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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil RES 257-15COUNTY OF HAWAI'I STATE OF HAWAI'I RESOLUTION NO. 257 15 A RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE COUNTY OF HAWAII GENERAL PLAN, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GENERAL PLAN COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW PROCESS. WHEREAS, section 16.1(1) of the County of Hawai`i General Plan (2005 edition), Hawai`i County Planning Director, Duane Kanuha initiated a comprehensive review of the General Plan on February 6, 2015; and WHEREAS, the Council submits this resolution in response to Director Kanuha's invitation to submit recommended amendments to the General Plan for further consideration and review by the Planning Director and the Planning Commissions prior to the Council taking final action; and WHEREAS, the Council believes it is in the best interest of the General Plan Revision process to first consider the overarching principles and policies prior to pursuing strategy options and data research, and therefore here addresses General Plan principles, policies, and goals; and WHEREAS, the Council believes that every effort should be made to balance and maximize the interlocking objectives of environmental, socio-cultural and economic well-being but also seeks to clarify the priority status of environmental and socio-cultural well-being; and WHEREAS, the Community Development Plans and Area Improvement Plans now provide the appropriate vehicle for community level planning, and therefore the revised General Plan should focus on island-wide policies and not include regional and community level objectives and action plans; and WHEREAS, the Council believes reducing the General Plan subject matter policies to key island-wide goals and priorities is preferable to the more descriptive broad brush approach of the 2005 General Plan, and therefore recommends that the background statistics and findings as well as the strategies and action plans be set forth separately; and WHEREAS, the Council believes that areas in which the County and the State have overlapping jurisdiction, such as in the areas of health, energy, agriculture, and tourism, are matters that the County also has responsibility to advance in pursuit of island wide well-being and therefore the revised General Plan should also specifically addresses those subject areas; and WHEREAS, the Council believes it is also in the best interest of the County to advance County government organizational health and fiscal health as separate and distinct General Plan objectives; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that the Planning Director consider the following proposals during the Director's review and analysis of suggestions offered during this initial phase of the comprehensive review and ultimately incorporate them as appropriate into the final proposed amendments to the Hawaii County General Plan: 1. Retain Sections 1.1 and 1.2 of the 2005 General Plan as Chapter 1 of the Revised General Plan; 2. Insert the attached Exhibit A "GENERAL PLAN POLICIES AND PRINCIPLES" as Chapter 2 ofthe Revised General Plan; 3. Insert the attached Exhibits B through Exhibit 0, "GENERAL PLAN CATEGORIES" as Chapter 3 of the Revised General Plan, using the following or similar titles: B. AGRICULTURE C. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT D. EDUCATION AND LIBRARIES E. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES: F. ENERGY G. ENVIRONMENT H. GOVERNANCE AND ETHICS I. HEALTH AND RECREATION J. HOUSING AND SHELTER K. MILITARY L. SENSE OF PLACE/NATURAL BEAUTY/CULTURE/PUBLIC ACCESS M. TOURISM N. TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC CIRCULATION O. WATER AVAILABILITY AND QUALITY, WASTE WATER SERVICES, AND SOLID WASTE SERVICES; 4. Retain Chapters 15 and 16 of the 2005 General Plan as the final Chapters in the Revised General Plan; 5. Place the 2005 General Plan Sections 1.6, 1.7, and 1.8, as appropriately updated, in the Appendices to the Revised General Plan; 6. Place all statistical analysis and background research in the Appendices to the Revised General Plan appendices; and 7. Place the Strategies and Action Plan Sections in a separate Chapter or in the Appendices to the Revised General Plan as the Planning Director deems appropriate. BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this resolution to Hawai`i County Planning Director, Duane Kanuha. Dated at Hawai`i, this day of 20 . INTRODUCED BY: Margaret Wille COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAI`I ROLL CALL VOTE AYES NOES ABS EX CHUNG DAVID EOFF ILAGAN KANUHA ONISHI PALEKA POINDEXTER WILLE Reference: C-430/Waived PC RESOLUTION NO. 257 15 COUNTY COUNCIL County of Hawai`i Hilo, Hawai`i I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the County of Hawai`i on ATTEST: COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON &PRESIDING OFFICER Exhibit A GENERAL PLAN POLICIES AND PRINCIPLES PART I. THE OVERARCHING PRINCIPLES OF THE GENERAL PLAN. Principle 1. Prioritization of environmental and socio-cultural well-being All county decision-making shall routinely be based on whether there is a positive impact on each of the following, in the following descending order of priority: 1. Malama `aina: Positive environmental well-being impact; and, 2. Pono: Positive social and cultural well-being impact; and, 3. Kuleana: Positive economic well-being impact. Principle 2: Prioritization of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness The County shall routinely assess all programs to maximize public safety and emergency preparedness, as a priority over public convenience. Principle 3: Prioritization of Organizational Health The County, and all its agencies and units, shall routinely self-monitor itself in terms of overall organization and efficiency. Principle 4: Prioritization of Fiscal Health The County, and all its agencies and units, shall routinely pursue a level of fiscal health such that government services can function efficiently for all basic services. PART II. DISCUSSION OF THE THREE OVERARCHING PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMIC WELL-BEING, SOCIO-CULTURAL WELL-BEING, AND ECONOMIC WELL-BEING. Economic well-being, environmental well-being, and socio-cultural well-being increasingly merge once the focus is on long-term well-being. These are not silo classifications and instead are interlocking objectives. As interlocking objectives the goal must be to positively impact all three areas of well-being, and conversely to minimize harm to any of these three well-being objectives. Every effort must be to avoid direct conflict between the three principles. Selection of strategies that advance economic interests but does not provide for positive environmental and positive socio-cultural impacts is not acceptable. For purposes of reviewing a proposed plan or strategy, an initial assessment shall be to individually assess the following subcategories: 1. Short-term economic well-being (usually assumed); 2. Long-term economic well-being; 3. Social well-being of individuals and families, including educational opportunities; 4. Cultural well-being of the island's heritage and its diverse populations, including preservation of and public access to