Good afternoon everyone. We will be starting the fourth session of the Communication Reports and Council Oversight Committee. It is 1-05 pm on March 6, 2025 at the Hawaii County Building in Hilo. Present here are Council members Kimball, Kirkowitz, Houston, Caguata, and myself chair, Michelle Gullimba. Where is he? Oh, there he is. And Council Member Onichi, you will be up here on the diastroiley. Excuse our, oh, and also Council Member of Yegis in Kona. Excuse is Council Member Kanye Lee Kleinfelder. Oh, and Council Member Inama. Thank thank you who I believe will be joining who will yes be joining us shortly. Clear. No wait do we have any testimony thank you. Thank you Madam Chair. Just noting that we do not have any testifiers at any of your remote sites we do have one testify here in the Heelow. Mr. Pat Kahawai Ola. On Kapat, you have three minutes to provide your testimony when you begin. If you could just reintroduce yourself as you start, please. Hi, Mr. Jarek, Maderoz on Zoom. I recognize that you have raised your hand, but the item that you've requested to provide testimony on is after this meeting. So we are closing in shortly. But at this time, Chair, Pat Kahawaii Ola, if you could just reintroduce yourself, three minutes please. Hello Madam Chair, members of the committee, my name is Pat Kahawaii Ola. I am here just to give a comment. And we've worked very hard with this body and especially with consumable men. Work in fact at that particular time because of the funding that was going to have an impact with the, no, by its called Punouno alternative routes study. But we were concerned that when I say we, the native Hawaiians in Hawaiian home lands in Kyokane, Paneva was concerned because funding was to be predicated on the use of railroad avenue as a way to mitigate issues with the roads in Puna. So the suggestion after many discussions and said the suggestion was that I think I'm just going to have my top my head, and I think it was Bill 107 that created an opportunity. And this body did get a lot of heat for denying, or not accepting the $2 million to do that. But I think this is what needs to be happened. Especially especially with dialogue with the, having just the last committee meeting with all of you had about hearing from a community, how do we have and have nots, and you know, all of those things begin to make sense to me just for this. But it is important for me. I'm a product of the homestead. I was born in Reason-Kyokal, now living on a bone-loam state. So it is my heartfelt feeling that and thank you for allowing me to be here to at least comment and to give it. Thank you. Thank you so much for your testimony of a pet. Matter of share at this time. I believe those are all the testifiers you have. Thank you so much for your testimony, Uncle Pat. Matter of share at this time. I believe those are all the testifiers you have. Thank you very much. Clerk, could you read the item in to the Communication 156. Request an update by the Department of Public Works regarding the Poodle Alternative Route Study from Councilmember Ashley Elkirkou. It's dated February 14, 2025. Chair motions of close file and communication 156. It's been moved to close file and communication my 156 by Council Member Kirkwitz. It's seconded by Council Member Hustis. Council Member Kirkwitz. Thank you. Thank you, Chair, for that. You know, I really appreciate you indulging me in having this public conversation about the Pune Alternate Route Study. I was going through my notes to see when we started this conversation. This started in November of 2023, when a bill was brought forward to provide matching funding, $500,000 from the county to take advantage of funding from the state to do a study, a plan to identify alternate routes in and out of Puna, but specifically within the lower Puna region, Makai of Highway 130. And there was so much time spent through testifiers about the importance that we consider routes, that we consider routes, Malka of the Highway, and certainly not even entertaining a route that would cross any Hawaiian homestead communities, because our homestead communities have carried the burden of so much of our public infrastructure. It's absolutely not fair to ask them to sacrifice anymore. And so after a lot of dialogue that original bill for a Pune Mkai alternate route study died, wanting to make sure that we could take advantage of state funds, I introduced a new bill removing the Mkai element and spoke with, you know, state department of transportation director Ed Sn Sniffin about can we expand the scope? And let's increase a bit of the money that the county is giving. Let's do a million dollars. Let's match their million and put more funding behind this and think about regional solutions. Puna is represented now by three council members. It's massive. It's the size of Oahu. We've only got a couple of main entryways in and out of the region and when we have experienced natural disasters, when we have experienced car accidents, it is carma-getting. Everything shuts down and it is an absolute nightmare to get in and out of the Puno community. And so I wanted to bring this conversation forward to the council because once I introduced that new bill to expand the scope of this study, it was adopted by the council, and it was attached to a resolution that this body also adopted. Last term, you weren't here yet council member, Qustis. And Mr. Honeishi, welcome back. But it was important that even though resolutions are symbolic that it be referenced in the bill that no routes through Hawaiian homesteads be considered and that the community be engaged every step of the way. That was adopted in January 2024, that resolution, the bill to appropriate county funding was approved in February 2024. I made sure to ask then director Steve Pousy for updates on how things are moving along. Last April during budget hearings, I have email communications from him, and this one's really, really important in June and August of last year. In