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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-01-15.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 15, 2019 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 5:03 p.m. in the Pahoa Neighborhood Facility. ROLL CALL Action Committee Members Present: Larry Brown (Chair), Frances Brewer (Vice), Michael Bernard, Dan Domizio, Susan Osborne, Yumi Kawano, Leila Kealoha, Mark Hinshaw Action Committee Members Absent -Excused: Brent Norris Staff: CoH Planners - Keiko Mercado and Eric Cook. Also in attendance — Ron Whitmore, Deputy Director of R&D; and Bob Agres, Manager for Disaster Recovery Community Engagement & Collaboration. Members of the public: 40 ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: NONE ANNOUNCEMENTS: Chair Brown announced that discussion on agenda item #1 was postponed. Committee Member Brent Norris who was to provide the presentation on this agenda item, was unable to attend the meeting. PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS: 8 Members of the public provided testimony. 1. Mr. John Olson, representing himself, provided testimony on agenda items 1&2. Item 1: Mr. Olson questioned why a discussion was needed about growing hemp as an agricultural product in Puna since hemp production had been federally legalized. Item 2: Mr. Olson stated that he did not believe the County was well enough prepared to handle the eruption event. He stressed that the County should have convened a "table top" to clarify roles and responsibilities during disaster response, and should still convene one to more effectively outline response and communication to the public for future eruption events. Hawai `i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Page I 2. Mr. Scott Malis, representing himself, provided testimony on agenda items 1&2. Item 1: Mr. Malis stated that while farming is a concern, it cannot be addressed until we first address reestablishing access to farmlands. He also stated that he believed farmers should be allowed to return to their land and begin farming again. "Being covered by lava does not mean the land is useless, all of the farmland we have was once covered by lava." Item 2: Mr. Malis stated that he would like to see the roads that make up 4 -corners reopened. He believes that reopening these roads would draw more tourism to the area, which would then in turn bring more money back into the communities of Puna. Mr. Malis stated that it was his understanding that FEMA would pay for 75% of the road reconstruction and the State of Hawai'i would pay for the other 25%, we (the County) just need to request it. 3. Ms. Hannah Hedrick, representing the Upper Puna Emergency Response and Preparedness Team, provided testimony on agenda item 2. Ms. Hedrick requested that an update on general emergency response and connectivity issues be added to the March Action Committee meeting agenda. Ms. Hedrick also shared that she is currently updating the Upper Puna Connectivity and Emergency Response Plan as well as working on a proposal for inter -subdivision connectivity and development of a linear park at the Fern Forest, Eden Rock connectivity point. 4. Ms. Eileen O'Hara, representing herself, provided testimony on agenda item 2. Ms. O'Hara stated that the critical action needed in recovery is the reopening of roads. She emphasized the need for more than one way in and out of Leilani Estates and the need to reopen Highway 132. Ms. O'Hara also stated that Senator Russell Ruderman would be submitting a bill requesting $15,000,000 to reopen Highway 132. 5. Mr. Kepa Kaeo provided testimony on agenda item 2. Mr. Kaeo stated there are many cultural sites that Native Hawaiians need access to. Due to the eruption event they do not currently have access. He asked whether any recovery funds had been distributed to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL). If yes, how could one access those funds. Mr. Kaeo stated that they currently know of approximately 40-50 displaced Native Hawaiians who are in need of homes. He is hoping that recovery funds could be used to provide housing for these individuals. 6. Ms. Smiley Burrows, representing Kapoho Crater, provided testimony on agenda item 2. Ms. Burrows emphasized the importance of reopening the inundated roads in lower Puna including Highway 132, Highway 137, and Pohoiki Road connecting to Highway 132. Ms. Burrows had started a community petition to get Highway 132, Highway 137, and Pohoiki road reopened. 7. Mr. Kumalani Kekipi, provided testimony on agenda item 2. Mr. Kekipi shared a proposal developed by the "Pahoa Community Cultural Revive Project". The proposal calls for the creation of a cultural community gathering center at the former site of Luquin's Mexican Restaurant and the Akebono Theater and would help stimulate the local economy and promote Hawaiian culture. He also shared that a stage had been built at the site and that they were eager to move forward as a community gathering place. 8. Ms. Braja Tarletz, representing Gaia Yoga Gardens and Pu'a'a Community and Roads Association, provided testimony on agenda item 2. She stated that she and other residents in her area needed Railroad Avenue to be reopened. Ms. Tarletz shared that the closing of www.hiplanningdept.com puna(dhawaiicounty.