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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-05-18 Game Management Advisory Commission MintuesGame Management Advisory Commission County of Hawai'i Minutes Meeting Date: Tuesday, May 18, 2021 Time: 6:30pm Place: Hawaii County Building, and West Hawaii Civic Center, Mayor's Conference Rooms - Via Zoom 1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: Meeting was called to order at 6:30pm District 1 ---Stanley Mendes — Present — (in person) District 2—Kean Umeda — Present — (in person) District 3—Rhon Leomana Turalde- Present — (Zoom) District 4—Brian Ley —Present —(Zoom) District 5—Abraham Antonio — Present (in person) District 6—Grayson Hashida - Excused District 7 - Vacant District 8- Cortney Okumura — Present (Zoom) District 9 --George Donev- Present - (Zoom) Quorum Established. Staff: Sinclair Salas-Ferguson, Deputy Attorney, Corporation Counsel Pomai Bartolome, Executive Assistant to Mayor Roth Barett Otani, Executive Assistant to Mayor Roth Barbara Kossow, Admin. Specialist, Mayor's Kona Office Introduction: My name is Sinclair Salas-Ferguson. A little bit about myself, I graduated from Hilo High and graduated from UH Law School also have my MBA. I've been doing litigation for my career, but I just started counseling and drafting recently a couple weeks ago, so as part as my new duties I will be advising this commission. Just so you know, we have a couple of new members, starting today, after this I am wanting to get your information so I can provide both of you training on some rules and regulations that board members have to comply with. 1 Chair Abraham: Sinclair could we put it in another meeting and you could advise everyone and train everyone and set up something else? Sinclair: Yeah, we can look into that, for today just real short, because, we have two new members. Sunshine Laws, the Hawaii Revise Statues, requires all meetings to be open which we are doing right now, but it requires that we have an agenda and we put items on the agenda, so that the public knows what we are going to talk about. So when we have our meetings we have to stick to that agenda. Then as your legal counsel, I can also answer legal questions. So that is what I see as my main role for this board or this commission making sure the Sunshine Laws are followed. Anyway I want to thank everyone for serving and welcome the two new members and I'll be here to support everyone. Thanks. Chair Abraham: Thank you and welcome. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Action: C. Okumura motioned to approve the March 23, 2021 minutes. Seconded by K. Umeda. Motion carried unanimously. 3. FINANCIAL REPORT: Action: S. Mendes motioned to accept the financial report. Seconded by B. Ley. Motion carried unanimously. 4. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS: None at this time. • Statements from the public will betaken throughout the meeting. 5. PRESENTATION: a. DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, Hawai'i District Manager Jerome Nickerson will speak on the temporary closure of the Kailua Pier in response to homelessness and illegal activities on site. Jerome: Good evening Mr. Chairman, members of the commission thank for inviting me. I am the new District Manager for DLNR 2 Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation and Kailua Pier is one of the properties that this district manages. I'm sure that the commission has read some of the coverage in West Hawaii Today. About things going on at the Pier. We are still in our Notice and Comment Period. I noted that West Hawaii Today ran an article this weekend saying the Pier remains open. We have not made a decision because, Mr. Chairman I agreed to appear before your commission and listen to what the commission had to say about the proposed closure, so the decision as to whether to close the pier is still pending. This is the last step on that road and then we will make that decision shortly. So I'm open to the commissioners' questions, ideas, thoughts, pro or con on about the proposal, I think at least everybody in West Hawaii is familiar with the situation at the pier. By way of background, I too am an attorney, I formally worked for attorney general criminal justice division, and homeless issues was one of my portfolio issues for the AG. I worked with Scott Murashige, I am attempting to work with outreach providers on the Big Island particularly in West Hawai'i. I met with the Mayor on this issue, I met with law enforcement on this issue and I would like to hear whatever the comments the commissioners has with respect with the proposed closure. Abraham: Any commissioner have any questions or comments for Jerome at this time or anyone from the public? Teresa: Abraham, this is Teresa, if the commissioners don't have any questions, I have questions. Abraham: So do I, but go ahead Teresa, you probably going to cover my questions... you can go... Teresa: Good evening Jerome this is Teresa and I live on the Kona side and I am passionate about our natural resources and our marine resources and recreational fishing, the pier I believe is public 3 access And I was wondering if we could meet with those who use the pier and instead of total closure, I was wondering if we could have a permitting process that is monitored by DLNR or DOCARE. That people can still fish at the pier, I mean really fish, not camp out, not be homeless, but actual fishing at the pier because this is our food resources, for our Island people. We live in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, it has been tradition and generational and the Pier is part of our social life, here in Kailua- Kona, West Hawaii. I really hate to see the pier closed, totally, because if we are held back from what is our tradition, I don't feel that it is justice to the rest of the population that is affected by some people disrespecting the place. And if you would like to meet, I would really love to meet with you, Jerome Jerome: I serve the people of Hawaii Island, so Teresa it would be my pleasure to meet with you and to meet with other individuals that have concern about the proposed closure. Just addressing some points that you made, DLNR takes opinion with respect to Traditional practices with great weight because it is the law in Hawai'i and I'm familiar with it. I received two comments from residences about Traditional Practices, taking their Kupuna, going onto the pier and having done that for years. I absolutely hear you, with respect to that there are some individuals that are denying the residences, this Historic resource. We are not proposing a full time closure, to the extent that a decision is made with respect to the closure it would be temporary. I initially and I will let you speak, to your question of permitting. I went to senior management in DLNR, and said, "We could permit," and the short answer is we don't have the resources to open a permitting process with respect to the pier. And the reason why one of the main drivers, of this proposed closure is law enforcement. It is both DOCARE and it is Hawaii County. I met with the assistant Chief at Kona and the short answer is, "if the pier is closed and when, we know exactly who can be on it 4 and who cannot be on it, and it simplifies their task." It is not the sole criteria, by which we went forward with the proposal, but it is a major consideration for why we putting forward and so when we solicited public opinion on it. So I am at Honokohau that the district office and I can give my email right now---- if that is appropriate --- Lerome.h.nickerson@hawaii.ov And would be more than happy to meet with any member of the community that wanted to speak on the proposed closure. Teresa: Traditional the area of Makahonu has always been open to the public and that's Tradition. When you speak of a temporary closure, what time of closure timeline were you referring to? Jerome: You know I was asked that, by the media. It is not a set timeline. It is when the division believes that we have restored the good order and safety of the pier to the citizens of Hawaii and to visitors. And that is not at state that is to the extent we have a problem I believe, to be under control, but let us not kid ourselves, and homelessness has been with us for a very long time. I've worked on the issue for a very long time and it is not a straight line progression. We have for a lack of a better word, crews that I have never seen before, and all of a sudden arrive one day on the pier. That's a problem, we have other unsheltered individual who I know, who I talk to everyday when I go down to the pier and I am trying to get them services that they may want or maybe they don't want. It is a fluid dynamic. But there is a very serious incident that took place on the Pier Abraham: May 3rd, 2021 Jerome: That is under investigation and I cannot ignore that. Notwithstanding with Traditional