sacred and special places; and 5. Environmental well-being of the `aina, including of the land and soils, of the waters surface, underground, and coastal, and of the air. Principle 1. Prioritization of environmental and socio-cultural well-being The highest priority of environmental well-being. There no longer exists the luxury of taking the well-being of the environment for granted. The premise that the `aina will take care of itself or at least will repair itself over time, is no longer a sustainable model. Hawai`i Island is also faced with an increasing number of cumulative environmental challenges—global warming, rising land and ocean temperatures, droughts, sea level rise, harmful invasive species, and more turbulent weather patterns. These challenges must be considered in all planning decisions. The next highest priority of socio-cultural well-being. Social well-being encompasses all of the human challenges that confront the community as a whole and as individuals, in terms of basic needs, such as adequate food and shelter, health care, day-to-day safety. Cultural well-being and a sense of place provide the foundation for a vibrant community identity which encompasses that which is sacred and special to individual communities and as an Island `Ohana. A concerted effort to stem the rise in crime, especially drug related, must be tackled on a community level and not just left to the police. Likewise with the economic downturn, we are also faced with rising homelessness and rising numbers of children who go hungry to school. Rather than continue with a focus on handouts for those in need, a critical part of all social service programs—from housing to health care, must be to incorporate a job and educational training to help break cycles of dependence "on the system". It is also critical that the county engage the public as a community on a commitment to community wide health, both mental health and physical health. Priorities with respect to build out infrastructure and funding must reflect that priority. For example,providing safe pedestrian access ways along with safe bikeways is now a higher priority than automobile convenience. The priority of short-term and long-term economic well-being. Short-term economic well-being is an inherent human goal, starting with the need to provide for food and shelter and thereafter for all other individual and family needs and desires. Each community member has a kuleana to care for themselves and their family. Each community member also has a kuleana—as an individual and community kuleana- to support the long-term economic well-being of their community. Promoting and facilitating educational opportunities is one key to long-term economic well-being. In essence education is about connecting those seeking knowledge with those who know have the knowledge in a particular area. Those who are in a position to mentor, whether as an instructor, as an employer, as a neighbor, or as a volunteer, are asked to contribute to the pool of knowledge—to share their mana'o with those who seek knowledge and training in a particular field. All community members are in a position to contribute to the island wide economic well- being—in one capacity or another. We can no longer view the world in terms of two classes - the haves and the have-nots. There are no free lunches—to the extent one is fit and able of course. All who reside on this island, who are a part of this Island, are asked to contribute in light of one's skill set and abilities to face the challenges ahead. Likewise there is longer room for the approach of"Fend for yourself'. We share one and the same island canoe. Principal 2: Prioritization of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness The interim between the last major revision of the General Plan in 2005 and the present— is highlighted by landmark cases supporting the public trust doctrine. The Hawai`i constitutional public trust doctrine underscores the obligation of both State and County governments to protect our natural resources from overuse and abuse, for the benefit of both the current and future generations. Hawai`i County took a step further by amending its "Constitution", the County Charter, by imposing on the County government a public trust obligation for both natural and cultural resources. It is also during the period since the 2005 Edition of the General Plan, that Hawai`i County was faced with a wave of natural disasters—hurricanes, tropical storms, earthquakes, tsunamis, and a volcanic eruption that has held a significant region of the County hostage. These acute disasters have provided the island community with a kind of reality check. Individually and collectively, residents cannot take well-being for granted. Disaster planning and resiliency planning are critical starting with the need for redundancy and back-up systems. Redundancy in networking and connectivity is critical for all essential services from road connectivity to media network connectivity (internet radio/tv/newspaper). And rather than becoming territorial about responsibilities, overlap and sharing of resources shall be the norm. Principal 3: Prioritization of Organizational Health Improved organizational structure and connectivity between all branches and units within the County government shall be a high priority. A new emphasis will be placed on strengthening the networking and communication between the Mayor, the Council Members, the County Departments and Agencies, County Commissions and Boards, and the Community Development Plan Action Committees. All units within the County government must routinely engage in self-monitoring and performance evaluation. Increased collaboration and partnership with the state and federal governments is also essential. Principal 4: Prioritization of Fiscal Health The County shall pursue a level of fiscal health such that government services can function efficiently in all Districts for all basic services. As part of the General Plan the County shall pursue strategies to fund its goals and objectives. Prioritization of increasing revenue streams without simply raising property taxes will be made an agenda item in all budget discussions. As part of achieving fiscal health, the County shall seek more taxing authority from the state, such as through increased allocation of TAT revenues, as well as increased funding from fees and penalties, and shall rally against unfunded mandates. Likewise the County must act proactively to ensure that the neighboring Islands receive their fair share of state infrastructure funding. A greater emphasis shall also be placed on grant writing for all departments. PART III. