2006-05-30 Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission Minutes (Hilo Mtg)

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Discussion among commissioners of perhaps adding this to our charter work on how to handle a certain percentage of absences. It was discussed that it actually may already be in the Charter. Commissioner Schuster suggested that if we are having visitors from the public, this commission should find out where the public is coming from. This commission should accommodate them. Chair Replogle stated that at times we don't know where the public is coming from. NEW BUSINESS ACTION TO MOVE AGENDA ITEM UP There being no objections, Guest Speaker Brian Szuster presentation was taken up. • Brian Szuster, is presently the Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Dr. Szuster did a presentation on the Hawaii Coastal and Estuarine Conservation Plan. Dr. Szuster passed out a hard copy of his power point presentation. The Costal Estuarine Land Conservation Plan was established by Congress in 2002 to protect important coastal and estuarine areas that have significant conservation, ecological, recreation, historical or esthetic values. The focus is on coastal areas that are threatened by conversion from their natural or recreational state for the benefit of future generations, with the priority assigned to lands with significant ecological value that can be effectively managed and protected. The purpose of the program funds is to acquire properties or interest in properties from willing sellers and the acquisition terms and conditions must ensure that properties or interest in properties are administered for conservation purposes in perpetuity. To be eligible for funding a project, the property must be located in a coastal or estuarine area included within an approved Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Plan, meet the criteria outlined in the national program guidelines, match federal program funds with non - federal funds at a ration of 1:1, be held in public or approved private ownership that provides for conservation in perpetuity, and provide access to the general public as appropriate and consistent with protection of project lands. Commissioner Garovoy asked if the plan to develop involves community input as well or just the agency's perspective? Dr. Szuster replied that the plan is a process, it's not a site. Specific sites are being developed locally and are going to be in the applications and forwarded to State's competition. So the general public is less involved in the general planning process. The applications will be developed at the local level. Dr. Szuster's commented how the tougher part would be negotiating the financial part at the local level in terms of getting the bid on the property and getting the 11