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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020_0109_OS_Minutes_Open_Approved COUNTY OF KAUA‘I Minutes of Meeting OPEN SESSION Board/Commission: Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund Commission Meeting Date January 9, 2020 Location Mo‘ikeha Building – Meeting Room 2A/2B Start of Meeting: 1:11 p.m. End of Meeting: 2:12 p.m. Present Chair Shaylyn Kimura. Commissioners: Jett Jasper, Nancy Kanna, Karen Ono and Erica Taniguchi. Planning Department Staff: Deputy Planning Director Jodi Higuchi-Sayegusa, Duke Nakamatsu and Nani Sadora. Office of Boards and Commissions: Administrator Ellen Ching and Commission Support Clerk Sandra Muragin. Excused Commissioner Taryn Dizon and Commissioner Herman Texeira. Absent SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Swearing in of Commissioners Prior to the meeting being called to order, Administrative Assistant to the County Clerk Eddie Topenio administered the Oath of Office to Commissioner Shaylyn Kimura serving a second term ending 12/31/22. Call To Order Chair Karen Ono called the meeting to order at 1:11 p.m. Roll Call The meeting commenced with a roll call of the Commissioners. Five Commissioners were present, which constituted a quorum. Selection of Chair and Vice Chair Chair Ono opened the floor for nominations for Chair. • Ms. Kanna nominated Shaylyn Kimura. Chair Pro Tem Ono opened the floor for nominations for Vice Chair. • Ms. Kanna nominated Karen Ono. Ms. Kanna moved to close nominations for Chair. Ms. Taniguchi seconded the motion. Motion carried 5:0. Ms. Kanna moved to appoint Shaylyn Kimura for Chair. Mr. Jasper seconded the motion. Motion carried 5:0. Ms. Kanna moved to close Public Access, Open Space & Natural Resources Preservation Fund Commission Open Session January 9, 2020 Page 2 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION nominations for Vice Chair. Ms. Taniguchi seconded the motion. Motion carried 5:0. Ms. Kanna moved to appoint Karen Ono for Vice Chair. Ms. Taniguchi seconded the motion. Motion carried 5:0. Approval of Agenda Ms. Kanna moved to approve the agenda as circulated. Vice Chair Ono seconded the motion. Motion carried 5:0. Minutes of the Meeting(s) of the Open Space Commission F.1. Meeting minutes of December 12, 2019. Ms. Kanna requested the following corrections; • Add “t” to the end of the word “consisten” located on page 2, H.1., last sentence. • Change “were” to “was” on page 5, Unfinished Business. Ms. Kanna moved to approve the December 12, 2019, minutes as amended. Mr. Jasper seconded the motion. Motion carried 5:0. Receipt of Items For The Record (None) There were no items for the record. Hearings and Public Comment H.1. All remaining public testimony pursuant to HRS 92 (Sunshine Law). Seeing no one, Chair Kimura moved to the next agenda item. Communication (For Action) (None) There were no communications. New Business (For Action) J.1. Report and recommendation from the Permitted Interaction Group pursuant to Hawai‘i Revised Statutes Section 92-2.5(b)(2) to review and discuss existing beach accesses and their possible improvement needs that the Commission may consider for funding from the Public Public Access, Open Space & Natural Resources Preservation Fund Commission Open Session January 9, 2020 Page 3 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund. Deputy Planning Director Jodi Higuchi-Sayegusa acknowledged the confusion this agenda item caused at the last meeting and wanted to take the time to refresh everyone’s memory on what transpired. She said the commission formed a PIG to investigate possible improvement needs for several beach accesses and issued their findings and recommendations to the commission. Ms. Sadora referenced a report from the Permitted Interaction Group (PIG) dated June 6, 2019, Field Trip; April 15, 2019-Open Space Commission Field Trip Itinerary-‘Aliomanu through Kīlauea; Map #1 Pāpa‘a Bay, TMK: (4)5-2-12:35 Kahili Quary Road, Kauapea Beach East Access; Map #2 outlined beach access #449004999; Map #3 ‘Aliomanu Beach Property (4)4-9-004:013; Map #4 access with No Parking sign; Map #5 Pāpa‘a Bay; Map #6 Kauapea Road and Map #6 Moloa‘a Hui Lands zone 4 sec 9 plat 04 that was passed out before the start of the meeting. (Documents on file) Ms. Sadora explained that the PIG presented their findings and recommendations at the July meeting. The report recorded completion of six north shore sight inspections with existing demarcation. Ms. Higuchi-Sayegusa pointed out that one of the recommendations from the PIG was to standardize the demarcation signs to a three foot tall, round white cemented post with “BEACH ACCESS” in green vertical writing. The report also identified 10-15 demarcation posts that the PIG was not able to locate and confirm. Ms. Higuchi-Sayegusa recommended this be incorporated into the biennial list. Administrator Ellen Ching recommended that it was unclear if the PIG report was adopted by the commission. She recommended they adopt the PIG report and motion to forward it to the County Council. This prompted the commission to voice their confusion on whether or not the report was adopted in July. Ms. Sadora confirmed that the commission approved the PIG report back in July. Public Access, Open Space & Natural Resources Preservation Fund Commission Open Session January 9, 2020 Page 4 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Concerned that the funding for access signs could get lost in the biennial report, Chair Kimura inquired of other ways to grab the attention of the County Council so that they would read and act on the next steps to appropriate funds. Ms. Higuchi-Sayegusa said there are only two methods to forward recommendations to the County Council for funding, first is through the biennial report and the second was the dossier process. She recommended keeping it in the biennial report since they are in the process of completing one. Ms. Kanna moved to receive the report and recommendation from the Permitted Interaction Group to review and discuss existing beach accesses and their possible improvement needs that the Commission may consider for funding from the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund. Vice Chair Ono seconded the motion. Motion carried 5:0. J.2. Formation of a permitted interaction group pursuant to Hawai‘i Revised Statutes Section 92-2.5(b)(2) to review and discuss existing beach accesses and their possible improvement needs that the Commission may consider for funding from the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund. Ms. Higuchi-Sayegusa explained that this item was to form a new PIG that would incorporate the consultant, Sea Engineering’s