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE GENERAL PLAN AND THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLANS The 2005 General Plan set forth specific data, goals, strategies, and action items for each region of the County. However between the years 2005 and the present, regional Community Development Plans have been adopted and approved by the County Council. The revised General Plan therefore addresses only island-wide goals and policies rather corresponding regional or community goals and policies that would more appropriately be included in the single regional or community development plans. PART IV. NEW ITEMS IN THE GENERAL PLAN The County must accept its kuleana with respect to areas in which the County's jurisdiction overlaps with state and/or federal jurisdiction. Areas of overlapping jurisdiction include health, energy, agriculture, corrections, coastal waters, surface water quality and quantity, transportation, tourism, and recreation. These areas were not addressed with any particularity in the previous General Plan. The revised General Plan will now address these and other areas of overlapping jurisdiction. PART V. CLARIFICATION OF THE HIERARCHY OF COUNTY LAWS Other than the County Charter, the General Plan trumps all Community Development Plans, all Area Improvement Plans such as the Hilo Development Plan, all County Ordinances and Rules, as well as the County's Operating and Capital Budgets. The Community Development Plans however are to be read as incorporated by reference in the General Plan and in the absence of language in the General Plan that is expressly and specifically inconsistent therewith, take precedence over any less specific provision of the General Plan. The current Community Development Plan regions are Puna, Kona,North Kohala, and South Kohala. The Hamakua, and Ka'U Community Development Plans are expected to be completed prior to passage of the Revised General Plan. Likewise, to the extent that a Community Development Plan contains both district level directives as well as community level directives, the district or regional level directives take precedence. GENERAL PLAN CATEGORIES Exhibit B Agriculture 1. BIODIVERSITY AND HEALTH OF THE SOIL: a. Prioritize the long-term health of the soil and surrounding ecosystems, including by promoting sequestration farming practices that maximize the amount of carbon dioxide pulled from the atmosphere and minimize its loss when stored in soil such as use of cover crops, routine crop rotation, and expansive composting to limit the impact of drought. b. Promote on-island private and community compost operations to maximize the availability of compost and mulch (that has been processed to eliminate the risk of little red fire ants and other invasive species). c. Discourage the use of glyphosate containing herbicides and other toxic herbicides. 2. INVASIVE SPECIES: a. Prioritize elimination of the spread of harmful invasive species, including the little red fire ant and the coffee borer, including by way of increased public education. b. Identify locations and areas where harmful invasive species are found. c. Create a county level master plan to address the array of invasive species issues. d. Prioritize assistance to farmers combating invasive species that are harmful to local crops. e. Maintain up to date educational materials to prevent and minimize harm from invasive species. f. Maximize the number of albizia trees that endanger public roads and rights of ways to be chipped and used for mulch or compost. g. Assist interested communities in purchasing supplies to eradicate coqui frogs and little red fire ants. 3. IRRIGATION "DITCH" WATER: a. Prioritizing functioning of irrigation ditch systems. b. Prioritizing that irrigation ditches are under the control of state or county governmental entity, in or not in partnership of non-profit entity, in order to prevent exclusive control of agricultural irrigation systems by single private entities. c. To the extent possible diversify uses of irrigation systems to include recreational use of ditches. d. Prioritize protection of the irrigation ditch aquatic ecosystem. e.Prioritize management of irrigation ditches as exercise in cultural and historical preservation. 4. FISH PONDS AND AQUAPONICS: Prioritize the restoration of fish ponds and support aquaponics. 5. VALUE ADDED ENTERPRISES: Prioritize value added agricultural enterprises including mobile slaughterhouses, vacuum cooling plants, and community based certified kitchens. 6. PROTECT NON-GMO CROPS FROM CONTAMINATION: Prioritize protection of non-GMO farms from being contaminated by drift from GMO operations, including by designating non-GMO crop zones. 7. FARMWORKER PROTECTION: Prioritize adequate health benefits and safety protection for farmworkers. 8. FOOD SUSTAINABILITY: a. Prioritize programs that make locally grown food readily accessible— including the Food Basket programs and farmers markets, as well as prioritize farm to school and school garden programs. b. Promote a"We are all farmers"program to encourage all homeowners to have a garden—which could span from growing herbs in a kitchen to any size garden, whether at the residence or elsewhere. c. Encourage residential developers to plant fruit bearing trees and to allocate space for community gardens wherever possible. 9. FAMILY FARMS AND LOCAL CO-OPERATIVES: Prioritize locally owned small to medium sized farms and local co-operatives with a diversity of crops versus mono-crop oriented multinational or mainland agricultural holdings. 10. LOCAL FOOD/PRODUCTS GENERALLY: Promote availability of locally prepared foods generally, including to: a. Coordinate with the CDP Action Committees to establish at least one ag park in each District for food production by community members. b. Prioritize access to at least one certified kitchen in each community. c. Promote efforts to better identify Hawai`i grown/PR food in restaurants d. Prioritize the accurate brand identification of crops and food products that are unique and special to Hawai`i Island. e. Prioritize proper identification of locally grown products. f. Prioritize supplying all large institutions— schools, military, and hotels, with food grown on this island; Work with state legislators to disallow the use of the label "Hawaiian", unless 100% made in Hawai`i. 11. RIGHT TO KNOW: Promote right to know efforts that enable consumer to identify food ingredients that consumers want or want to avoid, including by establishing a program to certify Hawai`i Island grown crops and foods. 12. IMPORTANT AG LAND CLASSIFICATIONS: Work with State, to the extent permitted under State Law, to place all agricultural zoned land with soil classifications of A or B soil as "Important Ag Land", and where appropriate with a soil classification of C soil. 13. EMPLOYMENT ISSUES: In collaboration with the State legislature, address wide spread employment issues: a. The worker status issue, that is: employers paying agricultural workers as if a contractor and worker then do not receive benefits, public ends up subsidizing. b. The under the table payment issue, that is: workers paid cash and no benefits and public ends up subsidizing. c. The part-time employee issue and how to enable employers to provide some benefits to part-time without excessive costs and excessive paperwork. 14. MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES AND GROW LOCATIONS: Allow Community Development Plan (CDP) Districts to opt out of marijuana and hemp growing and dispensary locations based upon a vote of the CDP action committee and upon approval of the council and mayor. Exhibit C Economic Development: General, Zoning, Land Use General: 1. CDP ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EMPHASIS: Encourage and assist CDP Action Committees, or through a subcommittee, to play an active role in economic development issues in the District. 