2020-12-31 (2020 PONC Annual Report to the Mayor)

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Deanna S. Sako Mitchell D. Roth Director Mayor Steven A. Hunt Deputy Director Hamana Ventura Property Manager County of Hawai‘i Finance Department 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 1101 Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Phone (808) 961-8069 Fax (808) 961-8248 PUBLIC ACCESS, OPEN SPACE, AND NATURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION COMMISSION December 16, 2020 Mayor Mitch Roth County of Hawaii 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 Dear Mayor Roth: Attached is the 2020 Annual Report of the County of Hawaii Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resource Preservation Commission (PONC), pursuant to Section 2-217 (2) of the Hawaii County Code. The Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Recourses Preservation Fund (FUND) establishes a unique pathway in the County of Hawai’i for the public to suggest properties for Fee Simple or Conservation Easement acquisition thru the FUND. The FUND also protects, preserve, and hold in perpetuity native and cultural significance, with rights to access and easement in open spaces. Currently, the Department of Parks and Recreation oversees managing these acquisitions by partnering with qualified, established 501(3)c organizations to manage, maintaining, and stewardship of these special places. The funding comes from the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Maintenance Fund. However, the recent 2020 General elections, passage of the Hawai’i County Charter 10-16 directs the Maintenance Fund and Stewardship Program to the Department of Finance. During the year, the PONC Commission reviewed 20 Suggestion Forms and nine Stewardship Grant Requests. Both submittals reflect growing public interest and their involvement in this program. The Commission diligently refined the Suggestion Form in order to make submitted materials concise for evaluation and scoring, as well as user friendly. Hawai’i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.