Another attempt to change the Plan

[james weatherford]

On Wednesday, January 5, 2010, the County Council Planning Committee will be considering Bill 194, which would make a few non-substantive changes and many very substantive changes to the Puna Community Development Plan.

Read for yourself an decide, but I am absolutely opposed to the many substantive changes.

The effect of the substantive changes is to take away authority held by the people of the community and put definite actions called for by the people into a state of uncertainty.

Testimony can be given on the day of the meeting (Jan 5) at 9am, or emailed (no later than 12 noon Jan 4) to counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us

The Planning Committee Agenda is here:
http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/weblink/P...8-2010.pdf


Full text of Bill 194 is here:
http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/weblink/P...8-2010.pdf

James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park

[JerryCarr]

James, I can't get the link to work. Is it my browser? Is there a synopsis of the "substantive" changes?

People involved in the on-going process since the Kenoi appointments were finally made have posted here. What is their take on the proposed changes?

Thanks,
Jerry

[james weatherford]

Try this for a summary...

http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/weblink/D...x?id=71269

...and this for how changes will look in the full plan.
http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/weblink/D...x?id=71272

NOTE: in both of the above, additions are underlined and deletions are struck through.

James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park

[JerryCarr]

Am I correct in assuming that most of these are the same Yuen-Naeole amendments that were stopped by citizen outrage in 2008? It says so in the intro letter, and it looks like it to me. This is an example of how seriously our beloved Council leaders seem to take citizen input. These jokers seem to think all the work that went into the Plan doesn't matter as long as they and their special interest supporters get their way. The sad part is that they could well have the votes to pass it in the present Council. Oh boy.

[Rob Tucker]

I think that the process is being gamed here by Chairman Yoshimoto. Gaming the system seems to be a highly valued skill in our present council majority.

Just days before we found out about Bill 194 (108 pages) I was told by the Planning Department that the process for former Planning Director Yuen's amendments was that the Current Planning Director would review them, share her insights with the Action Committee, and then the Director's and AC's positions would accompany the amendments to council.

Yoshimoto seems to have no interest in such a process. This doesn't come as a huge surprise unfortunately.

There are four potential outcomes from Tuesday's CC Planning Committee meeting. Three of them are not good for the Puna Community Development Plan or community interests in general.

It is a shame that just as the PCDP Action Committee gets seated and begins to organize that our Council Chairman Yoshimoto appears to decide that ignoring the AC and the council actions that created the AC is his preferred path.

[james weatherford]

four words from Jerry and Rob really do say it:
"Jokers gaming the system!"

James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park

[mella l]

I haven't read anything current but do know that so much community time and effort went into the PCDP. Hang tough and get out to this meeting.
My sense in following from a distance these past 5 years and visiting countless trips is that "Gaming the system seems to be a highly valued skill in", beginning in grade school. This phenomena is not a recent upwelling it has been developed over the past 50 years and distilled and camouflaged. Not unlike other mini kingdoms.

Best of luck to the good people of Puna in the coming New Year.

mella l

"New York London Paris Hilo"

[Blakeyboy1]

I am excited for some more reading on the subject! I am also excited to get involved as a resident soon. Keep up the good work guys.

-Blake
http://www.theboysgreatescape.blogspot.com/

[james weatherford]

At the Council Planning Committee meeting on Tuesday, J Yoshimoto, author of the Bill with the proposed amendments, moved to refer to the Bill to the Planning Director and to the Action Committee.
While this is certainly better than moving to pass it, I remain skeptical that the changes proposed are a good idea.
Will follow this post with some details.


James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park

[james weatherford]

This is what I have communicated to Council Chair J Yoshimoto, who has invited me and others from Puna to visit him in his office to discuss the matter:

My prime concern is that several of the changes in Bill 194 downgrade a definite action (such as “initiate”, “amend”, “establish”, “approve”, “require”, or “rescind”) to something indefinite (such as “propose”, “recommend”, “encourage”, “promote”, or “consider”).

My interpretation of the effect of these changes is that they amount to withdrawal from firm commitment to what the community has planned and thereby put the definite actions called for by the community into a state of uncertainty -- this is a violation of fidelity to the community and absolutely unacceptable.

I joined my neighbors in many hours of work on the Puna Community Development Plan. It was inspiring to work with so many people – especially those who had never before been involved in anything of this nature – as they came to believe that they could take charge of their own community’s future and committed their time and heartfelt efforts to doing so. It is because of this experience that I feel an obligation and am dedicated, without apology, to do whatever is necessary to see that those beliefs and efforts are fully respected with zero wavering of commitment on the part of the County government.


James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park