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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-11-12 KCDP Minutes Final KONA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1 ACTION COMMITTEE 2 COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI 3 FINAL MINUTES 4 November 12, 2025 5 Call to Order 6 Chair Charles Young called the meeting of the Kona Community Development Plan (CDP) Action 7 Committee (AC) to order at 12:02 p.m. This meeting was held in person at the West Hawaiʻi Civic Center, 8 B2 Conference Room and online via the Zoom platform. 9 The full YouTube video of this meeting can be found here: 10 https://youtu.be/6HAK5bbt5Sc?si=DxeE_soUNeA-rpgO 11 Roll Call 12 Members Present (in person): Charles Young (Chair), Nancy Pisicchio (Vice Chair), John Pelletier, 13 Raymond (RJ) Kirchner, and Charla Thompson 14 Members Present (via Zoom): David Huerta 15 Members Absent: Roselyn Molina and Heather Korotie 16 Planning Department Staff Present (in person): Maryam Palma and Kawelo Kalili 17 Planning Department Staff Present (via Zoom): Janice Hata 18 There were approximately six members of the public in attendance (three in person and three via Zoom). 19 Approval of Minutes 20 Chair Young requested approval of the October 14, 2025 draft meeting minutes. Vice Chair Pisicchio 21 moved to approve the minutes, and Committee Member Pelletier seconded the motion. The Committee 22 voted unanimously to approve the October 14 meeting minutes. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 4:02] 23 Public Testimony on Agenda Items 24 Janice Palma Glennie provided testimony addressing several items: 25 • She requested that future minutes include more detailed summaries of public testimony to give 26 context for readers who may not watch the video. 27 • She reiterated her concern that allowing dwellings in MCX districts is premature due to inadequate 28 infrastructure and safety concerns, especially for families with children, and that such changes may 29 undermine the motivation to advance Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and Traditional 30 Neighborhood Development (TND) concepts embraced in the Kona CDP. 31 • She reported that she resubmitted her application to serve on the Kona CDP AC but had not 32 received any acknowledgment and urged the administration to respond promptly and respectfully 33 to volunteers so as not to discourage civic participation. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 5:25] 34 Business 35 1. Keauhou Aquifer System Area Groundwater Adaptive Management Plan (AMP) – Chair Young 36 will provide an update on recent efforts related to the Keauhou Aquifer System Area Groundwater 37 AMP, followed by Committee discussion and potential action. 38 This item was called to order at 12:12 p.m. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 10:41] 39 No members of the public provided testimony at this time. 40 Chair Young reported that the Keauhou Aquifer System Area Groundwater AMP was created by the 41 State Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM) in response to longstanding community 42 KONA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of November 12, 2025 2 advocacy for designation of the Keauhou aquifer as a water management area. The AMP is intended 43 to address water management concerns short of formal designation, which ultimately will be a CWRM 44 decision rather than a County one. 45 From a County and CDP perspective, Chair Young emphasized the AC’s interest in how permitted well 46 water is allocated once CWRM approves withdrawals, given competing demands and community 47 priorities for water use in Kona. 48 The AMP called for several expert panels and summaries of their work had been shared with the AC 49 previously. The panels have been meeting separately and are scheduled to meet jointly in early 50 December to refine recommendations. After the panels have met together, there will be further 51 opportunities for public input, at which time Chair Young anticipates the AC may wish to take a position 52 or submit comments. 53 The discussion focused on: 54 • The need for stronger County-level planning tools, including an up-to-date Water Use and 55 Development Plan, to guide decisions and inform CWRM’s permitting rather than handling wells 56 one-by-one. 57 • Conservation and reuse measures the County could support (e.g., integrating water-efficiency 58 standards into community plans) 59 • Ongoing efforts to upgrade the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant to R-1 standards, 60 including recent amendments to the Capital Improvement Program and a modular approach to 61 improvements, with initial upgrades designed to meet settlement requirements and support 62 planned park development. 63 No formal action was taken. 64 This item concluded at 12:31 p.m. 65 2. Report on Hawaiʻi County Council Bill 63, Relating to Dwellings – Committee Member Pelletier 66 will provide an update on testimony submitted regarding Bill 63, which proposes to allow residential 67 dwellings within the Industrial-Commercial Mixed Use (MCX) district. 68 This item was called to order at 12:31 p.m. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 29:56] 69 Committee Member Pelletier summarized his testimony and the County Council’s recent consideration 70 of Bill 63, which would allow single-family, duplex, and multi-family dwellings in MCX zones, most of 71 which are in Kona. 72 Key points from his report: 73 • The Kona CDP AC’s written testimony, grounded in CDP policies and concerns about 74 infrastructure, livability, and mixed-use planning, was read into the record by Pelletier at the 75 Council meeting and prompted extensive Council discussion. 