Kauai County Council Meeting Summary 2025-10-29

The Kauai County Council convened on October 29, 2025, to address a wide range of administrative, legislative, and community safety issues. The session featured the appointment of new commissioners, the confirmation of the new County Attorney, and significant discussions regarding e-bike safety, invasive species mitigation, and infrastructure funding. The council concluded with a closed executive session regarding pending litigation.

Consent Calendar

• The council unanimously approved the minutes from the October 15, 2025, public hearing regarding Bill No. 2972 and Bill 92974.
• The council unanimously approved the receipt of communications C2025-226, C2025-227, C2025-228, C2025-229, and the grant funds for the Emergency Management Performance Grant ($150,000).
• The council unanimously approved the disposal of inactive records from the housing director (C2025-231).
• The council unanimously approved committee reports CR PWVS 2025-04, CR PL 2025-14, CR PL 2025-15, CR FED 2025-19, and CR COW 2025-06.
• The council unanimously voted to refer three vehicle damage claims (C2025-234, C2025-235, C2025-236) to the County Attorney.

Public Comments & Testimony

Regarding Juliet Souza (Historic Preservation Commission):

• Several council members expressed full support for Juliet Souza's nomination, highlighting her extensive knowledge of local history, her family's legacy of community service, and her age as "80 years young."
• Councilmember Kuoli specifically praised her ability to remember historical details that have been forgotten, stating she is "more informative than Google search."
• Councilmember Cowden noted the importance of her connection to the community and her music history.

Regarding Tyler Seitel (County Attorney Nomination):

• Walton Hong, Chairman of the Kauai Police Commission and former District Judge, expressed full support, citing Seitel's legal knowledge, integrity, and work ethic as exceptional. Hong emphasized that Seitel has guided the commission through complex regulatory requirements effectively.
• Monica Trask expressed full support based on her communication with community members and Seitel's "steady hand" and experience in the prosecutor's office.
• Bruce Hart and Joe Tate voiced support for Seitel's confirmation, praising his competence and the smooth transition from the outgoing County Attorney.
• Tyler Seitel himself expressed a vision to modernize the office with AI, retain current attorneys, and maintain strong working relationships across the county.
• Councilmembers expressed gratitude to outgoing Attorney Matt Bargan, with Councilmember Cowden noting his extreme accessibility and helpfulness, while expressing disappointment at his departure.

Regarding Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Detection (Wailua Golf Course Donation):

• Bruce Hart expressed humor and support for the acoustic detector, joking about the "detective work" and potential use of AI.
• Lani Cycos, a former farmer, expressed full support for the initiative, emphasizing the severity of invasive species and the need for more state and federal funding beyond these "tiny little band-aids."
• Councilmember Coneshiro expressed encouragement that the project is part of a broader integrated response, noting that a single $600 donation is insufficient for the island-wide problem.
• Councilmember Holland echoed the need for a comprehensive approach and urged the administration to seek additional grants.

Regarding Electric Bicycle Legislation (Bill 2972):

• Jim Benford, owner of Eco EBikes Kauai, expressed concern that the bill combines several categories of e-bikes, potentially creating confusion. He advocated for strict enforcement of existing laws, a public safety education campaign in schools, and the addition of safety infrastructure. Benford emphasized that children under 16 riding high-speed e-bikes are breaking the law.
• Lani Cycos expressed concern regarding the ease of modifying e-bikes to exceed legal speed limits and the lack of an enforcement mechanism for testing speed in the field, suggesting that state law updates are necessary for high-speed devices.
• Councilmember Cowden expressed a desire for education and enforcement, noting that most of the behaviors the bill targets are already illegal under state law but require proactive policing and education to address safety, particularly for children.
• Councilmember Holland expressed 100% agreement that the bill is a tool for education and safety, supporting the push for state-level regulation updates.
• Councilmember Konishi expressed support for the bill's educational aspects, emphasizing the need for parents to know the laws and the age restrictions.

