HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-01-19 Final SK CDP Minutes
Mitchell D. Roth Zendo Kern
Mayor Director
Lee E. Lord Jeffrey W. Darrow
Managing Director Deputy Director
County of
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
SOUTH KOHALA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE
Aupuni
Phone (808) 961 - - 8742
1 Wednesday, January 19, 2022
2 Meeting Minutes
3 CALL TO ORDER
4 This meeting was attended by members of all Community Development Plan (CDP) Action
5 Long - Range Planner, Keiko Mercado serving as a non -
6 voting Chairperson for the island - wide convening of CDP ACs, called the South Kohala
7 Community Development Plan (CDP) Action Committee (AC) meeting to order at 5:11 P.M. Due
8 to restrictions related to the COVID - 19 pandemic, this meeting was held via the Zoom interactive
9 video platform.
10 Kona AC Chair Charles Young shared an lelo No eau:
11 9 ƉğƓǒ ƒĻğ
12
13 ROLL CALL
14 Action Committee Members Present :
15 South Kohala: Ruth Smith (Chair), Bill Sanborn, Julia Ann Alos, Kevin McLaughliin, Scott Nagata,
16 Karen Anderson.
17 Planning Department Staff : Zendo Kern (Planning Director); Grant Nagata (Admin Services
18 Officer); Keiko Mercado, Heather Bartlett, and Jaslyn Nathaniel (Long Range Div. Planners);
19 Courtney Costa (Long Range Div. Staff).
20 Members of the public : 9 members of the public attended the meeting via Zoom. Members of
21 the public also observed the meeting via the L ivestream on YouTube. The Livestream is av ailable
22 at https://youtu.be/eEv32s28l4g .
23 STATE SUNSHINE LAW UPDATE BY CORPORATION COUNSEL :
24 Deputy Corporation Counsel Jean Campbell presented the basic tenents of the State Sunshine
25 Law and its new changes.
26 Click here for t he presentation slides (Communication No 2022 - 01):
27 http://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/1/doc/113992/Page1.aspx
28 Committee Member Keeney asked for clarification from Ms. Campbell on Sunshine
29 Law restrictions for contac ting members of other Action Committees. Ms. Campbell responded
30 that discussing business with members of your own Action Committee is a breach of Sunshine
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31 Law and that caution should be taken when discussing business with other AC members,
32 especially if t here is potential for applicability across multiple Action Committees.
33 Kona Committee Chair Young questioned amending an agenda and whether rearranging items
34 would be applicable. Ms. Campbell clarified that agenda items may be re - ordered or postponed.
35 S he added that boards are generally discouraged from adding agenda items during a meeting as
36 it does not give the public advanced notice.
37 kua Committee Member Kua asked if there were any plans to switch to in - person meetings
38 and, if so, how much notic e would the Planning Department provide. Ms. Campbell responded
39 - person meetings
40 until the end of February and that the proclamation could be extended/canceled depending on
41 the C OVID - 19 emergency. Remote meetings may resume after the proclamation is lifted but will
42 require at least one in - person site (usually at a County facility).
43
44 through email on recommendations for agenda items. Ms. Campbell responded with a
45 suggestion that communications outside of meetings should generally be discouraged and
46 recommended that Action Committee members share their agenda item suggestions with staff.
47 Ms. Merc ado reminded Committee Member Keeney that staff contacts AC members about three
48 weeks before each meeting to request input for the upcoming agenda. She requested that any
49 additional questions and/or feedback be included in the post - meeting feedback form.
50 P UBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS:
51 Two (2) members of the public and one (1) Action Committee member (representing
52 themselves) provided testimony.
53 Њ͵
54 and on item (3) 2022 Road
55
56 made it impossible to respond to issues in a timely manner and to allow discussions on items
57 that are not
58 from once a month to once every three months. She also described long delays i n filling
59 vacant Action Committee and Kailua Village Design Commission seats. She mentioned that
60 the mu lti - meeting process for taking action combined with the limited number of meetings
61 severely slows progress. She also conveyed frustration with Planning Staff that an agenda
62 item request to discuss a large 201H housing development on agricultural land, was not
63 honored. Ms. Harden shared her concern that Action Committees were changing from being
64 place - based to issue - based. Lastly , she expressed concern that the draft General Plan is
65 formatted so differently from previous General Plans that it is too diffic ult to differentiate the
66 changes.
