September 26, 2015 DRAFT minutes

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clarifying questions are answered, the SC will participate in a "walkabout" activity where each SC member will be asked to identify additional questions and concerns. Ms. Gloor provided an overview of Section 5 — Strengthen Infrastructure, Facilities, and Services. Infrastructure includes water systems, roadway networks, mass transit emergency facilities, environmental management facilities, and educational and park facilities. Ms. Gloor used an interactive map of the Hamakua planning area to show where the proposed infrastructure will or could be located. Ms. Gloor answered additional clarifying questions. Break Steering Committee "Walkabout" Exercise Mr. Agres explained the walkabout exercise to the Steerg Co mittee. or each strategy listed in Section 5, Steering Committee members were to indicate on charts which were posted on the walls, which proposed policies they understood, and which they did not. If there were questions, concerns, or additional informational needs, Steering Committee members were to write these on Post -it notes, along with their initials, and place them on the respective policy chart. The public was also invited to participate in a walkabout activity separate from the Steering Committee. Following this exercise, Mr. Agres fac' ' ated a question and answer session based on the questions written on Post -it notes by Steering Committmembers and the public. Break for Lunch Ms. Gloor, Mr. Agres and Mr. Whitmore continued to answer clarifying questions that were written on Post -it notes by Steering Committee members and members of the public. Ms. Gomes facilitated a discussion with the St concerns or additional informational should be Item 92 of the meeting. Committee to determine which questions, agnted and discussed in detail during Business Section 6 Overview Ms. Gloor provided an overvi f Section 6 — Build a Sustainable, Local Economy. Most of Section 6 is organized by sectors — local agriculture, health and wellness services, creative, education and research, place -based visitor, local retail and town centers, and green industries. Ms. Gloor explained that there is little Hawaii County can do in terms of promoting economic development, primarily just land use control and infrastructure. Economic development is interwoven throughout the P and is largely dependent on collaborative Community and K61cua actions. Section 6.1— Coordinate Regional Economic Development; guides the implementation of regional economic development strategies, including an education, enterprise development, and research network and regional strategies to increase "buying local." Section 6.2 — Strengthening Local Agriculture; guides efforts to strengthen the local agriculture value chain, including agricultural land acquisition, agricultural parks and water systems, the diversification of agriculture -based businesses on agricultural land, and agricultural tourism. Section 6.3 — Expand Health and Wellness Industry; guides the efforts to increase the health and wellness industry. Section 6.4 — Promote the Creative, Education, & Research Sector; guides the development of a regional education, enterprise development, and research network. Page 14