Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAC Minutes 10Feb2015 DRAFT William P. Kenoi Duane Kanuha Director Mayor Bobby Command Deputy Director County of Hawai‘i PLANNING DEPARTMENT PUNA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE  Aupuni Center 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720  Phone (808) 961-8288 Fax (808) 961-8742 Tuesday, February 10, 2015 DRAFT Meeting Minutes CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Patti Pinto called the Puna Community Development Plan (PCDP) Action Committee ' (AC) to order at 3:00 p.m. in the Keaau Community Center. The following persons were present: Action Committee: June Conant, Sharon Daun, Farris Etterlee, Patti Pinto, René Siracusa, Leila Kealoha, Elmer Solis and Oshi Simsarian. Susan Osborne was absent. René Siracusa left at 4:39 pm. Staff: Hans Santiago – PCDP Planner and Keiko Mercado – PCDP Planning Assistant. Members of the public: 11 ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: 1. Patti suggested adding to the agenda the Planning Directors request for recommendations from the AC on the Hawai‘i County General Plan. René moved to add the Planning Directors request for recommendations from the AC on the Hawai‘i County General Plan as an agenda item. Second by Sharon. Motion passed with 8 votes aye and 0 votes nay. 2. Patti suggested adding the new AC calendar and the possibility of adding standard verbiage to motions. Sharon moved to add the new AC calendar along with the possibility of adding standard verbiage to motions as an agenda item. Second by René. Motion passed with 8 votes aye and 0 votes nay. ANNOUNCEMENTS: 1. René announced that she was asked by Mayor Kenoi to sit on the Public Access Open Space and Natural Resource Committee (PONC) and she has accepted. 2. Patti announced that there will be a public workshop for the proposed amendment to the County of Hawai‘i General Plan Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide (LUPAG) Map, held at the Kea‘au Community Center on Wednesday, February 11, 2015 at 5:30pm. 3. Keiko announced that AC “meeting packets” would be saved for Action Committee members should they be absent from a meeting. PUBLIC TESTIMONY: Five people signed up to testify. One chose to testify at the start of the meeting and four chose to testify at the time of their agenda item. Hawai‘i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer 1. Yumi Kawano testified on agenda item #3, Volcano Long Range Plan Subcommittee. She is involved with the forest overlay part of the Volcano Long Range Plan. As a former wildlife biologist Yumi wants to protect and restore the forest for the native birds. The fact that Volcano is so close to the National Park, it adds another layer of importance to protecting our native forests and native birds and also being proactive in eliminating invasive species. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Sharon moved to approve the minutes of the January 13, 2015 meeting as submitted. Second by June. The motion to approve the minutes as submitted passed with 7 votes aye, 0 votes nay and 1 vote to abstain (Elmer voted to abstain due to his absence at the last meeting). NEW BUSINESS: 1.Communication No. 2015-8 – Connectivity and Emergency Response Subcommittee (CERS): Marlene reported on the activities of the subcommittee. Her report included the subcommittee’s discussion on increased traffic to Highway 11 via Chain of Craters Road if lava closes Highway 130 and the outcome of the informational meeting held with Mr. Warren Lee, Director of the Department of Public Works and Mr. Ben Ishii, County of Hawai’i Chief Engineer. Information that was gathered at both PREP Fairs along with all community input, comment and testimony was presented at the meeting. CERS members have come up with follow up recommendations based on the meeting with Mr. Lee and Mr. Ishii. New business discussed at the CERS meeting were the concerns and suggested solutions shared by subcommittee members and members of the public, regarding specific problem areas concentrated mostly on Highway 11. The full CERS report (Communication 2015-8) can be viewed and downloaded from the following website, http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/Weblink8/1/doc/71465/Page1.aspx 2.Pāhoa Regional Town Center Plan Subcommittee (PRTCPS): Jon reported on the activities of the subcommittee. They had their first meeting of 2015 on Monday, February 2. The consensus of the committee is the need to move forward. Businesses are reopening and life is ā continuing in a non-emergency state. The Phoa Main Street group has set up a meeting with