safety and well-being. I'm Jen Kaguata and I'll be chairing this meeting here in Hilo. We also have our Kona Chambers open, but all of our council members are here this morning with us. Mr. Jr. Clerk, would you please do it a roll call for us? Substitute clerk. Substitute clerk. Substitute clerk. But Madam Chair, Council member Evans. Here. Council member Glimba. Council member Inapa. You know, Council member Kanye Lee Kleinfelder. Here. Council member Kirkawicks. Present. Council member Kimball. Here. Council member Lilo. Present. Council member Villkox. Present. Councilmember Kimball. Here. Councilmember Lilo. Present. Councilmember Villegas. Chair. I am here. Thank you. So chair, you have eight members. Okay. Thank you. Today I forgot to mention is July 9th, 2024, and the time is 11 o'clock 8 am. So we have just two items on our agenda today. Mr. Clerk, can you get us started? Thank you, Madam Chair. Just noting that we do not have any testifiers here in our Heelow Chamber via Zoom and reaching out to our remote sites, I believe we do not have any testifiers there. Confirming that, you have no testifiers here at the beginning of your meeting. Thank you so much. Can you read in the first order of business? Do we have any further testifiers for resolution 547-24? Hearing none, resolution 547-24. Approves the County of Hawaii Department of Parks and Recreation 2024 Title VI Plan pursuant to the Federal Transit Administration Title VI Circular 4702.1B requirements and guidelines. Adoption of the plan fulfills federal requirements to ensure that the Department provides public transit service in conformance with Title VI legislation which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin introduced by Councilmember Kaguata by request. Chair, motion to forward resolution 547-24 to the Council with a favorable recommendation. Motion by Councilmember Lee Loy, second by Councilmember Inaba. May we ask the director to please come on up and share with us this report. Thank you director Messina for being here. Tell us about title six and your. So good morning, Moorish Messina Director of Parks and Recreation. This is something that has been before you folks before. This is something that has been before you folks before. This is, we do elderly transportation services either through, like taking people to the hospital, to the groceries or to do shopping. And we also take for medical appointments. And since some of our vans that we utilize are purchased through federal funds, we just have to make sure that our Title VI plan is up to date, and this is the latest version, just making sure that, uh, put it on paper that we will comply with all the requirements in Title VI. Great. Do you have any highlights or anything you want us to know about, particularly on this report? Um, just, we will not discriminate against anyone. Okay. I'll leave it to the body to see if there are any questions or comments. I have a question. Yes, Council member Evans. Thank you. It says complaints must be in writing and signed by the complaint. Have you been getting any complaints? So we service about 15,000 seniors or Capuna each year. So yes, man, we do get complaints. And it's everything from, you know, maybe I didn't get picked up on time to maybe the way the van driver was driving hit every pothole and didn't miss any things like that. But yeah, and all of our complaints do come into writing. If there's ever an individual who wants to make a complaint but they don't want to put their name to it, either myself or Michelle or Deputy meets specifically with that person there what they got to say. Yeah, because I handled one of those complaints and it didn't seem to me it was in writing and so I appreciated that we were able to have that conversation. have that conversation and interesting. 15,000 you say that you? Between 15 and 15,000 senior citizens are serviced by elderly activities division annually. That's not just transportation services. Okay, and so we're not having any issues with the delivery of that service are we in terms of vans breaking down or. We're good. All right. Thank you. Are you. Thank you. Anybody else have any comments questions. About the report. This is the report about the report. No, the title 6 plan. No? Okay. I just have a couple questions. Director, when you have to change a route or discontinue a around or something like that. How is that decision made and how is the public informed of it? Well, it's mostly the persons we have to inform are the, either the elderly persons themselves or their caregivers or their families. And we do it with plenty of notice. There are sometimes where like somebody just like for short staffed, you know, or by sick or something like that. But they're never left out in the cold. Everyone is given a phone call. We don't do emails either. We specifically make sure we reach out to somebody. Okay, that's great. I did talk to somebody who participates. She's from Hilo, but she actually participates in activities in volcano. And she said that she also, there used to be a ban or transportation for some people, either Hilo or maybe even Hamakua, that took people up there to volcano and that recently she's felt she's responsible for picking up several people along the way and she just she felt it was a hard burden because if she couldn't go for some reason she felt like then those people don't get to participate and so I don't know you know if it's possible when someone has something like that do they just contact you and talk about it or if you could give her my cell phone number okay and that way I can talk to her if I know what she's talking about. Okay, great. I just, yeah. I didn't know how formal or informal some of these things are, but yeah, thank you so much. I appreciate that. We just want to take care of it as soon as we hear about it. Sure. Sure. All right. We'll appreciate you and the