Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-03-05 TPD ENVISION WINDWARD PLANNING COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I HEARING TRANSCRIPT MARCH 5, 2010 PLANNING DIRECTOR INITIATED ENVISION A regularly advertised hearing on the DOWNTOWN HILO 2025 ACTION PLAN was called to order at 10:51 a.m. in the County of Hawaii Councilroom, County Building, 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Hawai‘i i, with Chairman Rell Woodward presiding. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Rell Woodward, Dean Au, Takashi Domingo, Andrew Iwashita, Zendo Kern, and Wallace Ishibashi. STAFF PRESENT: Brandon Gonzalez (Deputy Corporation Counsel), BJ Leithead Todd (Planning Director), Norman Hayashi (Planning Program Manager), Daryn Arai (Planning Program Manager), Phyllis Fujimoto (Staff Planner), Jeff Darrow (Staff Planner) and Maija Cottle (Staff Planner). And approximately 42 people from the public in attendance. INITIATOR: PLANNING DIRECTOR a. EnVision Downtown Hilo 2025 5-year Action Plan Update. b. Resolution Adopting “EnVision Downtown Hilo 2025: a Community-Based Vision and Living Action Plan – 5-year Action Plan Update” as a Guide for the Future of Downtown Hilo. WOODWARD: The agenda Item No. 3, initiator is the Planning Director. Next item is applicant EnVision Downtown Hilo 2025 5-year Action Plan. I believe this is going to be, the Planning Director is requesting a continuance on this matter. But we do have six people from the public signed up to testify so we will take public testimony. GONZALEZ: Seven. WOODWARD: Make that seven. Okay, Madam Director. LEITHEAD TODD: You know, due to some requests that we’ve had from property owners in the area who felt that they had not had enough time to review the matters on our agenda today, I’m putting a request to the Commission that both Agenda Item Nos. 3 and 4 be continued to a future meeting in order to try and facilitate some additional meetings with property owners and give them opportunity to really digest the plans. That’s my recommendation. We do have people who have signed up to speak; and so the Chair will be calling you up so that you can provide testimony today if you wish to. 1 EXHIBIT B WOODWARD: Okay. Thank you, Madam Director. We have, looks like just two chairs and two microphones. And let’s see, let’s see we have, if we’ll get Mr. Melrose and Mr. Koehnen up, please. If you’ll come on up and have a seat at the table. All right, this is EnVision Hilo, this is public testimony. Mr. Melrose, you signed up first, if you’ll give us your name and address, you’re already sworn in, and you may begin your testimony. MELROSE: Jeff Melrose, 1405 Waianuenue Avenue testifying today. Can I just start by questioning, this item is going to come up with a full presentation at another time? WOODWARD: Right. MELROSE: Sixty days, thirty days? What’s the -? LEITHEAD TODD: In order to facilitate some requests, I thought initially we would just move it back one meeting. But I’m thinking perhaps two meetings, sixty days, might be better in order to give us an opportunity to meet with property owners. MELROSE: So the issue of not moving forward has to do with a chance to talk specifically with property owners relative to the EDH Update? LEITHEAD TODD: Yes. MELROSE: Okay. Well, I was, I signed up to testify to speak on behalf of the Downtown Improvement Association. Alice Moon was intended to sign up and she called me about an hour ago and said that she wasn’t getting up this morning, she wasn’t well. So I think probably the best thing for us to do is to wait for the presentation on EDH and then come back and testify on the, at that time. We don’t have any pressing comment that has to be made today on that topic. WOODWARD: All right, thank you, Mr. Melrose. Mr. Koehnen. If you’ll give us your -. KOEHNEN: Sure. WOODWARD: I need to swear you in first. KOEHNEN: Okay. WOODWARD: Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth today before the Windward Planning Commission? KOEHNEN: I certainly do. WOODWARD: All right. If you’ll give us your name and address, sir; and then you may begin. KOEHNEN: Okay. My name is Fred Koehnen. I live at 111 Kapaa Street here in Hilo. I’m testifying today as an individual rather than in an institutional capacity. Let me start by commending the EnVision Hilo staff and volunteers for the tremendous effort that they have put 2 EXHIBIT B into creating the EDH 2025 Plan. I’m sure they were all driven by a love of Hilo and a sincere desire to retain and hopefully improve upon the so-called “unique character” of the Downtown area. It’s interesting to note that the website for this EDH Project contains a quote that’s attributed to me, namely: “My dream for the future would be for Hilo to remain the kind of community that it has always been.” Now I