HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0868.011 2018-2020 i
ill 15-
COUNTY CLERK
Wed 4/22/2020 5:05 PM COUNTY OF HAWAIII
Bill 157 YES x 4CEI
VED
Time 5-05M By_fe
To: Council Testimony Date APR 2 2 202
Aloha folks
We are very supportive of Chapter 23 being amended as a pathway to mitigating some of the
connectivity concerns we have island wide.
Speaking for Puna, we have seen lower and upper Puna cut off for a number of reasons. When
upper Puna Highway I 1 is cut off Kaus needs are also jeopardized.
It is reasonable to project that a hcmdfid ref roadtivquvs be dedicated to the Count),for~the health
wid sqfE,hlof oursell'es and/inure gL}neralions.
During Hurricane Lane flooding folks could not get home. First responders were stuck.
When connectivity locations are put in place it will take so much stress off of other roads and
create much needed road redundancy. It will make response times for first responders swifter.
During the last investigation of the pedestrian fatality by the Keaau transfer station, the only
access route was grid locked.
Had first responders needed to get somewhere it would have been futile. 'Vehicles could not pull
over.
The PCDP was adopted by ordinance in 2008 after years of committed work by community.
Prep fairs confirmed the public's wants for connectivity locations and routes.
As you are aware the PCDP cleanly includes an implementation chart identifying timelines and
agencies that can champion various elements of the plan. Little has been done.
The last census was evidentiary in highlighting the lacking level of service to Puna.
we'd like to address something I have repeatedly heard. Some say to paraphrase (this includes
comments overheard by an actual County Planner),
"People knew what they were buying when they bought in Puna. Buy cheap, get cheap" Q
This is not the `70-80s. Many folks buy in Puna because there is little available in other districts,
no less affordable options.
Tangenting slightly, The County is not enforcing grubbing and grading ordinances. The
consequences of this is that both public and private roadways are washing out and
flooding. Puna and state highways are being effected . The effect is not only a health and safety
issue, again health and safety issue,but an economic one.. Private subdivisions are required to
care for the destruction done when ordinances are not enforced. It is NOT the landowners job to
monitor bulldozing and land clearing that effect water flow patterns. I am hopeful that when the
County owns some of these roads and see the effect of allowing things to continue as they have
for decades, eyes will open.
We challenge each one of you( including those who may have the privilege of mayor-ship)to
rethink the paradigm.
Coma No. D
of.To: .'�'
Require,within Chapter 23, that department's-MUST:'overlay their projects, with projects of other
departments. The projects that have-the.most'overlaying with other departments get priority
funding!
We know you will be pleasantlysurprised'with how far$$$ goes when their is cooperation.
Please passionately support Matt is this insightful bill adoption.
Stephanie Bath Roy Bath(D Patricia Rss G Noah Bath
Kurtistown Kurtistown Kea'au Ag Lots Kurtistown