HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-04-03.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, April 3, 2018
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 Pahoa Neighborhood Facility.
ROLL CALL
Action Committee Members Present: Larry Brown (Chair), Leila Kealoha (Vice -Chair), Michael Bernard,
Dan Domizio, Yumi Kawano.
Action Committee Members Absent -Excused: Susan Osborne, Elmer Solis
Staff: CoH Planners - Keiko Mercado and Eric Cook
Members of the public: 12
ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: NONE
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. CoH Planner, Keiko Mercado, announced and introduced the newest Puna Action Committee
member, Dan Domizio. Mr. Domizio is serving a term through December 31, 2019.
2. Ms. Mercado announced that the March 6, 2018 AC meeting was canceled due to lack of
quorum. She reported that County staff went out to Volcano despite the cancellation to collect
testimony from community members though an informal talk story.
3. Ms. Mercado announced that there were two new Action Committee members, Mark Hinshaw
and Brent Norris, set to be confirmed before the full County Council at the beginning of April.
4. Ms. Mercado also announced that the County is still in the process of negotiations with the
Pahoa Regional Town Center Master Plan consultant.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS:
No members of the public provided testimony on business items.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Committee Member Michael Bernard moved to approve the minutes of the January 9, 2018 meeting as
submitted. Second by Committee Member Leila Kealoha. The motion to approve the minutes as
submitted passed with 5 votes aye, 0 votes nay.
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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's
presentation provided a summary of the current status and next steps for Wao Kele o Puna as
they move forward with implementation.
Wao Kele o Puna is unique in that it is the last low land mesic rainforest in the State of Hawaii,
housing many unique, rare and threatened plants and native bird species. It is also used as a
cultural resource location, with plants being sourced for hula and other traditional practices.
Wao Kele o Puna is also a watershed that feeds the Pahoa aquifer. Some of the threats to this
area include geological dangers and lava encroachment, as well as rapid 'ohi'a death.
Ms. Blakemore's presentation materials can be viewed and downloaded here:
http://records.hawaiicountV.gov/Weblink/l/doc/92801/Pagel.aspx
2. Communication No. 2018-04: Draft letter to Group 70 International, INC: Pre -Consultation Draft
Environmental Assessment for the Pahoa Public Library Site Selection: Chair Brown introduced
the Draft letter to Group 70 International, INC.
Committee Member Kealoha moved to accept Comm. No. 2018-04: Draft letter to Group 70
International, INC: Pre -Consultation Draft Environmental Assessment for the Pdhoa Public
Library Site Selection. Second by Committee Member Michael Bernard.
Committee Member Dan Domizio stated that the land selected for site #3 had previously been
offered as a potential site for a Puna Community Medical Center. Mr. Domizio also inquired
about the walkability to site #2 from the main Pahoa town. Chair Brown answered that issues
of walkability and connectivity between sites would be address in the Pahoa Regional Town
Center Masterplan.
The motion to accept the Draft letter to Group 70 International, INC. passed with 5 votes aye, 0
votes nay.
Communication No. 2018-04 can be viewed and downloaded here:
http://records.hawaiicountV.gov/Weblink/1/doc/92670/Pagel.aspx
The final letter submitted to Planning Director Michael Yee and Group 70 International (Communication No. 2018-
07) can be viewed and downloaded here: http://records.hawaiicountV.gov/Weblink/1/doc/93071/Pagel.aspx
3. Communication No. 2018-02: Action Committee Priorities: Chair Brown introduced the third
business item addressing the 6 main action committee priorities that were identified during a
February 2017 special meeting.
— Priority #1 regarding the creation of village/town centers. Chair Brown noted that many
people in the Hawaiian Paradise Park (HPP) community are eager to see a village/town
center created within HPP, however, with the Pahoa Regional Town Center Master Plan
moving forward it doesn't make sense to focus resources and efforts in multiple areas.
The Planning Department is currently in negotiations with the consultant selected for
the Pahoa Regional Town Center Master Plan.
— Priority #2 regarding road connectivity. Chair Brown stated that road connectivity is one
of the more successful objectives the Action Committee has worked on. Connectivity
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locations in upper Puna have been identified and are now being addressed by the
County through the Mayor's Puna Roads Committee. The CERS subcommittee has also
given focus to emergency response efforts and connectivity issues in lower Puna.
Committee Member Yumi Kawano asked how much funding had been provided to work
on road connectivity in Puna. The Fiscal Year 2017-18 Capitol Improvement Budget (CIP)
was for $20 million. Ms. Mercado will check on additional CIP appropriations at the next
Mayor's Roads Committee meeting on May 3, 2018 at 1:00 P.M.
— Priority #3 regarding internet connectivity. Committee Member Michael Bernard led
the discussion of this topic. Mr. Bernard stated that he had received information on
internet connectivity improvement for Hawaii Island from Hawaiian Telcom. Mr.
Bernard reported that Hawaiian Telcom will receive a total of 26 million dollars over a 6
year period for internet connectivity improvement from a federal program called
Connect America. Most of the funding is going to improving connectivity on Hawaii
Island, with 4,500 of 5,000 new connections being made on Hawaii Island. Mr. Bernard
reported that he was unable to get information from Spectrum, but in his research
found out that they offer an internet assistance program for qualifying families and
individuals. For further details on Spectrum Internet Assist Program use the following
link: http://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/1/doc/92824/Pagel.aspx
— Priority #4 regarding the preservation of native ecosystems. Chair Brown stated that
OHA has begun implementation of the Wao Kele o Puna comprehensive management
plan. Rene Siracusa of Malama o Puna provided a summary of the progress made on
Keau'ohana Forest Reserve on HW 130 across from Black Sands subdivision. Ms.
Siracusa announced that with a small grant from the County and a few larger grants
from the State, progress is being made in eradicating invasive species and planting
native plants on 100 acres of native forest. Public Access, Open Space, and Natural
Resources Preservation Commission (PONC) is moving closer to finalizing the acquisition
of the Vacationland Land Trust property (Wai'opae). Ms. Siracusa encouraged members
of the public to submit parcels in Volcano to PONC for land acquisition. Ms. Mercado
added that the group working on the Volcano Design Guidelines have someone
considering PONC applications as a way to preserve open space. Ms. Siracusa
announced that PONC has a draft letter they will be considering at their next meeting
that provides information on PONC and encourages community associations to submit
parcels for acquisition.
— Priority #5 regarding famers markets. Chair Brown announced that the Pahoa Regional
Park is now an official designated site available for potential farmers' markets. Council
members Eileen O'Hara and Jen Ruggles shared that several other parks in the Puna
District are being considered as potential sites for farmers markets.
— Priority #6 regarding medical facilities. Committee Member Domizio asked what was
needed to construct entrances and exits off of Highway 130 for a potential medical
facility. Chair Brown stated that if the facility was already existing, the State Department
of Transportation (DOT) would build the highway to accommodate the existing facility.
In the case of a new facility being built off of the existing highway, the developer would
usually bare the cost of altering the road.
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Ms. Siracusa announced that the Puna Community Medical Center has expanded their
facility and will begin providing primary care and x-ray services. Chair Brown also shared
that there is a new medical facility that will be opening in the Puna Kai Shopping Center.
Communication No. 2018-02 can be viewed and downloaded from here:
http://records.hawaiicountV.gov/Weblink/1/doc/92230/Pagel.aspx
AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING: (May 1, 2018)
1. Update on the Pahoa Regional Town Center Masterplan
2. Update on the Building in Puna Brochure
ADJOURNMENT: Chair Brown adjourned the meeting at 7:15 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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