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Q: Is there a possibility of Puna Geothermal Venture reopening? <br />A: The owner still holds permits to operate and may continue to utilize those permits if they so <br />choose. <br />Q: Are agencies other than Planning involved with and working on recovery efforts? <br />A: There is a recovery team that consists of staff from several County agencies including but not <br />limited to Planning, Research and Development, Corporation Counsel, and the Mayor's Office. <br />Q: Is there a level of priority set for different aspects such as housing, infrastructure, etc.? <br />A: The need for recovery has not been presented in the legislative ask as a prioritized list, but <br />rather a comprehensive list of all the recovery needs. <br />Q: Why would the County create a new subdivision rather than spend the money to infill <br />existing subdivisions? <br />A: Building a new subdivision is an idea that is on the table but it is not the most favored <br />option. <br />Q: Will the County receive a lump sum of funding or will the State decide how funds are <br />allocated and where? <br />[This answer below was not provided during the meeting but is being included in the meeting minutes to provide clarity] <br />A: It is too soon to know how the funding will be distributed because it is still unknown what <br />funding the County would receive. <br />Q: Has the recovery team taken into consideration the creation of village and town centers? <br />A: Yes, there has been consideration for providing some infrastructure to key strategic areas, <br />but the appropriate locations still need to be determined. <br />Q: Who decides if progress moves forward or comes to a halt on the Pahoa Regional Town <br />Center Master Plan? <br />A: The Pahoa Regional Town Center Master Plan was paused when the eruption event began. <br />Recently there has been more interest in moving forward on the Pahoa plan. The Pahoa plan is <br />being considered but there are no guarantees that the plan will move forward currently. <br />Q: Is the County hiring a recovery consultant and will it be an internal or external position and <br />does the position already exist? <br />A: There may not be a need for a recovery consultant if a redevelopment agency is formed. It <br />would take a while to get the redevelopment agency going if one is formed so a recovery <br />consultant could assist during the time that the redevelopment agency is coming together. <br />Q: How long will it take to establish a redevelopment agency? <br />A: It would ideally take about 4-6 months to establish a redevelopment agency. <br />Q: Is it possible that the redevelopment agency could also manage the Pahoa Master Plan? <br />A: Yes, it is a possible option for the redevelopment agency to manage the Pahoa Master Plan. <br />At this time, Chair Brown opened the question and answer session up to the members of the <br />public. <br />Q: Will the community be involved in the creation of the redevelopment agency, and will the <br />community get to vote on who sits on the redevelopment agency. <br />A: Community input will be taken into consideration, but the public will not be able to vote on <br />who will sit as members on the redevelopment agency. <br />www.hiplanningdept.com puna(Whawaiicounty.Qov Page 3 <br />