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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-02-08 PCDP AC Minutes County of Hawai‘i PLANNING DEPARTMENT PUNA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE Aupuni Center • 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 • Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 Phone (808) 961-8288 • Fax (808) 961-8742 Hawai’i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer BJ Leithead Todd Director Margaret Masunaga Deputy Director William P. Kenoi Mayor Tuesday, February 8, 2011 Meeting Minutes CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Daniel Taylor called the Puna Community Development Plan (PCDP) Action Committee (AC) meeting to order at 3:02 p.m. in the Kea‘au Community Center, with the following persons present: Action Committee: Barbara Bell, Greg Braun, Frank Commendador, Madie Greene, Keikialoha Kekipi, Jeffrey Krepps, Wesley Owens, Daniel Taylor. Excused: Tim Tunison. Staff: Larry Brown (Planning Department, Project Manager), Elizabeth “Liz” Hultman-Salfen (Planning Department, Community Planning Assistant), Cynthia Lahilahi Verschuur (Planning Department, Recorder), Amy Self (Deputy Corporation Counsel). Members of the public: 6 ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA None ANNOUNCEMENTS 1. Larry announced the Pahoa driver’s licensing and vehicle registration satellite office is open. PUBLIC TESTIMONY 1. Jon Olsen pointed out the county is generating $9 million a year from vacant land taxes in Puna, and no services are being provided. Services and infrastructure improvements have not been received relative to the amount of revenue brought in. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Barbara moved to accept the minutes of the January 20, 2011 meeting. Greg seconded and the motion passed unanimously. NEW BUSINESS 1. Newly elected District 5 Councilmember Fred Blas addressed the AC regarding the Puna District. A. His interests include roads and parks. 2 B. He gave an update on the Pahoa Senior Center: three licensed contractors have volunteered to work for free and the project is awaiting plans and permits. C. Cinder has been donated for park improvements at Kēōkea. D. Park and Ride at Maku’u Market i. Need to advertise ii. Working on getting volunteers to do security iii. New express bus at 8 a.m. iv. Looking for land to lease for another park-and-ride stop near Pōhaku Dr. E. Pahoa HS gym was $3 million short; Rep. Hanohano secured state CIP funds. F. Hole near Kalapana-Kapoho Rd. by Pole 42 has been used as dump, needs to be secured. G. Kalapana and Kaimū recreation sites have received cinder donations. H. AC members presented priorities i. Dan addressed Mālama I Ka ‘Āina action priorities: the Biosphere Reserve Buffer Zone and Kapoho wastewater treatment. ii. Jeffrey addressed community development priorities: public safety, sanitation, small-scale commercial village centers. iii. Wes addressed transportation priorities: Puna Makai Alternate Route (PMAR), Hwy 130 improvements, mass transit system. iv. Dan requested the opportunity to give a Puna CDP update to the County Council. 2. District 6 Councilmember Brittany Smart addressed the AC regarding community projects in Ka‘u. A. She is working to get a federal and state scenic by-way designation on Māmalahoa Highway, possibly from Manukā State Park to Volcanos National Park. B. She is also working to designate a biosphere zone on the Ka‘u side of Volcano. C. A land purchase opportunity is being discussed in Ka‘u using the 2% fund. D. The community is working on creating turn lanes at N. and S. Kūlani junctions on Hwy 11. E. She is supporting efforts to build a Pāhala community gym and emergency shelter; trying to get the governor to release funds. F. Meetings are being held on impact fees; she asked the public to contact her with issues. 3. Ka‘u Scenic Byways Corridor Draft Letter of Support A. Discussion ensued regarding the letter. B. Barbara moved to approve the letter with changes to make it from the AC; Madie seconded. Hannah Hedrick testified against indicating a linkage to Puna’s interest in pursuing extension of the scenic by-way in Puna. 7 voted in favor of approving the letter with the last paragraph removed; Keiki abstained. 3 4. Sub-Committee Reports A. Amendment Sub-Committee i. No report. ii. Larry reported that the Windward Planning Commission voted to pass three of the four ordinance recommendations to the Council. The Planning Director withdrew her support for removing Hawaiian Shores/Hawaiian Beaches village center designation from the CDP due to public testimony against the measure. B. Budget and Finance Sub-Committee i. Frank led discussion about support staff funding and moved to send a letter to the mayor, with copies to County Council members, requesting staff funding for the Recorder and Community Planning Assistant in the amount of $17,500 for the next 12-month period. Madie seconded. After more discussion about grant funding, Frank called for the question. All voted in favor. C. Mālama I Ka ‘Āina Sub-Committee i. Madie moved and Frank seconded after-the-fact authorization for Dan, Tim, and Barbara to attend a Kapoho wastewater meeting held on January 4 to gather information and report back to the committee. 7 voted in favor, Jeffrey abstained. ii. Kapoho Wastewater Upgrades Sub-sub-committee a. Barbara reported on the meeting held Jan. 4. b. RCAC will lead a strategic planning process. c. Discussed a study to determine whether sewage is entering the Wai ‘Opae tide pools. d. Presented a draft work plan. e. Discussed creating ad-hoc committee. f. Larry pointed out the project doesn’t correspond with an action item in the PCDP. iii. Dan reported on the Biosphere Reserve Buffer Zone D. Managing Growth Sub-Committee i. Parks and Recreation reported on the status of Pāhoa Regional Park and Cape Kumukahi. ii. Managing Growth is going to split up into sub-sub committees. iii. Frank/Jeff will be holding a meeting for village town centers. E. Transportation Sub-Committee i. No report ii. Larry gave a Puna Makai Alternate Route (PMAR) update and reported on a bond allocation request the Council will be taking up in March. The mayor sent a letter to the governor requesting the state release money so a consultant can be hired to do the environmental study. They are waiting for a revised scope of work from the consultant doing the functional classification report. iii. Dan mentioned a need to get Shipman Estate involved. 4 5. PCDP Fact Sheet A. Hannah Hedrick presented a draft fact sheet for AC consideration. B. Barbara moved to approve the draft knowing it is a work in progress, and that Hannah, Dan, and Larry will revise it further and bring back next month. Greg seconded. Hannah said she will indicate the priorities. All voted in favor. 6. Action Committee Workshops A. No suggestions UNFINISHED BUSINESS 1. Work plan protocols AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING 1. Draft annual report 2. Puna Geothermal 3. Department of Hawaiian Home Lands master plan for Puna (Maku‘u) 4. Status of county buses on private roads ADJOURNMENT Frank moved to adjourn the meeting, Madie seconded. All voted in favor and the meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m.