work that you do to help our Kubuna get around and and stay active in these activities. So thank you so much. We have a real good elderly activities division. Yeah, excellent. All right, well with that, I think we're done with this particular item. So all those in favor, sorry, I lost my page. There we go. All those in favor of closing file and resolution five, four, seven, oh, no and of closing file and resolution 547. Oh, no, not closing file. I guess we need to send it to council with a favorable recommendation resolution 547-24. All those please say aye. Any opposed? Mr. Clerk, you have nine eyes. All right, could we do Bill 175, please? Do we have any testifiers for Bill 175? Hearing none, Bill 175, amends Chapter 15, Article 9, Section 15-72 of the Hawaii County Code, 1983. In 2016, addition as amended relating to the Parks and Recreational Farmers Market Facility Schedule. Increases the potential establishment of farmers markets by adding three park facilities to the Helo Hummoku region One park facility to the Co-O region One park facility to the Kohala region and two park facilities to the Kona region and updates the park facility name in the Pune region to William Billy Kinoa district park Introduced by Councilmember Kagiwata by request William, Billy, Canoid District Park, introduced by Council Member Coguata by request. Chair motion to forward bill 175 to the Council with a favorable recommendation. Thank you, those motion by Council Member Lee Loy and seconded by Council Member Gellimba. Director, can you tell us a little bit about this one? Yeah, we're pretty stoked about this. This is finally hitting our vision of having a farmer's market, at least one farmer's market in every district. We have a lot of people that come and they want to do pop up farmers markets, they want to do vending and we do have a process to go to be a license and authorize vendor at a county park. But it's not everybody can do that. So we've been meeting with nonprofits around the island. I would think that they can take up this cause for us. And the selection process was made. Does the area have water? Does it have electricity? Does it have ample parking? Are we not competing with like private businesses and stuff like that? So we're very happy with this. We're going to kick this off with an email campaign to a lot of our nonprofits who we think can help and also working with research and development of their food sustainability section and we want to get these farmers markets going as soon as possible. It's going to be a very hands-on approach for us because we have seen farmers markets fail numerous times. And we want to make sure that however it is, it's going to be successful. The biggest difference for our farmers markets is there is a maximum that vendors can be charged, and that is $10 a day. So the goal is just simple farmers or people who have a garden, you have too many, like for me, sometimes I have too many green beans, too many cucumbers. And so for $10 I could go and I could sell everything I got at one of these farmers markets. We have a very strict process and we'll do a memorandum of agreement or a memorandum of understanding, sorry, with each one of the nonprofits and all the proceeds that are collected from the farmer's market of Vinning's... Vinning fees? Yeah, you'll know what I'm trying to say. Thanks. We'll go directly back into the farmers market at that specific park. Terrific. Questions, comments? Folks, yes, council member, look away. Thank you, Chair. And, you know, please reel me back in if you feel I'm venturing outside of this particular ordinance. It's pertinent. I know this is for naming, but I'm more curious about how the actual Farmers Market programs are run. And I'm looking in the code. It's very reasonable for folks to participate $5. To be able to do that. Who is managing that program? If somebody wanted to have a pop up at a Farmers Market market at a county park, and this again increases opportunities to be able to do that, how would one go about that process director? The first part of the process is actually establishing a relationship and agreement with a nonprofit. That nonprofit will manage the farmers market under the direction of our recreation directors for that specific park. So it has to be a nonprofit, not like a friends of the park agreement? Yes, this is a very strict, got a lot of money we're dealing with sometimes. And you know another part of this too is that when we're looking at like theft of produce, theft of bananas and stuff, or if we're looking at like say if there's a there's a disease or somebody gets sick, we'll be able to track back to where that farmer's market was. Each vendor will have a permit, so we'll be able to track back. And if there's any issue with the Department of Health, we'll be able to find out exactly where that produce came from. How are you selecting the nonprofit to basically manage this program? Is it a favorite process? So far, the nonprofits have just come to us and they say that this is what we would like to do. And we look at their strengths and their weaknesses and we're straight up with everybody if we think that this is so far over their head, we ask them if they can bring a couple of people and they help them. And then when they are struggling, we come in and provide direct assistance as far as maybe move to this area or maybe set up your vendors like this. Because like I said, we wanna make sure that this is a successful program. We don't wanna see anyone fail that. Is there like a template that you guys have and basic things that a nonprofit needs to create in order for the farmers market to be successful. So any nonprofit, any nonprofit that contacts us about this, we've got a generalized MOU that we share with them and it specifies everything from insurance requirements to everything else that's needed. And that will help them make a