
COUNCIL MEETING 24 OCTOBER 19, 2016
support investing economic development for this corridor. I am looking forward to
the bigger vision of how it is we transition from the TIGER grant into actually getting
businesses open and people generating energy around this area, and so I am hoping
that we hear more about that vision as we move forward. I think this is a win, a win
that we need to support and follow through on. I agree with Vice Chair Kagawa. I
think the TIGER grant probably should be in very community that we have on this
island and where that money goes is really the big question. I will not digress, but I
think we probably spend it on military advancement more than anything else. I think
we need to focus on what we have gotten and we have gotten an opportunity here to
do better for Kaua`i, and I will be supporting this Resolution. Thank you.
Council Chair Rapozo: Councilmember Kuali`i.
Councilmember Kuali`i: I think that this is an important
infrastructure investment for the future growth of Lihu`e. Lihu`e is the seat of our
government. It is the first place visitors see when they land here and arrive here. It
is important that we show them that this is a place that is forward thinking and
supportive of pedestrian and bicycle safety and the community that is well connected.
As far as users, this is about the future. If we want to keep our open spaces open,
then we need our future housing and development to concentrate near to where the
jobs are and the shopping is and the restaurants are, so that people can walk to work,
walk to eat and shop, and what have you. There are still so much potential for future
housing growth in Lihu`e. We just had Kaniko`o at Rice Camp, there are all kinds of
plans for future Grove Farm housing around the stadium area, and other future
housing right here in Lihu`e. There are plenty open lands available for housing and
other commercial development to support that housing, such as places like Walmart
and what have you. Lihu`e can be a fully connected town and this is a big part of it
where more people live and walk. When you have more people living and walking
here, you are bringing in more economic activity, easily and clearly. We need those
things in Lihu`e and we will have that with the projects like this. Why can we not go
to events at Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall, go early, park, and walk a couple
blocks to our favorite restaurant to eat, and then go to the event, and then afterwards
maybe walk to our favorite bar right there. We never have to move our car. We just
go home when the entire evening is done; Kaua`i War Memorial Convention Hall, the
stadium, and even the fields at Elsie H. Wilcox Elementary School. There are plenty
of places where a lot of bigger community and other events happen that people attend
and they can attend those events and also support local business if we are able to just
park and walk. The one thing too about land use in Lihu`e, I hope we do not build any
more parking lots. I think we should use the land for housing and commercial
development, schools, or what have you, as it grows. As far as parking goes, there is
plenty parking already that has space and if we need more parking in the Kaua`i War
Memorial Convention Hall, then we should build up. Build one more level of parking
or two (2) more levels of parking, so that we concentrate the parking in the center
area where people can walk out from there. I think this is a great project. I am so glad
that we were able to win thirteen million dollars ($13,000,000) from the federal
government in a highly competitive grant process. This is a good start. We can use
Lihu`e as the example for other major towns such as Kapa'a and Waimea and follow
from there. Thank you.
COUNCIL MEETING 25 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you. Councilmember Yukimura or
Councilmember Hooser.
Councilmember Yukimura: Thank you, Chair. I will be supporting this
Resolution wholeheartedly. I appreciate the comments of my colleagues, which
illustrate that this is a win-win-win-win. I appreciate the work of the Administration
that have gone through it and all that has been done. As Councilmember Kaneshiro
said, there was a lot of community input that was listened to, that was taken into
account, the questions that we had were answered, and that is a sign that the project
has been well thought out. This is an economic recovery and revitalization for Lihu`e
and Lihu`e is our county seat. It is a place where we gather, for example, the Lights
on Rice Street, and it really deserves to have the improvements that we are talking
about and it is not that we do not want to think about the other places, there is no
project that can be done everywhere. You do projects by site and certain places and
we are doing it in Lihu`e with this project. The primary result of this project is going
to increase safety and we have all said before that safety is the top priority. It is going
to be safer to cross the street, it is going to be safer for cars because there will be more
sight, but at the same time, it is increasing the parking on Rice Street and the traffic
flow. It will be good. The improved flow will be up to a certain point. No arrangement
of road will support unlimited growth in car traffic and so at some point we will reach
capacity, but that is why we need to have transit improvements that will address
some of the need for movement here in Lihu`e. The other benefits are jobs. We
created many jobs in our Hardy Street Project. For over a year, there were
construction jobs here. Another benefit is health. When people and children can walk
safely to Elsie H. Wilcox Elementary School every day, it really will increase the
health of our people. Last night when we heard from people with disabilities, they
talked about the blind people using a cane; sidewalks really help them delineate
where to walk and now on Hardy Street, they have a completes continuous way to
walk. Yesterday when I was holding sign in Puhi, I met a couple that walk every day
on the sidewalks and they talked about how much easier it is for them to walk and I
think we have all noticed how many more people are walking because of the
sidewalks. This is a project for the future. It is going to bring prosperity, health, and
safety to Rice Street and I think it is something that we need to do to serve our people.
Council Chair Rapozo: Councilmember Hooser.
Councilmember Hooser: I am also going to be supporting this and I
want to commend the Administration for their assertiveness of going out and securing
the grant and what they are doing. I share some of the concerns about what will
happen to traffic, but overall, I think this is a good project that will really benefit
Lihu`e and the businesses and the community. What I would like to do is ask the
Administration in this County to turn their sights toward what I believe are urgent,
pressing matters and that is the Kapa'a traffic corridor. We all know that grants come
from different buckets of money. There are different federal programs. This one
happened to be for these types of projects to improve the town core, improve
walkability, beautification, and create jobs, but I suspect there are also grants
available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in other
areas that perhaps we can look at. The traffic situation in Kapa'a is a disaster waiting
to happen if we were to have a tsunami or any other type of disaster. There is no place
COUNCIL MEETING 26 OCTOBER 19, 2016
at all for people to go. They are stuck on that road and cannot get to higher ground. I
think we should look at grants that are available to improve that situation. We are
talking about safety, I do not think there is a bigger safety issue when it comes to
transportation in that corridor. I have been in there before, sitting in traffic, looking
out at the ocean during a tsunami warning with nowhere to go. It is just an issue that
must be addressed now and if we do not have the opportunity or the money to do it,
we should look to the federal government and other sources and treat it with the
urgency that it deserves in terms of evacuation and protecting public safety. That is
what I would encourage the Administration and the County. I applaud them on the
TIGER grant and applaud their work in Lihu`e, but let us look toward how we
alleviate the most pressing problem facing our transportation system today and that
is the extreme congestion in the Kapa'a-Wailua corridor. Thank you.
Council Chair Rapozo: Further discussion? If not, I have always said
everybody's position deserves to be heard on this table, so I happen to bring the
opposing position. I look at this completely different than my colleagues. I respect
everybody's position and I understand thirteen million dollars ($13,000,000) is a lot
of money. I understand if we do not do this, we will hurt our relationship with the
federal government and I understand that it is going to put a lot of people to work a
temporary construction job, I understand all of that. I also understand what
Councilmember Hooser just said — we have some issues on this island that are...you
talk about safety related, such as the congestion, which is not only on Kuhi5, but also
on Kaumuali`i Highway. We got it all the way out to Hanalei. If we had a tsunami
or tidal wave, those people have absolutely nowhere to go and that has not changed
and it will not change until we take action. Supporting this simply because it is for
thirteen million dollars ($13,000,000) of federal government money and regardless of
what it is going to do, to me, I think it is not the right way to look at accepting or not
accepting projects. The crosswalks and sidewalks on this projects, I think is
something we should have done a long time ago. I walked the other day with the
White Cane Group and Eiwa Street is painted as a bike lane or pedestrian lane, but
it is not safe. We are encouraging people to go out on a surface that is not safe. That
was all done with the Hardy Street improvements, which is not successful. We have
not enjoyed extreme success with Hardy Street, in fact, we heard some of the
businesses are suffering because of the improvements, and what we heard from the
Administration was, "Yes, we have to learn from our mistakes." The other thing is
the additional cost to maintain that and the promise that it is going to cost two million
dollars ($2,000,000), but we do not know what the cost will be. I can tell you that it is
not going to be two million dollars ($2,000,000). It is going to be more than that. We
might have to cut back a lot on this project and it is not going to look like what we
are looking at today. The relationship with the federal government is important, of.
course it is, but I think this body's job is to make sure that the voices of the people
are heard. Now, I know everybody received the same E-mails I received because when
people send E-mails to counciltestimony.com it goes to all Councilmembers. No one
can deny that the E-mails I received—all Councilmembers received. I will tell you
that aside from the three (3), four (4), or five (5) E-mails that are in support of this
project, the overwhelming testimony I received from the local residents was that they
did not support it. I bring that voice to this table today and it is the losing voice, but
I am going to bring it anyway. I spoke a little bit about the design-build contract.
Councilmember Kuali`i brought up the scenario about going to the Kauai War
COUNCIL MEETING 27 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Memorial Convention Hall, being able to walk to your favorite restaurant, and
afterwards go to the bar—that is all there today, but nobody does it. Because we are
going to spend thirteen million dollars ($13,000,000) and make nicer crosswalks
or...the crosswalks are there today, the traffic lights are there today, the sidewalks
are there today, but people's behavior is not going to change because we spent
thirteen million dollars ($13,000,000). We can all do that today. We can all walk
Lihu`e Town today, but really, how many bicyclists have you seen on Hardy Street
since we put in the lane? How many bicyclists do you see on Kaumuali`i Highway
with that nice bike lane that is there in between traffic? Everybody uses the sidewalk,
nobody uses the bike lane. This project will not be like that. The bicycle lane will be
the travel lane. It is not going to be an individual lane; it is going to be a shared-lane.
In other words, the car and the bike is going to be in the same lane—one (1) lane.
Councilmember Kagawa, I think you were the only Councilmember that had doubts
and say today, "I am not convinced that this change is going to improve traffic flow,"
and you said you tried all the math. I am not a math genius, but I can tell you that I
have been all over this Country and I cannot imagine what the engineer was thinking
or what computer program he used to say that we are going to reduce the lanes from
four (4) to two (2) and improve traffic. I really do not know. I know there are a lot of
"snake oil salesmen" around that can make you believe what they want you to believe
and I do not believe that. When you reduce those lanes and not only reduce the lanes,
all this time for some reason, I guess I did not pay close attention to the map, I
thought they had a separate bike lane and now I realize that it is the same lane. You
are giving up a lot and we just have to prioritize the projects and if we keep condoning
that as a Council, it is not going to change. You will still have the fluff projects, the
beautification projects and in the meantime, the highway congestions get worse. My
light is red. With that, go ahead.
Councilmember Yukimura: I agree with Councilmember Hooser and the
Chair that Kapa'a needs attention, and I just want to share the good news that I
heard from the Mayor recently that DOT and the County have agreed to work on it
in a. multimodal fashion including transit and it is a potential federal grant
application. Our performance on this Rice Street TIGER grant will be important to
future projects that may be focused on Kapa`a. We need to do a good job and I am
very delighted that the State and County will be working on a multimodal plan. I
also want to say that there were temporary construction jobs, but there is also
permanent jobs that are possible if Rice Street can come back with businesses, so we
are talking about permanent jobs as well. I also want to say that last night, several
Councilmembers and I agree with them, have said that we will support any kind of
improvements that will support the people with disabilities. Therefore, if we had
some add-ons that will make it better for the community of people with disabilities
and possibilities, I am very hopeful that we will add those in to make it an even better
project.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you. Like what Councilmember
Yukimura just said, we will be providing jobs, but we hope to create new jobs. The
Planning Director was here last week and he said, "We hope this will work." I think
thirteen million dollars ($13,000,000) or fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) is a lot
of money for an experiment and that is all my position is. With that, roll call.
COUNCIL MEETING 28 OCTOBER 19, 2016
The motion for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-57 was then put, and carried
by the following vote:
FOR ADOPTION: Chock, Hooser, Kagawa, Kaneshiro,
Kuali`i, Yukimura TOTAL— 6*,
AGAINST ADOPTION: Rapozo TOTAL — 1,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0,.
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0.
(*Pursuant to Rule No. 5(b) of the Rules of the Council of County of Kauai,
Councilmember Kagawa was noted as silent, but shall be recorded as an affirmative
for the motion.)
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Seven (7) ayes.
Resolution No. 2016-60 — RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE
ACQUISITION OF A PUBLIC PEDESTRIAN BEACH ACCESS EASEMENT IN
LAND REQUIRED FOR PUBLIC USE, TO WIT: A.PUBLIC PEDESTRIAN BEACH
ACCESS EASEMENT TO KUKUI`ULA BAY, KUKUI`ULA, COUNTY OF KAUA`I,
HAWAI`I, AND DETERMINING AND DECLARING THE NECESSITY OF THE
ACQUISITION THEREOF BY EMINENT DOMAIN: Councilmember Yukimura
moved to schedule a public hearing on November 16, 2016, and that it thereafter be
referred to the December 14, 2016 Council Meeting, seconded by Councilmember
Kaneshiro.
Council Chair Rapozo: I think we all received the memorandum
today. When the Resolution came over to us, it came over with a memorandum from
the Planning Department saying that they supported this action and we received a
corrected memorandum today that they are not in support of the action. Let me just
read this because I think it is important before we take public testimony.
Councilmember Yukimura: Can we have the Planning Department up?
Councilmember Hooser: They just walked out the door.
Councilmember Yukimura: They said they are willing to answer any
questions on Wednesday.
Council Chair Rapozo: Can I finish? We are going to bring them up,
Councilmember Yukimura, my goodness.
Councilmember Yukimura: Thank you.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you. I just wanted to read this because
I think it is important for some valid reasons and they are citing...you see what
happens when I am interrupted; I forget where I was. Anyway, it was basically the
COUNCIL MEETING 29 OCTOBER 19, 2016
cost. The condemnation cost a lot of money and right now we do not have a lot of
money. With that, is there any other discussion before I suspend the rules? Is
someone here from the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources
Preservation Fund Commission? I think we should get the presentation from the
Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund Commission
first, since it is their recommendation and then we can hear the Planning
Department's position.
There being no objections, the rules were suspended.
JOSEPH FIGAROA, Chair, Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources
Preservation Fund Commission: For the record, Joseph Figaroa, Chairman of
the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund
Commission. I apologize, Council Chair, I was not informed that we were going to be
doing a presentation today, but this particular parcel has been in our previous
presentations on our biannual reports to the Council. It has been recommended
initially since 2005 and since 2005, it was presented initially to the Public Access,
Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund Commission from the Koloa
Community Association. Since then we, as a Commission, have been very supportive
of acquiring this access point. We have always had community support for this. It
was submitted to the Council back in 2014 and Mr. Hull can correct me if I am wrong.
KA`AINA S. HULL, Deputy Planning Director: Originally 2011.
Mr. Figaroa: 2011, okay. 2011 and then resubmitted again
recently and then resubmitted again. Today, I was under the impression that I am
here to basically make a stand based on the Commission's standpoint, which is, we
definitely do support this public access and not just as a collective group, but the
community really have a historical connection to this. A lot of the fishermen have
come to testify, a lot of the community, just in general, supporters have come to
testified. I do know that there are a few issues like there is no parking, but we have
discussed options on possibly discussing with the National Tropical Botanical Garden
on maybe dedicating one (1) or two (2) parking stalls for the public and they can walk
and actually access that point from there. Currently, right now the access is blocked.
