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REPORT OF THE <br /> COMMITTEE ON FINANCE <br /> DATE: August 7, 2018 Re: Comm. No. 1008/Res. No. 650-18 <br /> PLACE: Council Chambers <br /> Hilo, Hawai`i <br /> TIME: 9:15 a.m. <br /> Council Chair and Members <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 <br /> Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Resolution No. 650-18,reports as follows: <br /> Resolution 650-18, transmitted by Council Member Maile David, via Communication <br /> No. 1008 dated July 23, 2018, authorizes the Director of Finance to enter into negotiations for <br /> the acquisition of land or a conservation easement for all or a portion of the property identified as <br /> Tax Map Key: 9-5-007:016 in the Ahupua`a of Kahilipali`iki and Kahilipalinui, District of Ka`u, <br /> pursuant to Chapter 2, Article 42, Hawai`i County Code 1983 (2016 Edition, as amended). <br /> This parcel, which consists of approximately 2,013 acres of land makai of Na`alehu and includes <br /> the historic fishing village of Waikapuna, is listed as the highest priority for purchase in the 2017 <br /> Annual Report of the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation <br /> Commission (PONC). <br /> Committee Chair Maile David thanked all the people who came out to give testimony on this <br /> very special resolution. It was very appropriate, as stated by the testifiers, as to why this <br /> property is special and the reasons the finance director should be encouraged to enter into <br /> negotiations. <br /> Department of Finance Property Manager, Hamana Ventura, gave a brief background on the <br /> resolution. Based on all the testimony presented, Mr. Ventura asked the Council for approval to <br /> move forward with the resolution as this is part of the process that is outlined by County Code <br /> and Charter, the property made the 2018 prioritized list, and as part of the process, a resolution <br /> and acceptance is requested going forward. <br /> Council Member Susan L. K. Lee Loy asked for clarification of the timing element between the <br /> purchase and developer and what kind of window the County is looking at and what kind of <br /> window is there for this process. <br /> Laura Kahakua, from the Trust For Public Land (TPL), stated she has been working with <br /> Mr. Ventura and PONC on the purchase. TPL is well into the process and the landowners are <br /> willing to move forward; therefore, if the Finance Committee passes this to move forward and <br /> the Council decides to support the resolution, TPL is looking at moving forward with due <br /> diligence, and closing the purchase and conservation easement by the end of the calendar year. <br /> FC Report No. 127 <br />