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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-18 CERS Annual Report July 2016Communication No. 2016-18 Connectivity and Emergency Response Subcommittee A subcommittee of the Puna Community Development Plan ANNUAL REPORT — JULY 2016 The Connectivity and Emergency Response Subcommittee continues in its third year to further the implementation of the Puna Uka connectivity locations. Working with our two Puna County Council Representatives, Greggor Ilagan and Danny Paleka, on August 18, 2015 an ad hoc committee of the County Council Committee on Public Works and Parks and Recreation was formed. The ad hoc committee members were Council Members Greggor Ilagan, Danny Paleka, Dennis Onishi and Maile David (all representing portions of Puna), Puna Community Development Plan Action Committee Chairperson Patti Pinto, and Chairperson of the PCDP subcommittee on Connectivity and Emergency Response, Marlene Hapai. The purpose of this ad hoc committee is to research and investigate possible road connections between the Upper Puna Subdivisions in order to create an alternate route from Volcano to Highway 130, roughly parallel to Highway 1 I and to draft a report recommending implementation of these connections to the Public Works and Parks and Recreation Committee, to be forwarded to the County Council. The Connectivity and Emergency Response Subcommittee (CERS) began working in January of 2013 to gather data on possible road connectivity locations that would improve public safety, allow for emergency access and increase community connections throughout the Puna Districts. We worked over the next two years to collect community input. To this end, working with the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency we created the first and second Puna Regional Emergency Preparedness Fairs (PREP Fairs). At these Fairs we gathered community input from thousands of Puna Residents establishing where connectivity points were needed, viability, community support/opposition, alternatives, etc. This data was assembled into a report that was submitted to the PCDP and adopted on May 13, 2014. Since this report, Tropical Storm Iselle and the June 27, 2014 lava flow have also created multiple emergency response and evacuation, as well as everyday challenges to movement throughout the Puna District. The ad hoc committee met with representatives of the Hawaii County Department of Public Works, the Civil Defense Agency, Parks and Recreation, State Department of Transportation, Planning Department and members of the public to investigate and select the connectivity locations. This was followed up by a field trip to view the actual road conditions and connectivity locations. Two reports were drafted that included maps, satellite images and on the ground photographs (attached). The ad hoc committee will be meeting in July to approve the final report. The recommended connectivity locations are: • Kaleponi to Punahele (Fern Forest — Eden Roc) • Punahele to Apele (Eden Roc — Kopua Farm Lots) • Waimako O Pele to Orchid (Kopua Farm Lots — Fern Acres) • Orchid to Uhiniana (Fern Acres — Hawaiian Acres) Communication No. 2016-18 • Pulelehua to Pohaku or an alternate Orchidland CL (Hawaiian Acres — Orchidland) • Complete South Lauko Road into Fern Acres • Complete South Oshiro Road into Eden Roc Estates The re -opening of South Lauko Road has been spearheaded by the Fern Acres Community Association and South Lauko Road property owners. The County Department of Public Works is in the process of implementing this connectivity location which will provide an additional entrance and exit route from the Fern Acres subdivision and additionally will provide safe access for the South Lauko Road residents. An environmental assessment for the project is currently being conducted. Two additional routes are being included in the assessment, Pszyk Road from Highway I I to Puhala and Puhala to South Kopua Road, as these may provide an alternate route that may be a more practical and affordable option or an additional option. Puna Waena Priorities CERS continues to recommend permanent 24/7 use of the emergency road created in response to the June 27th lava flow, Railroad between Hawaiian Beaches/Shores and Hawaiian Paradise Park. Additionally we recommend a viability study to create a road between HPP (Railroad) and Milo Road. Puna Kai Priorities In tandem with our recommendation that Railroad between Hawaiian Beaches/Shores and Hawaiian Paradise Park we recommend that the new emergency access route connecting Nanawale Estates to Hawaiian Beaches/Shores be open on a 24/7 basis. We recognize that few people who are not residents of these subdivisions will choose to use this route as an alternate for Highway 130, that it would be used primarily by local residents to travel between the subdivisions and also to provide emergency ingress/egress. We also recommend that an alternate route into and out of Nanawale Estates be created to Highway 130 on the Forest Road right of way. Summary The Puna Community Development Plan Subcommittee on Connectivity and Emergency Response (CERS) remains dedicated to the work of implementing these points of connectivity that are so urgently needed in Puna. We are encouraged to be working with the County Council and County Departments to implement the Upper Puna connectivity locations. Ongoing population increases in Puna are putting more and more pressure on our inadequate road infrastructure. The need for safe and reliable access roads for Puna residents has never been more urgent.