2006-09-11 Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission Minutes (Kona Mtg)

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description. Ms. Blaich stated the way it worked now was that the Commission would make it a team effort. Ms. Springer asked if they had two staff persons; the specialist and the planner. Ms. Blaich stated no, they have the specialist planner (Dave Caylor) and a clerk. Chair stated their list went to the Mayor and he juggled it and sent it to the County Council. Chair sated what appears to be happening is the Council representatives have put forth resolutions for properties that the County should purchase. Chair stated the Council has taken a part in responding to land owners and trying on their part to find the funding. Their Council is responding to it because he thinks the public responded well to the Commission. Chair stated it might be good if the public encourages their councilman. When they have council meetings the public should go and make a statement. Mr. Flores stated to have a councilmember take the lead. Once the list was put out, the council members took the lead in their respective district. Mr. Caylor stated their Council Members are elected at large and not by district. Out of their open space fund, any expenditure must be approved by an Ordinance. Mr. Caylor stated it would be beneficial if someone from their Council to take the lead on a particular property they had an interest in. Mr. Caylor extended an invitation to Ms. Self and a Commissioner to come to Kauai and speak to their Commission. Ms. Garovoy stated in her opinion, being under Finance wasn't the reason why our balance was higher than Kaua`i's balance. Ms. Garovoy stated it was because of the Mayor. Ms. Garovoy commented on the online survey, in particular linking it to the online GIS system, this Commission was given CD's of the GIS system for this County however the County has been unable to figure out how to put that information online. The Planning Director was interested in putting it online for the public to have access to. Ms. Garovoy asked if someone from their side could talk to our Planning Department to help. Ms. Garovoy stated with respect to prioritizing, the issue of public access slipped down in score because the Commission was putting an emphasis on preserving natural resources and cultural resources. Ms. Blaich stated they were struggling with that as well. That is what they were trying to get at in the questionnaire to the public; are you willing to pay for access that they may not be able to use. Ms. Blaich stated she believed for each dollar spent there needed to be public benefits however there was a big value spectrum for how you benefit the public. Mr. Caylor stated cultural resource preservation and access are not necessarily compatible. When dealing with public access vs. cultural preservation, you don't necessarily provide public access to every site and you don't publicize every site but do you preserve, you bet. 15