HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/09/2019 Public Hearing minutes on BILL 2758 PUBLIC HEARING
OCTOBER 9, 2019
A public hearing of the Council of the County of Kaua`i was called to order by
Arthur Brun, Chair, Parks & Recreation/Transportation Committee, on Wednesday,
October 9, 2019, at 1:30 p.m., at the Council Chambers, 4396 Rice Street, Suite 201,
Historic County Building, Lihu`e, and the presence of the following was noted:
Honorable Arthur Brun
Honorable Mason K. Chock
Honorable Felicia Cowden
Honorable Luke A. Evslin
Honorable Ross Kagawa
Honorable KipuKai Kuali`i
Excused: Honorable Arryl Kaneshiro
The Clerk read the notice of the public hearing on the following:
"Bill No. 2758 —A BILL FOR AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 17A,
KAUAI COUNTY CODE 1987, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO COUNTY
BUS FARES, AND ADDING A NEW CHAPTER, RELATING TO COUNTY
BUS AND PARATRANSIT CODE OF CONDUCT,"
which was ordered to print by the Council of the County of Kaua`i on
September 11, 2019, and published in The Garden Island newspaper on
September 17, 2019.
The following communication was received for the record:
1. Mackintosh, Wendy (Vijay), dated October 6, 2019
The hearing proceeded as follows:
JADE K. FOUNTAIN-TANIGAWA, County Clerk: Committee Chair, we
have two (2) registered speakers and one (1) piece of written testimony.
Committee Chair Brun: Who is the first registered speaker?
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: The first registered speaker is Kimo Kekahu,
followed by Alice Parker.
KIMO KEKAHU: Now, she was speaking kind of quickly here.
I ride the paratransit. It is a crucial part of my existence on the island. I basically
come in to town once a week. It is pretty helpful to me. The thing I wanted to say
something about...she was talking fast...I noticed we do not have a senior bus pass
on the island here. When they went to the forty dollars ($40.00) for the bus pass, it
was not cost effective for me because I only go in to town once a week. It is cheaper
PUBLIC HEARING 2 OCTOBER 9, 2019
BILL NO. 2758
for me just to pay the one dollar ($1.00) and then catch the bus. I ride my bicycle and
go down the hill into K51oa, get on the public transportation and do all of my things.
Then the paratransit takes me home. It is really crucial, but I know all the elderly
people on the South Shore, if it was not for the paratransit, they would just be
prisoners in their houses. That is what I wanted to say. Thank you for being here
and a big mahalo.
Councilmember Kagawa: So Kimo, you are saying that you would like
to see a senior monthly pass?
Mr. Kekahu: Yes. I am on a limited income, social security.
Every nickel or dime adds up.
Councilmember Kagawa: How much do you think a reasonable charge
would be for a senior pass? If you are not sure, just say you are not sure.
Mr. Kekahu: The cheaper the better. After it hit thirty
dollars ($30.00) it just was not cost effective.
Councilmember Kagawa: Thank you. Good answer.
Mr. Kekahu: That is it? Okay, thank you for being here.
Committee Chair Brun: Thank you. Next speaker.
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: The next speaker is Alice Parker.
ALICE PARKER: Hi. Alice Parker, for the record. There are all
kinds of fancy things proposed. I do not hear a thing about an on-call or a bus stop
on Pahe`e Street so that people can get to Urgent Care or to the businesses along
there. Anyway, only fifteen (15) years I have been pushing that. I started in 2004. I
have all of the letters from Mel Rapozo. I think that the paratransit situation does
need to be cleaned up. I know one (1) person, who is from Anahola, who lives in
Kilauea and all over the place, she was abusing it. She needs paratransit, but she
has to be reasonable. Up in Kilauea, I am waiting for the four hundred (400) to come
back to Lihu`e, and the paratransit shows up for her, but she has taken off before
that. She does not notify the office. I think that is unconscionable. She needs to be
charged for it, even if she is limited income. These buses are needed to serve people.
I would like to hear the whole presentation first. Could I say something later, maybe?
Post script? Thank you.
Councilmember Cowden: Did you say Pe`e Street? Which street did you
say?
Councilmember Chock: Pahe`e.
Councilmember Cowden: Where is Pahe`e Street?
Ms. Parker: Where Urgent Care is located. Across the way
is where you get your food stamps.
PUBLIC HEARING 3 OCTOBER 9, 2019
BILL NO. 2758
Councilmember Kuali`i: Gather Federal Credit Union. Kukui Grove.
Councilmember Cowden: Here, okay in Lihu`e.
Ms. Parker: Puhi also needs buses through there. Those
seniors are stuck. Other people too.
Committee Chair Brun: Thank you. Anyone else in the audience
wishing to testify on this matter? Seeing none, this public hearing is adjourned.
There being no one present to testify on this matter, the public hearing
adjourned at 1:36 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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JADE FOUNTAIN-TANIGAWA
County Clerk
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