Practices, notwithstanding concerns from the community, our job as the division, is to ensure public safety and we will do that. Teresa: I have been on the pier from 9:00 pm in the evening to 3:00 am in the morning and the majority of the people I see there are fishing. Yes, there were a few homeless, I did not see the nights 5 I was there any issues, except for a few of them sleeping and I counted 3 of them, so I don't know what issue you are referring to. Have you met with the canoe clubs? Jerome: Yes, Kai O'Pua canoe club Teresa: what was their response? Jerome: Close it — Close it now. They are afraid for their children. They are afraid for their children, children, and I got concerns too. Teresa: But their programs are during the day, it is not at night. Jerome: I understand, because of the incident I'm referring to, it is not a secret, and we can talk about it if you want. They decided to close their children program. Teresa: Because of COVID? Abraham: Because of the incident of May 311, 2021 Kean: Why don't you explain to her? Abraham: Teresa, on May 3rd, there was a homeless person that passed away on the pier and they don't know how that happen. So there is an ongoing investigation, like Mr. Nickerson is referring to. Teresa: Don't we have those issues all along Ali'i Drive and on this Island and not only on the pier? Abraham: I would agree with you, Teresa Teresa: I mean these things happen around the Island, because for whatever reasons. Abraham: Yes Teresa: For the drug issue, alcohol issue or other underlying issues? And we shouldn't target the pier? Jerome: Mr. Chairman could I speak? 0 Abraham: yep, you can speak. Jerome: So the division understands, that it is not just the pier. The unsheltered individual are in all of our facilities, on this Island, on Oahu, on Maui, and this is something that we bump into all the time. I am not trying to target the pier or deny the community access to the pier. I appreciate that it is the historic resource for West Hawaii, and I intent it to remain so. But we have issues right now and this is within resource management. Temporary closures of resources and I'm talking about bays and I'm talking about areas that are over used or the resource is under extreme stress. No it hasn't really been applied to something like the pier, but the concept is applicable. That is what we are discussing. I do not wish to punish the people and the residence of Kona, I want them to have their pier, I want them to have that pier, where it is safe and I have been on that pier 2:00 am in the morning, 3:00 am in the morning, sometimes there are no problem at all. But I'm given a certain set of facts, and I have to take these into consideration and so we will. And Mr. Chairman just very briefly it is an ongoing investigation and we are cooperating with Hawaii County Police department investigation of it. It was a resident of Kona, a longtime resident of Kona. Who was allegedly assaulted by a homeless individual and the coroner's inquest is ongoing, but I can't ignore these things. Teresa: Just because of this issue? — I would like to speak further and have a definitive timeline as to what Temporary is? Not just an open-ended temporary closure that has no deadline. That doesn't set well with me, because temporary is supposed to be a short term, but it sounds like, your temporary could be a long term. So I would like to see a deadline date of what temporary closure is or a proposal of such an approximate. Because you need to have some kind of timeline on your ongoing issue of resolving of what can be done at the pier. I don't want to see a 5 year temporary closure, I don't want to see a 10 year temporary closure, because this is where we teach the next generation in a safe environment, not a rocky coastline, not a hazardous area, the pier is a very safe place to teach our children the Traditional Fishing practices, and how we evolve from what is tradition to what is currently present. Because we are forever evolving. So if I wanted to bring a 3 year old, a two year child, a five year old child and teach them how to fish with a bamboo, how to fish with a spinner pole, that is the safest place to bring them. Jerome: Teresa to your comments, Yes that is what I want for you. We are not talking about a 10 year closure, we are not talking about a 5 year closure, at the most we are talking about a temporary closure, from 10 pm to 5 am for a period of months, and no I cannot define it any further than that. I cannot say, 2, 3, 4, or 1, because it's the conditions on the pier that dictates when it will reopen again. But I can say this to you Teresa, I'll meet you on the pier and I will open the pier, for you and your children and for other Traditional practices that people want to do. I, as I said at the start, I am in the service of the people of this Island and I will be on the pier, when Traditional practices need to happen. And that is what I'm willing to do. Teresa: So are you saying, even if we go through a temporary closure that we can apply for an exemption of that closure? Because fishing is not catching, fishing is according to the currents, according to the moon, according to the wind, according to the weather, according to the maturity of the fish. There are seasons as to when to catch certain fish and ...... there are others talking in the background..... Jerome: To answer your question, I'm a sailor, I've sailed all my life, I grew up in Hawaii, I understand what you are talking about, and I think you and I should meet. I'm telling you I am willing to go to the pier, when you want to go to the pier and teach children to fish and that maybe 3:00am in the morning. 0 Abraham: Okay Jerome, maybe you and Teresa can handle you guys conversation Jerome: I'll go off line Teresa: Jerome do you have a contact number. Abraham: Teresa he just sent out his email. Teresa: but does he have a contact number? Abraham: Maybe you can get it later. I can even share it with you. I'll asked Jerome: I'll send it to you later Teresa Teresa: Mahalo Abraham: Thank you Teresa Brian: This is Brian, I got a question. How come we are not just beefing up security and making a presents there. I mean I can see we have 7 DLNR officers vehicle down at Kahena Beach, ticketing nude people, why can't we put a presents on the pier at let certain individuals know it is a hot spot and they need to take their activity somewhere else. I know that homelessness is a problem, no matter where we are. We got people in Puna, being killed by these people, but we did not close Pahoa down when it happen. We don't close the beaches down, when to be a long term thing. Like I said the obvious thing, why we don't we put a present on the pier and let them know it is a hot spot and not a place to be hanging out. That's the only question have. Thank you. Jerome: The short answer to your question, out in West Hawaii there are all but 2 DOCARE officers on duty during the day, not during the night, during the day. So we have to rely on Hawaii County and we do and they have been incredibly helpful, because they have greater resources, than the State does, in terms of officers. But I can turn to the County, nor can I turn to the State and say stop all natural resources enforcement and focus all of your attention on the pier. I 0 just, we just don't have those kind of resources and I understand your comment with respect to restrictive government action. We are trying to be transparent, a decision has not been made, and it will be made shortly. We just don't have the resources and Hawaii County has all of issues it has to deal with and I need to be very, very careful I do not detract from their enforcement and their protection of the citizen of the Westside of the Island. So what it comes down to is, I'm going to be on the pier, it's a very hot spot right now. Very hot both Hawaii County and DOCARE know it and we're down there regularly every day. So hopefully it changes behaviors and hopefully people understand, wrong place to be, absolutely wrong place to set up base camp and we are trying to find them other place I might add. Something that wouldn't impact the public resource and a historic resource, but that is long term. We are playing a long term game here. That is what unsheltered and homeless are. Teresa: Short question, sorry Abraham, but real quick, isn't there a DOCARE office on the Pier? Jerome: No Teresa: What offices are on the pier right now? Jerome: There was a Lieutenant that left the pier because of COVID and DLNR has an office there, because of the cruise ships, we have to have an office there. So our facility security officer, has an office there but, a prior tenant has left, so we are on the pier. That is it right now. Teresa: We'll further our conversation and report back to GMAC group after our meeting. Mahalo Abraham: Mr. Nickerson, Abraham District 5 ... Thanks for all you guys hard work that you guys have been doing, you and the County and