HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-08-08 PCDP Meeting Packet
County of Hawai‘i
PUNA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE
Aupuni Center • 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 • Hilo, Hawai'i 96720
(808) 961-8288 • Fax (808) 961-8742
Mitchell D. Roth Mayor
Gregory Henkel Jennifer Scheffel Martha Morishige Kanoe Wilson, Chair Leilani DeMello, Vice Chair Vacant Leila Kealoha Susan Osborne Franny Brewer
AGENDA
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 (HRS). This meeting will be held in-person at the location listed in this notice and by Interactive Conference Technology (ICT) through Zoom.
DATE: Thursday, August 8, 2024
TIME: 5:00 P.M.
IN PERSON LOCATION: Keaʻau Community Center 16-186 Pili Mua St.
Keaʻau, HI 96749
ONLINE/ZOOM: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1604788961
NOTICE REGARDING PUBLIC TESTIMONY: The public may provide oral testimony at the meeting by joining Zoom or attending in-person at the physical location listed above. Although
not required, to register in advance for oral testimony please contact staff at cdp@hawaiicounty.gov or (808) 961-8288. Pursuant to §92-3, HRS, interested persons who want to provide oral testimony may do so either at the time the committee takes public statements on the agenda, or at the time the specific agenda item is called. Please note that public testimony may be limited to three (3) minutes in length per agenda item. In addition, although not required, to
ensure timely delivery of written testimony to committee members, it is requested that written testimony be submitted by 4:30 p.m. at least two business days prior to the meeting via email to cdp@hawaiicounty.gov. When submitting written testimony, please specify for which agenda item written testimony is being submitted. All written testimony will be a part of the public record.
NOTICE REGARDING INTERACTIVE CONFERENCE TECHNOLOGY (ICT): A
meeting held by ICT shall be automatically recessed for up to 30 minutes to restore communication
when audiovisual communication cannot be maintained with all members participating in the meeting or with the in-person location identified in this notice. The meeting may reconvene when either audiovisual communication is restored, or audio-only communication is established after an unsuccessful attempt to restore audiovisual communication. If it is not possible to reconvene the
meeting as provided in this subsection within 30 minutes after an interruption to communication, the meeting will be automatically terminated.
AGENDA
I. CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL
II. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: The Committee will consider approving the draft minutes from June 6, 2024. III. PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS: Pursuant to §92-3, HRS, interested persons who want to provide oral testimony may do so now, or at the time the specific agenda item is called. Public testimony may be limited to three (3) minutes in length per agenda item.
IV. BUSINESS: 1. Puna Brochure Permitted Interaction Group – Decision making on whether to create a Permitted Interaction Group to investigate the existing Puna brochure.
2. State Representative Update – District 4 State Representative Greggor Ilagan
provides specific updates regarding current and future initiatives for Puna. 3. Overview of CDP Action Committee Purpose and Puna CDP Implementation Priorities –Additional speakers Council Member Ashley Kierkiewicz and Recovery Staff Zoë Callahan will provide information on the County’s Resilience
Capacity Areas (RCAs). The committee will discuss which implementation
projects to pursue based off findings in the Puna CDP document.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
• The County of Hawaiʻi Planning Department is pleased to announce the release of the
Final Recommended Draft General Plan 2045. In-person Public Informational Workshops will include a formal presentation of the Final Recommended Draft and will be held: o August 28, 2024, West Hawaiʻi Civic Center, Building A from 2pm to 4pm.
o August 29, 2024, Arc of Hilo, 1099 Waianuenue Ave from 2pm to 4pm. o Online workshop opportunities will be available with more information to come soon.
• The Planning Department is currently seeking applicants for the Puna Action Committee and is requesting assistance to get the word out to interested community members. The application can be found on the Mayor’s office website at:
https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/our-county/boards-commissions-application
• The Department of Environmental Management has begun the process to Draft an Integrated Wastewater Management Plan. A recording of the first round of public meetings can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmR2EgTRQVI
V. AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING: Action Committee members will discuss potential agenda items for the next meeting.
VI. 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/Browse.aspx?dbid=1&cr=1. 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 business days prior to the meeting.
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 or cdp@hawaiicounty.gov as soon as possible, but no later than five business days prior to the meeting date, to arrange for accommodations. If a response is received after the five-business days deadline, we will try to obtain the auxiliary aid/service or accommodation, but we cannot guarantee
that the request will be fulfilled. “Other reasonable modification” refers to communication
methods or devices for people with disabilities who are mentally and/or physically challenged. Upon request, this notice is available in alternate formats such as large print, Braille, or electronic copy.