76 • The Planning Director addressed the AC’s concerns point-by-point, generally: 77 o Minimizing concerns about noise and air pollution for residents in industrial-commercial 78 areas; 79 o Supporting the inclusion of single-family dwellings to accommodate on-site caretakers 80 for businesses; 81 o Noting that short-term vacation rentals are currently not allowed in MCX; and 82 o Characterizing affordable housing requirements and needed infrastructure (e.g., 83 sidewalks, transit-supportive design) as outside the narrow scope of the bill, applying 84 mainly in rezoning situations rather than in already-zoned MCX areas. 85 KONA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of November 12, 2025 3 The Council then voted to defer Bill 63. It was not on the agenda for the subsequent Council meeting 86 and remains deferred. The Committee discussed requesting that any future amendments to Bill 63 be 87 shared with the AC in advance, so that the Committee can review and potentially update its testimony. 88 No formal action was taken. 89 This item concluded at 12:49 p.m. 90 3. Tree City USA Program Update – Committee Member Thompson will provide an update on the 91 County’s Tree City USA designation and efforts to reinstate the Arborist Advisory Committee. 92 Discussion and potential action. 93 This item was called to order at 12:49 p.m. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 47:55] 94 Committee Member Thompson reported on progress toward re-establishing Hawaiʻi County’s Tree City 95 USA designation: 96 • Arborist Advisory Committee: A major previous obstacle was the lack of an appointed 97 Arborist Advisory Committee. After visiting the Mayor’s office, Committee Member Thompson 98 learned that most positions had been selected, with only one vacancy remaining. She has 99 received a list of appointees and is working with Boards and Commissions staff to obtain contact 100 information and meeting schedules. The committee’s formation will allow Tree City USA 101 application requirements related to an advisory body to be met. 102 • Tree care ordinance and Arbor Day: Committee Member Thompson has identified the 103 relevant sections of the County Code governing public trees and exceptional trees for the 104 application. She has also collected documentation of the County’s Arbor Day observances. 105 • Expenditure requirement: The remaining major requirement is to demonstrate annual 106 expenditures of at least $2 per capita on community tree care (maintenance, planting, removal, 107 etc.). She plans to follow up directly with Parks and Recreation, Public Works, and 108 budget/finance staff to identify and document relevant expenditures, recognizing that tree work 109 is often performed by contractors and spread across multiple departments. Planning staff 110 offered to assist by re-contacting departmental finance staff and including Committee Member 111 Thompson in the communication. 112 • Community partners/Outdoor Circle: Thompson is in discussions with Kona Outdoor Circle 113 regarding their interest in supporting exceptional tree nominations, educational efforts, and 114 beautification projects, noting that there are already several trees ready for nomination. 115 No formal action was taken. 116 This item concluded at 1:11 p.m. 117 4. Report on County Boards and Commissions Meeting – Chair Young will provide an update on the 118 Mayor’s meeting with Boards and Commissions Chairs and Vice Chairs, held on October 18, 2025. 119 Discussion to follow. 120 This item was called to order at 1:11 p.m. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:10:08] 121 Chair Young reported on the October 18, 2025 meeting convened by the Mayor for all County board 122 and commission chairs and vice chairs. He had previously provided a written summary to the AC; 123 highlights from his report and discussion included: 124 • Sunshine Law & consistency: The administration recognizes the Sunshine Law as both 125 necessary and, at times, constraining. Different boards and commissions interpret and apply the 126 law differently while others prohibit discussion entirely if quorum is not met. The Mayor’s office 127 expressed interest in promoting more consistent practices and providing better training. 128 KONA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of November 12, 2025 4 • Support from Boards & Commissions staff: Micah Alameda (Boards and Commissions) invited 129 chairs and vice chairs to contact him directly with operational issues or questions, indicating a 130 willingness to “fast track” solutions where possible. 131 • Common challenges: Many boards and commissions are struggling with vacancies, meeting 132 quorum, and engaging the public. Participants at the meeting reaffirmed their commitment to 133 service despite these challenges. 134 The AC discussion touched on the potential value of facilitation training for chairs and vice chairs to 135 help manage meetings, particularly around public testimony and time limits. Members also discussed 136 the importance of securing funding and staff capacity to support outreach and a comprehensive 137 review/update of the Kona CDP. Members noted that the AC has previously voted to undertake a 138 comprehensive review of the plan and should continue to advocate for resources in upcoming budgets. 