-ov Page 2 Railroad Avenue had increased her commute time from 10 minutes to 40 minutes and urged the reopening of Railroad Avenue. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Committee Member Susan Osborne moved to approve the minutes of the November 14, 2018, meeting as submitted. Second by Committee Member Mark Hinshaw. The motion to approve the minutes as submitted passed with 8 votes aye, 0 votes nay. BUSINESS: 1. Opportunities to advance mixed-use agricultural development as it relates to the Puna CDP: This business item was not addressed at the meeting because Committee Member Norris who was to lead the presentation and discussion was unable to attend. Testimony was accepted and will be provided to AC members again when the item is re-agendized. 2. Update on the Kilauea eruption recovery process: Bob Agres, Keiko Mercado and Eric Cook provided a presentation outlining the Kilauea Eruption Recovery process to date. To date the Kilauea Recovery Community Engagement Team has participated in 31 'Ghana Talk Story Sessions and heard from over 300 Puna residents, businesses, and cultural practitioners. The team has also received input from over 200 students from Kea'au High School. Kua 0 Ka La, Hawai'i Academy of Arts & Sciences, and the Boys & Girls Club of Pahoa. The input gathered from the following communities: Ainaloa, Ala'ili, Black Sands, Hawaiian Beaches, Hale Kamahina, Hamakua, Hawaiian Paradise Park, Hawaiian Shores, Hilo, Ka Wai a Pele, Kalapana, Kamoleao, Kapoho, Lanipuna Gardens, Leilani Estates, Lighthouse Road, Malama Ki, Mt. View, Nanawale, Noni Farms Road, Papaya Farms Road, Pohoiki, Seaview, the Continent, Vacationland, and Volcano. The presentation included examples of themes/topics that had emerged, as well as the larger questions those themes brought to light regarding the recovery process moving forward. Four of the over -arching questions that arose from the community were: What infrastructure should be rebuilt and where?; How do we preserve our cultural resources?; What economic development strategies should be employed long term?; and What permanent housing needs remain, and where should they be addressed? Ron Whitmore, Deputy Director of Research and Development, provided a brief update on the status of Highway 132. The current plan is to reevaluate hazards in early April (2019) and make decisions on the best course of action regarding the reopening of Highway 132. In the meantime, the County is exploring a variety of methods for temporary access roads and connection points that provide access to areas currently isolated by the recent flow. Mr. Whitmore stated that Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV) is considering options that limit their liability while allowing residents access through their property. He also shared that PGV has plans to reopen, but that would likely be several years down the line. The rest of the presentation laid out the next steps of the recovery process and the Action Committee's role and responsibility to prioritize the Puna CDP goals in relation and response to the 2018 Kilauea 2018 eruption event. www.hiplanningdept.com puna(&,hawaiicounty.,-ov Page 3 Gregg Murphy of Blue Planet Energy shared his experience working with disaster recovery in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria. Blue Plant's mission is to unlock the grid and create resilient communities through the creation of micro grids. Mr. Murphy described how the community leaders in Puerto Rico worked together taking recovery efforts into their own hands funding from their government was sparse. The micro grid systems they set up in Puerto Rico served to help small rural communities become more independent and resilient when faced with future disasters. Mr. Murphy emphasized that these same levels of success are possible on Hawai'i Island. At the conclusion of the presentation the Action Committee was asked what additional support they would need to support their prioritization of the Puna CDP goals moving forward. Aside from an in depth report on the data collected through the community engagement process, the Action Committee requested details on inundated roads (parties responsible, funding options), a presentation from USGS outlining the current geological situation post eruption, and the scientific access and safety implications moving forward. Committee Member Kealoha suggested that the AC members sit down with the recovery team individually to more closely review and consider the public input that has been gathered from the community during the recovery process. To view and download the presentation use the following link: http://records.hawaiicountV.gov/Weblink/1/doc/97357/Pagel.aspx AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING: (March 5, 2019) 1. Connectivity and Emergency Response in Puna. 2. Draft letter from the Action Committee to support the reopening of the inundated roads in lower Puna. 3. In depth look at inundated roads in lower Puna, and the implications involved in reopening the roads. 4. Opportunities to advance mixed-use agricultural development as it relates to the Puna CDP. ADJOURNMENT: Chair Brown adjourned the meeting at 7:06 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