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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-13.CERS.Minutes.29Aug17 Communication No. 2017-13 PCDP Subcommittee on Connectivity and Emergency Response, Puna Waena and Kai Meeting – August 29, 2017 – Kea’au Community Center 2:00 p.m. Meeting Report Call to Order: 2:07 Present: Linnette Sawyer, Patti Pinto, Eileen O’Hara, Stephanie Bath, Neena Roumell, Nelson Ho, Tim Beaver Communities Represented: Fern Acres, Hawaiian Acres, South Lauko, Hawaiian Beaches/Shores, County Council Review of the meeting with Frank DeMarco et al. regarding the Puna Connectivity Master Plan General agreement that our impressions were positive, that the work will be undertaken by County departments. There are far fewer CLs in middle and lower Puna, it is just a different situation. All of the community input and proposed CLs are included in the CERS reports to the PCDP, available on the PCDP website. Some discussion about the membership of the committee, County Representatives will be participating, invited by Roy. We discussed the importance of including the work that has already been done by the PCDP and CERS. Also addressed was the inclusion of Mass Transit in the Puna Connectivity Master Plan. We realized that they have not done any public outreach. The conditions of the contract to do the Mass Transit Plan included community input meetings in the first 6 months of the process and again towards the end. We need public meetings on Mass Transit. Do we want to begin to investigate ownership of the CL impacted properties? Objectives for CERS ongoing Some discussion of the overlapping goals of the Puna Connectivity Master Plan (PCMP) and the Connectivity and Emergency Response Subcommittee (CERS). We recognize that the County will not embark on any plans until after the PCMP is complete, but that there is much that can be accomplished parallel to that work and that it needs to be done by members of the communities impacted by the proposed connectivity locations (CLs). Eileen discussed the research she has done regarding the Federal (FEMA) agreements with Hawaii State and County regarding the emergency route between Hawaiian Beaches and HPP along Railroad. There was a sunset clause as part of the agreement relating to the federal funding and she believes that that date has passed. Still need to locate the actual document and establish date and facts. She spoke with Darryl Oliveira and he could not locate the document, but thinks that the sunset date was 2 years out from the event. Eileen reports that in reality, we have never been in compliance with the federal emergency access only requirement as Government Beach Road has always been open as there are private properties along that route that require daily access. Not the case with Railroad. Patti asks about County participation in the maintenance of Maku’u should traffic begin to use that road as access to Highway 130. Some staff at DPW had been under the impression that the HPP boulevards were 40 foot right of way, but they are 60 foot, and therefore potentially dedicable. Looked at dates of the dedications of Leilani, Nanawale, Kahakai and Ainaloa in looking for precedents. With the increase in fuel tax there will be more funds available to improve roads. 1 Communication No. 2017-13 We addressed the impacts of additional traffic accessing 130 from Maku’u, also around Shower. There are some traffic mitigation measures under consideration already. We looked at access from HPP towards Hilo, a frontage road, Milo St. Connection. Both under consideration. A frontage road would cross flood lands and not address traffic returning from Hilo. This also would need to involve County participation in the maintenance of Shower. For now, these proposed routes would be used mostly in emergencies and by people who live directly on those routes. Highway 130 would be preferable. Connectivity between Hawaiian Beaches and Nanawale was discussed. There were comments from the communities about wanting social connectivity as well as emergency and commuting access. There is a better route between the two subdivisions than the one developed in response to the lava. th We also discussed connectivity mauka of Highway 130, going up 40, accessing Highway 11 on Ola’a. There is already a problem on Highway 11 with that intersection that would require greater mitigation. There th was discussion of a CL that would go from Orchidland to Ainaloa across the large parcel at 40 St. We touched on other access that was requested by Kaohe and Nanawale and the vehement opposition from Seaview. New Business  Neena requested a letter to the new principal of Mountain View School to engage their support again the getting a connection along S. Lauko Road. Patti explains that the letter would have to go through the Action Committee and agreed to draft something and forward to Neena for review. th  Joy is having a meeting at HPP on Puna roads on September 9 Next Meeting: September 26, 2017, 2:00 pm, Kea`au Community Center Adjournment: 3:05 pm 2