67 2. South Kohala Committee Chair Smith, representing herself, testified on the Planning
68
69 Federal infrastructure funding. She asked the Dire ctor to advocate for the CDP
70 Infrastructure/ Emergency preparedness priorities. Ms. Smith expressed that each Action
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71 Committee has worked thoroughly, investing time to research and find the infrastructure
72 needs for each community to meet favorable selecti on criteria.
73 Click here for Ruth Smith ' s written testimony (Communication No 2022 - 04):
74 Communication No. 2022 - 04 - R. Smith Testimony to PD Dir. Kern
75 3. Community Member Meizhu Lui, representing herself, testified on the State Sunshine Law
76 Update. She expressed agreement with the previous testifiers, adding that CDPs are
77 products of a democratic process and that she hoped the administration would honor th at.
78 Ms. Lui explained that the Sunshine Law premise would mean nothing if there were no
79 meetings. She shared that infrequent meetings are a hindrance particularly given the
80 significance of the incoming Federal funds and the pandemic. She expressed support for
81 place - based AC initiatives given how different each district is. Ms. Lui echoed concern about
82 the 100 - acre 201H housing development Ms. Harden mentioned. She talked about the
83 disadvantages of bypassing zoning regulations through the 201H and how it c ould potentially
84 harm the community. Community Member Lui voiced the need for affordable housing,
85 however, not at the expense of agricultural land.
86 MESSAGE FROM PLANNING DIRECTOR, ZENDO KERN:
87 Planning Director Zendo Kern introduced himself and shared hi s appreciation to Action
88 Committee members for their service to the community. Mr. Kern described the heavy
89 workload in the Planning Department explaining that it is not meant to be an excuse but an
90 priority of sustainability and how the
91 Planning Department plays a central role in that function. In describing his strategic
92 approach , Director Kern utilized the Japanese term YğźǩĻƓ . He defined it as continuous
93 improvement and an approach to improve th e multifaceted processes of the department
94 through improving communication and addressing ongoing challenges. Director Kern shared the
95
96 service, and streamline processes .
97 He summarized some primary project goals to improve the EPIC system, increase digitization of
98 department files, and ongoing work with the Research and Development Department on a
99 n. He explained that
100
101 although it still has an extensive process to go through. He also shared plans for a
102 comprehensive update of the Zoning C ode and Subdivision code to include a framework for
103 green infrastructure and transit - oriented developments (TODs) among other initiatives. He
104 shared that the Puna Eruption Recovery work continues to be a big priority for the Department
105 which includes the property buyout program, wor king with FEMA on infrastructure needs, and
106 designing a resiliency framework that can be applied island - wide. Director Kern also explained
107
108 process of dispersing F ederal infrastructure funds. He said the County is still waiting on
109 information but that he would advocate for CDP Action Committee priorities as the process
110 moves forward. Lastly, he expressed that the Roth administration cares deeply about the CDP
111 Action Committees and shared regret that previous statements had been misconstrued to imply
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112 otherwise. Moving forward, he encouraged AC members to contact the CDP team so that further
113 feedback could be shared with him.
114 BUSINESS:
115 1 . P r e s e n t a t i o n b y S u s a n K u n t z f r o m t h e O f f i c e o f H o u s i n g a n d C o m m u n i t y D e v e l o p m e n t :
116 Housing Administrator Susan Kuntz presented an overview of the 201H process and provided
117 information on its use and applicability. In her presentation, she covered the housing needs
118 ounty by outlining how they used Area Median Income (AMI) figures of 5 years to
119 estimate the need for 10,796 affordable housing units ͵ Ms. Kuntz identified the challenges
120 developers face as affordable housing is not as profitable as developing market - rate housing
121 and may not always be financially feasible ͵ She spoke about different mechanisms available
122 to assist qualifying housing projects Ͳ including federal funding assistance and the State s
123 201H law ͵ This law allows for exemptions from various permitting constraints relative to
124 affordable housing developments. Administrator Kuntz also shared 201H projects that were
125 proposed in 2021. She explained the agency's Strategic Roadmap which included regulatory
126 reform
127 working with the Planning Department on amendments to the subdivision (HCC Chapter 23)
128 and zoning codes (HCC Chapter 25). Ms. Kuntz also included the creation of an affordab le
129 housing program that identifies potential or existing State and County properties that could
130 be used for affordable housing developments.