the State DOCARE. But isn't there something you can do like an evening sting? Every Sunday for the last 2 months, they have been doing a sting down at Kahena, like Brian said. Can't you guys put that into a budget or something, to make a special sting let's call it, because it is a hot spot 10 you guys have to be the fire extinguisher to put it out? As far as like yesterday, some people from the community went to the pier yesterday and just go there and talk story with the homeless and the people that was there and try to get them out and trying to doing it peacefully and forcefully or anything like that. Jerome: Yes, to answer your question, So I have engage in the enforcement operation, for the State of Hawaii, as you are aware, Mr. Chairman, particularly when it comes to the unsheltered individuals, not nudes on the beach, not parties on the beach, but with respect to the unsheltered individuals, certain constitutional rights attached and the State of Hawaii has protocol with respect to enforcement. I will tell you that we are talking to DOCARE and we are talking to the County about an enforcement operation, that's what I call it, and if the decision is made to close the pier, you can certainly believe that there will be an enforcement operation on the pier. Abraham: Okay, As far as your comment to Teresa, about letting her and her family go and I'm not just picking on her, you probably going to do it generally, but it's for everyone right? Not just Hawaiians, but for every local on the Island right? And is that only under the closure rules or what are you saying that you are going let special people or special circumstances go through? Jerome: So what I would do and it's me, I would accommodate them, I would be on the pier when they want to be there. Abraham: Yes, but what I'm saying Mr. Nickerson, is it for everyone? Jerome: Yes, sir. Abraham: Okay that's good. Anyone else have comments or questions for Mr. Nickerson? Can we put a vote, if everyone is in favor of closure, of the temporary closing for the pier? Teresa: You putting it up for a vote? Abraham: Yeah to see if we support it or not? If everybody is in support of it or 11 Teresa: I have a question, if they close it and they are going to put security, why can't they put security now, and they are going to put security when they close it? Now that it's not close, they are going to have funds when they close it, why aren't they having funds when it's not closed? This is confusing. Sorry Abraham: You're right, your kind of right, Teresa, also it's like before COVID and maybe Mr. Nickerson can respond, before pre-COVID there was really not that bad of a problem, because you had all the tourist, more people along the pier and now with COVID, you have less people on the pier. I feel pretty much that is why the homeless individuals are moving in right? Because there are less people to pick on. Teresa: People present... Jerome: We come to agree Mr. Chairman I would also when there has been enforcement in Kona, Um, I'm not blaming anybody, I want to work with my County partners, but when you squeeze them from one place, they are going to go someplace else, and they went to the pier. Stanley: So the question is that Teresa asked. Why isn't possible to put them now instead of waiting for the facility is closed? What is the difference, between having them there when the pier closed or now the gate is open? Jerome: Stanley Jerome: Stanley: 12 We do not have in our budget the ability to put 24 hour or even tentative. I understand that, But, when you guys going finally close the pier you will have people there, so why not now all along? The people that are going to be on the pier are going to be my staff members and we are going to take additional time in addition to our day job to do this and when we see something happening on the pier, we will contact DOCARE and we will contact Hawaii County and say there is something happening on the pier, we are here and we need you. That's why So now you explained it a little better. Abraham: Abraham District 5 —Maybe you can reach out to the community on that side. Sounds like they really want to help you guys. If they are stepping up and doing things on their own. At least then, you guys don't have to take all that pressure upon yourself. Jerome: Perhaps, I'm always willing to listen to suggestions and work with the community. Abraham: Reach out to the community get some backup and basically tell them do the same thing you guys are doing now, when they see something —call HPD or DOCARE, that's the only way to protect themselves. I suppose right? Jerome: Yeah Abraham: Thank you. Who is going to be the judge and say when it is safe enough to open it up full time, you? Jerome: Yes Abraham: Okay, thanks Mr. Nickerson. Jerome: Thank you for the opportunity to appear. Teresa, I look forward in meeting you in my office Teresa: Me too, Thanks Jerome b. DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources, Aquatic Biologist Troy Sakihara will discuss "Holomua: Marine 30X30," DAR's nearshore strategic plan to restore marine resources. Abraham: Moving on to our next presentation we have DLNR division of aquatic resources aquatic biologist, Troy Sakihara. He is going to discuss the Holomua Marine 30/30. Just give us a brief updated or what we discussed. What you plan on talking about. Troy: Mahalo Mr. Chairman and commissioners. Mahalo to everybody for allowing me to share and present. So today I'm actually give a really brief overview background of Holomua Marine 30/30. Kind of status 13 update where we are with the whole process. Mr. Chairman if it is okay I have a short presentation, like a power point, just to facilitate what I'm going to talk about... Is it okay? Abraham: That's fine... Teresa: I'm sorry Abraham, sorry Troy... Abraham did you had a motion on the floor or did it died without a 2nd Teresa: Teresa Barbara: It wasn't complete.... Abraham: It wasn't complete so it is dead. Thanks Teresa Teresa: You're welcome. Sorry Troy Troy: No problem. Can you all see the presentation? Troy: Okay so yeah, so this is a quick background those that participated in the previous scoping session, pretty lengthy presentation. So this will be a lot briefer version of that. Anyway-- Holomua 30/30 is actually stems from the Government sustainable Hawaii initiative. Effectively manage 30% of Hawaii nearshore marine waters. So Holomua Marine 30/30 is basically a there's two—it's a twofold mission basically... The first is to effectively manage Hawaii nearshore waters within 30% establish marine managed areas. Effectively manage and protecting and supporting the resources. So when we say 30% of Hawaii nearshore waters that includes everything the shoreline and nearshore marine waters out to that includes the shoreline out to 3 miles of State waters. The 2nd mission basically to ensure our marine resources, you know will be available for our present and future generation. We hope to do this by working with the community and employ a whole different, a whole seat of different management tools within our tool box to effectively do this. And we have a road map, kind of outlining 14 this whole page on our website. So, there is an address up there if you want to take a look at that. So how do we get to that, the 30/30? So have basically 4 management pillars in our tool box we are looking at using. The 11t is monitoring basically monitoring the conditions of the resources by doing long term monitoring surveys, repeated surveys, in these resources ecosystem to really get a good handle on how these ecosystem habitats are functioning, but also to really get a good understanding and a good handle on whether or not our current management strategies are working or not and where we can fix that and adjust things. Our 211 pillar is looking at protection and restoration we have a lot of efforts going on towards this. We have staff that are working towards finding away to enhance the resources and habitats for these fishes and a lot of the marine resources that we have. One of them being for instance the urchins' hatcheries on Oahu to combat the invasive limu on our reefs, to give our reefs a better chance of recovering, but also coral nursery and other efforts that we are looking at and improving and rehabilitating habitat. The 311 Pillar We also have a huge effort towards pono practices, which really promoting and supporting responsible and pono use and take of resources and instilling those values and morals and that type of activities throughout the communities and we are doing everything and working with communities and enhancing of the partnership to get towards sustaining and pono practice. And 4t" Pillar, place base planning not everyplace is the same and we can't use a blanket cookie cutter type of management strategy. So, we want to look at place base planning where we have specific big problems, specific issues to an area working with the communities