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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-11-10 KCDP Minutes FinalMitchell D. Roth Mayor Lee E. Lord Managing Director Zendo Kern Director Jeffrey W. Darrow Deputy Director County of Hawai‘i PLANNING DEPARTMENT KONA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE Aupuni Center • 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 • Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 Phone (808) 961-8288 • Fax (808) 961-8742 Hawai‘i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Page 1 Wednesday, November 10, 2021 1 Meeting Minutes 2 CALL TO ORDER 3 Chair Young called the Kona Community Development Plan (KCDP) Action Committee (AC) to 4 order at 5:11 P.M. Due to restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, this meeting was held 5 via the Zoom interactive video platform. 6 ROLL CALL 7 AC Members Present: Marisa Bankston, Shirley David (Vice-Chair), David Huerta, Kari Kimura, 8 Janice Palma-Glennie [came in at 5:23 P.M.], Charles Young (Chair) 9 AC Members Absent-Excused: Roselyn Molina, Shane Palacat-Nelsen, Franz Weber 10 County Staff: Planners – Heather Bartlett, Alexis Ching, Keiko Mercado, Natasha Soriano 11 County Officials: Council Member Holeka Inaba 12 3 members of the public attended the meeting via Zoom. The meeting was also available for 13 synchronous viewing via the COH Planning Department YouTube Livestream. The livestream is 14 available at Kona CDP Action Committee Meeting November 11, 2021 - YouTube. 15 Chair Young’s ʻŌlelo Noʻeau: 16 Ua mau ke ea o ʻāina i ka pono 17 The life of the land is preserved in righteousness. 18 [The perpetuation, health and future of our land is dependent on righteous acts and people.] 19 ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: None 20 ANNOUNCEMENTS: 21 1. General Plan Update: 22 Ms. Mercado shared that the administration has been working to launch and implement the new 23 Electronic Processing & Information Center (EPIC) permit system. As EPIC is now up and running, 24 more time will shift to the priority of reviewing and evaluating the General Plan Comprehensive 25 Review. This will include an updated timeline, additional public input, and an outline of the 26 adoption process. The website will be updated and action committees will be notified when 27 information is available. 28 www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/ CDP@hawaiicounty.gov Page 2 2. Community First Health Care Initiative: 29 Ms. Mercado shared that they received a notice from Community First informing that they are 30 conducting a health care assessment. They are reaching out for help in distributing their survey 31 across Hawaiʻi Island. Community First and its partners are serving Hawaiʻi Island residents 32 during the month of November to better understand what communities need to improve their 33 health. The survey is a part of Access to Care, a collaborative that’s working to transform health 34 care on Hawaiʻi Island. Information regarding this and a link to their survey will be sent to AC 35 members via email. 36 Committee Member David Huerta made a motion to move the approval of the September 9, 2021 37 meeting minutes to the end of the meeting. Motion seconded by Committee Member Shirley 38 David. Motion passed with 5 votes aye, 0 votes nay. 39 PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS: One (1) member of the public provided oral testimony. 40 Oral Testimony: 41 Charles “Chuck” Flaherty, representing himself, testified on the General Plan update 42 announcement and business item 3. Mr. Flaherty felt that the proposed draft of the General 43 Plan was “gutted and replaced” in the sense that it makes no reference to the prior General 44 Plans that were done in the past. It was unclear to him what the possible impacts will be on 45 the various County departments, the Kona CDP, and the CDP’s implementation. Mr. Flaherty 46 shared he did not understand why the Planning Department decided to proceed in a 47 different way than had been done in 1989 and 2005. He would like staff to create a matrix 48 that shows what protections and measures within the existing General Plan would still be 49 covered by the proposed General Plan, and what changes were proposed. 