Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-02-13 NKCDP Minutes Final NORTH KOHALA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE MINUTES MEETING DATE February 13, 2012 TIME 4:30 pm PLACE Kohala Senior Center, Akoni Pule Highway, Kapaau, Hawaii 96755 ATTENDANCE 1. Members Present: Joe Carvalho, Hermann Fernandez, Susan Fischer, Ron Friman, Giovanna Gherardi, Collin Kaholo, 2. Members absent: Marlene Ching and Bob Martin 3. Public Attendance: Frank Cipriani, Gary D. Grisham, Toni Withington, Margaret Wille, John Winter, Megan Solis, Jesus Solis, Jesse C. Wells, and Michelle Rae. Also present were Project Manager Rosalind Newlon and Terry Dunlap from the Office of the Hawai’i County Planning Department. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC: Frank Cipriani said that there was an Impetigo outbreak at Mahukona Beach Park which he said was related to staph infections. Margaret Wille suggested an item for the next agenda would be to have a speaker discuss the plans for the proposed use of the Upolu Airport. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS: Minutes of the January 9, 2011 meeting were discussed and it was noted that a correction needed to be made in the Subcommittee Reports under Affordable Housing; HCDC should be HICDC and FICU should be HIFCU. Motion for approval was made by Giovanna Gherardi and seconded by Susan Fischer with those changes and unanimously approved. Rosalind Newlon made a procedural observation regarding the motion made under Announcements in the January 9, 2012 meeting as noted in the minutes and said that the Action Committees are not authorized to receive or administer funds, and that the Announcement section of the Agenda is only for announcements and it is not a time for the AC to make a motion or take action. REPORTS 1. LAND USE PERMIT ACTIVITY REPORT (10 minutes) – Rosalind Newlon, NKCDP Project Manager reported on Planning Dept. permits received in the previous month for the North Kohala district. Hermann Fernandez noted that the Terry Lynn Harrison variance was approved and a letter would go out this week, and that he would discuss the L-3 Holdings application in his subcommittee report. 2. REPORT ON THE USE OF LARGE LIGHTED SIGNS FOR DISTRIBUTING IMPORTANT INFORMATION DURING EMERGENCY SITUATIONS – Ron Friman NKCDP AC member reported on the use of large lighted signs as identified in Strategy 4.4 of the NKCDP. He said that he talked to the Highway Division on Oahu 1 and they said a permit is needed to work on the State Highway. Ron also said he talked to Council Member Pete Hoffmann who said he would try to help. Ron also noted that he wants to contact community groups. Ron said the signs cost around $40-50,000, depending on the technology. Possible partners include CERT, Police, and DOT. Ron said he needs to build a list of other possible partners. Joe Carvalho said that he would help Ron with the project NEW BUSINESS: 3. INFRASTRUCTURE A SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT ON COMMUNITY COMMUNICATIONS PROPOSAL. Giovanna reported on improving communications and the input she got from the community is to set up an email list, and also identified organizations including North Kohala Mountain News to contact. Giovanna said that there is a Kohala news website that people can subscribe or unsubscribe to. Giovanna reported on posting fact sheets on bulletin boards. 4. DISCUSSION OF STRATEGY 1.8 OF THE NKCDP FOR ACTION COMMITTEE PARTICIPATION IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF IMPORTANT AGRICULTURAL LANDS (20 minutes) – Hermann Fernandez reported that the Maui and Kauai have hired IAL consultants to map and identify IAL and he thinks that the County of Hawai‘i should hire a consultant to do this work also Hermann said that he had heard that the Mayor’s agriculture committee recommended hiring an IAL consultant but to date one has not been hired Hermann recommended that a letter be written to the Planning Director to request that the County hire an IAL consultant to identify and map IAL lands. Giovanna Gherardi made a motion, and Collin Kaholo seconded the motion, and unanimously approved. OLD BUSINESS: 5. NKCDP AC SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS Hermann Fernandez reported on the Harrison Variance Growth Management: application and said he spoke with County Planner, Larry Nakayama who said that the variance is a request for relief from R-39 road standards, for an agricultural road. Hermann said that when the variance is approved he will forward the letter to the subcommittee. He said for the Harrison subdivision, two lots will access from Pratt Road and three lots from an existing road. Hermann said that he