2. MERCHANT AND BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS: Encourage establishment of Merchant and Business Associations in each business community. 3. SPECIAL IDENTITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: a. Prioritize economic development that is compatible with preserving the environment, supporting good paying jobs, and promoting a sense of place. b. Prioritize special identity development in each community by way of design review advisory committees that promote unique architectural, landscape, and signage themes. 4. PROCUREMENT: In coordination with the State, seek to revise procurement process to incentivize those who propose quality work and have a track record of quality work and accountability, rather than be a process simply to arrive at the lowest bid. 5. BROADBAND: Prioritize the availability of high-speed broadband accessibility and create high tech industrial parks, with the objective of providing community based broadband of 1 gigabit per second fiber optic lines or wireless broadband, and with no region of the Island served with less than 25 megabits per second. 6. MASS TRANSIT EMPHASIS TO ALL WORKFORCE PLANNING: Prioritize mass transit so workers can travel at low cost by bus and connect to smaller intra-community bus and voucher taxi, "uber" services, scooter, or sampan services", as well as coordinate with area school for"walking school buses" and school vans. 7. ALOHA FRIENDLY SIGNAGE: Provide more visitor oriented signage, as well as allow limited sandwich signs for businesses subject to a permit to regulate in a manner than avoids interference with pedestrian and bike passage. 8. EFFICIENCY OF PERMITING: a. Maximize permitting by way of the internet to avoid traveling and standing in lines. b. Maximize "one-stop" permitting; provide checklists of"to dos" for all permit applicants—including for compliance with the General Plan and the CDPs. 6. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: Partner with the resorts and other businesses to address gaps in local workforce development. 7. PERMIT SYSTEM REEVALUATION: Reevaluate all code and rules relating to permits and special permits to simplify and reduce cost, while at the same time making them more transparent to the interested public. 8. PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT OF CERTAIN BUSINESSES: Discourage the preferential treatment, such as the preferential treatment of certain businesses in the State-County Enterprise Zone Program (which gives the highest preference to biotech operations.) Zoning: 1. COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ZONED LAND: Increase availability of commercially and industrially zoned lands with substantial buffers to residential and agricultural lands. 2. OHANA DWELLING UNITS: Maximize incorporation of`ohana dwellings subject to the availability of adequate sewerage disposal fields. 3. COMPOSTING ON AG ZONED LAND: Provide the expanded use of agriculturally zoned land for commercial composting and mulching. 4. WELLNESS CENTERS ON AG LAND: Allow wellness centers and retreats in agriculturally zoned land. 5. BED AND BREAKFASTS: Inventory all Island Bed and Breakfasts and determine what if any additional regulation is necessary. 6. BUILT INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIREMENTS: If any built infrastructure is required,place a deadline date for its completion. 7. GMO INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURE ZONING: Assuming the cultivation of GMO crops is legally permissible in Hawai`i County: a. Designate Industrial Ag Zones with adequate buffers from other agricultural lands and require adequate buffers from any waterways. b. Restrict the cultivation of GMO crops to locations zoned as industrial agriculture, or in the alternative, require a special permit to allow GMO cultivation elsewhere based on demonstrating the absence of risk of contamination to non-GMO farming operations and to other agricultural lands (use the current practices of the floral industry as example of best practices to prevent contamination of non-GMO crops and plants). c. Grandfather GMO crop locations existing at the time of passage of Ordinance 13-121, as Industrial Agricultural Zones. Land Use: 1. AVOID STRIP DEVELOPMENT: Minimize strip development including by requiring wide (12 feet plus) vegetative strips along roadways as part of complete street programs in call village or"town" centers. 2. SENSE OF PLACE AND REAR PARKING: a. Whenever possible, require that in all shopping center parking be located in the rear of buildings; b. Require natural vegetation strip with canopy trees along all roadways. c. Require a tree lined pedestrian walkway through all parking lots from the street to the center that minimizes auto traffic crossings. d. Promote design amenities that reflect the local sense of place. 3. EROSION AND RUN-OFF PRIORITY: a. Prevention of erosion and run-off of soil shall be given high priority in all engineering plans. b. Developments located on slopes shall provide adequate plans to prevent erosion to prevent run-off onto abutting properties. c. Permeable ground infrastructure (such as for walkways and parking lots) shall be given priority over extensive hardscape requiring otherwise unnecessary drywells. 4. DEVELOPMENT DOCUMENTATION: a. Require documentation of how proposed developments support cultural and environmental well-being, including how the development creates a sense ofplace. b. Require documentation in all proposed developments of how proposed development supports safe pedestrian access through the development and through any proposed parking areas. c. Require documentation in all proposed developments how proposed development support mass transit connectivity, for example include pull out areas for bus stops and prioritization of parking adjacent to mass transit stops. d. Require documentation how proposed development supports the long-term conservation ofnatural resources, taking into account on-site and off-site mitigation measures. e. Require that all proposed developments have an emergency preparedness plan", a zero waste plan, "safe pedestrian/bike trail and access plan", a cultural sites"plan, where appropriate, a"community gathering space" plan (which may be anything from park benches to a community building depending on the type of development). 5. FACILITATE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN DEVELOPMENT DECISIONS: a. Require that all proposed development applications be submitted in pdf format(not just in hard copies) and make those applications available on line at the County's website. b. If requested provide the applicable CDP Action Committee with a hard copy of any development proposal, including for plan approvals; 6. TIMING OF COMPLETION OF REQUIRED INFRASTRUCTURE: Prioritize that required infrastructure is in place prior to occupancy of commercial and residential occupancy. 7. COMPENSATION FOR PUBLIC PURPOSE TAKINGS: In the event that private land is needed to pursue a public purpose, compensate the landowner for the reasonable value of the real property lost value. 8. COMPLIANCE: Periodically review developments for compliance and where there are deficiencies in compliance, establish written timelines for compliance with fines for non-compliance. 