50 Mr. Flaherty shared that the Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide (LUPAG) map should be 51 adjusted to remove the resort node designation at Hōkūleʻa. He stated that this was ruled to 52 be invalid by the Third Circuit Court and in addition to that, the issue should have gone to 53 Land Use Commission to have it re-designed as rural. He hoped that the General Plan will be 54 amended to include that. 55 Mr. Flaherty informed that he possesses documentation related to the Chapter 27 Flood 56 Control and Chapter 10 Soil and Erosion Control from several years ago and would like to 57 share the information with the AC. 58 BUSINESS: 59 1. Kona Open Space Network (KOSN) Update: Long Range Planner Natasha Soriano updated the 60 AC on the status of the KOSN Plan. Ms. Soriano will be managing this project along with Long 61 Range Planner Rob Leasure. Ms. Soriano stated that an updated scope of work was shared 62 with members of the KOSN subcommittee and requested that they provide their comments 63 by November 20, 2021. She advised subcommittee members to reach out if they wish to 64 meet to further discuss the scope and direction. 65 The CDP calls for the establishment of the KOSN program to enhance the opportunities of 66 residents and visitors to engage in recreational, educational, subsistence and gathering 67 activities. The Network would consist of managed hubs of natural, cultural, and developed 68 resources that are interlinked by trails and corridors. Through discussions it was recognized 69 www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/ CDP@hawaiicounty.gov Page 3 that the departments of Parks and Recreation and Public Works are necessary partners to 70 ensure implementation of the project. Ms. Soriano informed that consultants will be 71 reviewed and evaluated to find the most suited relative to the project scope. The consultant 72 review is expected to take place in December with the final selection being completed by the 73 end of January. 74 Committee Member Kimura acknowledged that the beginning stages of the project will 75 require a lot of outreach and she wanted the AC to be aware of the limitations of hosting 76 effective working meetings given Covid-19. She was skeptical about an online meeting 77 format for the kind of communication and information gathering that the project will require. 78 Committee Member Palma-Glennie questioned if there will be a time in the near future 79 where in-person meetings can happen with the public while still abiding by COVID protocols. 80 With the rise in vaccinations, it is possible that more restrictions may be lifted for public 81 meetings. Ms. Soriano acknowledged the benefits of Zoom meetings where she has seen 82 creative strategies to engage with community. She advised subcommittee members to 83 include different options/strategies around engagement in their comments relative to the 84 contract scope. Ms. Bartlett requested that the subcommittee also include ideas for the 85 website presence for the KOSN in their comments. 86 2. 2018 Action Committee Priorities: Chair Young provided updates on some of the items listed 87 in the Kona CDP Action Committee Priorities and Recommendations for FY 2019-2020 Capital 88 Improvement Program letter that was drafted in 2018. 89 For reference see the 2018 Kona CDP Priorities Letter (communication number 2018-21.1) 90 Chair Young expressed that the purpose of this discussion was to challenge the AC to reflect 91 on their former list of priorities so they can focus on those issues and keep them in front of 92 the Planning Department. 93 Committee Member Palma-Glennie expressed the importance of getting the community 94 reinvolved with this process. Finding a way to show the community how the CDP can 95 improve their lives will help the AC to move forward and work with the Planning Department 96 more efficiently. She feels that more connection to the public will help to reiterate and clarify 97 what their priorities are. 98 Committee Member Kimura stressed the necessity for affordable housing. She shared that 99 through her service on the Kealakehe High School Community Council, she has seen issues of 100 equity and student transportation. She suggested that the AC analyze where the CDP helps 101 or hinders that kind of activity and address the issues that are preventing affordable housing 102 from happening. 103 Committee Member David agreed and expressed the need for a comprehensive housing 104 plan. She suggested that the AC review the Housing plan that Maui adopted. She questioned 105 if the Office of Housing or planning have a place where they can see all the affordable 106 housing projects that are ongoing right now. It would be helpful for the public to see reports 107 on roadblocks and how to overcome them. 108 www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/ CDP@hawaiicounty.gov Page 4 More information about the Maui Housing Plan can be found on their website here 109 (sites.google.com/view/mauihousingplan) 110 Mr. Flaherty said he would provide the working group papers and information that he has on 111 the CDP housing background reports to the AC. 112 Chair Young suggested the possibility of using funds that are coming out of Congress for 113 consulting services to assist with developing a comprehensive plan. He questioned if the AC 114 would be able to provide input on how they would want to see those monies utilized. 