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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-26-2010 SKCDP AC Minutes 1 Meeting of South Kohala CDP Action Committee April 26, 2010 Waimea Senior Center Committee Members Present: Nancy Alvord, Mike Fischer, Margaret Horwatt, Robin Inaba, Leonard Librizzi, Jeannie Palermo, Achahn Schulze, Fran Tabor. Others: Members of the public Anne Field-Gomes, Margaret Wille; Recorder Judith Graham Handouts: Work Plan Templates (2); Letter from the Planning Director to Robert Martin of the North Kohala CDP AC, dated 4/12/10; Permit Activity Report for March 2010; Top Ten Priorities Compilation Draft IV; Sample Operating Guidelines. The meeting began at 5:05 pm. Mike Fischer served as interim chair. Robin Inaba served as timekeeper. Jeannie Palermo provided an original oath of office to the recorder. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Margaret Wille responded principally to the handout, Letter from the Planning Director. This letter provided clarification of the AC’s participation in the review of land use permits. It stated, among other items, that the AC was without original jurisdiction over planning and land use matters, but rather advisory to the Planning Department/Planning Director. Margaret Wille asked, what is your kuleana or role? In regard to direct input to the Planning Commission and County Council, Margaret stated the General Plan says the AC works in coordination with the previous Steering Committee. She stated the whole idea at the Steering Committee level was to balance the Planning Department, and that the Steering Committee had fought for additional AC responsibilities which appear on pages 147-148 of the CDP. She stated the AC had a choice to act according to the power described, and “let them stop you.” The AC was responsible to the community not the Planning Director. Approval of Minutes Minutes from the meeting of March 26, 2010 were approved although Fran Tabor noted that election of officers should have been included as an agenda item for this meeting. 2 REPORTS 1) SKCDP Action Committee Vacancy Mike Fischer advised that Allen Salavea of the Planning Department would not be present and had provided some notes for him. The notes said that Bobby Command Judith Graham had agreed to serve on a selection committee for the ninth AC member. Allen hoped that the three-person committee, including himself, might hold interviews in late May. 2) Land Use Permit Activity Report Project Manager Allen Salavea had provided a Land Use Activity Report among handouts. However, his notes advised that he was in the process of giving a more comprehensive list of applications dating to as far back as the County database has information, and will follow up at the May meeting. Mike Fischer drew the AC’s attention to the Land Use Activity Report handout and suggested members review it. 3) Liaison Report from Various Meetings and Events Fran Tabor reported back from Waimea Trails and Greenways. Its previous meeting focused on alternate routes for the proposed trail; safety along the trail and vandalism potential. She said homeowners would like indemnification insofar as their properties were affected. An environmental assessment needs to be done. Fran stated that the board of the Waimea Nature Park is concerned that the County plans to cut down over 300 trees in that area and expressed its views to the County. Regarding the stream, she said property owners own half the stream and Parker Ranch the other half, affecting liability. Most streams elsewhere are public property, she believed. An ATV mini ambulance is being considered for use on the trail. Mike Fischer and Fran had attended a Waikoloa Talk Story. Fran said one purpose was to listen and learn the community’s top three priorities. They were: 1) fire protection around Waikoloa Village; 2) an alternate escape route from Waikoloa Village; and 3) a public library for Waikoloa. A nonprofit group is being formed to support a library. Mike Fischer observed that all three priorities are in the South Kohala CDP. Mike will attend these meetings on a monthly basis. It is a community get-together of involved people who usually meet on Friday evenings. 3 NEW BUSINESS 2) Planning Department Response to the Proposed Guidelines from Bob Martin…Regarding the Review of Land Use Permits by the NKCDP Action Committee Mike Fischer noted that Margaret Wille had briefly addressed this topic with her statement. He asked the AC to take several minutes to review the letter. Allen Salavea had noted he preferred a light discussion on the topic because he was not present. The letter had described the AC as advisory to the Planning Director/Department. Following review, AC members discussed the topic in a format of two round robins. The conclusion of the discussion, which is described below, is that the AC believes the CDP has given it a stronger role than described by the Planning Director. However, the AC wants to work agreeably with the Planning Department. Therefore the Planning Director’s understanding will not be challenged at this time but may be later. Initially Jeannie Palermo believed the prevailing interpretation should be challenged. Leonard Librizzi observed that additional duties described on the CDP’s page 148 were signed into law by the County Council. Fran Tabor briefly read a legal opinion from Deputy Corporation Counsel Amy Self, which Fran had requested, which was similar to the Planning Director’s interpretation. Fran thought the CDP was law and the AC’s role was to implement the CDP unless told not to. Margaret Horwatt understood the AC’s priority was to make sure that developments corresponded to the CDP. We need to find a way for that to be an agreeable arrangement with the Planning Department, she said. Robin Inaba recommended setting up a subcommittee to gather information and wanted to work well with the Project Manager. Nancy Alvord observed the County was making very clear the role it wanted the ACs to play. Achahn Schulze stated that the AC should have some means to oppose certain developments and wanted the AC to retain some teeth. He was not interested in reviewing all permits; but we should review some, he said. He felt that down the line this could be important. Mike Fischer thought it important to get permit information on a timely basis. Some of this discussion involved semantics, he believed. The AC could adopt a resolution on the subject. Both Margaret Horwatt and Robin Inaba did not want to build walls unnecessarily. Robin said that if a particular organization is directly affected, the AC can work with it. There are ways that the AC can be heard. Fran Tabor mentioned that some Waikoloa projects have nothing to do with permits, and the AC can move ahead on those. 