9. FACILITATING CONSTRUCTION OF ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE: Organize special assessment districts where necessary to fund essential public services for single community benefits. 10. PERIODIC REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS: Every 5 years review all approved developments that have developmental triggers that have not been triggered in the past 5 years, and consider no extensions beyond 5 years, and or County implementation in the triggered infrastructure is immediately necessary for health and safety concerns. In the event of finding immediate necessity, determine if county should install infrastructure with a"payback with interest" requirement for the developer. 11. DUE PROCESS: Ensure adequate due process procedures in the event a permit is denied and for third party complainants. Exhibit D Education and Libraries Education Generally: 1. LOCAL CONTROL: Coordinate with the state to allow the individual counties to play a greater role in educational policies. 2. MENTORING PROGRAMS: Coordinate with the State to make mentoring program by community members a basic component in all schools. 3. COORDINATION AMONG PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Promote collaboration between public and private schools that are located in the same communities. 4. HAWAIIAN CULTURE EMPHASIS: a. Coordinate with the State to establish bilingual and or multilingual learning in all schools to include at minimum the State's two official languages. b. Coordinate with the State to Advance knowledge of principles of Hawaiian cultural such as pono, lokahi, kakou, and ho'ohanohano. 5. SCHOOL GARDENS: Coordinate with the State to integrate school gardens in all school curriculums. 6. ZERO WASTE POLICIES: Coordinate with the State to maximize zero waste policies in all educational institutions, including using food scraps and soiled paper for composting in school gardens. Libraries: Coordinate with the State to establish quality district or regional libraries, including "mobile" libraries for rural areas. Exhibit E Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Civil Defense: 1. DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PLANNING: a. Maintain an updated island wide disaster preparedness plan; b. Require that all developments provide an adequate emergency preparedness plan. 2. ADEQUATE INGRESS AND EGRESS ACCESS: Require that all developments provide for adequate access: for commercial and residential developments in excess of 5 businesses or 20 homes, a minimum of two accessways shall be provided. 3. INTERACTIVE INTERNET WEBSITE: Dedicate an interactive county internet website for issues relating to emergency preparedness and during disasters. 4. COORDINATION WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS: a. The County shall coordinate with community and national organizations such as Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), Firewise, and the Red Cross. b. The County shall assist CERT with essential supplies such as ham radios to those who qualify for radio certification. 5. ANNUAL EMERGENCY PRACTICE EVENT: Organize at least one practice event in each District, relating to one or more types of disasters. Fire and Police Services: 1. COMMUNITY POLICE: Implement "community policing"throughout the Police Department. 2. VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS: Support volunteer fire departments in all Districts. 3. NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH: Promote neighborhood watch groups and establish police liaisons to coordinate with neighborhood watch groups. 4. HIGH DRUG FOCUS: a. Focus on eradicating the use of methamphetamine and other hard drugs, including excessive use of prescription drugs. b. Work closely with neighborhood watch groups to monitor for"drug houses". c. Eliminate use of community members as "snitches". d. Eliminate, or at minimum, minimize, arrests solely involving the use of marijuana. 5. STRESS COUNSELOR: Maintain counselor position in police department to address issues of stress. 6. OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM: Create a Mayor's ombudsman for police and fire department services to work with community members that are not satisfied with the responses from protective services. Water Safety: 1. LIFEGUARDS: Provide sufficient lifeguards and lifesaving equipment at all public pools/ beaches. 2. WATER SAFETY PROGRAMS: In partnership with appropriate non-profits create water safety programs at all public beaches, including educational materials for visitors that is readily accessible to visiting beach goers. Corrections: 1. LOCAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS: Maximize locating correctional facilities on island for island residents. 2. REHABILITATION SERVICES: Maximize rehabilitation programs to decrease recidivism. 3. SPECIAL NEEDS INMATES: Maximize services for special needs and mental illness inmates. 4. COMMUNITY PROGRAMS: Promote community programs that assist former inmates to reestablish themselves in their local communities, including assistance in locating employment. 5. FARM GARDENS: Promote self-reliance and sustainability though farm gardens and marketing programs. 6. COMMUNITY SERVICE: Vastly expand the use of community service as "punishment/rehabilitation" including for example for county weed maintenance programs, island clean-up and beautification programs, reforestation programs, and park revitalization. Prosecution and Crime Preventive Services: 1. VICTIM EMPHASIS: Expand services for victims, including coordination with VASH, District CERT, and other appropriate organizations. 2. COMMUNITY PROGRAMS: Increase community programs aimed to prevent criminal and abusive behavior through Neighborhood Watch programs. 3. LOW PRIORITY FOR USERS OF MARIJUANA: Discourage prosecution for the sole use of marijuana. 4. PROGRAMS FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE: Support community programs for substance abuse users and in particular support social services for those dependent upon these substances who seek to overcome the dependency and find viable employment. 5. ANIMAL COMPANION PROGRAMS: Expand animal companion programs to assist victims. Animal Welfare And Abuse Prevention: 1. FERAL DOGS AND CATS: Increase efforts to decrease the feral populations of dogs and cats by partnering with non-profits that engage in neutering programs and that distribute animals to other locations for home placement. 2. FERAL CHICKENS: If requested in a community, establish a program to address the problem of feral chickens. 3. GAME MANAGEMENT: In coordination with State, the County shall support game management programs that support local hunting clubs and that do not rely on mass extermination techniques - such as shooting from helicopters. 4. ANIMAL ABUSE PREVENTION: Ordinances and rules aimed at preventing animal abuse shall be strictly enforced. 