LIHUE — The County Council is discussing a list of projects that will go before the state Legislature for potential general obligation bond funding opportunities. There are five projects on the Capitol Improvement Project funding list — $5 million for
LIHUE — The County Council is discussing a list of projects that will go before the state Legislature for potential general obligation bond funding opportunities.
There are five projects on the Capitol Improvement Project funding list — $5 million for an adolescent treatment and healing center, $550,000 for a centralized auto maintenance facility, $400,000 to go toward the Salt Pond master plan, $500,000 for a helicopter hangar for the Kauai Fire Department, and $700,000 for construction and improvements at the Veterans’ Cemetery facility.
Nadine Nakamura, county managing director, and Keith Suga, county CIP manager, presented the five projects to the County Council.
The council ultimately decided the list needed further discussion in committee meetings before it is revisited at the next council meeting Nov. 18.
“I’m not adverse to anything on this list; however, I am not supportive (of approving this list) on the fact that there is more work that needs to be done on some of these items,” said Councilmember Mason Chock. “I am looking forward to having a more in-depth discussion on this and see how we can move forward with this list.”
The council was in full agreement with having the helicopter hangar, the Salt Pond master plan and the Veterans’ Cemetery facility on the list, but members needed more clarification on the other two items. Some councilmembers said they were hoping to see different things included on the list altogether.
“You look at the list and think it’s all worthwhile projects, but I ask where is the housing and the traffic and the roadway improvements?” Councilmember Gary Hooser said. “Then you start to see what is lacking and as I understand, general obligation bonds can be used for just about any capitol improvement project.”
Rep. Daynette Morikawa said Monday that Kauai has done “very well” when it comes to securing state funding, and she’s optimistic that the county will get some money from the legislature this year.
“It is always tough to get projects funded, but we, the Kauai Legislators, do our very best to work as a team in supporting all Kauai requests,” Morikawa said.
Salt Pond master plan
On the current list, there is a request for $400,000 for a master plan project to look at how to preserve the salt making culture on Kauai.
“The Salt Pond master plan is necessary to protect the salt beds and plan for better use of facilities which will preserve open space and allow for cultural information and history,” Morikawa said.
Director of Parks and Recreation Lenny Rapozo said there are several projects in the works at Salt Pond through Public Works, and this is a separate project that takes a look at how the county administration is working with area residents and families.
“This project is dealing with the stewardship of the salt makers,” said George Costa, director of the county’s Office of Economic Development. “We know that vehicles and people are in the salt area and part of the master plan is to discuss it with the families (so we can preserve the salt ponds).”
Costa said the department has looked at blocking off the beach to traffic, building a platform so folks can view the salt ponds without disturbing them, and adding salt-making demonstrations in the park.
“The goal is to work very closely with the community advisory group, and there will be multiple meetings to get a product that everyone can feel good about and sets a clear vision about what can happen in this area,” Nakamura said.
Adolescent Treatment and Healing Center
The plan asks the Legislature for $5 million to build an adolescent treatment and healing center on Kauai.
There are drug and alcohol treatment centers for adolescents on Neighbor Islands, but there isn’t a 24-hour facility on Kauai.
The center is in its beginning phase, with one feasibility study conducted in 2013 and an update in the works.
It would be a cluster of buildings that would be residential and a facility for group therapy, then there would be classroom space, Nakamura said. There will be about eight beds in the facility.
Councilmember JoAnn Yukimura questioned whether the administration had fully thought through putting the treatment center on the general obligation bond list.
“Isn’t it premature to be asking the Legislature for money before you have even the basic information about how this building is going to be used and operated?” Yukimura asked.
Hooser said he didn’t think there was a very high likelihood of the center receiving funding because there’s such a high demand for money from the Legislature.
Councilmember Ross Kagawa, however, said he thought the center should remain on the list.
“I’d rather have the state pay the $5 million than the county because it’s the state’s job anyway,” Kagawa said. “Our youth are better served here on the same island as where they live.”
Centralized auto maintenance facility
Currently there is one Public Works auto shop, built in 1978, that supports all 180 of the Kauai Police Department vehicles, which are among about 450 vehicles in various departments. The shop also supports the transportation and bus system’s growing fleet.
“The idea here is to create a centralized shop that would house repairs, not only for all of what Public Works currently does, but also the transportation agency’s units,” Suga said.
Suga said the idea is to also incorporate the fire department’s maintenance needs at the new facility.
Yukimura said the idea was basically sound, but she thought more emphasis needs to be put onto the transportation department’s buses.
“I’m concerned about transportation not getting the priority it needs to keep things up and running,” Yukimura said. “People need those buses to get to work.”
Last year, Kauai County got about $5 million in general obligation bonds from the state, and councilmembers said they thought it was reasonable to expect around the same amount again.
“If the Legislature has $4 million to give us, they’ll decide which project to fund,” Kagawa said.
He suggested that the County Council take a look at the current list and bring their own ideas forward throughout the week, so that the list is backed by a united front when it goes before the Legislature.
The County Council has set a deadline of Nov. 27 for the package, which gives them about three weeks for final approval. The list will be in committees until the next council session, where it will again be on the floor for discussion.
