MIN CHARTER 2019-03-29 (2018-2020) - Public Hearing

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Hawai`i County Charter Commission — Public Hearing March 29, 2019 KEONI FOX: underground resources. And so, I think it is appropriate that the County support these volunteers and at least the managers that spend a lot of time planning and organizing the work that is being done by the volunteers. In the Cave Conservancy all our expenses... none of our expenses are paid for. Everything is out of pocket and that is the way that we have been operating for the last 20 years. And finally on the question of CA -8, I made a mistake on my form. I oppose CA - 8. I do support that the two-year terms and especially because the two-year terms make the Council members more responsive to the voters. Thank you. CHR. ADAMS: Thank you very much. Mr. Foy. MR. FOX: Good afternoon my name is Keoni Fox. CHR. ADAMS: Fox. Proposal No. CA -9 and CA -18, commenting. MR. FOX: F.O.X. Fox, yes. I am involved with a couple different non -profits. I sit on the boards and I have been involved with the PONC nomination process as well as with the stewardship process. I am actually here today to speak in my individual capacity. The first item is regarding CA -9. I will just keep my comments brief. I have been trying to follow the different proposed changes. There have been many so it is a little difficult to see what is the latest, but my first comment regarding CA -9, I do support dedicating a staff, using the 2% monies for the program. The latest language it is my understanding that it doesn't single out one full-time staff member, it just says staff in general and I think it is really important to say that there is one person that is going to carry that responsibility and that they are dedicated to the program so that you know, we don't lose that... the benefits that that one position can offer. And I think that you know, although there has been a lot of challenges and there have been some comments about how the program can be improved, it is really important to think about the potential of this program and really what it can do and it is still relatively new. I still think it has room to grow and I think that is kind of where we are all at today and that is what we all want to do. We all want to see it succeed. My second comment is about CA -18. I definitely support the transfer of the program from Parks over to Finance. I think that they can do a good job running this and I do have some concerns about some of the proposed language that allowed for development of restroom facilities and so forth. It is important to remember that you know, all of these lands that we are protecting, they are not typical parks or what we would think of like a beach park. A lot of these sites have very sensitive cultural and natural resources so something like you know a new trail or a bathroom facility just might not be appropriate. You know I realize Page 12