Mayor Kenoi for February 11, 2015 and plan to request forward action for Pāhoa Town, a lava viewing station, the intended progression for the new Pāhoa Park and the acquisition of the lot th next to Luquin’s Restaurant. On February 17 the Pāhoa Design District Guidelines will be on the County Council agenda in Kona. 3.Volcano Long Range Plan Subcommittee (VLRP): Dan Taylor and Jeffrey Mermel reported on the activities of the subcommittee. Dan presented an overview of the suggested overlay districts included in the Volcano Long Range Plan. Jeffrey spoke to the way in which the community has been invited to be involved in the process and the misconceptions that are held by some community members. Action Committee members suggested flyers and posters to provide notice to the public of VLRP meetings. Meetings are now being held consistently at rd Cooper Center in Volcano Village on the 3 Thursdays of each month at 7pm. 4.Communication No. 2015-5 – Mt. View Village Center Plan Subcommittee (MTVS): Patti reported on the activities of the subcommittee. The subcommittees’ current work is centered on creating the format for their plan. They have decided to use the sections of the PCDP as ā'Ᾱ their framework; Mlama I Ka ina, Managing Growth, Transportation and Implementation. The full MTVS report (Communication No. 2015-5) can be viewed and downloaded from the following website, http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/Weblink8/1/doc/71430/Page1.aspx 5.Communication No. 2015-6 – Mass Transit Subcommittee (MTSC): June reported on the activities of the subcommittee. Public Testimony: 1.Jesse Floyd, Program Specialist for Developmental Disabilities Council, testified that transportation is a large issue for persons with intellectual disabilities. The Developmental Disabilities Council is concerned with the lack of “hub and spoke” and the lack of a MTA plan. An ordinance was adopted in 2008 that requires “hub and spoke” in the MTA plan. Insufficient transportation is a barrier for persons with developmental disabilities. Included in June’s report was the subcommittees’ discussion on efforts for a “hub and spoke” transit service for Puna and the submittal of a draft letter for Mass Transit Agency, to be considered by the AC. The subcommittee has sent many letters via the AC to Tiffany Kai at MTA and have received no response. René suggested that it may be time to involve the Mayor in this issue with MTA. Sharon asked if Council Members Danny Paleka and Greggor Ilagan could comment on this issue. Oshi asked Patti if she could invite Councilman Paleka and Councilman Ilagan to participate in the conversation. Patti invited Councilman Paleka and Councilman Ilagan to the table. Councilman Danny Paleka suggested that he try to set up a meeting with Tiffany Kai, June, Councilman Ilagan and himself as a means to get more information regarding the “hub and spoke” and the MTA Master Plan. Councilman Greggor Ilagan is disappointed in the lack of response from MTA and reported that MTA is in the process of hiring and they should be better staffed in the near future. He believes there are now 80 operating buses and Puna has benefited from the increase in busses. Oshi asked for an update on the status on the CIP request for increased bike carrying capacity on buses. The full MTSC report (Communication No. 2015-6) can be viewed and downloaded at the following website, http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/Weblink8/1/doc/71432/Page1.aspx 6.Communication No. 2015-7 – AC to Tiffany Kai (Mass Transit Agency) Requesting Information: Public Testimony: 1.Jesse Floyd, Program Specialist for Developmental Disabilities Council, testified that the Mass Transit Plan has to be a County wide effort. Don’t confuse systems with operations. He believes the root of it all is the lack of a master plan. Goals, barriers and systems need to be identified. Leila moved to accept Communication No. 2015-7. Second by Sharon. The AC considered a draft letter submitted by the MTSC requesting information on: -Number of operational buses and which areas they are serving; -Status of the development of the Hawai‘i Island Mass Transit Master Plan; and -Status of the development of mass transit service to the airports and post offices. June moved to add the sentence “The Subcommittee requests a response to the above prior to th the next scheduled meeting of the Mass Transit Subcommittee on February 24” immediately following the numbered bullets. Second by Elmer. Motion passed with 8 votes aye and 0 votes nay. René moved to add a CC to Mayor Kenoi. Second by Sharon. Motion passed with 8 votes aye and 0 