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Home My WebLink About2022-05-05 Puna AC Meeting PacketMitchell D. Roth Mayor Lee E. Lord Managing Director West Hawai‘i Office 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Hwy Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740 Phone (808) 323-4770 Fax (808) 327-3563 County of Hawai‘i PLANNING DEPARTMENT Zendo Kern Director Jeffrey W. Darrow Deputy Director East Hawai‘i Office 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 Phone (808) 961-8288 Fax (808) 961-8742 www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer planning@hawaiicounty.gov NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING PUNA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of the following matters to be considered by the Puna Action Committee in accordance with the provisions of Section 92-7, Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes. NOTE: Pursuant to Act 220, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, which amended the Sunshine Law to allow meetings to be remotely conducted online, effective January 1, 2022, Action Committee Meetings may be viewed live on YouTube, joined through Zoom, or may be attended at the location listed below. DATE: Thursday, May 5, 2022 TIME: 5:00 P.M. PLACE: This meeting will be held by Interactive Conference Technology (ICT) through Zoom. The public may provide verbal testimony at the meeting by joining online or calling into the Zoom meeting. Members of the public may also attend via Zoom, watch the live stream on the Planning Department’s YouTube channel, or attend the in-person on site location listed below. To register for verbal testimony please contact staff at cdp@hawaiicounty.gov or (808)961-8188. Zoom registration link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9825nh To view the live stream on YouTube, click the following link: https://www.youtube.com/CountyofHawaiiPlanningDepartment If internet connection is lost, the public meeting will be automatically recessed to restore communication. If lost connection exceeds 30 minutes, the meeting will be terminated. In-Person site location: Pāhoa County Council Office 15-2879 Pāhoa Village Road, Pāhoa, HI 96778 Page2 www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer planning@hawaiicounty.gov AGENDA CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ANNOUNCEMENTS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: The Action Committee will consider the draft minutes for the Puna AC Meeting on March 3, 2022. PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS: Written testimony may be submitted via email at cdp@hawaiicounty.gov or in person at the Hilo or Kona Planning Department, up to two (2) business days prior (Tuesday, May 03, 2022) to the meeting (see the Notice Section below). In addition, members of the public may provide oral testimony at the meeting on any of the agenda items. To register for access to the Zoom meeting please email cdp@hawaiicounty.gov. With discretion of the Chair of the CDP Action Committee, comments may be made either during the public comment portion of the agenda or just prior to the relevant business item and may be limited to three (3) minutes in length per agenda item. BUSINESS: 1. Infrastructure Priority Discussion. Director Kern requests that the Action Committee provide key infrastructure project ideas in the Puna district. Planning staff will record the projects identified, including written input submitted post meeting, to then be provided to the Director. A summary of the input will be shared back to the AC and included in the minutes of this meeting. 2. Building in Puna Brochure. The Action Committee will revisit the 2018 Building in Puna Brochure and discuss the possibility of creating an updated version. Discussion could lead to the establishment of an investigatory subcommittee. 3. Synergies Between Implementation of the Puna CDP and the Kīlauea Recovery and Resilience Plan (KRRP). The Action Committee will continue sharing and discussing their work with Resilience Action Teams relative to CDP implementation. Discussion could lead to the establishment of investigatory subcommittees. 