HomeMy WebLinkAboutAC Minutes 10May2016 DRAFTWilliam P. Kenoi
Mayor
County of Hawaii
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
Duane Kanuha
Director
Joaquin Gamiao-Kunkel
Deputy Director
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, May 10, 2016
DRAFT Meeting Minutes
CALL TO ORDER 4^*
Chairperson Larry Brown called the Puna Community Development Plan (PCD Action Committee
(AC) to order at 3:05 p.m. in the Kea`au Community Center. The following persons were present:
Action Committee: Frank Commendador, Farris Etterlee, Larr wn, Leila Kealoha, Patti Pinto, and
Susan Osborne. Elmer Solis and June Conant were absent.
Staff. Hans Santiago — Puna CDP Project Manager and Keiko Mercado — Puna CDP Planning
Assistant.
Members of the Dublic: 8
ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: NONE
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
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1. Larry announced that he would be absent om the September ction Committee meeting.
2. Hans reminded the Action Committee that any updatesr the Annual Report should be sent as
soon as possible.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY: Two people signed up t stify. Bot the
to testify at the time of the
agenda item.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Patti moved to approve the minutes of the March 8, 2016 meeting as submitted. Second by Frank. The
motion to approve the minutes as omitted passed with 6 votes aye, 0 votes nay.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Communication No 16-7 & 16-13: Connectivity and Emergency Response
Subcommittee (CER
Public Testimony:
Councilman Danny Pa a shared what a pleasure it's been working on/with the Ad hoc
committee. He informed the AC that an environmental assessment has been requested not only
for S. Lauko Street but also for Pszyk and S. Kopua Roads. Work has been completed on the
turn lane out of Kuauli Road. Because some of the CIPS that were earmarked for connectivity
will be lapsing, they have submitted an 11 million dollar CIP to cover all of the requests. It
Hawai `i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Page I
may sound like a lot of money but it is what is needed. Councilman Paleka looks forward to
continued work with the Action Committee and Subcommittee.
Susan moved to accept Communication Nos. 2016-7 & 2016-13. Second by Patti. Motion
passed with 6 votes aye and 0 votes nay.
Marlene updated the Action Committee on the recent activities of the CERS. Currently the
subcommittee is working on completing designations in upper Puna connectivity locations for
the Ad hoc committee which includes members of the Council, Dept. of Public Works,
Planning Dept. and the CERS subcommittee. Following the Ad hoc committee, the
recommendations will go to the Council for funding and implementation. It's necessary to
emphasize that because of all the research and input received, there are lots of alternatives
should any of the initial connectivity locations not be viable. Patti shared that there have been
recommendations of properties and easements that may need to be purchased. Also identified
are areas that may need Memorandum of Understanding (MOUS) between community
associations to maintain open roadways. All of the collaboration that has gone into this effort
so far is monumental. 14
CERS meets at 2:OOpm on the fourth Tuesday of every month at Kea`a ommunity Center.
Communication Nos. 2016-7 2016-13 can be viewed'and downloaded e following websi
bap://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/weblink/l/doc/77195/Pa eg l.aT
bap://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/weblink/l/doc/78448/Pa eg l.aT
2. Volcano Long Range Plan Subco ittee (VLRPS) & Communication No. 2016-11: Draft
Community Questionnaire:
Dan Taylor and Yumi Kawano updatee AC on the recent acts ties of the subcommittee.
The subcommittee has developed a ques ionnaire that they would like to distribute soon. The
hope is that the community response, gathered via the questionnaire, will provide a means of
validating the Volcano Long Range Plan and the work that has been done thus far. The
subcommittee is asking for the AC's thoughts on the questionnaire and looking to see if support
will be given by the AC, the Council and the Planning Department as the plan goes forward.
Discussion ensued ensuring the continued support of the VLRP Subcommittee's work. AC
members asked questions and made suggestions on best practices for questionnaire distribution,
ensuring the word gets out, and avoiding duplicate responses.
The AC asked what the next steps for the subcommittee would be post questionnaire. Larry
reminded the AC that the Plan as it stands is not suitable for adoption by ordinance and
adoption by resolution might not do much as most of the actions are community based. Larry
stated that he was under the impression that the plan was already adopted by the Volcano
Community Association, and questioned whether the survey is more to get buy in for the plan
or to prioritize action in the plan. Dan expressed that the survey is meant to do both but is more
of an attempt to validate the plan for the naysayers who are coming forth. Discussion
continued regarding apparent road blocks, next steps, and suggestions related to the survey.
VLRPS meets at 7:OOpm on the third Thursday of every month at Cooper Center in Volcano.
Communication No. 2016-11 can be viewed and downloaded from the following website:
htW://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/weblink/DocView.aspx?dbid=l &id=78366&page=l &cr=1
3. Mass Transit Subcommittee (MTS): No Report.
Public Testimony:
Councilman Danny Paleka informed the AC that the consultant contract for the Mass Transit Master
Plan should be complete soon and Tiffany Kai is intending to be at the July AC meeting in Pahoa.
