COM 0163.010 2010-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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the Planning Department for the CDP process eliminated funding for the Community Planning Assistant, the Recorder, and supplies and miscellaneous expenses. He also described the roles of the Community Planning Assistant and Recorder and indicated that both these positions were integral to the continued smooth functioning of the CDP process. It was moved by Ron Ebert and seconded by Donna Ambrose that the Steering Committee Chair and Ron Whitmore collaborate on a response to the Puna CDP Action Committee supporting the request for continued funding of the CDP Steering and Action Committee budgets for all communities at their current level, with copies of the memo sent to the mayor and Council as well as other CDP committees. The motion carried unanimously. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS Ralph Roland questioned what all this process is costing the district. He feels that implementation will be costly and that the community can do without spending all this money. He feels that planning is still in an archaic stage and that the world is changing so fast that the County needs to come up to speed before spending this kind of money. Charles Flaherty had a number of comments and suggestions for the Steering Committee. He distributed a study entitled `A Review of Coastal Monitoring Data for Development in West Hawaii' commissioned by the County of Hawaii Planning Department. He pointed out that the results indicated that near shore development in West Hawai `i may result in environmental degradation. He also pointed out that the Kona Steering Committee didn't allow any specific developer to come forward until the CDP process was completed. He encouraged the Steering Committee members to look at the General Plan related to `Historic Sites', specifically with regard to protecting Hawaiian rights and Hawaiian culture. Finally, he suggested that Councilman Guy Enriques could introduce legislation to have the CDP budget restored. Charles also raised questions :: t the potential conflict of interest for PBR Hawai`i, since they are both developing the Kah . _es EIS and serving as a consultant to the CDP. Ron Whitmore explained that, from - get -go, the County has been transparent about PBR Hawai`i's potential conflict of interest and the County's efforts to avoid conflicts of interest by limiting PBR Hawai`i's role with the CDP to gathering objective data for the Community Profile. Millie May commented that there seems to be very little follow up to questions that are raised by the public at the Steering Committee meetings. She referenced questions about the budget for PlaceMakers and the timelines that they are supposed to adhere to. Ron Whitmore responded that the budget for PlaceMakers is tracked conscientiously but that it is not posted online. As with other public records, members of the public can make a written request to the Planning Department for information about project budgets. With respect to timelines, he advised that specific timelines were in place leading up to the Charrette because lots of public input was being solicited. However, no future meetings are going to be scheduled or timelines established until the first draft of the CDP is complete. 5