4. Update on the budget. Planning staff will provide a brief update on the current County budget adoption process. The next public hearing regarding the fiscal year 2022-23 Operating and Capital Improvement Project budgets is scheduled for Tuesday, May 17 with the first reading before County Council on Thursday, May 19. AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING: Agenda item suggestions from the Action Committee and Planning Staff for the Joint Action Committee Meeting on August 17, 2022 and the Puna Community Development Plan Action Committee meeting on September 1, 2022. ADJOURNMENT This agenda and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s Puna Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of Hawaiʻi Public Documents Repository: https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/1/fol/13985/Row1.aspx. Page3 www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer planning@hawaiicounty.gov These documents may also be requested from the Planning Department by calling (808) 961- 8288 or emailing cdp@hawaiicounty.gov. NOTICE: The purpose of the public hearings is to afford all interested persons a reasonable opportunity to be heard on the above items. A person desiring to submit oral or written testimony shall indicate their name and whether the testimony is on their behalf or as a representative of an organization or individual. Written testimony can be submitted via email or hard copy. Hard copies should include an original and nine copies and be submitted no later than 4:30pm two days prior to the hearing date. Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service, other reasonable modification, or language interpretation to access this meeting please contact the Planning Department at (808) 961- 8288 as soon as possible, but no later than five working days prior to the meeting date, to arrange for accommodations. “Other reasonable modification” refers to communication methods or devices for people with disabilities who are mentally and/or physically challenged. If you are a lobbyist, you must register with the Hawai‘i County Clerk within five days of becoming a lobbyist. (Article 15, Section 2-91.3(b), Hawai‘i County Code). A lobbyist means, “any individual engaged for pay or other consideration who spends more than five hours in any month or $275 in any six-month period for the purpose of attempting to influence legislative or administrative action by communicating or urging others to communicate with public officials.” (Article 15, Section 2-91.3(a)(6), Hawai‘i County Code). Registration forms and expenditure report documents are available at the Office of the County Clerk-Council, 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720. PUNA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Mitchell D. Roth Mayor Lee E. Lord Managing Director Zendo Kern Director Jeffrey W. Darrow Deputy Director County of Hawai‘i PLANNING DEPARTMENT PUNA 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 3, 2022 1 DRAFT Meeting Minutes 2 CALL TO ORDER 3 Chair Franny Brewer called the Puna Community Development Plan (PCDP) Action Committee 4 (AC) to order at 5:09 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: Franny Brewer (Chair), Leilani DeMello, Leila Kealoha, Susan Osborne, 8 Kanoe Wilson 9 AC Members Absent-Excused: none 10 County Staff: Planners – Heather Bartlett, Keiko Mercado, Jaslyn Nathaniel 11 County Officials: Council Member Ashley Kierkiewicz 12 1 member 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 Puna CDP Action Committee Meeting March 3, 2022 - YouTube. 15 ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: None 16 ANNOUNCEMENTS: 17 1. Welcoming Melissa Leilani DeMello and Kanoe Wilson to the Puna CDP Action Committe: 18 Committee Members DeMello and Wilson introduced themselves as this was their first 19 official committee meeting. Each shared their reasons for joining the Puna AC and 20 emphasized their desire of giving back to their home community of Puna. 21 APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 22 Committee Member Osborne made a motion to approve the January 19, 2022 minutes. Motion 23 seconded by Committee Member Kealoha. Motion passed with 5 votes aye, 0 votes nay. 24 www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/ CDP@hawaiicounty.gov Page 2 PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS: One (1) member of the public provided oral testimony: 25 Patrice MacDonald, representing herself, testified on Agenda Item 3. She informed that no 26 buyout offer was received for her family’s housing in Kapoho and that to her knowledge there 27 are 500 lava evacuees currently living in Mountain View. Ms. MacDonald expressed her concern 28 over the way the lava recovery funding was distributed as all the money went to District 4 and 29 HPP and there is no funding for District 5. She shared that the people are also concerned about 30 how there is no transfer station or village center, and issues with traffic caused by the 31 roundabout. She also noted that the Keaʻau Armory is very important to District 5 as it is the only 32 option for an emergency shelter and it was left out of the plan. 33 Committee Member Osborne informed Ms. MacDonald that there are many opportunities for 34 community engagement in Kīlauea Recovery process including the Resilience Action Team 35 Committees (RAC’s) as well as quarterly Revitalize Puna updates and other events that can be 36 found on the County’s website. She encouraged Ms. MacDonald to find that information and 37 pass it on to others in her network. She also informed that the Buyout Program is still open for 38 engagement. 