Our Puna Makai Community:
Council Member Gary Safarik
District 5 Status Report: (2004-2006)

Projects:

Pahoa Fire Station/Police Station/Recreational Complex - $4,500,000 for the new Pahoa Fire Station (with apparatus bays, living quarters, training classrooms, repair shop) that meets current seismic and hurricane standards and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. An additional $1,000,000, for a total $5,500,000, has been secured in the new County budget for FY 2008-2007 to provide funding required to secure a construction contract with the selected bidder for the Pahoa Fire Station. Planning is also underway for a new Pahoa Police Station and a new Puna Regional Recreational complex on the same 19 acre site, which would include the full range of recreational facilities, including pavilions, restrooms, ball fields and a community gymnasium.

Isaac Hale Memorial (Poho'iki) Beach Park - $2,000,000 for the new Isaac Hale Memorial (Poho'iki) Beach Park (with lighted parking lots for cars and boats, shelters, campgrounds, a comfort station, generator building, walkways, picnic tables, gazebos). An additional $3,500.000, for a total of $5,500,000, has been secured in the new County budget for FY 2008-2007 to provide funding required to secure a construction contract with the selected bidder. Additional County funds for a new Poho'iki Bypass road, improvements to the Kapoho-Poho'iki Road and Federal funds for improvements to the Poho'iki Breakwater and Boat Ramp are forthcoming.

Puna County Road Improvements - a total of $7,000,000 in County bond funds has been allocated for road improvements in Puna, including the Puna Emergency Access Road (PEAR); streetlights on Ainaloa Blvd., Kahakai Blvd., and Leilani Drive; and County Highway 127 (Government Beach Road) and Pahoa-Pohokik Road, pursuant to Resolution 149-05, introduced last year by Councilman Gary Safarik. An additional $1,500,000 in federal and county funds is currently budgeted by the Department of Public Works for the re-alignment of Government Beach Road in certain areas of the road near the shoreline.

Puna State Road Improvements - the State Department of Transportation (DOT) is finalizing planning and right-of-way acquisition for the Kea'au-Pahoa Road (State Highway 130) Shoulder Lane Conversion project, which will convert the existing temporary shoulder lane between Shower Drive in Hawaiian Paradise Park and the Kea'au Bypass into a permanent lane. $6,600,000 is available for construction, which is expect ted to begin in 2009. The DOT has also allocated $2,000,000 and hired a consultant to complete the planning and environmental work for the widening of State Highway 130 to four lanes between Kea'au and Pahoa. IN additional, the DOT has started the in-house Interim Intersection Improvements Study to make intersection improvements at Kaloli Drive, Paradise Drive, Orchidland Drive, Ainaloa Blvd. along State Highway 130.

"Gary Safarik and I have been working together on issues important to Puna and the Big Island which has resulted in expanded services for the community. I'm especially proud of the fact that he works well with local government."

                                      Representative Ed Case
                                    - United States Congress

Puna Makai Alternate Route Study - An additional $30,000 in Council District 5 discretionary funds has been secured in the new County budget for FY 2008-2007 to provide funding, in additional to the existing County appropriation of $250,000, for the Puna Makai Alternate Route Study. Upon completion of the planning phase, the environmental and preliminary engineering phase utilizing federal funding of $200,000, along with $160,000 from Representative Ed Case, has been secured and a request to Representative Case for $2,320,000 is pending approval in the FY 2007 federal budget.

Baseyard for County Mass Transit Agency - A request for $3,150.000 in federal funds has been made to Rep. Case for a new County Mass Transit Agency baseyard and is pending approval in the FY 2007 federal budget.

Pahoa Neighborhood Facility - $600,000 for roofing repairs and site improvements to the Pahoa Neighborhood Facility has been secured and improvements are forthcoming.

Ainaloa Volunteer Fire Building - pursuant to an Ordinance establishing the Ainaloa Volunteer Fire Company, the Ainaloa Community Association is working with the County Fire Department to construct a new building and obtain a fire truck to be staffed with community volunteers.

Ainaloa Waterline Installation - $750,000 in County capital improvement funds has been appropriated and planning for an improvement district to bring water to residents and the Ainaloa Volunteer Fire Building is underway.

Pahoa Transfer Station Improvements - a portion of the $250,000 appropriated for transfer station improvements will be utilized to provide a secure gated area for solid waste disposal, green waste, white goods and metals at the Pahoa Transfer Station.

Programs:

General Plan - the new County General Plan which was passed in February 2005 by the Council, under the Chairmanship of Gary Safarik, is the policy document for the long range comprehensive development of the Island of Hawai'i.