report as the PIG’s findings and recommendations. Ms. Ching recommended the commission approve this in three parts. The first part would be to approve the formation of a PIG, the second part would be to decide who would be on the PIG and the third would be to define the scope of the PIG. Ms. Taniguchi inquired if the consultant group would be open to working with the PIG and if Public Access, Open Space & Natural Resources Preservation Fund Commission Open Session January 9, 2020 Page 5 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION they were knowledgeable of the areas. Ms. Higuchi-Sayegusa said Sea Engineering would work with Ms. Sadora when outings to identify access sites are scheduled and that could be an opportunity for the PIG to accompany them. She said Sea Engineering was familiar with Kaua‘i’s coastlines and are experts in survey work, data collection and analyze certified shorelines. Chair Kimura called a “point of order” to reestablish the conversation back to the agenda item, which was to form a PIG. She asked if the department would prefer to defer formation of the PIG until the consultant completes an updated coastal inventory report. Ms. Higuchi- Sayegusa agreed and said that Sea Engineering was required to complete the coastal inventory report by June 30, 2020, due to a strict funding deadline, but there was an opportunity to extend the contract to June 30, 2021. Ms. Kanna moved to defer the formation of a permitted interaction group to review and discuss existing beach accesses and their possible improvement needs that the Commission may consider for funding from the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund until receipt of an updated coastal inventory report from the consultant Sea Engineering. Ms. Taniguchi seconded the motion. Motion carried 5:0. J.3. Discussion and development of biennial list of priority projects to be reported to the Kaua‘i County Council and the Mayor. Ms. Sadora referenced the biennial’s table of contents that was passed out before the start of Public Access, Open Space & Natural Resources Preservation Fund Commission Open Session January 9, 2020 Page 6 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION the meeting. (document on file) Ms. Sadora reiterated that the development of a biennial report would tie and connect their work with the general plan. The report was the commission’s opportunity to showcase the work they accomplished over the past several years. They discussed that the report would include every recommendation that the commission reviewed and this was also an opportunity to mention the first purchase and recent use of open space funds without the commission’s approval. She hoped to be able to submit a draft biennial report for the commission to review and offer input at next months meeting. Ms. Sadora informed the commission that she and Ms. Kanna attended the recent Hanapēpē/‘Ele‘ele community meeting. They were met with some resistance from the public who voiced their dissatisfaction with the commission’s use of community meetings to gather input and recommendations. And to date there have been no submission of surveys. Despite the opposition, Ms. Sadora said it was still very important to attend community neighborhood meetings and continue to educate the public on the commission’s mission. She said this commission received several hundred surveys but none were relevant for consideration from this commission. She suggested the addition of advertisement in the newspaper as another out-reach source. Ms. Sadora stressed the importance of continuing to educate the public on what this commission was about and how it benefited the community. To counter the publics dissatisfaction with the infrequent visits from the commission, Ms. Kanna suggested Ms. Sadora communicate updates to these community boards every quarter. Chair Kimura said Hā‘ena’s next community meeting would be planned in the later part of the first quarter and she would follow up. She thanked Ms. Kanna and Ms. Sadora for taking the time to attend that meeting. Chair Kimura stressed that the commission pursue the use of social media to solicit participation with the survey. She challenged the commission to find a solution that would produce a biennial report that the County Council would read and then act on their recommendations. Chair Kimura acknowledged that a lot of time and effort was placed into producing the biennial report and emphasized that past reports have gone unread Public Access, Open Space & Natural Resources Preservation Fund Commission Open Session January 9, 2020 Page 7 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION by council members and she did not want that habit to continue. Ms. Sadora proposed that now was the time to change the look and layout of the biennial report and suggested they place the formalities in the back of the report. She was open to suggestions from the commissions and wanted them to take advantage of a refreshed report that would initiate action from the County Council. Chair Kimura recommended they attach a budget report that would outline the cost for each report. She said this would allow the County Council to act on it instead of it just being a great idea. Chair Kimura urged the commission to submit their ideas by email to Ms. Sadora before the next meeting. With no action required and no further discussion, Chair Kimura moved on to the next agenda item. Unfinished Business (None) There was no unfinished business. Announcements There were no announcements. Ms. Sadora distributed a book from Lea Hong Trust from Public Lands that was gifted to each member of the commission. Mr. Jasper asked for updates on Hideaways Beach access. Next Meeting Date and Agenda Topics for Discussion Next scheduled meeting date Thursday, February 13, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. Ms. Higuchi-Sayegusa received the following February agenda topics: 1. Hideaways Beach access 2. Kauapea 3. Biennial report 4. Update on the Hanapēpē massacre film group and properties Public Access, Open Space & Natural Resources Preservation Fund Commission Open Session January 9, 2020 Page 8 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Adjournment With no further business to conduct, Chair Kimura called for a motion to adjourn. Ms. Kanna moved to adjourn the meeting. Vice Chair Ono seconded the motion. Motion carried 5:0. Meeting adjourned at 2:12 p.m. Submitted by: _______________________________________ Reviewed and Approved by: _________________________________________ Sandra M. Muragin, Commission Support Clerk Shaylyn Kimura, Chair ( X ) Approved as circulated. 02/11/21 ( ) Approved with amendments. See minutes of _____ meeting.