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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAC Minutes 14January2014 FINALWilliam P. Kenoi Mayor County of Hawaii PLANNING DEPARTMENT 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, January 14, 2014 Meeting Minutes CALL TO ORDER Duane Kanuha Director Bobby Command Deputy Director Chairperson Patti Pinto called the Puna Community Development Plan (PCDP) Action Committee (AC) meeting to order at 3:02 p.m. in the Kea "au Community Center. The following persons were present: Action Committee: Patti Pinto, June Conant, Oshi Simsarian, Rene Siracusa, Susan Osborne, Leila Kealoha and Elmer Solis. Farris Etterlee arrived at 3:05 p.m. and Sharon Daun arrived at 3:15 p.m. Staff. Larry Brown - PCDP Project Manager, Keiko Mercado - PCDP Planning Assistant and Hans Santiago - County Planner Members of the public: 5 ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA - None ANNOUNCEMENTS 1. Larry introduced Hans Santiago, newly appointed Planner with the County of Hawaii and Keiko Mercado, the new Puna CDP Community Planning Assistant. PUBLIC TESTIMONY - None APPROVAL OF MINUTES Rene moved to approve the minutes of the December 10, 2013 meeting as submitted. Second by Elmer. The motion to approve the minutes as submitted passed with 8 votes aye (Sharon was not yet present). NEW BUSINESS 1. Connectivity and Emergency Response Subcommittee ( CERSC). Marlene Hapai submitted a written report (Communication 2014 -4) on the recent activities of the CERSC. The Community Input Packets being prepared by the CERSC and discussed in the written report will also be given to each AC member. CERSC meetings are held on the 4th Tuesdays of every month at the Kea'au Community Center at 5 p.m. The CERSC meeting schedule will be posted on the PCDP website. Larry reminded the Action Committee that this report is neither actionable nor open for discussion at this meeting. 2. Communication No. 2014 -1: Mass Transit Subcommittee Report. Marty Mimmack read the meeting notes for the Mass Transit Subcommittee meeting of December 17, 2013. The AC then considered the five issues presented to the AC in Communication No. 2013 -69 on December 10, 2013. The five issues and resulting AC responses are as follows: Reinsert a Mass Transit plank on the PCDP AC priority list. It was pointed out that Item # 14 on the priority list does provide for implementation of mass transit projects called for in the PCDP. ii. Officially ask Mayor Kenoi to fund an Island -wide Mass Transit Master Plan. We could help develop his letter of request. It would include things like asking the planning department to obtain and share MTA administrative procedures for establishing new bus stops. The CIP request from the AC for the Mass Transit Master Plan addresses this issue. Oshi moved to amend the title of Item #14 on the PCDP Project List to read: "Development of an island wide Mass Transit Plan - PCDP Section 4.2.3a ". Second by Susan. The motion passed as amended with votes 9 aye and 0 nay. iii. Establish consistent communication with Puna/Ka'u State Russell Ruderman to develop a course of action for obtaining Federal Transit Administration grants that we are woefully missing out on because of lack of critical personnel at the state level. It was pointed out that subcommittees should submit draft letters to the AC that they would like the AC to consider sending out in the interest of furthering implementation of the PCDP. iv. Update the PCDP website to more accurately reflect current subcommittees. The current folder scheme is extremely inadequate. Larry reported that the updating and reorganization of the subcommittee section of the PCDP website has already begun. Subcommittee meeting dates and related information will be posted on the PCDP website as it is received from each subcommittee. Larry will look into conducting a PCDP website navigation training session for all AC members. V. Develop a specific protocol for communicating with the AC chair and members that subcommittee chairs can use for official PCDP business. It was confirmed that the AC Member(s) in each subcommittee are the primary link back to the PCDP Action Committee and that the Sunshine Law applies to all AC Members participating in subcommittee meetings the same as it does in AC meetings. 3. Communication No. 2014 -2: Mass Transit Master Plan CIP Request. It was noted that this budget request is for the 2014 -15 fiscal year CIP Budget and that a subsequent bond authorization bill will be need to be submitted to and approved by the Council for the funding to become available. Also, the spelling of the word vitality in section 16. (Sustainability Focus) of the Project Data/Financial Impact Statement will be corrected. Oshi moved to approve the Project Data /Financial Impact Statement as submitted. Second by Rene. The motion passed as amended above with votes 9 aye and 0 nay. 2 4. Springer Kaye, Big Island Invasive Species Council. Springer gave the AC a brief overview on the impact of Albizia trees in Puna along with what steps have been taken thus far to eradicate and control their continued spread and also what actions they continue to seek. 5. Puna Community Certified Kitchen. Rene submitted a written report (Communication No. 2014 -3) that was provided to each AC member outlining the progress of Pahoa Feed & Fertilizer and Malama O Puna in getting the certified kitchen permitted under Special Permit No. 08 -68 in March 2009 completed. Rene will draft a letter in support of the proposed Community Certified Kitchen for review and approval by the AC at their next meeting. UNFINISHED BUSINESS PCDP Action High Priority List. In the process of reviewing and attempting to update the priority list some Members expressed confusion over the purpose of the list and the way it is structured. Sharon offered to prepare an alternative table or spreadsheet format for the AC to consider. Ferris will continue to accept suggestions for modifications to the existing Priority List and to restructure so as to deemphasize the suggestion that the list is a "priority" listing of AC projects. Each will bring their drafts to the next AC meeting for continued review. Larry will reactivate the link on the PCDP website that enables access to the original matrix and work -plan templates that were created in years prior as a tool identifying implementation actions and project for progress tracking. An email containing the link to this matrix and work - plans will be sent to all AC members. AGENDA REQUESTS FOR NEXT MEETING (February 11, 2014) 1. Review of a letter that will be drafted by Rene in support of the Puna Community Certified Kitchen. 2. Review of a letter that will be drafted by the Mass Transit Subcommittee addressed to State Senator Russell Ruderman. 3. Review the updated PCDP Priority List and alternative format options. 4. Oshi and Rene to present briefly on the protection of Ag Lands. 5. Patti Pinto to present a brief report on the Mt. View Community Village Center Plan. 6. Review of Communication 2014 -7 from Council Member Zendo Kern. ADJOURNMENT: The Chair, without objection, adjourned the meeting at 5:54 p.m.