2016-03-03 Hearing Transcript - Update Puna Pono Alliance et al GAF Claim

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WINDWARD PLANNING COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I HEARING TRANSCRIPT MARCH 3, 2016 A hearing for the Planning Director Initiated Update regarding the remand of Claimant Puna Pono Alliance, et al.’s claim against the Geothermal Asset Fundto the Planning Department was called to order at 10:28 a.m. in the County of Hawai‘i Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Hilo, Hawai‘i with Chairman Charles Heaukulani presiding. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Charles Heaukulani, Donn Dela Cruz, Gregory Henkel, Donald Ikeda, Myles Miyasato, and Raylene Moses. ALSO PRESENT: Duane Kanuha (Planning Director), William Brilhante (Assistant Corporation Counsel for the Planning Director), Danny Patel (Deputy Corporation Counsel for the Windward Planning Commission), Daryn Arai (Planning Program Manager), Jeff Darrow (Staff Planner), Christian Kay (Staff Planner), and Sarah Hata-Finley (Commission Secretary). And approximately 11 people from the public in attendance. PLANNING DIRECTOR INITIATED Update regarding the remand to the Planning Department of Claimant Puna Pono Alliance, et al.’s, claim against the Geothermal Asset Fund for funding to conduct a Psycho-Social Impact and Community Well-Being Study. HEAUKULANI: All right, we’re going to move to number five on the addendum to our agenda today. It’s the Planning Director initiated update regarding the remand to the Planning Department of Claimant’s Puna Pono Alliance, et al.’s claim against the Geothermal Asset Fund for funding to conduct a psycho-social impact and community well-being study. Daryn, could you give us an update on this matter, please? ARAI: Sure, glad to. Commissioners may recall back in March of last year, they reconsidered the claim that was previously awarded to the Claimants, Puna Pono Alliance, et al., and they approved a motion for reconsideration and directed the Department to work with the Claimants on restructuring an RFP that would hopefully, for like resubmittal back through the process. We’ve had limited discussions with the Claimants, in particular Mr. Travis, but at this time, we do not have anything formal in the way of a restructured RFP that we can deliver to the Commission as they directed. We apologize that it’s taken longer than maybe the parties as well as the Commission has anticipated, but there are—it’s proved to be a more complex, thought- provoking issue than we anticipated, so at that point, not having anything else to offer to you or present to you at this point, that is basically the update that we have. HEAUKULANI: Commissioners, do you have any questions of staff on this matter? 1 EXHIBIT E