HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-05-01.PCDP.ACMinutes.DRAFTHarry 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, May 1, 2018
Draft Meeting Minutes
Michael Yee
Director
Daryn Arai
Deputy Director
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Larry Brown called the Puna Community Development Plan (PCDP) Action Committee (AC) to
order at 5:00 p.m. in the Cooper Center.
ROLL CALL
Action Committee Members Present: Larry Brown (Chair), Leila Kealoha (Vice -Chair), Michael Bernard,
Susan Osborne, Yumi Kawano, Brent Norris, Mark Hinshaw.
Action Committee Members Absent -Excused: Dan Domizio
Staff: CoH Planners - Keiko Mercado and Eric Cook
Members of the public: 17
ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: NONE
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. Ms. Mercado thanked Ms. Carol Ignacio of Blue Zones for providing refreshments for the
meeting.
IL A
2. Ms. Mercado introduced and welcomed two new Action Committee members, Mark Hinshaw
and Brent Norris.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS:
1. No public comments were presented at the beginning of the meeting. One community member
signed up to testify on business item #2 at the time the business item was presented.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Committee Member Michael Bernard moved to approve the minutes of the April 3, 2018, meeting as
submitted. Second by Committee Member Mark Hinshaw. The motion to approve the minutes as
submitted passed with 7 votes aye, 0 votes nay.
BUSINESS:
1. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) Update on the Wao Kele o Puna Comprehensive
Management Plan: Land Management Specialist, Kalena Blakemore, presented an update on
the implementation status of the Wao Kele o Puna Comprehensive Management Plan that was
finalized and approved by the OHA Board of Trustees in September 2017. Ms. Blakemore
provided a brief summary of the current status of Wao Kele o Puna as they move forward with
implementation.
Hawai `i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Page I
OHA has contracted with Forest Solutions to work on the removal of invasive species (i.e. rapid
'ohi'a death, albizia) in remote areas of the property. The contractors are currently using access
points that abut the property, including Black Sands Subdivision and Kopua Farm Lots, as well
as having to helicopter themselves in, which has become extremely costly. However, if there
are any community members that are willing to allow access from their personal properties, it
would be greatly appreciated.
Click the following link to view Ms. Blakemore's presentation materials:
http://records.hawaiicountV.gov/Weblink/1/doc/92801/Pagel.aspx
2. Presentation on the Draft Upper Puna Emergency Response Plan (UPERP):
One person testified on agenda item #2.
1. Community member Mac Castillo, representing himself, testified on agenda item #2. Mr.
Castillo expressed his support for the Upper Puna Emergency Response Plan (UPERP) and
road connectivity between Eden Roc and Fern Forest subdivisions. He knows contractors
with heavy machinery who would be willing to help with the project. Mr. Castillo
emphasized that it would be extremely beneficial to the residents of Eden Rock who
currently only have one road to get into and out of their subdivision. He stated his belief
that this road connection is especially critical for emergency personnel in order for them to
be able to respond in the event of an emergency.
UPERP Plan Coordinator, Hannah Hedrick, introduced UPERP Collaborator, Bill Gray, who
provided a brief presentation outlining the draft Upper Puna Emergency Response and
Preparedness Plan. Mr. Gray provided an overview of the plan's strategy for accomplishing the
goals set out in the plan.
Strategic steps moving forward with the UPERP plan include:
Meet with Civil Defense Administrator, Talmadge Magno, to present UPERP Plan which
includes the development of a CERT Team as a central feature. The intent of this
meeting is to build support and gain backing for this project.
Request assistance from Civil Defense Emergency Response Planner, Barry Pariot for
further development of UPERP Plan by integrating CERT and utilizing other appropriate
resources.
c. Meet with Hawai'i County Assistant Fire Chief Gantry Andrade regarding coordination
between VFD 5-C (Fern Forest Volunteer Fire Department) and ongoing training related
to CERT.
d. Meet with Doug Wilson regarding development of a Community Emergency Plan and
HAM radio emergency communications training and coordination with County Of
Hawai'i Civil Defense.
Meeting with Citizens Corps and Bobby St Ambrosgio regarding integrating the CERT
team with the Fern Forest Neighborhood Watch as a combined resource or at least
develop a corporative relationship between the two groups.
