Communication No. 2019-02- Debbie Hecht PONC Report

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/ƚƒƒǒƓźĭğƷźƚƓ b ƚ͵ ЋЉЊВ Ώ ЉЋ 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 o f County and may not be sold, mortgaged, traded or transferred in any Council Member Brenda Ford and I thought this was very important. It takes several years before a property is proposed by citizens, gets through the Public Access and Open Space Commission and is funded and acquired by the County with our tax dollars. The groups that propose these lands work hard to bring them forward and hard to care for them after they are acquired, frequently using their own money, their time and hard w ork to improve these properties. These properties are purchased grandchildren . This should not be subject to change just because the county cannot make their budget . The county should be fiscally responsible and have a sizeable Disaster Relief Fund. Our voter mandated set aside. IF not dedicated in perpetuity , the land could be sold, developed for a hotel; beach access controlled like what happened at the Mauna Kea, Mauna Lani, Kukio Four Seasons Resorts and Kohanaiki. The money would disappear into the general fund. Another great gift of the 2% Land Fund is the capacity to apply for matching funds . The County frequently applies for an gets money for matching funds from State Legacy Lands and US Fish and Wildlife Service. So far, the County has received $8.76 million in matching funds, approximately 25% of the purchase price of the acquired properties. Why would they want to contribute money to these land purchases if the County could turn around and sell the land? COUNTY/ STATE and FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COOPERATION: The County is currently collaborating with the National Park Service for both the Kahuku property and on the Waikapuna Kahoka property. The Ala Kahakai Trail Association in conjunction with the Ala Kahakai Nati onal Historic Trail https://www.nps.gov/alka/index.htm or Ala Kahakai Trail that runs 175 miles from Upolu Point near Hawi to Hawaii Volcanoes National Par k. The State of Hawaii Legacy Lands program frequently donates money to purchase properties. THE MAINTENANCE FUND CHARTER AMENDMENT was on the ballot in 2012. Council member Brenda Ford and I wrote the legislation creating the 2% Maintenance Fund to care f or the lands obtained by the 2% Land Fund. Maintenance Fund grants are available to community groups who are their good work and to enable and encourage kulean a and the building of community for these lands. The County has made good use of these funds. But in the last 5 years there have only been 2 groups that have obtained these funds. WHY? This process needs to be improved. It has now been