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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-07-15 DRAFT Joint Hearing Exh A (Public Testimony) JOINT PUBLIC MEETING AND HEARING LEEWARD AND WINDWARD PLANNING COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAII TESTIMONY TRANSCRIPT JULY 15, 2021 Public testimony regarding the preparation for Energov launch, review, and action on proposed amendments to Planning Commission Rules related to intake procedures and processing of applications submitted to the Planning Commissions for recommendation or final decision and non-substantive housekeeping rule changes was called to order at 9:41 a.m. via live stream online meeting, with Chairman John Replogle presiding. LEEWARD COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Michael Vitousek, Barbara DeFranco, Shani Armbruster, Mark Van Pernis, and Faith "Faye" Yates WINDWARD COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Dean Au, Gilbert Aguinaldo, Michelle Galimba, Dennis Lin, Joseph Clarkson, Thomas Raffipiy, John Replogle ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Dalilah Schlueter, Esq. (Counsel for the Leeward Commission), Malia Hall (Council for the Windward Commission), Jean Campbell, Esq. (Counsel for the Planning Department), Zendo Kern (Planning Director), Jeffrey Darrow (Deputy Planning Director), Maija Jackson (Planning Program Manager), and Noriko Sauer(Leeward Planning Commission Secretary) In preparation for Energov launch, review, and action on proposed amendments to Planning Commission Rules related to intake procedures and processing of applications submitted to the Planning Commissions for recommendation or final decision and non-substantive housekeeping rule changes. Secretary's Note: "- - -" indicates indiscernible speech due to internet/technical difficulties or simultaneous talk. REPLOGLE: We have a couple of people registered to testify on the first agenda item regarding proposed amendments to the Planning Commission Rules in preparation for Energov launch. Corey Harden and Carolyn Pellett. So, I'm going to swear you in together,please raise your right hand. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth before the Joint Planning Commission? HARDEN: Yes. REPLOGLE: Okay, thank you. Please try to summarize your testimony in 3 minutes. Staff will let you know when your time is up. We'll start with Ms. Harden. We have received your written testimony on this matter, so it is unnecessary for you to simply to read it to us. We'd appreciate 1 EXHIBIT A (DRAFT) it if you could highlight your points or provide additional information. Please state your name and the town you live in, and you may begin. HARDEN: Good morning Commissioners thanks for your volunteer service. Cory Harden, I live in Hilo. I'll kind of summarize what I sent in. I think the Energov will be a really great system and I appreciate Planning Department and all their work to set it up. But I think that the rules should be written so anyone who can now submit and receive documents will still be able to do so conveniently. But I hope you'll talk about what people will do if they have no internet access or maybe they have visual or fine motor or other limitations. About 30% of people in Pahoa have no broadband coverage according to Broadband Now. The staff has said the revisions have provisions that are non-substantive but actually some seem substantive. For example, delinquencies like bankruptcy or similar matters would no longer be grounds for denying a permit. Also,people would need to wait 40 days for meeting minutes to be completed up from the current 30 days, I'd wish you keep the 30 days and I'd also wish Planning would do like how BLNR does. They make an audio recording available online shortly after the meeting and with electronic communications and the Energov everything moves quickly and its very helpful for the public to have information in timely manner. Another provision, postmarks will no longer be used as the date of filing so, if there's a mail delay like we had within the past year that could cause problems. Also, there's a couple places where the revisions I think should be more specific for example, "document include electronic communication such as electronic mail, etcetera". So, what is etcetera? And then bankruptcy or similar matters. You should spell what similar matters is. At the Board of Appeals meeting on this there were informal "- - -"from Planning Department staff. If someone came in and they haven't heard about the electronic thing, and they were trying to do paper and staff said they would be flexible and give them more time and I hope you'll discuss that today, so the policy and procedures are on the record. And last, I don't think the rules talk about testimony, but I hope you'll discuss if someone shows up at the counter at the Planning Department and wants to submit testimony and they have it handwritten and hand over at the counter. Can they still do that? So, thank you. JACKSON: Chair Replogle, Ms. Pellett is not in the meeting. KERN: You're muted Mr. Chair. You're muted. REPLOGLE: So, I will entertain a motion to end public testimony and — RAFFIPIY: Mr. Chair, Mr. Chair didn't you say from the beginning that there were 2 testifiers? Mr. Chair you are muted. REPLOGLE: The second testifier is unable to get online and so she will not be testifying today. RAFFIPIY: Okay, thank you. 2 EXHIBIT A (DRAFT) The public testimony ended at 9:47 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Melissa Dacayanan-Salvador Secretary to Boards and Commissions 3 EXHIBIT A (DRAFT)