HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-03-05.PCDP.ACMinutes.FINALHarry Kim
Mayor
County of Hawaii
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
PUNA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE
Aupuni Center • 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Phone (808) 961-8288 • Fax (808) 961-8742
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
Meeting Minutes
Michael Yee
Director
Duane Kanuha
Deputy Director
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Larry Brown called the Puna Community Development Plan (PCDP) Action Committee (AC) to
order at 5:04 p.m. in Cooper Center, Volcano.
ROLL CALL
Action Committee Members Present: Larry Brown (Chair), Frances Brewer (Vice), Susan Osborne, Yumi
Kawano, Leila Kealoha, Mark Hinshaw, Brent Norris
Action Committee Members Absent -Excused: Michael Bernard, Dan Domizio
Staff: CoH Planners — Bethany Morrison, Keiko Mercado and Eric Cook. Also in attendance — Bob Agres,
Manager for Disaster Recovery Community Engagement & Collaboration.
Members of the public: 20
ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: NONE
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. Bob Agres, Manager for Disaster Recovery Community Engagement & Collaboration,
announced the next steps moving forward in the eruption recovery planning process. He
shared a timeline of upcoming events and provided an outline for the role of the Action
Committee moving forward in the recovery process. He asked the Action Committee and
members of the public who were in attendance to utilize their networks to reach the greater
community and gain broader involvement in the recovery process.
Use the following link to view or download the outline:
http://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/DocView.aspx?dbid=1&id=99269&page=1
2. Cheryl Soon and Jo -Anna Herkes of SSFM International announced that the Mass Transit
Agency would be hosting a community brainstorming event on Monday March 25, 2019 for
Puna District Hubs. Ms. Soon shared that the Mass Transit Master Plan had been completed
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and presented the Action Committee with a copy of the document, thanking them for their
assistance in the development of the plan. Please use the following link to view the event flyer.
Use the following link to view or download the flyer:
http://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/1/doc/99515/Pagel.aspx
PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS: 4 Members of the public provided testimony.
Ms. Smiley Burrows, representing Kapoho, provided testimony on agenda item #1. She shared
that she owned property in Kapoho, is the caretaker of Green Mountain, and was personally
affected by the eruption. Ms. Burrows stated the eruption affected Leilani Estates, Lanipuna
Gardens, Pohoiki and all of Kapoho. She claimed that 70% of the disaster victims were from
Kapoho Beach Lots and Vacationland. Ms. Burrows also shared her demand that the Puna
County roads get restored. She stated Hawaiian Beaches is being deeply affected by the
County roads not being restored.
Ms. Burrows shared the following sentiments: "The majority of houses were in this region
*points to map* and they were extremely valuable houses. The people that lived in these
houses were not poor and the value of these properties was very high. So in regards to our ask
as being 70 percent of this eruption, I want to clarify that we have formed a coalition of all of
the homeowners associations that were really affected by the lava. We're not talking about
Waikoloa and the gas that they dealt with. They're in the blue zone, the red zone is the 700
people." She stated that she lost a lot in the eruption and did not receive any financial
assistance from FEMA. Ms. Burrows also shared that she still has a home in upper Leilani and
she has not been completely displaced.
Ms. Burrows shared the following sentiments: "The majority of my neighbors did have the
means to get insurance and purchase a beautiful home in Hawaiian Paradise Park. We're not
talking about people in Nanawale, the people that were displaced were not form Ainaloa,
Hawaiian Beaches, Nanawale, and Black Sands. We are talking about a small group of people
that were form 3-4 subdivisions that should be actually getting their community restored. So
our main push is for the County roads to be reopened." She stated that the homeowner
associations in the coalition have applied for SBA loans and submitted FEMA disaster
applications because they want to restore their subdivisions and be allowed to rebuild without
asking for County funding.
2. Ms. Susan Kim, representing I Mua Lower Puna Coalition, provided testimony on agenda item
#1. She voiced her concern that the disaster victims that lost their homes are all displaced. She
shared that she just began focusing on recovery efforts a few weeks ago because she was
focused previously on finding a new home. She now has a home in Hawaiian Paradise Park and
would like to help support the rest of her community. Ms. Kim is concerned that community
engagements are potentially with people who are not disaster victims. She stated she would
like to see the prioritization and allocation of funds go directly to the disaster victims as some
people are still hurting right now and have to hike into their homes and to tend their farms.
