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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-03-14 Puna CDP DRAFT MinutesHarry Kim Mayon County of Hawaii PLANNING DEPARTMENT 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, March 14, 2017 DRAFT Meeting Minutes CALL TO ORDER Michael Yee Director Daryn Arai Deputy Director Chairperson Larry Brown called the Puna Community Development Plan (PCDP) Action Committee (AC) to order at 3:02 p.m. in the Pahoa Neighborhood Facility. The following persons were present: Action Committee: Elmer Solis, Larry Brown, Leila Kealoha, Michael Bernard, Patti Pinto, and Yumi Kawano. Susan Osborne was absent. Staff: Hans Santiago — Puna CDP Planner and Keiko Mercado — Puna CDP Planning Assistant. Members of the public: 21 ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: NONE ANNOUNCEMENTS: Hans announced the resignation of Frank Commendador and Teresa Reveira from the Puna CDP Action Committee. He reminded AC members and those in attendance that applications for the Puna CDP AC are available via the County of Hawaii website and also through the Puna CDP website. County of Hawaii, Office of the Mayor: http://www.hawaiicounty.gov/office-of-the-mayor/. Puna CDP Website: http://www.hawaiicountycdp.info/about-cdps/puna-cdp-action-committee-application PUBLIC TESTIMONY: Two people submitted written testimony: 1. Myelle: There ore many car free folk in the upper Puna subdivisions: HOK, RHE, Golf Course, Fern Forest, etc. who would appreciate bus service expanded to include Sundays so we con go to Sunday morning Volcono farmers' market, evenings (so meetings & classes & work con be attended!), holidays, & also service our paved roads in these subdivisions (like Ali `i Kane Rood, Ali `i Koo, etc.) so people don't hove to haul groceries home on foot from Hwy 11 for miles. Thank you! O Hawai `i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Page 1 2. Ren6 Siracusa: Regarding Implementation Strategy #6: /used to be the champion — PCMC is STILL the community partner. Whoever becomes champion should meet with Ralph Boyea or Steve Sparks to get up to date & learn how the AC can help. Ten people signed up to testify. One person chose to testify at the start of the meeting and nine people chose to testify at the time of their agenda item. 1. Ren6 Siracusa, representing Malama 0 Puna testified on agenda item #1: She encouraged the Action Committee to use the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission to move some of their identified priorities forward. For example, Ren6 suggested nominating parcels abutting the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park as a potential way of creating the desired buffer zone. She shared that the Puna Medical Facility continues to move forward and they will soon begin their feasibility study. Ren6 reminded the AC that dialysis cannot happen at the Puna Medical Facility unless there is a sewage treatment facility. The current proposed wastewater feasibility study does not include the property where the Puna Medical Facility will be located, it will miss it by one lot. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Elmer moved to approve the minutes of the February 8, 2017, meeting as submitted. Second by Patti. The motion to approve the minutes as submitted passed with 6 votes aye and 0 votes nay. BUSINESS: TRImbbl- NY 1. Implementation strategy for prioritized actions Five people testified on agenda item #1: Jon Olson, representing himself, testified that it was the community who was ultimately responsible for getting the Pahoa Regional Town Center process going. Main Street Pahoa did a community survey that identified what people wanted to see happen. It is necessary to find a way to engage each of the communities out there, the same way that was done in Pahoa. It cannot be left solely to the community associations. The population is growing at an unprecedented rate and a solution needs to be found quickly. 2. Mary Couch, representing herself, testified that she would like HPP to have paved roads and mailboxes. She noted that people are quick to complain about what's wrong but are unwilling to actually rally the troops to get things done. She requested a list of contacts relating to available grants, so she would be able to rally the troops and move forward. 3. Alexa von Alemann, representing herself, testified that not much was done in HPP over the last 23 years. They continue to struggle getting their roads paved due to lack of funding. Postal service is also difficult. She would not like to see federal funds spent on a busy highway dissecting the subdivision, and prefers to see an alternate route to get to lower Puna through Shipman & Hawaiian Homesteads between 5th and 15th Road in HPP and going toward Nanawale. Also suggested are Park & Ride Lots because the current bus stop locations are inconvenient to get to by foot and convenience would get more people on the bus and off the road. by 2025, mwm,. cohplannin,-dept. com puna(a-hawahcounty.Qov Page 2 4. Amber Shouse, representing Councilmember Ruggles, questioned whether the appropriations for $150,000 for the P5hoa Plan and $300,000 for the Wastewater Feasibility Study were still available for those purposes and whether there was anything the County Council could do to help push it forward. Relating to priority #4, Amber acknowledged the prevalence of Rapid 'Ohi'a Death in Puna and suggested PCDP AC Members attend the Rapid 'Ohi'a Death (ROD) Symposium on Sunday, March 18, 2017, at the UH from 9am-12noon. She also noted that at the next County Council Meeting they would be hearing a resolution to transfer $1,000 from Council District 5 to a non-profit called Malama 'Ohi'a, who are working on developing a natural solution in hopes of curing/treating Rapid 'Ohi'a Death. If anyone would like to testify in favor of the Resolution, they can do so at the next Council meeting on March 22, 2017. 