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responsibility on as part of their jobs, including sometimes leasing properties for offices; <br />She said that right now the County is fortunate in having a Director of Finance who is <br />good at land issues and has a background that allows him to negotiate leases and <br />purchase land. However, the County might not always have such a director. Also, it is <br />felt that there is enough activity, especially with the Public Access Commission, to justify <br />having a land property manager. That position will also be over the staff that takes care <br />of personal property inventory, vehicles, equipment, etc. <br />Mr. Sakaguchi stated that it is not the Commission's intention to micromanage and said <br />they are just trying to understand. He was under the impression the County owned a lot <br />of land. Ms. Crawford said the County owns the County parks land. <br />Mr. Sakaguchi asked how long the land on the list has been for sale, and Ms. Crawford <br />answered that they started working on this around late 2001 and that the land hasn't been <br />on the market the whole time. They had to figure out what action to take and go to the <br />Council for authorization to take action. She agreed that ideally, however, the land <br />would already have been sold. She said survey work is another issue, as the parcels are <br />large and need surveys. <br />Mr. Joseph asked if the land was acquired in 1994, and Ms. Crawford answered yes, <br />through court settlement. <br />The Chair stated that when this issue was brought up at the last meeting, the topic was on <br />vacant lands and whether they have been a burden to the County because of the work <br />involved in keeping them clear of being a hazard such as a fire hazard. He asked if the <br />County has any vacant lands that are a burden. Ms. Kaetsu said she could think of one <br />such parcel, up in Kaumana. Homes close to that parcel receive rubbish from it. The <br />County was getting ready to sell it when the environmental assessment issue came up. <br />What also turned up was a master plan that showed this land to be a wilderness park. So <br />they ran into legal roadblocks, and she doesn't know the current status of this parcel. She <br />is not aware of other burdensome parcels, but they may be out there. <br />Ms. Stremski asked about areas which get developed and have portions set aside for <br />parks. Ms. Kaetsu said if it is dedicated to the County, the County owns the park, but <br />some subdivisions have private parks. Ms. Garson said another possibility is ownership <br />by a homeowner's association, which might set a parcel aside for park purposes that <br />would not necessarily be dedicated to the County. <br />Mr. Sakaguchi said he is concerned about liability, as he can see vacant lands as being a <br />problem in the future. He said he wants to look at the long list of the County's lands. <br />Ms. Nicholson asked what the County's stance is on private subdivisions when land is set <br />aside for parks, whether the County wants the land dedicated or encourages private <br />development of the parks. Ms. Kaetsu said that is a good question as far as policy. If the <br />land is developed it becomes the County's responsibility, although the Parks and <br />Recreation Department already has many parks to maintain and its employees are <br />stretched thin. However, the County does recognize the responsibility to provide parks <br />for a community. <br />7 <br />