HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-13 CERS report-minutes 24Feb15Communication No. 2015 -13
PCDP Subcommittee on Connectivity and Emergency Response
Meeting — February 24, 2015 Keaau Community Center
5:00 p.m.
MINUTES
Call to Order: 5:00 p.m.
January 27, 2015 Minutes unanimously approved as circulated.
Present: Patti Pinto, June Conant, Jon Olson, Russel Jones, Hannah Hedrick,
Marlene Hapai, Chair
Old Business:
Recommendations for follow up on meeting with Warren Lee
Once again discussed January 9, 2015 meeting with Warren Lee, Director of
County of Hawaii Department of Public Works. Discussed need for action on
Connectivity Location suggestions forwarded for implementation that would
connect Puna Uka and Waena subdivisions allowing residents from Volcano to
Keaau to move throughout their subdivisions. Many of them would be easy to do
at this point and cost effective.
Need to schedule meetings with the following individuals:
Discussed need to share community input collected with all levels of government
to encourage working in partnership with one another to create an action plan and
acquire funding to address continuing connectivity needs. The following
representatives from different branches of government will be scheduled to meet
with PCDP Action Committee and CER Subcommittee chairs.
o Councilman Ilagan
o Councilman Paleka
o Representative San Buenaventura
o Representative Onishi
o Senator Ruderman
o Representative Gabbard
o Senator Schatz
New Business:
Ad hoc Committee on Connectivity and Emergency Response
A draft of elements to include in a proposal for an Ad hoc committee on
Connectivity and Emergency Response was discussed in anticipation of sending a
draft proposal to Councilmen Ilagan and Paleka who have shown interest in this
committee formation. Should this committee be formed, the official wording will
be shared at that time.
It was stressed by Jon Olson that the 91 purpose of this Ad hoc committee should
be the creation of a successful viability study of connectivity location community
recommendations so these connections can be funded and implemented. It was
Communication No. 2015 -13
also stressed by Hannah Hedrick that we should be looking at connections that are
easy to implement. Also, should properties need to be purchased, do it while they
are still affordable.
Lastly, mass transit and linear parks need to be incorporated at the same time as
part of the infrastructure to meet additional community needs associated with
connectivity and emergency response.
After much discussion, the subcommittee unanimously approved their support for
the formation of an Ad hoc committee and sending information forward to
Councilmen Ilagan and Paleka that they are in favor of doing so.
• Open Discussion on Topics of Concern to CERS members and others in
attendance
No new items were discussed, but a sense of urgency was put forth as community
members throughout the district continue to prepare for the unknown and possibly
inevitable. Connectivity must move forward, especially between subdivisions, to
provide alternate routes and alleviate greater loads on already over -used Highway
11, today the road for 3.5 million visitors per year to Hawaii Volcanoes National
Park, the second most visited site in the State of Hawaii. Add everyday local
traffic to this number and anticipate 2000 new users should Pahoa residents have
to use the Chain of Craters Road to "get to the other side ", the implementation
must begin soon. The time for action is now.
Next Meeting: March 24, 2015, 5:00 p.m., Location: Keaau Community Center
Adjournment: 6:20 p.m.