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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-03-14 Final Draft SK CDP MinutesMitchell D. Roth Mayor Lee E. Lord Managing Director Zendo Kern Director Jeffrey W. Darrow Deputy Director County of Hawai‘i PLANNING DEPARTMENT SOUTH KOHALA 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 Thursday, March 14, 2022 1 DRAFT Meeting Minutes 2 CALL TO ORDER 3 Chair Smith called the South Kohala Community Development Plan (SKCDP) Action Committee 4 (AC) to order at 5:16 P.M. Due to restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, this meeting 5 was held via the Zoom interactive video platform. 6 ROLL CALL 7 AC Members Present: Karen Anderson, Pete Hendricks, Tristie Licoan (Vice Chair), Kevin 8 McLaughlin, Scott Nagata, Bill Sanborn, Ruth Smith (Chair) 9 AC Members Absent-Excused: Julia Alos and Mark Gordon 10 County Staff: Planners – Heather Bartlett, Keiko Mercado, Jaslyn Nathaniel 11 Two (2) members of the public attended the meeting via Zoom. The meeting was also available 12 for synchronous viewing via the COH Planning Department YouTube Livestream. The livestream 13 is available at South Kohala CDP Action Committee Meeting March 10, 2022 - YouTube. 14 ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: None 15 ANNOUNCEMENTS: 16 1. Welcoming Scott Nagata to the South Kohala Action Committee: Committee Member Nagata 17 introduced himself as this was his first official committee meeting. He shared his eagerness 18 to learn more about Waimea and South Kohala and looked forward to sharing interests and 19 concerns that come up in the community. 20 2. Ports of Entry Biosecurity Program: Ms. Bartlett informed that this program was brought to 21 attention by the Chair of the Puna CDP AC. She explained that the Puna AC put forward a 22 letter supporting the continuation of the program. The Puna AC requested that the letter be 23 shared with other Action Committees to unify support across Hawaiʻi Island, as the 24 discontinuation of the program would affect the entire island. 25 Program information available here: 26 https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/1/doc/115336/Page1.aspx 27 www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/ CDP@hawaiicounty.gov Page 2 Chair Smith informed that as the AC is an advisory committee, she did not feel comfortable 28 sending a letter signed by the AC to the Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council to be used for 29 legislative support. She encouraged each member to provide individual testimony, noting 30 that the Kawaihae and Hilo Harbors did not appear to be included in the Ports-of-Entry 31 program. 32 Vice Chair Licoan questioned whether the ships that arrive in the State get screened when 33 they arrive at the Island of Oʻahu before coming over to the other islands. Chair Smith shared 34 that as far as she knows, there are ships that come to Hawaiʻi Island harbors directly. 35 Committee Member McLaughlin provided comments on the program information pamphlet. 36 He shared that it would be beneficial for the organizers to provide information regarding 37 how they are implementing the program and if they have been successful. He noted that 38 though the pamphlet provides description on what the program does and on the types of 39 pests, it does not mention any statistics on their success in intercepting the invasive species. 40 He felt that that information would help to justify the continuation of the program. 41 Additional information about Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council available here: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/hisc/ 42 APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 43 Committee Member Sanborn made a motion to approve the November 8, 2021 minutes. Motion 44 seconded by Committee Member Licoan. Motion passed with 6 votes aye, 1 abstain, 0 votes nay. 45 Committee Member Hendricks made a motion to approve the January 19, 2022 minutes. Motion 46 seconded by Committee Member Sanborn. Motion passed with 7 votes aye, 0 votes nay. 47 PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS: One (1) member of the public provided oral testimony: 48 Margaret Wille, representing herself, testified on Agenda Item 2. She requested that the 49 connector road in Waimea, from Māmalahoa Highway to Kawaihae Road, be put as a priority 50 project for the Federal funding. She shared that her interest in this project started in 2006 during 51 the Cherry Blossom Festival, and five ambulances were delayed by traffic on the way to the 52 hospital which resulted in dire consequences. She explained that the only way through town is 53 by the single intersection. Ms. Wille shared that a 2006 planning effort found that two parts of 54 the connector road would be critical to the area and the county as it would provide alternative 55 access. She shared that a community vote was done during that time and the majority agreed 56 with the project, but there was not enough funding to execute it. She encouraged this project to 57 be set as a priority as there is available Federal funding now. 58 BUSINESS: 59 1. Information Sharing: Sharon Hirota, from the County Office of Housing and Community 60 Development, presented an overview of several programs and centers that were launched in 61 partnership with community based organizations. She encouraged AC members to share 62 these programs with their networks: 63 • Emergency Rent Assistance – Provides financial assistance to help residents ensure 64 housing stability by helping them to get caught up on rent and utility payments. 