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Board Meeting Minutes
August 2, 2001
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: Gina Flammer, Dave Jenkins, Elliott Krash, Dick Mayer, Verna Nahulu, Mitch Silver, Steve Sutrov, and John Wilson
Members excused: Hari Ajmani, Frank Catanzano, Erwin DePonte, Marjorie Hill, and Terry McBarnet
Members absent: Daryl Arita, Alan Kaufman, Karolyn Mossman
Guests: Rev. Robert Finberg and Board Members, Grace Church; Harvey Makii, MECO; Michael Maberry, University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy; and Lance Taguchi, Mayor's Office
Treasurer's Report
The Treasurer's report submitted by John Wilson showed the balance as of August 2nd as $2,821.55 with year to date income of $3,436.81 ( $9.81 interest income, $17.00 refreshments, $1,870.00 in T-shirt sales, $200.00 donation, 2001 dues $1,105.00, 2002 dues $10.00, and $225 deposit refund) and year to date expenses of $1,731.73 ($125.00 mail permit, $32.00 P.O. box, $500 filming of election forums by AKAKU, $253.33 administrative expenses, and $821.40 newsletter). The Treasurer's reports for July and August, subject to audit, were approved. A motion to recognize and show the Board's great appreciation of the $200 anonymous donation was made by John Wilson, seconded by Mitch Silver, and approved.
Secretary's Report
The secretary's report of the July meeting was approved as submitted by Gina Flammer. John Wilson, seconded by Verna Nahulu, made the motion.
Communications
Agendas listing communications and copies of items received and sent were circulated.
Committee Reports
Planning - Sign Committee: The proposed sign ordinance will be on the agenda of the County Council's Public Work's committee in October. If Gina Flammer and Hari Ajmani are unavailable, Mitch Silver offered to present testimony. Gina Flammer reported that her testimony earlier this year on the KCA's sign position was well received by the committee, specifically limiting the use sign materials to wood or other non-reflective materials and prohibiting internally lit signs in agricultural and rural areas.
Planning: Outdoor lighting: Steve Sutrov and Mike Maberry of the University of Hawaii Astronomy are members of the Ad hoc committee on outdoor lighting for the county. Steve reported that in May the County Council Public Work's committee heard lighting concerns and scheduled a follow-up meeting which has been scheduled for September 15th. In June the KCA sent its concerns on outdoor lighting to the council. These, as well as the proposed outdoor lighting ordinance originally submitted to the County Council July, 2000, will be discussed. Steve asked that Board members please review the draft ordinance and e-mail comments to him by early September. Other concerns to be addressed are the fact that current subdivision standards are not being adhered to and that ball parks and athletic fields use of metal halidelights make them the biggest creators of light pollution. Steve suggested that the use of low-pressure sodium bulbs and shields would go along way to creating appropriate lighting. Also, redirecting existing fixtures would take care of a lot of the island's current lighting problems. He pointed to Wailea as an example of appropriate lighting that blends with the landscaping and still provides safe lighting. Mike Maberry spoke about the effects of light pollution, including that fact that it affects the instruments used by astronomers and interferes with animal wildlife. Sea turtles use the stars to navigate for nesting and some birds are being affected by excessive lighting. He also discussed the long cultural history of viewing the Milky Way, including the Hawaiian history of navigation by the starts and the importance of protecting the night sky for ourselves and future generations. At the next KCA meeting, a position statement will be addressed. The Board thanked both Steve and Mike for their dedication to this issue.
