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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-11-25 Game Management Advisory Commission Minutes Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – November 25, 2013 Game Management Advisory Commission County of Hawaii Minutes Meeting Date: November 25, 2013 Time: 6:30 p.m. Place: Puna Conference Room (Hilo) via video conference to West Hawaii Civic Center - Mayor’s Conference Room CALL TO ORDER; At 6:27 pm by Chair Anthony “Tony” Sylvester. Quorum established. ROLL CALL: Per B. Kossow: Willie-Joe Camara, District 1 Dwayne “Ike” Yoshina, District 2 Anthony “Tony” Sylvester, District 3 Paul Bueltmann, District 4 Thomas H. Lodge, District 5 Kenneth “Kalani” DeCoito, District 6 Robert P. White – District 7 Mark C. Bartell – District 8 District 9 – Vacant B. Kossow : Quorum established ALSO PRESENT : B. Command, Deputy Planning Director Lincoln Ashida, Corporation Counsel Barbara Kossow, Administrative Specialist GUESTS: Teresa Nakama, presenter Cleon Bailey INTRODUCTION OF COMMISSION MEMBERS AND GUEST SPEAKER APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF August 26, 2013: A motion was made by W. Camara to approve the minutes/ Seconded by D. Yoshina. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote. 1 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – November 25, 2013 PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS: None REPORTS/SPECIAL COMMITTEE/PRESENTATOIN: A. UPDATE ON THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF SPORTSMAN’S CAUCUSES TH (NASC) 10 ANNUAL SPORTSMAN-LEGISLATOR SUMMIT NOVEMBER 18-21, 2013 BY WILLIE-JOE CAMARA AND MARK BARTELL Willie-Joe Camara and Mark Bartell attended along with Rep. Cindy Evans. th Summit was held in Whittington Illinois. This was the 10 Annual Summit and the first for anyone from Hawaii. The summit provided a national forum for state legislators, conservation organizations, state and federal fish and wildlife agencies and outdoor industry partners to discuss conservation policy and management issues and accomplishments. What is important about this event, it brings the state legislative sportsmen’s caucus members and partners together to collaborate and devise strategies to advance a sportsmen’s agenda in state legislatures across the country. W. Camara: Lately the biggest battle has been gun control with all the new gun laws that are coming up. The other issue is with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) with their whole anti-pet movement which includes dogs for hunting. M. Bartell: We were truly welcomed. I thought Rep. Evans was very engaged in the meetings. A tremendous resource, lots of bills that they’ve generated; lots of things we can learn from other states; lots of legal opinions. We need to recruit members from both the house and senate to move forward. A caucus takes 2 which should be bi-partisan. We plan to meet with Rep. Evans who was very enthusiastic about forming a caucus, before the next legislative session to develop a plan. \[Discussion\] B. UPDATE ON HAR 124 LETTER TO BLNR BY B. COMMAND The letter was sent out. No response, but I wasn’t necessarily expecting a response. I did talk to Lisa regarding an update on the process. It’s still within the Attorney General’s office. It’s still being vetted. I asked her if there was any idea when that might emerge from there and she said she had no idea. But it still is in the Attorney General’s office for vetting. 2 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – November 25, 2013 C. A PUBLIC ACCESS PRESENTATION BY T. NAKAMA. THERE IS A PROPOSED ALTERATION OF THE ALA LOA TRAIL BY KOHALA KAI LLC. Before her presentation, Chair asked for a brief update on her request to Chairman Aila for his presence to meet with the community. She said that to date the correspondence with Mr. Aila, which was emailed, she has had no response. She asked for assist from this commission. All board members have a copy of the letter. T. Nakama: (Handouts circulated) Kohala Kai LLC, an oceanfront luxury subdivision along the coastline, located north of Kawaihae Harbor just south of Keawewai Gulch below the Department of Hawaiian Homes heading toward Hawi on Akoni Pule Highway. The owners have denied access to the Ala Loa trail which is the mauka/makai jeep access road. E Mau Na Ala Hele is asking this advisory board for a letter of support to allow access of the Ala Loa trail and also access to the beach trail of Ala Kahakai. Two different issues the Ala Loa trail a jeep trail – E Mau Na Ala Hele along with the North Kohala Community Access Group seeking vehicle access and parking area. The Ala Kahakai trail is not a “fisherman trail” but a public access trail that is a very rough and rugged trail along the coastal area with some areas beaten up. These trails are already in place. All is needed is the public access and possibly moving the trail