District 5 General Plan Interim Amendments - these amendments to the General Plan include the provision of medium-density urban expansion areas, including commercial areas, within the subdivisions of Orchidland Estates and Ainaloa Estates, and are expected to be completed this year.

Puna Community Development Plan - the Puna Community Development Plan process, which started with community meetings in February of this year and is expected to be completed in mid-2007, will identify a combination of land-use amendments, regulatory changes, budgetary items, public-private partnership building, and community-based implementation activities that will be needed to accomplish the many community goals for the future of Puna, including how to manage growth in one of the fastest growing districts in the County of Hawai'i.

Puna Regional Circulation Plan - the Puna Regional Circulation Plan was completed in November 2005 by the Planning Department and Townscape, Inc., and will serve as a planning tool to be incorporated into the Puna Community Development Plan and the County General Plan.

Pilot Study for Rural Paratransit System - the study has been completed and implementation of a paratransit system, which will take people from within subdivisions to bus stops and to their final destinations from bus stops, is expected to begin this year.

Operational funding for 3 new Mass Transit Bus Routes in Puna - $$500,000 in federal funding through Representative Ed Case has been obtained for three additional bus routes from Pahoa to Hilo, with additional buses and operational funding expected in the near future.

Pahoa Weed and Seed Program - the first federal Weed and Seed designated area outside of Oahu has been established in Pahoa through the assistance of the County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney and funding is ongoing for various activities, including youth programs and law enforcement.

Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund - legislation introduced by Gary Safarik established the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund, with an annual appropriation of $$250,000 every year. The Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission has conducted several public meetings to solicit information on potential properties for acquisition by the County to serve the purposes of the Fund.

Affordable Housing Policy - an affordable housing policy, which was passed by the Council under the Chairmanship of Gary Safarik, has been utilized to increase the requirement imposed on development for the for the provision of below-market priced housing island-wide.

Pahoa Village Master Plan - funding for the development of a Pahoa Village Master Plan has been allocated for planning the use of property and facilities owned by the County in Pahoa Village.

District 5 Council Contingency (Discretionary) Funding:

Neighborhood Watch/Community Policing - $3,340 in Council District 5 discretionary funds has been used to supplement the Neighborhood Watch Program and the Community Policing Program administered by the Police Department; $3,000 in Council District 5 discretionary funds has been allocated for the Ainaloa Neighborhood Watch Program.

Puna Makai Subdivision Streetlights - $25,000 in Council District 5 discretionary funds has been appropriated to install streetlights at Ainaloa Boulevard, Kahakai Boulevard, and Leilani Avenue.

Pahoa High School Auto Mechanics Shop - $ 5,000 in Council District 5 discretionary funds has been appropriated through the Pahoa Weed and Seed program to purchase mechanics tools for the Pahoa High and Intermediate School Auto Mechanics Shop.

Puna Neighborhood Skate Park - $40,000 in Council District 5 discretionary funds and $50,000 in capital improvement project funds, for a total of $90,000 has been appropriated for the development of a Puna Neighborhood Skate Park in Pahoa Village.

ATV/Dirt Bike Track Appropriation - $50,000 in Council District 5 discretionary funds has been appropriated and utilized for the new 808 ATV/Motocross Track in Hilo, which provides a safe and secure place for motorcycle and all-terrain vehicle riders.

Pahoa High School Video Camera Equipment - $28,000 in Council District 5 discretionary funds has been appropriated through the Pahoa Weed and Seed program to purchase video camera equipment to provide security for the Pahoa High and Intermediate School campus.

Pahoa High School Culinary Arts Program - $5,000 in Council District 5 discretionary funds has been appropriated through the Pahoa Weed and Seed program to purchase food and supplies for the Pahoa High and Intermediate School Culinary Arts Program.

Department of Public Works - $51,000 in capital improvement project funds have been appropriated to the Department of Public Works for making safety improvements, including but not limited to, improvements to roads and highways, drainage areas and public facilities in Council District 5.

Department of Parks and Recreation - $50,000 in capital improvement project funds has been appropriated to the Department of Parks and Recreation for various park facilities serving our communities in Council District 3.

Planning Department - $30,000 in capital improvement project funds has been appropriated to the Planning Department to be used to hire a transportation consultant to provide community outreach and education and work with the Puna Community Development Plan (CDP) consultant, PlanPacific, Inc. to complete a comprehensive study to identify an alternate commuter route between Puna Makai and Hilo.

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