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Process for Property Acquisition with Funds from the Public Access, <br /> Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund <br /> For 2021, approximately $7.316 million was deposited into the Public Access, Open Space and <br /> Natural Resources Preservation Fund (FUND) pursuant to Chapter 2, Article 42, Section 2-214 of the <br /> Hawai`i County Code, 1983, 2005 Edition and Article X, Section 10-15 of the Hawai`i County Charter. <br /> These funds are 2% of all real property tax revenues, including penalties and interest collected by Hawaii <br /> County each year. <br /> 1. The public may submit suggestion forms to the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources <br /> Preservation Commission(PONC). PONC suggestion forms may be found on-line at: <br /> https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/Browse.aspx?startid=13770&dbid=l&ci=1 <br /> and are due on or before the last business day of January each year. Suggestion forms received after this <br /> date will be considered by the Commission the following year. The Commission reviews all suggestion <br /> forms, including additional information submitted i.e. pictures, maps, testimony from stakeholders, <br /> archaeological/cultural information,real estate listings, land surveys, etc. Public testimonies are welcomed <br /> at PONC public meetings. <br /> 2. The Commission prioritizes a list of properties from the suggestion forms that were submitted for that <br /> year and creates the Prioritized List of Properties. The LIST is submitted in the Annual Report ending <br /> December 31st of each year to the Mayor. Annual Reports to the Mayor may be found on-line at: <br /> https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/Browse.aspx?startid=1 3 770&dbid=l&cr=1 <br /> 3. Once a property is ranked on the list, approved by Council, a member of the Hawaii County Council <br /> may submit a resolution to authorize the Director of Finance to proceed with negotiations for acquisition. <br /> Community members and the general public are welcome to advocate for this resolution. Once the <br /> County Council approves a resolution to acquire the property, the Commission will no longer <br /> consider the property for future prioritized lists. <br /> 4. The Department of Finance, Property Management Division (PMD) may or may not open negotiations <br /> to purchase the property. Factors affecting this decision could be: if there is an un-willing seller, if there <br /> are no community group willing to manage the property, no matching funds, and other properties that are <br /> higher priorities for acquisition. <br /> 5. The County is more likely to acquire properties that have commitments for matching funds. Matching <br /> funds maximize the purchasing power of the FUND. The best use of FUND monies is to be used for <br /> dollar for dollar matching funds. The party who submitted the suggestion form will work with the PMD <br /> and/or Council Member to seek matching funds. To date, matching funds have been obtained from U.S. <br /> Fish and Wildlife Service (USF&W), Recovery Lands Acquisition Program (for endangered species) <br /> and the State of Hawai`i, Legacy Land Conservation Program (LLCP). Sources for other matching <br /> funds could possibly be obtained from Office of Hawaiian Affairs for cultural sites and from the Federal <br /> Emergency Management Administration for flood plain or flood prone lands. <br /> Additional Information: <br /> Article X, Section 10-15 of the Hawai`i County Charter stipulates what lands may be purchased with these <br /> funds: (see graphic model on the next page) <br /> Updated:Dec. 15,2021 <br />