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w <br /> BOB JACOBSON 333 Kilauea Avenue, Second Floor <br /> Councilmember • ~ Ben Franklin Building, Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br /> <br /> Chair, Environmental Mana emenf Committee ~ • Mailing Address: 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 200 <br /> Vice-Chair, Finance Committee 'i'a'N~"~ Phone: (808) 961-8263 <br /> Fax: (808) 961-8912 <br /> E-Mail: bjacobson@co.hawaii.hi.us <br /> HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL <br /> County of Hawai `i <br /> Sunday, September 16, 2007 <br /> To: Chairman Hoffmann and Members not the Hawaii County Council <br /> From: Council Member Bob Jacobson <br /> Topic: Report Summary From James Kent"Associates (JKA) <br /> The Report Summary From James Kent Associates (JKA), The Kau <br /> Listening Project: "Talk Story until There is a Balance", reminds me of <br /> advice regarding recounts of elections, "Keep counting until you're ahead <br /> then quit and declare victory." <br /> I think that the work of JKA resulted in neither community mediation <br /> nor valid surveying. It misleads the Council at this crucial time for <br /> clarity and good decision-making. I draw these conclusions from: <br /> examining the massive public testimony since Reso 169-07 was introduced; <br /> talking with and observing the JKA "listeners" in action; discussions with <br /> <br /> my constituents regarding their experiences with JKA staff; and finally, <br /> examining the JKA Report Summary itself. <br /> Throughout the testimony on Resolution 169-07, the public did not <br /> clamor to find a "compromise" or "middle ground". Those supporting the <br /> resolution consistently stated that they did not want to lessen the <br /> shoreline setback or the amount of land to be preserved. Those who <br /> opposed Resolution 169-07 supported whichever proposal Sea Mountain Five <br /> (SMS) was offering at the time. They did not seek a change in SMS's basic <br /> <br /> vision. Just as I believe Resolution 169-07 is the bare bones proposal to <br /> <br /> protect the essence of Punalu'u, SMS remains firm that their project must <br /> retain the basic features such as hotels close to the shoreline, hundreds <br /> <br /> of hotel rooms, more condos, and around a thousand exorbitantly priced <br /> homes so that they meet their profit expectations. Common sense tells you <br /> that this is not the type of conflict resolved by compromise. <br /> Indeed, from talking to several JKA listeners, and observing their <br /> information gathering techniques, I conclude that JKA neither mediated nor <br /> accurately surveyed the Ka'u community. <br /> In my conversation with Mr. Ryen, a JKA listener, he told me how JKA <br /> had "gotten other projects through on Oahu". JKA's website says "By using <br /> the informal system of communication "to uncover issues at the grassroots <br /> District 6 _ Upper Puna, Ka `A, and South Kona Cpmm; ~ 3 ~ , -1 <br /> Hawaii County Is An Equa! Opportunity Provider And EmployerRef. 70e tiwrwM~ <br /> fJ~KG: <br /> Ref. Dote SEP 19 <br /> <br />