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Home My WebLink AboutAC Minutes 13Sept2016 FINALWilliam 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 Meeting Minutes CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Larry Brown called the Puna Community Development Plan (PCDP) 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, Patti Pinto, and Susan Osborne. Elmer Solis, Frank Commendador, and Farris Etterlee were absent. Staff. Hans Santiago — Puna CDP Project Manager and Keiko Mercado — Puna CDP Planning Assistant. Members of the public: 9 ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: NONE ANNOUNCEMENTS: 1. Hans provided the Action Committee with an update from Tiffany Kai, Mass Transit Administrator. MTA met with the consultant for the Mass Transit Masterplan on September 6th and several consultants experienced a bus ride on a Hele-On bus. They are currently working on their public engagement 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 minutes as submitted passed with S votes aye and 0 votes nay. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Update on the Puna Regional 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 Russell 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 recommendations 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 to submit recommendations within the existing timeframe. Motion failed with 0 votes aye and S votes nay. Further input is welcome through the State Librarians Office stlib@libra.rieshawaii.org or Senator Ruderman's Office senruderman@capitol.hawaii.gov. 2. Update from the Connectivity and Emergency Response Subcommittee (CERS): 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 2 -lane paved road to provide connectivity, emergency response, and safe routes to school. New business 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 gearing up in Fern Forest which could help ease the fear of crime increasing with increased connectivity. CERS meets at 2:OOpm on the fourth Tuesday of every month at Kea`au Community Center. Communication No. 2016-23 and 2016-24 can be viewed and downloaded from the following website: bap://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/weblink/l/doc/81638/Pa eg l.aspx bap://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/weblink/l/doc/81639/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. Page 2 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 Center in Volcano. Communication Nos. 2016-21 and 2016-22 can be viewed and downloaded from the following website: 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 Hall Meeting: The AC discussed the annual reporting process, action planning and also further clarified the purpose and need of a town hall meeting. Action Committee members agreed that piggybacking on another big event in Puna and distributing the annual report is the 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 the official opening of the Pdhoa Park. Susan moved to accept the Draft Annual Report. Second by June. Both Susan and June withdrew their motions. Hans asked AC members to review and update the draft annual report prior to the next Action Committee meeting. 7. General Plan Workshop Update: Patti shared with the AC her experience assisting with the General Plan Public Input Forums and attending the Technical Workshops. She expressed her hope that additional opportunities for Action Committee participation would be forthcoming. The Public Input Forums were held to get residents' 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 NEXT MEETING: (November 15, 2016) 1. CERS Update 2. VLRPS Update 3. MTS Update 4. PRTCPS Update 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 Page 3