2026-03-09 - Minutes DRAFT 1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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VIII. COMMISSIONER REPORT – PONC IN PRACTICE – A POLICY SUMMIT 1. Pursuant to HRS § 92-2.5(e), Commissioners who attended the PONC in Practice – A policy Summit, on Thursday, March 5, 2026, reported their attendance and the matters presented and discussed that relate to official commission business. Cmr. Lawson reported that she attended the PONC in Practice Summit held on March 5, 2026, and found it helpful in providing context about PONC, its procedures, and the relationship between the Commission and stewardship partners. She stated that it was also valuable to have Department of Finance staff and former commissioners present to share their perspectives. Cmr. Lawson stated that the summit included an overview of the laws governing PONC, including the Charter, County Code, and Rules, and that participants were able to ask questions regarding those authorities. She noted that concerns were raised regarding procedural inconsistencies, particularly with respect to the Mayor’s influence in the process, the prioritized list, and the manner in which prioritization occurs. She also stated that there was significant discussion regarding the blanket County Council resolution that approved multiple properties at once and whether that approach should be corrected or reconsidered. Cmr. Lawson further reported that discussion at the summit emphasized the spirit and purpose of PONC, namely, identifying and prioritizing especially significant places, regardless of whether acquisition is ultimately able to move forward. She stated that this perspective was helpful to keep in mind as a guiding principle for the Commission’s work. She also stated that much of the day was spent discussing stewardship and the PONC Maintenance Fund. She reported that participants reiterated the need for a list, map, or similar tool identifying all PONC properties, their status, and their stewardship partners, and noted that Finance staff indicated such a tool would be developed. She stated that there was also discussion of the $3 million cap on the Maintenance Fund and whether that limit remains appropriate. Cmr. Lawson further reported that concerns were raised about the lack of a mechanism for the Commission to provide oversight through reporting, even when commissioners may be aware of conditions in the community. She stated that there was also discussion regarding support for stewardship partners in developing management plans and regarding responsibility for needed surveys, such as archaeological surveys. She noted that possible solutions were discussed, although no decisions were made. Finally, Cmr. Lawson stated that one point that remained with her was that, although the PONC process cannot function as a rapid response tool, it can move somewhat more quickly when a property has already been identified, placed on the prioritized list, and authorized by resolution before becoming available for sale. She stated that she found the summit very useful overall and that there appeared to be interest in holding similar meetings in the future. V. Chr. Britt commented that the summit was well described, but stated that the amount of discussion at the event should have been more limited. She noted that many points were repeated and suggested using time limits for speakers to reduce unnecessary repetition. Cmr. Rosam stated that the summit appeared to have drawn approximately 40 to 50 participants and noted that one topic not yet mentioned was a possible rebranding of the PONC program, DRAFT v.1 BS - Minutes of March 9, 2026 Page 20