HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-09-09 KCDP Minutes Draft Mitchell D. Roth Zendo Kern
Mayor Director
Lee E. Lord '' os'M►'' Jeffrey W. Darrow
Managing Director Deputy Director
County of Hawaii
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
KONA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE
Aupuni Center • 101 Pauahi Street,Suite 3 • Hilo,Hawaii 96720
Phone(808)961-8288 • Fax(808)961-8742
1 Thursday, September 9, 2021
2 DRAFT Meeting Minutes
3 CALL TO ORDER
4 Vice-Chair David called the Kona Community Development Plan (KCDP) Action Committee (AC) to
5 order at 5:08 P.M. Due to restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, this meeting was held via the
6 Zoom interactive video platform.
7 ROLL CALL
8 AC Members Present: Shirley David (Vice-chair), David Huerta, Kari Kimura, Roselyn Molina, Janice
9 Palma-Glennie, Shane Palacat-Nelsen, Franz Weber,
10 AC Members Absent-Excused: Marisa Bankston, Charles Young (Chair)
11 County Staff: Planners—Alexis Ching, Keiko Mercado
12 County Officials: Council Member Holeka Inaba and Council Member Rebecca Villegas
13 3 members of the public attended the meeting via Zoom. The meeting was also available for
14 synchronous viewing via the COH Planning Department YouTube Livestream. The livestream is
15 available at Kona CDP Action Committee Meeting September 9, 2021 -YouTube.
16 Committee Member Shane Palacat-Nelsen's '01elo No'eau:
17 Ua hilo 'ia ke aho a ke aloha.
18 The cords ore braided together with compassion.
19 [Cords metaphorically represent our thoughts and through our halawai (meetings) we are able to twist
20 and braid together to build our community.]
21 ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: None
22 ANNOUNCEMENTS:
23 1. General Plan Update:
24 The administration continues their comprehensive review of the General Plan. Once completed,
25 they will work with staff on an updated timeline, which will include additional public review,
26 Planning Commission hearing, and submittal to County Council for adoption.
27 2. Kona Open Space Network (KOSN) Update:
28 Long Range Division's infrastructure and design planners (Natasha Soriano and Rob Leasure) are
29 updating the draft scope for KOSN. Their goal is to provide a high-level plan by mid-October that
30 includes key activities and dates, allows for setting the scope, vendor selection, and contracting.
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31 The intention is for planners and the KOSN investigatory subcommittee to meet during the 2nd half
32 of October and discuss collaboration moving forward.
33 3. Island-wide Joint Action Committee Survey Results:
34 Ms. Alexis Ching discussed the August 12, 2021 Joint AC meeting survey results, which included
35 feedback on how to improve the virtual convening and suggestions on topics for future workshops.
36 Survey results showed overwhelmingly positive feedback to the Joint AC meeting. Ms. Keiko
37 Mercado stated that this was a voluntary space for sharing and collaboration of AC members.
38 There was consensus that the Joint AC was useful for presenters to report on a topic of shared
39 interest (such as PONC).
40 Click the link for survey results: http://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/1/doc/112476/Pagel.aspx
41 4. Talk Story with Kona Council Members Inaba and Villegas:
42 The community is invited to join an informal community talk story via Zoom with Council Members
43 Inaba and Villegas on September 15, 2021.
44 PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS: Two (2) members of the public provided oral testimony.
45 Oral Testimony:
46 1. George Yasuda, testifying on agenda item 2, shared a collection of photographs that demonstrate
47 flooding along Kona's coastal areas and its mauka fields, as well as flood mitigation measures. He
48 voiced concern over damage to coral reefs due to flood runoff. In cooperation with the County, the
49 AC, Senator Schatz's team, and landowners, Mr. Yasuda expressed hope in the ability to work
50 together to create a viable solution.
51 Click the link for Mr. Yasuda's public testimony:
52 http://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/1/doc/112478/Pagel.aspx
53 2. Charles "Chuck" Flaherty, testified on the announcements shared and agenda item 2. Mr. Flaherty
54 asked that the agenda list all announcement items, such as the GP update, to provide the
55 community the opportunity to testify. He also requested that various KCDP subcommittees be
56 listed on the agenda so community members can have discussions with subcommittee members
57 outside of the AC meeting.
58 Mr. Flaherty acknowledged the benefits of Joint AC meetings and outlined his concerns for the AC
59 members getting distracted from focusing on their own community, which he emphasized was the
60 purpose of the CDPs. He inquired as to what the authority was for instating the Joint AC meeting.
61 Mr. Flaherty advised there be an organizational chart that shows all the organizations that AC
62 members are involved in.
63 Mr. Flaherty spoke to the issue of flooding and erosion control and recommended that the AC start
64 by looking at a draft revision of the erosion ordinance that involved consultants and community
65 members. He stated that the erosion control ordinance was supposed to be revised as part of the
66 1250 Oceanside Partners settlement, but it was never brought before County Council by the past
67 two administrations.
68 APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
69 Committee Member Franz Weber mode o motion to approve the March 22, 2021 minutes. Motion
70 seconded by Committee Member David Huerto. Motion passed with 7 votes aye, 0 votes nay.
71 Committee Member Weber mode o motion to approve the June 22, 2021 minutes. Motion seconded by
72 Committee Member Huerto. Motion passed with 7 votes aye, 0 votes nay.
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73 Committee Member Huerta made a motion to approve the August 12, 2021 minutes. Motion seconded
74 by Committee Member Weber. Motion passed with 7 votes aye, 0 votes nay.
