Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAC Minutes 8April2014 William P.Kenoi JNTV OF 11 Duane Kanuha Mayor Director Bobby Command Deputy Director ATE OF'M�•'� 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, April 8, 2014 Meeting Minutes CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Patti Pinto called the Puna Community Development Plan (PCDP) Action Committee (AC) meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. in the Kea'au Community Center. The following persons were present: Action Committee: Patti Pinto, June Conant, Oshi Simsarian, Rene Siracusa, Leila Kealoha and Farris Etterlee. Sharon Daun arrived at 3:02p.m., Susan Osborne arrived at 3:05p.m. .Staff. Larry Brown- PCDP Project Manager, Keiko Mercado - PCDP Planning Assistant Members of the Public: 22 ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA-None ANNOUNCEMENTS PUBLIC TESTIMONY: Nine people signed up to testify, four of the nine testifiers deferred their testimony until the agenda item came up for consideration by the AC. 1. Tiffany Hunt, Puna resident, testified that she is in strong support of re-opening S. Lauko Rd. as a means of beginning connectivity between subdivisions. Tiffany also expressed her general support of working closely with the individual communities in order to come to agreements on different points of connectivity. 2. Neena Roumell, Mt. View resident, testified that she is in support of re-opening S. Lauko Rd. as a point of connectivity and as a way to create a safer, more expedient way for parents and children to travel to and from Mt. View Elementary School. 3. Anita Owen, Mt. View resident, testified that she is in support of re-opening S. Lauko Rd. as a point of connectivity and a safer way for parents and children to travel between their home communities and Mt. View Elementary School. 4. Stephanie Bath, Puna resident, testified in favor of connectivity and believes that the re- opening of S. Lauko Rd. should be a major priority, as well as continuing to move forward with the selection of connectivity locations. She also noted that it will be important to spread out these points of connectivity to avoid placing a heavy burden on certain subdivisions and roads. Stephanie also testified on the issues of Mass Transit. She is a strong supporter of the hub and spoke concept and believes it needs to begin now,with looping from Hilo to Kea'au, Kea'au to P5hoa and Kea'au to Volcano. With this in place, she believes that the frequency of bus riders will increase. 5. Kent Cobb, resident of Fern Acres, testified in support of connectivity and the impact it would have on fire safety, student safety and improved bus access. He also supports the idea of re- opening S. Lauko Rd. APPROVAL OF MINUTES June moved to approve the minutes of the March 11, 2014 meeting as submitted. Second by Rene. The motion to approve the minutes passed with 8 votes aye, 0 nay. NEW BUSINESS 1. Connectivity and Emergency Response Subcommittee (CERSC): Public Testimony: 1. Frank Commendador, President of the Fern Acres Community Association, testified that there are many issues arising in their community with the significant increase in population. It is his position that Fern Acres is in dire need of an alternative route in and out of their community. He feels strongly that the re-opening of S. Lauko Rd. would be a huge benefit for his community and would increase vehicular safety in and out of Mt. View Elementary School. Frank is requesting a letter of support from the AC to the Mayor and other County Officials, for the re-opening of S. Lauko Rd. 2. Steven Hirt, resident of Kea'au Ag Lots, testified that his community would like more time to testify and to gather information from its association before making a statement on connectivity. 3. Hannah Hedrick, resident of Fern Forest, testified that she would like to see the CERSC move forward with 2 connectivity points immediately. The first being S. Lauko Rd. and the second being Kalapani St. to connect Fern Forest and Eden Rock. Hannah also testified on Mass Transit stating that she is in support of a hub and spoke system. Her biggest concern is that there is no bus transportation to the airport and she would like to see an AC member champion this to ensure that it happens. 