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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAC Minutes 12Feb2013William P. Kenoi Mayor County of Hawaii PLANNING DEPARTMENT BJ Leithead Todd Director Margaret Masunaga Deputy Director PUNA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE Aupuni Center • 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Phone (808) 961 -8288 • Fax (808) 961 -8742 Tuesday, February 12, 2013 Meeting Minutes CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Patti Pinto called the Puna Community Development Plan (PCDP) Action Committee (AC) meeting to order at 3:04 p.m. in the Kea "au Community Center and asked Madie Greene to assume the role of chairperson in conducting the meeting. The following persons were present: Action Committee: Madie Greene, Patti Pinto, Oshi Simsarian, Rene Siracusa, June Conant, Dan Taylor, Farris Etterlee and Sharon Daun. Keikialoha Kekipi arrived at 3:11 p.m. StafE Larry Brown, PCDP Project Manager. Members of the public: 8 ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: None ANNOUNCEMENTS: None PUBLIC TESTIMONY 1. Stephanie Bath testified in support of the AC re- initiating the discussion on improving mass transit service to Puna communities and urged focus on implementation of the hub & spoke system. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Rene moved to approve the minutes of the January 8, 2013 meeting as submitted with the corrections shown in red. Second by Dan. Motion passed with 8 votes aye and 1 abstain (Keiki) NEW BUSINESS 1. Puna Community Medical Center (PCMC) Report: Rene submitted Communication 2013- 10 being a written progress report /update on the PCMC expansion plans and site acquisition. She also announced a Spring Equinox fundraiser being held on March 23 at 2:00 p.m. to support the clinical operations. Event will include music, wine and cheese tasting and will be held at a botanical garden site in Opihikao. 2. Mt. View Village Center Plan Report: Patti submitted Communication 2013 -7 being a written report on the progress of the grass roots effort to initiate a village center plan for Mt. View. Hawai `i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer 3. Pahoa Regional Town Center Plan Report: Dan reported that the PRTCP SC has adopted a Community Strategic Plan Guide and Form provided by the Rural Development Division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture as both a process guide and plan format model for the PRTCP. Rene and Larry reported on the Planning Director's suggestion to have village center master plans, including design guidelines, adopted as an amendment to their respective Community Development Plans. Rene and Larry reported on the public input process being employed by the PRTCP SC to get public & Planning Department input on the draft design guidelines. Also reported were details on how a local design review board might be set up to review development projects within the Pahoa Design District for compliance with the design guidelines. 4. Pohoiki Swimming Area Project Report: Oshi informed the AC about the funding request for this project that is included in the State CIP Budget bill introduced by Sen. Ruderman. She also explained how people could register their support for the bill. Oshi moved to authorize the PCDP AC Chair to electronically record support of the AC for the State CIP Budget proposal for the Pohoiki Swimming Area Project introduced by Sen. Ruderman. Second by Dan. Keiki asked how much of an area surrounding the proposed project site would be examined in the feasibility study. Oshi responded that the required environmental assessment would necessarily determine what surrounding area would likely be impacted. Motion passed with 9 votes aye. 5. Mass Transit Discussion: Dan suggested that an effort should be made to rejuvenate the mass transit initiatives in the PCDP and asked how greater community interest and participation might be achieved in such a process. Sharon moved to form a mass transit subcommittee for the purpose of devising a strategy for implementing the mass transit provisions of the PCDP. Second by Patti. Motion passed with 9 votes aye. Dan and Sharon agreed to serve on the subcommittee. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 1. Subdivision Connectivity Location Action Plan: It was noted that Sharon should be listed among the SC members instead of Oshi. Marlene Hapai, chair of the SC on Connectivity and Emergency Response ( CERSC), introduced Communication 2013 -11, which reported on the January 22 public meeting of CERSC, articulated their purpose, goals, objectives and actions, a Connectivity Action Plan, and Connectivity Connection Criteria. Marlene and Stephanie Bath also described some of the activities and programs the CERSC proposes to develop for the community. The CERSC requests approval of their Action Plan and Connectivity Location Criteria. Patti moved to accept the connectivity criteria provided in Communication 2013 -11 and recognize the AC is discarding Communications 2012 -44 and 2013 -1. Second by Dan. Motion passed with 9 aye votes. 2 2. Criteria for Action Committee Definition of Community: Public Testimony: i. Stephanie Bath expressed her concerns with the some of the criteria proposed in Communication 2013 -9 particularly regarding legally recognized associations that are not actually responsive to or representative of the community they claim to represent. ii. Hannah Hedrick requested that the AC postpone taking any action on the proposed criteria until the public has been afforded an opportunity to provide input on the document. Too many existing legally recognized associations are organized around and focused on issues and concerns not necessarily consistent with the PCDP. Farris explained some of the thought processes that led to the draft criteria presented and what categories of community groups were identified playing a role in Puna. Dan moved to table Communication 2013 -9 and further discussion on this matter to the next AC meeting. Second by Sharon. Motion approved with 9 votes aye. AGENDA REQUESTS FOR NEXT MEETING (March 12,2013): 1. Criteria for Action Committee Definition of Community - Farris 2. Ongoing project update - Dan 3. Support letter for Red Road Scenic Byways designation - Farris 4. Subdivision Connectivity subcommittee report 5. Glenwood Park proposal - Sharon ADJOURNMENT: Farris moved to adjourn the meeting. Second by Rene. Motion passed with 9 aye votes. Meeting adjourned at 5:38 p.m.