HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-01-14 KCDP Meeting Packet
County of Hawai‘i
KONA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE
Aupuni Center • 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 • Hilo, Hawaiʻi 96720 (808) 961-8288 • Fax (808) 961-8742
www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer planning@hawaiicounty.gov
C. Kimo Alameda, PhD. Mayor
John Pelletier Vacant Heather Korotie Vacant Charles Young, Chair Nancy Pisicchio, Vice-Chair Charla Thompson David Huerta Roselyn Molina
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of the following matters to be considered by the Kona Community Development Plan (CDP) 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: Tuesday, January 14, 2025
TIME: 12:00-2:00 p.m.
IN PERSON LOCATION: West Hawaiʻi Civic Center, B2 Conference Room 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 ONLINE/ZOOM:
https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItduqhqzIqG2smqFy4UCVB8HHtpda9ucg
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 Section 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.
Page 2
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AGENDA
I. CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL
II. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: The Action Committee will consider approving the draft minutes for the Kona CDP Action Committee Meeting on December 17, 2024.
III. PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS: The public may provide verbal testimony at the
meeting by joining the Zoom meeting or attending in-person. Please register to testify by contacting
cdp@hawaiicounty.gov. Comments may be made either during the public comment portion of the agenda or just prior to the relevant business item. With discretion of the Chair of the CDP Action Committee, comments may be limited to three (3) minutes in length per agenda item. 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 to this meeting (see the Notice Section
below).
IV. BUSINESS:
1. Mayor’s Boards and Commissions Collaboration – Discussion and potential action on opportunities for collaboration with other boards and commissions.
2. Neighborhood Boards Bill – Discussion and potential action on whether the Action
Committee should submit testimony to Senate committees. 3. General Plan Discussion – Discussion and potential action regarding submitting comment to the Leeward Planning Commission. 4. Kealakehe Regional Park Update – Update from Action Committee members and discussion
regarding any actions the Committee may pursue.
V. PROPOSED NEW BUSINESS: Action Committee members will discuss potential agenda items for the next meeting.
VI. ANNOUNCEMENTS:
• See Communication No. 2025-02 for the Updated 2025 Meeting Cadence Memo.
• Committee member John Pelletier to provide update on the December 19, 2024, Leeward Planning Commission meeting where he provided oral testimony on behalf of the committee.
• The Environmental Notice – Sea Dragon Seawater-to-Jet Fuel Research and
Development project – Final EA (FONSI) https://files.hawaii.gov/dbedt/erp/The_Environmental_Notice/2024-12-23-TEN.pdf
• The Final Recommended Draft General Plan 2045 has been submitted to the Planning Commission. The Leeward Planning Commission will continue discussions and actions
on January 16, 2025 at 9:30am More information can be found here:
https://www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/about-us/boards-committees/planning-commission-applications
• The Planning Department is currently seeking applicants for the Kona CDP Action
Committee and the Cultural Resources Commission and requests assistance in
spreading the word to interested community members. The application can be found on
Page 3
www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer planning@hawaiicounty.gov
the Mayor’s office website at: https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/our-county/boards-commissions-application
VII. ADJOURNMENT
This agenda and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s Kona Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of Hawaiʻi Public Documents Repository: hhttps://records.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/Browse.aspx?dbid=1&startid=9059&row=1&cr=1. These documents may also be requested from the Planning Department by calling (808) 961-8288 or emailing
cdp@hawaiicounty.gov. The recorded video of this meeting will be uploaded to the Planning
Department’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@cohplanningdepartment
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.
