HomeMy WebLinkAbout05_18_2022 Council minutesCOUNCIL MEETING
MAY 18, 2022
The Council Meeting of the Council of the County of Kaua`i was called to order
by Council Chair Arryl Kaneshiro at the Council Chambers, 4396 Rice Street,
Suite 201, Lihu`e, Kaua`i, on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, at 8:34 a.m., after which the
following Members answered the call of the roll:
Honorable Bernard P. Carvalho, Jr.
Honorable Mason K. Chock (via remote technology)
Honorable Felicia Cowden (via remote technology) (present at 8:37 a.m.)
Honorable Bill DeCosta
Honorable Luke A. Evslin
Honorable Arryl Kaneshiro
Excused: Honorable KipuKai Kuali`i
APPROVAL OF AGENDA.
Councilmember Carvalho moved for approval of the agenda, as circulated,
seconded by Councilmember DeCosta.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Is there anyone in the audience or on Zoom
wishing to testify?
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting proceeded as
follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: None. Are there any questions or discussion
on this item from the Members?
The motion for approval of the agenda, as circulated, was then put, and carried
by a vote of 5:0:2 (Councilmember Cowden and Councilmember Kuali i were
excused).
Council Chair Kaneshiro: The motion is carried. Next item.
MINUTES of the following meetings of the Council:
May 4, 2022 Council Meeting
May 11, 2022 Public Hearing re: Resolution No. 2022-10, Bill No. 2851, and
Bill No. 2852
COUNCIL MEETING 2 MAY 18, 2022
Councilmember Carvalho moved to approve the Minutes, as circulated,
seconded by Councilmember DeCosta.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Is there anyone in the audience or on Zoom
wishing to testify?
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting proceeded as
follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: None. Are there any questions or discussion
on this item from the Members?
The motion for approval of the minutes, as circulated, was then put, and
carried by a vote of 5:0:2 (Councilmember Cowden and Councilmember Kuali`i
were excused).
Council Chair Kaneshiro: The motion is carried. Next item.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
C 2022-102 Communication (04/28/2022) from the Director of
Human Resources, transmitting for Council information, the May 1, 2022 Vacancy
Report, pursuant to Section 24 of Ordinance No. B-2021-877, relating to the
Operating Budget of the County of Kaua`i for Fiscal Year 2021-2022.
Councilmember Carvalho moved to receive C 2022-102 for the record, seconded
by Councilmember DeCosta.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: We received no written testimony. Is there
anyone in the audience or on Zoom wishing to testify?
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting proceeded as
follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Seeing none. Are there any questions or is
there any discussion from the Members?
The motion to receive C 2022-102 for the record was then put, and carried by
a vote of 5:0:2 (Councilmember Cowden and Councilmember Kuali i were
excused).
Council Chair Kaneshiro: The motion is carried. Next item.
COMMUNICATIONS:
C 2022-103 Communication (04/20/2022) from Councilmember Chock and
Councilmember DeCosta, transmitting for Council consideration, A Bill For An
Ordinance Amending Chapter 8, Kaua`i County Code 1987, As Amended, Relating To
Campgrounds, to allow Educational Camping in the Agricultural District for campers
eighteen (18) years of age or younger via the Use Permit process.
COUNCIL MEETING 3 MAY 18, 2022
Councilmember Carvalho moved to receive C 2022-103 for the record, seconded
by Councilmember Evslin.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: We received no written testimony. Is there
anyone in the audience or on Zoom wishing to testify?
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting proceeded as
follows:
Councilmember Cowden was noted as present.)
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Are there any questions or is there any
discussion? We will see this as Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2859) later in the agenda.
The motion to receive C 2022-103 for the record was then put, and carried by
a vote of 6:0:1 (Councilmember Kuali`i was excused).
Council Chair Kaneshiro: The motion is carried. Next item.
C 2022-104 Communication (04/20/2022) from Councilmember Carvalho and
Councilmember Chock, transmitting for Council consideration, A Bill For An
Ordinance Amending Chapter 8, Kaua`i County Code 1987, As Amended, Relating To
Guest House, to increase the allowable square footage from 500 square feet to 800
square feet and to require that one off-street parking be provided for each Guest
House.
Councilmember Carvalho moved to receive C 2022-104 for the record, seconded
by Councilmember DeCosta.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: We received no written testimony. This is just
a communication. Is there anyone in the audience or on Zoom wishing to testify?
Kurt, you may want to testify on the Bill that is going to come up soon. This is just a
communication.
There being no objections, the rules were suspended to take public testimony.
KURT BOSSHARD: What I have to say will carry through, so if
that is okay?
Council Chair Kaneshiro: You will have three (3) minutes.
Mr. Bosshard: Yes, that is fine. I submitted written
communication, but that is referenced to an item later in the calendar. I spoke to
many of you over the years about similar issues. I will not go through everything I
wrote in my letter. In looking at the statistics of the real estate world today, it is
bleaker than what I can express in terms of affordable housing and vacant properties.
Subdivisions do not exist anymore along the lines of when you folks grew up and with
what is happening in Wailua Homesteads, Kawaihau, Kalaheo, et cetera. We do not
COUNCIL MEETING 4 MAY 18, 2022
have vacant lots available; we are not going to. The theory of the General Plan more
or less is that people should live in the apartment buildings in Lihu`e. When I was
on the committee about the General Plan, I expressed similar sentiments as I am
here today. The local culture is in the country. Right now, we have units, but the
units are becoming more and more illegal rather than legal. We all have family or
friends that have units. We know about them; they are a fact of life. I am not asking
for it to be enforced, we cannot afford to have enforcement, but there will be more
homeless people. There are people who want to be legal in modest housing.
The positive step was made to allow the guest house to become a legal dwelling.
With that came expenses in the modern society we are in and the reason many
people are illegal is because you have to convert to a septic system, pay the
Department of Water ten thousand dollars ($10,000), and other cover charges. For a
five-hundred-square-foot structure, that could be forty thousand dollars ($40,000)
before you break ground. People are not going to be legal and build that way when
square foot cost is eighty dollars ($80) before you break ground. I want to be legal,
but I would not build a five-hundred-square-foot guest house because it does not make
economic sense to do that. It is not fair to the people who might be occupying it either.
Five hundred (500) square feet for a single person works, but for anyone who has a
child or a couple who has a child, you need to have a bedroom or two (2) and this
would allow that. You are not going to have a lot of these being built because the cost
of building is so high and there is not much available land. It would be a positive
thing and allow people like me to be legal, or other people to convert who are getting
in trouble for not having legal structures. As far as I am concerned, there is no harm,
and it is a positive thing. That is it.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Thank you, Kurt. Is there anyone else
wishing to testify on this item now? We can add it the testimony to the Bill when it
comes up later.
MACKY DESILVA: Good morning, Councilmembers.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Good morning. Please state your name for the
record.
Mr. DeSilva: Macky DeSilva. I think Mr. Bosshard
summed it up as far as upping a five-hundred-square-foot guest house to eight
hundred. It makes sense. We desperately need housing on this island. I am in the
same situation. I have land, it is zoned for two (2) homes and a guest cottage, but the
guest cottage is five hundred (500) square feet. Upping it by three hundred (300)
would make a big difference. To me, it is only a small bump, but it would make a big
difference. Like I said, I am in favor of Mr. Bosshard's speech. Thank you. Do you
have any questions?
COUNCIL MEETING 5 MAY 18, 2022
Council Chair Kaneshiro: There are no questions from the Members.
Thank you for your testimony.
Mr. DeSilva: Thank you.
KEOLA WONG: I am in favor of what Kurt wants to do with
the increase of the square footage. That is all. Thank you, folks.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Thank you. Is there anyone else wishing to
testify? If not, anyone on Zoom wishing to testify?
There being no further testimony, the meeting was called back to order, and
proceeded as follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Are there any questions or is there any
discussion from the Members? This Bill will come up later on the agenda.
The motion to receive C 2022-104 for the record was then put, and carried by
a vote of 6:0:1 (Councilmember Kuali i was excused).
Council Chair Kaneshiro: The motion is carried. Next item.
C 2022-105 Communication (04/25/2022) from the Housing Director,
requesting Council approval to receive and expend funds from the American Rescue
Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF), in the
amount of $5,000,000.00, which will be used to provide emergency rental assistance,
housing stability services, or other related eligible services to County of Kaua`i
residents.
Councilmember Carvalho moved to approve C 2022-105, seconded by
Councilmember DeCosta.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: We received no written testimony. I will
suspend the rules and have Adam explain what the money will be used for and
explain how the previous money we got was spent.
There being no objection, the rules were suspended.
ADAM P. ROVERSI, Housing Director (via remote technology): Good
morning, Council Chair. Adam Roversi, Housing Director, County of Kauai. A little
quick background might be appropriate. You are probably all aware that midway
through the COVID-19 emergency, the Federal Government enacted an Emergency
Rental Assistance Program. In 2020, we received twenty-two million
dollars ($22,000,000) in what is dubbed as an acronym ERA1 funds, Emergency
Rental Assistance One. That was the first tranche of Federal funding for our
Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which has been successfully operating
through our partner the Kaua`i Federal Credit Union. In March of this past year, we
successfully expended all the ERA1 funds. ERA1 is finished.
COUNCIL MEETING 6 MAY 18, 2022
The Federal Government has a second Emergency Rental Assistance Program
nationally that is funded through the State with passthrough funds to the County.
In the ERA1 Program, the Federal Government and the State gave the counties single
large lump sum. We received the entire twenty-two million dollars ($22,000,000) at
once, and we doled it out as necessary to the credit union. The Federal Government,
for the second round of ERA2 funds, is not handing lump sum piles of money to the
state. They are giving it out in tranches and future funds are dependent in each
state's ability to spenddown their first issuance of funds. The State of Hawai`i
received its first allocation of ERA2 funds. Those funds were divided amongst the
counties. The County of Kaua`i quickly spent down all of our ERA2 funds. We
received a smaller tranche than most of the other counties. I believe we expended all
our ERA2 funds about one week and a half (1 %) ago. We were the only county in
Hawai`i that expended all of its ERA2 money. We were faced with the prospect of
needing to temporarily shut down our Emergency Rental Assistance Program until
the second allocation of Federal funds came in. That was not dependent on our
performance, but it is dependent on statewide performance.
The State offered to provide us five million dollars ($5,000,000) in American
Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds from the State's allocation of ARPA funds.
Essentially, this is bridge-funding for our Emergency Rental Assistance Program
until the second tranche of ERA2 funds arrive. This will allow us to continue our
program without significant interruption to the members of our community who need
it. Also, it allows the credit union to keep their current staffing levels without having
to lay off people and rehire folks to reboot the program. I think it is critically
important. It has taken the credit union a good deal of time and effort to build the
system to take applications, build the website, train their staff, et cetera. We really
do not want them to have to let people go while we are waiting for additional funds.
This five million dollars ($5,000,000) in ARPA funds is intended as gap funding until
additional ERA2 funds arrive to the State and are passed through to the County. At
that time, we will be allowed to then potentially use any remaining ARPA funds from
this five million dollars ($5,000,000) for other housing-related purposes. Then, we
began to use the ERA2 funds for our Rental Assistance Program. In the current
moment, they are intended for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, but they
may be available in the future for other housing-related purposes if we do not spend
it all down with emergency rental assistance. We will not know that until...it is
unknown when the ERA2 funds will be available or even exactly how much will be
available. There are lots of questions that we will not be able to answer at this point
until we see the rate of spenddown and we learn more about the future availability
of funds. That is it. I am happy to answer any questions.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Are there any questions from the Members?
If not, I will call the meeting back to order.
There being no objections, the meeting was called back to order, and proceeded
as follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Is there any discussion from the Members?
Councilmember Cowden.
COUNCIL MEETING 7 MAY 18, 2022
Councilmember Cowden: I want to first thank you, Director Roversi, for
doing a great job at having as many opportunities as we can for our houseless. I will
be supporting this action. I am coming in from the National Association of Counties
NACo) Western Interstate Region (WIR) meeting and I just have to say that I was
happy to see notice of funding opportunities for several new housing items that are
just coming up. There are good size tranches of money for the different layers. I
really like this rental assistance as a part of our portfolio of solutions to our critical
challenge of housing. Thank you. I am supportive of all that you are doing.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Does anyone else have any discussion? If not,
the motion on the floor is to approve. Is there anyone in the audience or on Zoom
wishing to testify?
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting proceeded as
follows:
The motion to approve C 2022-105 was thenput, and carried bya vote of 6:0:1pp
Councilmember Kuali i was excused).
Council Chair Kaneshiro: The motion is carried. Next item.
C 2022-106 Communication (04/26/2022) from the Chief of Police and
Mark Ozaki, Acting Assistant Chief of Police, requesting Council approval of
unbudgeted equipment purchases using unexpended salaries, in the amounts of
109,504.94 and $19,423.19, respectively, for ten (10) Motorola Model APX 7000
portable radios and a Codan Portable Repeater, which are critical to improve police
operational efficiency and fundamental to employee safety and accountability.