75 BUSINESS:
76 1. Island-wide Action Committee Member Initiatives: Ms. Mercado was asked to clarify the purpose
77 of this agenda item and explained that the intent was to provide an opportunity for AC members to
78 discuss whether they would like to engage with other AC groups on shared topics through the
79 formation of subcommittees known as Permitted Interaction Groups (PIGS). Ms. Mercado
80 referenced a conversation brought before Corporation Counsel at the Joint AC meeting, in which
81 Corporation Counsel agreed that ACs could form investigatory subcommittees (PIGS) with similar
82 scopes and would have the latitude to work together island wide. Ms. Mercado gave an example of
83 emergency preparedness and building resilience as a potential shared topic of interest between
84 ACs. She also clarified that the Joint AC meetings provide an open space for information sharing, a
85 chance for AC members to share their community work with other ACs, and that attendance of the
86 Joint AC is voluntary for each committee member.
87 Committee Member Janice Palma-Glennie recognized the concept of ACs working together but
88 shared in Mr. Flaherty's sentiment, that the KCDP AC should continue to focus on their mandated
89 region. Ms. Palma-Glennie mentioned ideas for possible subcommittees (issue of flooding, climate
90 change and resilience, interface between nearshore and marine environment).
91 Committee Member Kari Kimura stated that the Joint AC was a fabulous venue for sharing
92 information. She expressed that once the Kona Open Space Network begins to move forward, they
93 would have something to report on, but does not see the Kona AC as having something to put forth
94 at this moment.
95 Committee Member Palacat-Nelsen agreed there was no need to form a subcommittee now, but
96 there could be potential to collaborate with other districts in the future, especially those
97 neighboring Kona and noted that scope language for the subcommittee could be created to keep
98 their AC focused on Kona.
99 2. Implementation Updates from Action Committee Members:
100 a. Flood Mitigation and Erosion Control: Committee Member Palacat-Nelsen advocated for the AC
101 to create an investigatory subcommittee on flood mitigation and erosion control. He would like
102 to bring the FEMA flood maps into review to identify any discrepancies between the FEMA
103 flood maps and the reality of what is happening in Kona.
104 Community member Cindy Tuttle (in attendance via Zoom) used the chat function to suggest
105 the subcommittee view three levels of flooding: FEMA maps, district flood maps, and localized
106 flood maps.
107 Mr. Flaherty (in attendance via Zoom) shared that Department of Public Works (DPW), Nancy
108 Pisicchio, and others worked with the community on a revision draft of the Chapter 10 (Erosion
109 and Sedimentation Control) ordinance from the County Code. They held public meetings to
110 gather input and DPW consulted with experts in the field. Mr. Flaherty said the draft ordinance
111 was never brought before County Council as planned, but he offered to give them this
112 information to assist their current efforts.
113 Committee Member Palacat-Nelsen made a motion to establish a Flood Mitigation and Erosion
114 Control Investigatory Subcommittee whose goal is to review Hawai'i County Code, Chapter 10
115 (Erosion and Sedimentation Control) and Chapter 27(Floodplain Management) and other
116 documents such as recent case studies and available flood maps (FEMA, district-wide, and
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117 localized) to identify discrepancies with existing physical conditions and to explore mitigation
118 strategies. Data collected during the review process will be used to outline recommended next
119 steps for the Kona AC.
120 Motion was seconded by Committee Member Polmo-Glennie. Motion passed with 7 votes aye,
121 and 0 votes nay.
122 Committee Member Kimura volunteered to be o subcommittee member. Mr. Polocot-Nelsen
123 offered to be the choir of the subcommittee.
124 b. Affordable Housing: Council Member Inaba confirmed that Council recently approved
125 Resolution 179-21, authorizing rezoning for the Honua'ula affordable housing project, and an
126 exemption of$200,000 in permitting fees.
127 Click on link to view Res. 179-21 on Council Agenda for September 8, 2021:
128 http://records.hawaiicountV.gov/weblink/DocView.aspx?dbid=0&id=1023417
129 Vice-chair David suggested forming an investigatory subcommittee to review the housing
130 section within the Kona CDP, Policy HSG 1.1 in particular: KCDP should advocate for existing
131 nonprofit corporations, or the creation of a nonprofit corporation, to carry out the housing
132 policies of this section. Once the AC gains a better understanding of the momentum in this area
133 they will know where advocacy is needed.
134 Committee Member Weber sees purpose in the AC reviewing the housing section if they can
135 address procedural issues in how the County executes affordable housing and make
136 recommendations to change the rules and regulations. Mr. Weber added that the AC should
137 address how affordable housing is defined, because a lot of it is not actually affordable.
138 Committee Member Kimura commented that the affordable housing project County Council is
139 supporting could be a great case study to see where there is still friction within their CDP
140 document and referenced the shift in language from "shall" that made things optional. She
141 discussed exploring what the KCDP document might help with in affordable housing; where
142 there is friction that may prevent affordable housing, and how the AC can recommend good
143 revisions. Ms. Kimura thought the Planning Department may be able to help the AC with this.
144 Committee Member Palacat-Nelsen stated that he has heard conversations regarding
145 nonprofits providing affordable housing but would like to table this discussion until their next
146 meeting so he can do more homework on the topic.
147 Ms. Mercado confirmed Committee Member Kimura's recommendation that Planning help
148 facilitate information gathering relative to the current affordable housing climate. Ms. Mercado
149 added that there are County and community-based initiatives (CAP and Vibrant Hawaii) that
150 may be useful to review.
151 PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING:
152 1. Follow-up on the issue of affordable housing— Include an option to form an investigatory
153 subcommittee.
154 2. Election of Officers
155 ADJOURNMENT:
156 The meeting was adjourned at 6:35pm.
157
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158 All Action Committee information can be viewed and downloaded from our website:
159 http://wwW.haws i icountycdp.i hfo/horth-a nd-south-trona-cdp
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