within those areas. Places to really dial in what needs to be fix or manage or if even it is pristine how we do preserve that. So, when we are speaking place base planning how do we get to 30%. So, we really looking at reaching out to communities and creating a diverse stakeholder engagement opportunities, being inclusive as much as possible to get a good comprehensive idea of how we can come together and put together management strategy especially for local place base areas. And we also want to support community lead initiatives in certain areas that communities that are wanting to establish Community Based 15 Subsistence Fishing Area (CBSFA) localize management in collaboration with the state. So, we want to support that as well. In areas we don't have CBSFA, specific organization that is spearheading any type of effort, we are looking forming a disciplinary stakeholder group. Again, they get inclusive as they can as much input from everyone putting together a comprehensive plan. We are also looking at re-evaluating our existing Marine Management Areas (MMA's) we have a bunch of MMA's especially in West Hawaii, and the Island and to see how effective they are and where we can improve? Because nothing is perfect we want to really evaluate and adapt as needed. Finally incorporate existing areas that are resilient, that we know that can support marine resources and places that are naturally resilient and have a healthy habitat that can support marine resources. We want to include those areas of produce network. Areas' where we can bolster and improve just the overall habitat ecosystem for resource use, but also fun. And we also wanted initiate and welcome talk story session like for instance like here, and also any other community organization community leaders to come together and really guide the initiative forwards, especially community place base areas. So, towards this effort, we are going to be hosting a series of opportunities where we can come together hopefully, we are looking towards the fall to come together discuss this thing locally. To see where we can come together and discuss this. So, we have a decision-making tool that we are working on we want to use to facilitate this discussing moving forward together to decide what how best to go about management. We also want to provide getting input from people on new or existing entities, sorry entities, referring to marine management areas, and seeing you know getting feedback on those existing ones and getting any input, if the community feel if there are any areas that the community want further protection for better management. And we will be working with a multitude of stakeholders again to come together and talk stories. Another effort that has been on going is looking at herbivore management. So, we are looking at, so that what is the scoping meetings, been focus on. We are looking at, you know, rules, how we can better manage the herbivore fish on the reefs. They play such a key role and function on the coral reef by keeping the limu in 16 check, and other function in check to keeping the coral a better fighting chance at rebounding and ultimately improving the resiliency of coral reefs from coral bleaching and other impacts. So, again ultimately, we want to protect the resources, but also, we want to support fisheries, because that is another important function that we do as a division we want to support fisheries and balance with also managing protecting our healthy resources and eco system. This is just a quick shot of the species that we kind of discuss like proposing size limits, bag limits, seasons and so on, including urchins, which all play a key role in breeding and maintain resiliency. So, this is just a snap shot of the species we have been discussing over the past several months. So, we had our whole series of scoping meetings as I have mentioned, starting from November all the way to December last year across the State, so each district office, held 2 scoping session for the public. We had a total of 196 participants across these session, 200 written comments. So, there is a lot information and a lot of feedback that we received so in this process of compiling all of this and summarizing it and hopefully presenting that and sharing that back to the public. We initially wanted to do that, earlier in the year, but, we also, had our 30/30 core team we actually held a bunch of focus group sessions and received a lot of feedback, from those as well, so it kind of pushed everything back because, we wanted to include all of that and the feedback as well and we are going to sharing it back and we are planning for our next round of scoping this June, just to share back and also to incorporate and address all the issues and concerns and the oppositions you know what we are proposing and share and propose some revised rules and strategies based on what we gathered and input we received. So, just a reminder, we are really in the early stage of this process. Again we going through that stage of gaining input, feedback and summarizing, and processing that, sharing that and involving the community So this is where we are, throughout the whole thing and it is a lengthy process into Law, and we have to go through a bunch of steps. So again we are in the initial phase, so a lot of things and everything we proposed --everything we are talking about is lot still just discussion at this point. So there is a lot ways you can be in the loop and be in 17 involved, we have our website we have a bunch of information and contact information on there. You can also sign up to be on the mailing list on the website and receive regular updates throughout this whole process. And you can also reach out to our team or myself as well, if you have more input, any questions, concerns, which we will received those things, and we want to hear from everyone as much as possible be inclusive, transparent throughout this whole process. That is my spill, again I welcome and comments and concerns, even after this meeting. Thank you. Abraham: Thanks Troy ---Anyone from the pubic or any commissioners has questions for Troy at this time? Nani: Hi this is Nani Pogline - comment from the public. Say for example Troy, Parrot fish, I notice you mentioned Parrot fish how would that look like ultimately the regulations on Parrot fish? Say for example would it be bag limit, would it be band on fishing Parrot fish? Or just trying to get an idea how this will it all play out eventually what this law means to the public eventually, on different species on what they will be restricted from, what will be the regulations like an example? Troy: Right So, the rules are really two basics ways or regulations, not the only, the two most common that are used are bag limits and size limits, minimum size. There is also what they call slot limits, where you on restricting on like taking small one, but also the really big ones, and only allowed to take of medium size ones, with the understanding that the large adults are the best, are the most successful for production. So there are different options, also seasons, place closures, even like day time, you know night time closure, methods, only restricting only around spearing for instance ... not allowing lay netters ... and that is only an example and I'm not saying we doing that. So those are the types of fishing regulations on that we have been discussing. The most and all of the limits and proposed limits that we would put out there would be based on surveys. And the information that we know about these species their life history, their biology, how big are they when they start reproducing, do they have seasonal spawning seasons and soon. So it is all based on that type of surveys and all the information we try to collect, not just as DAR but also collectively across different agencies organizations, Universities, every type of information we can get our hands on. We would incorporate that type of information into you know that type of decisions or proposed restriction. To your point --So for instance, you know, parrot fish was a hot topic, and it was something it was at least, that group of fish that I think a lot of people agreed that we need better rules and fishing regulations on uhu, because a lot of people have been seeing a decline, especially the larger ones or you know certain species in certain areas. So, there has been a lot of support for uhu as far like you know making better rules for those. For instance like Oahu, oh sorry not Oahu. Maui has specific rules not taking males, you can only take females. And there is a stricter limit as far as the amount of uhu that you can take and so on. Just as an example, not again not something that we are set on or anything, but for instance 2 uhu per person per day, it could be like that as an example of a proposed rule. So, ultimately what we want are limits that support pono practices and take and support the fisheries. Because we know how valuable, and how precious that is. A lot of staff are hunters and fishers ourselves, myself being one, born and raised here. So we really value that and cherish that as well, so we want to support that, but not at the expense of our habitat, coral reef our ecosystem being compromised. Because these species play such a huge important role. We have to find a balance and all the stakeholders and what we are trying to do. We are trying to reach out to communities to balance out these issues and concerns and want we want moving forward. Nani: So, enforcement that is always a hard task, so would that be severe fines? The Hawaiians the Ancient Hawaiians in history, they had strict rules and you were put to death if you got something out of season and we so, it probably worked pretty well, yeah but I mean I've seen strict rules about opihi's ...I'm seeing opihi in recent past still I'm seeing opihi just getting overharvest all sizes ... how can you enforce the rules? 