39 BUSINESS: 40 1. Information Sharing: Sharon Hirota, from the County Office of Housing and Community 41 Development, presented an overview of several programs and centers that were launched in 42 partnership with community based organizations. She encouraged AC members to share 43 these programs with their networks: 44 • Emergency Rent Assistance – Provides financial assistance to help residents ensure 45 housing stability by helping them to get caught up on rent and utility payments. Based on 46 the Puna zip codes, the program has helped over 500 households and paid out over $3.1 47 million in rental assistance to households in the Puna area. 48 • Landlord/Tenant Mediation Center – Provides landlord/tenant mediation services. After 49 the lifting of the moratorium there was a temporary modification to the landlord-tenant 50 code that requires landlords and tenants to go through a mediation process before 51 entering into the court system. 52 • Coordination Center – Provides a free centralized service that helps residents navigate 53 critical financial, housing, and health-related issues. The Center’s objective is to ensure 54 that lack of knowledge about available resources does not stand between residents and 55 the help they need and is designed to help residents with one-on-one coaching and 56 connectivity to community-based and government supported services. 57 • Homeowner Assistance – Provides Hawaiʻi homeowners who are experiencing financial 58 hardship associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and have incomes at or below 150% of 59 the area median income with assistance that will lead to long-term mortgage resolution. 60 The program grants up to $30,000 to assist homeowners with paying past due mortgages 61 or reduce monthly payments. 62 • Financial Empowerment Centers – Provides free, one-on-one financial counseling as a 63 public service to all residents. Centers are staffed with trained counselors to help 64 residents manage money, decrease debt, improve credit, and access all other services 65 offered by the centers to find financial stability. 66 www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/ CDP@hawaiicounty.gov Page 3 Chair Brewer questioned how much longer the Emergency Rent Assistance Program would 67 exist. Ms. Hirota informed that the first round of Federal funding needs to be spent by 68 September 2022, but that Hawaiʻi County was fortunate enough to receive a second round of 69 funding which will go through September 2025. 70 Committee Member DeMello questioned if there were any income requirements to apply for 71 the services provided by the Financial Empowerment Centers. Ms. Hirota confirmed that 72 there are no income requirements; applicants just need to be 18 years of age or older. 73 OHCD Presentation Slides available here: 74 https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/1/edoc/115262/Communication%20No.%202022-07%20-75 OHCD%20Financial%20Empowerment%20Presentation.pdf 76 Additional information can be found here: https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/departments/office-of-housing 77 2. Action Committee Support of Hawaiʻi Ports-of Entry Biosecurity Program: Chair Brewer 78 introduced a draft letter, addressed to the Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council, outlining Action 79 Committee support for the Hawaiʻi Ports-of Entry Biosecurity Program. She provided a brief 80 description of the program and her hope that the Puna AC would move to transmit the letter 81 so it could be shared with State legislators and potential federal funders to help subsidize the 82 program. 83 Discussions were had and each Committee Member expressed their gratitude to Chair 84 Brewer for bringing the letter forward. Each member stated that they were in full support as 85 programs such as this are necessary for Hawaiʻi’s infrastructure, especially in the Puna area. 86 Committee Member Wilson suggested that the letter be brought forward to the other Action 87 Committees as well so that they may be able to solidify and unify their support for the 88 program across Hawaiʻi Island. Ms. Mercado informed that she would provide the letter to 89 each of the AC Chairs. 