07-19-2008, 07:35 AM
We are pleased to have an opportunity to discuss the important topic of amendments to the Puna Community Development Plan (PCDP) with Councilwoman Emily Naeole on July 25th in Pahoa . Now that the shock of the July 1st meeting is past and we have had time to consider Councilwoman Naeole's proposed amendments we understand that they do have value and make important corrections to the PCDP. We very much agree with her on most of the key proposals. Actually one of Planning Director Chris Yuen’s amendments provide us with the most concern.
Some of Emily's amendments concern clauses in the PCDP that were inserted by individual SC members. These personal perspectives should not have been put into the final draft. It is to Emily's credit that she spotted those anomalies.
I am not confident that sending the amendments right back to the same Steering Committee is the best route. The Implementation Phase of the PCDP, which starts the minute the council passes the PCDP into law, launches a new effort called the Action Committee. This group will also be appointed by the mayor but we do expect to see new faces there and, hopefully, more diversity such as Councilwoman Naeole promotes.
The July 25th Pahoa meeting will, we expect, provide a reasonable measure of communication so the only real point of departure now between the District 5 office and Friends of Puna's Future is timing.
The timing is important because there is a real chance that if the Final Draft gets jammed up at the Steering Committee level again or if even more amendments are proposed along the way, that this plan will fail to pass this council. That would be a real tragedy and disservice to Puna.
When Councilwoman Naeole’s worthwhile amendments come before the Action Committee we look forward to being there in support.
Rob Tucker
Friends of Puna's Future
P.O. Box 1959
Pahoa, HI 96778
Some of Emily's amendments concern clauses in the PCDP that were inserted by individual SC members. These personal perspectives should not have been put into the final draft. It is to Emily's credit that she spotted those anomalies.
I am not confident that sending the amendments right back to the same Steering Committee is the best route. The Implementation Phase of the PCDP, which starts the minute the council passes the PCDP into law, launches a new effort called the Action Committee. This group will also be appointed by the mayor but we do expect to see new faces there and, hopefully, more diversity such as Councilwoman Naeole promotes.
The July 25th Pahoa meeting will, we expect, provide a reasonable measure of communication so the only real point of departure now between the District 5 office and Friends of Puna's Future is timing.
The timing is important because there is a real chance that if the Final Draft gets jammed up at the Steering Committee level again or if even more amendments are proposed along the way, that this plan will fail to pass this council. That would be a real tragedy and disservice to Puna.
When Councilwoman Naeole’s worthwhile amendments come before the Action Committee we look forward to being there in support.
Rob Tucker
Friends of Puna's Future
P.O. Box 1959
Pahoa, HI 96778
Assume the best and ask questions.
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