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

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Lands, administration duties for stewardship 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 instructing the Director of Finance to pursue acquisition. 4- The Department of Finance would not have to pay for a full time staff person from DOF budget because the salary would come from the 2% Land Fund. Please read the Reports to the Mayor about the PONC's recommendations on properties to still be acquired http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/weblink/1/edoc/91477/2017-12- 28%20(2017%2OPONC%20Annual%20Report%20to%20the%20Mayor).pdf PROPOSAL BY THE CHARTER COMMISSION'S AD HOC COMMITTEE: REMOVE THE PROTECTIVE COVENANT SO THE COUNTY CAN SELL THESE LANDS TO THE PARK SERVICE OR THE STATE (as Mayor Kim said in his address to the Charter Commission during October 2018) THE COVENANT STATES: "This property (or easement) was acquired with money from the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund. It shall be held in perpetuity for the use and enjoyment of the people of Hawaii County and may not be sold, mortgaged traded or transferred in any way." THE INTENT: Removing this covenant would defeat the whole purpose of the 2% Land Fund. The Land Fund was mandated by 63% of voters 3 times at the polls. The 2% Land Fund is what voters want! 1. The process to acquire properties is long and arduous and done by volunteers who care about the land where they live. 2. More staff would enable more to get accomplished fulfilling the real mission of the 2% Land Fund. 3. These lands are purchased with OUR property tax dollars. 4. This could put Hawaii county in the real estate business and that is not the intent of the county or the people that collected signatures to get this on the ballot originally, and voted to approve the Land Fund by 63% three times. 5. These lands help build community and can provide jobs and tourism dollars in these communities where parklands are preserved for hiking and scenic beauty. 6. Selling these lands would be a slap in the face to the electorate and possibly diminish voter's confidence in government. 7. We know it is important to keep this clause in the Charter, because Mayor Kenoi already tried to trade land with the state and this clause stopped him. MISCONCEPTIONS: Mayor Kim says that he can't manage or maintain the lands, although there is a Maintenance Fund for that purpose which is well used by the County. The county can have dedicated staff and use MOUs with the National Park Service, DLNR and Legacy Lands, which they are already doing. Mayor Harry Kim via the Charter Commission wants to delete the following covenant from the Charter so he can sell our 2% Lands and put the money in the general fund for any Mayor to spend. OUR ADVICE: 1- Hawaii County gets matching funds from State Legacy Lands, private donors and US Fish and Wildlife, because we have the money waiting to be used in a fund that is dedicated for land acquisition ONLY. This covenant guarantees that the property will remain in the public Comments on Charter Commission's Ad Hoc Committee on 2% Land Fund & Maintenance Fund 3