Kula Community Association

 

    

Board Meeting Minutes

June 7, 2001

(There was no May, 2001 meeting of the Board)

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by President Elliott Krash at 5:30 p.m. at the Kula Elementary School.

Attendees

Members present: Hari Ajmani, Gina Flammer, Marjorie Hill, David Jenkins, Terry McBarnet, Karolyn Mossman, Ron Nagata, Verna Nahulu, Mitch Silver, Steve Sutrov, and John Wilson

Members excused: Erwin DePonte and Dick Mayer

Members absent: Daryl Arita, Alan Kaufman

Guests: Frank Catanzano, Kula resident and potential new board member (also member of Maui Committee on Futures) and Robin McMillan, Native landscape expert and member of the Maui County Arborists Committee.

Treasurer's Report

Treasurer John Wilson gave year to date report showing a beginning 1/1/01 balance of $1,107.47 with income of $2,438.27 (interest income of $6.27, 2001 dues of $1090 and 2002 dues of $10, refreshment donations of $17.00, T-shirt sales of $890, a donation of $200, and a Parks Department deposit refund of $225).   The 2000 year end balance plus 2001 income to date is $3,545.74.  Expenses to date were $1,564.20 (mail permit $125.00, P.O. Box $32, administrative expenses of $85.80, AKAKU for filming of forums $500.00, and newsletter $821.40).  The ending balance for June 7, 2001 was $1,981.54.   With a motion by Gina Flammer and a second by Verna Nahulu, the report, subject to audit, was accepted.

Secretary's Report

The minutes from April, as submitted by Gina Flammer, were approved on a motion made by Verna Nahulu and seconded by John Wilson.

Communications

Agendas listing communications were circulated.  Elliott Krash will write letters to Henrietta Chong and paramedics Harry Vant Groenewout and Leina'ala Kawaiaea thanking them for their work on the ambulance bill and to initiate discussion on next year's strategy. 

 

Committee Reports

Communications/Tee-shirts: Morihara's Store currently owes the Board $980 for tee-shirts.  Once this amount has been received new shirts will be printed. 

Land Use/Planning

MYFS Omaopio Campus: Gina Flammer reported Representative Kika Bukoski and MYFS's Paul Janes-Brown informed her that the $2 million dollar appropriation did not pass in the legislature.   Senator Akaka is assisting the MYFS in obtaining a federal grant for the facility.

Maui Land and Pineapple Pukalani Triangle Project: Steve Sutrov reported on a recent Pukalani Community Association meeting on the subject.  The Pukalani Superette and possibly Paradise Pharmacy, NAPA Auto Parts, and a woodworking vendor may lease some of the space.  The preliminary designs looked nice, with some minor exceptions including above ground telephone polls (described as quaint in the report) and an entrance onto the highway, which is against the community plan.  The project looks to be more light industrial than a preferred town-center atmosphere.  The open space designated is actually a gulch.  Steve suggested the KCA Board research the project and adopt a position.  Elliott Krash submitted a letter from the board for the first phase of comments, thus reserving the right to make further comments.  Barbara Long, Keokea resident and former planning commissioner, also submitted comments.  Hari Ajmani reported that the area is currently zoned agricultural and a zoning change would need to be made for the project to go forward.  The Pukalani Community Association and the Makawao Main Street Association support the project.  Senior housing is included in the project.  Dick Mayer and Hari Ajmani both pointed out that there might be excessive duplication with Everett Dowling's commercial project, Kulamalu,  just down the street.  Dick Mayer gave a brief history of the Triangle project, which was discussed during the Upcountry community plan update and determined at that time to be too commercial for the area and inconsistent with the community plan. 

Upcountry Planning Process Meeting with Council Member Tavares: Verna Nahulu reported on the meeting.  Council Committee chair Tavares is holding workshops in each area to get communities more involved in the planning process.  Participants at the Kula meeting stressed the need for priorities to be included in the plan and for there to be enforcement of the plan.  Feedback from the Association was asked for and Verna pointed out that feedback given during the 1980s was largely ignored.  Any comments should be sent to Daren Suzuki, Planning Department, 250 High Street, Wailuku 96793.  The KCA did present comments two years ago when Council member Arakawa was head of the committee. During the past year since Council member Tavares was chair of the Planning Committee the KCA president and individual members have presented oral and written testimony.  Chairman Tavares has copies of all previous and recent testimony.