August, he shared with me that he met with representative Gregor Illogon about this project. And at that point, representative Illogon did not hint to any lapse funding. And I think that's important to get on the record and that everyone is clear, because we all know about the press release that went out later this year. Where representative Illogon thrust blame solely at the county when we talked about this study being a collaborative process between county and state. So I take great umbridge that he would blame this body for trying to solve a problem that he created because when he was on the council he rejected funding from the state to do the exact study that now he's asking us to do. So I just want to make sure that all of the facts surrounding this situation are clear and on the record. I understand we have new administration, so Director Ono, I am so sorry. No, don't be. I'm so sorry to have to put this frustration out there, but my community is so frustrated. You know, this has been lingering for many many years and today we just need answers, right? We're gonna we're gonna turn the page, we're gonna look forward and so I just want to understand to the best of your knowledge if you could just explain to us what happened. As I mentioned earlier, there were so many moving pieces last year and we as a council and the community were led to believe that progress was being made to contract the vendor, to plan community meetings. The last communications that we got from director Pousie were a contract was imminent. We'll do community meetings by the end of the year. That was last year. Now it's March 2025. Hi director, thanks for being here to help us shed light on the situation. Absolutely. First of all council members, unforgivable to let funds lapse. You know, my entire career, both in state and county, I don't recall us ever for lapsing funds. That's irresponsible. Because when they're there you got to expend them. Let me bring you up to the Pune Alternate Route. We have a con consultant in place. We are going to fast track that consultant contract. You know it's already delayed so we're going to fast track. We're going to press this consultant to meet the earliest dates possible in the delivery of the product, which is basically a study of the different routes and the determination of which is a preferred route. We believe just by our engineering knowledge and my knowledge in transportation background that the Maulka route would be the preferred route. I've experienced trying to put her out through Hawaiian home lands that was to Hawaii me a bypass more than 30 years ago. And that doesn't work. All you need is one person to it and then you know what happens is the commission will be very uncomfortable you know granting any license. You can't buy right away through a Hawaiian home lands you need a license to go through. So that's the status and we're going to push it. Keone is our engineering division head and he's already hopping on it and we'll move as fast as we can. Okay, I was hoping we were hopping on it last year but we're here now. So I just want to make super clear. We have a consultant that's been contracted. They've already started. Mr. Thompson, do you want to just elaborate? Sorry. We'll go ahead. And Mr. Thompson, are you going to be the lead point of contact for this project? I just want to make sure that I'm following up with the right person going forward. Hi, Keone Thompson. I'm in the division chief. Otherwise. So we have been working with the consultant. We have a proposal. We have not executed contract just yet. The lead person will be the meadow, my deputy division chief. She's been working with them diligently trying to get the contract in place. So she's been very up to date on that and getting going. Okay, so it's just a matter of inking the signatures. Pretty much. And getting the funding though. Okay. Yes. Perhaps Kelsey, do you want to talk a little bit about the funding because we appropriate it as a council funding last fiscal year. Is it incumbent beyond last fiscal year or do we need to do another appropriation? And the reason why I ask is council members and communication 156.1, I ask director Sniffin to just give us an overview of what's happening on the state side. There's been talk of representatives Jacobela, a Janay Capella, and representative Gregor Illagon, both giving money for a study, a pretty substantial amount. But there's a matching fund element to this. And so I believe we're in a position to match these funds up into a million dollars, but Kelsey, if you could just elaborate, do we need to reappropriate or are we good to go? Hi, Kelsey. Kulu, Lewis Business Manager, public works. So the one million dollars is ready to go. So that was based off of the original ordinance, depending on how much the proposal and the contract is for it becomes over a million. We would probably need another appropriation because our appropriation was just for the $1 million. Okay, I understand And I cannot recall the number off top of my head, but there's a resolution that we passed. I want to say my first term, where the County of Hawaii Department of Public Work specifically, and HDOT, can do work for each other up to $2 million. So I'm going to find that. I'm going to send that to you, because I think it's really important for us to leverage those kinds of tools so that we're not in any way further delaying getting this contract out the door. Okay, thank you. Allow me to add something. Keoni, with the funding we have, we can start already, right? We don't have the way for the state's appropriations to come through in my door. No, I'm the proposal is actually more than the million dollars. Right, but I think what we intend to do is start and they will amend the contractor or change with the consultant okay that so that will allow us to start. So by starting it would just be primarily with the $1 million in however much maybe needed with county funds. And then if we want to as to not delay the project, work