HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm. No. 2019-10 Stephanie Bath Testimony 8.6.19Comm. No. 2019-10
Stephanie Bath
August 6, 2019
Testimony PCDP Action Committee
Agenda item 1
Aloha Chairperson Brown and Committee Members,
By way of introduction, I am Stephanie Bath. I have resided in Kurtistown since 1981.
1 have been involved in the PCDP process since the first meeting that the community was invited to.
Later I served on PCDP steering committee where I was lead over the transportation theme. Our
family are CERT. We have actively served during both recent lava flows, Iselle and Lane.
At both Puna PREP fairs I served as lead in the mapping room. This is where concise input was
collected from the community re Connectivity locations in Puna. I want to emphasis that the
community was overwhelmingly and enthusiastically supportive of the implementation of connectivity
locations in Puna. They wanted and want action.
This committee has been tasked with the implementation of our now, 10 plus, year old PCDP.
When we look at the implementation chart, what has been implemented?
There were many unmet needs in Puna prior to the devastation by the Kilauea eruption.
The eruptions and Hurricane Lane have highlighted the lack of emergency measures in our
community. These will not be the last emergency situation we will experience as a community or
Island. Every day in Puna there are emergencies and situations that turn the lives of people upside
down. How does this relate to our discussion here.?
What I seek to do today is encourage this committee to take a broader look at the recovery efforts
from the eruptions and take measures to alleviate future impacts on life and property.
Transportation was a very hot theme during the developing of the PCDP. It still is.
Road redundancy/Connectivity
I strongly encourage support of prioritizing selection and acquisition of all the connectivity locations.
Connectivity intent can not be fully realized if some participate and others do not. (if some
communities are impacted and other are excluded.)
During the lava flow government created the CL from Hawaiian beaches to HPP. It was easy to
create. We now have redundancy with 130 if needed.
As part of our recovery it is essential that our Puna community be connected and made safer. It is not
ok, for example, that Fern Acres is cut off and isolated when there is heavy rain fall. Lower Puna as
well as parts of Upper Puna, could not get home during Lane because CL were not functioning. Ers
did not have access to areas. It was a mess. Its terrifying to think of the lifethretening situation of a
wildfire in Fern Acres subdivision. Remember the fires in Puna in the 80s? People need emergency
health care or other first responders to have assess. Human life is at stake!
What I am not saying is to shine on those impacted by Fissure 8 and the other elements of the
eruption and Halemaumau explosion and collapse.
What I am saying is lets implement the "plan" to serve all of Puna as adopted by ordinance in 2008
We need to look at the broader picture as we recover. How can we strengthen our community
response? Yes parks are very important parts of community. Health and safe I believe take priority.
During human trauma the first thing addressed are life sustaining measures, next come healing and
things such as PT. With PT the end result is return of function. It also supports strengthening so re
injury and crisis can be avoided. Are we as a County willing to do the work to strengthen our
communities before disaster occurs again?
I enthusiastically encourage the Action Committee to do all in your power to get CI's identified and
purchased before development disallows for the best sites to be acquired.
Where CL are already in place open them and put them to use. There will always be those who
pretend to speak for the majority and create obstacles for progressing. Connectivity has been adopted
as ordinance. The funds needed to acquire CLs are here. The 1/2% excise tax resources for Mass
Transit and roadway are a blessing at this time.
Overlavina Droiects
Some months ago I spoke with Matt about the concept of County Departments overlaying projects.
This is not a new concept. We brought it up during the PCDP process. For whatever reason it was not
integrated into County policies.
Here is what is proposed:
1. Each County department creates a priority project list of say top 10.
2. All departments review all priority project lists
3. Next each department selects projects from the other departments that could conceivably
overlay with theirs.
4. The projects with the most overlaying get funded first.
Example: Connectivity/linear parks Say Eden Rock and Fern Forest want a park. P and R prioritize
this. Public works is looking at connectivity. A site is selected with adjoining parcels creating room for
connectivity and a park. CD prioritizes a structure where emergency supplies can be store. It would
also serve as a post disaster distribution site for adjacent communities. Office of aging overlays a
structure/ gathering place for seniors within the linear park . It has room to house CD supplies. It has
bathrooms .Mass transit creates a hele-on feeder bus route using the connectivity. It delivers a level of
bus service within communities There is a bus shelter/stop at the senior gathering place. Law
enforcement -Those needing to do community service hours help maintain the parks and structures. A
job well done reduces hours. Slackers have hours added.
Overlaying can save so much money. It can also demonstrate collaboration within the County.
Business and Jobs
It is my understanding that the State recently passed a law that will allow folks to work out of their
residence legally in the State. It goes into effect Nov 2020 if the County does not adopt it sooner. That
is what I am told. Its no secret that many folks are already doing business out of residence illegally.
(accountants, architects, acupuncturists, massage therapist hairstylist, yoga instructors, perhaps some
in this room etc.) Rental space for business is hard to find and costly in Puna. The PCDP supports
deliver of levels of service within community.
Part of a healthy vibrant and strong self reliant community is for people to be able to work and assist in
providing the level of services to their own community
County of Hawaii has not provided the infrastructure and level of service needed for businesses to do
this legally.
I was informed that as part of the special use permit process one is required to get a commercial
architect to draw up facility plans. This is because there must be the architects stamp on the plans.
There is no one place where the public can easily access what commercial requirements are before
hiring the architect .
Businesses must meet a strict fire code which state there must be 3000gpm of water delivered for two
hour as a fire code rule.
Where in Puna on catchment can this rule be met. It cant. This means that Puna is being
discriminated against in the Counties development plan. Is this an environmental justice issue? Please
address this question at a near future meeting.
Thank you for your services.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Bath