65 • Landlord/Tenant Mediation Center – Provides landlord/tenant mediation services. After 66 the lifting of the moratorium, there was a temporary modification to the landlord-tenant 67 www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/ CDP@hawaiicounty.gov Page 3 code that requires landlords and tenants to go through a mediation process before 68 entering into the court system. 69 • Coordination Center – Provides free centralized service that helps residents navigate 70 critical financial, housing, and health-related issues. The Center’s objective is to ensure 71 that lack of knowledge about available resources does not stand between residents and 72 the help they need and is designed to help residents with one-on-one coaching and 73 connectivity to community-based and government supported services. 74 • Homeowner Assistance – Provides Hawaiʻi homeowners who are experiencing financial 75 hardship associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and have incomes at or below 150% of 76 the area median income with assistance that will lead to long-term mortgage resolution. 77 The program grants up to $30,000 to assist homeowners with paying past due mortgages 78 or reduce monthly payments. 79 • Financial Empowerment Centers – Provides free, one-on-one financial counseling as a 80 public service to all residents. Centers are staffed with trained counselors to help 81 residents manage money, decrease debt, improve credit, and access all other services 82 offered by the centers to find financial stability. 83 Committee Member Sanborn acknowledged the negative impression that many landlords 84 have with regards to the Section 8 program. He questioned if there were efforts to help shift 85 away from the negative perceptions so landlords would be more willing to work with the 86 Section 8 program. Ms. Hirota informed that OHCD had hired a staff member who’s focus is 87 landlord engagement and meeting with organizations and various individuals to shift the 88 negative mindset. She further explained their efforts towards partnering to provide better 89 case management for clients. She also noted that it is more common to hear the negative 90 stories than the positive, and the County is committed to changing that. 91 Committee Member Anderson questioned the efforts to work with churches as she knows 92 many churches assist with housing people. Ms. Hirota informed that there are two coalitions 93 working to share out about the programs and they are always open to partnering with and 94 equipping the churches to be able to share as well. She shared that there is a West Hawaiʻi 95 faith-based Hui that is connected to Community Alliance Partners and Janice Jones, with the 96 Latter-Day Saints church, is one of the leaders. 97 Committee Member McLaughlin questioned if there were statistics and other information 98 available regarding the homelessness issues on Hawaiʻi Island, as he did not have a good 99 understanding of the scope of the problem and wished to learn more. Ms. Hirota informed 100 that each year, in partnership with their homeless providers, the County is required to 101 compile a report called the Annual Point in Times Count. The report contains information on 102 those that are unsheltered, i.e. those who are single, married, with children, etc. The report 103 also shows how many people have entered and moved out of homelessness, with year-to-104 year comparisons. Ms. Hirota informed that part of the goal in providing these services is to 105 ensure homelessness decreases. She will share the report with the AC when it comes out. 106 www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/ CDP@hawaiicounty.gov Page 4 Presentation slides available here: 107 https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/1/edoc/115262/Communication%20No.%202022-07%20-108 OHCD%20Financial%20Empowerment%20Presentation.pdf 109 Additional information available here: 110 https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/departments/office-of-housing 111 2. Communication No. 2022-06: Letter to Director Kern Regarding CDP Priorities for Federal 112 Infrastructure Funding: Chair Smith introduced a draft letter addressed to the Planning 113 Director seeking support for CDP established priorities for Federal infrastructure funding. She 114 hoped the AC would move to finalize and send the letter. 115 Committee Member Anderson made a motion to finalize and send the letter. Motion 116 seconded by Vice Chair Licoan. 