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33 3. Ms. Mercado announced that emails from Hawai'i County had recently been blocked by Google <br />34 servers. If you have a Gmail account or use Google as your email provider, Hawai'i County <br />35 emails may not be getting through to you. The County recognizes the inconvenience this <br />36 continues to cause and is working diligently to fix the problem. If you have had trouble <br />37 receiving emails from County email addresses, please check your spam and junk folders to be <br />38 sure the emails are not being routed there. <br />39 4. Committee Member Kealoha announced that SSFM International is working with the County of <br />40 Hawai'i Department of Parks and Recreation to develop a masterplan for the new public park in <br />41 Hawaiian Paradise Park. The next public meeting with SSFM and the Department of Parks and <br />42 Recreation is scheduled for February 191h, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the HPP Community <br />43 Center. The masterplan is to be developed and adopted by March 171h. Three different design <br />44 scenarios can be viewed on Big Island Video News. Members of the public can submit <br />45 comments on the design scenarios until January 21st. Send comments to Jared Chang at <br />46 0chang@ssfm.com or call (808) 356-1242. <br />47 HPP design scenarios can be found on Big Island Video News: <br />48 httb://www.biRislandvideonews.com/2018/01/09/video-first-hbb-public-bark-master-plan-meeting-held/ <br />49 PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS: <br />50 One person signed up to testify and chose to speak at the time of the agenda item. <br />51 APPROVAL OF MINUTES: <br />52 Committee Member Elmer Solis moved to approve the minutes of the November 14, 2017 meeting as <br />53 submitted. Second by Committee Member Patti Pinto. The motion to approve the minutes as submitted <br />54 passed with 6 votes aye, 0 votes nay. <br />55 BUSINESS: <br />56 1. Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Presentation: Laila Jayyousi, Soil Conservationist <br />57 with the United States Department of Agriculture NRCS, gave a presentation on the Pacific <br />58 Islands Area NRCS Conservation Programs. The conservation programs work with farmers, <br />59 ranchers, land owners, and foresters to help protect the natural resources on their land and <br />60 improve native habitats. When someone applies for assistance, the NRCS will complete a site <br />61 visit and assist in identifying issues. Once issues are identified, staff then works to determine <br />62 possible mitigation strategies. NRCS has several Farm Bill Programs, the most commonly used <br />63 program is the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). EQIP provides agricultural <br />64 producers with financial resources to help plan and implement improvements and conservation <br />65 practices. <br />66 Ms. Jayyousi covered topics such as maintaining soil health, reducing erosion, and pollinator <br />67 and wildlife habitats. The NRCS will cost share to remove invasive species, as well as assist with <br />68 purchasing new plants for reforesting. They will also cost share projects such as mulching, <br />69 creating pollinator habitats, windbreaks, and fencing. To qualify or these cost sharing programs, <br />70 Ms. Jayyousi stated that you must own or lease the land being considered and there must be <br />71 an appropriate concern. Lots of one acre or more are typically considered for restoration <br />72 efforts. Site assessments and restoration design plans are provided free of charge. <br />73 Communication No. 2018-01: NRCS Programs PowerPoint Presentation can be viewed and downloaded from the <br />74 following website: http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/weblink/DocView.aspx?dbid=l&id=91746 <br />www.hiplanningdept.com puna(dhawaiicounty.-ov Page 2 <br />