was born and raised here, and in making that statement I was really expressing nostalgia for the wonderful life that I have enjoyed as a resident of the city. However, I would not like it to be construed to mean that I am against change. I have seen change in Hilo during my lifespan; some good, perhaps some not too good. But change is inevitable. The greatest physical changes that have come about because of the two very damaging tsunamis that hit the city, the first in 1946, the second in 1960. In retrospect, and ruling out the more tragic human aspects of those events, they are perhaps the best thing that ever happened to enhance our appearance. I can remember what the makai side of Downtown Kamehameha Avenue looked like prior to 1946. It had a great deal of “character”, but it wasn’t necessarily pretty. Similarly, the 1960 wave engendered the redevelopment effort that provided the site for some much better looking buildings that exist today, as well as more extensive and appealing open recreational area than most cities of our size will ever enjoy. This very building is a result of that. All of which leads me to say that I think change is not only inevitable, it’s good and it’s necessary, even though at times it may change the physical character of a place. An example would be the County Building. You know, I spent 3 ½ years working for the County, beginning of 1964 through the middle of 1967. When I started we occupied the old Downtown County Building which was located on the Hamakua side of the Waianuenue and Kilauea Streets intersection. Now there was a very beautiful old building that was very much in the “character” of Downtown Hilo. But the County outgrew it and constructed the present building located right here, the one we’re in, which we moved into during the period that I worked there. The old site became a parking lot, much needed in Downtown Hilo and very much in accordance with the suggested EnVision Hilo standards. So what’s my point? My point is that that was change, and that was change for the better. Truly visionary people are very few and far between. Most of us confuse vision with a wish list for what we we’d like to see. I’m very much afraid that the proposed 2025 Plan offers just that. You know, I read the “Overarching Vision”, and I think that’s best done with a soft violin background, and in my mind it’s really just a wish list. And true vision goes much further out than 15 years, which is the timeframe that EnVision Hilo is using. Believe me, that’s just a bit blip. I speak from experience. Similar to what happened in 1946 and 1960 there will be great changes in the physical appearance of Downtown Hilo due to natural causes in the future . It’s not a question of if there will be another damaging tsunami, it’s a question of when. Perhaps some of the more solid concrete buildings will remain, perhaps they won’t, but most of the old wooden structures will eventually go. Mother Nature also provides termites and rot. Without renovation and/or rebuilding, most of the wooden buildings will eventually fail. And with the regulatory framework that exists and is being considered for even more restrictions, what Mother Nature does not take, simple business economics will. How so? Now let’s look at the notice sent out by the Planning Department to announce this hearing. Within the fourth paragraph it states, “These changes are not intended to act as barriers to development, but rather 3 EXHIBIT B to preserve and promote the character, health and safety, and the economic potential of Downtown Hilo for future generations.” Where is there economic analysis or even a modicum of common sense in thinking that increased regulation is going to accomplish this? Even without regulations the economics of new building in Downtown Hilo do not work out. The rents affordable will simply not support the investment required. And without sufficient parking and other space constraints, the popular “big box” retailers will not even touch the area. You know, I’m a great believer in property rights, and I think most people are, including those who have worked on the EDH project and government employees and commissioners as well. Wherever they may live, in Hilo proper, in Puna, elsewhere, if they own property I would ask how they would like new restrictive regulations forced upon them. Health and safety issues are a legitimate concern. I do not object to reasonable regulations there. But even then, changing in circumstances need to be considered. An example, in the 1946 and 1960 tsunamis we did not have the warning systems that are now in place. Look what happened last week. Everyone was out of the area in an hour before the projected wave was scheduled to arrive. Now as to property owners within the area, they are stuck with the risk. If they don’t want