KEKAHA — The Kaua‘i County Council in 2008 budgeted hundreds of thousands of dollars for Kekaha to spend on community improvements in exchange for hosting the island’s only landfill for decades. After eight meetings and a town-wide survey, residents of
KEKAHA — The Kaua‘i County Council in 2008 budgeted hundreds of thousands of dollars for Kekaha to spend on community improvements in exchange for hosting the island’s only landfill for decades. After eight meetings and a town-wide survey, residents of this Westside town have still not come to a consensus on how to use the money.
The appointed Citizens’ Advisory Committee was expected Monday night to finalize a report listing what projects residents want the county to do from the Host Community Benefits fund. But at the end of a three-hour meeting at the Kekaha Neighborhood Center, the committee voted down the draft, sending Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. home empty-handed.
Echoing the community’s concerns, the CAC, by a majority vote, decided not to approve the HCB draft report, which outlined five priority projects the Kekaha community had chosen to push forward with the HCB money.
Some said the process was rushed and needed to be redone, because at the end, not all got to give input. Others said those who bothered to respond to the survey did give their input, therefore the draft should be valid.
“Why should we rush if it took 50-some years to get the money?” asked Kekaha resident Patrick Pereira.
CAC member Bruce Pleas, on the other hand, wanted the draft approved.
“From what I understand, at 44 percent (returned surveys) we did very well,” he said. “A lot of surveys come back from government at under 20 percent and decisions are made on that.”
In the end, the Kekaha community found common ground on one thing: They have yet to agree on how to use the HCB funds, which now amount to $810,000, and are set to grow another $80,000 each year.
Community members vowed to put extra effort on getting input from the entire Kekaha community.
Carvalho said if the community feels like they need more time, they should take the time. But he urged them to come up with the recommendations this time around so the administration can move forward with the projects.
Before the draft report was even discussed, the CAC was stuck for over an hour on whether to approve the minutes from the prior meeting.
“There is and will continue to be disagreement (about) what the majority of the CAC did, however, there was a motion and the majority did make a decision,” county attorney Mauna Kea Trask said. “I think at this time it’s appropriate for a motion to at least move on to the approval of minutes.”
Once the CAC approved the minutes, after a motion “for the sake of discussion,” made by member Jose Bulatao, heated community testimony followed, resurfacing kinks in the process that had been discussed at length in prior meetings.
Capital Improvements
Pleas has said previously that there were long discussions during prior meetings about projects suggested to be HCB-funded, but should be county or state responsibilities. This sentiment continued at Monday’s meeting.
“Who own the park? The community own the park? Mr. attorney, who own the park?” asked Pereira, putting the microphone in Trask’s face. “Why would the community have to spend their hard-earned money on county and state kuleana?”
Some community members said improvements in Kekaha Community Park may be the county’s responsibility, but those improvements may never get done so the HCB funds should be used for that purpose.
Pereira, however, had a different solution if the administration doesn’t do its part.
“They don’t do it, we don’t vote for them next year,” he said.
Councilman Jay Furfaro said he was “a little astounded” when he found out the CAC did not have a copy of the county’s Capital Improvement Projects plan.
The CIP plan is divided into five districts. The plan lists projects for the next five years, and money is already earmarked for those projects.
“I would certainly like to make sure that there’s a better understanding of the CIP plan and how park districts are set up,” said Furfaro, referencing when the CAC gathers community input to find out what projects they should pursue.
Public interest
Many community members wanted to know why the CAC is not collecting interest on the funds sitting in county coffers.
“For put money, almost $1 million, into an account that don’t gain interest, something is wrong,” Pereira said.
Pleas said the interest goes to the county’s General Fund. In order for the HCB to keep the interest in its account, the CAC would have to ask the council to pass an ordinance. He said the issue was discussed twice during previous meetings, but not acted upon.
When the HCB funds were first approved, former Councilman Ron Kouchi was the county’s Budget and Finance Committee chair.
“We talked to the people of Kaua‘i and it seemed so clear to us that the needs were so abundant in Kekaha that you’re going to spend it right away,” Kouchi said.
He suggested the CAC make a motion asking the council to set up an escrow account to collect interest.
“Sorry for not doing right the first time,” Kouchi said.
Pereira, who had been asking hard questions the whole night, called Kouchi back to the floor.
“I was right there in the council meeting,” Pereira said. “We were told straight, that the money collects no interest because it is stored in the CIP funds.”
“Who lying then?” someone in the audience shouted.
Decisions
The CAC will schedule new meetings in the upcoming months.
Furfaro said it’s “extremely important” that the community gives feedback to the CAC, because “at the end of the day” it’s the CAC that sends out the report to the mayor, before it eventually goes to the council.
Many residents urged the community to participate in the next meetings and survey.
Pleas said the CAC should hear new ideas from the community on how to go forward, and should also discuss the selection process.
“I believe that’s where we are at this point, and where we should be heading. That seems to be the general consensus of the community,” he said.
“We have to figure out a process now that everybody feels comfortable with.” Pleas said. “If we do not reach that point, we’ll end up at this point again.”
Go to www.kauai.gov/HCB for more information.
