2016-11-15 Proposed Revision Summary

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10 Section 6: Build a Sustainable, Local Economy 6.2 Strengthening Local Agriculture 6.2.3 County Action New Policy: Develop increased capacity for County -level agricultural specialists to liaise and coordinate with State and Federal Agencies in improving and implementing policy, increasing agricultural education, and promoting opportunities for expanding markets for locally grown products. New Policy: Evaluate County Zoning Code Section 15-5-72(a)(17) relating to "livestock production of piggeries, apiaries, and pen feeding of livestock shall be [... ] located no closer than one thousand feet away from any major public street or from any other zoning district." ■ Define what qualifies as a "piggery" or an "apiary"; ■ Determine if the minimum distance of 1000 feet from any public street or other zone is appropriate for each use referenced; recommend revision to minimum distance if research justifies adopting new minimum distances. 6.2.5 Community Action Community Action 44: Strengthen t#e local agriculture value ^;ai;; through the following: ■ Develop a marketing brand for Hamakua products (Assist in the promotion of products produced in Hamakua (GP 2.3(t)). ■ Support Farm to School/Farm to Table Programs, CSAs, and other local farm -to -consumer initiatives; ■ Support and develop celebratory events that support agriculture (e.g., festivals, rodeos, parades, community gathering events at farmers' markets, etc.). ■ Work to effectively manage or eradicate invasive species that impact agricultural production. ■ Develop agricultural cooperatives to facilitate farming collaborations, cost- and resource - sharing opportunities, provide a mechanism for marketing assistance and educational opportunities, and coordinate with County, State, and Federal Agricultural specialists. ■ Pursue the development of incubator community kitchens for the production of value- added agricultural products. New Community Action: To better address issues relating to the Lower Hamakua Ditch: form a cooperative community group (for example, a "Friends of the Lower Hamakua Ditch" group) composed of adjacent landowners to the ditch and other affected parties to advocate to and collaborate with the Department of Agriculture in developing a cooperative management plan that would seek to resolve issues relating to water quality, water efficiency, ditch maintenance, and to assess ditch trail access opportunities.