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REPORT OF THE <br />LEGISLATIVE APPROVALS AND ACQUISITIONS COMMITTEE <br />DATE: July 23, 2024 <br />PLACE: Council Chambers <br />Kailua-Kona, Hawai `i <br />TIME: 12:04 p.m. <br />Council Chair and Members <br />Hawaii County Council <br />Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br />Re: Comm. No. 941/Res. No. 561-24 <br />Your Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions, to which was referred Resolution <br />No. 561-24, reports as follows: <br />Resolution No. 561-24, transmitted by Council Member Rebecca Villegas, via Communication <br />No. 941, dated July 5, 2024, authorizes the Director of Finance to enter into negotiations for the <br />acquisition of lands and/or a conservation easement for all or a portion of the property identified as <br />Tax Map Keys: 7-6-021:016 and 017, situated in H61ualoa, District of North Kona, utilizing the Public <br />Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund. <br />The County seeks to acquire approximately 68.84 acres of land to protect and preserve cultural and <br />natural resources and open certain areas of the property for education, gathering, and cultural <br />practices. The parcel is listed as priority number eight in the 2022 Annual Report of the Public Access, <br />Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission. <br />Committee Member Rebecca Villegas thanked the community for getting this property onto the Public <br />Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation list and spoke briefly about this opportunity <br />for the community. <br />Property Manager Hamana Ventura stated that this property was previously ranked number eight on <br />the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund in 2022, and that there is no <br />willing seller. <br />Committee Members Lee Loy, Kierkiewicz, and Galimba stated their opposition to this resolution and <br />expressed their concern because there is currently a request for an extension of time on a change of <br />zone before this body for these parcels, and there is no willing seller at the time. <br />Chair Inaba commented that this resolution provides an opportunity for the County to act on <br />recommendations of the Cultural Resources Commission and allows an opportunity for the current <br />land owner, and that it does not guarantee a purchase of the land. <br />LAAC Report No. 66 <br />