The landowners has erected a concrete wall so no public can access it. You can access
it via ocean, but definitely not through via land. In regards to the Commission, we
definitely have been wanting to accomplish this for quite some time and I do
understand that the Planning Department has a different view on it, but I wanted to
stand here and speak on behalf of the Commission.
Council Chair Rapozo: Councilmember Chock and then
Councilmember Kagawa.
COUNCIL MEETING 30 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Councilmember Chock: Thank you, Joseph for being here. Was it an
unanimous vote amongst Commissioners to move on this?
Mr. Figaroa: Correct, yes.
Councilmember Chock: Thank you.
Council Chair Rapozo: Councilmember Kagawa.
Councilmember Kagawa: This is the famous Hoban property access.
Mr. Figaroa: Yes.
Councilmember Kagawa: Is that how you pronounce it?
Mr. Figaroa: We pronounce it this way-"Hoban."
Councilmember Kagawa: I recall Councilmember Yukimura saying
that she walked it one (1) day through the beach access that we talk about. There is
a shoreline access around it and she said it was very rough and very dangerous.
Mr. Figaroa: Yes.
Councilmember Kagawa: Councilmember Yukimura also said that
when the water is calm, it is okay to access.
Mr. Figaroa: Yes. I actually traversed it one (1) day as an
adventure. You can access it through the shoreline, but the shoreline consists of
boulders and rocks and there is a small sandy area, but yes, during the high tide, it
is kind of a dangerous access.
Councilmember Kagawa: During high tide or if the waters are rough,
then it is dangerous for an average person to access it?
Mr. Figaroa: Yes.
Councilmember Kagawa: Is it totally blocked off now? I wish we had
some pictures to show. Is it newly poured cement?
Mr. Figaroa: I believe the road...what is the name of the
road?
Mr. Hull: The road is Lawa'i Beach Road.
COUNCIL MEETING 31 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Mr. Figaroa: On Lawa`i Beach Road, on the ocean side,
normally there is an access, but there is a natural concrete wall that is attached to
the owners concrete/rock wall. From the highway, it is just one (1) solid piece.
Councilmember Kagawa: Is there a way to get around that?
Mr. Figaroa: No.You would be entering into someone else's
property.
Councilmember Kagawa: Okay, it is private property and you could be
cited for trespassing?
Mr. Figaroa: Correct, yes. For clarification,the only access
is the shoreline.
Councilmember Kagawa: Last question. I am sure the Commission
looks at the open space fund as a fund to spread out among the entire community as
best as can. What is the estimated price tag that was brought to the Public Access,
Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund Commission to acquire? How
much money were you told that it may take out of your open space fund just to
have...not "just to have," because I know the community wants it. They have talked
to me a lot about it. It is very important to the Koloa community, but what is the price
tag that is estimated?
Mr. Figaroa: According to my knowledge, the assessed
value for the parcel is one hundred sixty thousand dollars ($160,000) and you can
correct me if I am wrong, Mr. Hull. The condemnation value is three hundred some-
odd thousand dollars. Again, those are not confirmed figures. They have the figures
with them.
Councilmember Kagawa: It is between one hundred sixty thousand
dollars ($160,000) and three hundred thirty thousand dollars ($330,000)?
Mr. Hull: To clarify, the last assessed value that was
done for that patch of land was about one hundred sixteen thousand dollars
($116,000) to one hundred eighteen thousand dollars ($118,000), but that is just the
assessed value of the land itself. Since the original discussions began with the
landowner, the landowner has indicated that they are not open for a sale of that piece
of land for access easement. Above and beyond that one hundred and some-odd
thousand dollars, you have to look at eminent domain proceedings and condemnation
or potential damages paid to the landowner through the condemnation process. The
County Attorney did an assessment back in 2014 where he anticipated that with
condemnation, it could cost about three hundred fifty thousand dollars ($350,000).
The landowner has indicated back in 2014, that it would be more along the lines of
COUNCIL MEETING 32 OCTOBER 19, 2016
six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000). That would go on through the
condemnation proceedings where they would arrive at what potential damages are,
but right now, the last dialogue we had is between the three hundred fifty thousand
dollar ($350,000) and six hundred thousand dollar ($600,000) range.
Councilmember Kagawa: Wow, at six hundred thousand dollars
($600,000) for just an access seems just outrageous, but at the three hundred fifty
thousand dollar ($350,000) range, I would say that to preserve public beach access to
something that the locals had all their lives, I think it is commendable decision by
the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund
Commission knowing price values. It is either we are going to continue having access
or not. Because as Councilmember Yukimura even traversed it, that other access
there is not consistent. The access has to be consistent and not if there is low tide,
you can, and high tide, you cannot. That is outrageous.
Mr. Figaroa: When we, as the Commission, looked at the
valuation we thought, "Wow, that is a lot." But when we settled ourselves down and
we looked at the intricacies of the decision, we looked at it as if we lose all of these
access points that are, of course as you all know as developers purchase, and as we
start to lose these access points, in the bigger picture we are losing the heritage. That
is of course priceless, but that is how we were looking at it. At the same time, too,
because there is such a strong support from the community and since 2005, good grief,
they have not gone weak on that support. As a Commission, we very much value that
and see the comparison.
Councilmember Kagawa: Did the Commission ask questions such as,
"What kind of value do you place on having fishing access for those that grew up all
of their lives to fish in that area and having future generations to be able to fish in
that area." What kind of price do you place on that, right? Obviously for some, the
value of six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000) means nothing because we are going
to keep the access fishable.
Mr. Figaroa: Correct, yes.
Councilmember Kagawa: Thank you.
Council Chair Rapozo: I wanted to clarify that the three hundred
thousand dollar ($300,000) to six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000) estimate is
just the land value.
Mr. Hull: No, the land value was about one hundred
eighteen thousand dollars ($118,000). The three hundred fifty thousand dollars
($350,000)...
COUNCIL MEETING 33 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Council Chair Rapozo: But that was back in 2012.
Mr. Hull: Yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: So that is wrong today. Again, when you folks
come here, not you, but whoever brings these estimates, it is 2012, which is five (5)
years ago. The one hundred sixteen thousand dollars ($116,000)...
Mr. Hull: We actually have gone through the process
and are in discussions with the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources
Preservation Fund Commission to get a reassessed value. It has been problematic
because virtually all of the on-island assessors say they do not assess just easements.
They do entire properties.
Council Chair Rapozo: But we can assume that it is no longer one
hundred sixteen thousand dollars ($116,000) because it was five (5) years ago. The
property values in that area, I would assume, have gone up.
Mr. Hull: Well, to a certain degree some of the property
values are not at the 2012 level because of the fact that you had the real estate boom
at that time and with the economy decreasing. I would not say it is safe to assume
that it is automatically higher now, but we have secured an assessor that is going
through the process of getting that value.
Councilmember Yukimura: Excuse me, I think you mean appraiser.
Mr.,Hull: I am sorry, appraiser.
Council Chair Rapozo: Let us just say one hundred seventeen
thousand dollars ($117,000) land value.
Mr. Hull: Excuse me.
Council Chair Rapozo: You are saying one hundred seventeen
thousand dollars ($117,000) land value.
Mr. Hull: Correct, off of that last appraisal that was
done, it was one hundred seventeen thousand dollars ($117,000).
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay. Therefore, the difference of the three
hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) to six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000),
what is that?
COUNCIL MEETING 34 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Mr. Hull: The potential damages we would have to pay
via the condemnation proceedings.
Council Chair Rapozo: Based on what they are claiming they lost?
Mr. Hull: Not only the lost, but the negative impact that
they had.
• Council Chair Rapozo: Right, that is the damages right. Does that
include attorney's fees?
Mr. Hull: No.
Council Chair Rapozo: No. I can tell you that the attorney's fees is
going to push us well over the one million dollar ($1,000,000) mark. I just wanted to
clarify that. I am sorry. Councilmember Chock, Councilmember Kaneshiro, and then
Councilmember Hooser.
Councilmember Chock: Mr. Hull, there is talk about the need for
parking. I know that the access actually needs some work too, because there is a drop
down into and there is a pipe that comes out of the there too. Can the open space fund
be utilized to help secure the needs of this access if it was to move forward?
Mr. Hull: The fund can be used for additional
improvements to be made and indeed as far as parking, the fund can also be used for
acquisition of other lands for parking purposes.
Councilmember Chock: Have we done any cost estimates on those
needs in addition to this?
Mr. Hull: As far as acquisition of parking, no.
Councilmember Chock: Or the maintenance or improvement of the
access?
Mr. Hull: Not at this time. The Resolution before you
folks is primarily for the acquisition itself.
Councilmember Chock: Okay. I have one (1) more question, but it is
different though.
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay. Let us go to Councilmember Kaneshiro.
Councilmember Kaneshiro: Is the wall blocking access right now?
COUNCIL MEETING 35 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Mr. Hull: Well, it is not just the wall. Traditionally
fishermen or beachgoers would use that drainage easement to access the area with
the landowner's somewhat willingness to allow people to traverse the easement.
Since a new landowner had assumed ownership of that property, they are unwilling
to allow people to use their property to access the beach. It is not as simply to say to
removing the wall, because even if the wall was removed, this landowner is unwilling
to say you can trespass on my property.
Councilmember Kaneshiro: How long has the wall been up there where
people have not been able to cross it?
Mr. Hull: We can find that out for you.
Mr. Figaroa: To somewhat answer that, it has not been
that long because when I initially came onto the Commission, we were actually able
to see the actual access point from the road, but we can get the exact dates for you.
Councilmember Kaneshiro: My second question is what Councilmember
Chock asked, yes, we can acquire the land, but I think we have to look at the big
picture. How much is it going to cost us to do whatever improvements we need to do
so that people can actually access it? Would we need to create another wall and have
to make a paved area? I think we should know what the total cost of it will be and not
just purchasing the land, but what else is our obligation to make it accessible. That
would be a number that I would be interested in hearing of what it would cost to do
the improvements needed for that actual access.
Councilmember Hooser: This is the priority of the Public Access, Open
Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund Commission, is that correct?
Mr. Figaroa: Yes.
Councilmember Hooser: How many other properties has the County
acquired as a result of the work of the Public Access, Open Space and Natural
Resources Preservation Fund Commission?
Mr. Figaroa: According to my knowledge, so far one (1).
Councilmember Hooser: How long has the Public Access, Open Space
and Natural Resources Preservation Fund Commission been operating?
Mr. Figaroa: Nani?
Mr. Hull: Since 2005.
COUNCIL MEETING 36 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Councilmember Hooser: Okay. It has been ten (10) to eleven (11) years
and one (1) property has been acquired. I think that is an important point to make
and that this is a priority of the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources
Preservation Fund Commission and has been for some time.
Is this an existing drainage easement?
Mr. Hull: Correct.
Councilmember Hooser: And to the benefit of the County, the County
has the right to improve the drainage easement?
Mr. Hull: Correct.
Councilmember Hooser: The County already exercises legal control, so
the idea is to put the access easement over the same pathway. I would think that the
landowner cannot build a structure, certainly, on a drainage easement, is that
correct? I mean the fact that it is already an easement for drainage purposes
significantly limits the value of that land.
Mr. Hull: I would have to double-check that.
Councilmember Hooser: I believe the County has the right to manage
that property for drainage. I do not even know if a wall is legal because the wall would
block the drainage.
Mr. Hull: Yes, because the drainage is actually
underneath, it is subsurface. That is why I am saying I do not know right off the top
of my head whether or not this particular easement can have structures on it.
Councilmember Hooser: Is there a culvert underneath the ground that
carries water or a pipe?
Mr. Hull: Correct.
Councilmember Hooser: Can we get a copy of the actual drainage
easement document?
Mr. Hull: Yes, we can get that for you.
Councilmember Hooser: And the document that we have here that
shows the metes and bounds of the easement, this is just a proposal or is this the
document for the drainage easement?
COUNCIL MEETING 37 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Mr. Hull: Excuse me.
Councilmember Hooser: Exhibit A, it states, "Footpath easement six
feet (6ft.) wide."
Mr. Hull: Yes, that is existing.
Mr. Figaroa: For those of you that need a visual reference,
we do have some visual references here.
Councilmember Hooser: Okay, that would be good to have. The
proposed public access traverses what looks to be identically over the drainage
easement.
Mr. Hull: Correct.
Councilmember Hooser: Which the County already owns?
Mr. Hull: The County does not own an easement. The
County just has access to it.
Councilmember Hooser: Has the right to use it.
Mr. Hull: Depending on how the easement is created, it
allows a particular party to access that site for whatever purpose the easement is.
Councilmember Hooser: Right.
Mr. Hull: The County does not own say the easement.
The County just has access over it for drainage purposes.
Councilmember Hooser: Right.
Mr. Hull: The Public Access, Open Space and Natural
Resources Preservation Fund Commission is recommending that funds be expended
so that it could also be turned into an access easement where then the general public
would have access to that area of the property that the property owner has there to
access that area.
Councilmember Hooser: My point I am trying to make is that the
drainage easement limits the use and the value, it takes away from the use and the
value that the owner has, that is standard real estate law. You have a bundle of
rights, they have less rights over that easement as we sit here today, so their
COUNCIL MEETING 38 OCTOBER 19, 2016
argument in terms of value should be diminished somewhat. Was the decision not to
support this from the staff or the Mayor?
Mr. Hull: That was the Department's position. I do not
want to characterize our position as not to support because initially when discussions
were beginning to be had with the landowner, there was a potential for a friendly-
acquisition. Under the friendly-acquisition, it would be less costly. The Department
was supportive of the idea of having access here. After further discussions went on
and it came to the conclusion that indeed any acquisition would have to be an
adversarial acquisition given the costs of those. That is why we were saying that the
access site is a wonderful access site and is to be commended, but given now the
potential financial obligations for this particular access, that is where the
Department said that we can no longer support the acquisition.
Councilmember Hooser: Is it the Department's position only to support
friendly-acquisitions?
Mr. Hull: I would not characterize it that way. We are
just saying in this particular position, we do not feel that the expenditure of the funds
is commiserate to the public interest served.
Councilmember Hooser: Okay. Thank you. I have some other
questions, but I will pass.
Council Chair Rapozo: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: Do you have a current appraised value and as
I ask this, I am trusting that the County Attorney feels this discussion can be in the
open?
Mr. Hull: We are going through the process of getting a
current appraised value of the easement.
Councilmember Yukimura: So, you do not have one right now and the one
(1) in 2012, was it a Yellow Book appraisal?
Mr. Hull: An appraiser was hired and was contracted
out to do the appraisal, yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: In your memorandum dated October 18, 2016,
you say, "We understand access remains an issue at that area, particularly for
fishermen, and will continue to work toward establishing some type of alternative
access." What type of alternative access are you looking at?
