RES 333 Draft 02 1996-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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. . . WHEREAS, the County Council acknowledges that there exists a lack of both financial and personnel resources for implementing and enforcing lease agreements on all 4,400+ acres of land as proposed by Resolution No. 309-98; . WHEREAS, the goal of preserving and protecting important agricultural lands is being accomplished, in part, through the State of Hawaii's agricultural leased lands in the Hamakua District; and WHEREAS, the County Council, nevertheless, recognizes that a portion of these lands, including, but not limited to the lands located at Kukaiau, Paauilo, and Pohakea, should be - retained under govermi1entownership and control to ensure that certain important agricultural lands are used primarily for commercial agricultural purposes; and WHEREAS, the County Council believes that a portion of these lands should be sold [to the highest bidders] to bring short- and long-term revenues to the County treasury at a time when the County is anticipating a $10-$14 million shortfall to the next fiscal year's budget; and WHEREAS, although the Mayor's disposition plan set forth in Resolution 267-98 outlined several worthwhile proposals to expand the County's infrastructure in the area of parks, water systems and roads, the County Council feels that these projects should be prioritized and only those of overriding demand and need should be implemented as part of a disposition plan; and . WHEREAS, the County Council does not wish for the lands to remain idle, become overgrown and more susceptible to fire hazards; and WHEREAS, the County Council encourages diversity in land tenure and, as such, disposition of the County's 4,400+ acres should reflect such diversity; and WHEREAS, the County Council realizes that a long-range disposition plan of the entire 4,400+ acres may not be prudent or possible at this time because of external forces beyond the County's control, thus, acknowledging that a partial disposition plan may be more feasible and practical. NOW, THEREFORE, BE ITRESOL VED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that the Council requests the Mayor to reformulate a partial or total disposition plan of the former Hamakua Sugar Company lands delineated in Exhibit A in accordance with Chapter 2, Article 19, Hawaii County Code [, which includes,] . . Said plan to include, but is not limited to, the following elements: 1. To lease or sub-lease a portion of [these] the important agricultural lands [through a 'Request for Proposals for Commercial Agricultural Development'] for diversified agriculture, eco-tourism, and pastoral use. 2