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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-28-2011 SKCDP AC Minutes - Final SOUTH KOHALA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE MINUTES OF MEETING Held March 28, 2011 A regular meeting of the South Kohala Community Development Plan Action Committee was held on March 28, 2011. The meeting was called to order by the Chairman, Mike Fischer, at 5:10 p.m. at The Hokuloa United Church of Christ, 69-1600 Puako Beach Drive, Kamuela, Hawaii, pursuant to notice. The following members of the Committee were present when the meeting was called to order: Nancy Alvord Loreli Eberhardt Mike Fischer John Hoover Margaret Horwatt Robin Inaba Chris Roehrig Achahn Schulze Project Manager Rosalind Newlon also was in attendance. Committee member Leonard Librizzi was not in attendance. The Chairman called the meeting to order, noted that a quorum of the Committee was present at the meeting, and noted that Recorder Judith Graham was not present. Members of the public Sara Fuller and Robert Stevens made brief statements urging that the residential character of the community not be altered and that tourism not be encouraged. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Committee then approved the minutes of the special meeting of the Committee held on February 7, 2011, and of the regular meeting of the Committee held on February 28, 2011, in the form distributed to the members in advance of the meeting. The next item on the agenda was a presentation by Chad Wiggins of the Nature Conservancy, who discussed environmental issues relating to the quality of ocean water and resources and efforts presently underway to protect reefs and ensure maintenance of ocean water quality. He indicated that a sewage plant would be needed if there was an effort to replace the cesspools in Puako and indicated that costs to residents would be a major factor in any determination regarding an effort to replace the cesspools. Mr. Fischer then thanked Mr. Wiggins for his presentation. Ms. Newlon then delivered the Land Use Permit Activity Report for this meeting. She distributed tax maps showing three of the parcels specifically subject to pending applications and, in response to a request by a Committee member, indicated she would make an effort to track the progress of pending applications. The Committee then heard Liaison Reports regarding meetings and events attended by Committee members. Mr. Hoover reported that the Puako community remained committed to finalizing the fire break and was seeking a grant to provide funding for the balance of the project. He stated that a poll of the residents indicated that finishing the fire break was a first priority and working with the Mauna Lani resort to obtain a sewage system was the second priority, with traffic safety at the Mamalahoa Highway intersection with Puako Road being the third priority, and a waste water treatment plant being the fourth priority. He added that more research regarding the waste facilities in Puako was needed. Ms. Alvord then reported regarding Kawaihae. She indicated that the subcommittee is gathering information concerning Hawaiian home lands and plans for the Queen Emma lands. Ms. Alvord also stated that the transitional housing units have been vacated. There also has been discussion of a museum but the project is not making progress. Representatives of the County Department of Water had spoken at the last subcommittee meeting. There was no report from the Waimea subcommittee. Mr. Fischer reported concerning the Waikoloa subcommittee. He advised the committee that a Waikoloa Community Leadership Council had been formed with the assistance of State Representative Cindy Evans and that the new entity would coordinate efforts regarding projects for the improvement of the Waikoloa area. The new entity had agreed to focus on three projects initially: obtaining improved County bus service, getting second paved road connecting the interior streets of Waikoloa Village to escape routes in the event of an emergency, and construction of a multifunctional community center and recreational facility. The subcommittee is meeting regularly with an organizational which has been formed to foster the third objective and the entity has tentatively identified a location for the multifunction center and facility, and has met with Wally Lau, Deputy Managing Director of Hawaii County, to discuss the project. Mr. Fischer also indicated that Mr. Schulze had met with County Department of Transportation Director Tom Brown regarding bus service in Waikoloa and that the subcommittee had met with a community group regarding the memorandum of understanding between the group and the County Department of Parks which will govern the construction, maintenance and operation of a skate board park in Waikoloa. He also stated that the subcommittee was meeting regularly with representatives of the Waikoloa Village Association and was working with the Waikoloa Community Development Corporation to have that entity extend its functions as an umbrella not- for-profit organization for projects groups throughout the district of South Kohala. Finally, he stated that he will be meeting with County Councilman Pete Hoffmann regarding Waikoloa area projects. Mr. Fischer also reported for the subcommittee on district wide matters, indicating that an 2 effort will be made to establish a district wide leadership council that will include community leaders from Waimea, Waikoloa, Puako and Kawaihae. A discussion of proposals for inclusion in the CIP budget followed. Mr. Schulze proposed including an item calling for an impact benefit study regarding the feasibility of reconstruction of the water pipe network system in the South Kohala District that would provide for best use of available water resources in order to reduce costs for agricultural usage and improve residential water quality. Mr. Hoover then made a motion to add to the CIP an item calling for a feasibility study for a waste water treatment facility for Puako. Ms. Horwatt seconded the motion and, following discussion, the motion was approved by a vote of six in favor and one abstaining, with Ms. Inaba constituting the abstention. Mr. Roehrig then made a motion that the feasibility study for the waster water treatment facility not be offered for inclusion in the CIP budget until Mr. Hoover presented a written proposal for approval by the Committee. After a second for the motion was offered and following discussion, the Committee voted in favor of Mr. Roehrig’s motion, with Ms. Alvord and Mr. Schulze dissenting. Ms. Newlon then announced that the Planning Department was directing the Committee to hold meetings every other month rather than monthly. A question arose as to whether this was a cost cutting measure and whether the Committee might meet monthly with attendance by the Project Manager every other month or in some other fashion that resulted in savings for the County while enabling the Committee to continue monthly meetings. The question was tabled until the next meeting. Members of the public then offered comments. Bob Green applauded the suggestion by Mr. Schulze regarding best usage of water resources. A request was made that action be taken to protect the sacred nature of Paniau Beach at the south end of Puako where a birthing rock is located. Gunner Mench suggested that the path of the Kawaihae bypass road be utilized as a path for pipes to bring water from Lalamilo wells to Puako and Kawaihae. Mr. Fischer then thanked Mr. Hoover for making the premises available and organizing the meeting. The next meeting of the Committee will be held at 5:00 p.m. on April 25, 2011, at the Waikoloa Village Association meeting room in Waikoloa Village. There being no further business to come before the meeting, the meeting was adjourned at 6:55 p.m. ______________________________ Michael B. Fischer Chairman 3