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

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Hawai`i County Charter Commission -9 March 8, 2019 The Conservation Program Handbook, a Guide for Local Government Land Acquisition, published by Sandra Tassel, and the Trust for Public Land in 2007, underscores that using voter approved open space funding for condemnation is generally disfavored. Natural resource purchases especially with a voter - approved funding source, do not usually allow condemnation. Buying property on a strictly voluntary basis without the possibility of condemnation coloring the negotiation requires special listening, problem solving, and financial skills. Especially if the parcel interest transactions such as conservation easement, are planned. The County always retains the power to condemn property if absolutely needed, as the last resort. However, PONC funds should not be tapped for forced condemnation. Rather, community dialog and win-win scenarios should be pursued with PONC funding to conserve Hawai`i natural and cultural resources. And my second letter is the Trust for Public Land supports advancing CA -18 through initial approval. The Trust for Public Land was originally involved in, and supported the creation of PONC fund through its 501(c)(4) organization, the Conservation Campaign. The Trust for Public Land thanks the staff of the PONC 2% fund and the voters who serve on the PONC Commission for their hard work in advancing the wishes of the voters of Hawai`i County who voted for the 2% fund. We appreciate Commissioner Rice's introduction of CA -18, responding to community concerns regarding needed improvements to the administration of PONC maintenance funds. This proposal would allow PONC Commission to review and make recommendations on stewardship grants, allocate 70 percent maintenance funds for stewardship grants directly to community organizations, define the stewardship grant process, and allow funds to be used for the construction of small buildings, maintenance equipment, educational purposes, and restroom facilities. The construction or maintenance of trails or paths, and wages, salaries, for staff conducting the maintenance activities. Thank you. CHR. ADAMS: Thank you very much. Do we have any other testifiers in Hilo? MS. MURAMOTO: Chair Adams, we have two more. CHR. ADAMS: Okay, thank you. If they could come up to the table in Hilo that would be great. In Kona, first of all I would just like to welcome Commissioner Galimba. We can start with Ms. Ford. BRENDA FORD: Proposal No. CA -17 and CA -18 in support and Proposal No. 27 in opposition. MS. FORD: Thank you very much. I am Brenda Ford. I am a former Council member and I am also the co-author of the PONC fund and the PONC maintenance fund that we now have in the Charter as you know to protect those funds. I am going to speak first though on the disaster and emergency fund that Ms. Leithead-Todd is putting into the Charter. Thank you. I commended you the last time for this and I submitted an amendment that didn't change anything but streamlined some of the wording. There is a lot of repetitive wording in that Page 12