2012-01-09 Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission Minutes

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Ms. Matsumura then read the e-mail communication from Mr. Flaherty: I am writing out of concern for the negative impact of conservation easements on Native Tenant Rights. Please have a representative from Title Guarantee come to one of your meetings to explain how land trusts and conservation easements extinguish Native Tenant Rights, so that you may avoid potential harm to Native Hawaiian rights in your efforts to do good for the long- Ms. Matsumura noted that both of these communications will be filed. DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE REPORT Mr. Van Bergen reported that we will be going into escrow for all three Kingman parcels within the next few weeks. He added that he went to Oahu since the County applied for grant monies with the Legacy Land th Conservation Program (LLCP) for the acquisition of Kahuku and came in 7out of 8. He noted that someone from the State, Department of Land and Natural Resources recently contacted him and wants to help the County apply for grant monies from U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Recovery Land Acquisition since they own the adjacent Manuka Natural Area Reserve. The acquisition price is 2.4 million and the County asked for 1.2 million from LLCP t be getting anything. In regards to Pohoiki, we are still reviewing the appraisal reports because of the large difference in value but before we proceed any further we will be finalizing the Kingman acquisitions first. Mr. Hirakami asked what the approximate total price is for Kingman. Mr. Van Bergen replied that 3.2 million would be used from the 2% fund and 360,000.00 from another fund. Mr. Hirakami then asked that even after the Kingman acquisition depletes our fund can we still proceed. Mr. Van Bergen th replied that t for about st 200,000.00 and another 2 million will be deposited on March 31 so we could still move forward with Pohoiki if the price is right. Mr. Hirakami then asked if it would be wise to know what the owners pay in property taxes when the County acquire properties so were not shooting ourselves in the foot. Mr. Van Bergen replied that the County is very aware what the property taxes are. Mr. Hirakami commented that the County is using real property taxes to acquire properties and at the same time taking it out of the tax base. Ms. Byrne Baber added that even if you lose the tax value of the property, if you look at the conservation and eco-system values the actual financial return is quantified. - 5 -