MIN CHARTER 2019-03-08 (2018-2020)

Home

Hawai`i County Charter Commission -9 March 8, 2019 and to have a sense of either you are going to work with us or we are going to take it anyway... I think it really strikes the wrong note and it could get the PONC fund wrapped up in legal fees and none of us want to do that so, so, thank you very much for your time. CHR. ADAMS: Thank you. Next testifier. TAMMY SPAAR: Proposal No. CA -18 in support and Proposal No. 27 in opposition. MS. SPAAR: Aloha my name is Tammy Spaar and I am here to read two letters from Lea Hong, State Director of the Trust for Public Lands. CHR. ADAMS: I am so sorry. Please bring the mic... MS. SPAAR: Can't hear me? CHR. ADAMS: It's just very, can't hear you at all. MS. SPAAR: My name is Tammy Spaar and I am here to read two letters for Lea Hong and she is... works for the Trust for Public Land. The Trust for Public Land opposes advancing CA -27 through initial approval. The Trust for Public Land was originally involved in, and supported the creation of the PONC fund through 501(c)(4) organization, the Conservation Campaign. The Trust for Public Land thanks the staff of the PONC 2% funds and the volunteers who serve on PONC Commission for their hard work in advancing the wishes of voters, of Hawai`i County who voted for the 2% fund. We oppose CA -27 because the amendment is unnecessary. The County already recognizes PONC may be used to acquire easements and is working with the Trust for Public Land and the Ala Kahakai Trail Association, to acquire a conservation easement over Waikapuna and voluntary land conservation programs usually do not allow the use of program funds for eminent domain. The Trust for Public Land has experience with dozens of voluntary land conservation programs at the state, federal, and local levels. For example, the federal level, the U.S. Forestry Forest Legacy Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Recovery Land Acquisition Program, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Program, the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Coastal Estuary Conservation Program, the U.S. Pittman - Robertson Program, at the conservation State programs across the nation and the local level, the PONC program and other County programs which the Trust for Public Land help to establish in Maui County, Hawai`i County, the City and County of Honolulu, and all of these programs use of program funds for eminent domain is not allowed. This is because eminent domain, the forcible condemnation and taking of private property rights for public benefit use, is the last resort and it should only be used as a last resort. Page 11