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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-08-09 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 Action Committee: Tuesday, August 9, 2011 Meeting Minutes CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Dan Taylor called the Puna Community Development Plan (PCDP) Action Committee (AC) meeting to order at 3:03 p.m. in the Kea’au Community Center, with the following persons present: Greg Braun, Frank Commendador, Madie Greene, Keikialoha Kekipi, Jeffrey Krepps, Wesley Owens (arrived late), Dan Taylor. Excused: Barbara Bell, Tim Tunison. Staff: Larry Brown (Planning Department, Project Manager), Elizabeth “Liz” Hultman-Salfen (Planning Department, Community Planning Assistant), Audra Ghiotto (Planning Department, Substitute Recorder). Public Servants: Senator Kahele (Senatorial District 2) and Gwen Kupahu (County Councilman Fred Blas’ office, 5th District) Members of the public: 5 ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA None ANNOUNCEMENTS None PUBLIC TESTIMONY None APPROVAL OF MINUTES Dan moved to approve the minutes of the July 12, 2011 AC meeting; discussion followed. Dan moved to correct the “Biosphere Reserve Buffer Zone” (BRBZ) to the “International Biosphere Reserve” Frank seconded; all voted in favor. Madie moved to add Dan’s name to those volunteering to be on the selection committee. Greg seconded; all voted in favor. Greg moved to accept the minutes as corrected; Madie seconded; 6 in favor and 1 abstained. 2 UNFINISHED BUSINESS Communication No. 2011-13 Hawai‘i Sustainable Community Alliance (HSCA) Dr. James Weatherford presented to the AC a draft letter of support for a resolution the HSCA intends to submit to one of the council members for adoption by the County Council. The intent is to eventually amend the building code to allow for the use of alternate building materials and design standards for owner builder dwellings. Jeff moved to submit draft letter of support composed by Dan Taylor. Madie has second. Discussion followed. Dan made a friendly amendment to send the letter to the Chair of the County Council and cc the Directors of Public Works and Planning. All in favor; Motion passed. NEW BUSINESS 1. Sub-committee reports A. Transportation Subcommittee Report i. Senator Gilbert Kahele announced that he will be having a public meeting on September 22, 2011 at the Keaau Elementary School from 5:00 to 8:00 pm regarding transportation issues including Hwy 130. ii. Update on PMAR status (Larry) a. Funding from the State has not been released to contract an EIS and preliminary engineering report. Funding would allow project to move forward and identify design features such as termination on both ends, what the alignment would be, what the road would look like. Noise, agriculture theft, flora, fauna, community impacts, and archaeological sites will have to be addressed. b. The $188,000 federal money will have to be encumbered soon or it will be lost. The county $500,000 CIP money can be renewed. c. The EIS consider all potential alignments as well as the “do nothing” option. d. Larry has been attending the HPP-PMAR committee meetings. e. Frank voiced his concerns that upper Puna should have an alternative route at least for emergency purposes. f. James Weatherford stated that he is on the HPP-PMAR committee and that there is a growing concern in the community. Some of the concerns include noise, economic well-being, bisecting the community, increase crime, increase traffic to private roads, increased maintenance cost to the private roads, and project not sufficiently defined. A survey of HPP property owners is underway and 20% of the community is in favor and 40% are against the PMAR, some are willing to wait to see what happens and others are willing to support with a bit more details. iii. Mass Transit Actions a. Liz and Larry stated that they have not heard if the new bus fare has affected the number of riders on the Hele-on but many people still qualify to ride the bus for free. 3 iv. Amendment Sub-committee a. Dan attended the Planning Commission Meeting and the second set of amendments will be sent to the County Council with a favorable recommendation. B. Budget & Finance Sub-committee i. No report; however, Jeff wonders if a “How to get funded 101” workshop is available. How do you start seeking CIP or general fund to fund a project? ii. Frank suggested that maybe the AC could pick a priority project that needs funding and the AC could facilitate the process. C. Public Outreach Sub-committee i. No report ii. Dan is frustrated on the lack of community involvement and Frank feels the AC is more advisory and needs to formulate a position and forward to the appropriate branch of government. iii. Greg stated that there are many things on the list that are moving forward. The plan is moving forward and the projects are not resting on the committee. D. Mālama I Ka ‘Āina Sub-committee i. Biosphere reserve buffer zone—No report ii. Ground water projects—No report iii. Wastewater treatment—Frank asked if there is enough data to take to the Department of Health and ask for assistance interpreting the data and assisting in the solution. E. Managing Growth Sub-committee i. Park development—Madie reported: a. Pāhoa park- going to start drilling holes for drainage, repainting, dugouts, new bases, fences due to the pigs, and new area for football. b. Pohoiki – trying to reverse the entrance of the bathroom for safety issues; flood lights and looking to pave path for handicap access c. Hawaiian Beaches Park – leveling for football field and skate park. ii. Village Centers – a. Frank was invited by Friends of Puna’s Future to attend the Orchidland Community Association meeting to establish a Village Center Steering Committee. AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING 1. Re-evaluate priority projects 2. Evaluation of sub-committees ADJOURNMENT Madie moved to adjourn the meeting, Wesley seconded. All voted in favor and the meeting was adjourned at 5:43 p.m. Next meeting, Tuesday, September 13, 2011.