5. Maddie Green, representing herself, testified that the Farmers' Market that used to be at Luquin's is now situated at Nanawale Longhouse every Sunday from 7am- 2pm. Hans provided a brief background, reminding the Action Committee that at their February 8, 2017, meeting, they approved six priorities critical to the process of creating a pattern of future growth and development in a manner that is consistent with the goals and objectives of the PCDP. This time around, the AC is being asked to discuss strategies for moving forward on these priorities. Hans introduced the sample worksheets that were provided to everyone in attendance. The worksheets were based on previous implementation tools and were intended to help guide discussion and can be easily edited to more effectively suit the Action Committee's needs. Larry facilitated extensive Action Committee discussion around each of the identified priorities, preferred next steps, and the best process by which to most effectively move each priority forward. AC members also identified who would be the lead for each priority. iority 1: i age/Town Centers • Lead(s): Larry Brown, Patti Pinto and Elmer Solis as alternates • Next Steps: Follow up with the Planning Director in July on staffing capabilities. • Additional Notes: When the future consultant is chosen, allow the scope of the contract to include that the consultants provide a "template" that other communities could use. Priority 2: Road Connectivity • Lead(s): Patti Pinto and Yumi Kawano • Next Steps: Work on the connectivity issues in Puna Waena and Puna Kai. Work to ensure the implementation of the identified connectivity locations in Puna Uka. • Additional Notes: DPW had an Environmental Assessment done for some of the connectivity areas identified in Puna Uka including Lauko St., Pszyk Rd. and Puhala St. A FONSI (Findings of No Significant Impact) was issued and they are moving forward on the design and construction for the Puhala extension. www.cohplannin,-dept.com puna(dhawaiicounty.gov Page 3 Priority 3: Internet Connectivity • Lead(s): Michael Bernard and Elmer Solis • Next Steps: Contact Hawaiian Tel, Time Warner, Exceed, etc., to see what they currently offer and what efforts are underway to expand service. Prepare a draft letter from the Action Committee to current internet providers requesting their future plans for expansion and the processes they have for determining where/when/how expansion takes place. If a complaint is filed with the FCC (Federal Communication Commission) they are required to respond. Take steps to encumber funds from "Connect America" • Additional Notes: The Action Committee is not seeking "FREE" internet service, but rather "RELIABLE and AFFORDABLE" service. Federal Funds are available for connectivity in under -served communities, the program is called Connect America. Last year, $28M of those funds went to Oahu; nothin came to the Big Island. Priority 4: Preserving Native Ecosystems • Lead(s): Leila Kealoha, Yumi Kawano Next Steps: Finalize the Grubbing & Grading brochure. Speak with the State Dept of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) to see what opportunities might be available through them. Identify and map properties that are significant in Puna and should be preserved. Urge Council Members to Amend the Grubbing & Grading Code. Reach out to the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) for grants that can help landowners enhance their forests (i.e. fencing, removing invasive plant species & replace with native plants/trees, etc.). Priority 5: Farmers Markets • Lead(s): Elmer Solis, Larry Brown • Next steps: Draft a letter to CoH Parks & Recreation requesting the requirements of opening/operating a farmers market. Investigate the possibility/feasibility of amending the zoning code and eliminating and/or reducing the application filing fee for Farmers' Markets. Look into the logistics of the farmers market in Kailua- Kona, on Alii Drive. Priority 6: Medical Facilities • Lead(s): Leila Kealoha • Community Partner: Malama 0 Puna • Next steps: Reach out to Rene Siracusa of Malama 0 Puna to collaborate and get up to date on the progress of Puna Medical Facility. 