to assume that risk, let them sell out. If they want to improve their property, or rebuild, or do whatever despite sound economics, it’s using their money and it’s at their risk. If the government wants to be paternal, let them buy everything out and do another redevelopment project outside the tsunami zone. So rather than enact more regulations, let’s do away with most that we have. You know, if you look at it analytically, EDH 2025 effectively creates a commercial gated subdivision, replete with CC&Rs. In gated residential subdivisions, property owners are there by choice, not by fiat. And they protect property values, not destroy them. Will this negate the work that has gone into EDH 2025? Not necessarily. Let there be walking pathways, let there be greenery, let there be vitas, whatever. Let the government or whoever else has a “vision”, do what they are willing to do to attain their wish list. But let’s not let “vision” be imposed at the expense of others and the taking of property rights. You know, evolution is a constant, it’s beneficial, it’s unstoppable. The values and aspirations of my generation are not the values and aspirations of my children, nor of their children. Just as I have nostalgia for what existed in my younger days, the EDH represents the nostalgia of the present generation, at least for those working on it. I’m not sure exactly how representative that is. It would be interesting if we could really envision what will appeal to future generations, but we can’t. One thing I am certain of, however, whatever happens to Downtown Hilo will ultimately be the result of two things: Mother Nature and Economics, not a so-called “Vision”. And, like the change that has occurred in the past, it will be for the better. Thank you for the opportunity to share this. I do have written testimony, I didn’t observe your rules in submitting it in time. I will leave it if you wish. WOODWARD: Very good. Yes, you’re welcome to since we will be, this will be addressed in the future in any case. Commissioner Domingo. 4 EXHIBIT B DOMINGO: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate your comments, Mr. Koehnen. Would you care to leave a copy of your statements with the Commission so we can all be given a copy of that? KOEHNEN: Yes. DOMINGO: I truly, I listen to you and I can visualize Downtown from its past. You know, I’ve come into public office in 1976 and since that very time Downtown development has been an issue. And today, in as many years has gone by, it’s still being an issue. And your comments are valid, and I truly appreciate your thoughts on that. KOEHNEN: Thank you, Commissioner Domingo. WOODWARD: All right, any further questions? Okay, thank you, gentlemen, you may be seated. And I’m sure we all appreciate your testimony. But I did forget at the beginning, we have quite a few people signed up, 6 on this agenda item and 13 on the next. We’d like to have everybody get a chance to give their testimony, hopefully before lunch time, which means please limit your testimony to three minutes. The buzzer will go off after three minutes; and if you’re still speaking I will politely ask you to summarize so we can give everybody chance to be heard. Thank you. The next two people would be Megan Kurohara and Charlene Masuhara. I think I have that right, or I tried. All right, first I’ll need to swear you in. If you could raise your right hand. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth today before the Windward Planning Commission? MASUHARA: I do. KUROHARA: Yes, I do. WOODWARD: Okay. And whoever is going to start, if you’ll give us your name and address, and then you may begin. KUROHARA: Okay, hi. My name is Megan Kurohara and I live at 1286 Kilikina Street. So today I’m speaking on behalf of the Hilo High School Key Club and a Student Action Committee called EnVision Now. Growing up I’ve always heard about how vibrant Hilo used to be. On Friday nights everyone would be Downtown. That was a gathering place and the heart of Hilo. However, as a child I went Downtown for dance classes, but that’s about it. The vibrancy I heard about wasn’t really there, and instead I saw dirty sidewalks, empty store windows and homeless people have replaced it. Last school year the Hilo High School Key Club volunteered at a community meeting hosted by EnVision Hilo 2025; and we immediately took an interest in their revitalization effort. Over the last year we formed a student action committee called EnVision Now to help put the words of E2025’s plan into play. We feel that this effort is important because over the years people have lost a sense of pride and ownership of our Downtown. Like the broken window philosophy, if a broken window remains unfixed for a period of time, the tendency is for vandals to break a few more windows. Our town wasn’t 5 