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She stated she is a part of the coalition I Mua Lower Puna that represents thousands of people
who lost their homes. Ms. Kim asked that their stories be heard, and shared that they have a
community forum on the I Mua Lower Puna website. She stated the coalition is following
legislation and is going to follow the money. Ms. Kim stated there are 100's of millions being
given to the County and it is really difficult to know how that money is being spent. She wants
to make sure the prioritization and allocation of funds goes to the disaster victims that were
truly impacted. She wants the priority to be klpuka residents and then people that lost their
homes, and others that were impacted.
3. Ms. Oshi Simsarian, representing herself, provided testimony on agenda item #1. She shared
that she currently has to hike over the lava to access her home and that the road to recovery is
a road. Ms. Simsarian said there are 50 plus homes and farms that still need access and they
need Highway 132 back. She stated that the houses are there and they will die, as an
unoccupied home will reach a tipping point that will be difficult to bring it back from. She
shared her concern that people with full time jobs and children are not able to cross back and
forth across the lava to access their homes. She stated that she and others in her community
want a timeline for when Highway 132 will reopen so people can plan their lives.
4. Ms. Catherine Inslee, representing herself, provided testimony on agenda item #1. She referred
to various bills requesting funding allocation for Highway 132 and the boat ramp in Pohoiki. She
also cited other funding request for infrastructure and emergency response efforts and
emphasized that road restoration fits into those categories as well for funding.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Committee Member Mark Hinshaw moved to approve the minutes of the January 15, 2019, meeting as
submitted. Second by Committee Member Susan Osborne. The motion to approve the minutes as
submitted passed with 7 votes aye, 0 votes nay.
BUSINESS:
1. Draft letter from the Action Committee to support the reopening of roads inundated by lava in
lower Puna: The Puna CDP Action Committee drafted a letter to the Mayor, to be cc'd to the
State Legislature in support of reestablishing access on Highway 132, 137 and Pahoa-Pohoiki
Road.
Action Committee Member Kealoha motioned to accept and send the letter. The motion was
seconded by Committee Member Norris.
Action Committee Member Brewer motioned to amend the letter and change "Kamaili Road" to
"Pahoo-Pohoiki Road". Committee Member Hinshaw seconded the motion.
The vote to approve and submit the letter as amended passed with 7 votes aye and 0 votes nay.
2. Connectivity and Emergency Response in Puna: Hannah Hedrick of the Upper Puna Emergency
Response and Preparedness group provided an update on the recent progress of the group.
She spoke to the various ongoing connectivity needs in upper Puna, and the ongoing
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involvement of the group in working towards implementation of the Upper Puna Emergency
Response and Preparedness Plan.
Ms. Hedrick wants the County to consider plans that are not currently reflected in the PCDP or
broader planning implementation including the Interagency Action Plan for the Emergency
Preparedness for People with Disabilities and Special Health Needs, Hawaii County Economic
Opportunity Council Community Action Plan, and recommendations from the 2015 state wide
Mobility Management Report. She hopes that they will focus on the creation of the hub and
spoke system that is specifically called out in the PCDP as well. Ms. Hedrick would like to see
these incorporated into the General Plan update and wants to focus on developing a model of
inter -subdivision cooperation. She requested to be on the agenda for the May 71h Puna CDP
Action Committee meeting.
3. Opportunities to advance mixed-use agricultural development as it relates to the Puna CDP: This
business item was not addressed at the meeting.
Committee Member Norris motioned to table the business item until a future meeting.
Committee Member Kealoho seconded the motion. The vote to table this agenda item until a
future meeting passed with 7 votes aye and 0 votes nay.
4. General Plan comprehensive Review Update: Bethany Morrison, Long Range Planner, provided a
presentation and led a discussion with the Action Committee outlining the comprehensive
planning system in relation to the General Plan comprehensive update. She explained the
changes being made to the General Plan, the relationship to the Community Development
Plans, and the role of the Action Committee. Ms. Morrison also provided an outline for the
public review and engagement process and timeline for 2019.
Ms. Morrison sought feedback on proposed new structural changes to the Long Range Planning
Program. Committee Members and the public responded with various questions and/or
concerns, which were recorded and discussed.
To view or download the presentation use the following link:
http://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/DocView.aspx?dbid=1&id=99265&page=1
AGENDA SUGGESTIONS FOR NEXT MEETING: (May 7, 2019)
1. Eruption recovery update
2. Walkthrough of the FEMA application and fund distribution process.
3. Discuss increasing public awareness and participation in the Puna CDP.
4. PGV road progress update.
5. Budget update and annual report for Puna CDP CIP projects.
6. Upper Puna emergency response and preparedness.
ADJOURNMENT: Chair Brown adjourned the meeting at 7:25 p.m.
All Action Committee information can be viewed and downloaded from our website:
http://www.hawaiicountycdp.info/puna-cdp
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