19 Troy: Right, Yes that's a good point, enforcement, there is no point in making rules if they are unenforceable. Working with our DOCARE and really simplifying that is another issue. Really trying to simplifying the regulations and taking that into serious account, because we want to have regulation out there, that people can easily follow and officers can enforce effectively, you know if they have to. Of course we don't want to, but we hope that doesn't need to happen. We have to make the rules and clear and concise and effective as we can, that is a challenge that is why we are having this discussion and it has been on going. So many things to consider. That is a good point, and yes, we are aware of that. We need to take that into consideration. Abraham: Any other comment — Go ahead Brian Brian: Hey what about planning to do about the underlying conditions... raw sewage treatment that is spilling in the ocean all the time? We got runoffs with oil, we got industrial nitrogen runoff and all those other things basically the underlying line, why we are having these issues. Is anybody going, take affect and do anything about the city dumping raw sewage and creating these algae blooms and the nitrogen from the golf course and everyone beautiful green lawns and the runoff every time it rains. Oil from everyone leaky cars getting into the water that seems to be a little bit more serious concern as far as environmental issues go. Like Nani touched on, if we can't even patrol one little pier, how are we going be able to enforce any rules, we got that in the hunting thing. There are areas of no enforcement and people post the hell out of it, because they know there's no body there. So I mean, we can write rules all day long but if there is no enforcement, and nothing happens, you know, we are pissing in the wind basically. Troy: Right, For sure, yes, we do work with other agencies for instant DOFAW forestry and work collaborators with other agencies for those things that do fall under their jurisdiction, because it has to deal Mauka to Makai approach. We live on an Island and it's an Island ecosystem it's all connected. Everything ends up eventually, into the 20 ocean and on the reef and we do see a lot of impact from everything. But nobody likes rules, you know it is just one of the things that we have the capacity of doing. Of course it is not a magic fix. It's going to take a whole slew of different things there is so many different factors but it is just one key thing that we can do and want to do at least to move in that direction towards supporting better resources and healthy resources and sustainable fisheries which I think ultimately everyone wants. So if we could take any step in that direction, that's what we are going to do. But of course there is a lot of other phase that we need to go on. We can't do it ourselves, we have work together always. It's a long road, but we got to take the steps that we can. Abraham: Anyone else Teresa: What is your last name Troy Sakihara, where are you from, If I may ask, I'm curious. Hilo, born and raised in Hilo and what generation are you? Corporate Counsel — Teresa this is Sinclair, I'm going to ask you.. Teresa: I'm getting to my point Abraham: Teresa Corporate Counsel is advising.. Corporate Counsel- Teresa sorry Teresa: I'm sorry, I'm a generational fisherman and you have to take into consideration various underlying factors. My first question is, "Do we have a fish market for all the marine species that you had on your slide?" Is there an open market for all those species? Troy: Teresa: Troy: Teresa: Troy: 21 You mean commercially? You know we have the Farmers Flea Market, are any of those fishes sold at the Farmers Flea Market? I believe they are On all Islands? I can't speak for other Islands. Teresa: I haven't seen it in Hilo Flea market, I haven't seen it in Kona at their open market. When you go to Asian, all you see, are the fishes that we catch in their markets. When you say that there has been a demising of marine species and you are gonna blame we the fisherman by giving them bag limits or limits or size limits, slot limits, on what bases, do you base those things on? I'm a generational fisherman, my grandfather taught me, and that various parts of these islands are where the fishes are. Not the along entire circumference, of Moku O' Hawaii, is a fishing spot. Not every area is a fishing spot. We have voided areas, not because they have been overfished, but because they are not conducive to the environment of fishing to be in abundance. You don't have that in any of your previous scoping meetings. We have 63 fish ponds on the Island of Molokai, and the State is not helping the few fish ponds that are being revitalized, why isn't there a revitalization of the 63 fish ponds. We have fish ponds on this Island, why isn't the State putting a program out instead of bag limits, size limits, slot limits, or closures, or you know all the rules, and regulations that is almost virtually impossible to, um how do you say, um to protect your rules and why aren't we looking in this other direction of abundance that once upon a time that this Island population in Ancient time was over a million? We don't have that population on this Island and yet we are being informed that the marine species are being dwindled by overfishing. Which is not true. When the fish spawns, it spawns in the thousands, but yet we are being inform we are going to have bag limits, and slot limits. In your previous scoping meeting you haven't told us you are going to be responsible for the underlying issues, no one showed up at the development public meetings to say your project is going to contaminate our nearshore line areas or your golf course, like Brian had said, are going to contaminate our shoreline areas. You have a program right now at Four Season at Kaulupulehu that covers an area of 4.6 miles. North and South of the 4.6 miles is not a conducive area for fish to spawn, because the fresh water does not flow in those area, but it does flow in the 4.6 mile area, where there is an abundance and has always been our refrigerator for continuous fishing for all these 22 years and now there is a ban for 10 years. I don't see your 30/30 scoping meeting looking into the areas of possibility of abundance. So is there a way that I've asked to be contacted previously and no one has contacted me, so we can bring these issues to the table. So we can say why isn't the State DLNR DAR division looking into abundance? Instead of bag limits, size limits, slot limits, and rules and regulations that are hard to police? And we don't have open markets, you have a few in China Town on Oahu, but nowhere near the sizes of the open markets in Asia, in the Philippine's, in Taiwan, in Singapore, their markets are full with fish, our isn't, we don't have that commercial market. So I don't understand the DAR division, tell us, we recreational fisherman need to be policed, need to be license, we need bag limits, we don't have a market. It boggles my mind. Abraham: Teresa could you wrap it up. Teresa: So I would love to have a meeting with you Troy if you're in Hilo I would be glad to go to Hilo, and talk more about this, because it just boggles my mind that DLNR isn't being more responsible to its people. Troy: Be happy to meet with you, and we can talk about all of this, and that is what we want. We want to have an open discussion. Even if it is in opposition, you know, um or criticisms of what we are doing, we want to hear everything. And we should hear everything. Um but to your point, we don't we aren't signaling out fisherman. We would be signaling out ourselves, because a lot of us are fisherman ourselves... our staff ... we're not saying, we're not trying to point or intent to, make it seem like we're pointing fingers to fisherman, like hey, you guys are the problems, and this is why we are proposing these things, there is a whole