139 140 There is a need for more effective public outreach and community venues, including possibly rotating 141 meetings into different communities and reconsidering meeting times to increase public participation, 142 while balancing staff travel from Hilo. 143 144 Public testimony from Janice Palma Glennie emphasized that the AC should feel and function 145 differently from some other boards, with a more welcoming, less formal environment to encourage 146 participation from residents who may not be familiar with planning or government processes. She 147 suggested that the physical space and a midday weekday meeting time may discourage attendance 148 and urged the AC to consider alternative formats, locations, and times. 149 Staff noted that other CDP Action Committees meet in the evenings and that it is logistically feasible 150 to explore similar options for Kona, though staff travel and scheduling must be considered. The AC 151 agreed to place meeting time/location and broader community outreach strategies on a future agenda. 152 No formal action was taken. 153 This item concluded at 1:24 p.m. 154 5. Election of Kona CDP Action Committee Chair and Vice Chair – The Committee will elect a Chair 155 and Vice Chair to serve for the 2026 calendar year. 156 This item was called to order at 1:24 p.m. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:22:55] 157 Vice Chair Pisicchio nominated Chair Young to continue as Chair. Chair Young declined, explaining 158 that, after many years of service, he believes it is important to support succession planning and develop 159 new leadership within the AC. 160 Chair Young nominated Vice Chair Pisicchio to serve as Chair. She declined, noting that, given her 161 long involvement in the CDP process, she prefers to remain actively engaged but not take on the chair 162 role again. Vice Chair Pisicchio then nominated Committee Member John Pelletier to serve as Chair 163 for 2026. Pelletier accepted the nomination, stating that he has appreciated serving on the AC for the 164 past two years and would welcome the opportunity to chair, particularly with the continued support of 165 an experienced vice chair. 166 Vice Chair Pisicchio made a motion to elect John Pelletier as Chair of the Kona CDP Action Committee 167 for the 2026 calendar year, effective January 2026. The motion was seconded by Committee Member 168 Kirchner and passed unanimously. 169 Chair Young stated that he plans to remain on the AC as a regular member to assist with continuity 170 and quorum, particularly for South Kona representation. 171 Later in the discussion, Committee Member David Huerta informed the AC of his intent to resign from 172 the committee by the end of December 2025. 173 KONA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of November 12, 2025 5 This item concluded at 1:36 p.m. 174 Public Testimony on Matters Not on the Agenda 175 No public testimony on matters not on the agenda was provided. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:35:33] 176 Third-Party Reports; Government Officials 177 No third-party reports or presentations from government officials were provided during this time. [SEE 178 YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:35:45] 179 Proposed New Business 180 The Committee identified several items for future agendas, including: 181 1. Continued updates on the Keauhou Aquifer System Area Groundwater AMP following the 182 December expert panel meeting and any subsequent CWRM actions 183 2. Continued monitoring and possible further testimony regarding Hawaiʻi County Council Bill 63 184 3. Ongoing updates on the Tree City USA application 185 4. Follow-up with the Planning Director regarding the AC’s prior letter requesting specific studies and 186 support for a comprehensive update of the Kona CDP, including potential funding and schedule. 187 5. Discussion of meeting times, locations, and community outreach strategies to improve public 188 participation (including possible evening meetings and community-based sessions). 189 6. A presentation from Planning staff on the Special Management Area (SMA) permitting process, 190 particularly in anticipation of future SMA applications for coastal projects in the Kona area, so that 191 the AC and public can better understand appropriate points for input and how CDP policies may 192 apply. 193 Announcements 194 1. Kona Open Space Network (KOSN) Update – Vice Chair Pisicchio reported that the KOSN project is 195 continuing to develop a draft “hubs and links” open space network plan for Kona. A public meeting is 196 scheduled for Thursday, December 4, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Makaʻeo Pavilion (Old Kona 197 Airport) to present updated maps and gather community feedback. Additional materials (e.g., brochure 198 or handout) are expected to be available prior to the meeting. 199 2. Board and Commission Vacancies – The County is currently seeking applicants for the Kona CDP 200 Action Committee and the Cultural Resources Commission and requests assistance in spreading the 201 word to interested community members. The application can be found on the Mayor’s office website 202 at: https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/our-county/boards-and-commissions/boards-and-commissions-203 application 204 [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:52:33] 205 Adjournment 206 Chair Young adjourned this meeting at 1:55 p.m. 207 These minutes and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s Kona Community 208 Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of Hawaiʻi Public Documents Repository. These 209 documents may also be requested from the Planning Department by calling (808) 961-8288 or emailing 210 CDP@hawaiicounty.gov. 211