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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-04-11 NKCDP Minutes Final NORTH KOHALA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE MINUTES MEETING DATE April 11, 2012 TIME 4:30 pm PLACE Kohala Senior Center, 54-3900 Akoni Pule Highway, Kapaau, Hawaii 96755 ATTENDANCE 1. Members Present: Hermann Fernandez, Susan Fischer, Frank Cipriani, Giovanna Gherardi, John Winter, Collin Kaholo, and Christopher MacKillop 2. Members absent: Joe Carvalho and Marlene Ching Also present were Project Manager Rosalind Newlon and Terry Dunlap from the Office of the Hawai’i County Planning Department. 3. Public Attendance: Jerry Kremkow, John Wilson, Kim Wilson, Toni Withington, Sarah Pule-Fujii, Jake Polvi, Margaret Wille, Denise Nekrash and Lynda Wallach. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC: Toni Withington suggested that a possible agenda item for next month would be a speaker to discuss the 2% fund and that Gail Byrne Baber is interested in doing a presentation. Margaret Wille said she would like a report on Mahukona Beach Park including the pavilion as an agenda item. Jerry Kremkow said that he was interested in the Electric Loop issue and said that HELCO came to him about easements across his property. Denise Nekrash asked about changing meeting times. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS: 1. Minutes from the March 12, 2012 meeting were reviewed by the AC members and changes were recommended to include that under Item 5, Subcommittee Assignments, to add John Winter under Growth Management. Motion for approval was made by Giovanna Gherardi and seconded by Hermann Fernandez with those changes and unanimously approved. A change to the February 13, 2012 was requested to include that Planning Department staff Rosalind Newlon and Terry Dunlap were present at the meeting. Motion for approval was made by Hermann Fernandez and seconded by John Winter and unanimously approved. th 2. Rescheduling of two meetings is necessary due to holidays on June 11 and thth November 12. It was discussed to move the meetings to June 13 and November th 14. There was a discussion about changing the starting time of the meetings and Rosalind Newlon explained that to be consistent with other Commission and Boards that meet during the daytime hours that the AC meetings should stay at 4:30pm. The AC Members discussed that perhaps the subcommittees could meet at 6pm subcommittee members. It was further and that it should be discussed with the 1 discussed that the subcommittees would report back to the AC on whether they could meet at 6pm. REPORTS 1. LAND USE PERMIT ACTIVITY REPORT – Rosalind Newlon, NKCDP Project Manager reported on Planning Dept. permits received in the previous month for the North Kohala district. Information was requested on the Bartsch Variance application. Rosalind said that she would try and obtain an update for the next meeting. Hermann Fernandez noted that variance applications do take a long time to process some times. 2. Investigative Committee Report. This item concerning a community meeting was deferred until the next meeting. NEW BUSINESS: 3. Important Agricultural Lands (IAL) update. Rosalind Newlon went over the State Department of Agriculture and Hawai‘i Farm Bureau handouts on the incentive programs available for lands identified as IAL through the State and the process for the identification of IAL. The websites for the handouts are: (1) http://hawaii.gov/hdoa/Info/ial/important-agricultural-lands-update; and (2) http://hfbf.org/IAL.shtml. The AC members discussed ways to start the process of identifying IAL and what it would take to get the program going. Rosalind Newlon said that she would like more time to spend gathering information on this topic. Frank Cipriani said that the survey by the Tropical Agricultural Department on landowners is expected to have results by mid-June with current landowners as of 2008. He said that information should provide a lot of opportunities. Hermann suggested it would be best to wait to contact landowners until after there is support for the IAL program from the County and the State. OLD BUSINESS: 4. NKCDP AC SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS Agriculture – The Subcommittee reported that the bottom line is developing a strategic plan for agricultural development in North Kohala. Growth Management: The Subcommittee reported that there were no changes in the Land Use and Permit report. The subcommittee had reviewed the agency letters for the three subdivisions applications. Their meeting time is at 6-7pm on the first Monday of the month. Public Access: Toni Withington gave the subcommittee report in Joe Carvalho’s absence. She said that 70% of the money was received for the purchase of Kauhola and that it was in escrow and that there will be a celebration in June. Toni said that federal land along the Coast Guard Road will be subject to a resolution for the County to 2 purchase it. She said that there are about twelve access easement agreements between land owners and the County in different levels of completion. Infrastructure A: The Subcommittee reported that there is a new member Bill Aierstuck working on park improvements, and that the North Kohala National Guard Alumni are working on Kapaa Park. John Winter also reported that Keokea Park and Kapaa Park look good. He said they are waiting to meet with the Director of Parks and Recreation, Robert Fitzgerald, to discuss Mahukona Beach Park. John Winter said that he wants to discuss the non-profit parks management program and conditions at Mahukona and what needs repair and also discuss the feral cat problem. Giovanna Gherardi reported that the feral cat issue is a difficult situation and they have been facilitating a series of meetings between the cat feeders and Friends of the Park. She said that the goal is to bring Mahukona to a place where it is clean, safe and healthy. Hermann Fernandez asked about the non-profit park management program and it was discussed that Mahukona Beach Park is a priority for that program. Infrastructure B : The Subcommittee reported that they do not address communications or solid waste; that they focus on electricity and reliability, rural infrastructure, and view plane protection. Toni Withington gave the subcommittee report. She went over the electrical system, future transmission lines and overall state program of alternative energy. Toni said that an advisory committee will be formed by the Public Utilities Commission to draw up an Integrated Energy Plan. She said that HEI is an umbrella for HELCO (Hawai‘i), MECO (Maui) and HECO (Oahu) and that they are working on expanding alternative energy. Toni mentioned that a power line from Puna Geothermal may cross the island and go through Kohala before crossing over to Oahu. Affordable Housing: The Subcommittee reported that they are trying to get educational programs going and that they have identified the action steps to get the program started. The goal is to get a home for the families. Frank Cipriani left the meeting at 5:45pm and Hermann Fernandez left the meeting at 6pm. ANNOUNCEMENTS: STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC: Margaret Wille said that for Important Agricultural Lands (IAL) it is a critical time to act and said that one IAL plan went through for Parker Ranch. Margaret Wille suggested that Larry Brown (County Planner) be invited to an AC meeting to discuss how information is presented on the CDP website for the Puna CDP AC. Margaret said she would like to see a presentation on Mahukona. Margaret said that HELCO did a presentation at a Council Meeting on geothermal and solar. AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: Open Space Presentation IAL update Investigative Committee on Community Meeting 3 Land Use Report Administrative Matters AC meeting schedule Approval of minutes NEXT MEETING: Date: Monday, May 14, 2012 Place: North Kohala Senior Center Time: 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Giovanna Gherardi made a motion and John Winter seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting and was unanimously approved. The meeting adjourned at 6:07 pm. 4