KONA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE
KONA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1
ACTION COMMITTEE 2
COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI 3
DRAFT MINUTES 4
December 17, 2024 5
CALL TO ORDER 6
Chair Young called the Kona Community Development Plan (CDP) Action Committee (AC) 7
meeting to order at 12:15 p.m. A quorum was established with five members in attendance. This 8
meeting was held in person at the West Hawai’i Civic Center, B2 Conference Room and online via 9
the Zoom platform. 10
The full YouTube video of this meeting can be found here: 11
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zbZkhvPRlQ&t=790s 12
ROLL CALL 13
Members Present (in person): Vice-Chair Nancy Pisicchio, Charla Thompson, Heather Korotie, 14
and Chair Charles Young 15
Members Present (via Zoom): David Huerta and John Pelletier 16
Members Absent: Roselyn Molina 17
County Staff Present: Kawelo Kalili (in person) and Maryam Palma (via Zoom) 18
There were 8 members of the public in attendance (0 in person and 8 via Zoom). 19
APPROVAL OF MINUTES 20
Committee member Pisicchio moved to approve the minutes from the November 19, 2024, 21
meeting as drafted. Vice-Chair Pisicchio seconded. The motion passed unanimously. [YOUTUBE 22
TIMESTAMP 5:20] 23
BUSINESS 24
1. General Plan Discussion – Discussion and potential action regarding submitting comment 25 to the Leeward Planning Commission. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 6:29] 26
Committee member Pelletier suggested submitting the AC’s comments on the General Plan as 27
testimony to the Leeward Planning Commission and volunteered to attend the December 19, 2024 28 meeting at the Kona Council Chambers to provide verbal testimony. Chair Young supported the 29 action and clarified that the testimony should focus on the Kona CDP, as Pelletier would be 30 representing the Kona AC. Planning staff agreed to submit the comments. Pelletier moved to 31
submit the letter and represent the AC at the Leeward Planning Commission meeting. Committee 32
member Korotie seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 33
Vice-Chair Pisicchio reported a draft testimony prepared for submission to the Leeward Planning 34
Commission, emphasizing concerns regarding the remapping of properties in the draft General 35
KONA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE
Minutes of December 17, 2024 2
Plan from agricultural to rural use, which could encourage urban sprawl beyond the Kona Urban 36
Growth Area. She highlighted that the proposed changes could lead to higher-density development 37
outside the existing rural towns and villages, conflicting with the strategic objectives of the General 38
Plan to preserve resources and manage growth effectively. Vice-Chair Pisicchio recommended 39
removing the proposed remapping and clarified that developers could still seek boundary 40
amendments through the State Land Use Commission, if necessary. Committee member Pelletier 41
supported Vice-Chair Pisicchio’s concerns, agreeing that the remapping contradicts the intent of 42
rural land use policies and contributes to urban sprawl. Pelletier expressed willingness to present 43
the comments at the upcoming meeting and stated that both the TOD comments and the proposed 44
testimony could be covered within the allotted time. Committee member Thompson moved for the 45
AC to support Vice-Chair Pisicchio’s letter and for committee member Pelletier to read it verbally 46
at the PC meeting. Committee member Korotie seconded. The motion passed unanimously. 47
2. Chair and Vice Chair Nominations and Elections – Discussion and potential action to 48
elect a Chair and Vice-Chair for the Kona CDP Action Committee for 2025. [SEE 49
YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 29:21] 50
Vice-Chair Pisicchio moved to nominate Chair Young as Chair of the committee for 2025. 51
Committee member Pelletier seconded the motion. Chair Young emphasized the need for a strong 52
succession plan with both internal and external resource development as a condition for continuing 53
as Chair. He supports public participation and collaboration with other committees and the 54
administration, stressing succession planning for 2025 while remaining willing to serve until a 55
successor is found. Vice-Chair Pisicchio called for a vote. The motion passed unanimously. 56
Chair Young nominated Vice-Chair Pisicchio as Vice-Chair of the committee for 2025. Committee 57
member Pelletier seconded the motion. Chair Young shared his appreciation for Vice-Chair 58
Pisicchio’s commitment to the committee. Chair Young called for a vote. The motion passed 59
unanimously. 60
3. Other Advisory Committees Discussion – Discussion and potential action on how the 61
Kona CDP AC may interact with other advisory committees on CDP related matters. [SEE 62
YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 33:55] 63
Chair Young emphasized the need for the AC to strengthen connections with county and outside 64
agencies, suggesting outreach efforts beyond meetings and creating a priority list for engaging 65
