05-03-2012 Infrastructure A Notes

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Infrastructure-A Subcommittee Meeting Minutes May 3, 2012, 9AM, Nanbu Courtyard Members present: Giovanna Gherardi, Toni Withington, Andi Longpre, Bill Aierstuck, John Winter Giovanna opened with a discussion of how we perceived our role as a subcommittee when working with community groups such as at Mahukona Beach Park. All were in agreement that our principal role is to mediate and act as a bridge among differing factions in order to work cooperatively toward consensus or compromises when necessary to arrive at a solution. To do so we should keep the focus on outcomes. For Mahukona such an outcome might be what we want the park to look like. John agreed in principle, but would like to keep some ideas for compromise th positions in mind. He thought that a plan proposal might be put before the group at the May 11 meeting at Mahukona to provide a focus for discussions. It was agreed by all that any such plan should come from an individual and should not reflect the subcommittees official opinion, which should remain neutral and goal-oriented. It should only be offered after all parties had a chance to speak about outcomes. It was agreed that John would approach the Kohala Center in Waimea to see if they could provide an intern to conduct soil analyses for feline urine and feces at Mahukona and plan for mitigation if present at unacceptable levels. Toni mentioned that mitigating chemicals and soil cannot be brought into a shoreline area without an SMA (Special Management Area) permit. She offered to research this. John reported that Mahukona park clean-up is progressing, but that replacing any plumbing in the restrooms, even if by citizens, would trigger ADA compliance (ramps, handrails, etc.). This adds a huge amount of strictly regulated planning and construction to any such work. It was decided to proceed for now with the clean-up, barbeque, and campsite issues and leaves anything with ADA issues until later. We then discussed the $2 million CIP funds that the County has earmarked for improvements in North Kohala this year. It is unknown (to us at least) how much, if any, remains uncommitted and available for projects such as Mahukona improvements. Toni was happy that Bob Fitzgerald is assigning Mike Kramslow of his planning staff to work with at Mahukona. Toni will find out more and we will begin to include him, initially in our plans for soil remediation and the Mahukona CIP proposal from the AC. Toni will also work on a Kohala Mountain News article on Mahukona and Giovanna will work on a community meeting some evening in June to inform and involve more of the residents in the Mahukona project. We discussed the possibility of having a community meeting in June to share with the public what is happening at Mahukona and that the possible location would be the Intergenerational Center and look at scheduling an early evening meeting time. Next meeting is Thursday , May 31 at 9 am at the Nanbu Courtyard.