MIN CHARTER 2018-11-09 (2018-2020)

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Hawai`i County Charter Commission -5 November 9, 2018 property owners, conducts appraisals, land surveys, flora, fauna, and looks for matching funds. The staff work can take a long time and if the staff is pulled off on the other projects because it is just part of the finance department, it can take even longer and acquisitions can be lost. This is why there is so much money in the fund and opportunities are not being acquired. We need a full time staff position to be created so we can fulfill the wishes of the voters. We probably should have done this in the first place if we would have thought that the County would have been more diligent in following through with the will of the voters to get these lands purchased. Do not reduce the two percent fund please. The Charter can be changed to provide the salary for the staff dedicated from the administration from the two percent land fund program and this would save money for the finance department. We really need to consider having this person that is dedicated right to this particular amount of money and this being paid. Do not reduce the land fund and do not put a cap on it. We have no idea when someone that isn't selling their land will open the land up at a later date. CHR. ADAMS: Please summarize. MS. STANBRO-OLSEN: Yes. You have before you a really good letter from Trust for Public Land. We really support what they have written to their national... and they deal with this on all islands. They have dealt with it here with us. Listen to what they have to say. They are really smart and in closing I would just like to say that all of you live on this island. All of you benefit from what we have done so far. Please continue to help us with what we want to do in the future. Mahalo. CHR. ADAMS: Thank you. If I may just make a statement as the Chair before we continue with our public statements. This is a Commission that is dealing with serious matters, the Charter of our County. So when we have meetings, we require as a part of our rules that we maintain proper courtesy and respect to all of our speakers, members of the public, or members of the Commission, or our guests, so I would ask for decorum to be maintained. This is not entertainment. This is the people's business and so I appreciate that. Thank you. Coming back to Kona, we have Ms. Hecht who is speaking. If you could provide us the Items that you will be speaking on please. Debbie Hecht: Communication No. 3.1.1, in opposition. Page 6