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4. Town Hall Subcommittee (THS):
Patti moved to dissolve the Town Hall Subcommittee. Second by Leila. Motion passed with 6
votes aye and 0 votes nay.
The Action Committee agreed to an annual outreach.
5. Budget Subcommittee: No Report.
The AC discussed next steps, prioritizing, and timelines. The subco ittee will meet prior to
the next AC meeting.
6. Communication Nos. 2016-9: Pahoa Regional Town Center Plan Subcommittee
(PRTCPS) & 2016-12: Draft Pahoa Village Design Rev' w C ittee (PVDRC)
Guidelines:
Public Testimony:
Councilman Danny Paleka informed the AC that an offer has been submitte to the owner of
the parking lot property but there has been no agreement reached thus far. In case an
agreement cannot be reached, there is another suggested piece o krroperty under consideration.
Leila moved to accept Communication No. 2016-9. Second by Farris.
Patti shared that the subcommittee is not optimistic on closing the deal on the Luquins parking
lot due to the discrepancy in assessed value and asking price by the oyvner. The SC is
beginning investigations into two pieces of prope behindTin Shack that are owned by the
Catholic Church.
Motion passed with 6 votes aye and 0 votes n
Leila moved to accept Communication No. 2016-12. Se and by Patti.
Discussion e ed regarding the Pahoa Village Design Guidelines Design Review Committee
Policies and Guidelines (Communication No. 2016-12). Particularly addressed was the vetting
system used to select the three parent organizations — Main Street Pahoa Association, K6kua
Pahoa, and Malama O Puna. Additional questions regarding the role of each parent
organization and the selection process that will be used to select members for the Pahoa Village
Design Review Committee were answered by Larry and Patti.
Motio V
iled with 4 votes aye and 2 votes nay.
Discussion continued between Action Committee members.
Susie moved to accept the guidelines and recommend the three parent organizations to the
Planning Director. Second by Leila. Motion passed with 6 votes aye and 0 votes nay.
Larry moved that he be tasked with the responsibility of drafting a transmittal letter to the
Planning Director, recommending the three organizations accepting the responsibility of
forming and managing the Pahoa Design Review Committee. Second by Frank. Motion
passed with 6 votes aye and 0 votes nay.
PRTCPS meets at 8:OOam on the first Monday of every month at Luquins Restaurant in Pahoa.
Communication Nos. 2016-9 & 2016-12 can be viewed and downloaded from the following website:
htW://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/weblink/l/doc/77194/Pa eg l.aspx
htW://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/weblink/l/doc/78449/Pa eg l.aspx
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7. Communication No. 2016-10: Draft Letter to Planning Director Requesting Information
on the Pahoa Regional Town Center Plan & Wastewater Treatment Study:
Public Testimony:
Michelle David testified that she is happy to see that nothing has moved forward regarding the
wastewater treatment center in Pahoa. She would like to see more creative solutions being
investigated and encourages more discussion on Village Centers instead of focusing on
growing Pahoa. Why not keep Pahoa the way it is and put money into the Neighborhood/
Village Centers that would help keep people off the road and give th the opportunity to have
provisions in their own communities.
Leila moved to accept Communication No. 2016-10. Second by Susan.
Action Committee members discussed the draft letter to the Planning Director addressing the
Planning Consultant for the Pahoa Regional Town Center Plan & Wastewater treatment Study.
While most members agreed that the letter should be sent, Hans cautioneat the tone of the
letter is strong and may be inappropriate.
Motion passed with 6 votes aye and 0 votes
Communication No. 2016-10 can be viewed and downloaded from the follo ' g website:
htW://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/weblink/l/doc/78408/Page LaTx
8. Puna Regional Library:
Frank wanted to get the Puna Region ibrary on everyone's radar and see if the AC can take
a stance in its support on a location - both Kea`au and Pahoa are suggested sites. After
extensive discussion, it was decided that Frank would draft an invitation to the consultant to see
if they would be willinto attend an AC meeting. This draft letter will be on the July 12, 2016
agenda for AC discussio
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
9. Public Access, Open Space & Natural Res our Preservation Commission (PONC)
Nominations:
The Action Committee discussed timelines and best practices in submitting PONC nominations
and support letters from the AC.
AGENDA FOR NEXT M ING: (July 12, 2016)
1. CERS Update
2. VLRPS Update
3. MTS Update
4. MVPS Update
5. PRTCPS Update
6. Budget Subcommittee
7. Puna Regional Library Consultant Request
8. PONC Letter from Frank, Leila, and Farris
9. PD Response to PRTCPS Letter
ADJOURNMENT: The Chair, without objection, adjourned the meeting at 5:36 p.m.
All Action Committee information can be viewed and downloaded from our website:
http ://www.hawaiicountvcdp.info/puna-cdp/implementation/puna-cdp-action-committee
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