COUNCIL MEETING 39 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Mr. Hull: There are other ways to look at other
properties potentially as well as there is somewhat of an issue of the wall that is on
the lateral access side whether or not that is potentially breaching into the shoreline,
which would essentially be State jurisdiction. We are having discussions with the
State as well.
Councilmember Yukimura: As I recall correctly, when I accessed the
Hoban property site via the Spouting Horn parking lot, I went down and walked along
the rocks, I could not get to the beach without crossing over private property. I
actually went up and asked permission to cross over; I guess they were renters or
vacation renters. I asked if I could cross over the lawn and then walked back down
onto the rocks, and then get to the beach. I do believe the lateral access maybe blocked
illegally and is that what you are referring to?
Mr. Hull: I am not quite sure. The potential for the
existing property seawall that we are looking at, that may be blocking lateral access,
but we are discussing that with the State on whether or not that is an accurate
assessment. The lateral access actually is not from Spouting Horn to be clear. I
believe there are federal prohibitions from people accessing it via the Spouting Horn
route. The lateral access is actually from Kukui`ula Harbor.
Mr. Figaroa: The "ocean."
Councilmember Yukimura: The "ocean" meaning you have to swim.
Mr. Figaroa: That is how I had to access it; via kayak or
walk over boulders.
Councilmember Yukimura: I did not see any "No Trespassing" signs to go
on the very edge of the fence at Spouting Horn and then go down. That was the only
way I could see by land and even that...so actually there may be right now no lateral
land access to that beach, if what you are saying is true.
Mr. Hull: Yes, and do not get me wrong Councilmember
Yukimura. The Department is in agreement with the Open Space Commission that
it is a priority access and would serve a lot of the community particularly the south
side area just given the cost we have a bit of concern.
Councilmember Yukimura: There is an issue also of caring capacity of
that little beach. If forty (40) people all went there, I do not think you could have a
pleasant experience. I do not know how you would manage numbers there.
Fishermen, yes, and I love the idea of parking across the street with one (1) or two (2)
parking stalls, fishermen going down the access and going fishing makes a lot of
sense. You also say that, "Along with the State's efforts, the Department will carry
COUNCIL MEETING 40 OCTOBER 19, 2016
on discussions with the landowner to seek non-condemnation resolution concerning
access." Even in the process of proceeding on this condemnation path, you think there
can be discussions about non-condemnation resolution?
Mr. Hull: We could be hopeful for it. This particular
landowner, at least right now, is unwilling to engage in a friendly-acquisition, but
perhaps if the property was sold and the new landowner may be open to a
non-adversarial acquisition.
Councilmember Yukimura: Do you know what the concerns of the
landowner are?
Mr. Hull: I did not have that discussion myself, the
previous County Attorney did, but as I gather it, it was just the overall impacts of the
public now traversing through their property and the impacts that it will have on
their privacy.
Councilmember Yukimura: But we are talking about the public being on
the public part of the beach, right? We are not talking about people accessing their
lawn, we are talking about...
Mr. Hull: We are not allowing them access to their
property, but so to speak, the easement traverses their property. Their concern was
that the public would be traversing that section of their property, which recently they
were not.
Councilmember Yukimura: Is there not a hedge? When I saw the access,
there was not any real access to their lot. It was higher because you are coming down
the drainage, you come lower, and you cannot really get onto their lawn, at least from
the access. Their wall is very close to the beach and there are steps for them to get to
the beach.
Mr. Hull: We can all have our...
Council Chair Rapozo: It really does not matter what their reason is.
It could just be, "I do not want it."
Mr. Hull: Yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: And it is just sad.
Councilmember Yukimura: And that is when we condemn, but if there is
a way to protect their privacy, but allow people to what the public is entitled to access,
COUNCIL MEETING 41 OCTOBER 19, 2016
then maybe that is where we try to find a common ground.Addressing their concerns,
but allowing...
Mr. Hull: If the Council decided to move forward on say
approval of the Resolution, I would imagine it would come out during the negotiations
between the two (2) attorney's parties.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay, thank you.
Council Chair Rapozo: Do you have a follow-up on that?
Councilmember Kuali`i: Yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: Okay, go ahead.
Councilmember Kuali`i: Mr. Hull, you said something about, "The way
from Spouting Horn federally prohibited," what is that about because it seems to be
a bit of a trail along the coast?
Mr. Hull: I would have to get back to you on that,
Councilmember Kuali`i. As I recall, there is some type of federal prohibition on
accessing that area. I do not know if it is because of a particular preserve or a
particular land, but I would have to get back to you. I do recall there is some issue
and there maybe even some signage up there currently restricting due to federal
prohibitions.
Council Chair Rapozo: The other thing you can do is change the
Resolution and make it two (2) lanes with a parking lot with a nice little restroom
facility next to their property, and then you give them the option of, "Do you want `A'
or `B'." Councilmember Chock.
Councilmember Chock: I have a follow-up from Councilmember
Yukimura's question about the wall and its encroachment. If I can remember, it is
almost a year now that we had that same discussion that there may be an issue and
I hear that we are still in discussions, so I want to know where are we in discussion?
Do we need to have a survey done in order to determine if it is encroaching?
Mr. Hull: We are basically listening to the State on that
one because even if the County wanted to assist the State in its analysis and findings
to do a survey, we would have to get permission of the property owner to access their
property in which I would imagine the property owner would say, "No, you are not
accessing my property." It is a State issue.
COUNCIL MEETING 42 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Councilmember Chock: Is the State active on it? Is it something that
they want pursue?
Mr. Hull: We know that they are aware of the situation,
but I cannot comment any further on that.
Councilmember Chock: Potentially this would create a good access for
people to get to the beach, is that correct?
Mr. Hull: Yes.
Councilmember Chock: My question on process is when we were
talking about this last year, we were in the mix of creating some rule changes to the
process. Has those rules been utilized in us being here today for this item because I
understand there were two (2)tracks that were created? I want to know the outcome
of that based on your perspective and the Commission's perspective.
Mr. Figaroa: Thank you for that question. It has been
enacted recently, but a lot of these things that you all are asking for has been,
according to my knowledge, provided to the Council. We do a survey. We did do an
assessment. We had all these things done and it has been present, but unfortunately,
there has been no moving forward with any concrete decisions on it. We, as a
Commission, talk about the perspective and we are evolving with all these rather
than just being a recommending body, we are evolving to all these rules and support.
I, of course, have to management the frustration at times with the Commissioners
and myself that we would like to move forward with something, especially when at
the end of the day we look at the books and we have acquired one (1) property since
the inception of the Commission. That being said, in talking about this particular
Hoban access, it was brought up to our attention and in a way this sort of answers
your question that you had earlier. There is a wall that protects the privacy of the
private property, but it was brought up to our attention in previous discussions before
Mr. Hull came onboard, that the owner perceived that the clients or guests who stay
at the property knew the public was accessing or had access to the side of the
property, that his value would go down. That is perceived. Nonetheless for us in the
end, we just want to move forward, but with some answer; a "yes" or "no." All of the
elements are together and what happens too as time goes on, things expire and
assessments are no longer valid. To the Commission, our frustrating part is we are
actually wasting more money doing our due diligence then actually acquiring the
property. I just want to mention that. That is what we have been dealing with.
Councilmember Chock: Does the Commission intend to submit other
properties along with this Resolution in the near future?
COUNCIL MEETING 43 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Mr. Figaroa: Yes, we have actually submitted numerous
properties every time we have done our biannual reports and so forth we have
submitted several property every time. Because of the new implementation, I guess
everyone is finally getting on the same frequency or the same page, but that is what
we do we submit properties all the time and then we hand it over to staff and the
Department to do the implementation and the package so that when we present it
here, it is an acquisition package. That is what it is supposed to be, according to my
knowledge.
Councilmember Chock: Okay.
Council Chair Rapozo: Councilmember Kagawa.
Councilmember Kagawa: I would like to put up the map of the drain.
Where is the access in proximity of that drain? Is it right above the drain?
Councilmember Yukimura: To the right.
Mr. Hull: It would be right above the drain.
Councilmember Kagawa: Was that where the access was way back
when the fishermen had access prior to this?
Mr. Hull: Essentially, that is what the fishermen were
traversing.
Councilmember Kagawa: Right over the drain area?
Mr. Hull: Yes.
Councilmember Kagawa: Was it private property that the fishermen
used to walk over through it?
Mr. Hull: Yes.
Councilmember Kagawa: I heard some discussion that possibly looking
at large sums of money to improve what would be that access there and obviously we
need to cut trees, maybe establish a barrier for the property owner and the walkers
so that the walkers know where the boundary of the trail. As far as talking about
having it ADA accessible, is there acknowledgment that some areas are not feasible
to make an area ADA? For example, if we ever acquired access behind McBryde to
go fishing at Big Flat, it would be ridiculous to say, "We are going to improve the area,
make access, and make it ADA." Are you going to put an elevator? Seriously, some
COUNCIL MEETING 44 OCTOBER 19, 2016
areas are just not meant for ADA because it is a danger for the person and it is not
feasible to do, right? Do you understand that?
Mr. Hull: Definitely. Even through the accesses that
area essentially garnered through the subdivision process, the ADA improvements
are not mandated or necessitated. I do not want to comment any further. I will defer
to the County Attorney on the legal items.
Councilmember Kagawa: Okay. So, we would be acquiring the area
right above the drain because we do not own that land above the drain that is the
County drain.
Mr. Hull: Currently, it is a drainage easement meaning
the County would have access to for drainage purposes only, but we do not know it
per se and therefore we cannot give the public access to it. Either we would have to
lay an additional easement or purpose the property outright so that we could say it
is open to the general public.
Councilmember Kagawa: Is that common that we have a lot of drainage
easements on private property?
Mr. Hull: That is fairly common with drainage
easements, water easements, and electrical easements.. Kaua`i Island Utility
Cooperative has electrical easements and only they can access those easements for
maintenance purposes, so to speak. The County can only access certain easements
for say water issues or drainage issues.
Councilmember Kagawa: Okay. I thought that we try to put easements
on our property that are our kuleana, I guess. Thank you.
Council Chair Rapozo: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: Do you have a photograph of the wall?
Mr. Figaroa: We do right here.
Councilmember Yukimura: Can we show that? The wall itself is not
interfering with the drainage, right?
Mr. Hull: Not to my knowledge.
Councilmember Yukimura: It is not interfering with the purpose of the
present easement and it is on their property. Do you have a close up of the wall?
COUNCIL MEETING 45 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Mr. Hull: The wall goes around the property. This is not
a specific image of the wall over the easement.
Councilmember Yukimura: Go back to the aerial image. Can you point
out where the wall is from the road?
Mr. Figaroa: Do you see that indentation?
Councilmember Yukimura: Is it to the right?
Mr. Figaroa: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: Please point out the Hoban property.
Mr. Hull: - There is the house and the pool. The
easement is right there.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay, thank you.
Council Chair Rapozo: Councilmember Hooser.
Councilmember Hooser: It looks like we have two (2) beachfront
mansions.
Mr. Figaroa: Yes.
Councilmember Hooser: And we are asking for six feet (6ft.) between
them so fishermen can go fishing. That is certainly what it looks like to me. This is
the priority of the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation
Fund Commission who has only done one (1) in eleven (11) years. How much money
is in the open space fund?
Mr. Hull: I do not have that figure, but a little over five
million dollars ($5,000,000).
Councilmember Hooser: We are sitting on five million dollars
($5,000,000) and we have not done anything in ten (10) to eleven (11) years, and this
is their priority. That certainly speaks to the position that I would like to take on this.
It was also mentioned that the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources
Preservation Fund Commission had submitted other recommendations, how many of
those have gotten to the Council?
Mr. Hull: They are with the Council right now.
COUNCIL MEETING 46 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Councilmember Hooser: Pardon me?
Mr. Hull: It was submitted in...
Councilmember Hooser: In terms of a Resolution like this.
Mr. Hull: No, the biannual report was submitted back
in April.
Councilmember Hooser: But we have a resolution before us.
Mr. Hull: As a specific resolution, this is the other one,
correct.
Councilmember Hooser: And it sounds like this was an accidental
submission. The Administration submitted it with a letter of support, but they did
not really mean the support.
Mr. Hull: No, it was not an accidental submittal. It was
the intent of the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund
Commission to have it submitted to you folks.
Councilmember Hooser: Okay, thank you.
Council Chair Rapozo: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: Of those others that are considered priorities
by the Commission, are there any where there is a willing owner and where if we do
not do it, it will be foreclosed forever?
Mr. Figaroa: Right now with that exact criteria, we do not
have. Right now we have a few willing landowners, but then the Commission had
come to the decision for example the Evslin property out on the western side of the
island, when we looked at all of the things surrounding it and what the community's
support was, the Commission decided to take that off the list. When we presented to
the community, the community said, "We already have a beach and we already have
other places," but on that property there is iwi that already is there and we would not
want to touch it. It is also adjacent to a State parcel as well.
Councilmember Yukimura: In other words, in assessing each of these
other possibilities, you are saying that this is the top priority of the Commission at
this point?
COUNCIL MEETING 47 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Mr. Figaroa: Yes, correct. We have done a list of properties
if you refer back to the previous reports, we focus on different parts of the island as
well, but right now because this has been such a longstanding item on our list, this is
the first and we have decided to go ahead and submit.
Mr. Hull: To that question also Councilmember
Yukimura, I can think of at least two (2) off the top of my head on their list that was
submitted to you folks that has potential willing landowners. The reason why there
is no specific resolution and push for you to move on that is because there are still a
few things to be resolved and one (1) there was a title cloud that appeared when the
title search was done and the other, they are still working out the ownership. On that
one a bunch of owners transferred over to one (1) owner and they are just waiting for
the documents to be finalized before we can entertain further acquisition
negotiations, but they are close, I will say.
Councilmember Yukimura: Is there an assumption that when those
things are ready, even if there is not enough money in the fund, you will access other
moneys in order to make it happen so that spending one million dollars ($1,000,000)
will not stop those other priorities from happening?
Mr. Hull: I do not know if I can answer that per se
because of the fact that we do not have specific cost estimates on them. We have close
ranges, but...
Councilmember Yukimura: Well then you should be able to know whether
it is all going to fit within a five million dollar ($5,000,000) budget or not.
Mr. Hull: That is the thing. There are on array of
different properties that were on the priority list that was submitted to Council and
some have ranges, but say if every single property on that list were acted on today,
no, there is not enough money in the fund to fund all of those projects.
Councilmember Yukimura: Well, you would have to factor in the timing,
the potential timetable, so if next year you think you will be able to come before the
Council then you are going to be needing this much money. You will have another
year's addition of the money from the real property taxes because of the Charter
Amendment. I hope somebody is thinking about these things.
Mr. Hull: Definitely.
Mr. Figaroa: Yes, I hope so as well, that the staff is
thinking about that. One of the things I do like to mention is there was one (1)
property and I believe I came a few presentations ago, but due to timing, we had lost
the opportunity. I believe it was near the Po`ipu Beach Park.
COUNCIL MEETING 48 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Councilmember Yukimura: Adjacent to Po`ipu Beach Park.
