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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-12-14OpenSpaceMinutesApprovedCOUNTY OF KAUA`I Minutes of Meeting OPEN SESSION Board/Commission: Public Access, Open Space and Natural Meeting Date December 14, 2017 Resources Preservation Fund Commission Location Mo`ikeha Building — Meeting Room 2A/213 Start of Meeting: 1:06 p.m. End of Meeting: 2:41 p.m. Present Chair Theodore Blake; Vice -Chair Karen Ono Members: Dorothea Hayashi; Shaylyn Kimura; and Herman Texeira Staff: Deputy County Attorney Jodi Higuchi-Sayegusa; Planning Department Staff: Deputy Planning Director Ka`dina Hull; Duke Nakamatsu; and Nani Sadora; Boards & Commissions Office Staff Administrative Specialist Lani Agoot Excused Member Jett Jasper Absent SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Call To Order Chair Blake called the meeting to order at 1:06 p.m. Roll Call Five (5) Commissioners were present, which constituted a quorum. Approval of Mr. Texeira moved to approve Agenda the agenda as amended. Ms. Ono seconded the motion. Motion carried 5:0. Minutes of the D.1. Meeting of November 9, 2017 Mr. Texeira moved to approve Meeting(s) of the November 9, 2017 minutes. the Open Space Ms. Ono seconded the motion. Commission Motion carried 5:0 Receipt of Items There were no items to receive for the record. For The Record Hearings and F.1. All remaining public testimony pursuant to HRS 92 (Sunshine Law). Public Comment Communication There were no Communications. Unfinished H.1. Discussion and development of the biennial list of priority projects to be reported to Public Access, Open Space & Natural Resources Preservation Fund Commission Open Session December 14, 2017 Page 2 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Business (For Kauai County Council and the Mayor. Action) The recordings started from this point. Deputy Planning Director Ka`aina Hull stated that he agreed with Karen Diamond's earlier statements regarding the County of Kaua`i's inability to identify easements and public accesses around the island. He said one of the first reports this Commission completed was identifying the various types of easements and public access ways on this island. They discovered there were a lot of existing public accesses that are labeled on a map with the Bureau of Conveyances, but not marked at the site. He said many public accesses are not clearly marked or maintained, and with no markers the public can egress into that easement. Mr. Hull said the discussion to expand the appropriation of funds to include improvements and maintenance from this Commission was brought up several months ago and in response, the Department drafted a Charter Amendment. This amendment would modify the use of the Open Space funds so it could also be utilized for improvements and maintenance purposes. Currently the funds can only be used for acquisition purposes. This Charter Amendment would be presented to the Charter Review Commission on Monday and the Commission would be given an opportunity in the January meeting to revise and adjust. Mr. Texeira inquired if all easements on the island were identified and if they knew the current status of these easements. Mr. Hull said this information was completed several years ago. Mr. Texeira asked if the funds could be used to update this information to which Mr. Hull said it can be used for information purposes. Chair Blake cautioned the Commission on expanding use of the funds and especially how the amendment is worded because the County Council could potentially divert funds for other additional expenses. Ms. Sadora said the Department keeps an Excel listing and the easements are categorized by existing, potential, desired and a category that identified easements that may have issues with it. Mr. Texeira asked if they could identify easements that are no longer publically accessible because private individuals have taken over the site. Mr. Hull said the list of easements needed to be updated and unless funds are allocated to maintain and identify these accesses there is not much that could be done. Ms. Kimura requested to receive a copy of the map. Chair Blake recommended the Commission send out letters to private individuals who have egressed into these easement Public Access, Open Space & Natural Resources Preservation Fund Commission Open Session December 14, 2017 Page 3 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION accesses, and remind them they are public right of entries. Chair Blake also proposed a field trip next year to evaluate the restoration and expansion of shoreline access, Lawa`i Kai to Port Allen. He said the National Tropical Botanical Gardens has legal access to Papa`a Bay and the public access is a hazardous trail that during high tide puts the public at risk. Mr. Hull asked that the date be planned off line and the field trip would have to be agenda'd as a separate meeting to allow public participation. Ms. Hayashi said she would like to recommend the Commission look at an area in Hanapepe once a date is set. Mr. Hull clarified that technically they can only site inspect areas that were received by this Commission. He said site recommendations that are not on the list or had not been reviewed by this Commission will need to be officially recommended to the Department and Ms. Sadora would require an address or tax map key. This would trigger a preliminary report for acquisition of the site. Ms. Sadora clarified that she will add the restoration and expansion of shoreline access, Lawa`i Kai to Port Allen and Kaakaaniu Beach Access (Larsen's) to the 2017 list of priority recommendations. Chair Blake also requested to replace the district names with the Moku identification names in the report. Mr. Hull advised the Commission to submit new properties to Ms. Sadora for the January agenda. New Business There were no new business items. (For Action) Announcements Mr. Hull reminded the Commission that a new Chair will be elected at the January meeting. Next Meeting Next scheduled meeting date is January 11, 2018. Date and Agenda Topics for Discussion Adjournment Mr. Texeira moved to adjourn the meeting. Ms. Hayashi seconded the motion. Public Access, Open Space & Natural Resources Preservation Fund Commission Open Session December 14, 2017 Page 4 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Motion carried 5:0 Chair Blake adjourned the meeting at 2:41 p.m. Submitted by: 31& & T�� Reviewed and Approved by: Sandra M. Muragin, Commission Support Clerk ( X ) Approved as circulated. 01/11/18 ( ) Approved with amendments. See minutes of meeting. Theodore Blake, Chair