2020-02-19 Letter to Sylvia Luke and Ty J.K. Cuellen HB 2578, HD1 Relating to Public Lands

Home

r osRoy Takemoto '4pQ0�' ...... :19anaging Director Harry Kim • �I:' \Iavor .. y 01..-- Barbara J.Kossow �TtoF'N''�-' Deputy afanaging Director County of Hawai`i Office of the Mayor 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • (808)961-8211 • Fax(808)961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg C • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 (808)323-4444 • Fax(808)323-4440 February 19, 2020 Representative Sylvia Luke, Chair Representative Ty J.K. Cullen, Vice Chair Committee on Finance Dear Chair Luke, Vice Chair Cullen, and Committee Members: RE: HB 2578, HD1 Relating to Public Lands Thank you for this opportunity to comment on HB 2578, HD1, as it would impact the Waiakea Peninsula in Hilo, Hawaii. We support any legislation that will help the revitalization of Banyan Drive and the rest of the Waiakea Peninsula. Virtually everyone familiar with this area agrees that it is underutilized and in disrepair. It is the center of tourism in East Hawaii, but it is a jewel that is quite tarnished at the present time. Hawaii County has taken first steps toward revitalizing the peninsula, including the creation of the Banyan Drive Hawai'i Redevelopment Agency (BDHRA); and a conceptual master plan has been created as a starting point. But funds are needed to conduct the environmental impact statements necessary to complete the redevelopment plan and move forward, and those monies are not available. Under HB 2578, HD1, DLNR would create a new planning committee to oversee Banyan Drive and would require that BDHRA be disbanded. This might mean going back to square one, but the tradeoff is that the bill presumably will provide meaningful funding using current DLNR revenues. Although we may not agree with all provisions of HB 2578, HD1, we support a measure that directs resources, both statutory and financial, toward the redevelopment of Banyan Drive while providing some local perspective in decision-making. Therefore, we ask that you act favorably on HB 2578, HD1, so that a resolution can be hammered out in conference. We also wonder whether there would be any point in reconvening Conference Committee on HB 1219, which is another bill dealing with these issues. The electronic record does not indicate that the conferees on HB 1219 were ever discharged. Respectfully Submitted, Harry im MAYOR County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.