Councilmember Cowden moved to approve C 2022-106, seconded by
Councilmember Carvalho.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: We received no written testimony. Is there
anyone in the audience or on Zoom wishing to testify?
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting proceeded as
follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Seeing none. Are there any questions or is
there any discussion from the Members?
The motion to approve C 2022-106 was then put, and carried by a vote of 6:0:1
Councilmember Kuali i was excused).
Council Chair Kaneshiro: The motion is carried. Next item.
C 2022-107 Communication (05/02/2022) from the Chief of Police, requesting
Council approval to receive and expend funds from the Hawaii High Intensity Drug
Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Program, in the amount of $161,400.00, for the payment
COUNCIL MEETING 8 MAY 18, 2022
of overtime, renting of vehicles and aircraft, training, replacement of old equipment,
and the purchase of new technology.
Councilmember Carvalho moved to approve C 2022-107, seconded by
Councilmember DeCosta.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Are there any questions from the Members on
this item? I will suspend the rules. Councilmember Cowden.
Councilmember Cowden: Thank you, Chief Raybuck. We had
something very similar to this at the last meeting. Can you tell us what is unique
about this particular funding compared to the funding from the last meeting?
There being no objections, the rules were suspended.
TODD G. RAYBUCK, Chief of Police (via remote technology): Good
morning, Council Chair and Honorable Members of the Council. Thank you,
Councilmember Cowden, for the question. The request for these funds is actually the
annual allotment that the Kaua`i Police Department (KPD) receives from HIDTA as
a member of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program. This is similar to
the request that we get every year. Each year, the Federal Government passes a
budget through the Office of National Drug Control Policy to fund HIDTA regions
throughout the country. This is our share of the State of Hawai`i's HIDTA funds to
support our broad drug trafficking programs.
Councilmember Cowden: At present your highest focus is Fentanyl,
methamphetamine, and heroin, is that accurate?
Chief Raybuck: Yes. We continue to focus on those drugs that
are impacting our community at a high rate.
Councilmember Cowden: Thank you and to your whole crew for what
they do.
Chief Raybuck: Thank you.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Are there any other questions from the
Members?
There being no objections, the meeting was called back to order, and proceeded
as follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: We received no written testimony. Is there
anyone in the audience or on Zoom wishing to testify?
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting proceeded as
follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Seeing none. Is there any further discussion
from the Members?
COUNCIL MEETING 9 MAY 18, 2022
The motion to approve C 2022-107 was then put, and carried by a vote of 6:0:1
Councilmember Kuali i was excused).
Council Chair Kaneshiro: The motion is carried. Next item.
C 2022-108 Communication (05/02/2022) from the Director of Finance,
requesting Council approval to accept the standard Indemnification, Services, and
Default Administration terms as stated in the Standard Agreement with Stericycle, Inc.
for records disposal services.
Councilmember Carvalho moved to approve C 2022-108, seconded by
Councilmember DeCosta.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Are there any questions from the Members on
this item? I will suspend the rules. Councilmember Cowden.
Councilmember Cowden: Renee, can you give us a very brief
explanation. Is Stericycle a new vendor, or are we already using them?
There being no objections, the rules were suspended.
RENEE YADAO, Accounting Systems Administrator (via remote technology):
Good morning, Council Chair, Council Vice Chair, and Councilmembers. Stericycle
is the parent company of Shred-It. We have Shred-It services currently; however,
due to the number of services that we needed, we have to acquire an additional
contract for the shredding. We had previously submitted a Records Disposal Request
through the Council on August 4, 2021.
Councilmember Cowden: Thank you.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Are there any further questions from the
Members?
There being no objections, the meeting was called back to order, and proceeded
as follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: We received no written testimony. Is there
anyone in the audience or on Zoom wishing to testify?
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting proceeded as
follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Is there any final discussion from the
Members?
The motion to approve C 2022-108 was then put, and carried by a vote of 6:0:1
Councilmember Kuali i was excused).
COUNCIL MEETING 10 MAY 18, 2022
Council Chair Kaneshiro: The motion is carried. Next item.
C 2022-109 Communication (05/04/2022) from the Director of Finance,
transmitting for Council consideration, A Bill For An Ordinance Amending Chapter
5A, Sections 5A-3.4, 5A-6.1, 5A-6.4, 5A-12.1, 5A-12.3, 5A-12.7, and 5A-12.8, Kaua`i
County Code 1987, As Amended, Relating To Real Property Taxes, requiring
appellants to file with the County Board of Review before appealing to the State Tax
Court.
Councilmember Carvalho moved to receive C 2022-109 for the record, seconded
by Councilmember DeCosta.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Are there any questions from the Members on
this Communication? We received no written testimony. Is there anyone in the
audience or on Zoom wishing to testify?
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting proceeded as
follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Is there any discussion from the Members?
The motion to receive C 2022-109 for the record was then put, and carried by
a vote of 6:0:1 (Councilmember Kuali i was excused).
Council Chair Kaneshiro: The motion is carried. Next item.
C 2022-110 Communication (05/04/2022) from the Director of Finance,
transmitting for Council consideration, A Bill For An Ordinance Amending
Chapter 5A, Section 9.2, Kauai County Code 1987, As Amended, Relating to Real
Property Taxes, a housekeeping measure regarding assessments of golf courses,
removing the requirement of the Real Property Assessment Division to account for
imparted value."
Councilmember Carvalho moved to receive C 2022-110 for the record, seconded
by Councilmember DeCosta.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: We received no written testimony. I have a
question from Councilmember Cowden.
Councilmember Cowden: This is for Reiko. I just want clarification on
why this is called a "housekeeping" measure. This is where this wording is used. I
think that that phrase should be reconsidered because it seems rather significant. It
could have the potential for high impact. Housekeeping to me means correcting some
verbs or something very insignificant in terms of the implications of the ordinance.
Can you explain why this was called a "housekeeping" measure?
There being no objections, the rules were suspended.
COUNCIL MEETING 11 MAY 18, 2022
REIKO MATSUYAMA, Director of Finance (via remote technology): Sure.
You are correct, Councilmember Cowden. In hindsight I probably would not call it a
housekeeping" measure. There are certain aspects of...like the appeal item...that
are housekeeping. I would keep those separate. The reason why in our head that it
is housekeeping, and I will get into this a little later when we discuss it, is because it
is not changing anything that we do. Content-wise, for us, in our office, it is not
changing anything that we do. You are right, that I probably should not have called
it a housekeeping measure. From our standpoint, though, that is why it was called
that.
Councilmember Cowden: Thank you for that clarification. It probably
would not change anything that the Real Property Tax Assessment Division does, but
the implications on land use and potential movement of properties is likely rather
significant. I just wanted that on the record that it might be accurate housekeeping
in terms of the effort in the office, but I think we could reconsider what that is. This
is just wording on the Communication. I just wanted to clarify that now. Mahalo.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Okay, thank you. Are there any further
questions from the Members? Is there anyone in the audience or on Zoom wishing
to testify?
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting was called back
to order, and proceeded as follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Is there any final discussion from the
Members?
The motion to receive C 2022-110 for the record was then put, and carried by
a vote of 6:0:1 (Councilmember Kuali i was excused).
Council Chair Kaneshiro: The motion is carried. Next item.
C 2022-111 Communication (05/04/2022) from the Director of Human
Resources, transmitting for Council consideration, the cost items for the Hawai`i
Government Employees Association (HGEA) Bargaining Unit 2 for period
July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2025, pursuant to Hawai`i Revised Statutes (HRS)
Section 89-11 and Kaua`i County Charter Section 19.13B. The terms of the Collective
Bargaining Agreement were recently ratified by the employees Bargaining Unit 2.
Councilmember Carvalho moved to receive C 2022-111 for the record, seconded
by Councilmember DeCosta.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: We received no written testimony. Are there
any questions from the Members? Is there anyone in the audience or on Zoom
wishing to testify?
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting proceeded as
follows:
COUNCIL MEETING 12 MAY 18, 2022
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Is there any final discussion from the
Members?
The motion to receive C 2022-111 for the record was then put, and carried by
a vote of 6:0:1 (Councilmember Kuali i was excused).
Council Chair Kaneshiro: The motion is carried. Next item.
C 2022-112 Communication (05/04/2022) from the Director of Human
Resources, transmitting for Council consideration, the cost items for the Hawai`i
Government Employees Association (HGEA) Bargaining Unit 3 for period
July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2025, pursuant to Hawai`i Revised Statutes (HRS)
Section 89-11 and Kaua`i County Charter Section 19.13B. The terms of the Collective
Bargaining Agreement were recently ratified by the employees Bargaining Unit 3.
Councilmember Carvalho moved to receive C 2022-112 for the record, seconded
by Councilmember DeCosta.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Are there any questions from the Members?
We received no written testimony. Is there anyone in the audience or on Zoom
wishing to testify?
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting proceeded as
follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Is there any final discussion from the
Members?
The motion to receive C 2022-112 for the record was then put, and carried by
a vote of 6:0:1 (Councilmember Kuali i was excused).
Council Chair Kaneshiro: The motion is carried. Next item.
C 2022-113 Communication (05/04/2022) from the Director of Human
Resources, transmitting for Council consideration, the cost items for the Hawai`i
Government Employees Association (HGEA) Bargaining Unit 4 for period
July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2025, pursuant to Hawai`i Revised Statutes (HRS)
Section 89-11 and Kaua`i County Charter Section 19.13B. The terms of the Collective
Bargaining Agreement were recently ratified by the employees Bargaining Unit 4.
Councilmember Carvalho moved to receive C 2022-113 for the record, seconded
by Councilmember DeCosta.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Are there any questions from the Members?
We received no written testimony. Is there anyone in the audience or on Zoom
wishing to testify?
COUNCIL MEETING 13 MAY 18, 2022
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting proceeded as
follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Is there any final discussion from the
Members?
The motion to receive C 2022-113 for the record was then put, and carried by
a vote of 6:0:1 (Councilmember Kuali`i was excused).
Council Chair Kaneshiro: The motion is carried. Next item.
C 2022-114 Communication (05/04/2022) from the Director of Human
Resources, transmitting for Council consideration, the cost items for the Hawai`i Fire
Fighters Association (HFFA) Bargaining Unit 11 for the period July 1, 2021 through
June 30, 2025 based on an arbitrated award and in accordance with the procedures
contained in Chapter 89, Hawai`i Revised Statutes (HRS), pursuant to HRS
Section 89-11 and Kaua`i County Charter Section 19.13B.
Councilmember Carvalho moved to receive C 2022-114 for the record, seconded
by Councilmember Evslin.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Are there any questions from the Members on
this Communication? We received no written testimony. Is there anyone in the
audience or on Zoom wishing to testify?
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting proceeded as
follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Is there any final discussion from the
Members?
The motion to receive C 2022-144 for the record was then put, and carried by
a vote of 6:0:1 (Councilmember Kualii was excused).
Council Chair Kaneshiro: The motion is carried. Next item.
C 2022-115 Communication (05/04/2022) from the Director of Human
Resources, transmitting for Council consideration, the cost items for the Hawai`i
Government Employees Association (HGEA) Bargaining Unit 13 for period
July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2025 pursuant to Hawai`i Revised Statutes (HRS)
Section 89-11 and Kaua`i County Charter Section 19.13B. The terms of the Collective
Bargaining Agreement were recently ratified by the employees of Bargaining Unit 13.
Councilmember Carvalho moved to receive C 2022-115 for the record, seconded
by Councilmember DeCosta.
COUNCIL MEETING 14 MAY 18, 2022
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Are there any questions from the Members on
this item? We received no written testimony. Is there anyone in the audience or on
Zoom wishing to testify?
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting proceeded as
follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Is there any final discussion from the
Members?
The motion to receive C 2022-115 for the record was then put, and carried by
a vote of 6:0:1 (Councilmember Kuali i was excused).
Council Chair Kaneshiro: The motion is carried. Next item.
CLAIMS:
C 2022-116 Communication (05/04/2022) from the County Clerk, transmitting
a claim filed against the County of Kaua`i by Timothy L. Oga, for damage to his vehicle,
pursuant to Section 23.06, Charter of the County of Kaua`i.
C 2022-117 Communication (05/05/2022) from the County Clerk, transmitting
a claim filed against the County of Kaua`i by David Booth, for damage to his vehicle,
pursuant to Section 23.06, Charter of the County of Kaua`i.
Councilmember Carvalho moved to refer C 2022-116 and C 2022-117 to the
Office of the County Attorney for disposition and/or report back to the Council,
seconded by Councilmember Evslin.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: We received no written testimony. Is there
anyone in the audience or on Zoom wishing to testify?
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting proceeded as
follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Are there any questions or discussion from
the Members?
The motion to refer C 2022-116 and C 2022-117 to the Office of the County
Attorney for disposition and/or report back to the Council was then put, and
carried by a vote of 6:0:1 (Councilmember Kuali i was excused).