Mr. Figaroa: Yes, and because things were so lagging, the
owner sold it.
Councilmember Yukimura: We lost it.
Mr. Figaroa: Hopefully our process is faster.
Councilmember Yukimura: Yes.
Mr. Hull: And I can speak to that because among other
things, like that property as well as some would allow the confusion and delay when
this was initially submitted over to you folks, I will acknowledge the fact that there
were a lot of missteps. Since that time, Nani, myself, the Office of the County Attorney
have worked with the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation
Fund Commission to actually pass rules that clearly lay out what the roles of the
Department are, what the roles of the Commission are, and established timelines on
the Department to get things to them, as well as timelines for them to get things to
you folks. Those are recently adopted and we are very committed to the new process
and it looks like it should clear away a lot of the cloudy-type of approach and nebulous
approaches that have been happening just because both parties were unsure of their
roles in the process.
Councilmember Yukimura: So that is very good that you had that
clarification and the real test will be that we do not lose properties because of lack of
action in a timely way.
Mr. Hull: Yes.
Council Chair Rapozo: Councilmember Chock and then we will take
our caption break.
Councilmember Chock: This might be a question for the County
Attorney. My question is about access to our culverts and pipes. Do we have to ask
for permission to get access to it? I do not know who you folks would get over this
wall?
Council Chair Rapozo: Can you answer that in three (3) minutes?
Okay.
MAUNA KEA TRASK, County Attorney: Aloha, for the record, Mauna
Kea Trask, County Attorney. The term of any easement is determined by what it says
COUNCIL MEETING 49 OCTOBER 19, 2016
and I do not have it right now, but I do understand it is for underground drainage
purposes. Practically for this property, there is actually a wooden gate by the wall, so
the County could access it. Again, it is a pipe and if you look at the picture again, it
was one (1) of those big metal corrugated tubes and so the owner can use his or her
property as long as it does not negatively affect the County drainage easement. In
that case, the owner cannot plant trees that have large roots over it because the roots
would go down and pierce it and affect the drainage. Other than that, we cannot
expand or go beyond the terms of that easement, so it would be limited. I think the
access would be a gate, is what I understand it to be.
Councilmember Chock: Okay.
Councilmember Hooser: I have a brief follow-up.
Council Chair Rapozo: Go ahead.
Councilmember Hooser: Can we get a copy? It should be fairly easy to
get a copy of the easement. Do you have one (1) now?
Mr. Trask: I do not know, but I am sure it could be located
though.
Mr. Figaroa: Is it in the Resolution?
Mr. Trask: Maybe on the break we can make copies for
you.
Councilmember Hooser: Okay.
Council Chair Rapozo: Councilmember Kuali`i, how long is your
question? Your question is long? Okay, we will take a ten (10) minute caption break
at this time.
There being no objections, the Council recessed at 10:31 a.m.
The meeting was called back to order at 10:41 a.m., and proceeded as follows:
Council Chair Rapozo: When we left off, Councilmember Kuali`i had
the floor.
Councilmember Kuali`i: This may take some work. Knowing that we
only have four million dollars ($4,000,000) to five million dollars ($5,000,000) in the
account and knowing that we are trying to serve the entire island, I think it is
important that we know how much something actually cost so that what we approve
COUNCIL MEETING 50 OCTOBER 19, 2016
is getting our biggest "bang for our buck." Instead of saying, "It has been so long we
need to do something right now," if we do something right now and it is not cost
efficient or whatever, if we are not really getting the biggest"bang for our buck," then
we are losing out on future accesses. In that vein, can you tell us or can you go and
find that out and come back to know how much time it would take and what would it
cost for these different options, specifically with this Hoban property? The option of
what we are asking for today and Chair had said he thinks with the lawyers and
everything, he feels that it would cost over one million dollars ($1,000,000), so with
all the pieces, what would it really ultimately cost?. But also you talked about
establishing alternative access and for that alternative access, even though you are
pointing to from Kukui`ula Harbor, what about the west side from Spouting Horn.
There are two (2) other options, what would it take if we were to approach the federal
government or what have you, and how much time would that take and what would
it cost for both of those options. We are already talking about three (3) options and
then you mentioned non-condemnation resolution. If that means working with the
current Hoban property owner to get back to the place where we were at one (1) time,
because you said that at one (1) time it was friendly, and now we are looking at
condemnation. By making this discussion with the landowner to seek non-
condemnation resolution, you are stating that that is possible still. Therefore, how
much time will that take and what will that cost? To me, it seems like we have four
(4) different options just for this one (1) particular consideration and wanting to get
the biggest bang for our buck with four million dollars ($4,000,000) to five million
dollars ($5,000,000), we should know as best as you can estimate what the time and
cost would be.
Mr. Hull: Councilmember Kuali`i, while we support the
access site, we are not supportive of the overall potential cost; therefore, we are laying
out other potential avenues that we can continue to pursue. Whether or not those
pursuits will be fruitful in the near future I can say more than likely not in the near
future because of the fact that some of them are contingent upon what the State is
looking at as far as whether or not there are any encroachments on the land. As to
pursuing a friendly acquisition, at this time the current landowner says, "No, I will
not partake in a friendly acquisition." If the Council decides not to adopt the
Resolution, the Department is saying that we will continue to look at those avenues,
but as far as it happening in the near future, I will say that it is not expected or
anticipated happening in the near future.
Councilmember Kuali`i: Can you define in the near future?
Mr. Hull: Within the next year or two (2). Concerning
the condemnation proceedings and the specific figure that can be put on that, that is
essentially what the Resolution is doing. Because the landowner is unwilling to
partake in a friendly acquisition, it would have to be, so to speak, an adversarial
acquisition and condemnation. The Resolution is actually authorizing the Office of
COUNCIL MEETING 51 OCTOBER 19, 2016
the County Attorney to begin those condemnation proceedings and it is in those
condemnation proceedings that the overall cost is negotiated, essentially. That would
have to come out of the Office of the County Attorney going through the very
proceedings that you folks are discussing today.
Councilmember Kuali`i: Based on the one (1) example from the past
was condemnation as well?
Mr. Hull: Correct.
Councilmember Kuali`i: Based on that and other knowledge that we
have, if we were to move this Resolution and begin condemnation proceedings, while
it is the proceedings that will determine what the cost is and easily it could be more
than one million dollars ($1,000,000), do we have a sense of what the time would be?
This Resolution would mean that it would start immediately and so how long could
condemnation proceedings take?
Mr. Hull: I would have to defer to the County Attorney
on that one.
Council Chair Rapozo: Look at the Sheehan property. That thing
passed a long time ago and we are still in condemnation proceedings. Let me put
something in perspective here because I am reading through the communications.
The entire property was assessed in 2014 at three million five hundred thousand
dollars ($3,500,000) and we are going to spend one million dollars to get a six foot
(6ft.) stretch is insane. No disrespect to the Commission because I think like you, it
is a great acquisition, but the planets have not lined up. We may as well kick in
another two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000) and buy the property
and put a nice affordable family on the beach in Po`ipu. I am being facetious, but in
actuality, we are going to spend over one million dollars ($1,000,000) to buy a six foot
(6ft.) wide walking path at one-third of the property's value. That is how I look at
this. It is frustrating. Whether or not the condemnation process will get that price
down to a realistic or reasonable amount, the lawyer's fees do not change because the
property value has decreased. That is something we have to think about when you
look at the total picture, the total property, beautiful beachfront Po`ipu property, and
we are going to pay one-third of that for a beach access. I will be curious to see how
this discussion moves forward as we go through the process. Any other questions for
the Administration or the Commission? If not, I know Councilmember Kuali`i asked
for some responses. As you heard the item will be on the December 14th Council
Meeting. It will probably go to a Committee to have the discussions in the Committee.
Mr. Figaroa: I have one (1) question. When the
Commission or the Department submits, will the Department be able to submit
alternative options as a Councilmember asked for?
COUNCIL MEETING 52 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Council Chair Rapozo: What is on the floor and what is going to be
voted on is the Resolution for condemnation.
Mr. Figaroa: Okay, got it.
Council Chair Rapozo: There will be no opportunity for us to change
that.
Mr. Figaroa: Okay.
Council Chair Rapozo: The options as Councilmember Kuali`i is
talking about is if we should go with the Resolution or do we kill the Resolution and
go with some of the other available options. No, this is a Commission's Resolution so
if it changes, it would have to come from your Commission.
Mr. Figaroa: Okay.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you for being here. I know it has been
a long, long five (5) year process. Please stay in the meeting, as there may be more
questions as we progress through this.
Mr. Figaroa: Okay, will do.
Council Chair Rapozo: Do we have any registered speakers?
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: We have one (1) registered speaker, Anne
Punohu.
Ms. Punohu: Aloha, my name is Anne Punohu. Before I get
"stink eye" from everybody, I am actually in favor of this acquisition. I am in favor of
the process. I am in favor of what the Commission is doing. I absolutely agree with
what is going on. I have actually been to the area, but my point that I am trying to
make, which probably did not hit its mark and I put my foot in my mouth all the time.
I think in a roundabout way, what I was trying to do is show how the original process
of the Great Mahele continues to be decimated by this modern process. When we are
looking at this Resolution it immediately gives somebody the impression that, "Wait,
look, it is the Mahele award.Yes, Kanehoa,"but that is not true. It is just how modern
real estate calls our lands by the Mahele and thank you to Mr. Trask for explaining
it to me a little bit better. I am trying to say that if this land was still under the
control of the heirs of Kanehoa, we absolutely would not be sitting here today, there
would not be owners who took the opportunity to get this land from somebody who
had their right to it who was Native Hawaiian who then built themselves a lovely
mansion with a swimming pool, who is trying to hold this County hostage for a small
COUNCIL MEETING 53 OCTOBER 19, 2016
piece of land, which is the most un-aloha thing I ever heard of in my life. To the point
where the Planning Department is not sure if they need to drop this situation because
it may just be too much for them. Where the community has been denied the right to
safe passage to a place that they should traditionally had all along. To this family
who is here, who enjoys the land of somebody else who was given it as a gift from
their own king, now enjoys their right to enjoy the property and no one else on Kaua`i
can. I just wanted to be very clear as to where I stood on this issue. You can see the
holistic picture of the nightmare of what occurs daily in the State and in this County.
We have an opportunity to be proactive and I think we should take it no matter what
is cost, but I think the cost of the family should be nothing less than embarrassment.
Mahalo.
Mr. Mickens: Thank you, Council Chair. For the record,
Glenn Mickens. I want to agree with what Council Chair is saying. It is insanity to
have to think of paying one million dollars ($1,000,000) for a small piece of property,
but I want to agree with Anne too. It appears that when this property was available,
the person wanted to build there, we should have had the right to go ahead and have
that piece of property for access to the ocean. We have it all over the island, so I do
not know how this happened where fishermen use it all the time and they are entitled
to, but right now we are really at an impasse. The person has the private property,
condemnation is going to cost more than the one million dollars ($1,000,000)like what
Council Chair said with the lawyer's fees and everything. The money is just going to
escalate. I do not know what the solution is going forward and maybe we can get out
of this thing, but at this stage of the game, it is wrong to even think about having to
spend that amount of money for a little path that people should have access to. Thank
you.
Council Chair Rapozo: Anyone else wishing to testify? Seeing none.
Further discussion. Councilmember Hooser.
There being no further testimony, the meeting was called back to order and
proceeded as follows:
Councilmember Hooser: I want to commend the Public Access, Open
Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund Commission, number one, for the
work they have done. It must be very frustrating to have a Commission working for
ten (10) years and nothing come of it. I was the Councilmember who introduced the
charter amendment, which created the open space fund some twelve (12) years ago
and realizing only one (1) property has been acquired that entire time is
disconcerting. When I was in the Senate, I introduced and passed into law a provision
that makes it illegal to block public access and there is a public fine of two thousand
dollars ($2,000), therefore issues of public access is near and dear to my heart. I will
never forget Larry Rivera who is much revered in our community as an icon, came to
me one day and said, "Gary, I cannot go fishing anymore." I asked him, "What do you
COUNCIL MEETING 54 OCTOBER 19, 2016
mean?" He talked about a place he used to go to when he was a child, growing up to
go fishing, and now there was a house built there with a wall.. It was a different
location, but it really struck home with me how important preserving access to these
special places are. Can we put the picture of the wall up again? The picture that
showed from the distance of the two (2) houses on the beach. With all due respect to
everyone else, I do not believe one million dollars ($1,000,000) is necessarily going to
be the cost. If one million dollars ($1,000,000) is the cost, I think in the long term it
is worth it, but it will also make the cost of that property fifty million dollars
($50,000,000) in terms of the tax assessment, so the County will reap the benefits of
that, if the property is tax assessed properly. I believe I heard the figure of one
hundred sixty thousand dollars ($160,000) plus legal costs. The law requires us to
pay fair market value and I think we should pay fair market value for the impact of
this property. To not pursue access because these folks have more money than we do,
I have a hard time with that. I am confident knowing that members of the Public
Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund Commission, for years
now, have looked at this closely, looked at their budget, looked at the competing
properties, talked to people in the community and fishermen, and come to the
conclusion that this is the priority. This is where they believe will be well spent. The
legal costs, I would hope that the County could absorb them in-house and that the
County Attorney could handle that, but this is a unique and special piece of property.
If we can get it on the screen real quickly before my time runs out, I think it is a point
that I would like to make. I would encourage the Commission and this Council to look
at a ten foot (loft.) easement. If the landowner wants to fight the public and if the
landowner wants to keep people off of this property and play hardball with the
County, I would encourage the County to play hardball with the landowners. Six feet
(6ft.) is not enough. We should have a ten foot (loft.) easement and perhaps some
parking. Can you zoom in? You see the white sand beach and you see the two (2)
mansions. That is essentially a private beach. A private beach enjoyed by two (2)
entities. No one else can get to that safely. That should not be allowed in the County
of Kaua`i and should not be allowed in the State of Hawaii for any beaches to be
private and effectively the access to that, because it is not safe any other way, is
private. It behooves us to honor the work of the Public Access, Open Space and
Natural Resources Preservation Fund Commission and honor the needs of the
community, fishermen, and the beach users and move forward in securing this access
and other accesses. We have five million dollars ($5,000,000) sitting in the bank and
we are doing nothing and meanwhile all of these accesses are getting more expensive.
There are people that are no longer alive that cannot use this because it has been ten
(10) years. There are people in their seventies and are we going to wait another ten
(10) years to let people use this to go fishing and to use the beach. We need to be more
aggressive with this program, period, and I think this is a good way to start. Thank
you.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you very much. Anyone else?
Councilmember Kaneshiro.
COUNCIL MEETING 55 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Councilmember Kaneshiro: I think Council Chair brought up a good point
and that was my point, too. Everyone is working hard on the project, but we have to
know what our overall cost is. We are finding out how much it is to purpose the land.
