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HomeMy WebLinkAbout18Feb2010 AC MinutesDraft BJ Leithead Todd William P. Kenoi Mayor County of Hawai‘i PLANNING DEPARTMENT Aupuni Center • 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 • Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 Phone (808) 961-8288 • Fax (808) 961-8742 Director Margaret Masunaga Deputy Director PUNA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE Thursday, February 18, 2010 Meeting Minutes (Draft) CALL TO ORDER 1. Barbara Bell called the 4th meeting of the PCDP Action Committee to order at 3:02 p.m. at the Kea‘au Community Center with the following persons present: Action Committee: Barbara Bell, Frank Commendador, Madie Greene, Larry Higgins, Keikialoha Kekipi, Jeffrey Krepps, Wesley Owens, Daniel Taylor, Tim Tunison Staff: Larry Brown (Planning Department, Project Manager), Rachelle Ley (Community Planning Assistant), Amy Self (Deputy Corporation Counsel), Public servants: RJ Hampton (County Councilwoman Emily Naeole-Beason’s office, 5th District) Members of the public: 21 members of the public ANNOUNCEMENTS 1. Barbara reminded everyone to use the microphones and invited the public to use the sub- committee sign-up sheets in the back of the room. 2. Larry Brown distributed the Hawaii County Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resource Preservation Commission 2009 Annual Report and announced there will be two representatives at the March meeting to talk about the report and answer questions. PUBLIC TESTIMONY 1. Rene Siracusa, Clarified the Puna Outdoor Circle is known as Mālama O Puna and reported she will assist the Budget & Finance Committee by looking into capacity-building grants for staff funding. 2. Rob Tucker, Friends of Puna’s Future, pointed out that Bill 194 is a substantial new document that would replace the PCDP and advised the AC to look at it in parts, not to feel it necessary to pass it as complete document. His group of 30 has been studying the amendments for five months and supports many of those offered in Bill 194. FoPF is proposing a CDP amendment to create Village/Town Center Steering Committees that will provide a means for the Planning Department to engage local community associations in Hawaiçi County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer identifying the needs of subdivisions and local communities with respect to village centers. Feels the Planning Department should interact with every community association where a village/town center is proposed to get consensus on what they want. Will get more community participation when it is about people’s own neighborhoods. 3. Ms. Robert, Hawaiian Shores Community Association, announced her community will be presenting a CDP amendment relating to their properties at the March meeting, including the removal of a 12-acre parcel from the village center designation. APPROVAL OF JANUARY 21, 2010 MINUTES Dan moved to approve minutes. Frank seconded. January minutes approved as written by unanimous vote. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS 1. Guest Speaker Bill Walter, President of W.H. Shipman, Ltd. gave an update and fielded questions on the status of the Kea‘au Town Conceptual Master Plan, spoke on the proposed amendments in Bill 194, and outlined plans that W.H. Shipman, Ltd. has for its lands within the Puna CDP planning area. (1 hr, 20 min) 2. Sub-Committee Reports A. Amendment Sub-Committee: (i) Met three times (ii) Amendments proposed in Council Bill 194 were discussed and is not recommended that it should be passed in its entirety. (iii) Defined sub-committee’s role to informally gather as much opinion from community as possible, bring to AC for discussion, and then formulate set of recommendations to forward to Planning Director. (iv) Frank made motion to adopt a community stakeholder’s input process for the proposed PCDP amendments, to meet and discuss proposed amendments with all major community associations and stakeholders. Keiki seconded. Wes suggested drafting a letter to ask those entities for input or attendance at a meeting. (v) Larry B. said the Planning Director sent a communication to the County Council asking for an extension of 60-day deadline to act on CDP amendment proposals; the letter won’t be on Council’s agenda before March 5. (vi) After further discussion, Frank withdrew motion and Keiki withdrew second so Jeffrey could revise motion. Jeffery moved to adopt a community stakeholder’s input process for the proposed PCDP amendments to include various outreach to community associations as indicated. Wes seconded. Barbara commented she feels there is already a process. Frank feels it is a door-opener to get direct communication with associations. Vote taken: six in favor, two opposed, one abstained, motion passed. Barbara charged Frank with creating a process. 