decision whether they think they can do this or not. Then in terms of like setting a schedule and marketing it on social media, is there guidance that the department is providing either P and R or you said R and D? Although it'll all be P and R, as far as that part is concerned, but it's going to be site dependent as well. So like if I'm looking at Command Man Park, they have the ability to run a farmer's market one Saturday a month, a Pohua Park. I think we were running two Saturdays a month. And it's also going to be dependent on what are the uses of the park that way. We're not competing with other things that are happening. I could forget two or three thousand people, therefore, say, a tournament. A farmer's market is not the best for that day. Can I just want to make sure that I'm understanding the kinds of vendors that can be there? So folks that sell products, where's grown produced made on island of Havite. Yep, you're not going to be able to come to our farmer's market and and sell, you know, avocados from Mexico or cheap sunglasses. Everything has to come from our island and be made or produced on our island. Is there wiggle room for food vendors? Like if they are sourcing ingredients on island and they have a food pop up, could they participate in the farmer's market? Of course. Yeah, we're not saying you're a lumpier rap came from Philippines so you can't do it. So we're, you know. So yeah, so that is, you know, they're making or they're producing that, you know, on the island. Great. Thank you. Chair, I really appreciate the latitude so we can get more information to the public arena about this really, I think, great opportunity for communities, Islandwide. Thank you. And once this makes it through Council, we will be putting out on social media and we will be doing a press release. And we're gonna set up a Zoom call with anyone who's interested in doing this. Great, thanks, Director. I won't. Thank you, Kelsa, Marie-Loye. Oh, thank you, Chair. Thank you for bringing this forward. And maybe not at this time and maybe as we measure the efficacy of these programs, my concern is, and just being very hopeful that they will be very successful, my concern is you'll have pop-ups kind of along the roadside near the facility and so they'll end up becoming poachers, right? They're not paying the $10.00. There's no guarantee but because of the success of a farmer's market, say in Honaka, and they're full that you'll have roadside vendors and just wanted to just put it out there for now that maybe some other ordinances around discouraging pop-ups within a particular radius of a farmer's market, right? So that it really incentivizes a vendor to participate at that location and the return on investment for their contributions as being part of the organization or the nonprofit or contributing means they also ensure that their investment won't be poached by someone half a mile down the road selling light-year green papaya right just kind of putting it out there not for now but in support. Okay thank you. Great thank you Chai you thank you council member council member Viego. Yes Aloha Moe thanks for being here and congratulations you have been working on this for a long time and a huge mahalo to your staff for putting this together as well. I just had a quick question. In the Kona area, the Honao now, Rodeo Arena, fantastic. What is Kailua Park? Which park is Kailua Park? That's oldies. Oldies. Okay, great. Thank you. That's helpful. And what area of the park will this be in? Right now we're thinking about the area that's close to the events pervillion where the fair normally sets up but we also have been approached by someone who wants to set up near the gym but we got to make sure at Kaguapark that it's a place that's not going to be impacted by because the way the parking lots are situated at Kaguya Park, we want to have them away from all of that. We want to have them close to a place that has water, has electricity, and that we can manage. So we're thinking almost close to the entrance of the beach park area. Where used to be the old DMV? Yes. Not right over there. Right over there. Okay, great. Because there is lots of parking and then it to be the old DMV. Yes, not right over there. Right over there. OK, great, because there is lots of parking. And then it will be the responsibility of the vendors to provide their own tents and shade. Yes. Right now, it seems to be working everything. Everybody said, so been a tin by tin. You bring it up, you pop it up with your tables with your chairs. And what we've seen from the successful farmers markets that we've run so far is they've taken those proceeds and they bought tables and chairs and popups for other people. So it's been working out. Fantastic. Thank you so much. This is an exciting new development for Kona and the fact that you have included the area in South Kona, which is so agriculturally rich. There are so many amazing farmers down there, so providing access in an area close to them. I think will be fantastic. And yeah, as we continue to move forward with the renovations and improvements at Kona Park, or Kailua Park, I look forward to working with you. And if there's need, please reach out and let me know so we can facilitate whatever whatever needs you have in order to ensure the success of this and to support our farmers and our small businesses that can participate in this. So thank you. Sounds great. Thank you. Thank you. Accounts member. Thank you. Oh similar question. You have YMIA park which one there's three parks up there I'm in my mind. I'm thinking so why may a park is the park that's near the why may a community center Near where the playground is It's not Kalani shooting district park with the cameras. Okay You know we have Parker's school, has their farmers market right across the street from now on Saturdays, and then we have the farmers market at