EXHIBIT B always like this. We let it become this way. We hope that by fixing these windows others will be inspired to help and a sense of community pride and ownership will be restored. Therefore, we are in great support of and ask you to adopt the EnVision Downtown Hilo 2025 Five-year Action Plan Update. Thank you for this opportunity to speak. WOODWARD: All right. Well, thank you very much. Thank you for your testimony. Do we have any questions for Ms. Kurohara? Commissioner Iwashita. IWASHITA: Not so much questions, a comment. Mr. Koehnen, you noticed you had paper notes? Megan has her phone. KUROHARA: I-phone. IWASHITA: I think she’s using her phone. She’s texting herself. KUROHARA: No. I turned it on airplane mode so it won’t ring. IWASHITA: No, I just wanted to note that Mr. Koehnen talked about change. It’s right in front of you. Megan, I appreciate your testimony. I also wanted to note I appreciate Mr. Koehnen’s testimony. And I guess I’ll note for you, and also Mr. Koehnen said change is inevitable, growth is optional. So I think in our, from my perspective that’s how I’m viewing our review of this, is that we’re really looking at how the change is going to happen, and to the extent that we can as a County, as a government, focus that change towards growth in the Downtown Hilo area. Thank you again, Megan, for your testimony; and your demonstration of modern technology. WOODWARD: All right, thank you, Commissioner Iwashita. Okay, Ms. Masuhara, if you would give us your name and address and then you may begin. MASUHARA: My name is Charlene Masuhara. I live at 1437 Kahalani Street in Hilo. Actually I came in support of Megan, but I just wanted to share a few things. First of all when we first began working on this plan, and by the way we submitted a written testimony, and so you should all have copies of that. But when we began this process I think that the one thing that amazed me was that it was a collaborative effort. I think that young people today look very wary on government people. Like, you know, you folks are making all the decision and we don’t get a say. But I think that this opportunity, and I get choked up because I’m an educator and I sometimes think that government doesn’t work for us, excuse me. WOODWARD: She should have been supporting you. MASUHARA: I’m sorry. I shouldn’t, I don’t know why I’m falling apart. But, anyway, I just wanted to say that I thought it was very much of a collaborative effort. We went to several meetings where people from the community, there were architects, there were students who had an opportunity to say their piece. There were business people, there were government people. And so the vision that came out wasn’t, it wasn’t one person’s vision. It was a vision of a lot of people. And that’s really what I wanted to say. I’m sorry. People who know me will know that 6 EXHIBIT B I’m never at a loss for words; but for some reason today I’m all choked up. Maybe because I’m proud of her, too. WOODWARD: I bet you are. Thank you very much. MASUHARA: So I just wanted to say that it was very much a collaborative effort and that it should be something that you have to take into consideration, all the people who put it together. Thank you. WOODWARD: All right, thank you very much. Do we have any questions? Commissioner Iwashita. IWASHITA: I have a comment. Thank you, Ma, for showing up. She’s probably nervous cause I was probably going to bring that.I appreciate your noting the collaborative effort. And just for the record, you know, it’s my constant view that any process that we do as a Commission, as a department, that involves the community is really the most important work that we can do. Because, you know, bringing you, Megan, out to get involved in, you know, your future basically is, that’s the most important thing. So I just wanted to note that. And once a Viking, always a Viking. Thanks for showing up. WOODWARD: All, right. Thank you, ladies, very much. You may have a seat. Okay, we have two other people signed up to testify on Agenda Item No. 3. That would be Geoff Molfino and Eileen O’Hara. If you could come up and have a seat, please. All right, welcome. Thank you showing up to testify. We do appreciate all the participation. If I could swear you in. If you’ll raise your right hand. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth today before the Windward Planning Commission? O’HARA: I do. MOLFINO: I do. WOODWARD: Okay, Mr. Molfino, if you’ll give us your name and address and you may begin. MOLFINO: Geoffrey Molfino. My home address is out in Ninole, but I own property here in Hilo. So my home address is 34-1106 Mamalahoa Highway in Ninole. I’m here kind of on short notice, and so I would like to commend Ms. Todd for changing schedules here a little bit here to give us some a little more time to respond. So I’ve got some really quick notes. I’ll try to keep it really short. I’ve been self-employed all my life. I do construction and real estate investment and property ownership and small development type things. And the properties I own in Hilo were purchased with that intent. I find myself at odds a lot of times with people that are not either self-employed and endeavoring on their own or, and sometimes people in your positions, not because I have any problems with that but some of my ideas sometimes don’t work. And so we had those discussions. 7 EXHIBIT B My concern today with the Downtown Plan is primarily focused on the height limit that they’re wanting to impose. I’m not sure what the basis of that would be other than visionary or esoteric. Some of us purchased our property with, because of the possibility of building a structure that would go vertical rather than horizontal. It addresses several problems. One, parking is a huge issue in Hilo, in my opinion. It can be solved by allowing structures that incorporate parking in their primary floors as you go vertical. That would be my plan on one of my properties. The restriction that they’re asking for would prevent that from happening because in current construction practices a 60-foot height limit really is going to limit you, particular in the tsunami areas to three usable floors at most. So I’d also like to reserve, being that we’re moving this to another date, the opportunity to go ahead and testify in a written form, too. So I guess, real quickly, I was pleased to hear Mr. Kohnen’s opinions.They parallel a lot of mine. I am, I’ve been here 19 years now. I started my life in the islands and went away and came back. I love this place. I think that the point Mr. Koehnen made about change is real. The thing that concerns me the most in the change realm is we have a very weak economy on this island and we need to do things to address that. People in my position tend to try to do things that create jobs and what not and an economy. And, so, and I differentiate between economy and revenue. The other side that needs to be looked at is we have to generate revenue also. As much as we all hate taxes and the cost of government and the cost of life, it amazes me that with the small economy we have on this island and the reality, that we rely on outside revenue rather than revenue we generate. Some of these restrictions that exists now and are going to exist in this plan are going to really impact revenue stream to the government end and economic growth. So I’ll end it at that. Thank you very much for your time. WOODWARD: All right. Thank you very much. Do we have any questions for Mr. Molfino? DOMINGO: Mr. Chairman? WOODARD: Commissioner Domingo. DOMINGO: Thank you for your comments. As you were speaking I was thinking of other areas and other locales where they build their parking structure, as you indicated, on the bottom floor; and perhaps on the floor next to it, they have the retail stores, and on top of the retail stores they have perhaps apartments or living quarters -- and thereby keeping people within the confines of the area and not having a need to travel for long distances of time to go to work. I think that is something that’s taking place in other parts of the country, and perhaps even in Honolulu. And I think here with the strict restrictions with regards to building within a tsunami inundation area, having some strict requirements, that would perhaps in a way be ideal for what you’re talking about, or what I’m speaking. Now in deference to those who were taking part in the formulation of this plan, you know, I respect their opinions and their time and their efforts that they put into this plan. And I don’t know if what you’re saying, what Mr. Koehnen said can still be put together and they can, all of these concerns can co-exist together so that we can have, you know, a place that will be, we can all be proud of. I know when Mrs. Masuhara and Megan came up they were talking about the Hilo that was before, you know, about fixing windows and, we’re talking about fixing windows and everything. So one thing for sure, I think it will depend on the -, the economics will play a great part in it. And, of course, we have Mother Nature that’s 8 EXHIBIT B always looking at us at the front door with respect to the possibility of tsunamis occurring from time to time. And I think as we look at that, as we look at the plan, those are the concerns that I have. And I think, you know, I really appreciate your comments, and along with those who have stated. And if anything at all being just a layperson serving on the Commission hopefully, hopefully, we can strike a chord that would create a win-win situation. Thanks again for your comments. MOLFINO: May I respond to his comments quickly? WOODWARD: