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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-08-08 NKCDP Minutes Final NORTH KOHALA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE MINUTES MEETING DATE August 8, 2011 TIME 4:30 p.m. PLACE North Kohala Senior Center (the old courthouse) 54-3900 Akoni Pule Highway, Kohala, HI 96755 ATTENDANCE Members Present: Joe Carvalho, Marlene Ching, Hermann Fernandez, Susan Fischer, Ron Friman, Giovanna Gherardi, Collin Kaholo, Richard Liebmann, Bob Martin Planning Department: Bennett Mark, Planning Department West Hawai‘i Planning Program Manager Guest Speaker: Kurt Inaba, P.E., Division Head Engineering Division Department of Water Supply Public Attendance: John Winter, Patsy Ching, Toni Withington, Frank Cipriani, Jim Pedersen, Jesse Wells, Margaret Wille ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS APPROVAL OF MINUTES Joe reported Rosalind has a comment on the May 9 minutes Growth Management section. Approval of the May 9 minutes was deferred until the September 12 meeting. After a motion by Collin, and second by Richard, the July 11 minutes were unanimously approved. REVIEW OF TERMS FOR NKCDP ACTION COMMITTEE MEMBERS The AC terms of Bob Martin, Ron Friman and Giovanni Gherardi are expiring in September. Three applications have been received for the upcoming AC vacancies. The deadline has been extended to September 1. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC: none PRESENTATION: 1) DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY (DWS) - Kurt Inaba, P.E., Division Head Engineering Division County DWS, discussed the North Kohala Well Project. The drilling phase of the Halaula test well has been completed. The consultant is working on the engineering source report, based on water sample test results. The report goes to the Department of Health for approval as a source. Phase 2 is the design phase, expected to take a six month period. A right of entry or land acquisition process will be completed before execution of the design contract. The construction phase takes about a year, and includes chlorination facilities, a reservoir or holding tank, transmission line work from the existing system, and work on the highway to bypass a PRV (pressure reducing valve). The Halaula well will serve as a backup system to the Hawi system for redundancy. Ron inquired about funding. State Revolving Funds provide low-interest loans for the improvements. Richard asked how the new source will increase capacity. Source capacity defines water availability. The Halaula well will match the existing two Hawi one million gallon per day wells and reservoirs. If one of the three wells is out of operation, Kohala will have two wells remaining, or double the present system capacity. Availability to some areas is limited due to existing transmission lines. In general, pre-existing lots of record are granted a first service for a dwelling. The DWS, at the Mayor's request, does provide additional water for affordable housing. Hermann asked about standardizing the pumps. For best efficiency, the pump and motor combinations are sized to the depth or head of the water and to the size of the casing. REPORTS: 2) REDISTRICTING REPORT Joe Carvalho, NKCDP Chair and Redistricting Commissioner, reported on the redistricting for the Hawaii County Council. By September 1, the public can submit their plans. In October, public meetings will be held in Waimea, Kona and Hilo. 3) LAND USE PERMIT ACTIVITY REPORT Rosalind Newlon, the NKCDP Project Manager, was not present to report on Planning Dept. permits received in the previous month for the North Kohala district. The Report was made available for the meeting. The AC members discussed the possibility for a Shoreline access makai of Ainakea as a managed access easement on an unpaved four-wheel drive road. NEW BUSINESS: 4) PROPOSALS FOR INCLUSION IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (CIP) BUDGET – Bennett Mark, Planning Department Program Manager of the West Hawai‘i office, reviewed how the NKCDP AC Members can utilize the CIP process to further implementation of the NKCDP. CIP projects end up with some kind of construction. The process involves the AC sending a CIP list to the Planning Director, who distributes the list to the other department directors. Earlier submittals have more time at the various departments. Early December, the Planning Director writes to the other directors to submit lists of CIP projects. Mid-January, departments submit proposals. If a specific project is not high on the County's list, then the AC needs to encourage a higher ranking. Giovanna made a motion for the Infrastructure A Subcommittee to submit a CIP request for new restrooms at Mahukona as number one high priority. Bob asked how building the restrooms affects the overall plan for Mahukona's improvements. John Winter said his understanding is Surety is obligated to reimburse the County at such time as Surety's Mahukona development takes off. The motion was seconded by Hermann and passed unanimously. 5) SUBCOMMITTEE GOALS – Review of the goals of the Subcommittees was deferred until the September 12 meeting. OLD BUSINESS: 6) NKCDP Subcommittee Reports Growth Management: Subcommittee meetings July 18 and August 1 - Jesse Wells (July 18), Jeff Allen (August 1), and Hermann Fernandez reviewed the strategies in the CDP, and decided this subcommittee would focus on reviewing land use applications to the County Planning Department. The subcommittee decided that instead of “establish(ing) community cultural programs” and “implement(ing) a policy for a cultural and historical preservation community”, the subcommittee would be open to existing and established cultural groups needing help dealing with County government. The subcommittee reviewed selected documents from the Harrison Family Trust subdivision and variance land use applications, including the proposed subdivision map, a letter regarding a Special Management Area Use Permit Assessment Application from the Planning Director with conditions, and Terry Lynn Harrison’s letter requesting a variance from subdivision road requirements and water meter (facility) requirements. Also, the subcommittee was given the County Subdivision Code sections relating to Variances and County of Hawaii Planning Department “Rule 22. Water Variances” for further analysis. Hermann will prepare a schedule for receiving the “Land Use/Permit Activity Report” from the Planning Department. Hopefully, this will allow for timely review of the land use applications. The current thought is to schedule the Growth Management Subcommittee meeting one week before the CDP Action Committee meeting, and therefore have the land use/permit activity report generated one week before the Growth Management Subcommittee meets. