Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Paid Parking Kailua Village topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Hawaii County committee postpones vote on bill to cap paid parking in Kailua Village
Summary
After hours of public testimony for and against Bill 132 — which would require posted prices, limit surge pricing and allow an initial $2-per-hour cap in Kailua Village — the policy committee paused consideration after consulting county attorneys and postponed the measure to its March 17 meeting in Kona.
The Hawaii County Policy Committee on Public Works and Mass Transit heard extensive public testimony on Bill 132, a proposal to add a paid-parking article to Chapter 6 of the Hawaii County Code regulating private parking facilities in Kailua Village, and voted on Wednesday to postpone further action until its March 17 committee meeting in Kona.
Supporters said unpredictable QR-code and app-based pricing has driven away residents and tourists and harmed small businesses. "If all that is wanted is large chain businesses that funnel money off the island, the parking costs can stay how they are," said Noel Lindenman, a Kona resident who testified by Zoom in support of the bill. Small-business owner Jeff Foster told the committee that a three-hour free period and "reasonable rate caps" in the proposal would help preserve Kona Town’s walkability and economic access.
Several speakers described concrete economic harm. "We incurred a net total loss of $30,000. We eventually had to close our doors," said Chris Fried, whose testimony framed the issue as a threat to small-business survival. Retiree Mel Finkenberg said some regular visitors have stopped returning because they cannot predict parking costs.
Not all testimony supported the measure. Jasmine Cruzat, a real-estate professional who identified herself as a certified parking professional, urged rejection and called the bill an overreach: "Bill 132 does exactly that. It dictates what private property owners may charge," she said, arguing such pricing authority rests with the state or regulated utilities and warning of legal challenges.
Sponsor Council Member Villegas defended the proposal and the process, saying community work on the issue has stretched more than three years and arguing the ordinance seeks consumer protections rather than a taking. "I lowballed some of these numbers in this legislation on purpose — $2 an hour," Villegas said, adding the provision was intended as a starting point for negotiation and that planning-department amendments were expected.
Council members pressed corporation counsel and public-works staff about legal authority and enforcement. Deputy Corporation Counsel Sinclair Salas Ferguson said the office needed more time for a written opinion and advised the committee to consult attorneys in executive session. Acting Building Division Chief Aaron Spielman noted that Chapter 5 does not address parking rates and that signage and certain sign approvals fall under Chapter 3 and the Kailua Village District rules; Public Works Director Wes Seagawa said enforcement of private lots would be a new responsibility and that existing responses have been complaint-driven.
Following a brief executive-session consultation with counsel, the committee resumed public session. Council Member Onishi moved, and Council Member Villegas seconded, to postpone Bill 132 to the March 17 committee meeting in Kona; the clerk recorded nine votes in favor and the motion carried with Council Member Inaba absent.
The committee did not adopt the bill or set final rate levels; members said more legal analysis and refinement of enforcement language are needed. The measure’s sponsor said she remains open to negotiations on hourly rates, free-hour allowances and enforcement mechanisms ahead of the scheduled March 17 continuation.
The committee adjourned at 11:44 a.m.