Council Chair Kaneshiro: The motion is carried. Next item.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
COUNCIL MEETING 15 MAY 18, 2022
PUBLIC WORKS &VETERANS SERVICES COMMITTEE:
A report (No. CR-PWVS 2022-03) submitted by the Public Works & Veterans
Services Committee, recommending that the following be Approved on second and
final reading:
Bill No. 2853 — A BILL FOR AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
CHAPTER 14, KAUAI COUNTY CODE 1987, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO
THE PLUMBING CODE,"
Councilmember Carvalho moved for approval of the report, seconded by
Councilmember DeCosta.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: We received no written testimony. Is there
anyone in the audience or on Zoom wishing to testify on this item?
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting proceeded as
follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Are there any questions or discussion from
the Members?
The motion for approval of the report was then put, and carried by a vote of
6:0:1 (Councilmember Kuali i was excused).
Council Chair Kaneshiro: The motion is carried. Next item.
FINANCE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
A report (No. CR-FED 2022-03) submitted by the Finance & Economic
Development Committee, recommending that the following be Approved on second
and final reading:
Bill No. 2845, Draft 1 — A BILL FOR AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
CHAPTER 5A, SECTION 5A-11.26, AND SECTION 5A-9.1(a), KAUAI
COUNTY CODE 1987,AS AMENDED, RELATING TO REAL PROPERTY TAX
Tree Farm Development Exemption),"
Councilmember Carvalho moved for approval of the report, seconded by
Councilmember DeCosta.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: We received no written testimony. Is there
anyone in the audience or on Zoom wishing to testify on this item?
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting proceeded as
follows:
COUNCIL MEETING 16 MAY 18, 2022
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Are there any questions or discussion from
the Members?
The motion for approval of the report was then put, and carried by a vote of
6:0:1 (Councilmember Kuali`i was excused).
Council Chair Kaneshiro: The motion is carried. Next item.
RESOLUTION:
Resolution No. 2022-17 — RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PROPOSED
FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023 OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE HAWAII STATE
ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES
Councilmember Carvalho moved for adoption of Resolution No. 2022-17,
seconded by Councilmember Evslin.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: We received no written testimony on this
item. It sounds like we have an amendment.
Councilmember Carvalho moved to amend Resolution No. 2022-17 as
circulated, and as shown in the Floor Amendment, which is attached hereto as
Attachment 1, seconded by Councilmember DeCosta.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Chock, was this amendment
requested by you?
Councilmember Chock: Yes. Based on the last Council Meeting that we
had, I had a discussion with our Executive Committee on some of the challenges with
how the budget was reading. In response to that, we revised the way we were
presenting the budget for you to consider. What you will see is an amount that is the
total revenue that incorporates what was called the "starting reserve budget,":
previously. At the very bottom, what you will also see is what will be both projecting at
the end of the fiscal year and what we intend to have as a net at the end of 2023. I think
those changes were as a direct result of the questions that arose at the last meeting.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Are there any questions from the Members on
the amendment? Councilmember Cowden.
Councilmember Cowden: Is it possible for someone to send me a copy of
the amendment via E-mail?
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Yes, we have someone working on it right now.
Councilmember Cowden: Thank you.
COUNCIL MEETING 17 MAY 18, 2022
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Basically, they just took out the starting and
ending reserve, correct? It does not look like any of the other numbers changed.
Councilmember Chock: That is correct, Council Chair. None of the
numbers have changed in terms of the budget and the proposed budget. The only thing
that changed is looking at the starting reserve. Ultimately, what you will see is that the
projection is that we would be at an approximate fifty-thousand-dollar position at the
end of that fiscal year.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Should we take a quick recess for
Councilmember Cowden? Councilmember Cowden, we will take a quick recess for you
to be able to get the amendment to look it over. I do not want you to have to vote on it
if you have not seen it. Let us move to the next item and then come back.
There being no objections, Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2859)was taken out of order.
BILLS FOR FIRST READING:
Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2859) —A BILL FOR AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
CHAPTER 8, KAUAI COUNTY CODE 1987, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO
CAMPGROUNDS (Kaua`i County Council, Applicant)
Councilmember Carvalho moved to refer Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2859) to the
Planning Commission, seconded by Councilmember Evslin.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: We received no written testimony on this item.
Are there any questions from the Members on this item? Who is the introducer on this?
Councilmember Chock, did you or Councilmember DeCosta want to give a brief
overview of this item?
Councilmember Chock: Sure, thank you, Council Chair. Yes, this
campground item is back. What we previously talked about was a notion that we
wanted to ensure that youth camps were protected and continue to have a means to
sustain itself. We thought this was feasible in discussion with Planning Director Hull.
What is before you is to include educational youth programs. As you can see, the
program would allow up to the age of eighteen(18)years old. There was a housekeeping
piece added that exempts County parks. I will turn it over to Councilmember DeCosta
to add any additional comments.
Councilmember De Costa: No. Councilmember Chock, you summed it up
real nicely. We want to be able to protect our youth educational camps for ages
eighteen (18) and below. That was our main motive for this.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: We will ask the Administration if they are in
support of the Bill.
COUNCIL MEETING 18 MAY 18, 2022
There being no objections, the rules were suspended.
KA`AINA S. HULL, Planning Direcort (via remote technology): Good
morning, Council Chair Kaneshiro, and Councilmembers. Ka aina Hull, on behalf of
the Planning Department. We worked closely with Councilmember Chock and
Councilmember DeCosta on the draft bill. Ultimately, there are concerns about further
transient accommodations coming through the guise or auspices of campgrounds as we
have seen in previous proposals. In working on this with the Councilmembers, it was
clear that there is a need to ensure that educational camp youth can still be a possible
avenue. In our estimation, with keeping this age bracket, it will not necessarily turn
into a full transient accommodation open willy-nilly to any visitor, really. As I said, we
are tentatively supportive. We need to wait for the Planning Commission for the review
and action before we send it back to you.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Are there any questions? Councilmember
Evslin.
Councilmember Evslin: Thank you, Ka`aina. I agree with the premise,
and I appreciate the work that you folks did. If a camp comes through and they are
applying for a permit with mixed ages, if they say the focus is under eighteen (18)years
old, but it is also including older people, over time, it will transition to an all-ages camp
even though they originally advertised as a "youth camp." How do you make that
distinction and are the camps exclusively for under eighteen (18)? Are all ages allowed
or not allowed? Is there a gray area and how do you determine that?
Mr. Hull: The way we would interpret this is that the
campers themselves would be under eighteen (18). Staff that is associated with the
camp could be part of the program. Non-staff members over eighteen (18) will not be
permitted to be on the campsite. That is the way we interpret this as it is drafted and
if there are policy concerns about that, at the Commission level or when it comes back
to Council, we will be open to discussion. As drafted, all campers must be under
eighteen (18).
Councilmember Evslin: Great. Thank you.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Are there any further questions from the
Members on this item? Is there anyone in the public or on Zoom wishing to testify on
this item? Is there any final discussion from the Members? Councilmember Evslin.
There being no objection, the meeting was called back to order, and proceeded as
follows:
Councilmember Evslin: I would like to say that I support this. As it
came up during the original glamping Bill, I think we all recognized the need for youth
COUNCIL MEETING 19 MAY 18, 2022
educational camps. I appreciate the work that the Planning Department,
Councilmember Chock, and Councilmember DeCosta did to allow this in a limited
fashion. As Ka aina said regarding policy concerns for under the age of eighteen (18),
for me, I think it is important to strictly limit to that age. I do not want to see this open
to all ages as I think it would create an avenue for potential abuse of the intent. If
someone comes in with a for-profit campsite, advertises it for "youth," and it ends up
being for all ages. Focusing on youth helps to ensure that this will not be abused. I
appreciate the work here and will certainly be supporting this.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Cowden.
Councilmember Cowden: I echo what Councilmember Evslin said. One
resistance I had to the Bill we passed earlier that focused on eliminating camping for
high-end visitors was the loss of this opportunity. I am supportive of this. I want to
open up one (1) or two (2) little caveats even though I am in full support of this. We
have camp programs such as Camp Agape,which is run through the Kaua`i Community
Correctional Center (KCCC). This program is for people who are almost out of
incarceration and allowed to camp with their children. There are family camp programs
that are therapeutic and positive, and they need to figure out a place to do this and do
it differently. There are private campgrounds that already do this. I wanted to
acknowledge that there are great therapeutic family camping programs. I am
supportive as is.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Is there any further discussion from the
Members? If not, I will take a roll call vote.
The motion to refer Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2859) to the Planning Commission
was then put, and carried by the following vote:
FOR REFERRAL: Carvalho, Chock, Cowden, DeCosta,
Evslin, Kaneshiro TOTAL— 6,
AGAINST REFERRAL: None TOTAL — 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: Kuali`i TOTAL — 1,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0.
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Six (6) ayes.
There being no objections, discussion on Resolution No. 2022-17 proceeded as
follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: We will go back to Resolution No. 2022-17.
Councilmember Cowden, did you receive the amendment?
Councilmember Cowden: Yes.
COUNCIL MEETING 20 MAY 18, 2022
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Are there any further questions from the
Members on the amendment? If not, is there any discussion on the amendment?
The motion to amend Resolution No. 2022-17, as circulated, and as shown in the
Floor Amendment which is attached hereto as Attachment 1 was then put, and
carried by a vote of 6:0:1 (Councilmember Kuali i was excused).
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Back to the main motion as amended. Are
there any further questions from the Members on the HSAC Budget as amended? We
received no written testimony. Is there anyone in the audience or on Zoom wishing to
testify?
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting proceeded as
follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Is there any final discussion from the
Members on the HSAC Budget? Councilmember Cowden.
Councilmember Cowden: I want to thank Councilmember Chock for the
work that he does, and Councilmember Carvalho for being part of the HSAC team.
Thank you so much and I appreciate the work that you are doing. Being at a NACo
event right now, it is so valuable for the peer networking that occurs.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Is there anyone else? For me, I would like to
say thank you Councilmember Chock. I appreciate you going back to revise the
budget. I want to note that as we do HSAC, if we want HSAC to continue as an
organization, there is sponsorship, fundraising, or conference income that needs to be
made each year for HSAC to survive. If you look at it now, they are running at a loss
of fifty-five thousand dollars ($55,000). They have approximately one hundred
thousand dollars ($100,000) in the bank. If we do not raise money, there will be no
funds for HSAC in the next two (2) years. Typically, in the past, we budgeted for a
certain amount. Most times, counties have exceeded the amount that was budgeted,
which has been able to keep the HSAC fund alive. This continues to allow people to
go on trips for NACo, paying for NACo Members, HSAC traveling, et cetera. It is
really important that the counties know that when you are the host of the HSAC
conference, you need to be cognizant of your expenses, how much money is in the
HSAC account, and trying to push for money to go into the HSAC account if we want
HSAC to continue. Councilmember Chock.
Councilmember Chock: Thank you very much for those comments,
everyone. Council Chair Kaneshiro, I appreciate highlighting the position HSAC is
in due to the past few years and not having the ability to move forward on fundraising
events such as our annual conference. I feel very confident that we can leave HSAC
in a better position this year. I think those things are forthcoming. I wanted to
shoutout that we have the September 28-30 HSAC conference on Hawai`i Island.
There are fundraising opportunities there if you can join us and participate. I think
it will be good. Following suit, the HSAC conference will be on Kauai the following
year. It would be good for those coming on board with HSAC to attend, get a taste of
what that is like, so that we can prepare for our turn. Thank you.
COUNCIL MEETING 21 MAY 18, 2022
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Carvalho.
Councilmember Carvalho: I wanted to mahalo Council Chair Kaneshiro
for your comments and what you said overall. I think we are in a good place, and it
is understandable where we are at right now. Councilmember Chock, for your
leadership and revising the entire budget process. Having the discussion statewide
brought us to a good place in understanding the outline of the budget and that we
need to fundraise. The effort of bringing everyone together, that is the big part that
makes a difference for all of us. I look forward to continuing in and following the
leadership that continues to make this happen. Mahalo.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Lastly, I want to say how valuable HSAC is.
Not only for all the counties to lobby the State regarding what County Council's want
throughout the State, but with the HSAC conferences, you get to meet the other
Councilmembers and network. A lot of times at the conference, you hear issues that
islands are having. You will see that we all have similar issues. At times, we do not
always communicate problems or type of solutions people are doing. It is a good
opportunity for Councilmembers to get together, listen to what is going on, hear from
their department heads and solutions they look at to resolve problems. I think it is a
very valuable experience and networking experience for all the Councilmembers to
meet, get to know, and bounce ideas off each other. With that being said, I think
HSAC is valuable, and I want to see it continue. Unfortunately, we need to work
hard to fundraise. We have an Executive Assistant for HSAC, which should make it
easier for each County because it will bring consistency. In the past, it was either up
to the Board or the island that is doing the conference. Information gets passed
through all the counties...having this Executive Assistant provides continuity for
HSAC. Having to pay that position means you need to fundraise harder each year. I
think that we can and that we should keep HSAC going. Is there any further
discussion? Councilmember Evslin.
Councilmember Evslin: I am sorry. I have a few questions on the
budget. I am a little confused. The amended budget includes a fund balance line,
which seems to be included under total revenue. If you look at total revenue 2023,
total revenue is two fifty-four (254), which includes fund balance. Could you explain
what that fund balance is referring to and why it is included as revenue.