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 1 from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Surety office in Hawi. Public Access: Met August 3, 4:30 p.m. at the Old Courthouse. Ainakea - subdivision application for 188 acres in AG 20 zone into 5 lots. Some subcommittee members talked to the Planning Department concerning a mauka-makai, 4-wheel drive road through Ainakea subdivision to the ocean. The NK CDP Affordable Housing Subcommittee is interested in this area, should it become available. A concern is if any archeological studies have been done on this area. There were gathering areas for early Hawaiians. We should make a comprehensive plan (access, affordable housing, cultural significance) and meet with the owner in a small group. Toni will draft a letter for review. North Coast LLC (Hoea Flats) - Lateral access has been granted. Charlie Anderson and Beth Robinson will get us a map of the Upolu area for future discussions. Upolu Airport area (Chauncey Wong Yuen - Airports Division, Hawaii District Manager) - Right of entry has been proposed to the state airports director for our group to steward the area. The west side of the airport should be ready to start a nursery to raise native plants to use for restoration of coastal areas. Kamehameha Schools (Mookini Heiau) - Joe and Toni are working on setting up a meeting of all the stakeholders involved for the Coast Guard Road to Mookini Heiau. Parker Ranch (known as “Ranch at Puakea”) - There are 2 oceanfront lots applying for building permits. The County exempted owners from the SMA process, but required further archaeological and burial mitigation plans. Lateral access has been granted, but owners are not required to build the trail. Kohala Shoreline LLC - There has been no movement on this project. The Stewardship Master Plan is a work in progress. Ron asked about controlled access. Toni defined controlled access as community access for areas with historic sites or pristine areas needing some filter, interpretive or liability. Infrastructure A: Summary of the July 28 meeting - Giovanna will contact Bob Martin and Bruce Tsuchida regarding a non-profit park management program. September is the target for completing the basic requirements for a CIP for the Mahukona restrooms. An email will be sent to Bob Fitzgerald regarding the status of monies for further work by the Army Corp of Engineers. Toni has contacted the DWS and they are willing to work with us regarding water issues. Several concerns were identified. The subcommittee is in the process of setting up a meeting with a DWS representative. Infrastructure B: Viewplane Protection - A North Kohala Scenic Byway Community Meeting will be held on August 10 at 5:30 p.m. at Kohala School Cafeteria. Rural Infrastructure - At the September 12 Action Committee meeting, Melora Purell, Coordinator for the Kawaihae/Pelekane Bay watershed restoration project, will speak on soil retention methods that could be used to prevent erosion at the Upolu coastal area restoration effort. Electric Reliability - Discussions with HELCO continue on a new electric loop proposed for North Kohala. Questions include how a new transmission line would go through existing underground utility subdivisions. Affordable Housing: Regular monthly meeting on the third Monday, July 18. Catholic Charity meeting, on July 21. Support for homes for homeless residents. Land is needed for Habitat homes. Awaiting communication from Department of Hawaiian Home Land on the status of duplex homes at the old Coast Guard Station. Self-Help Kamakua Project - How to be selected for a home in this project? (1) Income (2) Attend all classes. Applicants need to learn how to save for a down payment. (3) Help build the homes. Property Selection - As called for in the CDP, the subcommittee is looking for potential sites, such as Ainakea, for community housing projects. Further possibilities to explore include a partnership with the NK Community Resource Center in support of community housing. Agriculture: Meeting on August 8, 8:00 a.m. at Hoea Ag Park Office, with guest: Bob Agres of HACBED (Hawaii Alliance for Community Based Economic Development). General discussion on how to develop strategic plan to get to 50% local food by 2018. Questions raised - What do people in Kohala eat? How do we define 50%? Goals - Assess where we are. Have info and need to gather more info. Develop strategies for moving towards the 50%. What are people growing vs. what people are eating? Step #1: Design a framework founded on good information. Pull info together, then figure out what needs to be filled in. Vision: What does 50% by 2018 look like? If the community is clear about what the vision looks like - What would tell us that we are actually moving towards the goal? Then ongoing process of how we are getting there becomes clear. Strategies adjust over time. Indicators of Success - community is building capacity. Engaging people in the planning process. Schools - engage parents through kids. Farmers/Hunters - how do you tap them? Are there multiple entry points/Key entry points? Home based, faith based, look to entry points. What’s already going on so we can use these entry points? Ohana dialogue / Talk story, Research, more talk story. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC: none ANNOUNCEMENT: Patsy Ching has initiated an effort to have the words "Birthplace of Kamehameha I" added to the Kohala welcome sign near the North Kohala Community Resource Center. Richard announced this Saturday, August 13 is the second of the monthly Community Harvest Days at the Intergenerational Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. NEXT MEETING: Date: Monday, September 12, 2011 Place: North Kohala Senior Center Time: 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Agenda: Land Use Activity Report Report on schedule of various AC member term expiration dates Speaker Melora Purell on Kawaihae/Pelekane Bay watershed restoration methods Redistricting Report Open Ocean Aquaculture Subcommittee Report Proposals for inclusion in the Capital Improvement Project (CIP) 2012 - 2013 Budget Subcommittee Goals Subcommittee Reports ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, it was moved by Bob, seconded by Giovanna, and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at 6:26 p.m.