117 Committee Member Anderson shared that the road between Mauna Lani and Puakō will 118 serve as an emergency evacuation route for the Puakō community. There is a locked gate at 119 each end and fire break exits at different points along Puakō. She informed that the Puakō 120 Community Association, Mauna Lani, and the County work together to maintain their 121 portions of the road. Committee Member Anderson shared that this item on the original 122 letter may be removed, as it has been completely fulfilled. 123 Community Member Jojo Tanimoto shared her concerns with regards to needing a connector 124 road in Kailapa for emergency evacuation as there is only one road in and out of the 125 subdivision. She expressed the necessity for this route as the neighborhood houses the only 126 emergency shelter for the broader Kawaihae area. Ms. Tanimoto requested that the AC add 127 this to the letter as another priority item. 128 Committee Member McLaughlin suggested that the letter include a note to explain that the 129 list of items are not ordered by level of priority as they are all equal priorities. 130 Further discussions were had on each priority item which resulted in the AC agreeing to the 131 following letter amendments: 132 • Remove the item regarding Waiaka Bridge as that would be for the State to address 133 • Amend subitem B in the item regarding transportaion and circulation in Waimea to 134 specify the Parker Ranch connector road to Kamāmalu, and remove subitem D 135 • Include additional item to addess constructing an emergency access route in and out 136 of the Kailapa coummunity 137 Committee Member McLaughlin made a motion to amend the original motion to include the 138 amendments to the letter as suggested by the AC. Motion seconded by Committee Member 139 Sanborn. Motion passed with 6 votes aye, 1 abstain, 0 votes nay. 140 Original motion to finalize and send the letter with amendments passed with 6 votes aye, 1 141 abstain, 0 votes nay. 142 Communication No. 2022-06.3 available here: 143 https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/1/edoc/115431/Communication%20No.%202022-06.3%20-144 Letter%20to%20Director%20Infrastructure%20Priorities%20-%20Final.pdf 145 146 www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/ CDP@hawaiicounty.gov Page 5 3. Action Committee Priority Setting Exercise: 147 Committee Member McLaughlin made a motion to move Agenda Item 3 to the May 9, 2022 148 meeting. Motion seconded by Vice Chair Licoan. Motion passed with 7 votes aye, 0 votes nay. 149 4. Framework for Action Committee Run Meetings: Ms. Mercado informed that some Action 150 Committees have expressed interest in hosting their own official meetings. She explained the 151 possibility of the ACs having the option to convene between the already scheduled quarterly 152 meetings and provided high-level framework for running these meetings. Sunshine Law 153 would need to be adhered to and Robert’s Rules followed. Ms. Mercado assured that 154 planning staff would provide templates and resource packets and would continue to make 155 connections as the AC needed. Staff would also continue to post the agenda and minutes to 156 ensure compliance with the Sunshine Law. 157 Committee Member McLaughlin mentioned that he had suggested having more informal 158 meetings hosted by AC members as a way to engage with members of the community 159 through casual discussion. He requested clarification on whether the proposal of AC run 160 meetings were related to or in parallel of his suggestion. He felt that the option for formal AC 161 run meetings should not replace the idea of having County supported informal sessions. Ms. 162 Mercado informed that a meeting hosted by more than two AC members would have to be 163 conducted formally per the Sunshine Law so the proposal would be in parallel to his 164 suggestion. 165 Presentation slides available here: 166 https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/1/edoc/115433/Communication%20No.%202022-09%20-167 SK%20AC%20Meeting%20Framework.pdf 168 5. Election of Action Committee Officers: 169 Vice Chair Licoan made a motion to nominate Ruth Smith as the Chair of the South Kohala 170 CDP AC. Motion seconded by Committee Member Sanborn. Motion passed with 7 votes aye, 0 171 votes nay. 172 Vice Chair Licoan made a motion to nominate Kevin McLaughlin as the Vice Chair of the South 173 Kohala CDP AC. Motion seconded by Committee Member Sanborn. Motion passed with 7 174 votes aye, 0 votes nay. 175 PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: 176 1. Action Committee Priority Setting Exercise 177 2. Framework for Action Committee Run Meetings 178 ADJOURNMENT: Committee Member Licoan moved to adjourn. Motion seconded by Committee 179 Member Anderson. The motion passed with 7 votes aye, 0 votes nay. 180 The meeting was adjourned at 7:22 P.M. 181 These meeting minutes and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s 182 South Kohala Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of Hawaiʻi 183 Public Documents Repository. These documents may also be requested from the Planning 184 Department by calling (808) 961-8288 or emailing cdp@hawaiicounty.gov. 185