HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-01-09.PCDP.ACMinutes.FINALHarry Kim
Mayor
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, January 9, 2018
Meeting Minutes
CALL TO ORDER
Michael Yee
Director
Daryn Arai
Deputy Director
Chair Larry Brown called the Puna Community Development Plan (PCDP) Action Committee (AC) to
order at 5:00 p.m. in the Kea'au Community Center
ROLL CALL
Action Committee Members Present: Larry Brown (Chair), Leila Kealoha (Vice -Chair), Elmer Solis,
Michael Bernard, Patti Pinto, Yumi Kawano.
Action Committee Members Absent -Excused: Susan Osborne
Staff: CoH Planners - Keiko Mercado, LeAna Gloor, Eric Cook
Members of the public: 8
ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: NONE
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. Committee Member Michael Bernard announced that he had contacted Hawaiian Telcom via
email to inquire about their recent expansion in service to the Puna area. He asked specifically
about what percentage of the $26M in funds from Connect America was spent on Hawai'i
Island and how many of the 5000 connection locations were on Hawai'i Island. Committee
Member Bernard received the following answer:
"To answer your questions, more than 4,500 of the 5,000 locations are on Hawaii Island. In
terms of the amount, Hawaiian Telcom receives Connect America Fund support over a six year
period that will total $26M in 2020. We receive about $4M per year and the majority of the
CAF support we've received thus far has been invested on Hawaii Island."
Additional information can be found on the Hawaiian Telcom website:
http://www.hawaiiantel.com/aboutus/Com panVNews/tabid/1487/Default.aspx
2. Committee Member Patti Pinto announced that the Hawaii County Community Emergency
Response Team (CERT) Program would be offering training in Hilo beginning on January 20tH
The CERT Program provides residents and businesses with the basics in how to properly
prepare and respond to an emergency at home, at work, or in the community. Email
hawaiicert@gmail.org to reserve your spot.
Additional information can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ml2VT7cc6l-
r I LH 9 H 56x l l P H Wgz rSl9C/view
Hawai'i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Page I
3. Ms. Mercado announced that emails from Hawai'i County had recently been blocked by Google
servers. If you have a Gmail account or use Google as your email provider, Hawai'i County
emails may not be getting through to you. The County recognizes the inconvenience this
continues to cause and is working diligently to fix the problem. If you have had trouble
receiving emails from County email addresses, please check your spam and junk folders to be
sure the emails are not being routed there.
4. Committee Member Kealoha announced that SSFM International is working with the County of
Hawai'i Department of Parks and Recreation to develop a masterplan for the new public park in
Hawaiian Paradise Park. The next public meeting with SSFM and the Department of Parks and
Recreation is scheduled for February 191h, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the HPP Community
Center. The masterplan is to be developed and adopted by March 171h. Three different design
scenarios can be viewed on Big Island Video News. Members of the public can submit
comments on the design scenarios until January 21st. Send comments to Jared Chang at
0chang@ssfm.com or call (808) 356-1242.
HPP design scenarios can be found on Big Island Video News:
http://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2018/01/09/video-first-hpp-public-park-master-plan-meeting-held/
PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS:
One person signed up to testify and chose to speak at the time of the agenda item.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Committee Member Elmer Solis moved to approve the minutes of the November 14, 2017 meeting as
submitted. Second by Committee Member Patti Pinto. The motion to approve the minutes as submitted
passed with 6 votes aye, 0 votes nay.
BUSINESS:
1. Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Presentation: Laila Jayyousi, Soil Conservationist
with the United States Department of Agriculture NRCS, gave a presentation on the Pacific
Islands Area NRCS Conservation Programs. The conservation programs work with farmers,
ranchers, land owners, and foresters to help protect the natural resources on their land and
improve native habitats. When someone applies for assistance, the NRCS will complete a site
visit and assist in identifying issues. Once issues are identified, staff then works to determine
possible mitigation strategies. NRCS has several Farm Bill Programs, the most commonly used
program is the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). EQIP provides agricultural
producers with financial resources to help plan and implement improvements and conservation
practices
Ms. Jayyousi covered topics such as maintaining soil health, reducing erosion, and pollinator
and wildlife habitats. The NRCS will cost share to remove invasive species, as well as assist with
purchasing new plants for reforesting. They will also cost share projects such as mulching,
creating pollinator habitats, windbreaks, and fencing. To qualify or these cost sharing programs,
Ms. Jayyousi stated that you must own or lease the land being considered and there must be
an appropriate concern. Lots of one acre or more are typically considered for restoration
efforts. Site assessments and restoration design plans are provided free of charge.
