Comm No 0024.105 - Testimony - CA-9 - staff for PONC fund and Maintenance fund

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Human Resources listings for the two people who work (part-time) with Public Access Open Space Natural Resources Commission. Property Management Specialist 2.200 $59,616.00 - $88,298.00 Annually Plans, develops, and directs the management, control, and disposition .9.1.y -owned real and personal property, ovmrse(Ds the negotiations and leasing of real property, cmtablishes endmaitaise ystc ...PM inventory '..kee4 'g end verifications; and pcf s other rel dlt.s es required. Property Management Technician 1.829 $38,220.00 - $58,824.00 Annually Independently performs a variety of administrative and technical support services for the Property Management Division; serval os the principal clerical support tera propertymanagement commission; repo,. and t,'term rWrs f meetingsand hearings; serveshe comrnssor s contact portion for information and request.. • Right now there is one staff member provided in the Code to assist the Public Access and Open Space Commission. This is a necessary position. Our language clarifies that the new staff position dedicated to working ONLY on the 2% Land Fund program will be in addition to the existing staff member. Otherwise, we may be paying for at least two "STAFF" positions, but potentially more than that! Salary, wages and benefits for someone familiar with land conservation acquisitions could be more than $100,000 per year. We do NOT WANT TO DIMINISH THE PURCHASING POWER OF THE 2% LAND FUND. 2. Why is it important to have ONE STAFF MEMBER TO WORK ONLY on the 2% Land Fund program? o Real estate deals have deadlines for appraisals, surveys, and endangered species studies, geologic, floodplain information etc. Time is of the essence! Land Conservation acquisition requires a willing seller, but most sellers want to be paid as soon as possible because the taxes keep accruing and they may have a use for the money. o The Maintenance Fund charter amendment was written in 2013 by Council member Brenda Ford and Debbie Hecht, with the goal of empowering the non-profit stewardship groups who had advocated for the purchase of lands and who had been doing the maintenance on these lands. The lands acquired from 2005 to 2012 had been sorely under maintained by the County. We heard over and over again, that the County does not have the manpower or budget to care for more land. o The Maintenance Fund grants has been in existence since 2013 when 63% of voters approved this charter amendment. o Over the past 6 years only 6 organizations have received Stewardship grants from the Maintenance Fund. These grants are equal to only 9% of the money deposited in the Fund. This is not what was intended. o Stewardship groups say the process has been very difficult: Parks and Rec staff have not met deadlines and they have had to apply several times before receiving funding. o A full time staff person can assist the non -profits with getting the funding they need to care for the 2% Lands. It would be helpful to have a workshop on how to apply for funding once per year to help streamline the process You have heard broad based testimony in support of the 2% Land Fund program at your meeting and in the public meetings around the island. We hope you support this in your amendments. Mahalo for your service to represent the people of Hawaii County on this very important issue. Debbie Hecht, Campaign Coordinator for Save Our Lands Citizens' Committee in support of the 2% Land Fund Program since 2005 2