bunch of factors that come into play. You know with these resources and why we are seeing decreasing number of certain species. So again we want to do our part as fisherman or you know as management as something that is part of our responsibility is to be able to manage fisheries, ----- is it okay if I ----- Abraham: You can continue... But it is one of the things we can do. Of course like I mentioned before, the rules aren't, we want to support, sustainable 23 practices, the rules and the things we talking about, for people that don't do things pono, people that they take everything they can, that is the type of activities that we don't want and that is the type of activities that we are trying to prevent, it is not to hinder anyone's livelihood, or lifestyle of taking and enjoying the resources, whether it is for subsistence for Kaukau for our family, or even, to give to family, or even to give to friends and neighbors, and we want to support that to be pono, we want that. And we want to sustain that. And yes, Teresa: So Troy Troy: Wait - I'm still speaking ---like you said, Barbara (Teresa), there are many areas that are, it is not a one size fits all, not the entire coastline of Hawaii Island or any of the Island, are the same, there's are a lot of different habitats, areas, are known to have certain species, areas where other species are thriving and some place where they are absent. So that's where this place base and where certain issues and impact are different, based on the locations. So that is where the place base where we want try to come together locally for a more place base focus type of strategy for these areas. Because like you said, not every single palace is the same, we don't want to make this overarching, certain rules can and certain strategies can be affective Statewide, but there are a lot of other things that would be more affected if it is more local focus type of effort.. So that is that other pillar or the other effort we were talking about, place base planning and management. We want to be inclusive of the local community in a certain area, for instant like Hilo, or you know just as an example, to get at that those specific issues and needs. By all means yes, we want to talk to everyone, we want to be inclusive a much as possible, Barbara (Teresa) I'm not sure who you reached out to but I Abraham: Troy -- Sorry Troy, but it is actually Teresa Nakama, she just using Barbara's da kine (Zoom). Troy: Teresa Sorry, my apologies -Teresa I'm not sure who reached out to. But definitely want to reach out to you and talk to you. 24 Abraham: Troy, I've got a question, pretty much covered all of them. If you guys are planning on making more MMA, isn't it going to be like less areas for fisherman to fish? Like you guys will be closing probably maybe closing the good areas and only leaving the cliffy, rocky junky areas for everybody to fish, if you create more MMA's coastline areas? I don't think MMA's wouldn't be kinda good thing yeah? Troy: No ... I mean Abraham: just what I going put in on this one. Troy: Yeah, Yeah for sure, definitely no take or anything like that. Again we want to support fisheries as part of our responsibility. And there are areas that have natural protection... you know the coastline is too ruff, so you have resources out there that support these fishes and you have that effect, that we call spill over affect where you get these protected areas and because they are doing so well, a lot of time you'll see, it shows in our studies in our monitoring surveys... Where areas nearby these protective area you'll see an increase in species, because you have a spill over affect and because we have a thriving population of various species, the resources get so overwhelmed because the fish start pouring out, and spreading out to other areas, so, they can be supportive. Even if we were to close something off completely as an example. There is still benefits to that, in areas you can fish, where you have that spill over affect. You can there are Abraham: My whole thing with that, don't just close off the easy spots, where we can take our kids stuff like that, or Kupuna. And you guys going leave the rock areas where I cannot go and take my children or Kupuna, or whatever, right? Troy: We wouldn't want to do that. Teresa: Troy this is Teresa, This is exactly what happen at Four Seasons, at Kaulupulehu. They took our fish box area telling us the out full of the abundance there going to spill over. It doesn't, because going North or South of the protective area, is not conducive to marine life. So if you take all the best area of spawning and abundance and close it off, 25 telling us that the spillover is going North and South of it that is a lie. I'm not saying or calling DLNR or DAR division a lie, but the concept becomes a lie, because it cannot survive North and South of the area that is conducive or abundance of marine species that you are going to close off to us. The fish can't survive North or South of that area, because it is not conducive to marine life. Abraham: Okay Thanks Teresa Teresa: I don't want him to miss the concept of when they say they are going to closing a good area. Abraham: Right Troy: So, that is a very good point, and you know, that is something, if that would be a discussion if that is what the community wants like for instance a protective area, we would look at continuity in that habitat for that very concept. To have an area where you have that what we call spill over affect, so you have continuity in a type of habitat that would be conducive for species to thrive and move into other areas. Teresa: 33% of West Hawaii is protective area, where is the report that the spillover has given abundance to the entire area? All we hear is that the population is going down, the population is going down. Nobody gives us a report of abundance. Troy: Our Kona staff has been surveying that area the coastline, the whole West Hawaii section for a long time. They have a long and there is trends they see in their survey and data that describe and indicates that. For instance, all the MMA and protective areas across West Hawaii, they do not have the same function and or the same restriction. So they function differently and they protection different things.. A lot of it was the Aquarium Fisheries or what was the Aquarium fisheries, for species that were important to that particular fisheries. Fishing, there are a lot of areas, fishing was involved, even if it was considered in a protective area. So same thing when we are talking about proposed areas looking into the future, looking ahead, if we want to establish new ones it is not a complete closure, you know, 26 it is not the kind of thing, there are so many different ways to protect an area. So when we say MMA- or Marine Managed Area, it doesn't mean we are going closing it off to fishing, or completely restricted. We are going to find finding ways to enhance the resources there. With specific and particular strategies, management strategies, can do that, so that is what we mean MMA is not like close off, no fishing, no take, nothing like that. In certain areas if it calls for that, we might have to do that. I can't say that we won't ever do that. But I'm not saying that is all we ever going to do every single time. No. Abraham: Okay Troy, Can you keep us posted and updated on your guy's research and you guys the meetings you have coming up? And for the public if there is anybody that what to know more about their information, please look up their web site. There is also a YouTube video on 30/30 on the website there is Troy contact information and also the Westside biologist contact information on their web site. Troy: Definitely we want to keep everybody abreast of what we are doing and upcoming meetings and opportunities to talk story. We haven't set date for June yet, we are aiming for late June, to have next round of public scoping. Teresa: Abraham, may I as a question Abraham: Not at this time, we have to move forward... Teresa: Troy, I'll talk to you later and report back to the group. Abraham: We going move down the agenda to New Business, we have a guest speaker Cynthia Punihaole. 6. NEW BUSINESS a. Discuss possible trapping programs to deal with over population of pigs and goats in areas they are unwanted. (speaker not in attendance) b. Kahalu'u Bay Coral Spawning — Cynthia Punihaole, Director of Kahalu'u Bay Education Center. 