4. Jon Olson, Puna resident, testified that the connectivity issue started because of the communities concerns re: access by police, fire and emergency medical services. He believes that whatever happens will have to be a function of the Government and that individual communities cannot be relied on to maintain and regulate the connectivity points chosen. Marlene Hapai (CERSC) reported on the minutes from their March 25th meeting (Communication 2014-20) and read a portion of her testimony in favor of the Council forming an Ad Hoc Committee. Thus far, there are 48 strongly suggested points of connectivity and Marlene is recommending that this information be prioritized in order to gain more support and really get moving on connectivity. A request for a possible vote by the AC at the May 13th meeting will be considered. PREP Fair meetings will now be held separately from the CERSC meetings to ensure proper planning. The PREP Fair Committee is meeting on the third 2 Tuesday of the month at 5p.p. at the Kea'au Community Center, their next meeting date is Tuesday, April 15 at 5p.m. 2. Mass Transit Subcommittee (MTSC): Mark Hinshaw reported that he is the new Chairperson for the MTSC. Mark and Jon Olson will be meeting with Tiffany Kai, Mass Transit Agency Administrator, at some point next week to discuss the status of the FY 2014-15 CIP budget request. Larry reported that it is highly likely that the CIP request will be included in the Mayors final budget proposal. In an attempt to better link the MTSC and CERSC together, meetings for MTSC will now be held at 3:30p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the Kea'au Community Center. (CERSC meeting are immediately following at 5p.m.) 3. Volcano Long Range Plan (VLRP): Dan Taylor, Chairperson of the VLRP, requested that the VLRP Committee be officially linked with the PCDP AC by becoming an official Subcommittee. VLRP Committee feels that they are ready to move forward and are interested in finding out how they can secure funding to help them take the next steps. Vikki Milon, member of the VLRP Committee, provided a brief overview of the VLRP and the importance of its continued forward motion. Rene moved to allow the VLRP Committee to become a subcommittee of the PCDP AC. Second by Susan. The motion passed with 8 votes aye and 0 votes nay. June moved that Sharon Daun be assigned to the VLRP Subcommittee. Second by Sharon. The motion passed with 8 votes aye and 0 votes nay. 4. Communication No. 2014-16: Oshi Moved that the AC approve the letter as written. Second by Rene. The motion passed with 8 votes aye and 0 votes nay. 5. Local Design Review Committees: Larry noted that there have been several different strategies that have been presented to the Planning Dept. by the Pahoa Steering Committee and vice versa, on how local design review could be accomplished. At this point both the Planning Dept. and the Pahoa Steering Committee have a mutual agreement on what they believe is the best way to move forward. The revised ordinance is set up for the AC to identify a local community entity that would take over the responsibility of creating and managing a design review committee absent any MOU (Memorandum of Understanding). This latest idea is still pending approval from Corporation Counsel. Rene moved that we push the revised ordinance forward by considering the MOU a non- substantive point. Second by Oshi. Susan moved to make a friendly amendment to Rene's original motion, in addition to what Rene said, that it be subject to the approvals of the attorneys and the Planning Director. Second by Leila. After discussion the amended motion failed to pass with I vote aye (Susan), 6 votes nay and I vote to abstain (Leila). The original motion made by Rene passed with 5 votes aye and 3 votes to abstain (Farris, Leila & Sharon). 6. Communication 2014-14: Rene moved to file communication 2014-14. Second by Oshi. Motion passed with 7 votes aye, 0 votes nay and I vote to abstain (Sharon). 3 UNFINISHED BUSINESS 1. Action Priority List/Matrix/Work Plan: The updated matrix was presented for discussion. New ideas were given on how to further improve the flow of the matrix and how to create more of a working plan. Larry and Keiko will incorporate the suggestions from the AC and present the amended matrix at the next AC meeting in May. AGENDA REQUESTS FOR NEXT MEETING (May 13, 2014) 1. Connectivity and Emergency Response Subcommittee (CERSC) will present its report on Puna Connectivity Locations with a request for Action Committee approval of the report. 2. Mass Transit Subcommittee (MTSC). 3. Communication No. 2014-19 4. Mission Statement—Amendment to Operating Guidelines to include the mission statement 5. Action Matrix 6. Town meeting(s) 7. Support letter for Pahoa Design District Ordinance (Oshi) 8. Letter to the Mayor requesting the designation of monies to the VLRP CIP (Sharon) 9. Draft letter of support for Kikala-Keokea to seek funding (Leila) 10. Draft letter from the AC to Public Works re: S. Lauko Rd. (Sharon) 11. Letter from the AC in support of the Dept. of Parks and Recreation accepting the funds offered by Greggor Ilagan to do a feasibility study for the Pohoiki swimming area project (Oshi) 12. Discuss the Council's Ad Hoc Committee on Connectivity and Emergency Access and its formation/function etc. (Farris) ADJOURNMENT: The Chair, without objection, adjourned the meeting at 5:57 p.m. 4