with other committees. Committee member Pisicchio proposed inviting chairs from other boards 66
and commissions to present their projects and build relationships around CDP topics. Committee 67
member Pelletier encouraged AC members to use the county calendar. Chair Young challenged the 68
committee to review the County calendar before the January meeting to discuss effective 69
communication strategies. 70
ANNOUNCEMENTS 71
• Vice-Chair Nancy Pisicchio to provide update on the status of State bill relating to 72
Neighborhood Boards. 73
KONA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE
Minutes of December 17, 2024 3
o Vice-Chair Pisicchio provided an update on the status of a State bill aimed at 74
revising Sunshine Law provisions for neighborhood boards. Last year, Senator 75
Kanuha introduced a bill drafted with the island’s action committees to align 76
Sunshine Law rules with those established for city neighborhood boards in 2008. 77
The bill was deferred due to concerns from a committee chair, who felt the title was 78
too specific. As a result, the bill now has a more generic title. Recently, Vice-Chair 79
Pisicchio met with State Representative Kapela, who plans to reintroduce the bill 80
in both the House and Senate, emphasizing grassroots participation in government. 81
The proposed changes would allow public testimony on items not on the agenda, 82
and provide more flexibility for non-voting discussions, such as presentations on 83
the General Plan. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 48:55] 84
• See Communication No. 2024-32 for the Updated 2025 Kona CDP AC Meeting Cadence 85
Memo. 86
• The Final Recommended Draft General Plan 2045 has been submitted to the Planning 87
Commission. The Leeward Planning Commission will continue discussions and actions 88
on December 19, 2024, at 5:00 pm. More information can be found here: 89
https://www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/about-us/boards-90
committees/planningcommission-applications 91
• The Planning Department is currently seeking applicants for the Kona CDP Action 92
Committee and the Cultural Resources Commission and requests assistance in spreading 93
the word to interested community members. The application can be found on the mayor’s 94
office website at: https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/our-county/boardscommissions-95
application 96
• Vice-Chair Pisicchio, the current Kona AC representative for the KOSN committee, 97 announced the ongoing Open Space Network committee, which has been meeting 98
throughout the year. Recently, the committee had a satisfying meeting where consultants 99
presented a comprehensive map of urban trails and open spaces within the urban boundary, 100 highlighting connections, potential issues, and roads related to these spaces. Vice-Chair 101 Pisicchio was excited about the progress made, noting that it exceeded expectations, 102 especially regarding trail connections and public domain information. They emphasized 103
the importance of ensuring that underrepresented areas are considered in future efforts. 104
[SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 59:50] 105
AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:05:28] 106
1. General Plan Updates 107 2. Neighborhood Boards Bill 108
ADJOURNMENT 109
The meeting was adjourned at 1:23 p.m. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:08:00] 110
These minutes and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s Kona 111
Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of Hawaiʻi Public 112
Documents Repository. These documents may also be requested from the Planning Department by 113
calling (808) 961-8288 or emailing cdp@hawaiicounty.gov. 114
County of Hawai‘i
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov Hawai‘i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer planning@hawaiicounty.gov
Jeffrey W. Darrow Acting Director
Michelle S. Ahn Acting Deputy Director
C. Kimo Alameda, Ph.D. Mayor
William V. Brilhante, Jr. Managing Director
East Hawai‘i Office 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 Phone (808) 961-8288 Fax (808) 961-8742
West Hawai‘i Office 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Hwy Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740 Phone (808) 323-4770 Fax (808) 327-3563
December 10, 2024
MEMORANDUM
TO: Office of the Corporation Counsel Office of the Mayor
Planning Department Staff County Council
FROM: Jeffrey Darrow, Acting Planning Director
SUBJECT: Kona CDP Action Committee Tentative Meeting Schedule for 2025
The tentative 2025 meeting dates for the Kona Community Development Plan (CDP) Action Committee are listed below. Please be informed that the dates and venue of the meetings are
subject to change.
January 14, 2025 (Tuesday)
February 11, 2025 (Tuesday)
March 11, 2025 (Tuesday)
April 8, 2025 (Tuesday)
May 13, 2025 (Tuesday)
June 10, 2025 (Tuesday)
July 8, 2025 (Tuesday)
August 12, 2025 (Tuesday)
September 9, 2025 (Tuesday)
October 7, 2025 (Tuesday)
November 12, 2025 (Wednesday)
December 9, 2025 (Tuesday)
Communication No. 2025-02