CALL TO ORDER: Acting Chair Edward Laws called the meeting to order at 6:50 pm.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Jeff Harris, Mark Heckman, Alex Ho, Ed Laws, Kimberly Lowe, Fred Madlener and Toby Rushforth. There was a quorum.

EXCUSED: Christine Woolaway

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Sarah Young

CSF: Judy Nakamura.

GUESTS: Randy Rush (State Dept of Health), Steve Kubota and Lynette Cruz (Ahupua’a Action Alliance), Sean Casey (Youth for Environmental Service), Susan Miller (CZM), Wendy Wiltse (EPA), Kaipo Faris (Makawai Stream Restoration Alliance), John Reppun (KEY Community Development Program), Amy Luerson and Charlie Reppun (Hui Ulu Mea Ai), and James Nakapaaha (Kanaka Maoli Liberation).

INTRODUCTION OF NEW MEMBERS: Chair Laws introduced Sarah Young, the Executive Director of KBAC, and Kimberly Lowe, the newest board member who replaces Steve Holmes.

COMMENTS FROM THE COMMUNITY:

Jeff Harris – "Get the Drift and Bag It" - An island-wide beach cleanup will be held on September 19, 1999. Save Our Bays and Beaches is scheduled to clean Kailua Beach and they will be working with the US Coast Guard to remove drift nets near the shore. Christine Woolaway from Sea Grant is coordinating the effort and she can be reached at 956-2872.

Kaipo Faris – "Hihiwai Restocking Project" update - Two crates of Hihiwai were received from Molokai and were measured, tagged, and placed in the designated areas of Waiahole stream. Two shipments of juvenile Hihiwai have also been received and are being reared in tanks until ready for release. Louisiana State graduate students are assisting in the mapping and monitoring of water flow, algae and water samples. Reports about the health and development of the Hihiwai can be found at website koolau.net. A more detailed report will be available soon.

Sean Casey - "Y.E.S" update – The Koolaupoko Watershed Project was successful in meeting its objectives in implementing 20 environmental service projects and will be turning in a final report on their mini-grant shortly.

Steve Kubota – An EPA Watershed Training Conference is tentatively scheduled for November 19-20, 1999. The conference will not be open to everyone but instead will earmark those who are already involved in watershed management. The committee is looking for local speakers. Contact Steve Kubota at 235-1279 for more details.

Sarah Young – "Empowering Community: When Values Collide" – Professor Lawrence Susskind from MIT will be the keynote speaker at this conference to be held at the UH Architecture Auditorium, August 18, 1999 from 8:30-1:00pm. More information is available at website www.durp.hawaii.edu/empower.

Sarah Young – "Hawaii Congress of Planning Officials Conference ‘99" – This three-day conference will be held from September 1-3, 1999 at the Ihilani Resort and Spa located in Kapolei. Please call 587-2809 for more details.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – Sarah Young presiding

Director Young outlined several regional watershed initiatives, among them: EPA/DOH’s Unified Water Assessment Initiative and Clean Water Act Section 319 Grant; Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR)’s Koolau Mountain Watershed Planning Project; Board of Water Supply’s Water Resources Management Plan; Department of Permitting and Planning’s Koolaupoko Sustainable Development Plan and other initiatives. She indicated that KBAC represents the success of community activism and government’s commitment for improved water quality. Director Young is excited about KBAC’s vision, which is to Empower Community for Improved Water Quality in Koolaupoko.

To help KBAC and others better understand the challenges associated with the planning process and the resources required to carry out such efforts, Director Young invited Randy Rush from the Department of Health to provide his insights. The following summarizes the discussion:

Challenges Associated with Watershed Initiative Projects

Appropriate and broad public involvement, including government agencies, community groups and private sectors, has been a great challenge, as the process requires extensive coordination and understanding of the various sectors;

Business sector involvement appears important to provide financial backing for the planning efforts; to balance and appropriately pace the planning process also appears to be crucial to prevent burnout and to ensure long-term engagement.

Resources Required to Carry Out Such Efforts

The West Maui Watershed Owner’s Manual, the first watershed planning document in the state, involved federal investment of about $1 million during a five-year period. Similar efforts in Ala Wai probably would amount to about $2 million. Based on EPA and DOH’s experience and availability of federal funding, EPA is contemplating contributing some money next year to the overall Koolaupoko watershed planning efforts. Member Harris advocated that KBAC work with DOH to spearhead this effort to help Koolaupoko qualify for future implementation projects.

 

Suggestion to KBAC or Koolaupoko

Mr. Rush suggested KBAC build upon Eugene Dashiell’s "Preliminary Problem Identification Report" and provide additional information for future federal funding. Mr. Rush also indicated that he would like to see an overall Koolaupoko Watershed Plan rather than breaking the region into smaller pieces. Member Madlener asked Director Young to follow up with Mr. Rush on the details of DOH’s requirements.

ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS – Chair Ed Laws presiding

Approval of July 6, 1999 minutes. The minutes were approved.

Waimanalo Community Water Quality Project – A partnership was proposed with KBAC to address concerns identified by the communities which overlap with "The Preliminary Water Quality Problem Identification" report drafted by Gene Dashiell. Member Rushforth reviewed the proposal with the additional requested addendum and concluded that it was worth moving forward with this proposal but he still had concerns about how progress would be measured. He believes that one needs to see measures of success and milestones to judge how the participants are progressing toward KBAC’s objectives. Discussion ensued and Director Young reiterated that she would coordinate with the group to ensure that KBAC’s interests were met. A motion was made by member Rushforth and seconded by member Madlener to accept the proposal with the promise that KBAC would work with the project coordinator to initially establish a set of milestones to properly measure the success of the project and to ensure that their work serves KBAC in achieving its vision. The motion passed unanimously. Director Young will work with the group to establish a Contractual Agreement to initiate the work.

Kaneohe Bay Watershed Improvement Program – Hui Ulu Mea Ai, KEY Project – Community Development Program and Youth for Environmental Service (YES) submitted a proposal to work collaboratively to provide education, assessment and coordination of water quality projects throughout the Kaneohe Bay Watershed. After much discussion it was decided that more time was needed to study the proposal before a decision could be made. This was KBAC member’s first exposure to this proposal. For this reason, further review of the proposal to determine how it fits into all of KBAC's’plans is required.

Ahupua’a Action Alliance – Members Steve Kubota and Lynette Cruz presented a "Letter of Intent for a Memorandum of Agreement" with KBAC to support and strengthen KBAC’s mission by incorporating the ahupua’a concept and associated Hawaiian cultural protocols and values into KBAC’s overall programs. This proposed MOA would establish an initial one-year partnership for consultation services; the principal consultants being Cruz and Kubota. Member Madlener disclosed that he is a member of the Ahupua’a Action Alliance through Hawaii’s Thousand Friends. Member Ho will check on the legal opinion concerning conflict of interest. Member Harris made a motion to accept the MOA and member Madlener seconded the motion. After much discussion it was unanimously decided to accept the motion. Director Young will work with the group to establish a Contractual Agreement to initiate the work.

New Chair – Acting Chair Laws announced that it was now time for a new chair to take over. Member Harris thanked Chair Laws for his efforts these past six months during some difficult times. The new Acting Chair will be Fred Madlener.

The following are tentative KBAC dates for future meetings to be held at Windward Community College:

        Sept. 14, 1999    Tuesday Hale Alakai #118

        Oct. 12, 1999          "                        "

        Nov. 9, 1999          "                        "

        Dec. 14, 1999          "                       "

ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned by Acting Chair Edward Laws at 10:15 pm.



BACK