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

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Hawai`i County Charter Commission -14 August 8, 2019 SUSAN DURSIN: Communication No. 35.51 in support. MS. DURSIN: I am Susan Dursin and I am testifying for myself today as I have many times in the past, you are well aware, and I think you probably have my written testimony that I sent in yesterday morning. In any case, I would just want to say that I felt before the whole parliamentary snafu, that the commission was tending toward approval of the part of CA -18 which would enable compensation, and I hope now that you will feel with the Council having so strongly approved of the measure, that other eyes have looked at it and seen that it really is a very important step and so I would urge you to vote in favor of these changes. Thanks so much. CHR. ADAMS: Thank you. Moving into... moving here to Hilo, I would ask Mr. Sensenig please to come and then also Ms. Hecht to come to the table as well. Sir. DOUG SENSENIG: Communication No. 35.51, commenting. MR. SENSENIG: Thank you very much. Aloha and thank you for your truly impressive service on the Charter Commission. I am here to discuss the proposed change to the language of CA -18. I am Doug Sensenig and I represent Moku 0 Keawe Land Conservancy, a new land trust dedicated entirely to land protection and stewardship on the island of Hawai`i. We have a diverse board made up of people experienced in conservation and excited to partner with the County to help protect and steward land across the island for the benefit of present and future generations. I am here to add Moku 0 Keawe Land Conservancy's voice to those... excuse me, to those asking you to honor the Hawai`i County Council's unanimous recommendation to add language to the County Charter which will allow non-profit stewardship groups to be paid for some of the stewardship they do in partnership with the County on lands acquired with the 2% Land Fund. Let's face it, the people of Hawai`i have made it clear through three elections that they want more public land on the island and they want it cared for through all the generations. Is relying on volunteers the best way to maintain land held in perpetuity? No. Volunteers work hard but they burn out. They may not be as available in parts of the economic cycle. In rural areas there are less people financially able to donate their time. We need a better way to steward the land protected by the 2% Land Fund. The recommended language requires any compensation paid to individuals doing stewardship of the County's preserves, to be delineated in an approved stewardship grant proposal. This gives the County appropriate oversight of the process and allows the County to create more effective and durable stewardship plans. As you are well aware, the investment the people of Hawai`i County are making in conservation, is permanent and the properties acquired through the 2% Page 4