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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-07-27 WPR Group NotesParks, Water and Roads Subcommittee Report July, 2016 The subcommittee met with the Department of Parks and Recreation in Hilo on Monday, June 27th to discuss ways to improve communications between P&R and our community. The PWR subcommittee proposed that informing the North Kohala community in advance of park maintenance issues, although somewhat more time-consuming initially, would spare them having to deal with the type of negative outcry that recently occurred over the tree -cutting at Kamehameha Park. The PWR subcommittee and P&R agreed to undertake a pilot program to improve communications between the Department and our community. It will include the following: • The PWR subcommittee will meet monthly with Shawn Rocha, the North Kohala parks supervisor, to discuss any immediate routine maintenance projects, issues and needs at any of the parks in North Kohala. • PWR will have direct access to Parks Maintenance Supervisor, Pat Daly for any larger issues that cannot be handled with Mr. Rocha. • Because Mr. Rocha may not be privy to some major park projects, Jason Armstrong will report via email to the PW&R sub -committee chair each month prior to our regularly scheduled meeting about any work on the North Kohala parks other than routine maintenance. • The PWR subcommittee will disseminate information to the public (via Some a combination KNKR Radio, the Kohala Mountain News, public notice boards and the "coconut wireless") and solicit responses, which they would then organize and supply to P&R. Other Issues: All the 2014-5 CIP money has been spent. P&R actually spent $2.7 million on N. Kohala projects which is over the CIP budget of $2 million. Any new projects will require that we initiate new CIPs from scratch. Replacing lights and other maintenance can be rife with delays, such as having to rent a cherry -picker/ lift because the department does not currently own one. Over the past 7 years the department has not been able to purchase new equipment. The PWR subcommittee suggested that keeping residents informed about the time -frame for maintenance projects would be helpful. Realizing that a seemingly simple project like changing a light bulb may take a month, although disappointing, is better than expecting results immediately and facing repeated disappointments. There is a bid out for upgrading the electrical system at Mahukona Beach Park, which should happen soon(-ish). P&R is also in the process of designing a new pavilion and restrooms. This, however, is a major project and will require (CIP) funding. The design and approval process will take perhaps two years or more. This process by law requires public input, so there will be opportunity to share ideas. Boat Ramp: P&R heard the preponderance of negative public expressed at that meeting and told the Army Corps of Engineers the project is "not moving forward." As far as they are concerned the project is dead. Swimming Pool improvements: P&R informed us that they anticipate starting work on a replacement roof for the pool structure at Kamehameha Park sometime in July. They suggested that this is an ideal opportunity to test the new proposed system of communication (to which PWR heartily agreed). There is an order pending for the removal of the African Tulip trees next to the Pool parking area and at least some of the Norfolk Pines by the Pool. The debris from the trees has taxed pool maintenance and contributed to the rotting of the pool roof. P&R wants to work with an arborist and community groups to select and plant appropriate replacement trees. They are also looking to assess the trees by the Statue of Kamehameha. 2. The subcommittee held their monthly meeting on Wednesday, July 29th at the Senior Center. Due largely to the recent tree -cutting experience, approximately 40 members of the public attended, including Rep. Cindy Evans, Council Rep. Margaret Wille, and candidate for mayor, Pete Hoffmann. The subcommittee related the information cited above, explaining that the subcommittee is part of the CDP process and is thus affiliated with a county board with some degree of status at the bargaining table. They received a very positive response from the attendees, who expressed their satisfaction at being informed in advance of park maintenance issues. Those in attendance were willing to give the process a try and send their input through the subcommittee. The subcommittee suggested that maintaining a positive diplomatic attitude and suggesting alternative approaches when opposing a P&R method is more likely to get a desired response. Jeff Coakley, Kamehameha Park pool manager, explained why the African tulip and Norfolk pines should be removed. Isaiah Price, a local arborist, agreed that these types of trees were not appropriate in that setting. P&R had offered to replace the trees with more appropriate types and we discussed ways to involve middle school and/or high school students with an arborist to make a replanting event an educational one. The subcommittee invited volunteers to contact members of the PWR Subcommittee about some of the public attending the monthly meetings with Mr. Rocha. We discussed a suggestion of using the P&R Activities boards at Takata Store and the Credit Union to also announce maintenance issues. Some attendees -said they would look into applying for Friends of the Park status at Kamehameha Park. In summary: the residents who attended were happy to learn of the proposed new method of park maintenance information distribution. And they were ready to try directing their issues and complaints to the PWR subcommittee who would then negotiate with P&R.