Communication No. 2018-01: NRCS Programs PowerPoint Presentation can be viewed and downloaded from the
following website: http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/weblink/DocView.aspx?dbid=l&id=91746
www.hiplanningdept.com puna(dhawaiicounty.-ov Page 2
2. Pahoa Regional Town Center Master Plan: Ms. Mercado provided an update on the Pahoa
Regional Town Center Master Plan. She explained that six categories on the County of Hawai'i's
Professional Services List were used to select 11 potential consultants for the project. Letters
requesting additional specific information had been sent out to each of the 11 potential
consultants. The potential consultants were asked to respond by 4:30pm on January 191h. If a
response is not provided, the potential consultant will no longer be considered. Once the
Planning Department has received the responses, a selection team will review each statement
of qualification and select the consultant best suited for the project.
It was asked if the Action Committee or members of the public would be able to serve on the
selection team. Ms. Mercado stated that the Planning Department is open to having an Action
Committee Member participate in the selection of a consultant. She continued to clarify that
while the selection committee is not an appropriate area for the general public to participate,
community and agency engagement is required of the consultant once their work begins.
Committee Member Pinto stated that she would like to see Chair Brown sit on the consultant
selection committee. Committee Member Pinto emphasized the importance of avoiding
resistance from the community by maximizing community participation in the masterplan
process. Chair Brown agreed to sitting on the consultant selection committee.
3. Action Committee Representation on Subcommittees and Community Partner Groups:
One person testified on agenda item #4
1. Ms. Hannah Hedrick, testifying on behalf of herself expressed concern that some of the
upper Puna subdivision associations may not be receiving information from the Action
Committee regarding connectivity and emergency response and preparedness in Puna. Ms.
Hedrick stated that she would gladly share any information she receives on this matter
within the upper Puna community.
Chair Brown introduced agenda item #3 and opened the floor for AC discussion. It was asked
when new action committee members would be joining the AC and when the current
holdovers would be leaving. Ms. Mercado conveyed that there had been one nomination
before the County Council Planning Committee that was approved and set to go before the full
council soon. It is possible that the AC would have an additional person by the March
6thmeeting.
Committee Member Pinto urged the action committee to actively continue the work of the
Connectivity and Emergency Response Subcommittee (CERS). She reminded the AC that CERS
meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 2:OOp.m. in the Kea'au Community Center and
reiterated that the general public is always invited. Committee member Kawano volunteered to
take the lead on CERS.
Chair Brown stated that it was difficult for the Action Committee to take a proactive role in the
Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission (PONC)
applications. After discussion, Chair Brown proposed to dissolve the PONC subcommittee.
Committee Member Bernard moved to dissolve the PONC subcommittee. Second by Committee
Member Pinto. The motion to dissolve the POMC subcommittee passed with 6 votes aye, 0 votes
nay.
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Committee Member Solis moved that the Action Committee send a letter to home owners
associations and other community groups informing them about POMC and encouraging them
to submit applications. Second by Committee Member Keoloho. The motion passed with 6 votes
aye, 0 votes nay. Committee Member Solis volunteered to draft the letter.
Committee Member Kawano reported that the Volcano Long Range Planning Committee is
currently meeting every third Thursday of the month at Cooper Center, Volcano. She stated
that the committee is currently focused on forest protection. Ms. Mercado asked Committee
Member Kawano to encourage the Volcano Long Range Planning Committee to look into using
PONC as a way to achieve the buffer zone they desire.
AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING: (March 6, 2018)
1. Draft letter from the Action Committee to community associations regarding PONC
applications.
ADJOURNMENT: Chair Brown adjourned the meeting at 6:14 p.m.
All Action Committee information can be viewed and downloaded from our website:
http://www.hawai icountycdp.info/puna-cdp/implementation/puna-cdp-action-committee
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