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member of the Puna Community Development Plan, I know first hand how hard people
<br />worked to put the Plan together and see it adopted as law. One of the most contentious topics
<br />during the entire process was what would happen after its completion. Many Puna residents
<br />were wary of the process because they had seen planning efforts come and go with no lasting
<br />results. The mantra being, sure, we'll make a good plan with all these people and all this
<br />effort, and then it will sit on the shelf somewhere with all of the other plans. Time and time
<br />again, consultants, staff and facilitators assured everyone that this one would be different,
<br />that this one would be law, and that this one would be realized. Here we are a little over a
<br />year later, and we haven't even gotten an implementation action committee seated yet. Are
<br />the naysayers being proven right? How could we have gotten this far and not been prepared
<br />for all the necessary next steps? It is sad to see that we are losing momentum in this effort,
<br />because people are once again losing confidence in the process. Implementing a deadline as
<br />this amendment would do, would clarify this part of the process, and inform members of the
<br />public and all participants of the process of what to expect and when. The pressures of
<br />development and growth are continual. Degradation of the environment and our natural
<br />resources are constant. The Puna Community Development Plan must be implemented
<br />IMMEDIATELY so that we can guide the growth and protective measures can be
<br />implemented."
<br />I think you understand what Barbara Lively is saying and what I am saying too, because I
<br />augment and I absolutely confirm Barbara Lively's statement. I was involved with the Puna
<br />Development Plan for over 10 years. People having meetings at people's houses, people
<br />talking it over, what's good, what's not, let's put this in, let's take this out, what are we
<br />focused on, what is our main objective, etc. To have this plan languishing for over a year in
<br />the Mayor's office, without a committee picked, while the Mayor threw out most of the
<br />applicants, is really a slap in the community's face. So, we would like that slap to be turned
<br />into a caress. We would like a steering committee, and we would like the changes to the
<br />County Charter to absolutely demand and mandate that we have a steering committee within
<br />one year of completion of all Community Development Plans within the County of Hawaii.
<br />Thank you. I will go briefly into some more topics. These are my own words, those were
<br />my own words, and these are my own words.
<br />We feel the more transparency in government, the better. in order for the informed public to
<br />keep advised of any changes to policy or County law intended, or put into place, as soon as
<br />possible. Therefore, we are in favor of all proceedings of policy- making boards, including
<br />the County Council, be made available on- demand, within 48 hours, of each board's meeting,
<br />on the internet. So, I'm echoing Margaret Wille here. These measures would also serve to
<br />attract more people to become involved in their own governmental proceedings that affect
<br />their lives and their futures. In a democratic society such as ours, it is imperative for as many
<br />people as possible to be involved in the democratic process for a healthy democratic society
<br />to flourish and survive. So, in order to dispel apathy and why should we be involve, we
<br />don't know what's going on, what is this. If people can turn on the internet and within 48
<br />hours and be advised as to what has happened 48 hours ago, it will spark their interest and we
<br />will have more participation in government. The more participation we have, the better our
<br />government is. If we are apathetic, we could lose our democratic process through a slippery
<br />slope. We want to avoid that. Again, the Puna Community Development Plan, I can't stress
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