115 Ms. Mercado offered to find out more information on what the different roles are relative to 116 the infrastructure funding from Congress. She suggested that Mr. Flaherty provide his 117 working papers to the Planning Department so the documents may be scanned and made 118 electronically accessible to AC members and the public. 119 Council Member Inaba confirmed that Council passed Resolution 241 which encourages and 120 urges the Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) to pursue a study on how 121 inclusionary zoning policies have affected the development of affordable housing. OHCD is in 122 the process of seeking out a consultant for this project. At the same time, Council Members 123 Inaba and Villegas are working to provide some changes to the current Chapter 11 affordable 124 housing chapter. 125 Mr. Flaherty brought attention to the big effort among community members in the county 126 with regard to wastewater treatment. The County was fined for the Pāhala wastewater 127 treatment plant, and EPA is now looking at the Hilo and Kealakehe plants. Director Ramzi 128 Mansour, who oversees the Wastewater Division, estimated a billion dollars worth of 129 infrastructure would be needed for wastewater treatment. Mr. Flaherty suggested that this 130 be a priority to address as well. 131 Committee Member Palma-Glennie shared that people are really interested in solid waste 132 solutions (like recycling) and would like to find a way to incorporate this issue into the CDP or 133 relate it to land use. 134 Mr. Flaherty informed that Christine Kubat and other people working with her have put 135 together a solid waste plan. He would reach out to see if she can do a presentation on the 136 matter or update the AC on current efforts. 137 Committee Member Kimura noted that solid waste and recycling are island-wide issues. She 138 emphasized that this topic is not specific to the Kona CDP and is more appropriate for the all-139 island AC meetings. 140 3. Implementation Updates from Action Committee Members: 141 a. Affordable Housing: Per the previous discussions, the AC agreed that affordable housing 142 is a priority. There was confirmed interest around a presentation by OHCD relative to an 143 affordable housing plan and the status of existing projects and overall capacity. 144 b. Flood Mitigation and Erosion Control: An investigatory subcommittee was formed at the 145 previous Kona AC meeting to address the issues related to flood mitigation and erosion 146 control. Committee Member Kimura informed that the subcommittee had not yet 147 convened. 148 www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/ CDP@hawaiicounty.gov Page 5 4. Review Current Action Committee Member Terms and Ideate Around 2022 AC Proceedings: 149 Ms. Mercado explained that they would be reaching out to all AC members to set up time for 150 an open and honest conversation to check-in about how they are feeling relative to their 151 terms and discuss strategies for engaging in a more fruitful way during 2022. 152 Ms. Bartlett presented a spreadsheet outlining the Kona AC members’ term durations and 153 timelines. Discussions were had regarding holdover status through which Chair Young and 154 Committee Members Huerta and Palma-Glennie expressed that they would like to continue 155 to stay on as holdovers. 156 Ms. Mercado informed that as the terms are defined by code, there is no guarantee about 157 how long anyone would be able to stay on as holdovers and acknowledged that continuity is 158 important to the success of the AC. Staff would like to find a way to implement a mentorship 159 between out-going members and in-coming members to aid the transfer of knowledge and 160 experience. 161 APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 162 Committee Member Shirley David made a motion to approve the September 9, 2021 meeting 163 minutes. Seconded by Committee Member David Huerta. Motion passed with 6 votes aye, 0 votes 164 nay. 165 PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: 166 1. Kona Action Committee Priorities 167 2. General Plan Update 168 3. Presentation by OHCD (Joint AC meeting) 169 ADJOURNMENT: Committee Member Janice Palma-Glennie moved to adjourn. Seconded by 170 Committee Member Shirley David. Motion passed with 5 votes aye, 0 votes nay. 171 The meeting was adjourned at 6:33pm. 172 These minutes and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s Kona 173 Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of Hawaiʻi Public 174 Documents Repository. These documents may also be requested from the Planning Department 175 by calling (808) 961-8288 or emailing cdp@hawaiicounty.gov. 176