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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-02-21 Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission Minutes (Kona Mtg)HAWAII COUNTY PUBLIC ACCESS, OPEN SPACE AND NATURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES — REGULAR SESSION February 21, 2006, 10:00 a.m. Hawaii County Council, Kona Division, Conference Room 75 -5706 Hanama Place, Kona Trade Center, Suite 109, Kailua -Kona, Hawaii Present: Kenneth Kaneshiro Laura Schuster Paul Campbell (arrived at 10.20 a.m.) Jocelyn Garovoy E. Kalani Flores (left at 10.20 a.m.) Hannah Springer Absent: Ruth Walker Benedict Yung John Replogle Others Present: Amy G. Self, Deputy Corporation Counsel Cathy Minor, Secretary Ruby Mc Donald, OHA Representative for Kona CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Vice Chair Hannah Springer at 10:04 a.m. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS 1. Michael Crosson Mr. Crosson is a member of the Mauka Makai Access Committee (MAMA) and resides in Honokaa. He spoke in support of the 25 miles of coastline from Laupahoehoe to Waipio Valley. Quite a number of the public reside in this area who once had access to the ocean. After the closing of the sugar plantation, private owners purchased these properties and public access to the ocean became minimal. He would like to have a safe area where the public can get to the water safely and easily. A place where the public can fish, swim, dive and gather. Hawai `i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Mr. Crosson also indicated that the County is in the process of auctioning these surplus sugar lands and perhaps the County could exchange these current surplus sugar lands with current landowners along the coastline. 2. Pete Sparks Mr. Sparks is also a member of the Mauka Makai Access Committee (MAMA). Mr. Sparks is speaking on behalf of the Hamakua Ditch. Mr. Sparks indicated that the Hamakua Ditch runs along the old Homestead Road, which is now called Kapena Road. In the old days, this road used to connect to the Old School Road which then connected on to the Old Mamalahoa Highway. Mr. Sparks resides on the lower end of Kapena Road. Mr. Sparks indicated that another family also resides on this Kapena Road. A section of the crossing of the Hamakua Ditch runs under the Kapena Road. This Kapena Road is overgrown and approximately one mile long and is maintained by both Mr. Sparks' family and the other family. Mr. Sparks indicated that this certain remnant could be used as a future "trail site." This certain piece of property should be preserved for future use. Vice Chairperson Hannah Springer asked Mr. Sparks if he contacted the "Na Nahele" Program within the Division of Forestry and Wildlife regarding this particular trail. Mr. Sparks replied in the negative. Ms. Springer suggested that he contact this office located in Hilo and maybe they can provide information or status of this site or action he could take. 3. Ambika Kosada Ms. Kosada gave oral testimony in support of her vision for the Takashiba family parcel. It is listed as Communication No. 06 -064 on today's agenda. Ms. Kosada spoke on behalf of herself and her neighbors in Napoopoo. She and her neighbors are proposing a floodway park on the parcel located next to the farm she is currently residing on, the Takashiba family parcel. This property has water runoff that traverses through the property which eventually enters the Kealakekua Bay. She has spoken to the Soil and Water Conservation District about the best way to handle these waters coming down in to this property. Ms. Kosada envisions this property being converted to a water recreational park. This would alleviate the problem of the water entering into this property and damaging the reef as it exits into the Kealakekua Bay. This property is currently owned by four members of the Takashiba family and she indicated that the family may be interested in selling. This property is located next to Cooks Landing and Kinue Terrace. 2 4. Lynn VanLeevwen Ms. VanLeevwen gave oral testimony in support of Communication No. 06 -039 on the agenda. She is a new resident to the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates and she has been there for two years. She spoke in support of Pohue Bay. She and the residents in HOVE would like access to this beach. Pohue Bay is a large bay, but the beach is small. She has been told that the reason there is no public access to this property is because it is "tied up" in court. She is here to find out what the status is and to help the residents at HOVE gain public access to this Pohue Bay. The nearest beach for the residents at HOVE to commute to is 40 miles away. Commissioner Hannah Springer informed Ms. VanLeevwen that some of the answers to her questions could not be answered by the commissioners at this time. She informed Ms. VanLeevwen to continue her efforts in support of Pohue Bay. Cathy provided Ms. VanLeevwen with this Commission's address and website address. Recess taken at 10:35 a.m. Reconvened at 10:40 a.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Ms. Garovoy noted an error on the last sentence in Mr. Imoto's presentation on page 5 of the minutes dated February 6, 2006, the sentence "The Trust was responsible for obtaining the Carlsmith parcel and Honuapo." was incorrect. It should have read "The Trust for Public Lands assisted in obtaining the Honuapo Project. The Hawaii Island Land Trust is working with the State of Hawaii to obtain the Carlsmith parcel." Mr. Campbell moved for approval of the Minutes of February 6, 2006, as amended, seconded by Mr. Kaneshiro and carried unanimously by voice vote. Commissioners voting ayes. Kaneshiro, Schuster, Campbell, Garovoy and Springer. CORRECTION ON WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS Secretary Cathy Minor noted the following corrections: Communication No. 06 -015, was repeated twice. Communication received from Joseph Carvalho re Haena Point, was marked as Comm. No. 06 -016, but was listed as Comm. No. 06 -015. Communication No. 06 -054, was noted as received from Mauka Makai Access Committee (MAMA) however it was received from Claire Banasan Kelii. The error was identified and a confirmation letter was mailed correctly to Claire Banasan Kelii. Communication No. 06 -075, Letter dated 2110106 was received from Alicia, NOT Alice. The last name was misspelled it should have read, Starsong. Amy Self gave an explanation on Communication No. 06 -033. The whole point on this e-mail between Rod Thompson and Lincoln Ashida of the Corporation Counsel was Mr. Thompson encountered two problems. First, he had trouble locating this Commission's website on the County of Hawai`i's website. Mr. Ashida provided him with directions to locate this Commission's website. Secondly, when he arrived at the Keaau community meeting, the meeting had already ended. However, the website indicated the meeting time as 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. For the future, this Commission should NOT indicate an end time of its meetings, just the start time. GUEST SPEAKERS: Dale Fergerstrom and Kamakani Dancil both from Kamehameha Schools, Land Asset Division. The agenda noted Peter Simmons, however he could not attend this mornings meeting. Mr. Fergerstrom has been employed with the Kamehameha Schools for five years and has been lifelong resident on the island. Mr. Fergerstrom explained the history of the Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop and Kamehameha Schools and the history of their legacy lands. Mr. Fergerstrom indicated that the Kamehameha Schools is the largest landowner in the State of Hawaii. It has three divisions, Land Asset Division, Commercial Division and Investment Division. These legacy lands are managed through the Will of Bernice Pauahi Bishop. Most of the legacy lands are located in Kona all in Ahapua`a. Most of the coffee farms in Kona are located on Kamehameha Schools lands. Eighty percent (80 %) of the water sheds are also on Kamehameha School lands. The remnants of the Hamakua Sugar lands were purchased by Kamehameha Schools in 1994. Kamehameha Schools acquired these lands to preserve the agricultural lands on the island. Kamehameha Schools have ranchers and farmers that lease these lands. Mayor Kim and Council Chair Higa contacted in Kamehameha Schools to work together to find ways to give public access on these leased lands from Kamehameha Schools. On the Lessor's contract it states "quiet enjoyment" and Kamehameha Schools cannot force them to open their gates to the public. Private landowners like Parker Ranch don't have to give public access. But, there are ways to get around this and Kamehameha Schools are presently working together with Mayor Kim and Mr. Higa. General open public access on to Kamehameha School lands are very expensive. The liability and cost are the driving factors. Mr. Fergerstrom shared an example regarding this cost. Kamehameha Schools acquired 11 acres of land on the floor of the Waipio Valley. In return to keep Waipio Valley open to the public, Kamehameha Schools was threatened by the Department of Health that if toilets were not installed Kamehameha Schools would be fined $2,000 per day for not addressing the issue on human waste. In order to address that, Kamehameha Schools installed porta potties, but then got into trouble with the DLNR for violation of the conservation zone for having the porta potties, but they are currently working on an agreement. Presently, Kamehameha Schools spends $13,000 a year to hire a part -time caretaker, which only checks for non - camping on the beach and trash and for four porta potties. Of this $13,000 cost, $8,000 is only for the cost of the porta potties. Kamehameha Schools is presently actively working together with the County of Hawaii, Department of Parks and Recreation to share in the cost of these expenses. On any weekend 90 -100 cars travel in and out of the Waipio Valley. For this reason, the Kamehameha Schools are willing to do partnerships. The Kamehameha Schools desire is to work with a group, rather than an individual. The Kamehameha Schools is a non - profit organization and therefore cannot charge a fee for access. The Kamehameha Schools is self sufficient and does not rely on public funds. Should a developer want to develop a particular parcel of land, the land manager must tell the trustees 1) what is the legacy of the Will of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop; 2) the cultural history for that particular parcel; and 3) the economic benefits. It has to connect back to the genealogy and the cultural connection has to be real. Mr. Kamakani Dancil was educated at and graduated from the Kamehameha Schools and has been employed for Kamehameha Schools for one year. Mr. Dancil spoke on preserving and restoring of the legacy lands. The agricultural lands income supports the educational resources at the Kamehameha Schools. The budget for this island is in excess of 1.5 million. Mr. Dancil gave an example for each district on the Big Island where the Kamehameha Schools are working to preserve and restore the lands. For example, at Keauhou, the Kamehameha Schools took back the lands from Dillingham and have spent over $1 million dollars to restore the koa trees in that area. The Kamehameha Schools have many restoration efforts and have inputted major resources into these projects. The ratio of monies spent to a particular size of property is very hard to determine. The ratio is very site specific. Lunch Recess taken at 12 noon Reconvened at 1.05 p.m. DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE REPORT 1►= CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT None COMMITTEE REPORTS Rules & Procedures After discussion among the Commissioners it was decided to change the wording in Rule 6 -6 (a) (11) to read: (11) Represent the Commission in all functions, as directed by the Commission or designate a representative from the membership of the Commission. Motion was made by Ms. Jocelyn Garovoy to adopt the Rules and Procedures as amended. The motion was seconded by Mr. Paul Campbell and carried unanimously by voice vote. Commissioners voting ayes. Kaneshiro, Schuster, Campbell, Garovoy and Springer. Recess taken at 1.20 p.m. Reconvened at 1.30 p.m Assessment Criteria Commissioner Hannah Springer distributed her notes of the Kona Community meeting held on January 23, 2006. I Commissioner Kaneshiro will separate all of the intake survey forms by sites and the completeness of these forms and this Commission will go over these forms at the next scheduled meeting. ANNOUNCEMENTS The next meeting will be held on Monday, February 27, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. at the Department of Liquor Conference Room, 101 Aupuni Street, Suite 230, Hilo, Hawaii 96720. ADJOURNMENT Vice Chairperson Hannah Springer adjourned the meeting at 2:02 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Cathy Minor, Secretary 7