Kaua‘i County Council Committee Meeting Summary – July 9, 2025

The Kaua‘i County Council convened its committee meetings on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, beginning at 8:30 a.m. in Council Chambers, Historic County Building, 4396 Rice Street, Līhuʻe, Kaua‘i. The Council considered an ordinance relating to sewer connection fees, approved two prior meeting minutes, and received a comprehensive Housing Agency briefing. The agenda included a possible executive session, but the open transcript shows none was convened. The provided minutes source contained no written minutes; the transcript reflects the Council’s approval of the June 18, 2025 Planning Committee and Finance & Economic Development Committee minutes.

Public Works & Veterans Services Committee

• Bill 2960 – A bill for an ordinance amending Section 25-11.2, Kaua‘i County Code 1987, as amended, relating to sewers, was moved, seconded, and discussed. A public hearing on the bill had been held June 25, 2025. Councilmember Kanashiro asked whether a similar connection-fee discount had been proposed previously; the County Engineer said Wastewater staff had no comments on that point.
• Council Vice Chair Cooley, co-introducer with Councilmember Bulasan, said the bill was worked on in prior council terms and had no opposition from the administration; workforce housing would be open to all income-qualified workers regardless of industry, with eligibility based on HUD Area Median Income (AMI). Another councilmember stated that workforce housing was between 100% and 140% AMI and that a 50% connection-fee discount would also apply to the “gap group,” described as 160–180% AMI.
• The committee approved Bill 2960. Councilmembers Cowden and Holland were excused.

Planning Committee

• Approved the June 18, 2025 Planning Committee minutes. No discussion; all present voted aye.

Housing & Intergovernmental Relations Committee

• HIR 2025-02 – The committee received Housing Director Adam Raversi’s comprehensive briefing on current Housing Agency programs and projects. The motion to receive was seconded and carried unanimously.

Key Briefing Points

• The Housing Agency includes rental assistance, development, homelessness, and administration divisions. The rental assistance division administers housing choice vouchers, veterans’ affairs vouchers, emergency housing vouchers, and a family self-sufficiency program; it supports close to 900 families and contributes nearly $12 million in economic benefit.
• Section 8 vouchers issued to Kaua‘i households rose from 602 in 2015 to a high of 861 in 2024, with federal funding growing from $5.6 million to an estimated $12.3 million in 2025. About 860 vouchers are currently active; roughly 3,000 people are on the waiting list, and local residents can be preferred when vouchers are pulled, although a durational residency requirement cannot be imposed under federal rules.
• A $2 million state/EPA cesspool conversion grant program has spent about 40% of funds to help 40 families.
• Līma‘ola (Lima Ola): Phase 1 included 40 senior affordable rentals, 45 workforce rentals, 32 supportive-housing units, and 38 single-family homes for sale. All rental projects are fully occupied; the first 8 homes are sold and occupied, the second 8 are in escrow, the third 8 have certificates of occupancy, and 16 two-bedroom homes are next. Phase 2 will add about 175 units, with final permits expected in September–October and an invitation for bids before year-end.
• Waimea: The county purchased 400 acres, with roughly 38–42 acres for housing. The master plan calls for about 400 homes, including 34 larger single-family lots, 108 smaller single-family lots, micro starter units, about 200 multifamily units, and a mixed-use main street. Environmental review is ongoing, followed by a 201H application and state Land Use Commission redistricting.
• Kīlauea: About 50 acres were acquired for a project responding to the 2006 Kīlauea Town Plan. The draft plan aims for about 344 units, includes a live-work commercial space, and a wastewater treatment plant intended to serve the town. One more community meeting is set for July 31, 5–7 p.m. at Porter Pavilion; a road dedication is scheduled to come to the Council in August.
• Līhu‘e: About 60 units are proposed near Kaua‘i Community College with a sewer line extension; 66 affordable apartments are planned at Rice and Umi Streets; and the Omao Ridge project will have 96 units in phase 1 and 59 in phase 2.
• Port Allen (Kayolino): Three buildings of 25 rentals each are planned; one building burned and remains in insurance process, while two buildings with 50 units are occupied.
• Homeless programs: Phase 2 at Kalola will add 24 supportive-housing units, expected to house 50–60 formerly homeless people. The KEO emergency shelter redesign would expand total capacity from 62 to 168 beds/units, with separate wings for men, women, and families and expanded transitional housing.
• New initiatives include a fourth master-planned site of over 100 acres in the Līhu‘e area under negotiation, a residential deed restriction program, and a community land trust that would manage leasehold properties once the county reaches a threshold of 50 homes.
• The director said these projects total about 1,800 new homes under development, compared with a state-contracted study estimate that Kaua‘i needs 5,000 more homes by 2030; all county-supported homes are intended to remain affordable in perpetuity.

Council Discussion

• Councilmembers asked about waiting-list mechanics, local preference, homeless prioritization (families with minor children, kupuna, and domestic violence victims), staffing (fewer than 30 employees), funding sources (more than half of personnel expenses from non-county funds), and income tiers, including potential gaps for households above 120%–140% AMI. The director said market studies guide unit mixes, and federal funding rules prevent durational residency preferences.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Matt Bernabe testified on Bill 2960 and the housing briefing. He opposed sewer connection-fee discounts for workforce housing, questioned “whose workforce housing” and the definition of “local,” and said a sewer tie-in in House Lots would cost him at least $10,000–$30,000 while septic conversion would cost $60,000–$80,000. He later reiterated that being on a list does not make someone local and urged the county to bring sewer service to House Lots; he was cautioned against swearing.
• Sherry Cummings testified on the housing briefing. She disputed that the Port Allen Kayolino project is at 100% occupancy, saying very few families are there and are struggling. She spoke about Marshallese families, including COVID-affected families and homeless communities, who face barriers navigating assistance systems and need interpreters. She asked what will happen to federal dollars and income-eligibility requirements if the intended eligible population cannot be found, and she urged attention to DHHL beneficiaries.

Finance & Economic Development Committee

• Approved the June 18, 2025 Finance & Economic Development Committee minutes. No discussion; all present voted aye.

Committee of the Whole

• No items were on the agenda, and the committee was not convened for substantive business.

Key Outcomes

• Bill 2960 (sewer ordinance amendment) was approved by the Public Works & Veterans Services Committee; Councilmembers Cowden and Holland were excused.
• The June 18, 2025 Planning Committee minutes were approved unanimously.
• The Housing Agency briefing (HIR 2025-02) was received unanimously.
• The June 18, 2025 Finance & Economic Development Committee minutes were approved unanimously.
• No executive session was held during the open portion of the meeting.