90 Council Member Kierkiewicz suggested that the Puna AC reach out to State Representative 91 Greggor Ilagan and State Senator Joy San Buenaventura as they are in the midst of the 92 legislative session and may be able to introduce concurrent resolutions in both houses. This 93 would be a way to have bills introduced which could call for appropriations of funding to 94 support the program. 95 Committee Member Osborne made a motion to accept and send the communication. Motion 96 seconded by Committee Member Kealoha. Motion passed with 5 votes aye, 0 votes nay. 97 Communication No. 2022-06 available here: 98 https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/1/doc/115130/Page1.aspx 99 3. Synergies Between Implementaion of the Puna CDP and the Kilauea Recovery and Resilience 100 Plan (KRRP): Ms. Mercado explained that the priority recovery goals and objectives were 101 based on the goals and objectives of the Puna CDP and centered around village town 102 centers, infrastructure, natural and cultural resource management and health and well-103 being. She informed that as part of the implementation process, the recovery team launched 104 a network of Resilience Capacity Areas and Action Teams to support community-based 105 actions, noting that all of the Puna CDP AC members are participating in said Action Teams. 106 Ms. Bartlett shared a prioritization spreadsheet of the goals and action items, with notes on 107 www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/ CDP@hawaiicounty.gov Page 4 whether an RCA Team had put focus or effort towards the item. Action Committee members 108 used the spreadsheet to explore mutual interests and discuss investigatory subcommittees 109 and community liaison groups, as applicable. 110 Committee Member Wilson requested clarification on Action Item 1 with regards to the 111 accessibility to areas of scenic and culture interest. Committee Member Kealoha expressed 112 the importance of not taking away the accessibility to those areas and to ensure that the 113 aesthetic, cultural, and natural value of those areas remain. She elaborated further that 114 “how” these areas are being accessed, with regard to behavior and attitude, should reflect 115 the paradigm of the people who are actually from the area. 116 Further discussions were had when reviewing each action item as the AC identified 117 similarities and overlap between various items. Further strategies were discussed with regard 118 to the protection of biological, historical, and cultural resources. Chair Brewer also noted that 119 some items would better fit into the General Plan (GP) and questioned whether they should 120 be put through a different process as updates to the CDP are pending. Ms. Mercado 121 informed that the comprehensive update to the GP is currently a priority of the Planning 122 Director and is being given the attention it needs. She shared that the conversation around 123 what gets lifted up into the GP and what remains in the CDPs will be part of the planning 124 program conversation that AC members will be a part of. 125 Council Member Kierkiewicz shared that the Planning Director provided them with an update 126 on the GP and seemed to indicate that by the end of year, there would be a draft to share 127 with the public, ACs, and planning commissions as there will need to be a level of 128 engagement that occurs. She noted that from her understanding, the intention is to pull a lot 129 of what is in the current CDPs into the GP. She hoped that after the adoption and approval of 130 the GP that all the CDPs would be reviewed at the same time allowing ACs to focus on 131 specific areas island wide. She informed that there are line items in the budget that provide 132 financial capital for the ACs to take action. She encouraged engagement with the Cultural 133 Resource Commission and the State Historical Preservation Division (SHPD). She informed 134 that the SHPD has numerous amounts of documentation on different historical sites and 135 resources that have yet to be digitized. She shared that if the AC could get access to that 136 information, it would assist with managing public access to historical and cultural sites and 137 help to ensure people are coming with respect and the right intention. 