The Kauai County Council will reconvene Tuesday after the administration asked for more time to tackle a bill that would regulate use of pesticides and genetically modified crops by large agribusinesses.

The Council heard testimony on Bill 2491 from community members, Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., Managing Director Gary Heu and Deputy County Attorney Mauna Kea Trask.

During the packed meeting, which was streamed via the Internet, Carvalho requested the Council defer the bill for two months to allow time to hold discussions with the state.

"There’s more work that needs to be done," said Carvalho.

Carvalho said he received the amended bill a week ago and has since met with Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s adminstration.

Debate on the bill heated up this summer as it came before Council committees for review. Councilman Gary Hooser, who co-introduced the bill with Councilman Tim Bynum, said there is a lack of urgency on the part of the county administration.

Carvalho responded that the bill is an urgent matter, but more time and collaboration is needed. During his testimony, Carvalho pounded the table a couple of times with his fist to emphasize the need to work together. "In order to get things done, you need to build strong relationships," he said, adding he wants to make long-standing decisions on the bill. "This is a major issue for the island."

Hooser and Bynum said the administration would have enough time to study the bill.

"The start date is six months from the bill’s approval," Hooser said. "I think that would give the administration some time to gather itself together."

An exchange between Bynum and Carvalho became heated when Bynum questioned how much vetting the administration has done so far on the controversial issue. Carvalho said inquiries were made and officials have looked into the matter, but his view of the bill remains mixed, which was another reason why the administration wants more time to get more information.

The bill calls for mandatory disclosure of pesticide use and GMOs by large agricultural operations. The measure also calls for buffer zones near schools, medical facilities, public roadways and waterways.

Businesses affected by the bill are seed companies Syngeta Hawaii, BASF, Dow AgroSciences and DuPont Pioneer as well as Kauai Coffee, the largest coffee grower in the state.

Before the Council, Managing Director Heu raised concerns of enforcement of buffer zones, saying the delineation of the zones is not clearly defined. "We want to easily identify boundaries, and currently we’re not sure how that’s going to be done," he said.

Heu also noted the bill’s proposed timetable has inconsistencies concerning implementation dates.

"The existing workforce doesn’t necessarily have the capacity to take on additional complex issues or initiatives while we continue to deal with the day-to-day responsibilities that we have now," he added.

Heu told the Council it usually takes a year to assess a bill.

Administration officials also are seeking more time so they can discuss enforcement of disclosure and buffer zones with the state Department of Agriculture.

The administration estimated it would cost the county about $1.5 million to hire additional staff, hearings officers and consultants for the rule-making process and enforcement, and to fund an environmental impact and public health study.