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effect, we are fiscally incapable of keeping up with the repair, maintenance and <br /> expansion of existing Parks and Recreation facilities; and <br /> WHEREAS, Parks and Recreation's Five Year Plan fbr Repair, Maintenance & <br /> Equipment-Fiscal Years 1997 - 2002 estimates that $4.5 million is needed just for repair, <br /> <br /> maintenance and equipment for fiscal years 1999-2002 and millions more will be needed <br /> <br /> to comply with ADA requirements at our existing facilities; and <br /> WHEREAS, in Communication No. 604.08, Mayor Yamashiro seeks to assist the <br /> fledgling timber industry in the North Hilo and Hamakua districts when, in fact, <br /> <br /> representatives of Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate have stztted that their 24,000 acres <br /> leased to Pru-Timber is sufficient to ensure a successful operation in Hamakua and the <br /> addition of 4,400 acres is non-essential to the progress of its timber operation; and <br /> WHEREAS, Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate purchased approximately <br /> <br /> 30,000 acres of former Hamakua Sugar land in 1994, and now owns approximately <br /> 39,000 acres of land throughout the Hamakua Coast; and <br /> WHEREAS, the Mayor's plan of disposition would simply add to their land <br /> inventory and further Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate's land monopoly in the <br /> Hamakua region; and <br /> WHEREAS, the majority of this Council has expressed strong testimony in <br /> support of the agricultural community as evidenced by the 7-2 vote on the $2 million <br /> <br /> appropriation supporting the building of an irradiation facility on the Big Island; and <br /> WHEREAS, agricultural organizations as well as individuals throughout the <br /> island have expressed a sincere desire to have land opportunities on these public lands for <br /> economic purposes and the leasing of these lands would provide amuck-needed <br /> <br /> economic stimulus for the Hamakua District; and <br /> WHEREAS, the leasing of said lands to farmers will create revenues for the <br /> <br /> County of Hawaii in the form of real property taxes and lease payments; and <br /> WHEREAS, the 4,400 acres of County public lands i:1 1-Iamakua represents the <br /> hope towards recovering from the economic disaster brought upon by the closure of the <br /> Hamakua Sugar Plantation. <br /> NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY TfIF, COUNCIL OF THE <br /> COUNTY OF HAWAII that, based upon all of the above considerations, the public <br /> interest demands the leasing of 4,400 acres of County land in Hamakua for diversified <br /> agriculture, eco-tourism and pastoral uses to fanners and ranchers. <br /> <br />