Planning - Grace Church Sign (formerly Upcountry Christian Fellowship): Gina Flammer briefly summarized the most recent Urban Design Review Board meeting for the group. The UDRB voted to recommend to the BVA that a variance allowing the sign be granted with the conditions set forth in the KCA's sign position statement item #4 which says: the height of a ground sign shall not be more than 12 feet, the materials used shall be made of wood or other non-reflective material, no plastic or other similar material shall be used, internal illumination shall not be used, and there shall be landscaping for each one square foot of sign there shall be two square feet around the base of the sign. The size of the sign under KCA's position statement item four was changed by the UDRB from 32 square feet and a total of 64 square feet to 36 and 72 respectively to accommodate for the roof recently added on to the design of the sign. Reverend Finberg then gave a presentation on his sign which emphasized the fact that the design is new to Maui (so he was unable to provide any pictures of similar signs, but did bring an artist's rendering) and it will eliminate the need to put unsightly banners on the property advertising special events. Many church activities are held in the evening and a lighted sign is necessary for congregates to find the church in the dark. The internally lit sign also will identify the street next to the church which currently is very difficult to find in the evening. A lighting pole erected by the Church at their own expense had to be removed to make way for the new sign. Questions and comments from Steve Sutrov and Gina Flammer focused on the use of plastic materials and the internal illumination being inappropriate to the area and if other options were available. It was asked why the current indirect lighting used on the present sign was not an option. The Reverend replied that the indirect lighting was on county property, and thought that as long as no one complained the county probably does not have a problem with it where it is. It has been used for many years. Verna Nahulu stated she thought the sign was in good taste and expressed her support for it. Dick Mayer thanked the Reverend for lowering the sign and asked if the sign would prohibit the use of banners by the Church'' tenants, the Carden Academy. Reverend Finberg said he would be happy as their landlord to prohibit the school from putting up any kind of banners. The Reverend also stated that Church activities are completed by 10pm and the sign will be turned off by that time. Dick Mayer then asked about the wattage of the sign. The Reverend thought it might be about a total of 75 watts of fluorescent lighting and that the brown areas of the sign would dim the lighting, though it is still semi-opaque. The lettering will be highly visible as an internally lit sign is designed to be. Mitch Silver spoke about his family's lighting manufacturing business and stated that three 25 watt bulbs would not provide adequate lighting. He also said it is too difficult to know what the sign will really look like. He would like more information. Dick Mayer made a motion to approve the sign with the conditions that no other banners be allowed on the property and that there be a maximum wattage of 80 watts allowed. Verna Nahulu seconded the motion. Steve Sutrov suggested we wait on the motion until a better rendering of the actual sign is available and until the actual wattage is known. Enforcing an 80 watt maximum condition from this Board if the sign clearly needs more wattage would be almost impossible. Concerns about setting a precedence of allowing internally lit plastic sign in Kula were expressed and as such an amendment was made to make a formal exception to our position statement for this one particular sign. Gina Flammer said that after being asked by this Board several times to write a letter to the county asking for better enforcement of the current sign ordinance prohibiting internally lit signs and being asked to testify in front of the County Council asking for a ban on internally lit plastic signs, she was uncomfortable making an exception, especially when the Board has already compromised a great deal on the sign by allowing the size to be more that twice the size allowed in a quasi-public area and almost four times the size allowed in an agricultural area as specified by the proposed sign ordinance likely to pass this fall. She also pointed out that a majority of the UDRB members were not in favor of the sign because they found it inappropriate to the area due to its large size, internal illumination, and use of plastic materials. Even the two members who expressed support for the sign commented on the large size of the sign for the area. It was also pointed out that an indirect lighting source was already available and in recent use meaning an internally lit sign was not the only option available. A vote was taken on the amendment to allow the exception to the Board's stated position on signs. The amendment failed. A vote was then taken on the original motion to allow the sign with conditions. The motion failed with only one member voting for approval.
New Business
Co-location of wireless receivers with existing MECO antenna towers: Harvey Makii, of MECO informed the Board that under federal regulations MECO must open up their existing antennas located on poles or buildings to wireless communication carriers for access. This aims to reduce the number of new poles being erected and provides additional revenue for utilities. The first project in our area is an antenna pole located across from King Kekaulike High School and down Kula Highway towards Kula. Harvey explained he is informing the communities where co-location is being considered. MECO is still in negotiation with Sprint and the exact timetable for the project is not known. Steve Sutrov suggested that the Board develop a format for community members to find out about possible additions to poles or buildings. Dick Mayer made a motion to have the KCA Board write MECO to asking to be notified of requests by carriers for access. The motion was seconded by John Wilson and was passed. There were no objections by KCA Board members for the addition to the existing pole near the high school and the Board thanked Harvey for coming to inform them of the request and pending addition.
Unfinished Business:
Program for August KCA/MAUCA Meeting: Dick Mayer reported on the program for the August KCA/MAUCA meeting to be held on Thursday, August 23, 2001, at the Kula Community Center. A draft agenda was handed out and duties were divided upon Board members. AKAKU may tape the meeting without financial support from the KCA Board by using a volunteer.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 7:35.
After the meeting Dick Mayer shared the following interesting population data for Upcountry communities:
Population Median Age
Haiku 8,377 36.5
Pukalani 7,708 37.1
Makawao 8,147 35.4
Kula 6,659 43.4
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