Comm No 0003.01.18 - Testimony - Ad Hoc - PONC fund and Maintenance fund

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grants, support to the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Commission (PONC), and develop a template for the Council members to submit resolutions for properties in their districts which instruct the Director of Finance to pursue acquisition. This is an important benefit to the Department of Finance because they would not have to pay for a full time staff person from DOF budget because the salary would come from the 2% Land Fund. Additional staff would strengthen the 2% Land Fund program, by enabling the County to concentrate staff power on acquisitions by the 2% Land Fund and maintain and improve these properties. PROPOSAL BY THE CHARTER COMMISSION'S AD HOC COMMITTEE: REDUCING THE RATE AND CAPPING THE FUND: OUR ADVICE: • NO CAP. THERE IS MUCH TO DO, with extra staff we believe we can strengthen the fund and make it much more successful. Waikapuna would reduce the amount in the fund by $4 million for 2,200 acres and there are 166 properties that are still proposed. If we don't have money in the fund we cannot get matching funds. So far matching funds have been 33% of the money spent. • DO NOT REDUCE THE 2% LAND FUND RATE. The reason that the money has not been used is because there is not enough staff to properly administer the program. In years, past there have been 2 dedicated staff to negotiate and pursue these lands. Staff salaries two people, solely to work on PONC acquisitions and management should come out of the 2% Land Fund. • REDUCE THE RATE: From the Ad Hoc Committee's Recommendations: • Option 1- reduces the rate to .5% per year. • Option 2- reduces the rate to 1`)/0 of which .75% would go to the Land Fund and .25% to the Maintenance Fund. THESE PROPOSALS WOULD DESTROY THE FUND because: 1. As you can see in the Acquisition chart, not many properties were purchased for the amount $1.5 million. 2. It would mean fierce competition for the money to purchase lands and there are still 166 properties proposed for acquisition. Communities feel a deep connection and kuleana to these lands. These properties bring people together to build communities around these lands. 3. THE PROCESS -Property acquisition is a long process, usually taking several years. Dedicated, knowledgeable staff is needed to shepherd properties through this process. After a citizen recommends a property to PONC, then it is vetted through PONC and hopefully makes the recommendation in the Report to the Mayor in December of each year. Then the Council member and/ or staff needs to write a resolution to direct the Director of Finance to acquire the property and staff goes to work. They contact property owners, conduct appraisals, land surveys, flora and fauna inventories for endangered species, floodplain etc. Just this work can take a year. They should look for matching funds. The staffs currently tasked with these duties are frequently given other jobs to do. 3- We also believe that all PONC Functions should be regulated under the Department of Finance There is already a staff member provided by the PONC statute to assist the PONC Commission with their duties. A paid senior staff salary should be paid from the 2% Land Fund. Staff should be paid out of the 2% Land Fund, but only for work on PONC properties and future PONC acquisitions. Staff have clearly defined duties, including but not limited to: PONC property acquisition and pursuit of matching funds, maintenance of lands with the maintenance fund monies, procuring and overseeing maintenance contracts for the 2% Comments on Charter Commission's Ad Hoc Committee on 2% Land Fund & Maintenance Fund 2