HomeMy WebLinkAboutAC Minutes 13Sept2016 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, September 13, 2016
DRAFT Meeting Minutes
CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Larry Brown called the Puna Community Development Plan (Ac* Action Committee
(AC) to order at 3:01 p.m. in the Kea`au Community Center. The following persons were present:
Action Committee: June Conant, Larry Brown, Leila Kealoha, P ' Pinto',
Solis, Frank Commendador, and Farris Etterlee were absent.
Staff. Hans Santiago — Puna CDP Project Manager
Assistant.
Members of the public: 9
ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: NONE
Puna
Osborne. Elmer
ANNOUNCEMENTS: 1W
1. Hans provided the Action Committe with an update from Tiffany Kai, Mass Transit
Administrator. MTA met with the consultant for the Mass Transit Masterplan on September 6t'
and several consultants experienced a bus ride on a Hele-On bus. They are currently working
on their public engage t plan, which is expected to begin in January 2017.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY: None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
June moved to approve the minutes of the July 12, 2016 meeting as submitted. Second by Susan. The
motion to approve the minutesbml, d assed with 5 votes aye and 0 votes nay.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Update on the Puna Regio Library:
Stacey Aldrich, Hawai'i State Librarian, provided the AC with a brief update on the project to
build a new library in the Puna region. She was joined by Keith Fujio (Special Assistant to the
State Librarian), Joseph Earing (Project Manager, Section Head - Planning Branch), and
Senator R4rell Ruderman. Based on research and input from focus groups, it became obvious
that one regional library would not be sufficient for the district. Due to the size of the district,
the communities of Puna would be better served by two libraries. Right now about 28 sites
throughout the region are being culled down to 6 sites. Once narrowed down, the consultant
(Group 70) will do a more in depth analysis to determine the viability of each site. Action
Committee members were invited to comment on the current site locations and provide
additional sites they feel are possibilities. Lava zone 1 and sites less than 2 acres will be taken
Hawai `i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Page I
off the possible site list. The AC discussed multiple possibilities and the negative/positive
issues relating to various sites including the difficulty of having a public library located on a
school campus.
Larry suggested that Stacey or Keith contact James Komata (Planner with Parks & Recreation)
to see about the possibility of constructing the new library on the Pahoa park property. He
shared that when the masterplan was being finalized, County officials verbalized interest in
housing the new Public Library.
Patti moved that the Action Committee provide viable site recommen ations to the State
Librarians office. Second by Leila.
Discussion ensued regarding the pros and cons of submitting recommendations as a committee
verses as individuals and also how the AC would be able t submitcommendations within
the existing timeframe.
Motion failed with 0 votes aye and S votes nay.
Further input is welcome through the State Libr s Office stlib
Senator Ruderman's Office senrudermancapitol.hawaii. ov.
2. Update from the Connectivity and Emergency Response Subc
1631
Marlene Hapai updated the AC on the recent activities of the CER Subcommittee. The main
focus has been getting the Ad hoc Committee report to the full County Council. The
subcommittee elected South Lauko Road as the recommended 24a?Uspiness
aved road to provide
connectivity, emergency response, and safe routes to school. New discussed included
the idea of unused materials from Hwy 130 improvements be recycled to subdivisions for their
road improvements, and the idea of adding (at a fee to Community Associations) a "subdivision
note" on real property tax bills. For example, "Your road maintenance fees are due April 1,
2017".
Neighborhood watch is geari up in Fern Forest which could help ease the fear of crime
increasing with increased co ity.
CERS meets at 2:OOpm on the fourth Tu day of eve month at Kea`au Community Center.
Communication No.'22016-23 and 2016-24 can be ewed and downloaded from the following website:
http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/weblink/l/doc/81638/Pa eg l.aspx
http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/weblink/l/doc/8'l639/Pa eg l.aspx
3. Update of the Pahoa Regional Town Center Plan Subcommittee (PRTCPS):
Patti updated the AC on the recent activities of the PRTCPS. The main topic was the Kurohara
development whose proposed series of septic systems has been determined inadequate by the
State Health Department for the proposed development. Possibilities now being explored
include constructive wetlands, possibility of not building the medical center, and the possibility
of purchasing adjacent land. The Luquin's parking lot acquisition moves forward and it has
been determined that the house which encroaches onto part of the Luquin's parking lot is the
responsibility of the property owner to fix. Pahoa Mainstreet is looking into viable options to
continue the Pahoa Farmers Market. The Subcommittee continues to believe that Pahoa needs
a planning consultant and a sewage feasibility study in order to successfully move forward.
PRTCPS meets at 8:OOam on the first Monday of every month at Luquin's Restaurant in Pahoa.
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4. Update from the Volcano Long Range Plan Subcommittee (VLRPS):
Dan updated the AC on the recent activities of the subcommittee, sharing that the survey
developed by the VLRPS is ready to be sent out to community members via email and USPS.
Feedback will be collected from October 1 — October 15. The intent of the survey is to help
identify new ideas and comments that could be integrated into the Volcano Long Range Plan.
Dan and Lorna Jeyte expressed frustration with what they perceive as a disconnect between
community wants and county implementation and encouraged the implementation of a formal
mechanism for recognizing community plans.
VLRPS meets at 7:00pm on the third Thursday of every month at Cooper Cent lcano. Communication
Nos. 2016-21 and 2016-22 can be viewed and downloaded from the followi ebsite:
htW://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/weblink/l/doc/81634/Pa eg l.aspx
htW://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/weblink/l/doc/81635/Pa eg l.aspx
5. Update from the Budget Subcommittee: No update
6. Annual Reporting, Action Planning, and Town
The AC discussed the annual reporting process, action planning and also further clarified the
PF
purpose and need of a town hall meeting. Action Committe embers agreedNthat
piggybacking on another big event in Puna and distributing the nual report is.4he best way to
conduct an annual Town Hall event and get the word out about the Puna CDP. AC members
suggested trying to piggyback on tlW,.official opening of the rahoa Park.
Susan moved to accept the Draft Annual Be ort. Second by B th Susan and June
withdrew their motions.
Hans asked AC members to review and date a ort
prior to the next Action
Committee meeting. —
7. General Plan Workshop Update:
Patti shared with the AC her experience assistV with the General Plan Public Input Forums
and attending the Technical Workshops. She e essed her hope that additional opportunities
for Action Committee participation woul rthcoming.
Th nput Forums were held to geVPs
idents' feedback on alternative for future growth.
Electronic "keypad polling" was used during the Forums (paper surveys were used at remote
sites) to record participants' input. The presentation and survey are available online through
October 30. A link to the online survey and the presentation slides are available on the
Planning Department Website http://www.cohplanningdept.com/general-plan/news-events/.
AGENDA FOR NE T MEETING: (November 15, 2016)
1. CERS Upda
2. VLRPS Upda
3. MTS Update
4. PRTCPS Updat
5. Budget Subcommittee
6. Tiffany Kai re: MTA Master Plan Update
7. Annual Report
8. Update from Stacey Aldrich (State Librarian) re: Puna Regional Library
ADJOURNMENT: The Chair, without objection, adjourned the meeting at 5:06 p.m.
All Action Committee information can be viewed and downloaded from our website:
http ://www.hawaiicountvcdp.info/puna-cdp/implementation/puna-cdq-action-committee
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