138 Committee Member Kealoha noted that many of the priorities in the spreadsheet are items 139 that are currently being worked on through the Natural and Cultural RCAs and through 140 community efforts with non-profit programs. Community Member Osborne also noted that 141 the plan for the roundabouts going from Keaʻau to Pahoa is already being executed. She 142 requested a progress update from DOT to confirm her understanding. If this project is 143 already being executed, it can be removed as a priority. Committee Member Kealoha also 144 noted the major issue with the Ainaloa roundabout and hoped there would be a solution 145 soon. Ms. Mercado suggested that the AC continue to edit and provide notes on the action 146 items so that staff could provide a revised version, and come back to identifying priority 147 areas at a later date so the AC could create investigatory subcommittees and community 148 www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/ CDP@hawaiicounty.gov Page 5 groups as needed. All AC members agreed and requested that staff provide any updates on 149 the various actions items that are already in motion as well. 150 Information on the Kīlauea Eruption Recovery Planning Process available here: 151 https://recovery.hawaiicounty.gov/planning-56 152 Information about the Resilience Capacity Area Teams available here: 153 https://recovery.hawaiicounty.gov/revitalize-puna/resilience-capacity-areas. 154 Presentation slides available here: 155 https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/1/edoc/115524/Communication%20No.%202022-08%20-156 Puna%20AC.RCA%20Synergies.pdf 157 4. Framework for Action Committee Run Meetings: Ms. Mercado informed that some Action 158 Committees have expressed interest in hosting their own official meetings. She explained the 159 possibility of the ACs having the option to convene between the already scheduled quarterly 160 meetings and provided high-level framework for running these meetings. Sunshine Law 161 would need to be adhered to and Robert’s Rules followed. Ms. Mercado assured that 162 planning staff would provide templates and resource packets and would continue to make 163 connections as the AC needed. Staff would also continue to post the agenda and minutes to 164 ensure compliance with the Sunshine Law. 165 Community Member Osborne questioned if it would be ok to convene on an “as needed” 166 basis as all of the AC members are involved in the RCA Teams and other groups. Ms. 167 Mercado confirmed that the AC would be free to convene at their discretion. 168 Chair Brewer questioned the amount of notice that the AC would need to give before hosting 169 a meeting. Ms. Mercado informed that the Sunshine Law requires the agenda be posted at 170 least six (6) days prior to the scheduled meeting. 171 Committee Member Wilson questioned what would be an appropriate facility for an in-172 person hybrid meeting. Ms. Mercado informed that that is something staff are still working 173 on as more COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. Choosing meeting venues would depend on 174 availability as well as ensuring the appropriate equipment can be provided such as 175 connectivity and stable bandwidth for Zoom-hybrid meetings. Staff have been exploring 176 different county facilities as well as private facilities in each community so that community 177 members won’t have to travel far distances if they wish to appear in-person. 178 Presentation slides available here: 179 https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/1/edoc/115525/Communication%20No.%202022-09%20-180 AC%20Meeting%20Framework.pdf 181 5. Election of Action Committe Members: 182 Committee Member Osborne made a motion to nominate Franny Brewer as the Chair of the 183 Puna CDP AC. Motion seconded by Committee Member Kealoha. Motion passed with 5 votes 184 aye, 0 votes nay. 185 Chair Brewer made a motion to nominate Susan Osborne as Vice-Chair of the Puna CDP AC. 186 Motion seconded by Committee Member Wilson. Motion passed with 5 votes aye, 0 votes 187 nay. 188 www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/ CDP@hawaiicounty.gov Page 6 PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: 189 1. Prioritization spreadsheet exercise 190 2. Update from State DOT Hawaiʻi District representative, Harry Takeue 191 3. Kīlauea Recovery Update 192 4. Update from State Legislature representatives 193 5. Update on the budget/submit budget input 194 OTHER: Council Member Kierkiewicz advised Ms. Mercado to provide the AC with the budget 195 hearing schedule. She informed that those hearings will be streamed online and will allow people 196 to provide public testimony on various subjects and priorities related to the budget. She advised 197 AC members to take the opportunity to provide testimony as individuals and as an AC if they 198 were able. 199 ADJOURNMENT: Committee Member Kealoha moved to adjourn. Seconded by Committee 200 Member Wilson. The motion passes with 5 votes aye, 0 votes nay. 201 