REP FC 048 04/19/2011 2010-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE DATE: April 19, 2011 Re: Comm. 165/Bill 43 PLACE: Council Chambers West Hawaii Civic Center TIME: 2:00 p.m. Council Chair and Members Hawaii County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Bill No. 43, reports as follows: Bill No. 43. transmitted by Councilmember Pete Hoffmann, via Communication No. 165 dated April 5.2011, amends Chapter 2, Article 42; relating to the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund. Specifically, the bill amends Section 2-217 (2)to clarify that the prioritized list of qualifying lands to purchase will be no fewer than ten, and deletes Section 2-217(4) which specifies that the commission shall give emphasis to those acquisitions which can be leveraged by obtaining State, Federal and/or private funds. Second, Section 2-218 (a), which specified that the council shall by resolution select the lands preserved,is deleted. The bill does provide, however, for the council to request by resolution that the finance director enter into negotiations for the acquisition of lands on the list. Such resolution shall remain in effect only until such time as the new updated prioritized list is reviewed by the council. Finally, Section 2-218(a) is also amended to delete language providing for the prioritization of coastal lands. Several members of Your Committee are concerned that the council's authority will be relinquished in this process. Members suggested amended language to preserve the Council's authority. Some members spoke against the bill, stating that the leverage condition should remain as well as the provision to give priority to coastal lands. Further, members feel the current process works. Land Manager for the Finance Department Ken Van Bergen appeared before Your Committee and stated that he feels the current process works well. He said that due to the length of time involved in these land purchases, renewing and prioritizing every year based on the past prioritization list, essentially adding properties every year. is not realistic. Ms. Ford suggested language for two amendments. First, in Section 2-217, to state, after"with no fewer than ten qualifying lands," the following: "which may include lands previously passed by council resolution to be purchased." Second, in Section 2-218,to change the first sentence of subsection (a)to read: "The Council shall, by resolution l - - . . . . . prese-ved4 request the director of finance to enter into negotiations for the acquisition of lands on the prioritized list finalized by the council." This would delete the phrase "developed by the commission"from the end of that sentence. Finally, on page 2. she suggested that the term "coastal lands and" should not be stricken. FC Rept. No._48