2015-04-20 Game Management Advisory Commission Mintues

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Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes—April 20, 2015 AK: I think it's more education. Our commissioners are not that familiar with conservation easements and we have had a turnaround of commissioners so right now we have almost a whole new group —so we'll be having a training actually at our next meeting for conservation easements. MB: So is it only conservation easements or is it easements? So let me get to my point, right, so the state has many land —well, I should say the state has some landlocked state land, correct? Whereby, let's take Hualalai for example, there are several state forests, yet, no one can get to them. Right? There's no access to them. In order to get to them you have to trespass, which most people don't do. So — my question about easement is, I mean, DLNR workers have access to the state forests but it has not been negotiated with the landowner to allow public access for a variety of reasons, as you might come to. I mean, is it possible that PONC would entertain — I'm not talking about conservation easement— but an access easement to some of the state forest on Hualalai? Does that make the list for PONC? CM: Mark, this is Craig (attorney for PONC). Let me explain something. I think there's a little bit of disconnect. Once the property is put on the list— it's evaluated by the PONC commission. If it's put on the list then it's up to the members of the Council then to submit a resolution to bring it forward. I think what Alex is saying is that no council person has brought forward, to date, an easement—whether it be conservation easement or regular easement for the resolution. That's part of your hang up. MB: That's part of my hang up, right? I mean — I'm just thinking about it real time here, right? We have landlocked forest reserves that nobody except state employees can get to. And thinking through this process can we negotiate with PONC and a landowner access for the general public? CM: No. See that's where you're having the disconnect Mark. You don't negotiate with PONC. You just put forward — let me break it down further. You need some organization to come in and put together the proposal packet first, right? Proposal packet— is the more detailed it is the more they can stress the urgency of why you need to protect this area — or give access to this area —the higher it'll be ranked by PONC. PONC then put together the report—the report sent to the mayor and as well as council — and then you have prioritized list. Then it's up to the members of the county council to then take that list and then act upon the list. So there's no negotiation with PONC. PONC is like the reviewing body— because once you put together your packet they'll say OK this one looks good. We'll give it sixty points and sixty points puts it at number 12 on the list. Whereas they'll look at another property from another proposal —they'll say well this one looks like seventy— so they'll go on the next step on the 5