COM 0644.000 2020-2022 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Program 2021 Annual Report to the Mayor PART 1: THE COMMISSION REPORT. The Department of Finance through its Public Access, Open Space and Natural Re- sources Preservation Commission (PONC) is submitting this 2021 Annual Report to the Mayor which includes the 2021 Prioritized List of Properties that was submitted to this Commission on or before the deadline date of February 26, 2021, according to the Hawaii County Code (1985), Edition 2005 Section 2-217. Unlike other commissions in Hawai'i County, this Commission is an advisory only to the Mayor and its sole responsibilities are: 1) responsible for annually submitting a prioritized list of properties to be considered for acquisition to the Mayor and 2) review and make recommenda- tions to the Department of Finance of the Stewardship Grant Applications. Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID 19) and the Governor's Proclamation regard- ing gathering restrictions and social distancing, the Commission continued to hold public meet- ings virtually live on YouTube. The meeting links are provided on the Boards and Commission Calendar. The commission welcomed public testimony from the public and other government agencies as written communications. Interest in the Commission's work is evident as the Commission received over 110 communications and conducted over 50 virtual interviews. In 2010, Hawaii County voters approved the first charter amendment created by Article 10, Section 10-15, the Preservation Fund that sets aside 2% of Hawaii County's real property taxes each year for the acquisition of these properties. Two years later in 2012, Hawai`i County voters approved the second charter creating an amendment, which can be found in Article 10, Section 10-16, the Preservation Maintenance Fund which provides funding for maintaining properties acquired by the Preservation Fund and permitted usages. And, in 2021, The Hawai'i County Council made charter amendments by changing the authority and administering of the Maintenance Fund from the Department of Parks and Recreation to the Department of Finance. These charter changes can be obtained from the Office of the County Clerks. In developing the 2021 Prioritized List, the Commission considered properties submitted on the 2021 Suggestion Forms, heard public testimony, reviewed communications, conducted interviews, conducted site visits on selected suggestions, and scored accordingly to the Assessment Criteria Form. The Commission developed its prioritized ranking order based upon reported urgency, anticipated use, significance, the benefit to the public, special funding opportunities available for acquisition, and a proposed management plan. This year's total possible score based on the total number was 900. In 2015, the Commission amended its rules to include only those properties that scored 50% or higher on the prioritized list for consideration. In Chapter 1, there are detailed descriptions, maps, and summaries of all 17 properties that scored 50% and above. Nine nominations failed to meet the 50% or higher threshold and one withdrawal. The commission submits to the Mayor the 2021 Prioritized List located on the next page.