If it is condemn then we have all these additional attorney fees, but what is it going
to cost to improve and what is our final cost to say, "Here, the public can now use this
properly." What is the cost that will get us there because it is a big consideration
considering I do not know how much improvements will cost to get people to the
beach. Again, if you look at the value of that entire property three million something
dollars, if we end up spending two million dollars ($2,000,000) for a small little access,
is that the proper way to spend the money? I do not know. I do need to know what is
our end costs going to be in order to make a decision on it. If we can come up with
some estimates on that. Thank you.
Council Chair Rapozo: Anyone else? Councilmember Kagawa.
Councilmember Kagawa: I agree with Councilmember Kaneshiro, but
there are various ways that we can work it out and I think the best way is through
negotiation. If we want to get off the cheapest way, you just go with something like
chain-link and fence it off, but I think for the owner, they would probably construct
their own expensive wall next to the chain-link, but it would be better if we can both
negotiate something. I do not think it is possible. We have the attorney here from the
property owner, but like all the Councilmembers have said, this is not a new issue.
It is about property owners who want to keep their privacy and the County
government wanting to preserve beach access to a precious area. This is just another
example of that and it is too bad that we cannot get a more workable solution where
at least the local people will appreciate the owner recognizing that beach access for
the public is important characteristic and working out a solution instead of having to
deal with something like this where it is very difficult for the public to accept and it
has to be at that kind of price to get what is so important to our people. I am looking
at the same picture and seeing those two (2) humongous properties that are
outrageous in value and this body right here having to decide whether we want to
preserve beach access in an area that is basically not accessible. For any lawmaker
that values our beach areas for our public, it is not a difficult decision, of course we
want to acquire it. If we say "no," we are saying to the private owner, "You win. You
have your fantasy island there and we will go look for other accesses." No, we want
to work out a solution so that we have access. It goes back to the Hawaiian values.
Nobody can own the beach. Nobody can own the fishing, but if we cannot get to it, we
do not have that ownership. Nobody can own the water or the beach area. That is
sacred in Hawaiian values. That is who feeds the family and basically teach the
culture that has been passed on by generations and we are going to allow property
owners to say, "No, you do not have that value and right because it is the dollar sign
that is going to stand in the way?" No. We are going to do it. Whatever it takes, let
COUNCIL MEETING 56 OCTOBER 19, 2016
us do it—slam-dunk. We have to do this for our people, our future, and our future
generations. We are going to continue fishing in that area. Thank you.
Council Chair Rapozo: Anyone else? Councilmember Kuali`i.
Councilmember Kuali`i: Thank you to the Public Access, Open Space.
and Natural Resources Preservation Fund Commission. I know that this is their
number one priority and I know they have done a lot of work, but by some of the
questions today that were not answered, I think there is still a little bit more work to
be done. I think we need to do it right and maximize the access that we do acquire
with the limited funds that we have. With only four million dollars ($4,000,000) to
five million dollars ($5,000,000) available and with trying to service the people of the
entire island, access is critically important. Councilmember Kagawa talked about
"feeding the family." Many of our local families depend on substance living and
hunting and fishing. I grew up in a family where we would fish and hunt a lot for
food, so we need to get more access all over the island. As important as this access is,
I do not think we should deplete over one million dollars ($1,000,000) with this
particular option, but with the other three (3) options that are still put forward by
the Planning Department and I agree with Planning's basic position that that access
is important, but the expenditure of funds do not equate to the value of the acquisition
to what we get in return. This item is here today, there is not ten (10) or twenty (20)
fishermen in the audience saying how critically important this is, so we have to
balance that to try and serve the entire island. We are trying to serve fishermen on
the east side and on the west side. We have to do better to maximize what we do with
this money and if it takes a couple more years, it takes a couple more years. When we
get these reports, there are multiple sites that currently under consideration and I
just think with a little bit more work we can get this done for less and that is why I
have to vote against it today.
Council Chair Rapozo: Anyone else? Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: I think that access to the shoreline is one of
the most important values that keep Kauai, Kauai. The members of the Public
Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund Commission after
waiting patiently for a long time are now asserting that value as a body that is
supposed to be doing that for the people of Kauai. I think we need to move ahead
with this Resolution. I will be voting to go to public hearing on it so we can at least
hear the public's different opinions about it. We need to hear from the public. I believe
we should pursue every possible option before we go to condemnation, but I do not
know how viable those other options are and we can be pursuing these illusory options
forever and then not doing anything in the long run. I think we should move ahead
on this option, really pursue the other options as well, and see what we come up with.
One million dollars ($1,000,000) seems like a lot of money today, but I remember
working on acquiring Crater Hill and Mokolea Point with the Trust for Public Lands
COUNCIL MEETING 57 OCTOBER 19, 2016
in 1984 or thereabouts and that person telling never let expensiveness stop you
because if you look into the future, it will be ten (10) times more expensive in another
ten (10) or twenty (20) years and much less possible than it is today. If you have the
wherewithal to do it today, do it today, otherwise you will never be able to do it. I
think public access is very, very important to our life style, our island, and to what
we value. I think we need to move ahead.
Council Chair Rapozo: Councilmember Chock.
Councilmember Chock: Thank you. I certainly appreciate the
perspective that both the Planning Department and the Public Access, Open Space
and Natural Resources Preservation Fund Commission has on this item. At last
night's forum one of the questions was, "What do we focus on as Councilmembers in
moving forward." The answer that I really enjoyed and appreciated was that we
preserve the quality of life on this island and what is the price of that for us as leaders
trying to make that determination. We need to take that into consideration about
the kind of lifestyle that we are trying to preserve and keep so that our future
generations can enjoy it. That being said, I am looking forward to diving deeper into
it with some of the questions that have been asked today are relevant. I am looking
forward to hearing from public testimony. I think it is time that we do hear from those
people who have been fighting hard for this access for years. I think we are going to
get a lot of support for it, is what I am going to anticipate. One, because we are quickly
losing these accesses, especially in the Po`ipu area. I foresee that if this comes to
fruition, it will be a used beach, even as small as it is. I think people will access and
use it. The other point that I am a little uncomfortable about is the fact that we
choose to and have asked to empower the community by getting Boards and
Commissions together in order to make decisions so that it is more transparent and
accountable. That is what we have done with the Public Access, Open Space and
Natural Resources Preservation Fund Commission and yet, I think this is the third
or fourth time that they have come with this specific request and we have turned
them away for whatever reasons and there are some good reasons behind it. We need
to really find out what the true cost is going to be in order for us to evaluate
everything that we have in terms of choices. I am looking forward to all of those
priorities that are coming forward from the Public Access, Open Space and Natural
Resources Preservation Fund Commission as well and hopefully we can look at them
collectively. I will be supportive of this with moving forward to public hearing and
most likely will like to see it at least make a stand on something because it is overdue.
I do not like the notion of being bullying into not being able to have access. Thank
you.
Council Chair Rapozo: Anyone else? Councilmember Kuali`i.
Councilmember Kuali`i: I just wanted to say that ultimately as the
elected body, we are responsible to spend our taxpayers' dollars as best as we can and
COUNCIL MEETING 58 OCTOBER 19, 2016
give them the best value for the amount of money spent. The other thing is that when
this property was presented by the Planning Department and the Commission before
was put forward as a low-hanging fruit and that was because it was friendly. I think
it is important that we have friendly exchange and that we try to avoid condemnation
as much as possible because of all the problems we have seen and how much time is
involved, years and year, how much expense is involved, millions and millions. If we
push this with an unwilling landowner, we are only going to have future problems
and future expenses and long delays. We need to pursue those other options and see
what they are, how much time it will take, and how much it will cost so we can make
a more informed decision. I know as a principle, it is important to show that we
support public access, of course we do, but we have to think about the entire island.
Supporting this Resolution would mean starting the condemnation process. While
you could still look at the other things at the same time, it is saying that this is the
route that we are going and this is what we are approving when we do not even know
what the bottom line cost is. I think we have to consider everything and I think the
Planning Commission's recommendation is the responsible one that I agree with.
Thank you.
Council Chair Rapozo: Anyone else? I want to start by saying thank
you to the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund
Commission. This is proof that the Commission...there was a time where Mayors
would go into Commissions, and I am not talking about Kaua`i, but everywhere and
say, "Hey, no." This is clearly an action or recommendation from a Commission that
the Mayor does not necessarily agree with, and I think it is good. I think bringing it
here so that it can get the public discussion is the way the system supposed to work,
so I thank the Commission and obviously thank the Administration for sharing their
concerns as well. I used the Sheehan property example because that is the real first
condemnation that we really participated in, but if I could vote again on that one, I
would have voted no. I would have voted no and I would have said, "No
Administration, you go back and negotiate until there are no more negotiations
available," but we.did not. We went with the Administrations recommendation and
we find ourselves stuck in court with appeals, Supreme Courts, and costs and money
keep rolling and rolling. In this case, I do not know. I am going to support it today
because I want to get it to the public hearing. What I have heard is that beach is not
a very well used beach and it is seasonal because of the weather, but I do not know
because I am not familiar with the beach, but I want to hear from the community.
How valuable is this beach? At the end of the day, if it is going to benefit the
community, then I think we have to really take a look at making it happen, but if it
is going to benefit a couple, three (3), or four (4), and the price is this much, one-third
of the value of the entire property, then I am not so sure it is a wise investment. I
think we owe it to the public to at least get that input from the community. As it
stands today, if we had to vote on a resolution today, I would not support it simply
because we are not ready and we do not have the information today. We got what we
got from the Commission, but I think the Planning Department has a duty and
COUNCIL MEETING 59 OCTOBER 19, 2016
obligation. I think a lot of what Councilmember Kuali`i was asking and a lot of what
other Councilmembers were talking about, I question the value of this parcel that is
being stated. Back in 2012, the Council at that time approved negotiations and the
appraisal, which was it. To find out where we are at, every memorandum subsequent
to that if you folks take a look in your packet, it is the same memorandum, but a
different date. I can understand the frustration of the Public Access, Open Space and
Natural Resources Preservation Fund Commission. Have we negotiated this to the
end? Have we really? I understand nobody wanted to do the appraisal, I do not know,
because I find it hard to believe because when appraisers appraise and they make
money, so I find it hard to believe that they said, "No, we are not going to," since 2012.
I just find that hard to believe. Granted even if that is the case, we obviously have to
get it appraised that comes from an independent appraiser, not from the attorney of
the owner, not from the owner, but from an independent appraiser. That is number
one and that is lacking today. It is very premature to continue. Like Councilmember
Kuali`i said, once you approve this, then boom, that property is going to be taken.
Money will get put in escrow, that property is taken, and we have to be careful if that
is truly what we want. I am really anxious. I know the newspaper is here and I hope
they really put this in the paper because I think it is important that the community
chimes in on this one because this could be a very expensive acquisition, but
sometimes like Councilmember Kagawa said, you have to do it to show that the
County is not going to be bullied. To the landowner, I respect their opinion. Heck if I
owned that property, I would want no one on my property. I do not. But it is an
easement. It is a drainage easement, which I think Councilmember Hooser talked
about earlier. The drainage easement, not much use that owner can use it for so why
not just work with the County? Why not say, "Hey County, we will just sign over, but
provide us with..." and it has been recommended by several Councilmembers saying
that the County will put a barrier or whatever we need to put up because we want to
preserve this access. I do not know if that has occurred yet. That is what I am anxious
to hear. Further discussion?
Councilmember Kuali`i: What is the motion?
Council Chair Rapozo: The motion is to schedule a public hearing on
November 16, 2016, and that it thereafter be referred to the December 14, 2016 Council
Meeting. Roll call.
The motion to schedule a public hearing on November 16, 2016, and that it
thereafter be referred to the December 14, 2016 Council Meeting was then put,
and carried by the following vote:
FOR MOTION: Chock, Hooser, Kagawa, Kaneshiro,
Kauli`i, Yukimura, Rapozo TOTAL— 7,
AGAINST MOTION: None TOTAL— 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0,
COUNCIL MEETING 60 OCTOBER 19, 2016
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0.
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Seven (7) ayes.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you. Next item, please.
Resolution No. 2016-61 — RESOLUTION CONFIRMING MAYORAL
APPOINTMENT TO THE SALARY COMMISSION (Daniel K. Aki): Councilmember
Yukimura moved for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-61, seconded by Councilmember
Kuali`i.
Council Chair Rapozo: Any discussion or public testimony?
There being no objections, the rules were suspended to take public testimony.
There being no one present to provide testimony,the meeting was called back
to order, and proceeded as follows:
Council Chair Rapozo: Roll call. I am sorry. Councilmember
Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: I would just like to say that I was very
impressed with Mr. Aki's answers to our questions during the interview, and I feel
very confident that he will contribute great value to the Salary. Commission. I am
thankful for his willingness to serve.
Council Chair Rapozo: Councilmember Chock.
Councilmember Chock: I have in my notes that I am enthusiastic for
this appointment. I thought he interviewed really well and he showed a lot of
experience and knowhow to support this Commission. Thank you.
Council Chair Rapozo: Mr. Furfaro is here and I know it has been
publicly said numerous times how we appreciate the effort that Mr. Furfaro has put.
As you look at this long list of appointments today, the quality of the nominees are
very high quality people. I just want to thank Mr. Furfaro for properly screening these
people and making sure that the best gets to this body because it makes it really easy
for us. Thank you, Jay. With that, roll call.
The motion for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-61 was then put, and carried
by the following vote:
FOR APPROVAL: Chock, Hooser, Kagawa, Kaneshiro,
Kuali`i, Yukimura, Rapozo TOTAL— 7,
COUNCIL MEETING 61 OCTOBER 19, 2016
AGAINST APPROVAL: None TOTAL— 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL — 0.
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Seven (7) ayes.
Resolution No. 2016-62 — RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OR
THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE OF THE COUNTY OF KAUAI TO ENTER
INTO AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF
HAWAII, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOR A LOAN FROM THE STATE
WATER. POLLUTION CONTROL REVOLVING FUND FOR THE HANAMA`ULU
AND KAPAIA SEWAGE PUMP STATIONS (SPS) RENOVATIONS,
PROJECT NO. C150059-23: Councilmember Kuali`i moved for adoption of Resolution
No. 2016-62, seconded by Councilmember Kagawa.
Council Chair Rapozo: Thank you. This is connected with the earlier
item that we had today, C 2016-222, the Legal Document. Councilmember Kaneshiro
will be recusing himself.
(Councilmember Kaneshiro was noted as recused from Resolution No. 2016-62.)
Council Chair Rapozo: I want to recommend that the Administration
come up to do their presentation, we will go through the presentation, we will vote on
the Resolution, and then we will take up the Legal Document at the same time.
There being no objections, the rules were suspended.
(Council Chair Rapozo, the presiding officer, relinquished Chairmanship to
Councilmember Kagawa.)
(Council Chair Rapozo was noted as not present.)
Mr. Tabata: Good morning, Chair and Members of the
Council. It is still morning. I will turn the floor over to Edward Tschupp, our Chief
of Wastewater to present you with our presentation and we appreciate the time.
