COM 0609.000 2010-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Honorable Dominic Yagong, Chair and Members of the Hawai`i County Council February 23, 2012 Page 3 Status of Funds—Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund For the benefit of the County Council, I have attached a summary of the FUND and all monies deposited and disbursed since its establishment. Management and Stewardship Concerns The funding of management and stewardship efforts in connection with acquired properties still remains a significant concern. As a result of this, Ordinance No. 12-16 was passed on February 6, 2012 to initiate a charter amendment by adding a Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Maintenance Fund to the Hawai`i County Charter (2010 Edition). This maintenance fund, if established, will be used for maintenance of lands and easements acquired by the FUND in addition to also providing stewardship grants to non-profit organizations to assist the County in long-term management. Should it not be established, the County and interested parties will continue seeking funding from other government or private sources, and requests will be considered as part of the County's annual budget process. Below is a summary of what has been done in connection with the five acquisitions completed with monies from the FUND. Waipi`o Lookout, Hamakua Since acquisition, the Waipi`o Valley property was formally designated as the Waipi`o Community Park. The Department of Parks and Recreation(P&R) has been working with Friends of the Future (FOF), a 501(c)(3) community group to manage, maintain and discuss plans for long term community use. In March 2011, a Parks Community Partnership Program was executed between P&R and FOF as they work on a more formal agreement. Community members continue to hold work days on the first Saturday of the month to do basic weed control, removal of green debris and upkeep and maintenance on the property. In addition, FOF continues to seek additional funding to move forward the visioning/planning process for this property. Kawa'a Bay, Ka`u The second acquisition was for a 234 acre shoreline parcel in Ka`u which includes one of the few surfing spots left in the area. Since the completion of the Resources Management Plan in June 2010 for lands between Kawa and Honu'apo, the County has been working with local kupunas, community members and groups to discuss ideas for long-term management. County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer