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Home My WebLink About2020-10-14 Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission Special Meeting Minutes-Approved K OOHAN P AIK M ANDER R ICK W ARSHAUER A LEX K ELEPOLO Chairperson S HELLIE B EE A LLEN N AUNGAYAN D R. W AYNE F RANK V ACANT (5) Vice-Chair J USTIN B. L EE K EKAULIKE T OMICH S USAN WELLS F ISCHER County of Hawai‘i PUBLIC ACCESS, OPEN SPACE, AND NATURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION COMMISSION County Bldg. • 25 Aupuni Street  Suite No. 1101  Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720-4245 Phone (808) 961-8069  Fax (808) 961-8248 MINUTES To view entire virtual live recorded public meeting #7, go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDbdvg2C0fY I. CALL TO ORDER: On October 14, 2020, the “Special” virtual meeting of the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission (PONC) was called to order at 9:02 a.m. by CHR. WARSHAUER. He read the opening statement concerning public testimonies and reason for virtual meetings due to the Mayor’s Proclamation regarding COVID-19 and maintaining the need for social distancing. Present: Mr. Rick Warshauer, Chair (CHR.) Dr. Wayne Frank, Vice Chair Ms. Alex Kelepolo, Member Ms. Shellie Bee Allen Naungayan, Member Mr. Justin B. Lee, Member Mr. Kekaulike Tomich, Member Ms. Susan Wells Fischer, Member Support Staff: Ms. Maxine Cutler, Commission Secretary Mr. Hamana Ventura, Property Manager, Dept. of Finance Absent: Ms. Koohan Paik Mander, Member Mr. John Mukai, Deputy Corporation Counsel Vacant District 5 II. PUBLIC TESTIMONIES FROM THE PUBLIC: (Comm. 20-226 to 230): Motion to accept and file. (Motion carried) Motion: MS. NAUNGAYAN moved to accept and file Comm. 20-226 to 230. The motion was seconded by MR. LEE. There being no discussion, CHR. WARSHAUER called for a verbal vote or raising of hands. All members present voted aye. The motion was carried. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion to approve. (Motion carried) Page 1 of 5 August 31, 2020 Morning Regular session and August 31, 2020 Afternoon Regular session. Motion: MS. WELLS FISCHER moved to approve both minutes with corrections sent to the secretary. The motion was seconded by MR. LEE. MS. KELEPOLO mentioned she was not present in the afternoon session. There being no further discussion, CHR. WARSHAUER called for a verbal vote or raising of hands. All members present voted aye. The motion was carried. IV. DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE REPORT: (none) Property Manager Hamana Ventura had nothing to report and addressed any questions from the commission. MR. TOMICH asked how much of the Stewardship grant funding is being spent per acre for active projects. Secretary made inquiries to questions raised from the last meeting to P&R. She reported that P&R has no set limits on spending per acre. She will research and report back to the commission at the next meeting regarding grant funding being spent per acre. V. CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT: CHR. WARSHAUER reported that there are two issues on the November 3, 2020, General Election Ballot regarding the Hawai’i County Charter Amendments for the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund and Maintenance Fund. Chair encouraged all to vote. VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1. Commission to review, discuss, and make recommendations to the Department of Parks and Recreation of the 2021 Stewardship Grant Application received. A. STU. 21-001 Friends of Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Gardens, S. Kona Applicant, Friends of Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Gardens represented by President Maile Melrose, and member Rose Schilt. MS. NAUNGAYAN clarified the one-time expense project cost for “Amy’s House” restoration of $112,000. This building will be used for educational purposes. The fencing project cost is $30,000. There being no further questions from the Commission, CHR. WARSHAUER called for a motion. Motion: MS. KELEPOLO moved to recommend the approval of the Stewardship Grant proposal for STU. 21-001 Friends of Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Gardens. The motion was seconded by DR. FRANK. There being no discussion, CHR. WARSHAUER called for a verbal vote or raising of the hands, all members present voted aye. The motion was carried. B. STU. 21-002 N. Kohala Community Resource Center – Hapu’u (Halawa), N. Kohala. Applicant, N. Kohala Community Resource Center represented by Gail Berber and Toni Withington. MS. WELLS FISCHER gave a short presentation on the “V” gate and how it functions. DR. FRANK remarked on how effective the gates are keeping vehicles Hawai‘i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. Page 2 of 5 and ATV’s from entering the property. CHR. WARSHAUER raised concerns regarding sponsor and project coordination fees, which are not allowable expenses according to the charter. Motion: MS. NAUNGAYAN moved to approve the Stewardship Grant proposal for STU. 21-002 N. Kohala Community Resource Center – Hapu’u (Halawa), N. Kohala and recommended that P&R review the project coordinator and fiscal sponsorship fee. The motion was seconded by DR. FRANK. A discussion ensued, whether to drop both fiscal sponsor fee and project coordination fee and stay within the Charter; to have P&R review the grant; or send our recommendation with reservation to the two line-items. There being no further discussion. CHR. WARSHAUER called for a verbal vote or raising of the hands. All members present voted aye, and the motion was carried. C. STU. 21-003 N. Kohala Community Resource Center – Kaiholena, N. Kohala Applicant, N. Kohala Community Resource Center represented by Gail Berber and Toni Withington. A discussion ensued regarding the fiscal sponsor fee and project coordination fee, which totaled approx. 