Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by President John Wilson at 5:30 p.m. in the Kula Elementary School Library.

Attendees

Members present were: Erwin DePonte, Gerri Hestand, Alan Kaufman, Ben Keau, Elliott Krash, Henry Lau, Dick Mayer, John McDonald, Steve Sutrov, and John Wilson.

Members excused were: Sue Guille, Cathy Ross, and Mitch Silver.

Members absent were: Brian Jenkins and Tom Jewell.

Others excused were: Kula Community Police Officer, Ernest Soares was unable to attend, but called to share information for discussion of several agenda items.

Treasurer's Report

Treasurer John McDonald corrected the previous balance of 4 March from $1245.94 to $1215.22. With income of $525 from dues and expenses of $68.85 for the General Meeting ($62.60 for refreshments and $6.25 for the Haleakala Times - Calendar listing) the current balance is $1671.37. On a motion by Alan Kaufman, seconded by Gerri Hestand, the report was accepted subject to audit. Also approved unanimously was a motion by Alan Kaufman, seconded by Gerri Hestand, to reimburse John McDonald for the purchase of a rubber stamp to use for check endorsements and other business.

Secretary's Report

On a motion by Henry Lau, seconded by Erwin DePonte, the minutes of the 4 March Board Meeting were approved as submitted by Elliott Krash.

Robert Takitani, Chair, Board of Water Supply: Thank you letter for presentation

David Craddick, Directior, Department of Water Supply: Copy of letter to Takitani

Jacky Carroll, Assistant, Department of Water Supply: Email thank you for presentation

Jacky Carroll, Assistant, Department of Water Supply: Information on upcountry water for KCA web page.

County Council: Notice of final public hearing on Y2K budget, 4/5 at 6 p.m.

Terryl Vencl, Solid Waste Task Force Chair: Letter thanking KCA for hearing presentation and requesting KCA support by writing County Council Chair Pat Kawano. (See below, New Business)

Committee Reports

Water: Elliott Krash reported on the progress of legislation and the Upcountry Water Task Force. The Upper Kula Agricultural Water Line legislation is progressing through the legislature but has been amended to reduce the appropriation to $1 per year. According to a DWS official, this will not impede the work on the water line as there is sufficient funding to complete surveying and begin construction this year. The bill sponsored by the DWS requesting $2,000,000 to study and plan for upcountry water needs appears to be stalled in the legislature. The Upcountry Water Task Force has recommended that the reservoirs planned for Kamole be relocated to Piiholo. At the higher elevation, water would not have to be pumped up to the Upper Kula line, thereby saving electricity costs. Acquisition of an appropriate site and projected construction costs at Piiholo are being researched by DWS staff. Erwin DePonte reported that he has heard the Dowling well yield is not as great as projected. This information could not be confirmed by anyone at the meeting and concern was expressed about water supply for the Kulamalu project if the well yield is insufficient.

Communications: Elliott Krash reported for Mitch Silver that the web page has been revised with a new format for listing minutes and by adding the water facts sent by Jacky Carroll, DWS staffer.

Safety: Elliott Krash reported that the legislation for 24-Hour Ambulance Service in Kula appears to be stalled in the Senate and not likely to be approved this year. Suggestions on strategy for next year's lobbying effort included:

- Collect information on the criteria used by the Health Department (eg. population, census tracts, distance, response times, emergency call records) to determine the need for 24-hour service.

- Drop the reference to Kula and broaden the scope of the bill to provide 24-hour locally based service in any area not currently served.

- Determine the basis for the Health Department's cost estimates for extending Kula service.

- Emphasize that a 24-hour Kula ambulance would also provide back-up and better coverage for neighboring jurisdictions.

Membership: Gerri Hestand reported that there are now 181 paid members.

Beautification: Henry Lau reported that in response to the newsletter article he has received offers for Jacarandas from several individuals and now counts several hundred trees promised for the project.

Unfinished Business

Specific Topics for May General Meeting: President John Wilson reviewed items in the Upcountry Plan pertaining to Parks, Planning, and Public Works - the three departments whose directors will speak at the next General Meeting along with the Mayor. Specific items identified included:

Parks

- Master plan for a Kula regional park and general plan for Kula area, including connecting greenways

- Plan for Kula Community Center improvements

Planning

- Brief explanation of Planning Director's philosophy

- Hawaiian Homelands joint task force with representatives of appropriate county, state, and community agencies

- Master plan for greenways

Public Works

- Renumbering street addresses

- Street lighting sufficient for safety and appropriate for ag-rural zone and astronomical research area.

- Sidewalk in Waiakoa from Copp Road to Haleakala Waldorf School

- Recycle locations for green waste in neighborhoods

Mayor

- How to achieve goals of Upcountry Community Plan with the overlapping departmental and jurisdictional responsibilities

- Integrating state and county functions (eg parks, roads/highways) to reduce duplication

- Police staffing, particularly Community Police Officer positions

During discussion it was agreed that all items should be included in a memo to Mayor Apana and each director. It will be copied to Charmaine Tavares (who has already been invited to attend and comment) and also sent to all other Council Members with an invitation to attend.

New Business

Solid Waste Task Force: The Board agreed that a letter should be sent to County Council Chair Pat Kawano expressing the KCA Board's position on the Task Force's recommendations as stated in the minutes of the 4 March Board Meeting. (See above, Communications)

Budget Hearings: John Wilson announced that Sue Guille will testify for KCA at the public hearing on the Mayor's proposed budget. She will address the same issues presented previously and state that testimony on the proposed tax increase will be submitted in writing after KCA Board discussion and review of Kula residents' testimony at the public hearings.

Proposed Property Tax Increase: Following discussion, the Board agreed that the President should send a letter to the Council Budget Committee chair stating the KCA Board's position that: County costs should be reduced; fees for specific services should be provided on a user/pay-as-you-use basis; and any increase should be on a percentage basis to provide equity, with existing exemptions and "circuit breakers" maintained to provide relief for needy property owners.

Newsletter Survey Responses: Dick Mayer distributed copies of a table summarizing the data from the survey. The results reveal:

- Water supply was identified as first priority by 48 percent of the respondents and received a mention or a priority ranking from 30 percent.

- Hawaiian Homelands received a priority ranking or a mention by 22 percent.

- Ambulance service received a priority ranking or a mention from 19 percent.

(Copies of the survey are available from Dick Mayer.)

Announcements

Board Meeting: 4 May, Kula Elementary School, 5:30 p.m. Agenda: General Meeting program.

General Meeting: 27 May, Kula Community Center, 7 p.m. Program: Focus on Kula - Mayor Apana and Directors of Parks, Planning, and Public Works

Adjournment