Councilmember Chock: I am sorry. I missed your question, and I
closed the budget. I need to find it again.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Chock, I can answer. The
fund balance is the estimated cash balance that the association will have at the
beginning of the year.
Councilmember Evslin: That is what I assumed the fund balance
referred to, but why is it not included as revenue. Part of the reason I am asking is
because if you look at what we had before, it shows HSAC losing fifty-two thousand
dollars ($52,000) in 2023. Now, because the fund balance is included as revenue, it
shows us netting fifty-four thousand dollars ($54,000) in 2023. From my look at it,
COUNCIL MEETING 22 MAY 18, 2022
nothing fundamental has really changed in the budget other than accounting for the
balance as revenue.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: How I look at it is when you look at the
beginning fund balance which is one hundred seven thousand dollars ($107,000) and
the net is fifty-four thousand dollars ($54,000), that means we are losing fifty-three
thousand dollars ($53,000) worth of cash if they do not fundraise. I think we used to
have a sponsorship line item before, but a lot of it comes down to the conference and
making money there to sustain the budget.
Councilmember Evslin: Okay, I get it. You are the Certified Public
Accountant (CPA) and I am not, but is that typical to include the beginning cash
balance as revenue for the year?
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Not usually, but historically all the budgets
have done it and they kept it consistent by doing that.
Councilmember Evslin: Okay. My other question along those lines
was if the one hundred seven thousand dollars ($107,000) is the starting balance in
the fund, the previous budget had a starting reserve of one hundred seventy-three
thousand dollars ($173,000). None of the numbers match up to our fund balance
compared to the starting reserve in the previous budget. Were those starting reserve
numbers inaccurate and is this correcting that?
Councilmember Chock: Yes, I believe so.
Councilmember Evslin: Okay. That was my only confusion.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: I believe they tried to true up the fund balance
or get as close as they could by putting in the line for budget projections of what we
have and what else is remaining.
Councilmember Evslin: Okay, that is all. Thank you.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Are there any other questions from the
Members? Is there any final discussion from the Members? Councilmember Evslin.
Councilmember Evslin: I appreciate the work that went into this, the
work that goes into HSAC, the many meetings you attend, all the work to try and get
the finances in order, and to ensure that HSAC continues to be a sustainably
well-funded organization—as Council Chair Kaneshiro alluded to. That is work I
have no desire to do, and I appreciate you folks spending so much time doing it.
Thank you.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember DeCosta.
Councilmember DeCosta: I would like to echo that thank you. Being
that we will be losing our current Council Chair and Council Vice Chair, it is a little
cumbersome trying to take on this task as a younger Council. At HSAC, not only do
COUNCIL MEETING 23 MAY 18, 2022
we network, but what I found out is that some counties "envy" what Kaua`i is made
up of. When we were in Washington D.C., they mentioned how well we get along with
our staff, how much our staff does for us, how we get along with the mayor, and how
we get things done. Kaua`i is at the forefront of being a leader in HSAC with how we
run our County Government. I wanted to give that a shoutout. It was made apparent
to us by Maui County Councilmembers and Mayor, Hawai`i Island—they see the
logistics of how Kaua`i operates and they are very impressed. Politics does not have
to be argumentative, politics can be working together and solving things together for
the betterment of our community. I am proud to be part of that and I am proud to
have the staff that we have here on Kaua`i. Council Chair and Council Vice Chair,
thank you. Councilmember Carvalho, thank you for stepping up, being part of this,
and chosen to do this next year. Thank you.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Is there anyone else? If not, I will take a roll
call vote.
The motion for adoption of Resolution No. 2022-17, as amended to Resolution
No. 2022-17, Draft 1 was then put, and carried by the following vote:
FOR ADOPTION: Carvalho, Chock, Cowden, DeCosta,
Evslin, Kaneshiro TOTAL– 6,
AGAINST ADOPTION: None TOTAL – 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: Kuali`i TOTAL– 1,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL– 0.
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Six (6) Ayes. Motion passes.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Next item.
Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2860) –A BILL FOR AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
CHAPTER 8, KAUAI COUNTY CODE 1987, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO
GUEST HOUSE (Kaua`i County Council, Applicant)
Councilmember Carvalho moved to refer Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2860) to the
Planning Commission, seconded by Councilmember Evslin.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Could we have an overview of this Bill either
from Councilmember Chock or from Councilmember Carvalho. It seems simple. It just
increases the size of a guest house.
Councilmember Chock: I can start, unless you wanted to introduce it,
Councilmember Carvalho.
Councilmember Carvalho: Introducing this Bill, it was obvious to me and
working closely with Councilmember Chock, the purpose of the Bill is totally aligned
with the General Plan. Housing is at the forefront and this is just another opportunity
to bring it to the forefront for our people of Kaua`i. In addition to the General Plan, the
purpose again is for guest houses, tenants, or owners of that particular property to have
COUNCIL MEETING 24 MAY 18, 2022
that option. Those are the top three (3) reasons overall as we continue to move forward.
As you heard in Mr. Bosshard's testimony, it is important. Again, it is just another
opportunity for us to provide housing for our local families. That is the bottom-line for
me. Any time we can address it and work on it...I think even working closely with the
Planning Department in trying to make sure that we come to a place where we can
agree...getting it to the Planning Commission, that to me is a big part. For us
proposing this and for the chance to have mom and dad stay in the back house
possibly and having the kids stay in the front house, however it pans out...that is the
bigger picture. When we got to this point and vetting everything out, I feel we are at
a good place, and we need to move forward.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Chock.
Councilmember Chock: Thank you, Councilmember Carvalho. As
most people know, the Council revisited guest houses years ago and allowed for
kitchens, thus opening the opportunity for long-term housing options for our
community. At the time of passing that proposal, there was a strong request from
the community to increase the size of the guest house, but because it was a significant
change, we could not do it and amend it within that bill. We promised that we would
come back and revisit it. It has taken a lot of time. Since then, a lot of the discussions
have been about the concern of sprawl and the impact on our agricultural properties,
which are all valid concerns. We believe that this outcome has resulted in a minimum
increase of three hundred (300) square feet and given the climate of our housing
crisis, would provide much-needed support. It does also come with the need for
one (1) off-street parking per guest house. Not everyone can get a guest house, as you
know. If you have that right and you are on a condominium property regime (CPR)
property, then this is hopefully an option for you. Hopefully you can assist the whole
community by creating the much-needed housing that we are looking for. Thank you.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Are there any questions from the Members on
this Bill? Councilmember Evslin.
Councilmember Evslin: I have a question for Planning. Ka`aina? I
appreciate the work that went into this. I recognize the need. I know that Planning
has, for the most part, held the line in some sense, against things that would increase
density on agricultural land. I know that technically this does not increase density,
the density is there for a guest house. I think in practice, it will. For some of the
reasons that Councilmember Chock said, Planning has been at least hesitant on
measures like this. Ka`aina, if you could just explain what has changed in your
calculus, because I assume that you support this Bill.
There being no objections, the rules were suspended.
Mr. Hull: Thank you, Councilmember Evslin. To that
point, I think the Planning Department has been hesitant whenever we are looking
at increasing density across-the-board, like in all zoning districts, Residential,
Agricultural, and what have you. Excuse me. We have gone robustly in increasing
density in the Residential and Urban areas but have been hesitant about increasing
density in the Agriculture and Open area's. That is not just from a form and character
COUNCIL MEETING 25 MAY 18, 2022
standpoint or even a preservation of agricultural land standpoint, but the overall
picture of suburbanization of open lands and the effect it has on our infrastructure
requirements and maintenance are astronomical. I think I can respect the fact that
it is easier for people on agricultural land to build additional units, but from a large
fifty-thousand-foot picture, the management of our resources, and the infrastructure
it takes, we do have concerns about the further suburbanization of Agriculture and
Open lands. When this was really being spun up and Councilmembers Carvalho and
Chock were approaching us, we are hesitant about increasing density, but in looking
at this Bill, it is not increasing density, right? The guest house with a kitchen is
already permissible across-the-board in all Residential, Agricultural, or Open
Districts. This is just what we see as a nominal increase in the square footage. We
do not see this as increasing density, it just provides another option instead of saying
that a single person or a couple, which primarily would be the main tenants occupying
a guest house, now they can open it up to smaller families at least. That is where we
interpret this Bill in looking at it and we tentatively support it. Also, guest houses
cannot be CPR'd much in the way that additional dwelling units (ADUs) are able to
be CPR'd. We saw the speculative aspect of the market invade our agricultural lands
to a certain degree. With those two (2) measures, that is where we are coming out as
tentatively supporting it. I use that phrase because ultimately it goes to the Planning
Commission for their review and action before it is going back to you. We are
tentatively supportive of the Bill.
Councilmember Evslin: Okay, thank you. The one (1) off-street
parking stall. Previously, there were no off-street parking required for guest houses.
Mr. Hull: Yes, there never has been an off-street
parking requirement. There was no previous requirement for off-street parking. I
think where this comes from is the fact that guest houses on agricultural lands
absolutely can accommodate the parking. I think some of the discussions that we had
around additional rental units (ARUs) and ADUs within the Urban areas, there is a
concern about the overcrowding of the streets and off-street parking. This measure
goes to the fact that these are also permissible and an option within the Urban areas
as well. Those in the Urban areas will have to make sure that they are able to
accommodate any vehicular traffic associated with the unit.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: How does that affect existing guest houses?
Mr. Hull: Technically, existing guest houses would not
be required to update their site to have an off-street parking. It would pertain to any
guest house moving forward.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Okay, thank you.
Mr. Hull: I would also add that with the Planning
Department providing tentative support, we also did brief the Mayor on this and
there is tentative support behind that as well.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Chock.
COUNCIL MEETING 26 MAY 18, 2022
Councilmember Chock: Just to clarify, Ka`aina, if the increase into the
ability of this Bill passing, or if the increase of the eight-hundred-square-foot be
enacted, the parking would be implemented. There are a lot of existing guest houses
that I think are looking into wanting to put that kitchen in and wanting to increase
the size at the same time.
Mr. Hull: Yes, correct. Sorry about that. If there was
an increase proposed made to...if this Bill were adopted tomorrow as-is, if there was
an existing guest house that existed prior to the adoption of the Bill, they would not
be required to update their parking stall requirement. If they alter it in that they
increase the size and/or if they decide to put a kitchen, then it would have to be
brought into conformity.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember DeCosta.
Councilmember DeCosta: He answered my question.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Okay. Councilmember Evslin.
Councilmember Evslin: If somebody is coming in for a permit
assuming this passes, and somebody comes in for a permit for a five-hundred-square
foot guest house, they would still need to put in the extra parking stall where they
would not have had to otherwise, correct?
Mr. Hull: Correct. Any new guest house, if the Bill is
adopted, any new guest house after the Bill is adopted, whether it is eight
hundred (800) square feet or two hundred (200) square feet with or without a kitchen,
would now need to have that additional parking stall off-street.
Councilmember Evslin: Okay, thank you.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Are there any further questions from the
Members on this? If not, while the rules are still suspended...we actually did receive
written testimony on this item. We do have a testifier, Steve, if you want to come up.
You can sit here on the chair. There is a microphone there. You will state your full
name for the record, you will have three (3) minutes to testify. The light will turn
green when your three (3) minutes starts. It will turn yellow when you have
thirty (30) seconds left, and red when your three (3) minutes is up. If you need an
additional three (3) minutes, we will check if anyone else wants to testify and if not,
you will have another three (3) minutes at that time.
STEVEN MAFSHUN:Thank you all for your service today. The
main purpose of this Bill is to relieve housing. It is a big problem on the island. It
will put a dent in it if it passes. It will not relieve...it will not be a major thing, but
it is a baby step forward. The biggest thing with moving the size to eight
hundred (800) square feet, it will afford single parents to have more rental options to
them. Just by having a bigger house or another bedroom for multiple kids, et cetera.
A single mother with two (2) kids can suddenly rent an eight-hundred-square-foot
house and have a normal, successful family participation. I think it will help quite a
COUNCIL MEETING 27 MAY 18, 2022
bit. The other thing is having more space for an Aunty to do her quilting or having
Grandma to have a little dining room. It is not a lot of space, but three
hundred (300) square feet is quite a bit for something that is less than five
hundred (500) square feet. I believe it becomes more of a home where people can
entertain a little bit and have their grandkids come over to visit. It really is a bonus
where you do not have to put up a little carport where everyone runs out into the
carport to do their visiting, because you cannot fit more than four (4) people in the
house. I just think the quality of life will improve. That is pretty much it. It is mainly
the relief of housing. When we are talking about building these days, something
smaller than five hundred (500) square feet, you do have to pull wires for electric,
pulling the water lines, et cetera, it is not as easy and affordable as it used to be,
certainly. There are added costs. Whether it is eight hundred (800), five
hundred (500), or two hundred (200), you would still have to pull the wires and bring
in the water. That is it. Thank you.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Thank you, Steve. Does anyone else in the
audience wish to testify? If not, is there anyone on Zoom wishing to testify? I will
call the meeting back to order
There being no objections, the meeting was called back to order, and proceeded
as follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Is there any final discussion from the
Members? Councilmember Cowden.