2. Discussion on training or informational sessions during AC meetings: Larry led a discussion regarding the need and possibility of having training or informational sessions during regular and/or special AC meetings. After discussion the AC decided that training(s) would be agendized at the end of AC meetings so that members of the public would have the option of leaving. Larry requested GIS disks for each AC member. Below are topics the AC would be interested in learning more about in order to better assist the community and implement the PCDP: www.cohplannin,-dept.com puna(dhawaiicounty.gov Page 4 • Sunshine Law • GIS/ArcReader • Financial Impact Statement sheets/Capital Improvement Plan/Budget Hans will also look into other trainings that the County provides. COMMUNICATIONS NOT REQUIRING ACTION: Update from the Connectivity and Emergency Response Subcommittee (CERS) Three people testified on agenda item #3: 1. Myelle, representing herself, testified that her subdivision, Hawaiian,Orchid Isle Estates isn't included in the topic of connectivity. She has lived in Puna for over 18 years, and has been experimenting going green for the last year and a half by giving up her personal vehicle to utilize public transportation. If Hawaii is supposed to be much more sustainable and green by 2025, it's necessary to have these connectivity points and improve our Mass Transit system. The buses need to be on time and run at more convenient times. People need to be able to get to and from work during the week, to farmers' markets and church on the weekends, and en classes/meetings held in the evenings. She volunteered to help in any way she can (Hans shared that the Mass Transit Master Plan is underway (currently working on gathering data) and public engagement would probably begin sometime during the summer. Patti announced that t re is currently a survey for bus riders that is available through the bus drivers.) 2. Hannah Hendrick, representing e Connectivity Action Te m — Fern Forest /Eden Roc, testified that she is in support of all aspects of connectivity specified in the PCDP. She is specifically happy to seethe connectivity for Eden'Roc. Hannah has begun clean-up efforts at the Kaleponi and Punahele Connectivity 16cation in Fern Forest. They have volunteers who have weekly work sessions on Fridays from 10am-12noon. She asked if the County Council would be able to he reaching out to the Eden Roc Community who are unaware of the PCDP and Inectivity I efforts that are being put forth. ,,I. Annette Thornbery, representing Eden Roc & Fern Forest, testified that their local community associations are dysfunctional; some Board Members don't want you to know who they are or when they'r eeting, so it's nearly impossible for the community to state their views to the Boa d. Annette volunteers with Hannah on the clean-up efforts at Kaleponi and Punahele. She also noted that she traveled a lot during her 32 years orking for the government and said that when she was in Belize, their local bus system extre/eidea liable and always on time. She hopes to gain that same level of t ansportarvice in Fern Forest/Eden Roc. Patti suggested t of working with the County Council to provide training workshops for Board Members of Community Associations on how to function effectively and better serve their communities. Functioning Community Associations are vital to the implementation of the CDP. Elmer requested that members of the public in attendance share whatever contact information they have for the different Community Associations with the Action Committee and Planning Staff. (Amber Shouse said that she would provide a list of Community Association contacts from Councilmember Ruggles office). www.cohplannin,-dept.com puna(dhawaiicounty.gov Page 5 Larry stressed the importance of grass roots efforts led by Community Associations and other community groups. Community Associations don't have to come to the AC to be recognized as a subcommittee, they can come for support and receive the same endorsement. If a community group comes to the AC for help, there are a number of different ways the AC could provide support (i.e. be agendized, AC chair attends one of their meetings, a draft letter of support, etc.). Patti reiterated that the purpose of the Connectivity and Emergency Response Subcommittee (CERS) is to follow the vision and the mission of the PCDP in implementing connectivity actions related to the overall theme of health and safety. The recent activities of the subcommittee is reflected in the following communications: • Communication No. 2017-7: CERS discussion on defining boundaries for Puna Waena and Puna Kai and review of connectivity locations for Puna Waena and Puna Kai. Communication No. 2017-8: CERS discussion on the population growth of Hawaiian Paradise Park (HPP) and the status of the Puna Makai Alternate Route (PMAR) including portions between HPP and Hawaiian Beaches subdivisions. Communication Nos. 2017-7 & 2017-8 can be viewed and downloaded from the following website: http://www.hawaiicountycdp.info/puna-cdp/implementation/puna-cdp-action-committee/2017-action- committee-meetings/2017-action-committee-meetings/march-14-2017/march-14-2017-agenda-items AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING: (May 9, 2017 1. GIS Training 2. Grubbing & Grading brochure update 3. Draft letter re: Internet Connectivity 4. Mass Transit? ADJOURNMENT: The Chair, without objection, adjourned the meeting at 5:18 p.m. All Action Committee information can be viewed and downloaded from our website: itycdp.info/puna-cdp/implementation/pu na-cdp-action-committee 1,4y, www.cohplannin,-dept.com puna(W hawaiicounty.Qov Page 6