2012-07-19 Leeward Exh B - Bill No. 255

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BOWMAN: Thank you. Any other questions, Commissioners? Forgive me, I forgot to ask you if you have received the background report in addition to what we’ve given you, and that you’ve received it and -. VAN DYKE: Yes, I did, yeah. BOWMAN: Okay, thank you. Okay, any more comments? VAN DYKE: Well, just to say thank you for answering my questions. I feel really satisfied with your answers, and I think it’s a good recommendation from the Planning Commission. We’ll be very happy to -, if it’s accepted. BOWMAN: Thank you. Now, we have eleven people to testify – thank you, you may sit down – so what I’d like to do is call you up four at a time. And if you could, you know, you’ve heard the testimony, maybe if you have additional testimony, do your best to limit it to a couple of minutes, because we’d like everyone to be able to, you know, have their turn to testify. So I will call you up by fours according to how, when you signed up. So – forgive me if I don’t say your name right – Karen Kriebl, Timothy Bruno, Gary Willick and Roxann Taughinbaugh. Okay, and I will need to swear you in, so if you could, after you’re seated, please raise your right hand. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth on this matter now before the Leeward Hawai‘i Planning Commission? TESTIFIERS: Yes, I do. BOWMAN: Good. I will start with Ms. Kriebl. KRIEBL: Thank you. Hello, my name is Karen Kriebl. I am a founding member and a vendor at the South Kona Green Market since 2008. I’m a fulltime farmer, and the South Kona Green Market has provided me the opportunity to connect my farm products with the community. It’s been an integral part of our income. I’m very appreciative of the Kealakekua Ranch providing us a temporary home while the visitor center has been constructed. But during the two years time, I’ve seen a 50 percent or more reduction in my sales. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to be back at the Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden with its road frontage, and an increase number of visitors to the island finding myself and my coffee. It’s not only a place for income for me but the market has provide a social venue for my family and the opportunity to speak with other farmers, to learn about new ideas, to connect with other educational organizations like the One Island sustainability program, so I can learn about how to bring hot water to my home, to learn about how I can help with the, treat the coffee berry borer issue on my farm, it brings local commissioners there where we can ask questions, and it’s provided a wonderful opportunity for my family. And I look forward to the adoption of this change. BOWMAN: Thank you. Commissioners, any questions? Thank you. Mr. Bruno? BRUNO: Aloha. My name is Tim Bruno. I am the manager of the South Kona Green Market, also one of the founding members. And we applaud the change as it is on its way; we think it’s really terrific. The Green Market has quickly found its way to the heart of the community. We get a lot of regulars every week. It’s pretty terrific. And we get a fair number of tourists, not as many as we used to when we were in front of Amy Greenwell, the property there. The road visibility cannot be minimized; that makes such a big difference to our folks. In terms of nuts and bolts, many of our 9 EXHIBIT B