5. HANDLING BIRDS AT LANDFILLS TO PREVENT DISTURBANCE AT AIRPORT: The County shall consider ways to decrease birds gathering at landfills so that there will not be a need to periodically kill the birds (exterminated to prevent interference with flights into and out of proximately located airports). Exhibit F Energy 1. ENERGY SELF SUFFICIENCY: a. Prioritize transition from imported oil to clean energy and energy self- sufficiency, with the priority of solar, wind, and pumped hydro. b. Prioritize the use of low energy need facilities and services. c. Require the use of low energy solutions in all new developments. d. Support educational programs to reduce demand for electrical power. e. Whenever possible, support proposals that would rely on local labor versus off-island infrastructure and labor. f. Oppose NextEra Purchase of HELCO unless NextEra supports Hawai`i Island self-sufficiency efforts. 2. LOW COST ENERGY: Support efforts to reduce electric rates on Hawaii Island as soon as possible and work this priority in tandem with self-sufficiency priority. 3. SAFE AND NEIGHBORHOOD FRIENDLY ENERGY PRODUCTION: Collaborate with affected neighborhoods to ensure that energy production including by geothermal is handled in a manner that avoids and minimizes negative impacts, provides for all available monitoring programs, and ensures accountability and enforcement of energy providers. 4. PROTECT SCENIC VIEWS: Require underground installation where there are significant scenic view planes that would be affected by above ground installations. 5. SAFE GAS STORAGE FACILITIES: Require that gas storage facilities are located in a manner to minimize danger to commercial and residential facilities and to prevent leakage. Exhibit G Environment 1. WATERSHED AND COASTAL WATER PROTECTION: Maximize protection of watersheds and watershed buffer areas and coastal waters, including by prioritizing reforestation of watersheds and streambeds. 2. MINIMIZE EROSION: Minimize erosion including by: Prioritizing re-forestation/re-vegetation on slopes and along streams in other areas vulnerable to erosion. a. Strengthen educational programs and accountability rules to prevent erosion during grading and grubbing. b. Identify locations where there is extensive storm runoff, and identify ways to prevent erosion—including use of compost, promotion of cover crops, and minimizing use of pesticides that degrade the soil. c. Ensure forestry operations are carried out in a manner that avoids erosion. d. Adopt Hawai`i's Implementation Plan for Polluted Runoff Control and/or Hawai`i's Coastal Non-pollution Control Program Management Plan. e. Ensure that pedestrian trail are designed and located to avoid erosion and subsistence especially on slopes, along waterways, in higher elevations, on along the coastline. 3. SOIL HEALTH: Prioritize soil health, including by: a. Discouraging AG practices that degrade soil, including by discouraging the use of pesticides and herbicides that are harmful to soil microbes and soil stability. b. Prioritize educational programs relating to soil health. 4. TOXIC HERBICIDES: Transition from using glyphosate and other toxic herbicides by the County in public parks, along public highways, and within the shoreline management areas. 5. DETENTION PONDS: Require detention ponds rather than drywells in all developments, however where the use of detention ponds is not possible, additional means shall be required to enhance the surrounding eco-systems to compensate for the adverse impact of drywells. 6. SHORELINE PROTECTION: Prioritize maintenance of undisturbed vegetation along the shoreline, over development along edge of shoreline. 7. Establish policies and strategies to anticipated changes due to climate change and rising sea levels— such as ensuring adequate setbacks from coastal shorelines and prohibitions against removal of undisturbed vegetation along the shoreline. 8. GLOBAL WARMING: Prioritize policies to curb global warming, including by: a. Minimize hardscape and dark roofs. b. Require canopy trees and greenscape corridors (with pedestrian pathways where possible) in residential and commercial developments. 9. NATIVE PLANTS: Promote the use of native plants however do not allow unregulated removal of non-native fauna and flora unless harmful to the ecosystem in that location. 10. FISH DEPLETION: Cooperate with state programs to address issues of fish depletion and coral degradation. 11. STREAM FLOWS: Prioritize efforts to reestablish stream flows wherever possible. 12. ENVIRONMENTALLY AND ESTHETICALLY FRIENDLY SIGNAGE: Continue to prohibit signage that is not in sync with the County's priority for maintaining the natural beauty of the island. Exhibit H Governance and Ethics 1. CDP ACTION COMMITTEE ENGAGEMENT: a. Engage Community Development Plan Action Committees including for review of all proposed District level Community Improvement projects and funding for specified projects. b. Create mayoral ombudsman position to coordinate with the CDP Action Committees and Area Improvement Planning Committees. c. Encourage CDP Action Committees to initiate Leadership Councils in interested communities that brings together the leaders/representatives from the communities' non-profit organizations and community associations to work together on advancing local priorities (use Waikoloa's Leadership Council as model). d. Allow CDP Action Committees to appoint new members by majority vote in the event there is a vacancy that lasts for more than 90 days, which committee members shall be allowed to remain for at least one year. 2. COUNTY OMBUDSMAN: Maintain a Hawai`i County ombudsman at the state capital year round to follow all legislative and state departmental actions, and provide informational resource to the Mayor and Council, as well as to represent the County on issues involving the neighboring islands, especially with regard to budget matters. 3. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND TRANSPARENCY: Maximize public engagement and transparency, including by posting on the County's website site all proposed subdivisions, planned unit developments, and rezonings. 4. JOINT COMMISSIONS: Create joint county and state planning commissions including for agriculture, marine ecosystems and coastal waters, health, energy, and transportation. 5. CODE ENFORCEMENT POSITIONS: Add code enforcement positions in the planning department, rather than being solely a complaint driven system; include review of grading and grubbing permits. 6. ETHICAL STANDARDS: Raise county ethical standards, including by making elected officials spending readily available on the internet. 7. COORDINATION WITH KINGDOM OF HAWAII REPRESENTATIVES: a. Provide a government-to-government forum with representatives of the Kingdom Of Hawai`i. b. Allow Kingdom of Hawai`i representatives a location at the Hilo and Kona County complexes to pursue their goals of creating a Natural Laws platform. 8. ORGANIZATIONAL HEALTH: Engage consultants who are experts in improving the organization of government organizations. 9. FISCAL HEALTH: Engage consultants who are experts in improving the fiscal health of government organizations. 10. TAXING AUTHORITY: Advocate for the Counties to have more taxing Authority, such as for the TAT, Traffic Tickets, and for the Marijuana Dispensaries to be located in Hawai`i County. 11. TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATION TAX REVENUES: Advocate for the Counties to receive 40% (or better) of the TAT revenues 60% to the State, meaning 20% to HTA and 40% to the State General Fund). 