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

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Hawai`i County Charter Commission -14 August 8, 2019 As Brenda Ford and I watched and got excited about this work, we knew they needed help which is why we wrote the legislation for the Charter amendment on the maintenance fund. This sets aside one quarter percent of property taxes, roughly $700,000 each year to empower these groups, but over the years since 2013, only nine percent of all these monies have been received by the non -profits. That was not the intent when we wrote the legislation. That is why we are asking you to incorporate this language, so that they can pay the people so that there is no volunteer burnout. The maintenance fund has now almost reached its $3 million dollar cap, and the land fund has more than $22 million dollars in it. The work is not being done. Properties are not getting purchased, the matching funds are not getting obtained, and the maintenance fund grants are not getting made. The Charter Commission has done a lot to strengthen the maintenance fund and thank you for that. Please show your support for the County Council's proposed language and incorporate this language that says "an officer, board member, or employee of a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, or the organization that operates under the umbrella of a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, may receive compensation for duties that are delineated in the approved stewardship grant proposal." Thank you and I will be here for questions if anybody has any about intent or legislation. Thank you. CHR. ADAMS: Are there any questions? I actually do have a question. MS. HECHT: Okay. CHR. ADAMS: So when you prepared this... the language for this section of the Charter, back in the day. Why didn't we include the ability to... why didn't we include this portion? What was it that preventing including this, because it is... it is really a diametrical... MS. HECHT: No. That's actually a great question and I advocated for it. Brenda Ford said she didn't want to pay people and now all these years later, and after hearing from all the non -profits, every single one that has ah... received grant money that they do want to be able to pay people. We should have, we absolutely should have. That was a mistake and that is why we are coming to you to you know, change a mistake into a strength I think. CHR. ADAMS: Okay. Thank you. If I could ask Ms. Stanbro please to come up to the table. Mr. Warshauer. RICK WARSHAUER: Communication No. 35.54 in support. MR. WARSHAUER: Good morning Commissioners. My name is Rick Warshauer as you should know by now. I have been here a number of times and it is just a reflection of the amount of support the PONC (Public Access, Open Page 6