4 Mike Fischer expressed a general consensus that later on, when the time or opportunity is ripe, the AC would test this issue. OLD BUSINESS 5) Develop 2010-2011 Implementation Work Plan for SKCDP 6) Create Subcommittee Structure In general, the AC discussed these items as one. Initially Mike Fischer stated that the AC can create subcommittees later because he believed the CDP priorities would drive the subcommittees. Fran Tabor’s preference was to establish priorities based on region. Robin Inaba agreed and wanted to gather more information which would clarify common threads and whether the priorities were obtainable. She wished to set up subcommittees and establish who would work in what area. Achahn Schulze mentioned that certain subcommittee topics would not deal with any specific community. He recommended some review of the CDP at this point because it has inconsistencies. Some portions are unclear as to what is possible and what is not possible. A subcommittee can talk about this. Leonard Librizzi spoke for a subject focus. Selecting by region could be repetitious, for example in the area of transportation. He noted that the three Waikoloa priorities Fran Tabor had mentioned earlier differed from CDP priorities. For example, a main CDP priority was schools. Jeannie Palermo wanted to focus on priorities instead of regions. Subcommittees could be developed by priorities. The CDP already exemplifies extensive community input. There are many things to take on. Select a handful of priorities and stay on task, bearing flexibility in mind. Jeanie asked that each member bring their top priorities to the next meeting. Mike Fischer advised taking care about changing the CDP priorities. Every segment of the community had been reached in the earlier process. Also, the AC cannot allow a small group to overrule what an entire community has already expressed. He recommended regional subcommittees with some being district wide. Fran Tabor wanted each community to have a specific set of AC representatives, who would then bring that community’s knowledge to the AC. Margaret Horwatt felt it unnecessary to go to every community meeting. Being realistic meant that a real subcommittee was equivalent to community interest in the priority. 5 Achahn said that the subcommittees needed location and subject, or the scope was far too big. He wanted the AC to tackle those CDP priorities as it saw fit. Mike Fischer advocated a mechanism to decide priorities first. While possible to do subcommittees regionally, bear in mind that the CDP has priorities. He also proposed focusing on emergency priorities first—for example a paved escape route for Waikoloa. He wanted to go through the CDP, pick one or two priorities to definitely work on, then identify what community groups are already involved with that priority. Margaret Horwatt wanted only a handful of priorities. She assumed two AC members would focus on each priority. The AC would take on the issue, gather information for a month or six weeks, and not get overwhelmed. She wants to develop community committee members and establish a timeline. MOTION : Fran Tabor moved to delay another month; establish four subcommittees, one for each community; talk with the communities about the CDP priorities; and return with a limited number of top items. Leonard Librizzi seconded the motion. A handful of members including Nancy Alvord did not want to delay. VOTE: Following discussion, the motion failed on a vote of 1 to 7. MOTION : Jeannie Palermo moved to return to the next meeting with a short list of priorities and subcommittees by region. Achahn Schulze seconded. VOTE : This motion was approved unanimously. 7) Review Draft Operating Guidelines 8) Capital Improvement Project Budget These items were deferred until next month as Old Business. The AC wants Allen Salavea to be present when the CIP budget is discussed. 9) Discuss Sending Liaisons to Various Community Meetings and Events Robin Inaba suggested that a list of different groups and their meeting times be prepared. Fran Tabor shared that the Waimea Community Association meets the first Thursday of the month, and Waimea’s Traffic Safety Committee meets the second Tuesday. Waikoloa has a central calendar, according to Mike Fischer. Achahn Schulze will provide the information for Puako. For Kawaihae, Leonard Librizzi advised that the Kawaihae Locality Resource Council is the only group and meets the first Sunday of the month. 6 STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS Anne Field-Gomes of Waimea reminded the AC that Uvonne Lindsey spent weeks and months going to many homes and areas to gather information for the South Kohala CDP. The AC does not have to do it over again, she emphasized strongly. She recommended that the AC get on Patti Cook’s mailing list to obtain information about meetings. Margaret Wille agreed with various positions that had been expressed, including the importance of access, emergency preparation and a library in Waikoloa. If the AC picks out an item, then it can get regional input. Margaret liked the idea of regional-ness, so that people are not divided but are coming together. Once an issue is tackled, people will see they need to get involved. Date, Time and Location of Next Meeting The next meeting will be Monday, May 24, 5 pm at the Waimea Senior Center. Set Agenda for Next Meeting Election of officers will be on the agenda. A treasurer is not needed; a vice-chair might be all right. It is up to the AC to elect officers deemed necessary. Acting chair Mike Fischer clarified that proxies are not permitted. Also on the next agenda: Subcommittees and priorities Capital Improvement Projects under Old Business Liaison to the community under Old Business Implementing the work plan Implementing operating guidelines The meeting adjourned at 7 pm.