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31 preservation and to provide the Mayor with an island wide list of prioritized properties. PONC <br />32 Commissioner Rene Siracusa updated the Action Committee on the process used for suggesting <br />33 parcels for preservation and how to apply for stewardship grants. <br />34 Commissioner Siracusa encouraged members of the Action Committee as well as the general <br />35 public to submit nominations of parcels for preservation as well as apply for stewardship <br />36 grants. She suggested the AC revive the Wai'ele suggestion from 2016. The Action Committee <br />37 asked Commissioner Siracusa the following questions: <br />38 Q: Is funding required to create access to the ocean and how is that funding is acquired? <br />39 A: If there is no access to the ocean than an easement would need to be applied for through <br />40 the Planning Department. The rules governing PONC acquisitions do not allow for any <br />41 hardscape construction, including roads. Maintenance of existing trails is permissible. <br />42 Q: What else is the county willing to do concerning maintenance costs? <br />43 A: Stewardship groups can clean up garbage, remove invasive species, and replant for habitat <br />44 restoration. <br />45 Q: Are properties under the PONC program typically managed by the Department of Parks and <br />46 Recreation or Finance? <br />47 A: The acquisition of land is through the Department of Finance and the Department of Parks <br />48 and Recreation approves the stewardship grants. The County is responsible for managing the <br />49 lands until stewardship grants are in place for the purchased parcel. <br />50 More information on PONC can be found on the County of Hawai'i website: <br />51 http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/weblink/1/edoc/89634/Public%20Access,%20Open%20Space%20and%20Natural%2 <br />52 OResources%20Preservation%20Commission%20-%20Fact%20Sheet%20(9.15.2017).pdf <br />53 PONC Suggestion Forms for Lands and/or Property Entitlement for Acquisition can be viewed and downloaded <br />54 from the following website: <br />55 http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/weblink/1/edoc/88230/PONC%20Suggestion%20Form%20(3-13-17)%20fillable.pdf <br />56 PONC Stewardship Grant Request Form can be viewed and downloaded from the following website: <br />57 http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/weblink/1/edoc/80189/PONC%20stewardship%20Grant%20Reguest%20Form%20( <br />58 application%20period%20801%20-%2083117).pdf <br />59 Press Release and Handout from P.O.N.C. can be found here: <br />60 http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/webIink/1/doc/90178/Pagel.aspx <br />61 2. Mass Transit Master Plan Presentation: Ms. Cheryl Soon of SSFM International and Mass Transit <br />62 Administrator Ms. Tiffany Kai provided the Action Committee an update on the status of the <br />63 Mass Transit Master Plan. <br />64 Ms. Soon acknowledged that the Mass Transit Agency has struggled with bus maintenance <br />65 issues due to old buses and an old bus maintenance facility. The new bus maintenance station <br />66 should help to relieve some of that. <br />67 Ms. Soon reported that the paratransit system for disabled riders that was started a year ago in <br />68 both Hilo and Kona is proving to be very successful and continues to have increased ridership. <br />69 A213 Transportation is the current company being used for paratransit services. <br />70 The proposed vision for transit in Hawai'i County is "Create a high quality multi -modal <br />71 transportation system that provides safe, reliable, convenient, environmentally responsible, and <br />72 cost effective mobility choices that meet the needs of our residents and visitors." <br />www.hiplanningdept.com puna(a-)hawaiicounty.,-ov Page 2 <br />