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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-07-10 NKCDP Meeting ReportHarry Kim Mayor Michael Yee Director Daryn Arai Deputy Director County of Hawaii PLANNING DEPARTMENT NORTH KOHALA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE Aupuni Center • 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 • Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 Phone (808) 961-8288 • Fax (808) 961-8742 Monday, July 10, 2017 Action Committee Meeting Report CALL TO ORDER Chairperson John Winter called the North Kohala Community Development Plan (NKCDP) Action Committee (AC) to order at 5:11 p.m. in the Kamehameha Park Complex, Hisaoka Gym Conference Room. The following persons were present: Action Committee Present: John Winter (Chair), John "Jack" Hoyt, Kristen "Lehua" Dircks and Benjamin Ney. Action Committee Absent: Faith Yates (Vice -Chair), Richard Elliott, and Veronica "Lani" Eugenio Staff: Bethany Morrison, CDP Planner and Grace Armstrong, Planner. Members of the public: 5 W. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: Non ANNOUNCEMENTS: Ms. Morrison explained to the Action Committee how this meeting will be conducted with no quorum. She explained that the committee cannot make decisions or engage in discussions, but information can be presented to be discussed at a future meeting when quorum is met. Chair Winter stated that reaching quorum for these CDP meetings has been often difficult because of the number of active Action Committee Members. He requested that the Mayor's office actively recruit new members so some of the vacancies can be filled. Mr. Winter stated they have canceled 5 meetings in the past 2 years as a result of not being able to reach quorum. Chair Winter shared an article from West Hawaii Today, dated July 17, 2017, entitled Kona Development Plan Upheld as Law. He stated that the CDPs do have the weight of law since they have been passed by county ordinance. Chair Winter announced that the North Kohala Action Committee will be dissolving Subcommittee Groups. This is to be done at the next CDP meeting. In general, he hopes that these subcommittees will continue meeting as informal citizen groups. He encouraged these groups to report their progress to the Action Committee. Hawai'i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Page 1 PUBLIC COMMENTS: Ms. Toni Withington commented on the May 8' Meeting Minutes, under Business of Committee, number 3, Letter Forwarded for Action by Subcommittee regarding a draft letter to Mayor Harry Kim outlining reasons that the County of Hawai'i should enter into negotiations to purchase property within the Hapu'u to Kapanai'a Cultural Corridor and Halelua, 6 parcels, with PONC. She cited that she has met with PONC staff and they are looking immediately to the purchasing of three of these parcels with the County of Hawaii with matching funds with the State of Hawai'i Legacy Land Conservation Program and elsewhere. They will tentatively start with the next three when this purchase is complete. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Due to lack of quorum, no action taken on the May 9, 2017 draft minutes. REPORTS and OTHER PRESENTATIONS: 1. No report on the May -June General Plan Presentation to Action Committee was made. Subcommittee Reports Chair Winter reaffirmed that the North Kohala Action Committee will be dissolving Subcommittee Groups. This will be done at the next CDP meeting. 2. Growth Management No Report 3. Public Access Ms. Withington presented the North Kohala Community Access Group June 7th meeting report (Communication No. 2017-1). She referred to a talk that Ms. Meredith Speicher of the Rails for Trails Program of the National Park Service gave to the group about the Mahukona Railroad. They are using GPS to locate the historical railroad easement and linking it with other trail systems in the area. She also spoke of the eviction of a squatter at Kapanai'a, and working with property owners to gain public access on the Kohala waterfront and trails with Ala Kahakai Trail Association. 4. Water, Parks and Roads Chair Winter reported the minutes (Communication No. 2017-3) for June 21St. One of the topics discussed was the Mimosa trees, located at the North Kohala Senior Center Complex, which the arborist at the COH Parks & Recreation recommended to be removed and replaced. The seniors along with COH Parks & Recreation will be responsible for the plantings that is suitable for the area. He referred to the emergency by-pass at Pratt Road and an upcoming meeting with the director of Public Works to create an agreement document with the land owners (about 43) and the County of Hawaii. He referred to parking congestion issues at Pololu Lookout and said that DLNR will send an engineer to assess the situation and receive community input. www.cohplanningdept.com North Kohala CDP Action Committee Meeting Page 2 5. Power, Viewplanes and Erosion Control Ms. Withington read the report (Communication No. 2017-2). Considered were the following: • Residents and state officials in PoIolu wanted to encourage a new lookout, away from the trailhead, with parking and restrooms to address the health, safety, and congestion issues. • The committee invited Paniolo Power to discuss alternative energy for the area. • Erosion control siltation dams at Upolu Point appear to be a success. 6. Affordable Housing Committee Member Hoyt reported that they are working with the County of Hawai'i on Affordable Housing using the concept of Pocket Neighborhoods. This consists of creating smaller communities with less vehicular traffic, pedestrian walkways to pass the front of every home, and be family oriented with a common gathering place to invite neighbors to get out and get to know one another. This design creates a sense of community within a small neighborhood. The challenge is finding landowners to create this type of neighborhood. 7. Agriculture No report. 8. Historical and Cultural Preservation No report. 9. Health No repor BUSINESS NOT REQUIRING ACTION: 10. Discussion on CDP Subcommittees and Sunshine Law: Ms. Morrison presented on how the Sunshine Law applies to subcommittees how it affects the subcommittees' operations and recommendations on how best to restructure to move forward. Action Committee members and members of the public asked questions of Ms. Morrison. The presentation document that was used during this agenda item can be viewed and downloaded from the following website: http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/weblink/1/edoc/89256/2017-07- 10.NKCDP.SubcommitteeSunshineMatrix.lbg.pdf COMMITTEE CAPACITY BUILDING: 11. Ms. Morrison introduced the Action Committee to the GIS ArcReader program and the data available from the Planning Department. She showed Action Committee members and members of the public how to use the program's tools to view and analyze data in www.cohplanningdept.com North Kohala CDP Action Committee Meeting Page 3 the GIS ArcReader program. Seven copies of the GIS ArcReader program CDs were given to Action Committee members. The GIS ArcReader tool and GIS data is available to the public for a fee of $5.00 at the Planning Department; 101 Pauahi Street Ste. 3, Hilo, Hawaii, 96720. AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT REGULAR AC MEETING: September 11, 2017 ■ Dissolving of Subcommittees ■ Other meeting venues ADJOURNMENT: The Chair, without objection, adjourned the meeting at 6:09 p.m. All Action Committee information can be viewed and downloaded from our website: http://www. hawa i icou ntycd p. i nfo/pu na-cd p/i mplementation/pu na-cd p -act io n -committee www.cohplanningdept.com North Kohala CDP Action Committee Meeting Page 4