REP FC 271 09/15/1998 1996-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE DATE: September 15, 1998 Re: Comm. No. 604.08/Res. No. 267-98 PLACE: Councilroom TIME: 11:45 A.M. Chair and Members Hawaii County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Resolution No. 267-98, reports as follows: Resolution No. 267-98, transmitted by Mayor Stephen Yamashiro, dated May 1, 1998, via Communication No. 604.08, presents a plan of disposition for the former Hamakua Sugar Company, Inc. lands acquired by Commissioner's Quitclaim Deed as a settlement among Western Farm Credit Bank, the County of Hawaii and Hamakua Sugar Company, Inc., through its trustee. Resolution No. 267-98 proposes to exchange various parcels of the aforementioned lands on a value for valucbasis with private landowners: Private lands unclerconsideratiotrincludc pazeclstrear-theHoolulu Park Complex, the former Keauhou Gazdens parcel, Honolii Beach Park, and a parcel adjacent to the Ahalanui Park. Should these parcels be acquired they will be used for park expansion, recreational development and additional parking. The administration felt il»s plan would assist the fledging timber industry in the North Hilo and Hamakua districts and provide the County with lands for public purposes. Further, it was felt this plan would also return said lands to the tsar rolls and make said lands available for further agricultural development. In addition to Resolution No. 267-98, Council Member Dominic Yagong also introduced Resolution No. 309-98, dated August 17, 1998, which authorizes the leasing of County lands (formerly owned by Hamakua Sugar Company', Inc.) for diversified agriculture, eco-tourism, and pastoral uses by negotiation. Both resolutions were discussed at public hearings held in Kona and Hamakua. In consideration of numerous public testimony, as well as the unlikelihood of either resolution enjoying a broad support of the Council, Council Member John Ray presented to Your Committee an amended version of Resolution No. Z67-98. Draft 2 removes the detailed disposition of Hamakua lands to private landowners and allows for the Mayor to reformulate a partial or total disposition plan ofthe former Hamakua Sugar lands by lease, sub-lease, exchange, and sale. Draft 2 was further amended by changing the title of the Resolution to allow for the Mayor to submit a revised plan as requested by the Council, to allow for more flexibility for disposition of lands in accordance with Chapter 2, Article 19, Hawaii County Code, and to delete the provision which sets a time limit for the Mayor to respond. FC REPORT No. 271