EDWARD TSCHUPP, Chief of Wastewater: Good morning. For the record,
Edward Tschupp, Chief of Wastewater Management Division, County of Kaua`i,
Department of Public Works. The Resolution item that is specifically on this part of
the agenda is an enabling resolution for the County to take out the low interest loan
for funding to do the construction project for the Hanama`ulu and Kapaia Sewage
Pump Station renovations. The Resolution is requesting a loan authorization of up to
three million dollars ($3,000,000), which is what we estimate the work at the two (2)
pump stations will involve. As a separate item and the PowerPoint presentation that
COUNCIL MEETING 62 OCTOBER 19, 2016
is on the screen speaks to sort of both items that are on the agenda today. The bigger
context is that this is related to the Ho`oluana at Kohea Loa development. I would
like to jump into the PowerPoint. Just for context, the sewage from Hanama`ulu is
treated at the Lihu`e Wastewater Treatment Plant and so the title slide here shows
a portion of the Lihu`e Wastewater Treatment Plant. That is conveyed to the Lihu`e
Plant through a series of sewage pump stations. Next slide.
Councilmember Kagawa: Mr. Tschupp, just to clarify, you are saying
the legal document item, C 2016-222 and this Resolution all ties in together, right?
Mr. Tschupp: Yes.
Councilmember Kagawa: Basically, you are going to be telling the
Council why we need the legal document and the Resolution to be approved?
Mr. Tschupp: Yes.
Councilmember Kagawa: You can continue.
Mr. Tschupp: Thank you for clarifying that because the
legal document is what we are referring to as a Cost-Sharing Agreement and it is an
agreement between the County and Grove Farm Company, Inc. This all speaks to
some of the background and history of the Ho`oluana at Kohea Loa subdivision, that
the master developer of that property who originally was American Factors Property
(Amfac, Inc.) and it was part of the Amfac Lihu`e development area. For that to be
sewered, it involves not only the pumping of sewage from the Ho`oluana at Kohea Loa
property and the developer, the parcel developer is D.R. Horton, but Grove Farm
Company, Inc., as the master developer before they sold the Ho`oluana at Kohea Loa
triangle to D.R. Horton. They had conditions that were established upon them. One
(1) of those conditions was to essentially put in larger pumps to handle the additional
sewage flow from the Ho`oluana at Kohea Loa subdivision to get the Lihu`e Plant and
that is larger pumps at two (2) existing County pump stations, the Hanama`ulu Pump
Station and the Kapaia Pump Station. That was identified in the Grove Farm
Wastewater Master Plan, which was submitted to the County in 2008. Clearly it has
been identified over the years that improvements are needed for those two (2) existing
County sewage pump stations. Grove Farm Company, Inc. proceeded with designing
the improvements and they hired the consultant and we talked with them initially
back in the 2008 to 2009 timeframe and for technical reasons, it is not just as simple
as putting in bigger pumps because you will start to get into "the other systems" that
are associated with the pump stations like electrical systems. We have thirty (30)
year old pump stations, the motor control centers are really kind of at the end of their
useful life, so when we initiated the discussions of how are you going to put in bigger
pumps, it became clear right away that the best way to do that was to do more of a
complete station rehabilitation. Included in the project are new emergency
COUNCIL MEETING 63 OCTOBER 19, 2016
generators, new electrical controls, and all of which are part in parcel of the
responsibility of Grove Farm Company, Inc. to put in bigger pumps. When we looked
at it, we considered that the improvements of modernization and rehabilitation of the
entire pump stations was about a fifty/fifty (50/50) County is benefiting/Grove Farm
has an obligation. We proposed that a fifty percent (50%) cost-share agreement was
an appropriate mechanism. Now that the subdivision is being constructed, that
creates a sense of urgency for moving forward with the renovations and rehabilitation
of these two (2) pump stations. Over the last year, we reentered into discussions with
Grove Farm Company, Inc. about really coming to a partnership to do the cost-share
and one (1) of the new things this year that had not been in the discussion earlier was
the concept of a land donation as Grove Farm's share of the cost.
Here is a visual of where the Hanama`ulu community and where the two (2)
existing County pump stations are and the Ho`oluna at Kohea Loa subdivision. The
darker upper area that says "Kohea Loa phase I" is what is triggering this action
coming to you now. In red, the two (2) existing County pump stations are labeled at
Hanamd'ulu, which is at the end of the current subdivision and right adjacent to the
new subdivision. Kapaia pump station is down in the valley. Hanamd'ulu pumps up
the hill to get to the road leading down to the Kapaia pump station, the highway, and
then the Kapaia pump station pumps up the hill up by Wilcox Medical Center and
then from roughly Wilcox Medical Center, the sewage flows by gravity down to the
Lihu`e Plant. The new element this year that I think really makes for a very win-win-
win kind of a project is in green we have labeled that parcel as the donated lands,
which is right next to the King Kaumuali`i Elementary School that is approximately
three (3) acres or two point nine (2.9) acres. The idea here is that Grove Farm
Company, Inc. can off-set part of their cost for the cost-sharing by the donation of
land which the intent will be usable for a neighborhood center for the Hanama`ulu
community. I believe that has been a long-term goal of a lot of people. Next slide.
Some details on the project. Each pump station will be equipped with new
pumps, new electrical system, and new emergency generator. The design has been
completed, which was an effort that Grove Farm Company, Inc. has already
contributed. They hired the consultant and did the design, but they are going to hand
the plans over to the County and the County will bid and contract for the construction.
The County will then manage the construction and pay for that. We are proposing
this is where this comes back to the Self Revolving Fund (SRF) that the funding
mechanism that the County would use is to go to the State of Hawaii Department of
Health (DOH) and request the SRF low interest loans. As indicated, our budget is
three million dollars ($3,000,000). A lot of Grove Farm's contribution will be in the
two point nine (2.9) acre of donated land. The County did an appraisal of that land
and the appraised value is one million three hundred seventy thousand dollars
($1,370,000). The appraisal report, by the way, is attached to the legal documents, so
there is a copy of that. That was independently paid for by the County. We will
proceed with the project, do the construction, and at the end of the day when the
COUNCIL MEETING 64 OCTOBER 19, 2016
construction is done there is a provision in the legal agreement for reconciliation of
the costs so that whichever party carries more costs will reimburse the other to make
a fifty/fifty (50/50) cost-share. The next couple of slides will show visuals of the two
(2) pump stations. That is the Kapaia Pump Station on Ma'alo Road off to the left, so
it is a small structure on a tiny piece of property. This is the Hanamd'ulu Pump
Station and the dust screen for the subdivision construction is right behind this pump
station. You can see the Lihu`e Airport on the last slide here. The Wastewater
Treatment Plant is one of the yellow pins next to the airport and then back up the
hill towards the gravity sewer coming down Rice Street, the pump station up in
Kapaia Valley is there. The Hanamd'ulu Pump Station is there. D.R. Horton, the
developer, is actually constructing a new pump station at the bottom end of Ho`oluana
at Kohea Loa and they intend to dedicate that pump station to the County, so that is
the bigger picture of the sewage system of Lihu`e and Hanama`ulu:
Councilmember Kagawa: Thank you. Just to clarify, a pump station is
like a big toilet where everything goes to that toilet, you flush it, and power it to the
next place?
Mr. Tschupp: I supposed that is a reasonable analogy.
Councilmember Kagawa: Members, do you have any questions? Good
presentation. Thank you. Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: Will the loan apply to the total cost?
Mr. Tschupp: That is correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: Right. Therefore, Grove Farm Company, Inc.
will be getting an advantage of being able to get that kind of loan rate. What is the
loan rate?
Mr. Tschupp: Right now, the loan rates are one point two
five percent (1.25%) interest over a twenty (20) year period.
Councilmember Yukimura: And we will get the opportunity to upgrade
our sewer pump stations, which badly need upgrading and it will help to also enhance
Grove Farm's investment in those pumps because better to put it in a good system
than a really aging one.
Mr. Tschupp: I agree with that. The existing pump stations
are over thirty-five (35) years old and with thirty-five (35) year old electrical systems
and pumping systems, it is time for rehabilitation.
COUNCIL MEETING 65 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Councilmember Yukimura: It is really a win-win partnership here and
this is all going towards supporting an affordable housing project that is a condition
of Grove Farm's overall Lihu`e development.
Mr. Tschupp: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: Although the main affordable housing is not
in the first phase because the affordable housing in the first phase will be four
hundred thirty-five thousand dollars ($435,000) and that is the high-end of the
affordability. It will be the subsequent phases that will hopefully get us to more
affordable units. Are the pump stations going to service the subsequent phases as
well as the first phase?
Mr. Tschupp: That is correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: And then we will also be getting a site for a
Hanama`ulu Neighborhood Center which is long overdue and eagerly sought for
many, many years, so that is going to actually move towards a land site donation for
the community.
Mr. Tschupp: Correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: Which is right next to the school?
Mr. Tschupp: Yes.
Councilmember Yukimura: It seems like a really appropriate site.
Mr. Tabata: Yes. We want to emphasize that when we
were trying to work out how we would split the fifty/fifty (50/50) between the County
and Grove Farm Company, Inc., Managing Director Nadine Nakamura at that time,
came up with this idea, so she was the one who initiated the thought and moved
forward with us with Grove Farm Company, Inc.
Councilmember Yukimura: It appears to be a very creative solution to a
lot of problems and all of you involved: Grove Farm Company, Inc., our Wastewater
Treatment Division, Department of Public Works, and former Managing Director, are
all to be commended. Thank you. Okay. Thank you for explaining the project. I think
it is important that members of the public understand what is happening here.
Councilmember Kagawa: Further questions? Councilmember Hooser.
Councilmember Hooser: You mentioned that D.R. Horton is building a
pumping station as well that will be decided to the County, is that correct?
COUNCIL MEETING 66 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Mr. Tschupp: That is correct.
Councilmember Hooser: Does the County participate in the
specifications and the quality of that project? I would imagine that there is first class,
triple "A" (AAA) pump stations and there is triple "D" (DDD)pump stations and there
are concerns possibly that someone might put in an average, but yet they are going
to give it to the County and then the County is responsible from that point. What
role does the County have in terms of the type of pump station that is going to be in
terms of the quality?
Mr. Tschupp: We have reviewed and had discussions with
the designer of that pump station. We are also actively involved in reviewing the
submittals on the equipment and so on. On one (1) level, we have standards that are
applicable and certainly that applies very directly to the quality of new sewer lines.
When it comes to pump stations, our standards are not as strong as we would want
them to be because the standards have not been updated for many, many years. I
think they are standards for 1973. There has been evolution in what is acceptable for
sewage pump stations, so some of the older pump stations are even below ground and
you might drive by them and not even know it is there because they do not have a
building. The pumps are situated in an underground structure and we want to get
out of those kinds of pump stations. This new pump station has a control building,
the pumps are desired standards for new pumps, there are electrical submersibles
that are accessible from the surface, and emergency generators are provided. We do
kind of have a reference standard to the City and County of Honolulu's standards and
if our standards do not speak to it, then under State law or regulations, there is
actually a default to the City and Council of Honolulu's standards. Our standards
are a little weak with respect to pump stations. They do need to be updated at some
point, but I am very satisfied with the materials, workmanship, and equipment that
is being specified for and installed in the new pump station.
Councilmember Hooser: What is their lifespan? Is it twenty (20) or
thirty (30) years that they are expected to operate before they need major
replacements?
Mr. Tschupp: Any mechanic/electrical system has a
standard life for major components of around thirty (30) years. Obviously, there is a
building, that is a longer term because buildings last longer, but thirty (30) years is
a pretty good target for electrical systems.
Councilmember Hooser: Okay. On the land contribution, because it is
not really a donation, it is a payment via land.
Mr. Tabata: Yes.
COUNCIL MEETING 67 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Councilmember Hooser: Are there any restrictions on the use of that
or any strings attached to that land?
Mr. Tschupp: I would like to defer to the County Attorney.
Councilmember Kagawa: Mr. Trask, if we need to go into Executive
Session, let us do it.
Councilmember Hooser: I know in other property transactions,
sometimes Grove Farm Company, Inc., will specify the use and how it is used in
certain times or ways. I would like to know if there are any restrictions on this.
Mr. Trask: Aloha, for the record, Mauna Kea Trask,
County Attorney. In the recitals of the Cost-Share Agreement, this is specifically
paragraphs B and C. The entitlements for this began as far back as 1982 via
ordinance in front of this Council body and at that time pursuant to Ordinance
No. PM-310-95 and PM-326-96 states, "That the possible contribution of lands for a
public facilities complex shall be addressed during the LHMPC zoning amendment
process," and they can resolve that with the County "for acquisition along with the
details for land acquisition for the development of a public facilities complex." So that
is what it would be for. In order to justify this, it cannot be for anything else. That is
why Mr. Tabata said that former Managing Director Nadine Nakamura had this idea
for the neighborhood center, it fit perfectly within what the law allows. That is the
intent.
Councilmember Hooser: In terms of the number of parking spaces,
hours of operation, noise, and lights, there are no restrictions?
Mr. Trask: It would be given to the County and then the
value would be used essentially to off-set the cost for the thing. Therefore, it would
be like anything else, it would be ours.
Councilmember Hooser: The County would determine the hours of
operation, the parking, the use...
Mr. Tschupp: Fee simple ownership, yes.
Mr. Trask: Yes.
Councilmember Hooser: Okay. Thank you.
Councilmember Kagawa: Further questions? Councilmember
Yukimura.
COUNCIL MEETING 68 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Councilmember Yukimura: As a follow-up to the question from
Councilmember Hooser about the specifications or the standards for pump stations,
do you have plans to update that?
Mr. Tschupp: It is a fairly labor intensive effort to go
through and update something like a set of design standards. Right now, I actually
do not have staffing. It would take a conservative effort on the part of staff engineer
to go through and try to adopt new standards.
Councilmember Yukimura: Could you just not adopt City and County of
Honolulu standards because the way I heard you say it, if there are old standards
that apply, they apply, but if there are no standards that apply, then your fall back
is to the City and County of Honolulu's standards? I am just concerned about the
amount of development we will be having overtime and having them do things
according to old standards sounds a little bit troublesome if it is things that are
supposed to last for thirty (30) years or more.
Mr. Tschupp: In effect, the default to City and County of
Honolulu's standards is already there. That is kind of a State of Hawai`i Department
of Health kind of thing, but that more applies to pump stations and treatment works.
Therefore, there is not that many new pump stations that are coming up. There are
conceivably another one (1) or two (2) that will be showing up over the next five (5) to
ten (10) years, but since I have been here with the County, there has not been a new
built for conveyance sewage pump station. I think the last ones were built by the
County or built by the developer, probably in the 1990s or before, probably the 1980s.
A new pump station is not all that common. I think it makes sense for us to defer to
City and County of Honolulu's standards for pump station and treatment works. The
area that is a little bit more critical for us with growth and development is the piping,
the sewage collection system part where our standards do apply, and I think it would
be beneficial for us to update those standards because there are some new materials
like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe, which is not all that new, but it was not adopted
in the 1973 standards. We actually have been also referring to State Highways, the
Brown Book, which has roadway and bridge standards and so we use those standards
also. It is a little bit of a mishmash.
Councilmember Yukimura: My only concern is that we have current
standards that best protect both the system and the people that are being served.