The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 P.M. 202 These meeting minutes and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s 203 Puna Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of Hawaiʻi Public 204 Documents Repository. These documents may also be requested from the Planning Department 205 by calling (808) 961-8288 or emailing cdp@hawaiicounty.gov. 206 • Informational Resources E Mālama Kākou I Ka ‘Āina Let’s All Steward The Land BEFORE YOU BUILD IN PUNA Wherever your property is in Puna, untouched land may have native or endemic bird, insect, and plant species found nowhere else on earth. Some may very well be rare and/or endangered. Responsible stewardship means building and living in a way that minimizes your impact on Hawaiʻi’s unique ecosystems. A Guide to Protecting Puna’s Forests Produced by the Puna Community Development Plan Action Committee Wildlife Corridors Many parcels of land in Puna either abut or are close to protected areas such as Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Kahaualeʻa Natural Area Reserve, Olaʻa Forest Reserve, Wao Kele o Puna, Keau‘ohana Forest Reserve, Nānāwale Forest Reserve and several others. These areas are of high ecological sensitivity and development can break the continuity of critical habitat. Bird and plant populations become genetically isolated and are at greater risk. By clearing minimally, removing invasive species and landscaping with native plants or non-invasive non-native plants, you can help to maintain the biological integrity of our at risk native species. The agencies and organizations listed below have contributed information used in the development of this brochure. • County of Hawai‘i Planning Department • Puna Community Development Plan Action Committee • Volcano Community Association • Mālama O Puna Mahalo Nui Loa The information contained in this brochure is for general information purposes only and is not conclusive. Please confirm all building and permitting requirements with the respective approving agency. County of Hawaiʻi Planning Department 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 (808) 961-8288 • County Department of Public Works (DPW) http://www.hawaiicounty.gov/public- works/ • State Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/ • State Division of Forestry & Wildlife (DOFAW) http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/ • College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/site/Extprogra ms.aspx • Hawaiian Alien Plant Studies (University of Hawaiʻi) http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/cw_s mith/aliens.htm • Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC) http://www.biisc.org/ ‘Ōhiʻa Lehua • Get a permit. The County of Hawaiʻi Department of Public Works regulates grubbing and grading requirements and permits. Those found in violation of Hawaiʻi County Code (HCC) Chapter 10 are subject to fines. See HCC Chapter 10 Section 10-8. http://www.hawaiicounty.gov/lb- countycode/#countycode • Preserve existing native forest. Avoid clearing your lot “pin-to-pin” preserving areas with the healthiest forest. There are organizations that can help you identify native plants. (See resources on the back) • Minimize cleared areas. Hand clear or use small machinery and equipment when clearing your lot. Being present to supervise clearing can help minimize misunderstandings. • Remove existing invasive species during land preparation. Such species include Albizia, Myricafaya, Strawberry Guava, Tibouchina, Himalayan Raspberry, Miconia and Ginger. • Beware of invasive species and aggressive invasive plants. Potted plants can carry hitchhikers like coqui frogs, fire ants, and stinging-nettle caterpillars. Check all plants before taking them home! Ensure that you are planting non-invasive plant species. • Prevent standing water. Mosquitoes breed in containers of standing water, and the avian malaria they carry is deadly to native birds. Turn over empty pots, buckets & tires. • Outdoor lighting and reducing light-pollution. Keep native seabirds safe by limiting exterior lighting. Improperly installed exterior lighting can disorient birds as they overfly forests at night. The law requires that all outdoor lights face the ground, not outward or upward. Rules and regulations for outdoor lighting can be found in Hawaii County Code Chapter 14: General Welfare Article 9. http://www.hawaiicounty.gov/lb- countycode/#countycode The endemic ʻAmakihi sipping from an endangered Hau Kuahiwi flower. This is the result of clear-cutting Building with the Environment Research permitting requirements before grubbing and grading! • Visual and noise buffers are free and provide