Yes. MOLFINO: Thank you very much. I agree. And the building, the one building that I’m involved in here is a mixed use building; and I agree with you 100 percent. I think it’s a really important aspect to take into play in Hilo, is to have a mixed use building that has a combination of retail and residential and parking. I happen, the building I have happens to have just barely enough parking. It’s a constant issue. I get calls from my tenants all the time, oh, so and so is parking in my space, all this and that. As far as, back to Mr. Koehnen’s comments about Mother Nature and the reality of tsunami, I think that, being that my background is construction, and it’s significant in that, I think that structures can be produced that will have a better chance of withstanding that kind of impact in our current inventory of wooden buildings that aren’t being maintained. So I think that, yes, your idea that we have buildings that invite staying in the area is the answer. And I think they can be constructed in an esthetic way that doesn’t alter the appearance of Hilo architecturally but incorporate, you know, new structures that can be maintained in our environment and that might, might survive better than the wooden ones that are there now. Thank you. WOODWARD: All right, thank you. DOMINGO: Height limits would perhaps prohibit, you know, this whole concept being put into fruition. Because when you provide for what we’re talking about, you have to look at having a fair income to cover the investment. MOLFINO: That’s correct, that’s correct. DOMINGO: So height -. MOLFINO: To sound radically to one side of this, I think that there’s one side of my psyche that says any restriction creates an issue for people in my position that are trying to build something that will survive the economic tests. And so, but at the same time I do understand and agree with the concept behind the Downtown planning process, and I think planning is absolutely necessary. WOODWARD: All right, thank you. Any other questions? Okay, Ms. O’Hara, if you could give us your name and address and then begin your testimony. 9 EXHIBIT B O’HARA: My name is Eileen O’Hara, and the address is 15-2782 Papio Street, that’s Pahoa. And I am here today -. I was expecting the presentation and anticipated more of a Q and A. I’m here today as a representative of the Vision Keepers. You may have heard the name of the group. We’re associated with the EDH Plan in that when it was passed by resolution in the end of 2005. We were a group of volunteers invited to act as the “Implementation Committee,” although we certainly found ourselves more as the shepherds of the plan, because this plan has evolved through so much interaction with the public. The process began back in ’03 and the plan that was passed was a 20-year plan. We’re now up to the five-year update which we want to recognize that this is an action plan, that it doesn’t sit on the shelf, that it does produce a response, and it is constantly a collaborative process with the community. Newcomers into the community, and existing people in the community all have collaborated on the vision that we are presenting in this updated Matrix.I also want to emphasize that this is a guidance document, this is not the County Code. The recommendations that are coming forward through this guidance document are those that have been heard from the public, such as the height limitation. The height limitation does allow for a five-story building that does allow for a mixed use building in Downtown Hilo, and it would have to pass through the County Code to become law. So this is a guidance document. We have worked with property owners, business owners who are located in Downtown, residents of all ages from the school age to retirees, as well as all levels of government in working this process. And we were fortunate, very fortunate, to have assistance from the American Institute of Architects where they came last year and did a sustainable design action team process with us; and we held public meetings to get public feedback. And this team of, I believe it was seven professionals, architects, and others in the planning area that spent time with us here in Hilo and gave their recommendations from the level that they work at, which is all over the country and in communities that are similar and dissimilar to Hilo. So we got a lot of good feedback through that process. Everything that’s in this update has been brought to the public through annual town meetings and also through public meetings. So there has been a process. I understand we’re going to be deferring for another month or two to allow more of that collaborative process to occur. This is a very good plan. This is something that we really want in place to direct the change that we know will happen and to