12. BUDGET ANALYST: Maintain position of budget analyst in the Finance Department to assist the Council and the Department Directors in better understanding and managing the County and departmental budgets. 13. NEW DEPARTMENTS: Consider adding the following new County Departments: Tourism, Environment, Agriculture, and Health. Exhibit I Health and Recreation 1. BLUE ZONE: a. Prioritize County initiatives across the island that optimize community health and increased "active living", including prioritizing Blue Zone built environment initiatives such as complete street projects,pedestrian ways, as well as installing adult fitness equipment. b. Require developments to provide for community health opportunities, including sidewalks or trails, and incorporate outdoor fitness equipment. c. Identify the community health assets in each District including identifying all trails and walkways and bikeways as well as gaps in community health opportunities. d. Partner with the business community to prioritize fitness opportunities at all work places. 2. MEDICAL FACILITIES: a. Maximize on-island medical facilities and physicians to provide high quality medical services. b. Maximize on-island medical and pharmacology educational and training. c. Promote urgent care and wellness centers to facilitate the availability of medical services. 3. INTERGENERATIONAL GATHERING LOCATIONS: Include intergenerational gathering locations at all parks—for seniors and for mothers with young children. 4. COMMUNITY PARKS AND DOG PARKS: Prioritize community parks and"parklets"throughout communities with intergenerational design plans, and include enclosed park areas for dog owners to exercise their dogs and socialize among themselves. 5. TRAILS INCLUDING EQUESTION TRAILS: Prioritize linking trails around the island and inter-community, including mauka makai trails—from shoreline to Forest reserve. In appropriate communities, also establish equestrian trails. Exhibit J Housing and Shelter 1. HOUSING FOR THE MOST NEEDY: a. Prioritize the availability of transitional housing and shelters for those without any home. b. Prioritize special needs housing including for the elderly and the disabled. 2. HOUSING FUNDING THAT PROVIDES FOR THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE PERSONS: Prioritize multiunit rentals and cluster bungalow type housing rather than single family homes as a way to maximize housing for those in need. 3. SOCIAL SERVICE/EDUCATION OPTIONS FOR HOMELESS AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING SHELTERS: a. Link homeless shelters and transitional housing shelters with social services and education and job opportunity programs, including community service programs that would allow those needing housing to earn some pay. b. Whenever possible locate a community garden near homeless shelter and allow homeless to have a plot to grow food with the assistance of community volunteers. c. Whenever possible, locate housing shelter near reuse centers as a potential job placement location. 4. MASS TRANSIT LINKAGE: Address affordable housing needs in combination with reliable mass transit planning so that proximity to employment is not critical. 5. PREVENT PUBLIC HOUSING TENANT ABUSE: Prioritize programs and changes to the code to ensure that public housing tenants are not abused and are treated fairly and respectfully, including the assurance of lease renewal absent significant breaches of the law or of the lease agreements. Exhibit K Military 1. Maximize coordination with the Military so as to minimize disruption to the welfare of the local residents. 2. Partner with military on emergency preparedness and disaster planning and implementation of disaster and rescue operations. 3. Ensure that military representatives consult with and get approval of the County for proposed actions that would affect the island community. 4. Coordinate with the military to maximize access by hunters in appropriate areas of the military base. 5. Coordinate and assist the military in its efforts to protect and preserve historical sites, endangered species, and areas of natural beauty located on the military base. 6. Support the military when appropriate to achieve its training missions in such ways that do not adversely affect the environment and the local population. Exhibit L Sense Of Place/Natural Beauty/Culture/Public Access 1. PRESERVE THE ISLAND HERITAGE: a. Prioritize County policies and programs that protect and preserve what makes Hawai`i Island and its Districts special and unique including multicultural assets and historic traditions. b. Require that all developments preserve sacred sites and special places, scenic view planes and historic trails: however. c. Identify locations of scenic beauty and obtain easements for the property owner to preserve the vistas, in particular where the views are of the Island's mountains and of the ocean. d. Provide reasonable public access to the shoreline and the public forest reserve and to historic and special places and scenic views. e. Provide signage that informs about historic sites and special places as well as developing new fitness and hiking trails around the Island. 2. SACRED AND SPECIAL PLACES: Prohibit further development of the tops and upper slopes of the Island's major mountains—Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, Hualalai, and Kohala, as well other special and sacred sites and historic trails. 3. CELEBRATION EVENTS: a. Promote community events that recognize historic and special events: such as Hawaiian holidays and the Cherry Blossom Festival. b. Provide one or more cultural event for each cultural group in appropriate locations around the Island. 4. MOKU '0 KEAWE: Consider changing the name of the County from Hawai`i County to Moku '0 Keawe. 5. KUPUNA TREE PROGRAM: Prioritize avoiding removal of kupuna trees, in other words, avoid removal of significant trees that add to the character and sense of place of the Island's communities and regions even if it would be easier to maintain the location if these trees were removed. Exhibit M Tourism 1. AIR ACCESS: Collaborate with the State to achieve the goal of direct access by air to Hawai`i Island from international airports. 2. INTEREST GROUP INVENTORIES: Create inventories of available venues for each visitor interest group, including one for each sport, maximize website information for each interest group, such as for cultural and historic site tourism, ag-tourism, health and fitness tourism, biking, hiking, and historic site, fire "lava"tourism; water tourism inclusive of fishing and coastal water activities such as snorkeling and other water sports, sky (astronomy) tourism, Paniolo adventures tourism, and special event tourism. 3. STATE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY (HTA) COLLABORATION: Collaborate with HTA and BIVA to sharpen the vision of Hawai`i Island as a separate from the other Hawaiian Islands and destinations in Hawai`i — including more multi-cultural in depth awareness and understanding of the Hawaiians current efforts to create a Kingdom of Hawai`i in the context of the history of how Hawai`i went from being a Kingdom to a State. 