increased privacy. • Natural landscaping provided by native forest is both valuable and appealing. • Essential habitat is saved for native and endemic bird, insect, and plant species. • Aggressive invasive species can spread quickly on cleared land. Limiting dozing and clearing helps to limit the introduction of invasive species which may save you time, money, and the use of herbicides. • Serious flooding problems can happen for you and/or your neighbors when improper or excessive grading occurs. • Vegetation impacts localized climates through natural processes. Forested areas can help reduce localized air temperatures. • Much of our native forests are heavily degraded. Help restore our forests by planting native and endemic species appropriate to YOUR local conditions/climate. . • There are 26,608 species in the state of Hawaiʻi • 10,000+ of these species are endemic • Hawaiʻi has already lost 26 native bird species with 27 more species currently endangered. • 90% of terrestrial species in Hawaiʻi are endemic Endemic to Hawaiʻi means that the species cannot be found anywhere else in the world, making it ever more important for us to protect the habitat of our endemic species! E Mālama I Ka ‘Āina Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death (ROD) is a disease that has killed hundreds of thousands of ‘ōhi‘a trees. This disease is caused by a fungus called Ceratocystis fimbriata. ‘Ōhi‘a lehua is a keystone species of Hawaiʻi’s native forests and watersheds, and possibly the most important tree in Hawaiʻi. You can help reduce the spread of rapid ‘ōhi‘a death by: • Not moving ‘ōhi‘a wood, firewood or posts, especially from areas known to have ROD. • Not moving ‘ōhi‘a plants, wood, or other plant parts interisland without a permit. [Hawaiʻi Administrative Rule §4-72-13] • Cleaning tools used for cutting ‘ōhi‘a trees (especially infected ones) with 70% rubbing alcohol or 10% bleach. • Cleaning shoes, gear and clothing. Decontaminate shoes by dipping the soles in 10% bleach or 70% rubbing alcohol. Other gear can be sprayed with the same proven cleaning solutions. Wash clothing in hot water with detergent. • Washing tires and undercarriage of vehicles with detergent, especially after traveling from an area with ROD and/or if you have traveled off-road. Reduce the Spread of R.O.D. Suggestions for Preparing Your Lot Benefits of Saving Your Forest Protecting Puna’s Forests ‘Ōhiʻa Lehua Blossom Communication No. 2022-10 County Department Project Name Project Description Location/Benefit (Council District)2022-23 Total estimated project cost DPR Keaau Armory Improvements Kea’au Armory is opportunely located at the junction of primary roadways connecting and serving upper Puna, lower Puna, and Hilo. It serves as a long‐term shelter and center of operations for recovery efforts. It is the only County‐operated facility with reasonable sheltering square footage in the area. This project covers repairs to and replacement of building systems and components necessary to make Kea’au Armory a safe, ADA‐compliant short and long‐term disaster shelter for the area. Improvements include but are not limited to re‐roofing, re‐painting, hazardous building materials mitigation, ADA retrofits, and door and window modifications 5 (3-5)1,000 3,500 DPW FEMA Kīlauea Lava Recovery Project represents matching the Federal funds for approved FEMA projects to repair damages caused by the May 3, 2018 lava flow.4 (4)37,000 37,000 FIRE HAWAIIAN PARADISE PARK FIRE STATION - New facility (Re-appropriate) Replacement of existing two-man station which currently does not have an ambulance unit to a six-man station with an ambulance unit to serve a growing population in Puna.4 (4)2,000 2,000 FIRE KEAAU FIRE STATION - New Facility Construction of a new fire station to replace the Keaau fire station. The Keaau Fire Fire Station is located in a fast growing community and a new facility that can accomodate additional personnel and apparatus is desperately needed. Possible sites include leasing property from Shipman. Property to be built "green" and include PV. Project could be combined with a project with Police so that Fire and Police may be located close by to each other. 