insure that it’s done in a manner that benefits everyone, and that we all have a town that we are proud of and can live in and have fun in. So I thank you. WOODWARD: All right, thank you. Do we have any questions for Ms. O’Hara? Commissioner Domingo. DOMINGO: Thank you for your comments. In all your discussions has a primary concern been that of bringing people back to Downtown to support the businesses that exist there today? O’HARA: Yes. The plan has six focus areas.One of the focus areas is economic revitalization of Downtown Hilo. So that has been an emphasis. Another thing with the plan, it takes a while for our public to be aware of these various processes. This was a first for the Planning Department, this type of community-based planning. And here we are 2010 and we are now hearing from, you know, all the landowners and business owners in the Downtown area. So it has become collaborative process, whereas in the very beginning it probably wasn’t so. So their concerns about economic revitalization are being listened to and are being built into the plan. 10 EXHIBIT B DOMINGO: I remember many years ago, even before Prince Kuhio Plaza was built and prior to that, with all the planning going on, the intent of creating another shopping area was an issue with regards to the new, the proposed new mall and Downtown. And keeping the business here in Downtown was the biggest concern of those who sat on the Council at that time. And it became a very, I think I can categorize that as a furious discussion that took place and issues discussed. Hopefully people like Mr. Molfino can come in and grasp the vision of what we’re talking about and go ahead with the means available to do what, you know, what you’re saying. And that way I’m sure with that revitalization people will come back, you know, bring back the shoppers Downtown so that the existing businesses can survive. And those who, perhaps families and those who buy into Downtown can survive and make this town grow again, and display the values and the attributes that made Downtown as popular as it had been since the beginning of this, since beginning of Hilo. And I think people like Mrs. Masuhara and Megan then can be proud that they’ve really contributed their, at least their bit of discussion into this whole issue. So we sit, I sit here very enthusiastic about going through the plan and having discussions about it so that we all can have an interaction that will provide for a better, for more promising results and go forward with something that will help us. O’HARA: I appreciate your perspective. DOMINGO: Thank you for all your efforts and your time. WOODWARD: All right, thank you, Commissioner Domingo. Commissioner Au. AU: I have a question for you. You’re with the Vision Keepers. Are you the president of the -? O’HARA: The Vision Keepers recently restructured and I am the immediate past chair. So right now we do not have a chair the way we’re functioning now. AU: So you mentioned five years ago you guys set this up. And how many meetings have you guys had since and how involved was the public and the landowners? O’HARA: Well, it was very involved. I was actually working with the County back in ’03 when this process began and represented my Department in a lot for the planning meetings that came before we actually drafted the plan. The plan was completed in 2005 and I think it was passed by the Council in November or December of 2005, if I recall. That was, shortly after that the Vision Keepers were created. At that point we had a membership of about 15 members. Many businesses and nonprofits that operate in Downtown Hilo were represented on the Vision Keepers. And we met monthly for the last five years; and the public is always invited to the meetings and they are agendized. Although we are not an official committee and not required to meet Sunshine Law, we pretty much did anyway. WOODWARD: All right, thank you very much. Any further questions? Okay, you two may be seated. Thank you very much for your testimony. We will need a motion and the Planning Director has requested a two-month continuance so that this would be rescheduled for the May meeting. Would somebody like to make such a motion? Commissioner Domingo. 11 EXHIBIT B DOMINGO: Mr. Chairman, with the proposed action today for EnVision Downtown Hilo Plan, I move that we defer action and continue hearing two months hence. WOODWARD: Do we have a second? KERN: Second. WOODWARD: Okay, it has been moved and seconded. I think we’ll just take a voice vote. All in favor, aye? COMMISSIONERS: Aye. WOODWARD: Any opposed? No opposition. Okay. It has been rescheduled for the May, it will be rescheduled for the May meeting. The discussion ended at 11:32 a.m. . Respectfully submitted, Sharon M. Nomura, Secretary Windward Planning Commission 12 EXHIBIT B