131 Based on questions posed in the Zoom chat, Ms. Bartlett summarized a general question
132 around the qualifications f or 201H. Ms. Kuntz replied by stating that both private and non -
133 profit developers could apply with the stipulation of a 50% plus 1 criterion of affordable
134 units. Ms. Bartlett assured participants that other questions or comments would be followed
135 up on aft er the meeting.
136 Click here for t he OHCD presentation slides (Communication No. 2022 - 02):
137 https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/WebLink/1/doc/114219/Page1.aspx
138 Click here for t he 2
139 https://dbedt.hawaii.gov/hhfdc/files/2020/01/FINAL - State_Hawaii - Housing - Planning -
140 Study.pdf
141 2 . :
142
143 to reduce solid waste, available resources, and their mission as a non - profit
144 or ganization. She stressed the importance of recycling and the general goals and objectives
145 that the non - profit organization would like to see communities accomplish. Ms. Kubat
146 responsible production,
147 consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning and
148 with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human
149 ͵ She provided examples of self - sufficient community successes and current waste
150 management practices that could be expanded ͵ Recycle Hawai i would like to be further
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151 involved with Action Committee work and invites the community to get involved in the
152 mission.
153 Click here for the 2021 Zero Waste Plan:
154 https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/home/showdocument?id=304313&t=637812904261834301
155 Click here for t he 2019 Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan:
156 https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/ElectronicFile.aspx?openfile=true&dbid=1&docid=
157 110921
158 Click here for t he 2009 Zero Waste Plan: http://hawaiizerowaste.org/site - content/uploads/3 -
159 14 - 09 - Hawaii_Zero_Waste_Plan.doc.pdf
160 3 . 2 0 2 2 R o a d m a p D i s c u s s i o n :
161 Long - Range Planner, Heather Bartlett presented on the 2022 Action Committee Roadmap
162 and provided the Action Committees and community with updates, foreseeable events, and
163 upcoming discussion topics. Ms. Bartlett explained that the slideshow was a brief sk eletal
164 overview to be discussed in greater detail at individual AC meetings. Ms. Bartlett covered a
165 collection of thoughts, ideas, and feedback from one - on - one meetings with AC members and
166 encouraged more AC members to share their thoughts with the CDP Te am. She highlighted
167 progress for the Puna AC who gained two new members to satisfy quorum requirements
168 along with their progressive recovery efforts. Ms. Bartlett highlighted ongoing work to
169 engage the North Kohala community as they work to formalize an AC . She shared that the
170
171 the CDP Teams aspires to have members appointed by mid - 2022. Suggested upcoming AC
172 discussion topics include chair and vice - chair elections in Ma rch, sharing of the draft Capital
173 Improvement Projects (CIP) budget, project prioritization/road - mapping, Chapter 16 review
174 and guidelines, and the hosting of mixed Zoom and in - person (hybrid) meetings.
175 Click here for t he 2022 Roadmap Presentation slides (Communication No 2022 - 03):
176 http://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/1/edoc/115219/Communication%20No .%202022 -
177 03%20 - AC%20Roadmap.pdf
178
179 ANNOUNCEMENTS:
180 All the February Action Committee meetings have been moved to March. The next South Kohala
181 Action Committee meeting will be on March 14 , 2022.
182 ADJOURNMENT:
183 The meeting was adjourned at 7:13 pm.
184 These minutes and all related documents are available in the Planning Department s South
185 Kohala Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of Hawa
186 Documents Repository . These documents may also be requested from the Planning Department
187 by calling (808) 961 - 8288 or emailing cdp@hawaiicounty.gov .
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