Councilmember Cowden: I am definitely supportive of this, and I think
this has been needed for some time. I am very appreciative that it includes the one (1)
off-street parking space. As discussed, that is where it becomes a big impact on the
huwhatPlanningDirectorHullsaidintermsof 'n to dot eneighbors. I value trying
fifty-thousand-foot view from the infrastructure or planning perspective. I want to
bring something up from the cultural perspective that I think Kurt Bosshard testified
to. This is a better match for a rural lifestyle than many of our apartments. Our
apartments work well for people who have more office living. Where people have tools,
animals, ocean equipment, and mud and sand on their bodies, we will really need more
this agricultural way of coming in. Even if it is in the neighborhood where you can put
your kayak, surfboards, or whatever you might be able to have. I do not think that we
are much of an urban or suburban community as we are a rural community. It is very
important that we retain our rural people, because they are critical to a lot of the work
skills that we need and the contributions to running our island effectively. I am
supportive. Thank you all.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Thank you. Councilmember DeCosta.
Councilmember DeCosta: I am dumbfounded that we did not move on
this a long time ago. I have two (2) boys already in college and I am pretty sure that
Councilmember Carvalho can testify to this, or Councilmember Chock could testify to
this being a Kamehameha dorm guy who lived in a four-hundred-square-foot room.
When you get a dorm room, dorm rooms are about four hundred (400) to four hundred
fifty (450) square feet. They want you to almost be on top of each other, so you get along
COUNCIL MEETING 28 MAY 18, 2022
with your roommate. I do not think there is a husband and wife that could spend that
much time together in such a small, confined space. When I did the math here, for our
local people watching today, an eight-hundred-square-foot space, would allow for you to
have an 8x8 bathroom, which would be sixty-four (64) square feet, a 10x10 kitchen,
which would be one hundred (100) square feet, a living room of three hundred (300)
square feet, which is 20x15, which is a pretty big living room, and you could still have
two (2) bedrooms 12x12. When you do the math, it still comes out to under eight
hundred (800) square feet. I think this would accommodate a husband, wife, and even
a child or two (2). I am going to be supporting this and I hope that everyone else does.
This is a good thing for Kaua`i. Thank you.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Evslin.
Councilmember Evslin: I am supportive of this today. I will say that I
think it is important to recognize why this has not happened yet and what potentially
some of the concerns have been traditionally. As Ka`aina expressed, and as
Councilmember Chock expressed, even though technically, as Ka`aina said, it is not
increasing density on agricultural land, in practice, the whole point of it is to make it
easier for families to build a unit on agricultural land. That is why I am going to be
supporting it. We have this insane housing crisis, and we need to do everything possible
and in a perfect world, possibly we would not have to go down this route, but I think
that the housing crisis is bad enough that we do. If the result is that more people are
able to build a guest house for their families, then I think the impact on the housing
crisis is enough to get me to support it today. The concerns are that if it is encouraging
home construction, I think in practice it will increase density on agricultural land by
ensuring that more homes are being built on agricultural land. As Ka`aina alluded to,
we have this insane infrastructure crisis on Kaua`i. We have a three
hundred-million-dollar backlog in our road maintenance and deferred maintenance.
Every time we add houses in faraway places, it costs the County more to maintain
services in these areas. Not to mention the impact on the price of agricultural land. If
all of sudden you can have a second full house there, then that land is going to sell for
more. It is part of the value of the land that you can have that second home there. A
five hundred-square-foot home will not necessarily add that same level of value. I think
as Ka`aina said, you end up with the suburbanization of our agricultural lands. In
practice, it is one (1) house per two and a half (2.5) acres, which is in some sense a
suburban neighborhood rather than rural agricultural land. I think from my
understanding the concerns that Planning has expressed for a while along these lines.
Those are things that I had similar sentiments towards. As I said in the beginning, the
housing crisis is bad enough right now that if by holding this line we are pushing
families off of Kaua`i, pushing people into overcrowded households, or forcing people to
work seventeen (17)jobs just to afford a house, that is a bad enough outcome here that
we do need to...this is the relief valve. This is part of the relief valve here. I support
this relief effort going forward. My one maybe request when it gets to the Planning
Commission is to possibly look at the option of if someone were to choose to stay under
five hundred (500) square feet, that they do not have to put in that additional parking
stall. In some sense, it is increasing the requirements for someone wanting to do that
small unit. If you are building a five-hundred-square-foot unit, maybe that is a true
guest house. You are not adding occupancy into that house. You just want something
available. You possibly do not need that parking stall. My hope is that we would not
COUNCIL MEETING 29 MAY 18, 2022
be necessarily increasing requirements on those who choose to stay small. I hope that
is at least something the Planning Commission can deliberate on or maybe we can when
this gets back to us. With all that said, I appreciate the work here. I do think it is
important and I am supporting it, because I do think it is a positive step in the right
direction even given my concerns. Lastly, I want to add that there has been a couple of
statements about pushing people into apartments. There is nothing in the General Plan
that says they should get pushed into apartments. We have thirty thousand (30,000)
single-family homes on Kaua`i. It is just saying that when we are adding homes, we
should do so near jobs. There are all our steps forward in our Zoning Code in allowing
ARUs, easier to build duplexes, et cetera on residential land, those are not necessarily
apartments. You can have a one-half(0.5) acre lot and now you can do four (4) units on
that. Those are still smaller houses on a lot that I think in some sense provides a rural
atmosphere still. It is not necessarily saying that everyone has to live in apartments. I
do not think we have seen that result yet. It is just saying that we should do everything
that we can to provide more housing options to people, some of which might include
smaller units such as apartments. Anyways, with all that said, I am supportive today.
I appreciate the work and looking forward to this coming back to us after it goes through
the Planning Commission.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember De Costa.
Councilmember DeCosta: I had a small discussion point for
Councilmember Evslin. You mentioned something about selling of the agricultural lot
with the larger square-foot home being more attractive. That is only one (1) market.
The other market includes all the local families who own agricultural land who really
benefit from this. We have to make sure that we touch both sides of that category. Yes,
I see where you were going with it. I do not believe that the families who are going to
be building this for the kupuna, in-laws, or daughter coming back from college and want
to get married, I do not think they are going to be selling. I do know that maybe people
from the mainland who want to speculate, this may be a benefit to them. I am hoping
that we have something in place that that does not happen. Thank you.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Carvalho.
Councilmember Carvalho: I just wanted to bring to the forefront again,
from our discussion this morning listening to Mr. Bosshard and Mr. DeSilva...we all
agree this is opening the door for housing. It is also good for agriculture and tying into
families really growing things together and livestock. I see all of that too as positive
things to have them live on the same property and have that opportunity to do
agricultural work. I know that for our family and for other families that we connect
with. Councilmember DeCosta knows what I mean. I just wanted to touch on that
again one more time. The other item about infrastructure regarding water or a septic
system...the cost whether it is a five hundred (500) or eight hundred (800) square foot
sized home is pretty much the same. We want to open the door there too. Working
closely with Councilmember Chock and in numerous discussions on this, I think we are
at a point that it is another opportunity not only for housing, but for agriculture as well.
That is where I am at. Mahalo.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Does anyone else have final discussion? For
me, I will say that it probably has only come to us as it was only just recently changed
COUNCIL MEETING 30 MAY 18, 2022
that you can allow a kitchen in a guest house. Prior to that, guest houses were not
allowed to have kitchens, so there was no need to provide additional space. It was
basically a sleeping area with a bathroom and a living area. Once you added the kitchen
on, then I think people started saying that once they added the kitchen, it got a little
tighter and they wanted a little more extra space for a bedroom. That is why it probably
took a while for the additional space to come through. With that, this Bill will be
referred to the Planning Commission. The motion on the floor is to refer to the Planning
Commission. Let us take a roll call vote.
The motion to refer Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2860) to the Planning Commission
was then put, and carried by the following vote:
FOR REFERRAL: Carvalho, Chock, Cowden, DeCosta,
Evslin, Kaneshiro TOTAL— 6,
AGAINST REFERRAL: None TOTAL— 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: Kuali`i TOTAL— 1,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0.
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Six (6) ayes.
Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2861) —A BILL FOR AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
CHAPTER 5A, SECTIONS 5A-3.4, 5A-6.1, 5A-6.4, 5A-12.1, 5A-12.3, 5A-12.7, AND
5A-12.8, KAUAI COUNTY CODE 1987, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO REAL
PROPERTY TAXES
Councilmember Carvalho moved for passage of Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2861)
on first reading, that it be ordered to print, that a public hearing thereon be
scheduled for June 15, 2022, and that it be referred to the Finance & Economic
Development Committee, seconded by Councilmember DeCosta.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: We received no written testimony. I will
suspend the rules. Reiko, if you want to give us an overview of the Bill, please.
There being no objections, the rules were suspended.
Ms. Matsuyama: Good morning. This Appeal Bill proposes to
change several different sections within Chapter 5A. We are just doing three (3)
things, and the rest of the changes are basically to make the language in Chapter 5A
consistent throughout. The first thing we are doing is really and truly a housekeeping
measure. It does not affect any content or change any current processes. The basis
to appeal a tax classification and dedication was never reflected in Section 12, which
is the appeal section of Chapter 5A. It was only codified within the sections that
established them. We are adding them to Section 12 so that all the ways to appeal
are reflected in the appeals section of Chapter 5A. This change affects Sections 6.1,
12.3, and 12.7. The next thing we are trying to do is cleaning up the confusion on the
deadline for appealing a notice of corrected assessment. Our assessment notices go
out every December 1st and taxpayers have thirty (30) days to appeal making the
normal annual deadline to appeal December 31st of every year. The confusion lies
with notices of corrected assessment, which established a new thirty-day clock. These
COUNCIL MEETING 31 MAY 18, 2022
are not as common, but they can be sent out at any time during the year. We would
like to just amend the language to reflect the start date of the thirty-day clock for
those circumstances, which we felt was a little confusing to some taxpayers and
appellants. This change affects Sections 3.4 and 12.1. That could potentially be Mike
Hubbard waiting in the lobby because he is calling in from Indianapolis. The last
thing we would like to do with this is to require all appellants to first appeal to the
Board of Review before going to State Tax Court. We are modeling this after the
County of Maui, and they have seen a lot of success in reducing the amount of State
Tax Court appeals. Basically, the Board of Review is the primary vehicle for
disputing the Real Property Assessment Office. Some appellants prefer skipping the
Board of Review process and filing directly with the State Tax Court. The State Tax
Court is...for the most part is more costly, time consuming, and not just for our office,
but for the Office of the County Attorney, and for the appellants. In addition, the
State Tax Court has one (1) judge that hears everything. They have historically
experienced delays in scheduling hearings, and it causes a bunch of the trials to get
bunched up together. All the years will get bunched into one (1) hearing, so it makes
things really complicated. It also causes delays, right? You know that we tie up
moneys that are appealed in a Special Trust Fund. The longer that the State Tax
Court takes in producing a decision or even getting to trial, the potential General
Fund money is tied up in an escrow account basically. On top of that, with this, once
they go through the Board of Review process, if they are still unhappy with the
decision, they can then go to State Tax Court. It just makes them go through the first
step before they go to the State Tax Court. We think it is good to reduce the amount
of appeals going to State Tax Court. We think that we can weed out some of the less
complicated ones at the Board of Review. That part of the change affects Sections
3.4, 12.1, and 12.8. With that, I will open it up to questions.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Cowden.
Councilmember Cowden: Thank you, Reiko. For the most part, this
makes good sense to me. Something that would be helpful for me in our Committee
Meeting would be if you could give me a sample of what the notification would look
like. That is where I find problems occur with the constituents. They are not in the
business of looking at and understanding these documents that they get from the
Department of Finance. I want to be sure that it becomes really clear to them what
it is, what the change is, and how it is laid out matters to me. I just want to make
sure that they are successful. I imagine that the Department of Finance wants them
to be successful at understanding. I think sometimes I just do not think the
unfamiliar understand what comes from our departments. Is it possible to give us a
copy of what it might look like?
Ms. Matsuyama: Just to clarify, you are talking about the
Notice of Corrected Assessment?
Councilmember Cowden: Yes.
Ms. Matsuyama: Okay.
COUNCIL MEETING 32 MAY 18, 2022
Councilmember Cowden: When somebody gets something, I want to see
that there is a box that says respond within thirty (30) days, this is how you respond,
and this is what the difference means. This is the difference in your tax rate,
et cetera, so that they understand it.
Ms. Matsuyama: I will say that for the most part, if they are
getting a Notice of Corrected Assessment, it is probably because you have been in
communication with our Office already. You will know that it is coming, not that that
is an excuse for doing anything to hide the fact that there is a thirty-day window,
because we do not that. Yes, they will know that a communication is coming, and
they will have been told about the thirty-day window and that it exists. Again, we
are not changing anything. It exists now, but we are just clarifying it in the Code.
Councilmember Cowden: I still do want something where it is very
evident. Sometimes there are multiple owners of properties. Sometimes the notice
goes to one (1) owner and not all owners. I just want to know what the process is. If
you have been speaking to one (1) owner and then the other owner gets it and they
do not really grasp, I just want to be sure that it is a clear document. If we could get
that before the Committee Meeting, that would help me.