27 Cynthia Punihaole: My name is Cynthia Punihaole, Director Kahaluu Bay Education Center. The program from the Kohala Center. We have been helping educate our visitors and our local community on reef etiquette. How to take care of the reef, since 2006. The reason I'm here this evening is to just share with you the press release that went out from the County on Kahalu'u Beach closing for coral spawning. I'll give you some history back in 2000, prior to 2015 and again 2019 the coral at Kahaluu Bay the impact of visitors was very severe, but we found the coral were still able to manage taking care of themselves. But then and in 2015 and like I said again in 2019 because of elevated ocean temperature, it impacted the West Hawaii coastal area and at Kahalu'u Bay 90% of the cauliflowery coral had died. And so back in 2018 we asked the County, we realize that the Cauliflowery corals only spawned a couple of times a year, so we asked the County if we could have closure time, to help the gametes or the keike's, when they spawn be able to look for a good place to settle. And during that time, we've seen some successes, as baby coral growing, but we also know that, Kahalu'u have been impacted by other stressors, cesspools, runoffs, and we see the nitrogen, the phosphorus, the numbers are pretty high. And so, however, during post Covid last year within a couple of months we saw a rejuvenation of the bay. The Limu just prolific on the tidal flats. The amount abundance, talk about abundance of marine species, coming into the bay, in fact, schools of Halalu, that we haven't seen for years, and years, cause I am a Kamaaina to this place, and ama coming into the bay. So, it's has been a double edge sword it is a blessing for the environment but it is difficult on our economy. And so, we look what had happen back in 2018 when we did the closure, we saw some coral started to grow 2019 we did a closure we saw, babies growing then, but then in 2020 it was closed that time and very few people were snorkeling and we found we have over 100 babies in the bay and we, think we have a responsibility ... To really take care of our place, and coming next week on the May 28th through June 5th, 2021 is when the cauliflowery will spawn again. We don't have that many good cauliflowery heads anymore. Most of them are damage and so we W want to give them some time and space to protect them so there won't be sunscreen in the bay. A lot of sunscreen in the bay or people interfering with the gametes trying to settle on a good place. And so, our request to the County is to please afford us this time, because this is the only time for the next year that the cauliflower will spawn. And so with that the State and the County gave us this time for to rest Kahalu'u Bay for this special event. Do you have any questions of me? Abraham: Would it help if you guys had funding to repair the break wall. Or you guys would like to keep the break wall down, so that the water could flush. Flush the water more in and out better more clean water coming in and out or? Cynthia: What break wall?—Menehune wall? Abraham: right behind you, right backside of... Cynthia: Menehune wall was, is really a protection for the bay. You know, it protects the surf coming into the bay. If you have been in Kahalu'u, so many years, this particular wall and during high surf it protects the area but it is not as it was when, I was a young girl. So it's during over the years it has also been degraded the wall, but it still provides a barrier, so that we have a chance of not flooding the entire bay. If you look at Kahalu'u bay is really perpendicular to the sand, the water and the sand. So on high surf days you will have the water coming right into the pavilion and right on into the parking lot area. And so that wall is a protection for the bay as it is now. Abraham: My question is would the wall help you guys help protect the coral also? Cynthia: Will it protect the Coral? I would say so, I think because it protects the incoming tide, it will protect those babies. But you have to understand the coral reef itself is really a protection on its own to the threshold areas. So we need to look at taking care of our coral reef, so that they in turn can become stable enough to withstand that kind of serge. But, they also considered the rainforest of the ocean. These coral itself 29 take care of the reef and takes care of the species and they live together in a symbolic way. Abraham: Thank you. Does anybody else has any questions or comments for Cynthia? Thanks Cynthia for your presentation on this very short notice, and thanks for your guys hard work at Kahalu'u Bay. Leomana: Aloha, this Leomana District 3, Hilo. Just wanted to say, "Congratulations," I have been diving that beach ever since I was 5 years old and I don't remember when the last time I saw Halalu'u in the bay. I'm super excited about that and it makes me feel good. I haven't been on that side in about 2 years. As a kid, my dad would take me down there, before the pond in the front. When all that Tilapia, and go diving out there and see all the fish, but past 15 years the decline, just breaks my heart, but, now I'm super excited and happy, thank you. Cynthia: you have to come then, you have to holo holo here. Its' Blessing and I want to thank all of you for allowing me to share my presentation this evening, Mahalo. Abraham: Thank you Cynthia Cynthia: Mahalo 7. OLD BUSINESS a. Shooting Range development update: Stanley Mendes will share information from Mayor's Office on Puuanahulu. Abraham: We go back up to old business. Stanley Mendez, district 1. Give us one report, with the meeting they had with the Mayor on April 16. Stanley: On the 16th of April, we met, Nani and myself met with the Mayor to discuss the gun range. He was very positive he was going to look into some possibilities and get back to us. We brought to his attention, Pu'u Kaohe, and Kapulena properties that the County owned. And, his 30 suggestion that the Pu'uanahulu gun range and we left feeling positive to what he said. We also discussed the trap and skeet range, the possibility of having a pistol range down there and he got excited about that too and he was going to work with Maurice Messina (P&R, Director) let us know what can be done. That is about all I can report, unless Nani has anything more to add. Nani Pogline: The Mayor said like at Pu'uanaulu, the previous hotel owners, managers, were the ones, opposed to the shooting range. Where so much money put into developing it, but, they stopped it because of the objection from those hotel areas, hotel Managers and Owners. But, Mayor Mitch Roth, said that those managers and owners are gone, they have moved out and that there is new managers, hotels there, that he actually had a meeting with them to talk about the shooting range with also Deputy Chair DLNR- Bob Matsuda and we were hoping to have the results of that meeting tonight. Hopefully that's going to be in the near future, we will hear about that meeting. But we really appreciate, the Mayor and his efforts and it sounded very hopeful, that Pu'uanahulu, might be the best bet and thank you that is my recollection. Thank you. Abraham: Thank you Nani, any questions? Thanks Nani and Stanley going to that meeting. I was supposed to go to the meeting that night, but I had to stay and work late that night. Thanks to the Vice -Chair and our public member for stepping in. We go back down to New Business. It has been brought to my attention. We got to talk about this... Did everybody get the email from Barbara regarding the fire breaks up at Pu'uwa'awa'a and Pu'uanahulu? Mauna Kea Forrest Reserve and Kohanaiki management area, did you 31 all have the chance to look at this report? Brian did you get a chance to look at that attachment? Brian: Not yet. Abraham: Cortney did you get a chance? Cortney: I'm just seeing it now, sorry. Abraham: How about you Leomana? Leomana- I looked at all the attachments that I got with all the emails, not sure which that is, but is that the one about, that said something about digging fire breaks Abraham: That's the one Leomana: Okay, yeah, yeah, the Palila area Abraham: George, did you get a chance to look at yet? George: No I have not. Abraham: So, basically we had a previous meeting some time last year, May 2020, 1 think it was, and we had a discussion, with DOCARE and department of Forestry, about firebreaks. I think Brian was there as a public person, not sure, but they're proposing to go in and widen up their firebreaks and they wanted our recommendations or our comments on this, apparently back at that meeting we were supportive of this. So, my question to the commission is, are we still supportive of this? Since we have a new commission. So due to our counsel, we going to table this subject for now, until our next agenda. We will put this on our next agenda meeting. So please look at it, and check it out and we'll talk about it at our next meeting. Teresa: Abraham this is Teresa. Abraham: Yes Teresa 32 Teresa: In looking over this, they don't have a proposal of a reforestation project within their plan. I was wondering if the commission could ask if they could insert a reforestation plan within their proposed area of widening up the firebreak, but also do a planting project also. I know it is an ongoing project, but they don't have an extensive reforestation project of native trees. Abraham: Right, but with this project that they are doing