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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-05-2012 Infrastructure A Notes NKCDP Infrastructure Subcommittee Meeting Minutes June 5, 2012 Attendance: Subcommittee Members: Bill Aierstuck,John Winter,Toni Withington,Andi Longpre FOM (Friends of Mahukona) Marty and Linda Halbritter,Charlie Russell, Jerry Kotz AGENDA ITEMS: 1. MAHUKONA BEACH PARK: a. Issues/concerns from community members (FOM) Charlie expressed that his concern about the Park is that the cat population has created a health hazard and that the Park has become a "litter box". He said that although he likes cats he sees the Park as a place where people are the priority. He thinks that there should be another location for the cats. b. Marty Halbritter reported on his communications with Bobby Command (of the Mayor's office) re: the trash cans. He reported that Mr. Command has suggested removing the trash cans "so that the cats would not abuse the cans". Mr. Command also informed Marty that "there is a $38,000 investment in the cats." Marty suggested that lids be placed on the cans. He also reported on the sanitary aspect of the Women's toilets: he said that he continues to find paw prints on the toilet seats and finds that people are therefore reluctant to use these toilets. c. Linda Halbritter reported that currently there are 50 feeding bowls (for the cats) at the camping ground area. d. Because all present at the meeting are familiar with the cat issue, John Winter did not review the MCCC position. Rather, he read the sections from the May 25 meeting minutes that described the roles of the two park groups: "two groups have now established Friends of the Park status for Mahukona Beach Park by the County Department of Parks & Recreation. Mahukona Cat Colony Caregivers (MCCC) will be handling all aspects of the TNR cat population at the Park. Friends of Mahukona (FOM) will be handling the improvements and landscape maintenance of the Park. This means that there will be two groups working at Mahukona each with different responsibilities and each reporting to the Dept. of Parks & Recreation. There was a discussion about what each of the groups would focus on, both in the short and long terms. It was agreed that each group would draw up a document stating the specific responsibilities of their group and that each would share those documents with one another and the Dept. of Parks and Recreation. The MCCC group has said they will be responsible for all aspects of the TNR program and that they would submit their documentation to the appropriate personnel at Parks & Recreation. e. The FOM group agreed to write up their own document describing what their group is responsible for and to also submit that to the County. GOAL: The FOM wants to make the Park conducive to family activities such as fishing, camping and for sports such as volleyball, basketball and a horseshoe pitch. The FOM agreed to contact the Kohala Center in Waimea to follow through on John's initial inquiry re: obtaining the services of an intern to do soil testing (re: public health concerns) at Mahukona Beach Park. f. John Winter informed the group that because no member of the CDP Action Committee can head up a non-profit entity Giovanna had to close out the non-profit she had started in support of the parks improvements. John also informed the group that any park-adopting groups could apply directly to the NKRC to pursue obtaining a non-profit entity. There are no members of the MCCC on the CDP Action Committee. To the best of his knowledge John reports that he does not think the MCCC have a non-profit entity. g. Following a discussion the meeting participants agreed that after the County has received each group’s proposal/document re: their roles and responsibilities at Mahukona that these two groups would co-host a community meeting to inform the public of the developments at Mahukona Park. It was agreed to invite the relevant County personnel to attend this meeting and to ask Mr. Pete Hoffmann to facilitate this meeting. 2. SPAGHETTI LINES a. WHAT'S THE PROJECT?? To locate, map and identify clusters of spaghetti lines from the meters to the homeowners actual property. b. WHY DID WE GET INTERESTED IN SPAGHETTI LINES?? The NKCDP states: Strategy 4.5: UPGRADE POTABLE WATER SYSTEM Priority 1. "repair or replace aging water lines." Many people have meters at significant distances from their actual homes, even those living on County roads. They have to deal with leaks and breaks on other people's property and County easements. Bill reported on his research and communications on this topic. He spoke with Mr. Ikeda of the County Water Board, Mr. Clyde Young (heads up wells in the County)and Mr. John Watts of the Hawaii Rural Water Association. Both Mr. Ikeda and Mr. Young expressed their interest in continuing to be in communication re: a proposal that would assist homeowners in locating and mapping water lines from their meters to their homes( if they so desire.)Many homeowners are uncertain of the exact location of their lines (some are quite long) and have dug into them on several occasions. Since it is unlikely that we can eliminate the "spaghetti" lines in North Kohala this project would allow people to locate the lines. It was agreed that Bill would meet with Mr. Watts re:how the Hawaii Rural Water Association may be of assistance to us in this project. Following Bill's meeting with Mr. Watts he will meet with the Chair of the Dept. of Geography at UH to ascertain their interest in having an intern do a public service internship. IF the Dept. Chair agrees and we obtain a Memorandum of Understanding our subcommittee will meet to define exactly what the project will entail. Following that meeting we will pro pose that the CDP write a letter to the Dept. of Water Supply outlining the project and obtaining their support and,hopefully, assistance. Bill also informed us that the project would be an "opt-in" for homeowners not a mandate. Homeowners would most likely share the cost of moving meters. Whenever Bill gets the meeting at UH John will accompany him. c. WHY DO THIS PROJECT?? It's a public service action which would: 1. help people relocate their water meters to their property; 2. help when trying to find breaks in the lines and 3. if the property goes for sale it is a bonus for buyers to know where their lines are. 3. NEXT MEETINGS FOM meets on June 14, 2012 1:30 p.m. at Mahukona Beach Park Subcommittee "A" meeting July 3,2012, 5p.m. at Intergenerational Ctr.