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
Hawai‘i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Page 1
PUNA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1 ACTION COMMITTEE 2
COUNTY OF HAWAI’I 3
DRAFT MINUTES 4 June 6, 2024 5 6
CALL TO ORDER 7
Vice Chair Leilani DeMello called the Puna Community Development Plan (CDP) Action 8
Committee (AC) meeting to order at 5:08 p.m. A quorum was established with six members in 9 attendance. This meeting was held in person at the Volcano Cooper Center and via the Zoom 10 online platform. 11
The YouTube video of this meeting can be found here: 12
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxOxqus_kNU&t=6972s 13
ROLL CALL 14 AC Members Present (in person): Martha Morishige 15
AC Members Present (via Zoom): Vice Chair Leilani DeMello, Leila Kealoha, Susan Osborne, 16 Jennifer Scheffel, and Gregory Henkel 17
AC Members Absent: Chair Kanoe Wilson and Franny Brewer 18
County Staff: Maryam Palma and Kawelo Kalili 19
There were approximately twelve members of the public in attendance (five in person and seven 20 via Zoom). 21
APPROVAL OF MINUTES [SEE YOUTUBE TIME STAMP 5:58] 22
Committee Member Osborne made a motion to approve the February 1, 2024, minutes. Motion 23
seconded by Committee Member Kealoha. Motion passed with 6 votes aye, 0 votes nay. 24
PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS: None. 25
BUSINESS: 26 1. Puna Brochure Permitted Interaction – Decision making on whether to create a 27
Permitted Interaction Group to investigate the existing Puna brochure. [SEE YOUTUBE 28
TIME STAMP 6:00] 29
Committee member Morishige motioned to keep the Puna Brochure as is. Committee 30 member Scheffel seconded the motion. The committee discussed the intention behind 31 forming a permitted interaction group to update the current Puna Brochure. Committee 32
member Morishige withdrew the motion to keep the brochure as is. [SEE YOUTUBE 33
TIME STAMP 11:45] 34
Committee member Osborne motioned for the AC to establish a Permitted Interaction 35 Group for the discussion, review and revision of the Puna Brochure. Committee member 36 Henkel seconded the motion. The members included in this PIG are Susie Osborne, Leila 37
www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/ CDP@hawaiicounty.gov Page 2
Kealoha and Jen Scheffel. The motion passed unanimously. [SEE YOUTUBE TIME 38 STAMP 17:15] 39
2. Orchidland Neighbors Park Update – Update by Orchidland Neighbors representative. 40
[SEE YOUTUBE TIME STAMP 19:56] 41 42 Orchidland Neighbors representative presented the Orchidland Neighbors park update. 43 [SEE YOUTUBE TIME STAMP 20:30] 44
45
Orchidland Neighbors representative Jessie Molina presented the Orchidland Neighbors 46 park update. [SEE YOUTUBE TIME STAMP 27:15] 47 48 Committee member Kealoha asked to clarify how the AC can contribute to the initiative. 49
Representative Aste agreed to write a specific letter requesting the ACs support. [SEE 50
YOUTUBE TIME STAMP 31:25] 51 Stephanie Bath provided public testimony. [SEE YOUTUBE TIME STAMP 38:33] 52
Committee member Morishige motioned to discuss the Orchidland Park at the next 53
meeting. Seconded by Committee member Kealoha. The motion passed with 4 ayes and 2 54
abstentions. [SEE YOUTUBE TIME STAMP 47:14] 55 56 3. Overview of CDP Action Committee Purpose and Puna CDP Implementation 57 Priorities – Presentation by Planning Department staff on the background and roles of 58
the CDP Action Committee. Discussion to establish which implementation projects the 59
committee will pursue based off findings in the Puna CDP document. [SEE YOUTUBE 60
TIME STAMP 49:23] 61
Planning department staff Maryam Palma provided a refresher presentation on the CDP 62 AC roles and connectivity within the County and other government and non-government 63
agencies. [SEE YOUTUBE TIME STAMP 53:04] 64
Planning Department Recovery Division staff Patti Pinto provided a presentation on 65 previous Puna Action Committee projects [SEE YOUTUBE TIME STAMP 1:28:14] 66
Planning department staff Maryam Palma elaborated on the Resilience Capacity Areas 67 (RCAs). Committee member Kealoha clarified that the RCAs will be moving forward 68
and noted that four out of eight AC members are also on the RCAs. [SEE YOUTUBE 69
TIME STAMP 1:34:20] 70
The presentation concluded with the PCDP priority action items of the AC members. 71 [SEE YOUTUBE TIME STAMP 1:45:00] 72
Stephanie Bath provided public testimony. [SEE YOUTUBE TIME STAMP 1:57:10] 73
Hannah Hendricks provided public testimony. [SEE YOUTUBE TIME STAMP 2:03:00] 74
PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING [SEE YOUTUBE TIME STAMP 75 1:54:03] 76 1. Discussion of AC Implementation Priorities 77 2. Presentation by Recovery Division staff Zoe Callahan regarding the RCAs 78
3. Orchidland Neighborhood Park 79
www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/ CDP@hawaiicounty.gov Page 3
4. Update from House Representative and Senator 80
ADJOURNMENT: 81
Vice Chair DeMello adjourned the meeting at 7:16 P.M. [SEE YOUTUBE TIME STAMP 82
2:10:00] 83
These minutes and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s Puna 84 Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of Hawaiʻi Public 85 Documents Repository. These documents may also be requested from the Planning Department 86
by calling (808) 961-8288 or emailing cdp@hawaiicounty.gov. 87
• 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