3 (3-5)1,250 14,450 HPD Kea‘au Police Station Land acquisition, plan, design, construct a new police station in Kea‘au 3 (3)1,500 1,500 PLNG Pāhoa Regional Town Center master Plan (reapp.) Create a Master Plan for the Pāhoa Regional Town Center through a public participation process together with the Puna CDP Action Committee. Sections 3.1.3.b.1 & 2.1.3.a.2 of the Puna CDP identifies Pāhoa as one of the three Regional Town Centers for Puna that should include design standards and review procedures. Sec. 5.2.1 further calls for the preparation of regional town center plans through an inclusive community based process. The PRTCP shall be a strategic plan addressing all infrastructure improvements necessary to realize commercial, residential, and industrial growth necessary to serve the greater surrounding service area that generally coincides with the 96778 zip code area of SE Puna. 4-5 (4-5)150 150 HPD Holding Cell Improvements (Reappropriation 5299.77) Plan, design, and construct to modify existing temporary detention facilities in the Hilo, Kona, Puna, North Kohala, and South Kohala districts to comply with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) standards, Chapters 71 and 72, which requires separating males, females, and/or juveniles that are detained at the same time. The holding cells shall be separated from each other by sight and sound. All 600 600 MTA Hub and Spoke Construction Construct transit hubs in Pahoa, Kailua-Kona as first priorities and then in Kea'au, Waimea, Waikola, Ocean View, Honoka'a, Prince Kuhio Plaza as second priorities. Rehabiliation of Mo'oheau Bus Terminal as a first priority. Transit hubs would include bus bays, shelters, benches, trash cans, bike racks, parking, building with community room/restroom, electric vehicle charging and secure bus parking. All 1,950 38,300 Communication No. 2022-10 County Department Project Name Project Description Location/Benefit (Council District)2022-23 Total estimated project cost MTA Park and Ride Lots Construct transit hubs in Pahoa, Kailua-Kona as first priorities and then in Kea'au, Waimea, Waikola, Ocean View, Honoka'a, Prince Kuhio Plaza as second priorities. Rehabiliation of Mo'oheau Bus Terminal as a first priority. Transit hubs would include bus bays, shelters, benches, trash cans, bike racks, parking, building with community room/restroom, electric vehicle charging and secure bus parking. All 250 5,600 Civil Defense South Point Building Replacement Replacement building at South Point for current radio system equipment. Estimates only for building to begin 6/All 200 300 DEM Replace Hilo Scales Replace both inbound and outbound scales in Hilo for all loads coming to East Hawaii Regional Sort Station. 3 (1-6)1,750 1,750 DEM Improvements to East Hawaii Sort Station Improvements to East Hawaii Sort Station for greater capacity 3 (1-6)700 3,700 DEM Rural Transfer Station Repairs and Enhancements Necessary infrastructure repairs and improvements to the rural transfer stations, specifically recycling and green waste facilities.All 2,000 21,974 DPR Repairs/Improvements to Facilities The repair, renovation, upgrade, addition, modification, alteration, improvement, demolition and landscaping & development of park sites, facilities, amenities, infrastructure, utilities and components necessary to facilitate and address the needs for parks and recreation uses and needs. All 10,000 60,000 DPW Facilities Improvements Improvements and additions targeting ADA compliance, energy efficiency, hazard mitigation, hardneing, mainenance and renovations & repairs.All 11,600 76,600 DPW FHWA Bridge Inspection and Appraisal Project is for FHWA/DOT mandated inspection of County maintained in-service bridges that are registered in the National Bridge Inventory (NBI)All 200 200 DPW Guardrail Safety Improvements - Islandwide This project will install roadway guardrail improvements island wide. All 1,600 1,600 MTA Islandwide Bus Shelters Construct bus shelters island-wide, as well as replace damaged shelters or relocate bus shelters from areas that are no longer served by Hele-On.All 300 2,400 MTA Bus Stop ADA Compliance Design and constuct ADA pads for passengers to board buses at safe locations along State and County right-of-way.All 625 1,265 MTA Bus Stop Signage Purchase 1,000 bus stop signs and decals for installation at each bus stop located throughout Hawai'i Island.All 400 407 Communication No. 2022-10 County Department Project Name Project Description Location/Benefit (Council District)2022-23 Total estimated project cost DPR Discretionary Projects - Council Districts 3, 4, 5, 6 Council discretionary fund projects directed through our department are used to fund new improvements, repairs, upgrades and modifications at various parks, utilizing community volunteers in combination with County resources. Projects, generally are smaller inscare and require extended timeframes in funding due to the volunteer component and typicallyweekend only availability. Funds may be applied towards larger projects in comvination with other funds, that would likewise require a longer timeframe to complete. 3-6 (3-6)100 100