Water

BWS Committee Meeting on Meter Issuance Policy and Priorities: Elliott Krash reported that the proposed rules address how to administer the meter waiting list rather than establish criteria or priorities for issuing meters.  Testimony by Dick Mayer and Elliott Krash emphasized that the Community Plan calls for Hawaiian Homelands and agriculture to receive priority and this is currently not being followed.  

Bureau of Land and Natural Resources Leases: Verna Nahulu reported on a meeting she and Elliott Krash attended about the request for the acquisition of long-term water leases by HC&S/EMI/.  Our KCA testimony stated that Kula does need the water, we should keep the water flowing on a month-to-month basis, but we all need to be better stewards of our natural resources.  Other comments focused on the BLNR"S failure to monitor stream flow and that they are charging too little for the water.  No long-term leases were granted by the BL&NR.

Health and Safety:

Ambulance:Gina Flammer reported that $50,000 was appropriated for additional ambulance hours.  This could provide between 1.5 to 2 extra hours a day.  Paramedic Harry Vant Groenewout stated he spoke with DOH's Donna Maiava a few weeks ago and she seemed unwilling to negotiate a new contract for such a small amount of hours.  Elliott Krash will follow-up with a phone call to Ms. Maiava (who later did inform her an additional 2 hours would be funded beginning in October). 

Street Addressing: Marjorie Hill reported that next week a mailing should go out to Kula residents informing them of the address change project and asking them to mark on the provided map which lot is theirs.  She stressed the importance of putting a post at the street entrance to residence if a mailbox is not there.  This will assist emergency vehicles and others to locate your property. 

Unfinished business

Land Use and Planning

Sign Ordinance: Gina Flammer will write a brief letter to Planning Director John Min stating that the KCA has received complaints about the proliferation of inappropriate signs and ask for better enforcement of current county sign regulations.

Council Meeting on Outdoor lighting: Steve Sutrov reported on a council committee meeting with Chair Mike Molina.  Council member Molina is very interested in this issue and will hold another meeting and invite MECO.  Steve will keep the Board informed.

New Business

Parks Beautification: Robin McMillan of the Maui County Arborists Committee explained the county's project to beautify many areas during Arbor week's 50th Anniversary in November. Help is needed in the form of volunteers, donated landscaping materials, and irrigation supplies.  If anyone is able to donate time, supplies, or plants please contact Sue Kiang at the County at 270-7329.  Robin is looking for ideas of where to improve parks in Kula. Plans for a Rice Park beautification day, tentatively scheduled for October 20th, are already underway. Other areas the Board suggested are the soccer field adjacent to the Kula elementary school, which already has irrigation and needs shade trees.  John Wilson suggested we include KCA's Jacaranda Tree project with the county's efforts.  We would be willing to donate the jacaranda trees we currently have growing under a project headed by former board member Henry Lau.

Roads and Highways, Mayor's Report: Steve Sutrov reported that the County Mayor's Transportation plan Phase 1 does not include many upcountry initiatives.  Elliott Krash has a copy of the report.

Roads and Highways, State Transportation Committees: Elliott Krash reported that she is attending two state transportation committes that are working on long range plans.  She will report at a subsequent meeting.

ML&P Presentation at Next Board Meeting: The ML&P Triangle Project representatives can not attend our August general meeting.  The Board concurred that they should give a 30 minute presentation at our July Board meeting.

Sidewalks: John Wilson will review the letter from David Goode asking for comments on sidewalks and prepare a response as appropriate.

August General Meeting Agenda: Everett Dowling is scheduled to give a presentation on Kulamalu, Hawaiian Homelands has been invited, a plug for the parks Arbor Day project will be given, Councilmember Tavares has asked to report on the planning process workshop recommendations.  John Wilson suggested inviting someone from the Planning Department to discuss growth and Mitch Silver offered to help prepare graphics to illustrate trends.  Several Board Members suggested discussing environmental issues. The growing axis deer population was suggested by Ron Nagata,  as well as outdoor lighting and the light pollution problem on Maui.

New Member Nomination: Verna Nahulu nominated Frank Catanzano to the Board with a second by John Wilson.  He was unanimously voted onto the Board. 

County Charter Commission: KCA board member Karolyn Mossman has been chosen to serve on the county charter commission to amend the current charter.  On June 20th there is an Upcountry meeting at 6:30 at the Mayor Tavares Center.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 7:10.  

 

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