Ms. Matsuyama: Okay.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Are there any other questions from the
Members? If not, while the rules are still suspended, is there anyone in the audience
wishing to testify? Is there anyone on Zoom wishing to testify?
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting was called back
to order, and proceeded as follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Is there any final discussion from the
Members? If not, we will take a roll call vote.
The motion for passage of Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2861) on first reading, that
it be ordered to print, that a public hearing thereon be scheduled for
June 15, 2022, and that it be referred to the Finance & Economic Development
Committee was then put, and carried by the following vote:
FOR PASSAGE: Carvalho, Chock, Cowden, DeCosta,
Evslin, Kaneshiro TOTAL— 6,
AGAINST PASSAGE: None TOTAL— 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: Kuali`i TOTAL— 1,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0.
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Six (6) ayes.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Motion passes. Next item.
COUNCIL MEETING 33 MAY 18, 2022
Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2862) —A BILL FOR AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
CHAPTER 5A, SECTION 9.2, KAUAI COUNTY CODE 1987, AS AMENDED,
RELATING TO REAL PROPERTY TAXES
Councilmember Carvalho moved for passage of Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2862)
on first reading, that it be ordered to print, that a public hearing thereon be
scheduled for June 15, 2022, and that it be referred to the Finance & Economic
Development Committee, seconded by Councilmember DeCosta.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: We received written testimony for this item. I
will suspend the rules. Reiko, can you give us an overview of this Bill, please?
There being no objections, the rules were suspended.
Ms. Matsuyama: This piece of legislation is being requested by
the Real Property Assessment Division. It is basically needed to reduce the
complexity of golf course assessments and enable Real Property Assessment to focus
more on the sales comparison approach to try to get to fair market value of all
properties. The language that is being proposed is taken directly from the City and
County of Honolulu's Ordinance. They received a judgment in State Tax Court that
stated that their assessment for that certain property lacked uniformity and equality,
because it used an erroneous method for calculating imparted value. The judge forced
them to either promulgate rules for imparted value or remove it from their law. They
spent years trying to promulgate rules, but they were unsuccessful. They ended up
just removing the language and that is what we are trying to mimic here today.
Imparted value is a concept that basically says that a golf course is developed as an
amenity for the surrounding residential areas and when those residential areas are
sold, they take or impart the golf course value with them. The value of the golf course
and the attached clubhouse, spa, et cetera, are now imparted onto the surrounding
lots that are sold. We want to get away from imparted value. I will get more into
that later. We would like to stick to comparable values (comps) to determine property
value and not have to use imparted value as a factor in determining value. I just
want to make a few things crystal clear...the changes that we are proposing will not
impact the County's assessed value for golf courses. It will not impact the County's
assessed value for surrounding lands of golf courses. The proposed changes will not
raise anyone's taxes, because we do not use imparted value right now. We just want
to take out of the Code that we have to consider it in determining value. We will
continue to value golf courses and the surrounding properties as we always have and
this change basically...our values are not changing, but it will help us in defending
those values to the Board of Review or at State Tax Court. Because this would not
increase anybody's value, it should not impact business decisions of golf course
owners, as there is not going to be any impact for them. With that, I will open it up
for questions.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Cowden.
Councilmember Cowden: Thank you for that explanation. Can you help
me understand, when you talk about removing the imparted value, does that affect
the houses around it? It is a golf course, right? When you remove the imparted value,
the imparted value reflects only on the golf courses and not the houses, is that correct?
COUNCIL MEETING 34 MAY 18, 2022
Ms. Matsuyama: Basically, the argument of imparted value is
saying that when a golf course sells or when the developer sells a lot on a golf course,
that they actually take some of the value from the golf course and now it is sitting on
that residential lot. We do not use that in any of our assessments. It is all based on
comps.
Councilmember Cowden: The assessment of the houses or the
assessment of the value of the golf course?
Ms. Matsuyama: Both.
Councilmember Cowden: Okay. I have a question here. When we look
at Section 5A-9.2 and if we look at golf course use means, the actual use of property
for the sport of golf and its related and incidental activities...you gave the example of
maybe the spa, the grill, or maybe the tennis courts...where do we acknowledge these
other pieces that are affiliated with golf courses? This would include the essential
land management function which includes being a retention basin, detention basin,
aquifer recharge, effluent field, et cetera. I am sorry, it is not effluent, but it takes
what comes out of the wastewater treatment plant and helps to clean that up as well.
There are maybe ten (10) extra functions of golf course that has nothing to do with
golf or any of the amenities that might be purchased. It is the birds on the field, it is
the sense of allure of our environment, including view planes. I do not see that
reflected anywhere in here in these new definitions. I will probably be putting an
amendment that will be acknowledging that. Where do you see that is acknowledged
in what you have here? The value of the golf course, as I have been learning, is not
even the golf that is played on it, it is the retention of the open field and how it
manages the water runoff, flood mitigation, and having a recharge area rather than
more built properties on it. That is not reflected in this paper. Where would I find
that in here.
Ms. Matsuyama: We realize that golf courses serve more
purposes than just being a golf course. There are, like you mentioned, effluent fields,
and other purposes as you mentioned, and important ones at that. When we value a
golf course, we take all those things into consideration. I was talking about comps
and you probably know, there are not a lot of comps here on Kaua`i. We do not sell
golf courses here all the time. When we look at a comp, we do take those kinds of
things into consideration, including the ancillary functions of the golf course. They
do play a factor into what the value of the golf course would be.
Councilmember Cowden: I guess what I am requesting or asking is the
best that I can tell, more important than the golf that is played on the golf course, or
anything that generates money, is the function of what it really holds and how the
water moves in that whole area and many of these places where there is a golf course
designed, it was an essential piece of the master plan of how the neighborhood was
set up. I am very worried when we have lost that emphasis here. I cannot support
this Bill at all the way it is written, because the value of the golf course is not the
value of the golf that is played on it. It is how that land is designed into the larger
neighborhood and area. I do not feel in any way that this is acknowledging that,
especially when it is sometimes a little line in there like incidental activities. It is
COUNCIL MEETING 35 MAY 18, 2022
functions of land management. That is a bigincidental. Those are essentialg
challenge here for me. I think we saw maybe five (5) or six (6) letters that had
different elements, from someone who lived on the golf course, an environmental
perspective, a legal perspective, et cetera. We had maybe five (5) letters. Did you see
them?
Ms. Matsuyama: I did.
Councilmember Cowden: Can you speak to what they are asking for in
the letters?
Ms. Matsuyama: For me, I would disagree with you that those
functions are the primary reason for the golf course. I like to golf, and I think that
the golf use is the primary function of the golf course. With that being said, it does
provide a lot of important services to the surrounding properties, right? Like you
said, that is one of the reasons for the golf course. It is basically there to help the
development in some way. I live on a golf course. I like to play golf. I would not
consider myself a golfer. I am not doing this to raise my property taxes, because this
is not going to raise anyone's property taxes. I just want to clarify for the record, this
is not going to do any of that.
Councilmember Cowden: Are you aware that there is a national trend
that once these developed and planned communities are developed and sold out, the
whole property gets sold to another buyer and then there is a trend towards trying to
repurpose the open space that is the golf course. There is a trend on that. It is
happening throughout the country, and it is a concern. It is a concern on some of the
specific golf courses here. We know there has been an effort to do development on the
golf course here. I think it is a real concern. When there is the word"incidental" and
we can update that to "important," but to me those are essential functions. We see
golf courses are not functioning for four (4), five (5), or six (6) years and still they keep
it as a golf course, not just for tax reasons, but they need that needed function. I
think we are being careless, because we have not gotten a consultant perhaps on the
application of land use relative to golf courses. I think we are at risk. This makes it
a little closer to risk. I think I said enough. I really want you to contemplate that. I
know we have discussed it several times and I did not see any of what we discussed
reflected in this change. It was like we never had the discussion.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Cowden, I have a question for
you. In relation to real property tax assessments for a golf course, are you saying
that the assessed value should be greater for the golf course, because of these other
activities or less, because of these activities? All of this is related to determining an
assessed value of a golf course to tax it at a certain rate. I am trying to understand
what all these activities would do to the assessed value.
Councilmember Cowden: Are you asking me or Reiko?
Council Chair Kaneshiro: I am asking you.
COUNCIL MEETING 36 MAY 18, 2022
Councilmember Cowden: Okay. My thing is, is that these areas or
planned open spaces that are important pieces of how we handle flood mitigation...I
went and looked at the one at Kukui`ula, there are really huge areas where that is
designed to take control of the water that is sheeting off of the developed areas. I do
not want to do anything that causes a different use of this land. I am saying that
these are essential public services...the function of the golf course. It is mitigated by
selling golfing to people that helps to bring up the cost of running a golf course to
hopefully neutral, but many of them lose money.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Cowden, this Bill is relating
to how Real Property Assessment is assessing a golf course. I am trying to
understand...you mentioned flooding mitigation and all these examples. All the golf
courses do that. Are you thinking that is going to increase the assessed value of the
golf course or decrease the assessed value of the golf course?
Councilmember Cowden: That it might increase the assessed value, or
it might change whatever protections that are there. I will own that I am influenced
by direct conversation with a series of people who are experts in this field. That is
their concern and they have taught me to see where this is possible, long before this
was proposed.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Right now, Reiko is saying that by getting rid
of this imparted value, there is no change to real property tax assessments. They are
already using comps. You are saying that you want them to increase, because of all
this flood mitigation and other services that come along with golf courses, you want
them to increase the assessed value of the golf course, which would increase their
taxes.
Councilmember Cowden: No. Absolutely not, and I do not know how
that could be interpreted. I am wanting the acknowledgment that...
Council Chair Kaneshiro: You just said it would increase the value of
the golf course.
Councilmember Cowden: We had a golf course on O`ahu sell for twelve
million dollars ($12,000,000). Many golf courses are being sold and turned into
housing. This is a step towards that direction. I would like to see, if we are going to
adapt golf course assessments, that built into it is the acknowledgement of the
essential land management functions such that there is extra protection on the golf
course. I feel this does not acknowledge that. There is no place on this that even
acknowledges the essential function of that open space. It does not protect the open
space. It is a change that makes me nervous.
Ms. Matsuyama: As the Council Chair was saying, we are not
trying to changepolicies on tax incentives,g and we are not trying changehana taxg
valuations on golf courses or anything like that. We are just trying to remove the
verbiage that implies imparted value out of the Code so that we can better defend
ourselves, because we do not use it anyway.
COUNCIL MEETING 37 MAY 18, 2022
Councilmember Cowden: I am hearing that. What I guess you are not
hearing from me is what I would really like...I will work on this for the Committee
Meeting...is that we need to have something that actually acknowledges the essential
land management functions and maybe there is something where a golf course would
need to hit so many different criteria to be able to have an additional protection on it,
but this document does not acknowledge the main contributions to the larger
community and the non-golfing community. The golfing community is a very small
portion of the broad community. There is nothing in this that acknowledges the
essential functions that the golf courses provide. I believe this is an inadequate
document. It is an inadequate Bill. I want that change.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Okay. You can bring an amendment up at
Committee. For me, Reiko, going along those lines, do we assess commercial or
industrial any different based on the type of activity that they have in there?
Ms. Matsuyama: No.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember DeCosta.
Councilmember DeCosta: I am trying to understand and follow what
you are trying to say, Councilmember Cowden. I am trying to give you as much
in-depth thought, but you lost me. I thought the Department of Finance and Reiko
did a really good job as far as letting us know what this Bill addresses. I do not
understand where you are going with this.
Councilmember Cowden: Are you asking me a question?
Councilmember DeCosta: I am so confused by what you are saying. It
does not even apply to this.
Councilmember Cowden: It very much applies. We need to protect this
function and when Council Chair Kaneshiro asked the question about whether we do
this for commercial or industrial applications, most commercial or industrial
applications do not provide any sort of function like that. It is not part of their
function. They do not provide an essential public benefit in the same way. It is not
a fair comparison.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: I would disagree. There is a plethora of
different types of commercial or industrial activities that benefit the public. I am
trying to get back at seeing how you are intending this to affect the assessed value.
Ultimately, they are trying to say that we want to assess all the golf courses
consistently. I am trying to understand how what you are bringing to the table is
going to affect the assessment of a golf course. They are saying that they are using
comps on each golf course. I believe in conversations that I had with Reiko, they look
at how many bunkers, the type of holes, how long the course is, and that is how they
come up with assessed values for the golf course. I am trying to understand when
you mention the golf course having other values of being open space, how is that
affecting the assessed value? It seems like you want it to decrease the value of a golf
course because it creates open space and is used in flooding mitigation, and it
COUNCIL MEETING 38 MAY 18, 2022
increases the value of the golf course. Right now, Reiko is saying that by getting rid
of this imparted value, it is helping them be way more consistent. If they had to rely
on imparted value, they do not even use it anyways. Why should they use imparted
value in having to determine how much the houses around it are affecting the value
of the golf course?