All Hands Meeting: UPERP planners, existing CERT personnel, volunteers who have
shown interest in CERT participation and other various interested stake holders get
together and talk story.
www.hiplanningdept.com puna(&,hawaiicounty.,-ov Page 2
g. Outreach to churches and other local civic organizations in order to develop support for
UPERPP and identify potential volunteers.
Ms. Hedrick stated that one goal of the UPERP plan is the creation of an emergency
preparedness command center for upper Puna. She stated that the command center is
intended as a centralized location for information and resources during emergency situations
as well as a storage reserve of clean drinking water and food for emergency relief. Ms. Hedrick
asked for the help of the public with outreach to the community regarding the implementation
of the UPERP plan.
Mr. Gray inquired about the current status of progress on the Mayor's Roads Committee. Ms.
Mercado responded to the inquiry stating that the input from the communities has been
gathered and the project priorities have been set. The County is now looking at funding options
to complete the prioritized connectivity locations.
Committee Member, Mark Hinshaw, suggested that UPERP get in contact with Paul Agamata in
relation to emergency radio connectivity for upper Puna. Paul Agamata works with
communications on Hawai'i Island, and works closely with Bill Hanson of Civil Defense.
Click the following link to view the Upper Puna Emergency Response and Preparedness Plan:
http://records.hawaiicountV.gov/Weblink/1/doc/93038/Pagel.aspx
Click the following link to view the UPERP Meeting Minutes 04/25/18:
http://records.hawaiicountV.gov/Weblink/1/doc/93530/Pagel.aspx
3. Update on the Building in Puna Brochure: Ms. Mercado announced that the Building in Puna
Brochure has been finalized and approved for distribution. The brochures are available at the
front counter of the Planning Department and the land use plan checkers are handing them
out to the appropriate people. Ms. Mercado announced that there were copies available at
the meeting, and members of the Action Committee as well as the public were welcome to
take some with them and hand them out within their personal and professional circles.
Click the following link to view the Building in Puna Brochure:
http://records.hawaiicountV.gov/Weblink/1/doc/93037/Pagel.aspx
4. Update and Discussion on the Pahoa Regional Town Center Master Plan (PRTCM): Ms.
Mercado stated that she was unable to officially announce the selected consultant for the
Pahoa Regional Town Center Master Plan until the contract is officially finalized. Ms. Mercado
announced that the consultant is expected to be on board prior to the July 3, 2018 Puna CDP
Action Committee meeting. She stated that if any community members or Action Committee
members have any community/social resources that they would like to share with the
consultant to further inform the Pahoa Regional Town Center Master Plan, they are welcome
to send those suggestions to her at Keiko.mercado@hawaiicounty.gov .
Chair Brown shared that he sits on the Pahoa Regional Town Center Master Plan Steering
Committee, and that Committee Member Hinshaw serves as the chair of the Steering
Committee as well.
A representative from the Mt. View Public Library stated that the library is one of the upper
Puna resource centers, and that the library is willing to collaborate and help with efforts
moving forward with the Pahoa Regional Town Center Master Plan as well as formation of
neighborhood/village centers.
www.hiplanningdept.com puna(dhawaiicounty.-ov Page 3
Committee Member Hinshaw stated that it may take some efforts from the communities
themselves and possibly private developers to move forward on the creation of village centers
within the planning area. He encouraged members of each community to work together in an
effort to make village centers possible. Chair Brown agreed with Committee Member Hinshaw
and further encouraged communities to get involved in village/town planning efforts.
Committee Member Osborne asked about the possibility of creating a "healthy" zone within
Puna that would restrict businesses such as fast food from opening within that region.
Councilwoman Jen Ruggles stated that she visited a county in Colorado that prevented
franchises from opening stores within the county. She believes the formation of a "healthy"
zone could be possible. Councilwoman Ruggles stated that if we were able to identify a
location where all the residents would be on board for the project, creating "healthy" zones is
something she could introduce by ordinance. Committee Member Kealoha expressed her
support for such efforts. Carol Ignacio of Blue Zones suggested that Dan Burden from Blue
Zones would be a great resource to collaborate with to move forward on plans creating
"healthy" zones in Puna.
AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING: (July 3, 2018)
There were no proposed agenda items for the next meeting.
ADJOURNMENT: Chair Brown adjourned the meeting at 6:12 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
www.hiplanningdept.com puna(a-)hawaiicounty.,-ov Page 4