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

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commission is aware of the diversity of potential public values in the Roads in Limbo. Many of these old roads have public access potential. Ms. Chang's primary message was that before the disposing of any road or trail that is presently in public ownership (as are the roads in limbo) very careful assessment should be done, including consultation with the local people with knowledge of the area. Historic Hawaiian trails were of the greatest interest to Ms. Chang. She has advocated that historic trails be protected and whenever possible, used. Ms. Chang stated that it is absolutely essential that we "landbank" lands that we have the opportunity to acquire and allow time to set -up /build the management capacity. In the meanwhile, such lands should remain closed to public use until they are properly managed for that purpose. Ms. Chang would be willing to share her information and experience that she has accumulated through the years and asked to be contacted if she can be of assistance. Commissioner Campbell stated to Ms. Chang that this Commission's jurisdiction ends when the list is given to the Mayor. Commissioner Campbell encouraged Ms. Chang to submit her testimony to the Hawaii County Council and to Mayor Harry Kim. Ms. Chang stated that she wasn't planning on presenting to the Hawaii County Council or Mayor Kim, however Ms. Chang indicated that she received a nice response from Mayor Kim in response to her roads in limbo letter. Commissioner Springer stated to Ms. Chang that if she has any particular trails or roadways that she would like to draw the Commission's attention to, she could do that by specific sites. Commissioner Springer is in agreement with Commissioner Campbell that testimony to the Hawaii County Council and Mayor Kim will be well done. Commissioner Schuster stated that the idea of banking the land and taking that view is a very difficult line to hold to the public when public monies are involved in purchasing of the land and so access to those lands is always going to be an issue. Commissioner Schuster agrees with Commissioner Springer about taking this to the community and County Council level because it's something that comes from community and their understanding of it. 2. Debbie Hecht Ms. Hecht is a board member of Hawaii Island Land Trust and coordinator of the Save our Lands Committee which is sponsoring the 2% Ballot Initiative Petition. Ms. Hecht stated that it's an island wide initiative to get this question on the November ballot to let the voters decide whether to set aside 2% of real property tax revenues each year to purchase open space. Ms. Hecht then stated that there was some confusion among the Councilmembers as to whether this was a change to the County Charter and it's not. It's a change to the Public Access, Open Space ordinance which also created this commission. The two suggested changes are: 2