Councilmember Cowden: I am saying that this is inadequate. This is
an inadequate set of definitions. I will add some definitions to it. It is very important.
This makes it look like a tennis court is to tennis. There is much more underneath
that golf course. My worry is that this opens the door to separating the golf course
from the value of the entire master plan, which then helps the golf course to be sold
out for a different purpose. It just becomes land. It should not just be land, because
the neighborhoods around it are designed for it to be there. It is like a culvert and
services like a culvert.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember Evslin, and then we will
probably have to take a caption break.
Councilmember Evslin: Sorry, I am trying to frame this as a question.
Some of this is bordering on discussion. I am acknowledging what Council Chair
Kaneshiro is saying. Regarding commercial, I go to Kukui Grove three (3) times a
week with my kids, not to shop, but for my kids to play at the playground there.
Kukui Grove provides an essential community function in a way that is not
considered in its property tax assessments. I think that is like lots of other
commercial uses along with what you are saying. I think the reason from my
understanding that Kukui Grove provides opportunities for kids to play and parents
to talk to each other in this community function is not taken into its assessed value
in that there is no way to do it in a fair and replicable manner in the same concern
with the golf course. I think that the legal challenge that Reiko is talking about, the
court said that the reason that imparted value for Honolulu in the way that they were
doing it, was against...their assessed value was thrown out in court, because the
judge said it was inconsistent, arbitrary, and subjective, and that they had no real
clear methodology for doing imparted value. Honolulu's imparted value was objective
and arbitrary. I do not see us coming up with a better way to do it. As Reiko has said
consistently, in that it is not being used anyway, I want to recognize your concerns
Councilmember Cowden in saying that we should not value golf courses for its highest
and best use. We do not want golf courses to get developed into housing. It is a good
thing that it is not. In the County Code currently, it is being assessed as a golf course
and not what it could be. There are no changes being proposed along those lines.
When you said that your concern is separating the value of the golf course from the
value of the surrounding area and its other uses, that is not happening, because they
are not doing it anyway. To wrap that up, I want to say that I recognize your concerns
about not wanting to increase values on golf courses. I think we all probably share
those concerns, but this Bill would not do that, because it is not changing the way
that they are assessing the value of a golf course. The reason we have to go in this
direction is that there is no clear and reliable way to do imparted value. To wrap that
into a question, you mentioned that your primary concern is separating the value of
the golf course from the surrounding areas...if you could elaborate on how you feel
COUNCIL MEETING 39 MAY 18, 2022
that this particular change at removing imparted value would do that so that I can
better understand your concern?
Councilmember Cowden: I will try to frame it again. I would like to
have a skilled legal opinion on this that understands this particular industry. Let us
say that there is no problem with the imparted value, I still will want this golf course
definition to really recognize what the golf course brings. I appreciate the playground
of a shopping center, but that is not the same thing as flood mitigation and aquifer
recharge. It is like a Public Works property. It is very different. I am hearing you
say, Reiko, the imparted value we do not use it anyway now. You do not see how this
will impact or leverage a sale or open the door. You do not see where this might
happen. I hope that is correct. I do not have enough experience in the golf world. I
am just hearing serious concerns from a range of people within that development
community. What I care about as a Councilmember is that we do not do anything
that will put at risk these essential functions of land management inadvertently
without intention by making a change. Expect a change from me prior to the
Committee Meeting. It should not hurt your goal to just protect the extra function.
to have an attorneyThatwouldbemyhope. We need look at that who understands
the subtlety. I will try to find that.
Ms. Matsuyama: I do not want to discount all the things that
you were saying about the need for the golf course and what functions they play. I do
not want to discount that. I do think it is outside the scope of valuation. If I remember
correctly when we were drafting this Bill, these definitions are straight from the City
and County of Honolulu. We basically copied and pasted the City and County of
Honolulu's Ordinance. I am not saying it is right or wrong. We will definitely look
at whatever you are proposing to amend.
Councilmember Cowden: Thank you.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Are there any further questions? If not, is
there anyone in the audience wishing to testify on this item? Is there anyone on Zoom
wishing to testify?
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting was called back
to order, and proceeded as follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Is there any final discussion from the
Members?
The motion for passage of Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2861) on first reading, that
it be ordered to print, that a public hearing thereon be scheduled for
June 15, 2022, and that it be referred to the Finance & Economic Development
Committee was then put, and carried by the following vote:
FOR PASSAGE: Carvalho, Chock, DeCosta, Evslin
Kaneshiro TOTAL— 5,
AGAINST PASSAGE: Cowden TOTAL— 1,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: Kuali`i TOTAL— 1,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0.
COUNCIL MEETING 40 MAY 18, 2022
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Five (5) ayes, one (1) no.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: The motion passes. We will take a ten-minute
caption break and we will be back.
There being no objections, the meeting recessed at 10:34 a.m.
The meeting reconvened at 10:44 a.m., and proceeded as follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Welcome back. Next item, please.
Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2863) —A BILL FOR AN ORDINANCE APPROVING
A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT FOR BARGAINING UNIT 2
BETWEEN JULY 1, 2021 AND JUNE 30, 2025
Councilmember Carvalho moved for passage of Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2863)
on first reading, that it be ordered to print, that a public hearing thereon be
scheduled for June 15, 2022, and that it be referred to the Committee of the
Whole, seconded by Councilmember DeCosta.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: We received no written testimony. Is there
anyone in the audience or on Zoom wishing to testify?
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting proceeded as
follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Seeing none. Are there any questions or is
there any discussion from the Members? I will suspend the rules and if Annette or
Janine want to give us an overview of this collective bargaining item.
ANNETTE L. ANDERSON, Director of Human Resources (via remote
technology): Good morning, Council Chair Kaneshiro, Councilmember Chock, and
Councilmembers. The next set of proposed bills reflect the collective bargaining
settlement agreements and one (1) arbitration award, which sets forth the terms over
the four (4) years, as well as the costing involved. I do want to point out that except
for the arbitration award for Bargaining Unit 11, which is Fire, all the other
bargaining units, the value of the increase over the four-year period is the same.
When you look at them, they appear different. You will see different percentages for
across-the-board. You will see some that have step movements, and some do not. You
will see some receiving one percent (1%) lump sum at the beginning. You will see
some one percent (1%) lump sum. You will see one (1) unit has some increases in
uniform and meal allowances. Basically, when you take all of that together over the
four-year period, it all equates to the same increase, which is essentially a 14.35%
increase. As I mentioned, I will get to it if you have questions, on Bargaining Unit
11 a little bit different as it was an arbitration award. With that, if you have any
questions, I would be happy to answer them.
COUNCIL MEETING 41 MAY 18, 2022
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Okay, thank you for that. Are there any
questions from the Members?
There being no objections, the meeting was called back to order, and proceeded
as follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Is there any final discussion from the
Members? If not, we will take a roll call vote. Sorry, one moment. Councilmember
Cowden.
Councilmember Cowden: I was going to make a comment for all of these
bills. In general, I am in support of these collective bargaining increases. I think we
are going to have inflationary turbulence in the coming year where we need to take
care of our people. It is important for everybody to thrive and for us to retain our
team. I am basically speaking for all these proposals that I am in support.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Does anyone else have any final discussion?
If not, roll call vote.
The motion for passage of Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2863) on first reading, that
it be ordered to print, that a public hearing thereon be scheduled for
June 15, 2022, and that it be referred to the Committee of the Whole was then
put, and carried by the following vote:
FOR PASSAGE: Carvalho, Chock, Cowden, DeCosta,
Evslin, Kaneshiro TOTAL— 6,
AGAINST PASSAGE: None TOTAL— 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: Kuali`i TOTAL— 1,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0.
Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2864) —A BILL FOR AN ORDINANCE APPROVING
A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT FOR BARGAINING UNIT 3
BETWEEN JULY 1, 2021 AND JUNE 30, 2025
Councilmember Carvalho moved for passage of Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2864)
on first reading, that it be ordered to print, that a public hearing thereon be
scheduled for June 15, 2022, and that it be referred to the Committee of the
Whole, seconded by Councilmember DeCosta.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: We received no written testimony. Is there
anyone in the audience or on Zoom wishing to testify?
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting proceeded as
follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Seeing none. Are there any questions or is
there any discussion from the Members? We will take a roll call vote.
COUNCIL MEETING 42 MAY 18, 2022
The motion for passage of Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2864) on first reading, that
it be ordered to print, that a public hearing thereon be scheduled for
June 15, 2022, and that it be referred to the Committee of the Whole was then
put, and carried by the following vote:
FOR PASSAGE: Carvalho, Chock, Cowden, DeCosta,
Evslin, Kaneshiro TOTAL— 6,
AGAINST PASSAGE: None TOTAL— 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: Kuali`i TOTAL— 1,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0.
Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2865) —A BILL FOR AN ORDINANCE APPROVING
A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT FOR BARGAINING UNIT 4
BETWEEN JULY 1, 2021 AND JUNE 30, 2025
Councilmember Carvalho moved for passage of Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2865)
on first reading, that it be ordered to print, that a public hearing thereon be
scheduled for June 15, 2022, and that it be referred to the Committee of the
Whole, seconded by Councilmember DeCosta.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: We received no written testimony. Is there
anyone in the audience or on Zoom wishing to testify?
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting proceeded as
follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Seeing none. Are there any questions or is
there any discussion from the Members? If not, roll call vote.
The motion for passage of Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2865) on first reading, that
it be ordered to print, that a public hearing thereon be scheduled for
June 15, 2022, and that it be referred to the Committee of the Whole was then
put, and carried by the following vote:
FOR PASSAGE: Carvalho, Chock, Cowden, DeCosta,
Evslin, Kaneshiro TOTAL— 6,
AGAINST PASSAGE: None TOTAL— 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: Kuali`i TOTAL— 1,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0.
Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2866) —A BILL FOR AN ORDINANCE APPROVING
A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT FOR BARGAINING UNIT 11
BETWEEN JULY 1, 2021 AND JUNE 30, 2025
Councilmember Carvalho moved for passage of Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2866)
on first reading, that it be ordered to print, that a public hearing thereon be
scheduled for June 15, 2022, and that it be referred to the Committee of the
Whole, seconded by Councilmember DeCosta.
COUNCIL MEETING 43 MAY 18, 2022
Council Chair Kaneshiro: We received no written testimony. Is there
anyone in the audience or on Zoom wishing to testify?
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting proceeded as
follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Seeing none. Are there any questions or is
there any discussion from the Members? If not, roll call vote.
The motion for passage of Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2866) on first reading, that
it be ordered to print, that a public hearing thereon be scheduled for
June 15, 2022, and that it be referred to the Committee of the Whole was then
put, and carried by the following vote:
FOR PASSAGE: Carvalho, Chock, Cowden, DeCosta,
Evslin, Kaneshiro TOTAL— 6,
AGAINST PASSAGE: None TOTAL— 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: Kuali`i TOTAL — 1,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0.
Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2867) —A BILL FOR AN ORDINANCE APPROVING
A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT FOR BARGAINING UNIT 13
BETWEEN JULY 1, 2021 AND JUNE 30, 2025
Councilmember Carvalho moved for passage of Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2867)
on first reading, that it be ordered to print, that a public hearing thereon be
scheduled for June 15, 2022, and that it be referred to the Committee of the
Whole, seconded by Councilmember DeCosta.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: We received no written testimony. Is there
anyone in the audience or on Zoom wishing to testify?
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting proceeded as
follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Seeing none. Are there any questions or is
there any discussion from the Members? If not, roll call vote.
The motion for passage of Proposed Draft Bill (No. 2867) on first reading, that
it be ordered to print, that a public hearing thereon be scheduled for
June 15, 2022, and that it be referred to the Committee of the Whole was then
put, and carried by the following vote:
FOR PASSAGE: Carvalho, Chock, Cowden, DeCosta,
Evslin, Kaneshiro TOTAL— 6,
AGAINST PASSAGE: None TOTAL— 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: Kuali`i TOTAL— 1,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0.
COUNCIL MEETING 44 MAY 18, 2022
BILLS FOR SECOND READING:
Bill No. 2845, Draft 1 — A BILL FOR AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
CHAPTER 5A, SECTION 5A-11.26, AND SECTION 5A-9.1(a), KAUAI COUNTY
CODE 1987, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO REAL PROPERTY TAX (Tree Farm
Development Exemption)
Councilmember Carvalho moved to approve Bill No. 2845, Draft 1 on second
and final reading, and that it be transmitted to the Mayor for his approval,
seconded by Councilmember Evslin.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: We received no written testimony on this
item. Are there any questions on this item?
Councilmember DeCosta: I have an amendment to circulate.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Councilmember DeCosta. Is there a second?
Councilmember DeCosta moved to amend Bill No. 2845, Draft 1, as circulated,
and as shown in the Floor Amendment, which is attached hereto as
Attachment 2, seconded by Councilmember Evslin.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Can we be sure to E-mail it to Councilmember
Chock and Councilmember Cowden.
Councilmember DeCosta: At the prior Committee Meeting we had,
when the effective date was changed to July 1, 2022, the grandfathering language
was inadvertently deleted. This amendment simply would add it back in.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Got it. Are there any questions from the
Members? I think when we first did the amendment, they erased the whole section
and it read that it would take effect on July 1, 2022, not taking into consideration the
existing dedications. This would fix that. Councilmember Evslin, do you have a
question on the amendment?
