2016-18.2 Ad Hoc Report 5-11-16 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ad Hoc Committee on Puna Connectivity May 11, 2016 Page 3of12 connectivity points between subdivisions. More than 1,500 people participated in the event at Kea`au High School. The diligent work of the Subcommittee at the PREP Fair and at its meetings since then allowed for the gathering of public input and data to assist in resiliency efforts for the Puna District. The Subcommittee divided Puna into four broad regions — Volcano, Puna Uka, Puna Waena, and Puna Kai — and made a total of 48 options for road connectivity. This report was adopted by the Puna Community Development Plan on May 13, 2014. The connections, as well as the top three priorities for each region, were revealed to the public at the second PREP Fair, which was planned for August 30, 2014. The timing of this fair coincided with a disaster declaration as a result of the impact of Tropical Storm Iselle, and the district was days away from a second disaster declaration due to the approach of a lava flow from the June 27th outbreak. As a result, the second PREP Fair was well -attended by the public, and the Subcommittee received additional input to help it fine-tune suggestions and identify connections that were unfeasible or unwanted by residents. The County Council's Committee on Public Works and Parks and Recreation discussed, and approved on August 18, 2015, a request by Council Member Greggor Ilagan regarding the creation of the Ad Hoc Committee on Puna Connectivity. The members of this committee were identified as the council members who represented Districts 3, 4, 5, and 6, Puna CDP Action Committee Chair Patti Pinto, and Connectivity and Emergency Response Subcommittee Chair Marlene Hapai. The Ad Hoc Committee met on August 26, 2015, January 27, 2016, and May 11, 2016. In addition, the Committee made a field trip to selected sites along the Puna mauka subdivision corridor on October 30, 2015. DISCUSSION In reviewing the potential options for road connectivity in Puna, the Ad Hoc Committee decided to focus on connectivity among the subdivisions between Highways 11 and 130. Creation of these routes would improve circulation, ease burdens on the highway system, and achieve the goals of the Puna CDP. The Ad Hoc Committee further noted that the lava emergency of 2014- 2015 resulted in the creation of an unpaved emergency access route connecting Nanawale Estates to Hawaiian Shores, and Hawaiian Beaches to Hawaiian Paradise Park. This achieved the highest priority of the Puna Kai and Puna Mauka regions, and the access road will be available for use in future emergency situations. RECOMMENDATIONS The Ad Hoc Committee adopts and forwards to the Council the recommendations of the CERS dated May 3, 2016, as contained below: