Bill Text: HI SCR96 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Urging The Judiciary To Investigate Alternative Locations And Potential Partnerships In The Transit-oriented Development Zones Of The Aiea-pearl City District For The Replacement Or Relocation Of The Ewa/pearl City District Court.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-03-16 - The hearing on this measure has been cancelled until further notice. [SCR96 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2020-SCR96-Introduced.html

THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

96

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

URGING THE JUDICIARY TO INVESTIGATE ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS and POTENTIAL partnerships in the transit-oriented development zones of the aiea-pearl City district for the REPLACEment OR RELOCATion of THE EWA/PEARL CITY DISTRICT COURT.

 

 


     WHEREAS, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation is providing a rail transit route running from East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center with 21 stations, three of which are in the Aiea‑Pearl City District; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Aiea-Pearl City Neighborhood Transit-Oriented Development Plan was adopted in September 2014 to create new transportation options while encouraging economic growth and attracting redevelopment, especially in the transit-oriented development zones within easy walking distance of their three train stations at Leeward Community College, Pearl Highlands, and Pearlridge Center; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Ewa/Pearl City District Court is also located within Pearl City region at 870 4th Street, between the Pearl Highlands and Pearlridge Center train stations.  This rural courthouse hears a wide range of cases within the Ewa/Pearl City region, including traffic infractions and violations; non-jury misdemeanor cases; probable cause hearings for felony cases; petitions for temporary restraining orders and certain injunctions against harassment; summary possession and various landlord-tenant proceedings; small claims cases where the amount claimed does not exceed $5,000; non-jury civil cases where the amount claimed does not exceed $20,000; certain civil actions where the amount claimed does not exceed $40,000; and appeals from administrative denials of motor vehicle registration; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Ewa/Pearl City District Courthouse is over thirty years old.  The foundation of this building is sinking, which causes cracks in its walls.  These cracks have resulted in continued water intrusion and building settlement, further affecting the structural integrity and, thereby, the operations of the Ewa/Pearl City District Court; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 2017, the Legislature appropriated a total of $420 million in general obligation bond funds for the capital improvement projects needed at this facility.  Specifically, the Legislature appropriated $220 million for the design and construction to further mitigate ongoing water intrusion and building settlement and $200 million for the design and construction to reroof and provide roof fall protection at the Ewa/Pearl City District Courthouse; and

 

     WHEREAS, our State is faced with limited, if not declining, government funding.  This trend is expected to continue, encouraging agencies to partner with the private sector to leverage limited governmental resources.  Cooperation between the public and private sectors can resolve funding issues and successfully deliver services and facilities for the economic and social benefit of the people of Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Legislature believes that the cost to replace or relocate the Ewa/Pearl City Courthouse is significantly lower than all the appropriations needed to construct a new Ewa/Pearl City Courthouse, when replacement or relocation is coupled with an appropriate public-private partnership; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2020, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Judiciary take advantage of the opportunities presented by the economic growth and redevelopment opportunities of transit-oriented development within the Aiea/Pearl City region and begin investigating alternative locations for the replacement or relocation of the Ewa/Pearl City District Courthouse; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that as the Ewa/Pearl City District Courthouse is located within a transit-oriented development zone, the Judiciary consider including mixed-use elements in any plans to redevelop the existing courthouse; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Judiciary also consider a land swap to relocate the Ewa/Pearl City Courthouse to another location; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Judiciary further consider entering a public-private partnership to realize cost savings and minimize the need for State funding to complete the redevelopment or relocation of the Ewa/Pearl City Courthouse within the transit‑oriented development zones within the Aiea/Pearl City region; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Honorable Chief Justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court and the Administrative Director of the Courts.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report Title: 

EWA DISTRICT COURT; JUDICIARY; TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT

feedback