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