Regarding Bill 2965 (West Koloa Community Plan):

• Councilmember Cowden expressed gratitude for the collaboration between the planning department and large landowners to allow the development of plantation camps, viewing it as a win-win for housing needs.
• Mr. Ronashur expressed excitement for the project to come to fruition, specifically noting the adherence to plantation-style architecture and wildfire safety requirements.
• Ms. Fallon expressed excitement, agreeing that the project respects the history of the area and the plantation camps.

Discussion Items

• Historic Preservation Commission Nomination: Council members praised Juliet Souza's background, including her 29 years in the hospitality industry, 10 years serving three mayors, and her family's deep roots in Kauai's history and music. The nomination was unanimous.
• County Attorney Confirmation: The council discussed the transition from Matt Bargan to Tyler Seitel. Seitel outlined plans to modernize the office using AI and maintain strong relationships with county departments. Council members praised Bargan's service and expressed confidence in Seitel.
• Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Mitigation: The council discussed the donation of an acoustic detector for the Wailua Golf Course. Staff clarified the device uses sound to detect beetle infestations. Council members emphasized that while the donation is a helpful tool, the county requires significantly more funding and a comprehensive state/federal strategy to combat the beetle threat.
• Electric Bicycle Regulation (Bill 2972): The council debated the definitions of e-bikes versus high-speed electric bicycles. Staff and the County Attorney explained that high-speed devices (Class 3 and above) are generally considered motorcycles under state law and require different licensing. The consensus was that the county bill serves as an educational tool to enforce existing state laws, particularly regarding child safety and helmet requirements. The council supported an administrative effort to educate schools and parents.
• Taxi Rate Adjustments (Bill 2974): The council discussed increasing the hourly rate for touring and chartered taxis to adjust for the cost of living and fuel prices, noting that rates had not been updated in eight years.
• Ethics Commission Appointment: The council confirmed the appointment of an ex-officio (non-voting) member to the Board of Ethics. Council member Lonnie Sykes asked about ethics training for the new member, and council members clarified that training is provided through orientation and ongoing guidance from the County Athorney.

Key Outcomes

• Unanimous Approvals:
  • Appointment of Juliet Souza to the Kauai Historic Preservation Review Commission for a partial term ending December 31, 2026.
  • Confirmation of Tyler Seitel as the new County County of Kauai, effective November 3, 2025.
  • Acceptance of $2 million in Safe Routes to School funds (Special Program Funds) for the Kulaehi Hill project.
  • Acceptance of reimbursement for travel-related expenses for transportation training (LTAP).
  • Acceptance of a $150,000 Department of Homeland Security grant for Emergency Management Agency staff and equipment.
  • Acceptance of a donation from Nanotech 2000 of an acoustic detector for coconut rhinoceros beetle mitigation at the Wailua Golf Course.
  • Approval of Resolution 2025-38 confirming a non-voting member to the Board of Ethics.
  • Approval of Bill 2965 (Form-Based Code amendment for Koloa) as amended to correct a typographical error.
  • Approval of Bill 2966 (General Plan amendment for Makaweli).
  • Approval of Bill 2967 (State Land Use District boundary amendment for Makaweli).
  • Approval of Bill 2968 (Zoning boundary amendment for Makaweli and Wahiawa).
  • Approval of Bill 2972 (Electric Bicycle traffic code amendments).
  • Approval of Bill 2974 (Taxicab rate adjustment for touring/chartered time).
• Voting Tallies: All motions on the consent calendar and legislative items passed by a roll call vote of 7 ayes. The motion to appoint the ethics commission member also passed by a roll call vote of 7 ayes.
• Executive Session: The council moved into executive session at the request of the County Attorney regarding pending claims (ES 1154) and an active lawsuit (Darrell Perry vs. County of Kauai, Case No. 19-1-013) to obtain settlement authority. No public disclosure was made.