Mr. Tabata: Thank you, Councilmember Yukimura. We
will take that under advisement and we will look into this.
Councilmember Yukimura: Thank you. Lastly, you have in your
presentation that each sewer pump station will be equipped with new pumps, new
COUNCIL MEETING 69 OCTOBER 19, 2016
electrical system, and new emergency generators. Right now, do we have emergency
generators at each pump station site?
Mr. Tschupp: We have a little bit of a mismatch. There are
two (2) pump stations up in Kapa'a that do not actually have an emergency generator,
but the way those pump stations are configured, if power is lost then water levels will
raise high enough and then overflow into the pipe anyway. It is sort of a fail-proof
system that we would never have a problem with the spill from those pump stations.
All the rest of our nineteen (19) pump stations have emergency generators.
Councilmember Yukimura: So the ones that are involved here in this
project have emergency generators right now?
Mr. Tschupp: That is correct.
Councilmember Yukimura: And they will get new ones with the new
electrical system?
Mr. Tschupp: That is correct. The existing ones are a little
undersized and they are thirty-five (35) years old, so it is time to rehabilitate them.
Councilmember Yukimura: Okay. Thank you very much.
Councilmember Kagawa: Further questions? Seeing none, thank you.
You folks did a good job explaining. I had no clue and I understand what we are doing
and why we are doing it, so thank you. Any more questions? Do you folks have
questions for Grove Farm Company; Inc.? No. Grove Farm Company, Inc., did you
folks want to speak? Thank you.
The meeting was called back to order, and proceeded as follows:
Councilmember Kagawa: Councilmember Chock.
Councilmember Chock: I just want to thank the Administration for
the presentation. They were able to meet with us individually and gave us a briefing
on this, but I think it all matches up. I wanted to thank them and also the landowners,
I see representatives here for the foresight and willingness to look at adding the
neighborhood center for the Hanama`ulu community. I think it is a much needed
facility and overdue, so I appreciate us moving in that direction. Thank you.
Councilmember Kagawa: Councilmember Kuali`i.
Councilmember Kuali`i: I will add that I am very happy to see that we
have worked this out this way and with the need for even more housing, I think we
COUNCIL MEETING 70 OCTOBER 19, 2016
need to keep looking for creative collaborative efforts like this to move the creation of
more housing along faster. Also, thank you to the landowners.
Councilmember Kagawa: Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: We cannot have affordable housing without
the appropriate supportive infrastructure, so this piece regarding the sewage system
that is going to support Ho`oluana at Kohea Loa is very important, and I am
impressed by the creativity and collaboration that has gone into making this plan. I
am also very grateful for the fact that Hanama`ulu will be finally getting a very
appropriate site for their neighborhood center, which they waited for, for a very long
time. I guess my only wish is that we could get affordable housing in that range that
we need greatly, which is the eighty percent (80%) to one hundred percent (100%) of
median income and lower, and so if there is any way to accelerate that, that is very
important. Thank you.
(Council Chair Rapozo was noted as present.)
Councilmember Kagawa: I really want to see that neighborhood center
include a gym. I think a community gym has desperately been needed for a while.
From the time I was coaching volleyball and basketball, we would also say, "It would
be nice if Lihu`e had a gym," and twenty (20) years later we are still here with no
community gym in Lihu`e. I think that would be a nice feature if we could have that
gym because it is too large of a community not to have a community gym that
everyone can use. I think Kaua`i High School is strict on letting the community use
it. Kapa'a High School is much more open, but every school has their own
management of their gym, so rather than continuing to hope that Kaua`i High School
changes their mentality towards allowing the community use, I think having our own
gym will definitely serve the community well. Council Chair Rapozo, do you have any
discussion?
Council Chair Rapozo: I am okay.
Councilmember Kagawa: Roll call, please.
The motion for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-62 was then put, and carried
by the following vote:
FOR APPROVAL: Chock, Hooser, Kagawa, Kuali`i,
Yukimura, Rapozo TOTAL — 6,
AGAINST APPROVAL: None TOTAL — 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL — 0,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: Kaneshiro TOTAL — 1.
COUNCIL MEETING 71 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Six (6) ayes and one (1) recused.
Councilmember Kagawa: Council Chair, I would like to turn the
meeting back to you, but I would recommend that we go to the Legal Document, and
that way we can get Councilmember Kaneshiro back in for the rest of the votes.
(Councilmember Kagawa returned Chairmanship duties to Council Chair
Rapozo.)
Council Chair Rapozo: Yes. The motion on the floor was to approve,
so if there is no further discussion...
The motion to approve C 2016-222 was then put, and carried by a vote of 6:0:0:1
(Councilmember Kaneshiro was recused).
Council Chair Rapozo: Motion carried. Thank you very much. As we
get Councilmember Kaneshiro back in the room, I am going to suggest that we finish
up our Bills for First Reading and the Bills for Second Reading before we do all those
Resolutions, so we can get these people out of here. If there is no objection, can we go
to Bills for First Reading, please?
There being no objections, Proposed Draft.Bill (No. 2639) was taken out of
order.
(Councilmember Kaneshiro was noted as present.)
BILLS FOR FIRST READING:
Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2639) —A BILL FOR AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
ORDINANCE NO. B-2016-812, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE OPERATING
BUDGET OF THE COUNTY OF KAUAI, STATE OF HAWAII, FOR THE FISCAL
YEAR JULY 1, 2016 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2017, BY REVISING THE AMOUNTS
ESTIMATED IN THE GENERAL FUND (Kaua`i Fire Department,Training Bureau,
Other Small Equipment, Fifty (50)Automated External Defibrillators $151,000.00):
Councilmember Kuali`i moved for passage of Proposed.Draft Bill (No. 2639) on first
reading, that it be ordered to print, that a public hearing thereon be scheduled for
November 16, 2016, and referred to the Budget & Finance Committee, seconded by
Councilmember Yukimura.
There being no objections, the rules were suspended to take public testimony.
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting was called back
to order, and proceeded as follows:
COUNCIL MEETING 72 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Council Chair Rapozo: Councilmember, further discussion? Seeing
none, roll call.
The motion for passage of Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2639) on first reading,
that it be ordered to print, that a public hearing thereon be scheduled for
November 16, 2016, and referred to the Budget & Finance Committee was then
put, and carried by the following vote:
FOR PASSAGE: Chock, Hooser, Kagawa, Kagawa,
Kuali`i, Yukimura, Rapozo TOTAL— 7*,
AGAINST PASSAGE: None TOTAL— 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL- 0.
(*Pursuant to Rule No. 5(b) of the Rules of the Council of the County of Kauai,
Councilmember Kagawa was noted as silent, but shall be recorded as an affirmative
vote for the motion.)
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Seven (7) ayes.
Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2640) —A BILL FOR AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
ORDINANCE NO. B-2016-812, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE OPERATING
BUDGET OF THE COUNTY OF KAUAI, STATE OF HAWAII, FOR THE FISCAL
YEAR JULY 1, 2016 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2017, BY REVISING THE AMOUNTS
ESTIMATED IN THE GENERAL FUND (Kaua`i Fire Department, Fire Operations
Public Safety, Sixty (60) Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)— $390,000.00):
Councilmember Kuali`i moved for passage of Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2640) on first
reading, that it be ordered to print, that a public hearing thereon be scheduled for
November 16, 2016, and referred to the Budget & Finance Committee, seconded by
Councilmember Yukimura.
There being no objections, the rules were suspended to take public testimony.
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting was called back
to order, and proceeded as follows:
Council Chair Rapozo: Councilmembers, further discussion? Seeing
none, roll call.
The motion for passage of Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2640) on first reading,
that it be ordered to print, that a public hearing thereon be scheduled for
November 16, 2016, and referred to the Budget & Finance Committee was then
put, and carried by the following vote:
COUNCIL MEETING 73 OCTOBER 19, 2016
FOR PASSAGE: Chock, Hooser, Kagawa, Kagawa,
Kuali`i, Yukimura, Rapozo TOTAL — 7,
AGAINST PASSAGE: None TOTAL— 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0.
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Seven (7) ayes.
(Councilmember Kaneshiro was noted as recused from Bill No. 2637.)
BILLS FOR SECOND READING:
Bill No. 2637 — A BILL FOR AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE
NO. B-2016-812, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE OPERATING BUDGET OF
THE COUNTY OF KAUAI, STATE OF HAWAII, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR JULY 1,
2016 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2017, BY REVISING THE AMOUNTS ESTIMATED IN
THE GENERAL FUND (Office of Economic Development, Grant In Aid (Special
Events Security) — $43,473.00): Councilmember Yukimura moved for adoption of Bill
No. 2637, on second and final reading, and that it be transmitted to the Mayor for his
approval, seconded by Councilmember Kuali`i.
Council Chair Rapozo: For the record, Councilmember Kaneshiro
has recused himself because of the Koloa Plantation Days. Further discussion?
Councilmember Kagawa.
Councilmember Kagawa: I just wanted to reiterate some of my hope,
which is maybe we could work with the Chief of Police and maybe try and see if we
can work on reducing some of the overtime by just using existing bodies and possibly
offering something like compensation time during times when they are not so busy.
You may have officers who may live on the west side that may say, "I want to do my
work on the weekend, my four (4) or eight (8) hours at the Waimea Town Celebration.
I live there. My kids will be attending or working at the food booth." I was hoping
that we can come up with some of those solutions to reduce some of the overtime using
management techniques that possibly may help both sides and then that way save
taxpayer money instead of always having to hire out police officers on overtime. I was
hoping that in the future we can work towards trying to reduce some of the overtime
that we pay where we can avoid it. That is my wish and hope. I hope the
Administration will at least attempt to try and see if we can work it out with the
Chief of Police. Thank you.
Council Chair Rapozo: Anyone else? Councilmember Yukimura.
Councilmember Yukimura: I, too, would love to see some cost effective
alternatives, but until they come forth, I do not think we can cut out this very
COUNCIL MEETING 74 OCTOBER 19, 2016
essential service. I think that is what happens sometimes when we are trying to cut
the budget so much and do not have other resources. I am glad that this is back in
so we can support these community events.
Council Chair Rapozo: Anyone else? I think I make my points quite
clear last week that not supporting this does not mean I do not support the Relay for
Life or the parades and the lights festivals. I had a chance to talk with George K.
Costa, Director of Economic Development yesterday and I think it was obviously a
miscommunication from what he thought the Council said in the budget or what I
thought the Council said in the budget. The Council, yes, did in fact cut that, but the
Council did that with the anticipation or expectation that the Administration would
find those funds within their existing budget and cover those things and not to come
back two (2) or three (3) months later and ask to tap the reserve fund. That actually
makes no sense if you think about it. Why would we do that? If we had supported
that money, we would have supported it in the budget, but we did not. Granted it
was not unanimous, but the fact of the matter is the Council, by majority vote, said
that these funds should be looked at from the existing budget and that I would
support a money bill should they not find it or should they have a problem that they
would come back to us with a money bill showing the transfer of existing funds from
various departments, we are talking about only forty thousand dollars ($40,000), to
go into funding these things. A couple of things. Number one (1), where does this
end? It is a fairness issue for me. We have hundreds of nonprofits. We are negotiating
or contemplating a bill that is going to create some regulation for the event in
Hanapepe. That is going to require police officers because that is a nonprofit. So they
are going to come up and say, "Hey, can you pay for the security for our event?" How
are we going to tell them no? All the other nonprofits on the island that need police
services or security services are going to come and say, "Hey, you gave so and so. How
do we get that benefit?" I am hearing comments from the public that maybe you have
to be friends with the Mayor or you have to be friends with the Council. Is that how
you get free police service? Some of those entities that are going to be receiving this
money can pay for it on their own. They generate enough revenue through their
events to pay for this on their own and I am not going to mention names, but I am
just saying. Relay for Life is one, they do not generate enough money. Nobody gets
paid. They do not generate huge amounts of money as compared to others, but I guess
my point as far as fairness and equity, where do you stop this from happening? If the
Administration, or the Mayor, or the Office of Economic Development wants to
support certain organizations, then it should come out of their budget at the time of
budget and if it does not pass, it does not pass. You tell those people, "We are really
sorry." You can blame the Council, but whatever the issue is the bottom line is that
it does not make any sense for us to go through a budget process, have the discussion
and debate, make the vote, and then a few months later come back and treat the
reserve fund as a slush fund. Let us call a spade a spade. That is what is happening
right here and it is unfortunate because these events are events that are very
significant to the community, but there are many more. Many more that is going to
COUNCIL MEETING 75 OCTOBER 19, 2016
sit back and ask, "How come we do not qualify. What do I have to do to get three
thousand dollars ($3,000) to pay for security for our nonprofit event?" How do we tell
them know? I do not know. I think the way you do it is you let the Administration
• decide whether or not that event is worthy and then you go to the Police Department,
the Police Department will take care of the overtime, and then when the moneys get
tight and the Police Department comes back here to ask for more money. Then we
figure out why and then the Police Department comes up and say, "We need more
money because in the last three (3) months we had to pay x amount of dollars in
overtime for public community events," and at that point, we make the
determination. I think you are opening up a can of worms with this because
nonprofits watching this will find out about this and say, "Good, I did not realize the
County has this program," and I just do not see how you pick and choose. Anyway,
my no vote is not a vote against the events. It is a vote against the way we had
circumvented the budget process. Thank you. That is my light. Councilmember
Kagawa.
Councilmember Kagawa: Just to piggyback on what you said. Every
year we lapse between thirteen million dollars ($13,000,000) to fourteen million
dollars ($14,000,000) in our budget. To say that the Director of Finance and his staff
cannot find this early in the year, it is only October, three (3) or four (4) months went
by, forty-three thousand four hundred seventy-three dollars ($43,472) for something
you really feel is really important and the Council should not have taken it out. It is
like asking somebody to find one dollar ($1) when you have one thousand dollars
($1,000) in your wallet. Every year now. We do not lapse fourteen million dollars
($14,000,000) one (1) year and then zero dollars ($0) the next. Every year we lapse
thirteen million dollars ($13,000,000) to fourteen million dollars ($14,000,000). To
say that you folks have to come today because we cannot find that money, that just
tells me that you have no clue how to find something in the budget because it is forty-
three thousand dollars ($43,000) when you have fourteen million dollars
($14,000,000) lapsing every year. It is frustrating. Thank you.
Councilmember Kuali`i: I just wanted to add one (1) quick point too.
Of the original amount which was fifty-three thousand dollars ($53,000) what we are
coming back to approve is forty-three thousand dollars ($43,000), so the Office of
Economic Development did go back and work through this and said "okay" with ten
thousand dollars ($10,000) or twenty percent (20%) of the original cuts.
Council Chair Rapozo: Councilmember Hooser.
Councilmember Hooser: I am in strong support of this. I think this
money goes directly into the community; there is no question about that. It is
relatively a small amount of money. These are many, many worthwhile people and
projects, people that are volunteering to do good things for our community, spending
their time outside of work, and spending outside of family to make these events
COUNCIL MEETING 76 OCTOBER 19, 2016
happen. I think it is a small thing we can do to support these very worthwhile
projects. I am supporting it enthusiastically and if other groups need help from the
County, I think they should come and ask. I think the people that are out there
working on their own are the strength of our community. They hold festivals, do good
work, support good cause whether it be a parade, or whether it be the Relay for Life
or other very worthwhile causes. It is a small amount of money when you look at our
budget and I think we should be happy to support it. My vote is in strong support.
