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, Alan Kaufman, Elliott Krash, Henry Lau, Dick Mayer, John McDonald, Verna Nahulu, Cathy Ross, Mitch Silver, and John Wilson.

Members excused were: Sue Guille and Steve Sutrov.

Members absent were: Gerri Hestand, Tom Jewell, and Ben Keau.

Treasurer's Report

Treasurer John McDonald reported the June 3 balance as $1608.63. With revenues of $323.45 ($20 from dues, $300 from T-shirts, and $3.45 from interest) and one expenditure of $24 (for the postal box annual fee) the current balance is $1908.08. On a motion by Dick Mayer, seconded by Cathy Ross, the report was accepted subject to audit.

Secretary's Report

On a motion by Verna Nahulu, seconded by John McDonald, the minutes of the 1 July Board Meeting were approved as amended to indicate that Elliott Krash reported for Treasurer John McDonald.

Communications

(All communications were listed on the agenda distributed at the meeting.)

Committee Reports

Communications: Mitch Silver reported that 25 responses to the survey on the Crater Road zoning question were received - 18 on-line and seven via mail. Eighty percent favored the larger one acre zoning. Discussion focused on the importance of having a greater return on which to base a KCA position and it was decided that Mitch Silver will bring copies of the survey to the General Meeting. Several respondents expressed interest in joining KCA, submitting an email address, and/or serving on the Board. The Communications and Membership Committees will follow through on these.

Unfinished Business

August General Meeting Program: Elliott Krash reported on the plans for the program "What's Happening in Kula". All proposed speakers were contacted by telephone or mail, all except Kamehameha Schools Maui Campus will attend, and each presenter was sent a confirmation letter. The speakers are Norma Barroga - Upcountry Schools Grant, Everett Dowling - Kulamalu, Alan Lee - Kula Hospital, Pericles Manthos and Bob Siarot - Kihei/Upcountry Highway, Darrell Yagodich - Hawaiian Homes, and Rene Yamafuji - Kula Elementary School. As moderator of the program, Dick Mayer will contact each speaker to review the focus of the program - how each development or proposed project will affect Kula; to determine any scheduling constraints or equipment needs; and to explain the program format and time allocations. Each speaker will be given a specified time for presentation and questions, with more time alloted for the high interest topics. Cathy Ross offered to help at the membership table and will contact Gerri Hestand to coordinate details. Elliott Krash will contact Sue Guille about making name signs for each presenter and will verify room set-up logistics with Steve Sutrov and refreshments with Karolyn Mossman. A special presentation will be made to a community member who recently received a professional honor. Cathy Ross will bring a lei and Sue Guille will be asked to prepare a letter and a certificate.

Hawaiian Homelands: Verna Nahulu will arrange a tour of the Waiohuli Homelands for a Saturday in September and will bring details to the next Board Meeting. Henry Lau explained that he had offered jacarandas for landscaping around the water tanks and was told that jacarandas are not suitable, per Department of Water Supply guidelines, but other landscaping plants will be installed..

New Business

Nominations Committee: John Wilson asked Alan Kaufman and John McDonald to serve on the Nominations Committee. Cathy Ross also offered to help. There will be a special effort to attract non-KCA members to accept officer positions and to serve on the Board. Dick Mayer suggested that a clergy member be recruited. Membership and survey forms returned recently include several potential volunteers. (See above, "Committee Reports - Communications")

Upcountry Water Position: Erwin DePonte questioned why "lack of water" is the response given when family subdivision requests are made. Dick Mayer and John Wilson reviewed the decisions made during the community planning process with respect to Crater Road - trading more development at a lower elevations for less development at higher elevations where it is more costly to provide water and other services. Dick Mayer emphasized that the top priorities for water as stated in the community plan are Hawaiian Homelands and agriculture and there was no rank ordering of other users. Concerns were expressed that Maui has plenty of water but politics prevents the building of the systems for delivering it to the average homeowner while large-scale private developers with money can get water. John Wilson summarized several of the major problems as discussed at a recent Maui Farm Bureau meeting:

- There are no links between the various water systems that serve different parts of the island.

- Ground water has been polluted by chemicals used in agriculture for many years.

- Diminished stream flow and depletion of the water table are major concerns.

- Costs of drilling wells are high due to the elevations, rocky layers, and other factors.

- Droughts are recurrent and economically devastating for farmers.

Alan Kaufman and Dick Mayer drafted a possible position statement. On a motion by Dick Mayer, seconded by Cathy Ross, the following position was offered for consideration:

Whereas, the Upcountry water system is inadequate to supply the existing Kula population during times of drought; and

Whereas, additional development places further demand on an inadequate water system; Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Kula Community Association Board of Directors requests that the Department of Water Supply issue no new water meters upcountry until the system has reserves that can provide for a six month drought at ten percent reduction in use; and

Be it further resolved that the Kula Community Association Board of Directors requests that the Department of Water Supply make no exceptions to the order of the water meter waiting list since it is the intention of this resolution to ensure that property owners receive water meters in the order in which application has been made; and

Be it further resolved that this resolution should not be interpreted as an attempt to deny the Hawaiian Homelands permits or access to water.

Following a brief discussion on the resolution, it was decided that a subcommittee should be assigned the task of revising the position to incorporate other issues. On a motion by Dick Mayer, seconded by Cathy Ross, and unanimously approved, the original motion was tabled. Board Members assigned to the subcommittee are Tom Jewell, Alan Kaufman, Dick Mayer, John McDonald, and Mitch Silver. Tom Jewell was designated as chairman, and Mitch Silver was asked to contact him to brief him on the discussion and the assignment.

Announcements

Program: "What's Happening in Kula?"

Board Meeting: 2 September, Kula Elementary School, 5:30 p.m.

Agenda: Hawaiian Homelands Tour, Upcountry Water Position, Crater Road Zoning Position, Nominations, November General Meeting Program

Adjournment