12-01-2008, 02:41 PM
The following was hijacked from Hunter Bishop's Blog:
First I want to express myI appreciation to Hunter Bishop and all of those that have assisted in our efforts to reach as many Puna residents as possible to participate in the Puna CDP planning and implementation processes.
While it is true that I am disappointed, both as the Puna CDP project manager and as a Puna resident, that only three applications for appointment to the Puna CDP Action Committee (PCDPAC) have been recieved by the Planning Department in the past 3+ weeks. However, I certainly am not in a "state of panic" about it. I would also like to affirm that we are not accepting just any "warm bodies" to seat the PCDPAC. Applicants with very narrow and specific agendas who are not able to keep an open mind and engage constructively with other committee members, implementation activity stakeholders and members of the community are not likely to be helpful participants.
If we don't have a sufficient pool of applicants by the December 5 deadline to recommend at least nine people for appointment that satisfy the evaluation criteria, which we have posted along with the application forms at www.punacdp.info, I will recommend to the new Planning Director that we should extend the application process until we do.
Implementation of the Puna CDP will proceed with or without a seated PCDPAC. However, community oversight and input will be without the recognition and authority provided in Chapter 16 of the County Code. Furthermore, without the assistance, input and guidance of a PCDPAC, implementation activities will be severly limited due to the limited resources within the existing governmental structure to initiate and manage multiple actions called for in the four CDPs adopted to date.
The Community Develoopment Planning effort initiated by the County of Hawaii with the adoption of the General Plan in 2005 and a true belief in grass roots community participation in local decision making by the Harry Kim administration and the County Council has provided residents in Puna, North and South Kona, North Kohala and South Kohala with an unprecedented opportunity in the history of the Big Island to make a difference in how we manage growth, serve the needs of our citizens and preserve the best of what makes Hawaii so special.
It is my fervent hope that my neighbors and fellow residents of Puna care enough to sacrifice in whatever way they can to lessen the burden on all of us. I know that there are many people living in Puna that possess the talent, knowledge, skill and passion that will be sorely needed to make sure Puna changes and moves in a direction that meets the needs and vision of the people rather than the self-interests of the few. Hawaii County Planner, Larry Brown
-------
My Blog
First I want to express myI appreciation to Hunter Bishop and all of those that have assisted in our efforts to reach as many Puna residents as possible to participate in the Puna CDP planning and implementation processes.
While it is true that I am disappointed, both as the Puna CDP project manager and as a Puna resident, that only three applications for appointment to the Puna CDP Action Committee (PCDPAC) have been recieved by the Planning Department in the past 3+ weeks. However, I certainly am not in a "state of panic" about it. I would also like to affirm that we are not accepting just any "warm bodies" to seat the PCDPAC. Applicants with very narrow and specific agendas who are not able to keep an open mind and engage constructively with other committee members, implementation activity stakeholders and members of the community are not likely to be helpful participants.
If we don't have a sufficient pool of applicants by the December 5 deadline to recommend at least nine people for appointment that satisfy the evaluation criteria, which we have posted along with the application forms at www.punacdp.info, I will recommend to the new Planning Director that we should extend the application process until we do.
Implementation of the Puna CDP will proceed with or without a seated PCDPAC. However, community oversight and input will be without the recognition and authority provided in Chapter 16 of the County Code. Furthermore, without the assistance, input and guidance of a PCDPAC, implementation activities will be severly limited due to the limited resources within the existing governmental structure to initiate and manage multiple actions called for in the four CDPs adopted to date.
The Community Develoopment Planning effort initiated by the County of Hawaii with the adoption of the General Plan in 2005 and a true belief in grass roots community participation in local decision making by the Harry Kim administration and the County Council has provided residents in Puna, North and South Kona, North Kohala and South Kohala with an unprecedented opportunity in the history of the Big Island to make a difference in how we manage growth, serve the needs of our citizens and preserve the best of what makes Hawaii so special.
It is my fervent hope that my neighbors and fellow residents of Puna care enough to sacrifice in whatever way they can to lessen the burden on all of us. I know that there are many people living in Puna that possess the talent, knowledge, skill and passion that will be sorely needed to make sure Puna changes and moves in a direction that meets the needs and vision of the people rather than the self-interests of the few. Hawaii County Planner, Larry Brown
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My Blog
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