votes nay. Sharon moved to accept the red edits on Communication No. 2015-7. Second by Oshi. Motion passed with 8 votes aye and 0 votes nay. Sharon moved to allow Hans to edit Communication No. 2015-7 as needed without changing the intent of the letter and with approval from the Chair. Second by Farris. Motion passed with 8 votes aye and 0 votes nay. Main motion to accept Communication No. 2015-7 as amended passed with 8 votes aye and 0 votes nay. Communication No. 2015-7 can be viewed and downloaded from the following website, http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/Weblink8/1/doc/71433/Page1.aspx 7.Impact of the Lava: The AC discussed the impacts that the lava flow is having on the Puna Community and the potential short term and long-range effect it may have on implementing the Puna CDP. Businesses are reopening and life is continuing. Community members are split on their optimism and pessimism. The smoke and vog have been terrible. 8.Action Committee providing feedback on the County of Hawai‘i General Plan update. (This agenda item was added to the agenda at the start of the meeting through a motion). The AC has been asked by the Planning Director to provide feedback on the GP update. Patti stressed the need for a well informed and well stated response. She expressed interest in working on this and asked for one more person to volunteer. Elmer and June both expressed interest in working with Patti. It was decided that Elmer and June would rotate working with Patti. 9.Action Committee Calendar and Motion Verbiage (This agenda item was added to the agenda at the start of the meeting through a motion). A calendar was created to keep everyone informed of deadlines, AC meeting dates, subcommittee meeting dates etc. The calendar will be sent to all AC members and Subcommittee chairs. Hans will work on composing a sentence that can be added to motions, allowing him the ability to edit draft letters without changing the intent of the letter and with the approval of the AC Chair. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1.Communication No. 2015-4: Proposed Planning Director-Initiated Amendment to Map 14 of the Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide (LUPAG) Map of the County of Hawai‘i General Plan: The PCDP AC discussed and considered recommendations to the proposed Director-initiated LUPAG amendment changing the land use designation for portions of Kea‘au Village and immediately surrounding Kea‘au Village. The PCDP AC also considered Communication No. 2015-4.2, draft letter from the AC to the Planning Director. Patti invited Kimo Lee and Connie Kiriu of W.H. Shipman, up to the table to answer questions that the AC members might have. Kimo reported that they have been working with the schools and community members and the response has been positive. AC members went over the maps and compared the land use concepts. Concerns were expressed regarding the land designation of urban expansion. The AC also wants to ensure that the community is informed and has a voice. The relationship between the General Plan and the PCDP and the differences between land use designations was discussed at length. Sharon moved to accept Communication No. 2015-4.2. Second by Leila. Farris moved to delete the second to last paragraph beginning “Also of concern” and the second to last sentence in the last paragraph beginning “Therefore, the PCDP AC”. Second by Leila. Motion passed with 7 votes aye and 0 votes nay. Oshi moved to add the sentence “The PCDP AC would like to be kept informed on the progress of this proposed amendment” just before the last sentence beginning “Thank you”. Second by Elmer. Motion passed with 7 votes aye and 0 votes nay. Elmer called the question. After discussion, Elmer withdrew his call the question. Sharon moved to allow Hans and June to edit Communication No. 2015-4.2 as needed without changing the intent of the letter and with approval of the Chair. Second by Elmer. Original motion to accept Communication No. 2015-4.2 as amended and allowing Hans and June editing rights, passed with 6 votes aye, 0 votes nay and 1 vote to abstain (Leila). Communication No. 2015-4.2 can be viewed and downloaded on the following website, http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/WebLink8/DocView.aspx?id=71316&dbid=1 AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING: (March 10, 2015) 1. CERS Report 2. VLRPS Report 3. Budget Info/Update 4. MTS Report 5. MVPS Report 6. Grubbing and Grading Brochure 7. General Plan Update 8. Admin Changes 9. Lava Impact ADJOURNMENT: The Chair, without objection, adjourned the meeting at 6:16 p.m.