2014-30.2 AC-Kenoi VLRP funding 13May14

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Communication No. 2014-30.2 May 13, 2014 To: Mayor William Kenoi Aloha, Mayor Kenoi: The Volcano Long Range Planning Subcommittee of the Puna Community Development Plan Action Committee, in conjunction with The Volcano Community Association (VCA), is requesting allotment of the $100,000 included in the FY 2013-14 CIP budget in order to hire a planning consultant for the preparation of our Volcano village center plan suitable for adoption by ordinance. To that end we request that you consider identifying other CIP allotments for projects that may not be ready for implementation and/or general funds that could be re-directed to fund the Volcano village center plan. At the very least we hope you will include our project in your next bond authorization request. Over the past two years the VCA has engaged in a process of updating and revising the 2007 Volcano 20-20 Plan that has resulted in community a vision, goals, objectives and actions that enjoy broad support within the Volcano community. However, we now require professional guidance in translating the work of the community volunteers engaged in this planning effort over the past 29 years into a working plan with guidelines and standards as may be appropriate to define how growth and development in the Volcano planning area shall occur. We understand that Planning Department staffing is currently insufficient to assume the task of preparing our plan in-house. However, with extensive community assistance we believe that the Planning Department would be able to manage the project with a planning consultant onboard. We believe that our current draft plan will provide exceptional guidance for a professional planner to ensure all elements are in alignment with County and State laws, regulations and plans, and that it is properly linked with the PCDP. Realistic funding sources and strategies need to be identified for implementation of our action proposals, that the maps are displayed professionally, and that it is presented in a professional and coherent manner. We don't know of another community in Puna, or elsewhere in Hawaii County, where a totally grass-roots community plan has advance so far. We believe it is a good plan, and might serve as a model for other village plans. We believe we have properly expressed the transition from concept to implementation. We have identified and prioritized the actions we believe are necessary to guide growth in our community for the next 20 or 30 years. We desire to work collaboratively with County to ensure the sustainable and planned growth of the Volcano community. We thank you in advance for helping us to secure the funding necessary for us to complete the planning process that began in Volcano nearly 30 years ago. Sincerely, Volcano Long Range Planning Subcommittee of the Puna Community Development Plan Action Committee