requested a map for Lot 41 Kohala Estates, which is a subdivision for two lots; one lot is 3+ acres and the other is 20+ acres. Hermann reported on L3 Holdings and said that they are not interested in transferring land over to self help housing if they can’t get a water commitment. He said they want to drill a well for water and to do that they must go to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Joe Carvalho said that PONC is moving forward. He said that nothing Public Access: is happening at Hapu’u-Kapanai’a. He said that the Kauhola lighthouse still needs $71,000 for their fundraising activities to purchase the property. Joe said that the plants are ready to be planted at the Upolu airport restoration project and that they are waiting for the airport division. Joe reported that three people from the Group are having a 2 Public Access meeting with Larry Brown, County Planner, to review grant of access easements and wants to map them out. Giovanna reported on the work that was being done at Kapaa Beach Infrastructure A: Park which included power washing and clean-up scheduled for next Wednesday and rdth John Winter reported that it would be painted on March 3 and 4. Giovanna reported on the Park Management program and said it would be a non-profit group responsible for managing the parks on a weekly basis, and that the group will work with the Director of Parks and Recreation, Robert Fitzgerald and will also work with the Infrastructure A subcommittee. Giovanna also wanted to acknowledge the volunteers for their work and to John Winter for working hard with Mahukona Beach Park. : Susan Fischer reported on the transmission lines and the cable to Infrastructure B Oahu. Susan reported on her correspondence to HELCO and their responses to her questions about the electric loop and geothermal power. Susan also reported that the Public Utilities Commission has put a priority on geothermal power. Collin Kaholo reported that the Housing committee is working with Affordable Housing: the County to see what they can put on a parcel. Collin said that they are in the process of doing an economic reality check. Collin said that they are trying to learn how to convince the younger generation to get involved in their programs. He said that the Federal Credit Union is trying to reach out to young people and students. Collin said that they want support for the Habitat bill and that Habitat is working with Hawaiian Homes. Ron Friman did not have an agricultural report but provided some Agriculture: information on his time spent on the agriculture subcommittee, and said that he started with the Infrastructure committee but then due to his interest and background in agriculture he moved over to the agriculture subcommittee. ANNOUNCEMENTS : STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC: Gary Grisham said that he would help Ron Friman with the large lighted sign project. Jesse Wells said that regarding the large lighted sign that the AC should look into the sign ordinance. Jesse Wells said that they should solve the water problem. Margaret Wille said if the AC wanted a speaker regarding the Upolu Airport to contact Allen Crouch at 808-257-8870. Margaret Wille also suggested that the subcommittees should check into funding opportunities. Margaret Wille said regarding important agricultural lands (IAL) that the NKCDP AC should come up with criteria for IAL and suggested that AC attend senior meetings with Randy Golden to learn more about IAL. Frank Cipriani spoke about health concerns at Mahukona Beach that needed to be addressed. Toni Withington said that there is a meeting tomorrow regarding the park management program and that they can address the health concerns there. Toni Withington also said that the geothermal transmission line was proposed to the Mayor’s geothermal committee back in the 1980’s and that they were talking about lines crossing a lot of land including North Kohala. Toni wants the community to be involved in the planning 3 process at the very beginning during the planning or scoping period. John Winter said that the Big Island should create enough geothermal to provide Big Island’s needs before sending it to Oahu. AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: Drafting a letter regarding Important Agricultural Land Orientation for New AC members Community Communication proposal Land Use Report Subcommittee reports NEXT MEETING: Date: Monday, March 12, 2012 Place: North Kohala Senior Center Time: 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Collin Kaholo made a motion and Giovanna seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting and was unanimously approved. The meeting adjourned at 6:10 pm. 4