HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-05-13 Minutes Draft
KONA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1
ACTION COMMITTEE 2
COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI 3
DRAFT MINUTES 4
May 13, 2025 5
CALL TO ORDER 6
Chair Charles Young called the Kona Community Development Plan (CDP) Action Committee 7 (AC) to order at 12:02 p.m. This meeting was held in person at the West Hawai’i Civic Center, B2 8 Conference Room and online via the Zoom platform. 9
The full YouTube video of this meeting can be found here: 10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpLUTAqOkTg&t=200s 11
ROLL CALL 12
Members Present (in person): Nancy Pisicchio (Vice-Chair), John Pelletier, and Charla Thompson 13
Members Present (via Zoom): David Huerta and Heather Korotie 14
Members Absent: Roselyn Molina and Charles Young (Chair) 15
County Staff Present (in person): Kawelo Kalili and Jessica Lahip 16
County Staff Present (via Zoom): Maryam Palma and Janice Hata 17
One (1) member of the public attended the meeting in person; no participants joined via Zoom. 18
APPROVAL OF MINUTES 19
Committee member Pelletier moved to approve the minutes of the April 8, 2025, meeting as 20
drafted. Committee member Thompson seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 21 [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 2:19] 22
PUBLIC TESTIMONY 23
There was no public testimony at this time. 24
BUSINESS: 25
1. Mayor’s Community Meeting Update – Update from Action Committee member John 26 Pelletier, followed by a discussion on potential Committee actions. [SEE YOUTUBE 27 TIMESTAMP: 3:40] 28
This item was called to order at 12:05 p.m. 29
Committee member Pelletier reported that the recent community Q&A session with the Mayor 30
in Kona was productive, with strong public turnout and representation from all County 31 departments. Staff were available to answer questions on a range of infrastructure topics, 32 including park repairs. During the second half of the meeting, which featured one-on-one 33 discussions, committee member Pelletier engaged with staff about the Keauhou Regional Park, 34
KONA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE
Minutes of May 13, 2025 2
the R1 water issue, and funding for wastewater treatment. Transportation concerns – such as 35 bus stop locations – were also addressed. Committee member Pelletier emphasized the value 36
of Action Committee members attending these events in person to build relationships and help 37
advance key community projects. 38
Vice-Chair Pisicchio added that these discussions align with the priorities outlined in the 39 Action Committee’s recent letter to the Finance Committee, highlighting the group’s focus on 40 environmental protection and infrastructure improvements. 41
This item concluded at 12:15 p.m. 42
2. Tree City, USA Update – Update from Action Committee member Charla Thompson, 43 followed by a discussion on potential Committee actions. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 44 12:36] 45
This item was called to order at 12:15 p.m. 46
Committee member Thompson shared her ongoing efforts to revive Kona’s Tree City USA 47
designation – a program that recognizes communities committed to urban forestry. Introduced 48 to the initiative by Vice-Chair Pisicchio, Thompson connected with forestry subject matter 49 experts and members of the Outdoor Circle, including Director Winston Welch, who expressed 50 strong support for revitalizing the Kona branch. The Tree City USA program offers benefits 51
such as community beautification, increased civic engagement, and access to grant 52
opportunities. To qualify, the County must meet four criteria: designate an arborist, adopt a tree 53 care ordinance, allocate a minimum of $2 per capita for forestry, and hold an annual Arbor Day 54 observance. Although the County previously held the designation, it lapsed due to staffing 55 changes. 56
Vice-Chair Pisicchio moved to approve the draft Tree City letter for signature by the Chair and 57
submission to the Mayor by staff. Committee member Pelletier seconded the motion. The 58 motion passed unanimously. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 28:50] 59
This item concluded at 12:31 p.m. 60
3. Update on SB1602, SD1 – Vice-Chair Pisicchio will provide an update on the bill’s status in 61
the current legislative session. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 29:33] 62
This item was called to order at 12:31 p.m. 63
Vice-Chair Pisicchio provided an update on Senate Bill 1602, SD1, which allocates funding to 64 monitor the Keauhou Aquifer through two wells – one for surface water and one for deep water. 65 The bill, along with a $4 million budget appropriation, had passed the Legislature and was 66
awaiting the Governor’s signature. Committee members expressed strong support for the 67
initiative and appreciation for the unified backing from state legislators. They emphasized the 68 importance of this investment in advancing Kona’s water resource management and long-term 69 planning efforts. 70
This item concluded at 12:34 p.m. 71
4. Update on SB869, SD1 – Vice-Chair Pisicchio will provide an update on the bill’s status in 72
the current legislative session. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 31:34] 73
KONA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE
Minutes of May 13, 2025 3
This item was called to order at 12:34 p.m. 74
Vice-Chair Pisicchio provided an update on Senate Bill 869, SD1, which proposes amendments 75 to Chapter 92 of the Sunshine Law to allow CDP Action Committees to operate under 76
neighborhood board rules. The bill had passed the Legislature and was awaiting the Governor’s 77 signature. Committee members expressed optimism about the proposed changes, noting that 78 they would offer greater flexibility and enhance the effectiveness of the Action Committees. 79
This item concluded at 12:35 p.m. 80
PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: 81
[SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 32:21] 82
1. Keauhou Aquifer Adaptive Management Plan Presentation 83
ADJOURNMENT 84
The meeting was adjourned at 12:40 p.m. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 36:29] 85
These minutes and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s Kona 86 Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of Hawaiʻi Public 87
Documents Repository. These documents may also be requested from the Planning Department by 88 calling (808) 961-8288 or emailing cdp@hawaiicounty.gov. 89