19% of the entire project costs. CHR. WARSHAUER, DR. FRANK, MS. NAUNGAYAN, and MR. TOMICH expressed their concerns regarding these two line-items. Motion: DR. FRANK moved to accept the Stewardship Grant proposal for STU. 21- 003 N. Kohala Community Resource Center – Kaiholena, N. Kohala with reservations regarding the fiscal sponsorship fee and project coordinator fee, with the expectation that P&R will review those two line-items. The motion was seconded by MS. WELLS FISCHER. There being no discussion, CHR. WARSHAUER called for a verbal vote or raising of the hands. All members present voted aye, and the motion was carried. D. STU. 21-004 N. Kohala Community Resource Center - Pao’o, N. Kohala Applicant, N. Kohala Community Resource Center represented by Gail Berber and Toni Withington. Since the Grant Application is similar in nature to the two previous ones, there were no discussion or concerns. CHR. WARSHAUER called for a motion. Motion: DR. FRANK moved to accept the Stewardship Grant proposal for STU. 21- 004 N. Kohala Community Resource Center - Pao’o, N. Kohala with reservation regarding the fiscal sponsorship and project coordinator fees, with the expectation that P&R will review those two line-items. The motion was seconded by MS. WELLS FISCHER. There being no discussion, CHR. WARSHAUER called for a verbal vote or raising of the hands. All members present voted aye, and the motion was carried. Hawai‘i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. Page 3 of 5 E. STU. 21-005 Na Maka O Waipio – Pohoiki, Puna Applicant, Na Maka O Waipio represented by President, Annamarie Kon. DR. FRANK and MS. NAUNGAYAN raised concerns regarding the physical end product for the project costs for contractors, educators, and the administrative fees for a total of $119,000. These costs are not allowed by Charter. MR. TOMICH defended the need to steward the parcel. Motion: DR. FRANK moved that we are not able to accept the Stewardship Grant proposal for STU. 21-005 Na Maka O Waipio – Pohoiki, Puna as it does not fit in our Maintenance Funds requirement and suggested to P&R to review and assist the applicant to fix the proposal as our hearts are with this area. The motion was seconded by MR. LEE. There being no discussion, CHR. WARSHAUER called for a verbal vote or raising of the hands. Six members (WARSHAUER, FRANK, LEE, KELEPOLO, NAUNGAYAN, WELLS FISCHER), voted, aye; one member (TOMICH) voted nay. The majority ‘aye’ vote won. The motion was carried. F. STU. 21-006 Pohaha I Kalani – Waipi’o Valley, Hāmākua Applicant, Pohaha I Kalani represented by President, Jesse Potter. MS. NAUNGAYAN, CHR. WARSHAUER, and DR. FRANK, discussed the installation of electrical services, water pump, contractual services, a Matson container, food to feed the volunteers, and a roof that does not meet the Charter requirements. Motion: MS. NAUNGAYAN moved to accept and approve the Stewardship Grant proposal for STU. 21-006 Pohaha I Kalani – Waipi’o Valley, Hāmākua, with reservation regarding the sum of contractual services, roof, electrical, storage container, and pump. She asked that P&R review and decide whether or not these line-items are allowed. The motion was seconded by MS. KELEPOLO. There being no discussion, CHR. WARSHAUER called for a verbal vote or raising of the hands. All members present voted aye, and the motion was carried. 2. Commission to review, discuss and approve the 2021 Suggestion Form and 3. Commission to review, discuss, the subject of petitions. CHR. WARSHAUER directed the commission that both items 2 and 3 on the agenda are related to each other and will be discussed simultaneously. The commission held a lengthy and healthy discussion regarding improving the efficiency of the Suggestion Form, the subject of petitions, and its overall effectiveness concerning the assessment criteria form and the scoring. There being no further revisions to the Suggestion Form and no further discussion regarding the subject of petitions, CHR. WARSHAUER called for a motion to accept the revised Suggestion Form. Hawai‘i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. Page 4 of 5 Motion: DR. FRANK moved to adopt all of these improvements and changes to the Suggestion Form as we have discussed today, as it is on our screens. The motion was seconded by MS. WELLS FISCHER. There being no discussion, CHR. WARSHAUER called for a verbal vote or raising of the hands. All members present voted aye, and the motion was carried. CHR. WARSHAUER expressed his gratefulness to the commission members and others for their active involvement in refining this form. VII. NEW BUSINESS: (none) VIII. ANNOUNCEMENTS A. The next virtual meeting is scheduled for November 16, 2020, from 9:00 a.m. till 3:00 p.m. B. Set agenda items for Unfinished Business: 1. Commission to review and approve the 2020 Annual Report to the Mayor. a. Chair’s letter to the Mayor. b. Prioritized List Summaries. c. Other items as needed. 2. Commission to discuss and review Ad Hoc Site Visit Reports for Prior Years to be posted on a public website. 3. Commission to elect Chairperson and Vice-Chair for the next calendar year. C. CHR. WARSHAUER reminded the commission of the need to fill vacancies in District 5 and soon District 8 and 9. IX. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business at approx. 12:38 p.m. CHR. WARSHAUER adjourned the meeting. Respectfully submitted by: Maxine Cutler Commission Secretary Approved: Nov. 16, 2020 Posted: Nov. 17, 2020 Hawai‘i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. Page 5 of 5