HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0721.011 2012-2014 Peter Young-NPS water petition Page 1 of 2
COLA `TY CLERK
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From: Janice Palma-Glennie[palmtree7 @hawaiiantel.net] 2014 VMR 17 All g: 03
Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2014 11:24 AM
To: karen eoff; dru kanuha; brenda ford; margaret wille
Cc: council testimony
Subject: Peter Young -NPS water petition
Aloha, West Hawai'I Council reps,
The more I've delved into the National Park,Service water designation petition (which I strongly support) and
the upcoming Tuesday presentation by Peter Young, the more questions I have. I hope you'll clarify the
situation for me before the hearing and for the public at the hearing so that I can testify as intelligently as
possible and the public can understand why the council is taking such an unusual approach to this issue and
process. I think it was Mr Kanuha who requested the presentation on Mr Young's behalf, so maybe he's the
one with the most knowledge on the situation.
My understanding is that, at this time, the NPS is merely asking that the petition process be allowed to move
forward rather than for your support of the petition and designation itself(which, of course, would be difficult
for this body to decide without vast input since it's not expert in water issues). It seems that allowing the
process to proceed is a no-brainer and good for everyone. Why would anyone vote against knowing the most
about our water supply, its health, and allocation as brought forward by the NPS's important designation
request? It also seems strange that an individual development consultant would be allowed to stick his oar
into it other than to present 3 minutes of testimony and only when the subject comes up for a vote.
So, while I'm extremely interested and supportive of the water designation petition, I'm also very interested in
how individuals get permission to do a presentation against a proposal in which they're not directly involved
(at least, not in a way that the public knows)? Again, members of the public get only 3 minutes to speak on a
specific topic and only, it seems, when that topic is presented in the form of reso or ordinance. This council
and others seem to stick to this rule no matter how,important the topic is or how expert a testifier may be. In
30 years of attending county council meetings, I can't remember giving testimony in response to a
presentation like this nor, most certainly, being allowed to provide a "presentation" myself, even though I've
been involved in and even spear-headed land use campaigns that were critical and of huge interest to my
community. I've even seen experts fly all the way from the mainland to testify and be told they have only 3
minutes to testify!
Another interesting point that's been made repeatedly yet seemingly ignored by pro-development interests in
their"sky is falling"testimonies is that the water designation does not propose, nor would it, stop
development. It seems it would only allow a more judicious, cautious use of our most precious Public Trust
resource, which is water. This is not the kuleana of the county's Water Dept which only distributes water
supply without further or, excuse the pun, a necessarily deeper understanding of the aquifer from which they
draw the water for our use. That's why the information being presented around this petition is so valuable for
all of public agencies and the public to consider. fully.
In addition to the expert, scientifically-based, and compelling information presented by NPS regarding this
petition, I hear that there's more important information coming out later this year as a result of another water
study which could affect this petition and water resources in West Hawai'i. This only adds to the need for you
to support the petition process being allowed to move forward and unhindered by Peter Young, his
potential/existing clients, QLT, or others.
Aside from supporting the petitioning process, I hope that you'll ask that the state's decision-making meeting
(by the State Commission on Water Resources) to be held in Kona so that the public can have the greatest
opportunity to take part in this important process.
For all of these reasons and more, I ask that you please support this petition process and get back to me asap
regarding Tuesday's presentation.
Mahalo and sincerely,
Janice
Comm. No. .
Ref. To: W
Ref. Date g ?AU
3/17/2014
Peter Young-NPS water petition Page 2 of 2
cc: full county council
3/17/2014