Thank you.
Council Chair Rapozo: Anyone else? I just want to say that since
August 1st to present, two and a half(2.5) months, there have been over five hundred
thousand dollars ($500,000) of transfers internally at the Administration. Five
hundred nine thousand dollars ($509,000) in two and a half(2.5) months, you tell me
that we could not find forty thousand dollars ($40,000) to help these wonderful
events? With that, roll call.
The motion for adoption of Bill No. 2637, on second and final reading, and that
it be transmitted to the Mayor for his approval was then put, and carried by the
following vote:
FOR ADOPTION: Chock, Hooser, Kagawa, Kuali`i,
Yukimura TOTAL — 5,
AGAINST ADOPTION: Rapozo TOTAL — 1,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL — 0,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: Kaneshiro TOTAL — 1.
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Five (5) ayes.
Council Chair Rapozo: Let us get Councilmember Kaneshiro back in.
(Councilmember Kaneshiro was noted as present.)
Bill No. 2638, Draft 1 — A BILL FOR AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND
SECTION 2, ORDINANCE NO. 891 AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL
OBLIGATION BONDS OF THE COUNTY OF KAUAI FOR THE PURPOSE OF
FINANCING CERTAIN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS AND REFUNDING CERTAIN
BONDS OF THE COUNTY; FIXING OR AUTHORIZING THE FIXING OF THE
FORM, DENOMINATIONS, AND CERTAIN OTHER DETAILS OF SUCH BONDS
AND PROVIDING FOR THE SALE OF SUCH BONDS TO THE PUBLIC:
Councilmember Yukimura moved for adoption of Bill No. 2638, Draft 1, on second
and final reading, and that it be transmitted to the Mayor for his approval, seconded
by Councilmember Kuali`i.
COUNCIL MEETING 77 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Council Chair Rapozo: I raised some concerns last week and I did
have a chance to meet with the Department of Finance yesterday and I am satisfied
with the way it is. Are there further comments or questions? If not, roll call.
The motion for adoption of Bill No. 2638, Draft 1, on second and final reading,
and that it be transmitted to the Mayor for his approval was then put, and carried
by the following vote:
FOR ADOPTION: Chock, Hooser, Kagawa, Kaneshiro,
Kuali`i, Yukimura, Rapozo TOTAL— 7,
AGAINST ADOPTION: None TOTAL— 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL — 0,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL- 0.
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Seven (7) ayes.
Council Chair Rapozo: Now we can go back to the Resolutions.
Resolution No. 2016-63 — RESOLUTION CONFIRMING MAYORAL
REAPPOINTMENT TO THE BUILDING BOARD OF APPEALS(Patrick D. Lizama
—Fire Safety): Councilmember Kuali`i moved for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-63,
seconded by Councilmember Yukimura.
There being no objections, the rules were suspended to take public testimony.
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting was called back
to order, and proceeded as follows:
Council Chair Rapozo: Any discussion? Seeing none, roll call.
The motion for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-63 was then put, and carried
by the follow vote:
FOR ADOPTION: Chock, Hooser, Kagawa, Kaneshiro,
Kuali`i, Yukimura, Rapozo TOTAL— 7,
AGAINST ADOPTION: None TOTAL — 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0.
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Seven (7) ayes.
Resolution No. 2016-64 — RESOLUTION CONFIRMING MAYORAL
REAPPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD OF ETHICS (Ryan M. de la Pena)
Councilmember Kuali`i moved for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-64, seconded by
Councilmember Yukimura.
COUNCIL MEETING 78 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Council Chair Rapozo: Is there any discussion or public testimony?
There being no objections, the rules were suspended to take public testimony.
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting was called back
to order, and proceeded as follows:
Council Chair Rapozo: Seeing none, roll call.
The motion for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-64 was then put, and carried
by the follow vote:
FOR ADOPTION: Chock, Hooser, Kagawa, Kaneshiro,
Kuali`i, Yukimura, Rapozo TOTAL — 7,
AGAINST ADOPTION: None TOTAL — 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL — 0,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0.
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Seven (7) ayes.
Resolution No. 2016-65 — RESOLUTION CONFIRMING MAYORAL
REAPPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD OF ETHICS (Maureen M. Tabura):
Councilmember Kuali`i moved for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-65, seconded by
Councilmember Yukimura.
Council Chair Rapozo: Is there any discussion? Let the record reflect
that there are no members of the public in the audience except for members from the
Administration, and if you want to make testimony, raise your hand, and I will
recognize you. Any discussion? Otherwise, we will continue, roll call.
The motion for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-65 was then put, and carried
by the follow vote:
FOR ADOPTION: Chock, Hooser, Kagawa, Kaneshiro,
Kuali`i, Yukimura, Rapozo TOTAL — 7,
AGAINST ADOPTION: None TOTAL— 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0.
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Seven (7) ayes.
Resolution No. 2016-66 — RESOLUTION CONFIRMING MAYORAL
REAPPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD OF WATER (Laurie K Ho): Councilmember
Kuali`i moved for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-66, seconded by Councilmember
Yukimura.
COUNCIL MEETING 79 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Council Chair Rapozo: Any discussion? Seeing none, roll call.
The motion for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-66 was then put, and carried
by the follow vote:
FOR ADOPTION: Chock, Hooser, Kagawa, Kaneshiro,
Kuali`i, Yukimura, Rapozo TOTAL— 7,
AGAINST ADOPTION: None TOTAL— 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL — 0,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0.
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Seven (7) ayes.
Resolution No. 2016-67 — RESOLUTION CONFIRMING MAYORAL
REAPPOINTMENT TO THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION (Elizabeth Hahn):
Councilmember Kualii moved for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-67, seconded by
Councilmember Yukimura.
Council Chair Rapozo: Any discussion? Seeing none, roll call.
The motion for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-67 was then put, and carried
by the follow vote:
FOR ADOPTION: Chock, Hooser, Kagawa, Kaneshiro,
Kuali`i, Yukimura, Rapozo TOTAL— 7,
AGAINST ADOPTION: None TOTAL — 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL — 0,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0.
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Seven (7) ayes.
Resolution No. 2016-68 RESOLUTION CONFIRMING MAYORAL
REAPPOINTMENT TO THE COST CONTROL COMMISSION (Joanne P.
Nakashima): Councilmember Kuali`i moved for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-68,
seconded by Councilmember Yukimura.
Council Chair Rapozo: Any discussion? Seeing none, roll call.
The motion for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-68 was then put, and carried
by the follow vote:
FOR ADOPTION: Chock, Hooser, Kagawa, Kaneshiro,
Kuali`i, Yukimura, Rapozo TOTAL— 7,
AGAINST ADOPTION: None TOTAL — 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0,
COUNCIL MEETING 80 OCTOBER 19, 2016
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL — 0.
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Seven (7) ayes.
Resolution No. 2016-69 — RESOLUTION CONFIRMING MAYORAL
REAPPOINTMENT TO THE COST CONTROL COMMISSION (Jan Hashizume):
Councilmember Kuali`i moved for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-69, seconded by
Councilmember Yukimura.
Council Chair Rapozo: Any discussion? Seeing none, roll call.
The motion for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-69 was then put, and carried
by the follow vote:
FOR ADOPTION: Chock, Hooser, Kagawa, Kaneshiro,
Kuali`i, Yukimura, Rapozo TOTAL— 7,
AGAINST ADOPTION: None TOTAL— 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL- 0.
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Seven (7) ayes.
Resolution No. 2016-70 — RESOLUTION CONFIRMING MAYORAL
REAPPOINTMENT TO THE FIRE COMMISSION (Michael Martinez):
Councilmember Kuali`i moved for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-70, seconded by
Councilmember Yukimura.
Council Chair Rapozo: Any discussion? Seeing none, roll call.
The motion for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-70 was then put, and carried
by the follow vote:
FOR ADOPTION: Chock, Hooser, Kagawa, Kaneshiro,
Kuali`i, Yukimura, Rapozo TOTAL — 7,
AGAINST ADOPTION: None TOTAL — 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL — 0,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0.
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Seven (7) ayes.
Resolution No. 2016-71 — RESOLUTION CONFIRMING MAYORAL
REAPPOINTMENT TO THE FIRE COMMISSION (Chad K Pacheco):
Councilmember Kuali`i moved for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-71, seconded by
Councilmember Yukimura.
Council Chair Rapozo: Any discussion? Seeing none, roll call.
COUNCIL MEETING 81 OCTOBER 19, 2016
The motion for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-71 was then put, and carried
by the follow vote:
FOR ADOPTION: Chock, Hooser, Kagawa, Kaneshiro,
Kuali`i, Yukimura, Rapozo TOTAL— 7,
AGAINST ADOPTION: None TOTAL— 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL — 0,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL — 0.
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Seven (7) ayes.
Resolution No. 2016-72 — RESOLUTION CONFIRMING MAYORAL
REAPPOINTMENT TO THE LIQUOR CONTROL COMMISSION (Jean A. Edo):
Councilmember Kuali`i moved for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-72, seconded by
Councilmember Yukimura.
Council Chair Rapozo: Any discussion? Seeing none, roll call.
The motion for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-72 was then put, and carried
by the follow vote:
FOR ADOPTION: Chock, Hooser, Kagawa, Kaneshiro,
Kuali`i, Yukimura, Rapozo TOTAL— 7,
AGAINST ADOPTION: None TOTAL— 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL 0,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0.
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Seven (7) ayes.
Resolution No. 2016-73 — RESOLUTION CONFIRMING MAYORAL
REAPPOINTMENT TO THE LIQUOR CONTROL COMMISSION (Paul N. Endo):
Councilmember Kuali`i moved for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-73, seconded by
Councilmember Yukimura.
Council Chair Rapozo: Any discussion? Seeing none, roll call.
The motion for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-73 was then put, and carried
by the follow vote:
FOR ADOPTION: Chock, Hooser, Kagawa, Kaneshiro,
Kuali`i, Yukimura, Rapozo TOTAL— 7,
AGAINST ADOPTION: None TOTAL— 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0.
COUNCIL MEETING 82 OCTOBER 19, 2016
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Seven (7) ayes.
Resolution No. 2016-74 — RESOLUTION CONFIRMING MAYORAL
REAPPOINTMENT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION (Sean M. Mahoney —
Labor): Councilmember Kuali`i moved for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-74,
seconded by Councilmember Yukimura.
Council Chair Rapozo: Any discussion? Seeing none, roll call.
The motion for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-74 was then put, and carried
by the follow vote:
FOR ADOPTION: Chock, Hooser, Kagawa, Kaneshiro,
Kuali`i, Yukimura, Rapozo TOTAL— 7,
AGAINST ADOPTION: None TOTAL — 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL — 0,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL — 0.
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Seven (7) ayes.
Resolution No. 2016-75 — RESOLUTION CONFIRMING MAYORAL
REAPPOINTMENT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION (Heather K Ahuna —
Environmentalist): Councilmember Kuali`i moved for adoption of Resolution No.
2016-75, seconded by Councilmember Yukimura.
Council Chair Rapozo: Any discussion? Seeing none, roll call.
The motion for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-75 was then put, and carried
by the follow vote:
FOR ADOPTION: Chock, Hooser, Kagawa, Kaneshiro,
Kuali`i, Yukimura, Rapozo TOTAL— 7,
AGAINST ADOPTION: None TOTAL — 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL — 0,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL — 0.
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Seven (7) ayes.
Resolution No. 2016-76 — RESOLUTION CONFIRMING MAYORAL
REAPPOINTMENT TO THE POLICE COMMISSION (Gerald Bahouth):
Councilmember Kuali`i moved for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-76, seconded by
Councilmember Yukimura.
Council Chair Rapozo: Any discussion? Seeing none, roll call.
COUNCIL MEETING 83 OCTOBER 19, 2016
The motion for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-76 was then put, and carried
by the follow vote:
FOR ADOPTION: Chock, Hooser, Kagawa, Kaneshiro,
Kuali`i, Yukimura, Rapozo TOTAL — 7,
AGAINST ADOPTION: None TOTAL— 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0.
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Seven (7) ayes.
Resolution No. 2016-77 — RESOLUTION CONFIRMING MAYORAL
REAPPOINTMENT TO THE SALARY COMMISSION (Lenie F.P. Nishihira):
Councilmember Kuali`i moved for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-77, seconded by
Councilmember Yukimura.
Council Chair Rapozo: Any discussion? Seeing none, roll call.
The motion for adoption of Resolution No. 2016-77 was then put, and carried
by the follow vote:
FOR ADOPTION: Chock, Hooser, Kagawa, Kaneshiro,
Kuali`i, Yukimura, Rapozo TOTAL— 7,
AGAINST ADOPTION: None TOTAL — 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0.
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Seven (7) ayes.
Council Chair Rapozo: With that, can you read us into Executive
Session, please?
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Chair on page 10, Executive Session.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
ES-873 Pursuant to Hawai`i Revised Statutes (HRS) Sections 92-4 and
92-5(a)(4), and Kauai County Charter Section 3.07(E), the Office of the County
Attorney requests an Executive Session with the Council to provide the Council with
a briefing and request authority to settle the case of Christina Pilkington vs. County
of Kauai. et al., Civil No. CV14-1-0123 (Fifth Circuit Court), and related matters.
This briefing and consultation involves consideration of the powers, duties, privileges,
immunities, and/or liabilities of the Council and the County as they relate to this
agenda item.
COUNCIL MEETING 84 OCTOBER 19, 2016
ES-874 Pursuant to Hawai`i Revised Statutes (FIRS) Sections 92-4, 92-5(a)(4),
and Kauai County Charter Section 3.07(E), on behalf of the Council, the Office of the
County Attorney requests an Executive Session with the Council to provide the
Council with a briefing, discussion and consultation regarding the quarterly report
on pending and denied claims. This briefing and consultation involves the
consideration of the powers, duties, privileges, immunities, and/or liabilities of the
Council and the County as they relate to this agenda item.
Councilmember Yukimura moved to convene in Executive Session for ES-873
and ES-874, seconded by Councilmember Kaneshiro.
Council Chair Rapozo: Any discussion? Seeing none, roll call.
The motion to convene in Executive Session for ES-873 and ES-874 was then
put, and carried by the following vote:
FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION: Chock, Hooser, Kagawa, Kaneshiro,
Kuali`i, Yukimura, Rapozo TOTAL— 7,
AGAINST EXECUTIVE SESSION: None TOTAL— 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0.
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Seven (7) ayes.
Council Chair Rapozo: With that, the regular meeting is adjourned
and we will reconvene in the Executive Session Chambers in five (5) minutes.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, the Council Meeting adjourned at 12:16 p.m.
ectfully submitted,
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JAD . FOUNTAIN-TANIGAWA
County Clerk
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