is to increase the fire break. I can ask them, I aint saying I'm not, I can go and ask them, but I think this whole thing to expand the firebreak, so why would you want to replant, if trying to expand the firebreaks? Teresa: Their expanding areas that are dry, I understand, but there are areas they could keep doing their replanting so, I wanted us to encourage them in the areas they could start planting a reforestation project, because those are the areas that were impacted by wildfires. But I haven't seen a reforestation proposal. Abraham: I see want you're saying and where you're going, but that is not what this is about so we can probably ask them probably, next meeting we can bring this up and actually talk about that issue with them, but at this point and time totally different from what they are asking. Teresa: I guess I'm trying to integrate that fact... Abraham: I got you Teresa Thank you Teresa -- Still on new business. It has been brought to my attention that some of the county employees, I guest. They want to change our times. For whatever reason. So, as of right now, It starts at 6:30pm and we are done by 8:30pm and the reason why it is like that. Hunters, fisherman, gathers, we all have day jobs and everybody here is volunteers. So, that is pretty much why it is at 6:30pm so who ever want to come to this meeting. So they can actually, to get a 33 chance to go home, take a shower and then they could come and join us in the chambers, the meeting room, but now with COVID we have Zoom, but Zoom was probably here a few years before that, but now that it is a normal thing. So, my suggestion we can change the time to make it earlier and start that at 6:OOpm. We can start a half hour earlier and end a half hour earlier. What do you guys say? Barbara: shouldn't the motion be from one of the members, not the chair and there should be a second, then discussion. Action: Stanley: I move to make the meeting at 6:00 pm and end at 8:00 pm. Kean, District 2: Second Brian: I second that motion, Brian district 4 Abraham: No Brian, Kean already second the motion. Everybody in favor of moving our time to 6 to 8 pm from 6:30 to 8:30pm Any Nays -No Nays. From our next meeting or two meetings down the road. Barbara: Our next meeting (June 15, 2021 at 6:OOpm) Brian: Eh Abraham one piece of new business that I can throw in, Abraham: Yes Brian I would like to bring up a proposal that GMAC does a Freedom of Information (FOIA) on how the department of DLNR spends our Pittman/Robertson funds. I've talked to them and I kind of get it too complicated for somebody of my limited intelligence to comprehend and kind of get blown off and they suggested if I really wanted to get the information, that I would have to get the Freedom of Information Act and it would probably take at least about 6 months to get it but I think the group should, I think we are entitled to know 34 how that money is being spent on and I would like to put on a motion forward that we do that we do a Freedom of Information Act to the DLNR on what they spend the Pittman Robinson funds on? Abraham: So, I think at this time, I'm going to ask our corporate counsel maybe he can look into it and see how that goes and he can come back to us by next month. Brian: Okay, sounds wonderful Abraham: I'm not sure on that. Leomana: Short answer you can, any member of the public can request that information from any public agency. So you could request that information yourself and bring it forward, or the chair can put that on the agenda on the next meeting and the board can be discussed at the next meeting. Stanley: So what happens, our GMAC writes a letter for that Freedom of Information, that's how it works? Not an individual our body. Leomana: You want to discuss at the next meeting whether you guys want the body to request the information from somewhere, or an individual and that individual can request that information, and bring that information to the body. Does that make sense? Stanley: So, we got to wait till the next... Leomana: Yeah so the first issue .... sorry I did not catch his name sorry... Brian was requesting to talk about the board asking for the uniform information request, to request for information from a State agency that is something I can look into. But the short answer for Brian and for any member or person is that any member can go to any person in their personal capacity as a member of the 35 public can go to any State or County agency and ask for a uniform information practice, what he called it from the Federal government is called a FIOA request, Freedom of Information Act Request, and you can call the agency and say I would like to request some information and can you provide the form, then they will provide a form, you have to specifically identify what documents. The request is always a document request, and you would do that and they would have that process. But along those timelines for getting the information, like Brian mentioned that Brian did they tell you 6 months. Brian: Yes, it would be at least 6 months, before he would get that information to me. Leomana: so, there are certain requirements, and a lot of those rules that are suspended, because of COVID. Like if you asked for information, it would take the agency a long time to get it, gather, there is a whole process, we can discuss it and you can put it on the agenda Chair. We can discuss it at our next meeting. Abraham: Thank you. Sorry folks I was kind of in a rush this earlier this evening so I need a motion to approve the minutes. Action: Cortney: So moved Kean: Second Abraham: and also need a motion to Leomana: you guys need to vote on that Abraham: All those in favor of approving the minutes Barbara: Who made the first and second? I heard Cortney Abraham: Cortney made the first and Kean second. Barbara: 36 Abraham: All in favor of the last meeting minutes say Aye. Any oppose, no. Also need a motion for the financial report. Action: Stanley: Motion to accept the financial report Brian: second the motion Abraham: Barbara, Stanley made the motion Brian second. All in favor for the financial report, say aye. Barbara: Steve Hurt: May I throw something in here real quick please. This is in regards to the in widening of the roads that the proposal from DLNR and what they are trying to go through there is having to go through a complete environmental assessment on the project. I found out about it and I sent in a letter to Steve Bergfeld with total support of it and it is a project that should have been done over 30 years ago to widen the roads so that the fire so when it starts, doesn't jump the road we don't lose a whole doggone place up there. It's got nothing to do with replanting, they have to widening the road, where they widening it basically anything in that path is going get cut down which is necessary but to replant anything in that area is counterproductive, it makes no sense. So, I would think if everybody and go back and re -read that proposal is basically to bypass the length and time it would take to go through a complete and environmental assessment just on the roads shown on the basic Palila recovery area. Abraham: Yeah thanks Steve, that's why we table it to our next meeting so everybody will get a chance to look at it. Steve Hurt: I don't know how much time is of the essence. A couple of weeks after I submitted my letter, there was only one letter was received which was mine. 37 8. COMMISSIONERS REPORT BY DISTRICT: Abraham: Any commission report by district Stanley: No Brian: Our Bill HB662, was shot down on the Senate Floor, they weren't happy with the wording on it, change the wording a little bit and maybe next year. We went far in the House and we probably got a good -- put minutes the next session when we try to run HB 662 shot next year. Abraham: Leomana your brand new any report for your district. Leomana: Not at this time Cortney: Nothing to report Abraham: George anything to report in your district George: Nothing to report 9. COMMITTEE REPORTS: Abraham: Any committee reports. I guess the committee report would have been Stanley on the shooting range. Leomana and Cortney, there are committees we have and I don't have it on hand right now, but and get in touch with Barbara and she will let you know what committees there are you can join in any of the committees. Cortney: Thank you. 10.ANNOUNCEMENTS: M 11.Adjournment: (8:30pm) Abraham: At this time at 8:24pm, is there anybody want to make a motion for adjournment? Action: Cortney: So Move, (to adjourn meeting). George: Second Abraham: Barbara, Cortney has moved to adjourn the meeting George second... All in favor Aye any nays... Adjourned the meeting. Thank you guys good night. Teresa: Abraham under new business about the pig population can you put it forward to the next meeting? Abraham: I miss that on too ... ok Next Meeting: June 15, 2021 at 6:00pm (new time) Respectfully submitted by, Barbara Kossow Secretary 39