2008-01-11 TMAUNAKEA - Laserfiche WebLink

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GRAHAM: Mr. Torigoe, could I permissibly speak to a personal experience on this very issue? TORIGOE: Normally we would not, we would discourage Commissioners giving testimony, factual testimony regarding the merits or matters that are at issue. GRAHAM: Okay. WATANABE: Thank you. Any, yes, Mr. Domingo. DOMINGO: But, Mr. Chairman, if Mr. Graham has some information that would shed some light on the issue of public parking or public spaces for access to the beach, I think it would be well for us to know about it because in fact we have received a letter, official, a letter stating their concerns about it. And, you know, I certainly would like to know about it. WATANABE: Why don’t we try to, well, -. Well, let me ask the applicant then, how do you feel about that? Generally, like counsel had indicated, we discourage factual testimony from Planning Commissioners. I have no idea what Mr. Graham has to say but how do you feel? Do you feel comfortable with allowing him? ING: We’re comfortable allowing Mr. Graham to speak. We don’t intend to ask him any questions and it may shed some light. Mr. Chair, I do want to add something to Ms. Mapes’ response to Commissioner Domingo. From time to time the hotel does receive complaints from the County Planning Department about the beach parking access. And I will say that the hotel does take those very seriously. We do investigate. We have from time to time had training sessions with those at the entry station to improve public relations and to allow better access. One of the difficulties has been that we not only control or try to manage the access on the Mauna Kea Resort LLC property but also at the Queen’s property which is an adjacent property just to the north. There is no mauka-makai access to the 10 stalls there. We have instituted this pass system which consists of a placard that is placed on the windshield. It does have 30 of those for the 30 at Mauna Kea, and an additional 10 for the 10 at the Maumae. And so that’s the basis for the system, and it has been in effect for many, many years; and we have from time to time described the system and reported to the Planning Department how that system does operate. But we do indeed take complaints very seriously. We do try to investigate them. Many times those are referred to me for assistance on what exactly the procedure is. Anyway, thank you. WATANABE: Thank you. Mr. Yuen, would you have any objection to Mr. Graham providing testimony? YUEN: No. WATANABE: Well, in light of that then you’re welcome to proceed, Mr. Graham. GRAHAM: Thank you. I just wanted to relate that I did have a similar instance to what they are speaking of in this letter where I do visit the beach, you know, somewhat frequently and went down one day and I was told that there were no parking places available. EXHIBIT B 6