everything out with the state and then do an amendment, then we can do that as well, according to the director and Okay, perfect. I mean, considering relate, I would really be in such, you know, indebted to you if we could consider that chair just a little bit more lenient to you, just have a couple more questions. Thank you. We are in a new administration, and I don't always know how the transitions go of information, different projects, right? Different administrations, different priorities, but plenty of community needs. How do we ensure that going forward if there are appropriations for special projects like this? Because we get money from state federal government all the time. But how do we track funding from state and federal partners for special projects like this and ensure that we're processing the paperwork to take advantage of the funds and that the project is moving. What are the internal procedures for that? Right? Like I think about get plenty lessons to learn from this situation. You folks are, we're new in your roles at that time. Now you have been more firmly kind of cemented. And so I just, what is your opinion Kelsey on how you think we as a county can be taking better track of these appropriations, but on the same side and maybe Mr. Thompson wants to weigh in here, how do we make sure that the project is managed and moves forward? So I think that's one of the first things that I looked at when we found out about the lapsing of funds. To me, it's like, okay, they started back with a new administration. There were different directors, different, you know, I would say like key personnel involved. And it involves multiple agencies. State, of body mayor's office DPW I think going forward we really need to come up with a process and it's working with state working with the mayor's office and ensuring that no matter through the different transitions because these projects can go on a long time that we come up with a process that will last throughout. So addressing the transitions, just having like a standard operating procedures for this type of work. I think that would be a big help and have all the key players involved in developing that plan. Do you think our new financial management system that we have secured as a county could potentially help with that, the tracking of that? Um, I am not an expert in that new ERP system, so I'm not sure. I know I've seen it from Once a project is in there, we can track it, but as far as the kind of pieces that happen before I can't answer. But within the system, you just talked about project management. So we'll be able to know the status of a project once it's entered into this new ERP system. Yes. Perfect. And you and I have had a wonderful conversation about this director-ownal tracking project, so they don't get forgotten about. Do you wanna elaborate a little bit on how we can do better in the future? I personally really enjoy management listings. So we have already project status report that we've developed and next month, the information on the status report will come from the building's division for their projects and from the engineering division for theirs and for our traffic division for traffic projects. But primarily what this saves us from doing is recreating the information in different formats coming from all over the place. So this one report will be standing. It will be updated regularly, monthly, and we can use that to disseminate. So everybody gets the same information. Also for the funding, we need to develop a management tool to list all these funds that are coming in. So I'll be working with Kelsey on that to develop that. For example, I just developed one yesterday and guess what that's for? Complaints. Oh, your bridge, what about your bridge? No, your bridge will go. Yeah. And we're trying to get up, Well, this is the side track, but we're trying to get an exemption from doing that study fresh. So project status report will ensure that we have real time information, accurate information regarding the status of various public works projects. Yeah, I won't say real time, but it'll be a month at a time. You know, that's great, because sometimes took like several months, if at all, for me to get a response from prior leadership. And it is what it is. I know folks are busy, but I think it's really important that when we say we're gonna do something that we follow through. And if there are any changes to the timeline or project or whatever, that is communicated as well. Well, we have such a tool which we do. This is the first report we're putting together. Anybody request it, we can just furnish it, we have it. Excellent, thank you, director. So going forward, myself, Council Member Kanaley, Eclan Felder, who's not here, but also Council Member Onishi, we all represent an aspect of the Pune region. So once this contract has been inked, I think we would appreciate an update and then if the consultant can provide us with a timeline for action, that way we know when the community can plug in and provide Monal and all the different options that are being explored. Let us help you get that message out and engage our communities. This is very much a collaborative effort. We're all on the same page. Awesome. Go team. Thank you chair for the latitude I yield. Thank you Council Member Crickquist. Anyone else on this? Council Member Innis. Thank you, voucher. So when we move forward using our county funds and in then the state brings theirs on in, let's start some interest on them, okay? So we can make a little bit more extra money on that. Thank you. Okay. I'm gonna back up for the writer. Okay. Seeing no other light time for comments, I would entertain a vote on closing file on this communication 156. All in favor, please say aye. Any opposed? Communication 156 is closed with eight in favor and council member Connolly, Kleinfelder, excused and that brings us to the end of our agenda for this committee. The next one will be taken clay shortly. Thank you very much.