mauka to allow for a safe access. \[Discussion\] B. Command suggested, (1) this advisory board, for clarification purposes invite E Mau Na Ala Hele to do a power point presentation regarding this issue. T. Nakama provided contact information for Keith Wallis a board member of E Mau Na Ala Hele. (2) Bring in the developer and have him present his side of the issue, so the board hears both sides. (3) Lincoln (Ashida) might be able to suggest that someone from his office come in and brief everyone on the Highways Act of 1893. T. Nakama: This is not an easement issue. The Ala Loa Trail has been established and marked through Na Ala Hele State Division that it is a public access. Not enough pressure is put on the Planning Director that may have given our privileges away to the developer. I think that’s what E Mau is asking for – is the Planning Director to support the public access. L. Ashida: Stated that it is critical for this advisory commission hear both sides before taking an official position. L. Buchanan: For the record my name is Laurie Buchanan and I don’t have the \[inaudible\] that Teresa is referring to but I think I know a little bit about public 3 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – November 25, 2013 access and it seems to be on the shoreline it’s probably a special management area so it does fall under the county purview – the county is mandated under Chapter 205A the Coastal Zone Management Act to provide access to the shoreline. It usually comes in with the planning of the subdivision – in this case he’s saying that the county has purview over 6 lots or more of subdivision. At that time in either current provision long range planning provision for public access. And so Ala Loa Trail is probably – just what Teresa said – its public access and I don’t see anything that would prevent your commission or anybody from saying they support this particular project, whatever that may be, if it’s not contentious or what as public access. The Ala Kahakai Trail system is a very long trail system. It actually goes all the way down past Keauhou, way down there. It is a National Park trail which means the liability for that trail is also under the park service. Access to the shoreline under the county roads would be the liability of the county to provide that and the county is mandated to provide access. \[Inaudible\] from the feds under \[inaudible\] Coastal Zone Act. And so there is no issue providing that type of access. It would really be great for you guys to start having workshops on all this kind of stuff. \[Discussion\] Chair Sylvester asked T. Nakama to draft a letter or the highlights for board to look at the next meeting. She agreed. Chair thanked her for the presentation. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1. WILDLIFE REVOLVING FUND, CHAPTER 183-D Chair Sylvester shared a support letter addressed to the Hawaii State Legislature to the board members to review and approve with the following wordage. There is established a wildlife revolving fund under the Department of Land and Natural Resources, 183D-1-12, Section-10.5. The purpose would be to increase additional unencumbered funds free from PR matching funds to the Wildlife Revolving Fund. In summary – increases in funding shall be used to help implement a Game Management Plan and provide Game Management areas for increased hunting opportunities. Enable game enhancement in areas suitable for game and other game related activities. Currently, monies allocated to the Wildlife Revolving Fund are substantially insufficient for the Department to carry out the objectives of HRS 183-D. Signed letters of support to the hunters and others will be gathered to present to the Hawaii State Legislature in January. 4 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – November 25, 2013 \[Discussion\] Action: T. Lodge moved to adopt the support letter as circulated to the board; Seconded by K. DeCoito, and carried unanimously by voice vote. 2. WATERSHED PROTECTION PLAN Chair Sylvester: In light of a more recent Hawaii rainfall model data and its findings of greater recharge rates then what was used in the implementation of the WPP, we request that a moratorium on the WPP be held. This would enable such information to be presented for a more effective evaluation and a better assessment can be made on what priority areas should and should not be protected. Discuss and formulate a plan. DLNR Chairman Aila agreed to look at new data and make adjustments to any future plans. Current slated projects already identified are locked in. \[Discussion\] The data and specifics will be provided to aid in conversation with state representatives and senators. P. Bueltmann and T. Lodge to work on the factsheet with input from Chair Sylvester. Board members were encouraged and assigned various representatives and senators to contact. 