2017-03-20 Letter to Ryan I. Yamane re SB 1292 SD 2 HD 1 relating to the Hilo Community Economic District

Home

Wil Okabe Managing Director Harry Kim Mayor Barbara J. Kossow Deputy Managing Director County of Hawai‘i Office of the Mayor 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603  Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720  (808) 961-8211  Fax (808) 961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg. C  Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740 (808) 323-4444  Fax (808) 323-4440 March 20, 2017 Rep. Ryan I. Yamane, Chair Committee on Water & Land Hawaii State Capitol Honolulu, HI 96813 Dear Chair Yamane and Members: RE: SB 1292 SD 2 HD 1 Relating to the Hilo Community Economic District On behalf of the Hilo community, I would like to thank the Legislature for its attempts to resolve the dilemma of State leases on commercial properties that are nearing the end of their lease term. My Administration has been supporting the efforts of Big Island legislators to make special provisions for the economic district in Hilo, as in earlier drafts of SB1292 as well as HB 575, HB 1310, and HB 1479. I have wanted to reflect the community wishes, and have been very impressed with the way in which the community has worked together and rallied behind these proposals. I think it is very important that the collaborative efforts of state, county, and community leaders not be put at risk. In order to give DNLR the most tools to make its leases work, maybe a hybrid version of the various bills can be developed, and that is what SB 1292, HD1 is attempting to do. The different concepts are not incompatible, and if such a bill were to continue on to conference, it would give the stakeholder’s time to fully evaluate the options and collaborate on a final approach. Lessees might appreciate having two or three options, or reject one or more out of hand, but the hard work of building consensus would be rewarded rather than lost. Having said that, I must offer a cautionary comment. County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.