Councilmember Evslin: No.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Okay, if there are no questions, is there any
discussion on the amendment?
The motion to amend Bill No. 2845, Draft 1, as circulated, and as shown in the
Floor Amendment, which is attached hereto as Attachment 2 was then put,
and carried by a vote of 6:0:1 (Councilmember Kuali i was excused).
Council Chair Kaneshiro: The amendment passes. We are back to the
main motion as amended. Do we have any questions on the Bill? Do we have anyone
in the audience wishing to testify on this item? Is there anyone on Zoom wishing to
testify?
COUNCIL MEETING 45 MAY 18, 2022
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting proceeded as
follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Is there any final discussion from the
Members on this Bill? If not, roll call vote.
The motion to approve Bill No. 2845, Draft 1 as amended to Bill No. 2845,
Draft 2, on second and final reading, and that it be transmitted to the Mayor for
his approval was then put, and resulted in the following vote:
FOR APPROVAL: Carvalho, Chock, Cowden, DeCosta,
Evslin, Kaneshiro TOTAL— 6,
AGAINST APPROVAL: None TOTAL— 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: Kuali`i TOTAL— 1,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0.
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Six (6) ayes.
Bill No. 2853 — A BILL FOR AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 14,
KAUAI COUNTY CODE 1987, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE PLUMBING
CODE
Councilmember Carvalho moved to approve Bill No. 2853 on second and final
reading, and that it be transmitted to the Mayor for his approval, seconded by
Councilmember DeCosta.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: We did receive testimony earlier on the
Plumbing Code. Is there anyone in the audience or on Zoom wishing to testify?
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting proceeded as
follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Seeing none. Are there any questions or is
there any discussion from the Members? If not, roll call vote.
The motion to approve Bill No. 2853 on second and final reading, and that it be
transmitted to the Mayor for his approval was then put, and resulted in the
following vote:
FOR APPROVAL: Carvalho, Chock, Cowden, DeCosta,
Evslin, Kaneshiro TOTAL— 6,
AGAINST APPROVAL: None TOTAL— 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: Kuali`i TOTAL— 1,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0.
Ms. Fountain-Tanigawa: Six (6) ayes.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: The last item is Executive Session.
COUNCIL MEETING 46 MAY 18, 2022
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
ES-1074 Pursuant to Hawai`i Revised Statutes (HRS) Sections 92-4
and 92-5(a)(4), and Kaua`i 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 for settlement authority on the issue of attorney's fees in the
matter of Rov Gal vs. County of Kaua`i, et al., Civil No. 20-00011 (United States
District Court for the District of Hawai`i). This briefing and consultation involve 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 Carvalho moved to convene in Executive Session for ES-1074,
seconded by Councilmember Evslin.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: We received no written testimony. Is there
anyone in the audience or on Zoom wishing to testify?
There being no one present to provide testimony, the meeting proceeded as
follows:
Council Chair Kaneshiro: Seeing none. Is there any discussion from the
Members?
The motion to convene in Executive Session for ES-1074 was then put, and
carried by the following vote:
FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION: Carvalho, Chock, Cowden, DeCosta,
Evslin, Kaneshiro TOTAL— 6,
AGAINST EXECUTIVE SESSION: None TOTAL— 0,
EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: Kuali`i TOTAL— 1,
RECUSED & NOT VOTING: None TOTAL— 0.
Council Chair Kaneshiro: The motion is carried. That concludes the
business on our agenda. Not seeing or hearing any objections, this Council Meeting
is now adjourned.
ADJOURNMENT.
There being no further business, the Council Meeting adjourned at 10:56 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
JADE . FOUNTAI N-TANI GAWA
County Clerk
ks
Attachment 1
May 18, 2022)
FLOOR AMENDMENT
Resolution No. 2022-17, Relating to the Proposed Fiscal Year 2022-2023 HSAC
Operating Budget
Introduced by: BERNARD P. CARVALHO, Jr. Councilmember (By Request)
Amend Resolution No. 2022-17 by replacing Exhibit "A" with the attached
Exhibit "A."
V:\AMENDMENTS\2022\2022-234 FA reso2022-17 hsac budget BC_AMK_mn.docx
EXHIBIT "A"
Hawai`i State Association of Counties
Fiscal Year(FY)2023 Proposed Operating Budget
FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2022 Budget FY 2023
Budget(Jul' Budget(Jul' Projections(as Proposed
120-Ju'21) 21-Jun'22) of May 4,2022)Budget
2
REVENUES
3 Membership Fees 43,680.00 $43,680.00 43,680.00 60,000.00
Honolulu Membership Fee-Capacity
3a Building 40,000 00 0 00 40,000.00 0.00
4 NACo Dues
4a Hawai'i County 0.00 0.00 0.00 3,452.00
4b,City and County of Honolulu 0.00 0.00 0.00 19,064.00
4c Kaua'i County 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,342.00
4d Maui County 0.00 0.00 0.00 2,893.00
5 Conference Income 0.00 $10,000.00 0 00 60,000 00
6 Interest Income 35.00 35.00 35.00 35.00
7 Miscellaneous 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
8 NACo Prescription Drug Marketing Fee 500.00 500.00 500.00 500.00
9 Fund Balance 130,671 67 $96,998.61 96,998.61 107,209.63
9a TOTAL REVENUE 214,886.67 $151,213.61 $181,213.61 254,495.63
10
EXPENSES
11 Executive Committee(EC)
12 EC Travel 28,600 00 $28,600 00, 5,187 78 19,750 00,
13 EC Auditing/Professional Services 6,000.00 $6,000.00 1,984.37 6,000.00
14 EC Meeting Supplies 1,730.00 $1,730.00 0.00 200.00
15 EC Subscriptions&Software 900 00 900 00 894 00 1,400 00
16 Special Committees
17,Special Committee Travel 500.00 500.00 0 00 500.00
18 Special Committee Miscellaneous 100 00 100.00, 0 00 100 00
19 NACo
20 NACo Board Travel 14,000.00 $24,000.00 3,526.70 24,000.00
21 NACo Steering Committee Travel 8,000.00 $8,000.00 0.00 4,000.00
22 NACo Events&Outreach 7,676 00 $7,676.00 0 00 7,500 00
23 NACo Dues 27,268.00 $27,268.00 27,268.00 26,751.00
24 WIR
25 WIR Travel 12,000.00 $12,000.00 1,347.69 12,000.00
26 WIR Events& Outreach 1,000.00 $1,000.00 0 00 1,000.00
27 WIR Dues 3,804 00 $3,804.00 0.00 3,804.00
28 Other
29 HSAC Promotion and Outreach deleted $14,855.00 464.50 14,855.00
30 HSAC Consulting Fund (Lobbyist) 27,894.00 $30,000.00 20,765.50 25,000.00,
31 HSAC Executive Assistant(EA) 0.00 $40,000.00 12,565.44 48,000.00
32 HSAC Executive Assistant Travel 0.00 0.00 0 00 5,000.00
33 TOTAL EXPENSES 139,472.00 $206,433.00 74,003.98 $199,860.00
34 Total Revenue 214,886.67 $151,213.61 $181,213.61 $254,495.63
35 Total Expenses 139,472.00 $206,433.00 $74,003.98 $199,860.00
36 Net 75,414.67 455,219.39 $107,209.63 $54,635.63
HSAC Budget Justifications
FY 2023
1 . Membership Fees to increase from $10,920 to$15,000 for each county.
The increase is to support the new roles that have been created to help strengthen and
bring stability to the association.
2. Conference income: $60,000,divided by 4=$15,000 from each county.
o The host county is primarily responsible for generating conference revenue.
Other counties are encouraged to support via sponsorship,the golf tournament,
and registration.
3. Interest Income will remain the same.
4. The NACo Prescription Drug Marketing Fee revenue will stay the same at$500.
5. EC Travel is decreasing from$28,600 to$19,750.The number of in person meetings has
decreased from 12 to 3 per year and the amount per trip has increased to accommodate
for one overnight per year for EC members to attend state legislative meetings during
session.
o Travel includes:Air,Ground, Lodging,Registration
o Neighbor island travel to HNL estimated at$3,750.
Two days of travel including one overnight stay=$650 which includes
two day car rental($200), hotel ($300),and a round trip flight($150).
One day travel =$300 which includes car rental($100) and round trip
flight ($150).
3 members will be traveling,as 1 member remains on island
Proposed budget includes 2 in person day trip meetings per year for
HSAC EC and 1 overnight visit for state legislative meetings.Total of 3
visits per year,for 3 members.
3 x$650) + (6 x$300) =$3.750.
o EC travel for all 4 members to mainland conferences estimated at$16,000.
2000 per member according to the by laws.
2 conferences annually on the mainland out of the 2 NACo and 1 WIR.
2 x$2000=$4000 annual allowance per member
4 members x$4000=$16.000
o Total for EC Travel =$16,000+$3,750= $19,750
6. EC Auditing/Professional Services will remain the same.
7. EC Meeting Supplies will decrease from $1730 (in the past this included the website
fee which is being moved to a new line item "subscriptions") to$200.
o $100 per meeting x 2 meetings per year in State=$200
o Meeting supplies include but are not limited to items such as coffee, tea,water,
and snacks.
8. EC Subscriptions& Software includes but is not limited to squarespace website fee,
domain purchase,zoom account,google drive storage.
o Including the$900 annual fee for Quickbooks.
9. EC Quickbooks Fee of $900 will remain the same.This line item is being deleted and
rolled up into"Subscriptions& Software."
75x12 =$900.
10.Executive Committee Miscellaneous line item -has been deleted.
11 . Special Committee Travel & Miscellaneous remains the same.
12.NACo Travel remains the same.
o Travel includes:Air,Ground,Lodging, Registration
o $2000 for each of the 4 board members,3 meetings per year.
o 3($2000 x 4) =$24,000
13.NACo Steering Committee Travel,budget of$8000 decreased to$4000. $4000 has been
reallocated to support the Executive Assistant travel, see below.Currently there are no
steering committee members but the budget line remains to accommodate if those
positions are filled.
o Travel includes:Air,Ground,Lodging, Registration
o $2000 per steering committee member x 2 =$4000
14.NACo Events (prior name "NACo Promotional")will decrease to$7500 from $7,676.
o Includes but is not limited to AV or room rental for hosting events at the
conferences,as well as food and refreshments for these meetings.
o 3 events annually,estimated at$2500 per event=$7,500.
15.NACo dues included as revenue; each county to remit assessed amounts to HSAC for
payment to NACo. HSAC is now collecting additional funds pro-rated for each county
based on population for the NACo dues. Previously NACo dues were paid from HSAC
revenue which meant that each county split the total cost evenly.The new approach is
to allow for each county to pay according to their population size.
The table below shows the total request being made for each county including their
NACo dues along with the HSAC membership fee of$15,000.
COUNTY 2022 DUES HSAC DUES TOTAL REQUEST
AMOUNT FROM EACH
COUNTY
Hawaii County 3,452 15,000 18,452
City and County of 19,064 15,000 34,064
Honolulu
Kauai County 1,342 15,000 16,342
Maui County 2,893 15,000 17,893
TOTAL 26,751.00 60,000 86,751
16.NACo and WIR Miscellaneous. These items are being deleted as they have not been
used for consecutive years.
17.WIR Travel. Remains the same.
o Travel includes:Air,Ground,Lodging,Registration
o Budget for$12,000 = ($2,000 x 2 Board members x 3 meetings).
18.WIR Events & Outreach. Previously used to be "WIR Promotional." This line item
remains the same.
o Includes but is not limited to AV or room rental for hosting events at the
conferences,as well as food and refreshments for these meetings.
19.HSAC Promotion and Outreach.Remains the same.
o These funds are to help cover costs related to communicating HSAC activities
and reports to its members,other government officials,and the public.
20.HSAC Consulting Fund.Decrease to$25,000.
21.HSAC Executive Assistant. Increase of$8000 for the Executive Assistant role to include
greater scope of duties including strategy and planning in line with the HSAC mission.
o $5000 allocated for reimbursement of travel expenses to attend NACo & HSAC
events.
Cost of the flight not to exceed the amount to travel from Honolulu to
the conference venue.
Travel includes:Air,Ground, Lodging, Registration
Attachment 2
May 18, 2022)
FLOOR AMENDMENT
Bill No. 2845, Draft 1, RELATING TO REAL PROPERTY TAX (Tree Farm
Development Exemption)
Introduced by: BILL DECOSTA, Councilmember
Amend Bill No. 2845, Draft 1, SECTION 7, to read as follows:
SECTION 7. This Ordinance shall take effect [upon its approval,]
on July 1, 2022, provided that the repeal of Chapter 5A, Section 11.26, Kaua`i County
Code 1987, as amended, shall not affect any application that has been approved by
the Director prior to the effective date of this Ordinance."
Amended material is highlighted.)
V:\AMENDMENTS\2022\Floor Amendment Bill 2845 Draft 1 (BD) JA-LC.docx