3. FAMILIES AFIELDS PROGRAM Families Afields - Hawaii Hunting Participant Permit was circulated to all board members for review and comment on the proposed language that they would like to use for legislation to enact. (Underlined) Under 183 D-22 Application and issuance of licenses; fees – item #3 Showing of a valid Hawaii hunter education certificate, being the holder of a valid Hawaii Hunting Participant Permit, or written exemption issued under section 183D-28 or upon showing proof of completion of an approved hunter education course described in section 183D-28(b)(2). Under 183D-23 Licenses to expire when - 183D-New Section…Hunting Participant Permit -permit shall be issued to any previously unlicensed Hawaii Resident who would otherwise qualify for a hunting license as required by 183D- 28. A Hawaii Hunting Participant Permit shall be issued to any new hunter 7 years and older for the purpose of giving that participant the opportunity to learn whether or not they have the interest to continue hunting on their own by 5 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – November 25, 2013 completing the Hunter Education Course as required by 183D-28. Anyone under the age of 10 can participate under this program by renewing the Hawaii Hunting Participant Permit till age 10 or through the second consecutive fiscal license year if older than age 10. Any Hawaii Hunting Participant Permit tee shall at all times, while engaged in any hunting activity, have this Permit on their person and shall at all times be accompanied by a legally licensed Hawaii hunter aged 18 or older. Under 183D-28 Hunter education program – Number 4 – Obtains a Hunting Participant Permit issued to prospective hunters required to be in the presence of and under the guidance of a duly licensed Hawaii State Licensed Hunter while in the field for the purposes of hunting. T. Lodge indicated that the Hunter Ed program supports this. They will talk to the feds and see if there is any funding available. PowerPoint of this program available on disk and may be easily emailed. Board encouraged to share with legislators and others to support this program. Testimony will be the biggest challenge. We need to be proactive in getting as many people to sign on to doing this as we can. This is a neutral program – there shouldn’t be anybody against this. Not as in the Hunter Ed program. \[Discussion\] B. Command: Establish a program or is it funding, as well? T. Lodge: I don’t know whether it’s funding that’s needed for this other than the license. \[Inaudible\] B. Command: The Mayor has said, he would welcome anything that we can get to the legislature - he will – in fact he is expecting something from this group to take to the legislature and lobby for. \[Discussion\] It was suggested that Tom (Lodge) attend the legislature’s opening day or day(s) prior to introduce (lobby) the Families Afields Program. And also present mayor’s letter of support along with a copy of the PowerPoint presentation. \[Discussion\] Action: T. Lodge moved that GMAC support the Families Afields Program; seconded by D. Yoshida, and carried unanimously by voice vote. 6 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – November 25, 2013 NEW BUSINESS 1. No Pesticide use in our watershed. a) What is construed as a watershed? Discussion: Not sure if this is an issue for GMAC. Suggestion was made to invite someone with the expertise to present at a future meeting. 2. Public Access and Planning Department. Discussion A draft letter regarding public access to Mayor Kenoi was reviewed. Action: W. Camara moved to accept subject letter; seconded by D. Yoshida, and carried unanimously by voice vote. 3. DOFAW and EA exemptions Discussion \[Inaudible\] B. Command to forward list of exemptions (6 classes) to Chair Sylvester. Suggestion was made to enroll in receiving the Environmental Notice (bulletin) which announces the availability of Environmental Assessment (EA) and Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) under public review. 4. Filming and Picture taking on State and Conservation Lands. Discussion A state permit and necessary insurance is required. Laws and guidelines are in place. \[Inaudible\] 7 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – November 25, 2013 Suggestions for next agenda T. Nakama: Asked Chair Sylvester to consider adding the Mauna Lani – Black Sand Beach 49 to GMAC’s agenda for the next meeting. This has to do with keeping the public access open. M. Bartell: History Channel NEXT MEETING To be announced. ANNOUNCEMENTS Please help in filling the District 9 vacancy. Pu’u Wa’awa’a Advisory Council meeting to be held on December 8, 2013 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at the Pu’u Wa’awa’a Lake House. ADJOURNMENT Action: D. Yoshida moved to adjourn the meeting; seconded by T. Lodge, and carried unanimously by voice vote. Respectfully submitted by, Barbara Kossow, Secretary ATTEST: Anthony H. Sylvester, II 8