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*. Oi <br /> ..,.' '. Wil Okabe <br /> Managing Director <br /> Harry Kim ���:, : <br /> Mayor ..t.z_ Barbara J.Kossow <br /> . -'.!•.'+►- . Deputy Managing Director <br /> • <br /> County ofc 1uai`i <br /> (Office offk Augur <br /> 25 Aupum Street,Suite 2603 • Hilo,Hawaii 96720 • (808)961-8211 • Fax(808)961-6553 <br /> KONA 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy,Bldg C • Kailua-Kona,Hawaii 96740 <br /> (808)323-4444 • Fax(808)323-4440 <br /> March 30, 2017 <br /> Senator Jill N. Tokuda, Chair <br /> Committee on Ways and Means <br /> Hawai'i State Capitol <br /> Honolulu, HI 96813 <br /> Dear Chair Tokuda and Members: <br /> RE: HB 1469 HD 1, SD 1 <br /> Relating to Public Lands <br /> I would like to thank the Legislature for its attempts to resolve the dilemma of <br /> State leases on commercial properties that are nearing the end of their lease term. One <br /> prime example of an area currently affected by this problem is the commercial or light <br /> industrial part of Hilo, which could be viewed as comprising at least two distinct <br /> geographic neighborhoods, the Waiakea peninsula and the Kanoelehua Industrial Area. <br /> My Administration has been supporting the efforts of Big Island legislators to <br /> make special provisions for an economic district in Hilo, reflected in early drafts of HB <br /> 575, SB 1292, and HB 1479. We have wanted to mirror the community wishes, and <br /> have been very impressed with the way in which the community has worked together <br /> and rallied behind these proposals, particularly the original SB 1292. <br /> The full Senate approved SB 1292, SD2, but its contents have been gutted in the <br /> House in favor of alternate approaches to dealing with public leases. It seems clear that <br /> this issue will be going to conference, and we think the best way to assure that the <br /> collaborative efforts of state, county, and community leaders are not put at risk would <br /> be to keep alive as many reasonable alternatives as possible. <br /> Therefore, we would like to suggest that HB 1469 be further amended by adding <br /> the language from SB 1292, SD2 as a separate part. Among other things, SB1292 has <br /> the advantage of addressing both the tourist/ocean oriented Waiakea peninsula, and <br /> the small entrepreneurs who comprise the Kanoelehua Industrial Area. <br /> County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer <br />