2 B. Budget & Finance Sub-Committee: (i) Did not meet (ii) Larry Brown said a letter went out and the other CDP committees are considering the request to meet and discuss funding issues. (iii) As the County Council is unlikely to approve funds requested for CDP support staff, Frank moved to write a letter to the Planning Director and the County Council requesting consideration for the allocation of $38k from the Puna Geothermal Public Benefits Fund for the continuation of current support staff. RJ Hampton spoke about the fund’s intended uses, including parks and recreation; Amy said she didn’t think it could be used for salaries. Barbara seconded the motion. All in favor with one abstention. C. Mālama I Ka ‘Āina Sub-Committee: (i) Came to consensus on wording and prioritization of 10 action items. (ii) Flushed out number one priority--the protection of Puna Makai aquifer. (iii) Intend to bring framework for implementing a requirement to contain black water waste to next AC meeting. (iv) Barbara spoke about situation in Kapoho, how people are resistant to change. D. Managing Growth Sub-Committee: (i) Held first community meeting, came up with operational framework for work groups within sub-committee. (ii) Work groups are Land Use Pattern Work Group (led by Larry Higgins), Agriculture & Economic Development (Jeffrey), Social Services and Housing (Larry H), Public Safety and Sanitation (no lead yet), Parks and Rec (Jeffrey), Energy Sustainability (Jeffrey). E. Parks and Recreation work group held meeting (i) Identified priority action items. (ii) Requested letter to Parks and Rec. Dept. to find out what is planned for 2010. (iii) Larry Brown will request information (best to go through project manager). (iv) Requested the Amendment Subcommittee preserve the CDP language pertaining to the old Pahoa Fire Station. Amendment on table to create a one-stop center, group requested it stay as is. (v) Other work groups will initiate meetings prior to next AC meeting; all who have indicated interest will be notified. F. Transportation Sub-Committee: (i) First meeting will be Feb 24 (ii) Putting together e-mail list (iii) Kea‘au-Pahoa Highway Task Force Group contacted and is willing to field questions 3 4 3. Action Committee Workshops: A. Grant writing workshop Friday, Feb. 26, 9-12 p.m. B. Discussed possible topic: history of subdivisions in Puna; how county codes dictate process today; how other municipalities have dealt with substandard infrastructure issues. 4. Amendments to Puna CDP A. Bill 194, Hawaiian Shores, and Friends of Puna’s Future will be listed on the next AC agenda B. Discussed use of action words in current plan vs. new language in Bill 194 PUBLIC TESTIMONY 1. Shelly Stephens, Malama na Koa. Commented on Amendment Bill 194 and Ordinance 132. Recommends the AC get cultural consultation training on how to deal with native groups because of incident in Ka’u, Bill 2895 regarding native tenant rights. Geothermal-concerned about chemicals going into aquifer and that there is no emergency response plan. 2. Jon Olson, former Steering Committee chair, said that implementation of the CDP is dependent on community involvement. Good to reach out to the community again, correct misinformation. Small working groups produced most activism during steering committee phase. AGENDA PROPOSALS FOR NEXT MEETING 1. Hawaii County Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resource Preservation Commission presentation, Q & A(30 min) 2. Amendments – address specifically: A. Amendments submitted by the Hawaiian Acres Community Forum & the Hawaiian Shores Community Association B. Discuss deleting Kea‘au as a regional center from PCDP (Larry suggested address under Bill 194) 3. Set deadline for accepting amendments (to be addressed during Amendment Sub-committee report) 4. Discuss and approve sub-committee reports 5. Pahoa Arts and Library Association presentation (15 min) ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 6:41 p.m.