4. TOURISM PRIORITIES: a. WELLNESS TOURISM: Above all prioritize "health" related tourism that enhances Hawaii Island's wellness/fitness/community health models and that is tied Hawai`i s cultural and environmental identity and heritage. Wellness tourism and community health should be merged to the extent possible— such as providing walking trails and hiking locations for both residents and tourists. b. ELEMENTS AND PRIORITY TOURISM: Promote eco-tourism, AG tourism, food tourism, fitness tourism, music tourism, arts and crafts tourism, as well as "the elements"tourism: lava(fire) tourism, astronomy sky) tourism, food tourism, `aina(the land)tourism, and ocean - snorkeling/fishing (waters) tourism. 5. ALOHA ATTITUDE: Promote aloha with all visitor sectors and avoid approaching tourism as an exercise in how to make more money from the tourist trade. 6. VISITOR SIGNAGE: Prioritize visitor friendly signage around the island; likewise provide phone apps that provide directions and tourist information for the various interest group tourists. 7. HIGHGRADE WIFI: Make Wi-Fi generally available in all community centers and immediately available at airports and major bus stations. 8. QUALITY BEACH: Collaborate with the State to ensure that Hapuna Beach(our one high quality beach) is upgraded and no longer seems to be a third world destination. 9. QUALITY AIRPORT: Collaborate with the State in its upgrade of the Kona airport, including aspects of natural beauty (trees and gardens), quality food availability, and quality shopping in particular for items made in Hawai`i. 10. QUALITY PIER: Collaborate with the State in its upgrade of the Hilo pier for guests arriving by ship. 11. QUALITY HOTELS: Collaborate with the industry to upgrade the standards and performance at Island hotels. 12. CONNECTIVITY WITH VISITOR INDUSTRY: Increase communication between tourism industry representatives and local government, regarding a span of issues from capacity, transportation options, promoting Hawai`i Island's special identity. 13. AIRLINE PARTNRESHIPS: Build closer partnership with the airlines in term of acquainting visitors with what is unique and special about Hawai`i Island— including having travelers learn several words and phrases in Hawaiian and several culturally significant phrases, as well as make them aware of the handouts available that are interest group specific. 14. NEIGHBOR ISLAND MINI CONVENTION CENTER: In collaboration with the State, encourage the establishment of mini- convention centers on each of the neighbor islands—or at least along the Kohala Coast in Hawai`i County. 15. VASH PROGRAM: Through the VASH program, collaborate to assist visitors who suffer problems of whatever form. 16. VOLUNTEER TOURISM: Create a volunteer tourism program for visitors—with each economic sector— from medical to school visitation(use the Laos program as a model). Exhibit N Transportation and Traffic Circulation (Including pedestrian & bike traffic) 1. MASS TRANSIT PRIORITIZATION: Prioritize Mass transit as the routine mode of transportation in all planning approvals and permits—even if less convenient for auto transportation. 2. REGIONAL TRANSIT HUBS: Expedite island-wide mass transit plan that incorporates regional transit hubs that provide indoor seating and bathroom facilities and community hublets that at minimum provide safe seating in roofed shelters (major hubs shall be planned for Kona, Waimea, Hilo, and Kea'au) 3. PARKING LINK TO MASS TRANSIT PRIORITY AND PEDESTRIAN/BIKE SAFETY: a. Parking policies shall encourage use of mass transit and walking/biking options. b. All parking lots shall include canopy trees and delineated pedestrian pathways. c. Parking at mass transit hubs and local hublets shall be maximized and there shall be no fees for parking at these locations. d. Require that all proposed development include a pedestrian access plan and provide for safe pedestrian access throughout the development—by ways of sidewalks and or trails. e. Require that all roads be complete streets, or alternatively separate provision shall be made for safe pedestrian and bike access. f. Require separation of auto traffic and parking from pedestrian ways. 4. ADEQUATE INGRESS/EGRESS FROM RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS: A minimum of two ingress/egress ways shall be required in all residential developments that exceed 50 homes; residential communities that have 50 or less homes but more than 12, shall at minimum create a second emergency access. Exhibit 0 Water Availability and Quality, Waste Water Services, and Solid Waste Services Water Availability and Quality: 1. POTABLE WATER AVAILABILITY: Make potable water available in all communities at easily accessible locations. 2. QUALITY OF POTABLE WATER: Coordinate with the State to maximize the quality of potable water. 3. PREVENT LONG TERM DEPLETION OF POTABLE WATER RESOUCES: In coordination with the State, ensure sufficient provision is made to not deplete the long-term availability of the aquifer resources, by implementing the precautionary principle in all decision making. 4. COORDINATION WITH STATE: In coordination with the State,promote an expanded role for the County with regard to management of all water quality and quantity matters. 5. AG DITCH WATER: Ensure that all flowing AG ditch water courses are under state or county control, solely or in partnership with Community non-profits, such that no private entity can solely control the availability of these water sources. 6. CATCHMENT WATER: Allow catchment water to be used at residences on AG zoned land provided there is sufficient rainfall. 7. WATER STORAGE: Require the design and location of water storage units in a manner so as not to interfere with view planes. Wastewater: 1. PREVENT CONTAMINATION PRIORITY: Ensure adequate management of wastewater and sewage in a manner that prevents contamination of the ground water supply and the coastal waters. 2. WASTE WATER SYSTEM REQUIREMENT: Require that all new or remodeled residential or commercial development be connected to a municipal waste water system or individual sewage disposal systems, rather than allowing installation of cesspools). 3. GOLF COURSE WATER: In areas of limited rainfall, require the use of reclaimed water for all golf courses. Solid Waste: 1. ZERO WASTE POLICY: Maximize a resource management approach based on Zero Waste policies of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle", including providing a robust zero waste education program in partnership with area non-profits. 2. COMPOSTABLES TO COMPOST: Prioritize diversion of all green waste, food scraps, and soiled paper from landfills to county or preferably private compost operations. 3. LOCAL APPROACH: Maximize recycling options for recyclables and compostables at all transfer and landfill facilities. 4. RECYCLING PARTNERSHIPS: Prioritize recycling partnerships, such as through recycling incentive programs. 5. COTTAGE RECYCLING OPERATIONS: Promote the expansion of recycle businesses and make available space for cottage operations in locations proximate to the county's landfills. 6. TAKE BACK PROGRAMS: Promote "take back" programs for appliances and other difficult to dispose of refuse. 7. TRANSFORM TRANSFER STATIONS TO RESOURCE MANAGEMENT STATIONS: To the extent possible, transform all major transfer stations into resource management stations for compostables and recyclables. 8. STYROFOAM: Transition to eliminate the sale or use of styrofoam by retail food establishments.