the stables on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and then the wine homelands has their farmers market on Saturdays. So where, what do you think of the schedule? Have you, I guess, in putting this on the list, who did you speak to in the community to come up with putting it on the list? And where do you think the timing of this, what days? And so our planning right now for why me of Park is we would like to do a farmers market on Sundays so that we're not competing with those other folks. And the people that are there on the other days either Wednesdays or Saturdays at the other farmers markets, they'll have actually one extra day to sell their wares or their vegetables or produce at hours. And so that is the whole goal is to not compete with other folks, just give this extra opportunity for farmers. Yeah, just to know that we are struggling so much with parking in that area. I mean, I'm obviously I want more food and stuff available for people, but that area is so challenged with parking. I'll be curious how you manage it because right across the street is the Catholic church and the Biscobal church and they just fill up with parking right there. And so it would be curious how you try to manage that because you don't really have a lot of parking stalls. I mean the parking is, I mean, you're parking lot that's right there where the Community Center has very little parking and the actual ball field in the skateboard park. That's not a lot of parking there either for the people that use the park facility. I'm just a little just want to make sure that you've thought that through because the highway department is looking at I'm trying to get dates but they're looking at adding complete street and on the shoulders putting in sidewalks and bicycle lanes and whatever that could potentially take away parking That people are using now and I'm a little concerned that this parking is now heating up as this is a real problem area So just for warning you this is a Problem area for parking. Yes, and we understood that when we were looking at possibly putting it at the gym. There's not a lot of parking there either and we're trying to get our programs running at the gym right now seven days a week and our goal was to have a farmers market in Waimea and we're not going to find a perfect spot but sometimes we have 1500 people out on that field, you know, in and around with big events and everybody figures it out. So I would rather us just have to deal with the parking situation but still have a farmers market in our park. And you haven't thought about inside farmers market in that great big gym? Yeah, we don't allow that in our gyms. Yeah, food and there's going to be plants, there's going to be dirt. We don't want to bring that inside of a gym. It'll be curious how it works out because this is definitely. It'll be dynamic, you know? And we'll figure out as we go and whoever we work with. But I think the goal is having a farmers market in one of our parks in Waimea is should be the end goal. Okay, the church row was not an option. Okay, thank you. Councilmember Connelly, Klein-Belder. Thank you. Good see adding more parks to this program. This has been existence for a long time. You and I helped Auntie Maddie get a farmer's market up and going in the Bahuapark. We did run into some problems but I mean ultimately what I saw come out of that was an amazing opportunity for community. In that instance I think one of the existing farmers markets had been displaced and they were able to pop one up there And I remember the first day we did it was beautiful Yeah, community coming out yet people buying what they wanted walking around use of a park facility and Ultimately, I think it was a great service to the community. So seeing more places on our list is tremendous good job Look for it is seeing the post we can help spread it out there to the community and then I have an idea for you I'll talk with you after. Thank you. Okay and you know the ladies who used to run it with antimaddy have already come in and they say they want to start it back up again so that's gonna be awesome. That is beautiful because it it was a beautiful event that's that's the best I can say and we love that, Demari. Thank you. Thank you, Councilmember. Anybody else? No? Okay, just a couple things. Having seen how things work at the Hilo farmer's market, just wondering about trash, is the park's going to be taking care of trash or will the non-profits be taking care of trash? It'll all be parks. So that's a good thing about having an in a park. Our maintenance folks will be there, our recreation folks will be there, it'll be 100% supportive. Okay, great. The other thing is will there be any, I guess it will be up to the individual site whether there's any kind of seating picnic tables anything like that provided or well you know how will that work? Yeah we're not looking at that if if the nonprofit decides they want to set up a little area so folks can sit and eat that's up to them okay but so far we haven't seen many of those. Usually somebody wants to take something, they can take it to like the parks and picnic tables that are already provided in the park. But it'll be up to the nonprofit running it if they decide to do something like that. Okay great. Well this sounds fabulous. Do please reach out to all of us and we can help you know advertise and push things out. So really looking forward to it. All right. know, advertise and push things out. So I'm really looking forward to it. All right. Okay, thank you. Where's my page? All right. So with Bill 175, all those in favor, it's sending this to Council with a favorable recommendation. Please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Mr. Clerk, you have nine eyes. All right, thank you so much, Director. And with that, we've finished our agenda, and this meeting is adjourned at 1125. Thank you.