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From: billgail@retiredinparadise.net <br />Sent: Sunday, January 6, 2019 9:43 PM <br />To: Charter Commission <br />Subject: STRENGTHEN THE LAND FUND <br />Aloha Charter Commission members! <br />NO NO NO to Communication 21 for Charter Amendment 7: To GUT the 2% LAND FUND PROGRAM <br />YES to Communication 24 for Charter Amendment 9: Proposal to strengthen the 2% Land Fund Program by using 2% <br />Land Fund monies to fund a staff position <br />We SUPPORT STRENGTHENING THE 2% LAND FUND PROGRAM! WE support using a portion of the 2% Land Fund <br />monies to pay a staff person who is dedicated to the administration of the 2% Land Fund Program. We believe that this <br />would result in more properties being acquired, more matching funds being obtained and more stewardship grants <br />being awarded. Citizens have proposed 180 properties, since 2004 and only 14 have been acquired. We can change this <br />and strengthen the 2% Land Fund Program by having a dedicated staff member who works ONLY on the 2% Land Fund <br />Program. <br />The 2% Land Fund Program has been very successful. In the last 14 years, 4,400 have been acquired on the Big Island for <br />a cost of $27 million, one third of which was from matching funds. There is one more property that should close soon in <br />Ka'u, which is 2,200 acres. The land fund is working to preserve Hawaii Island's treasured lands, but we can make it <br />more successful by having a dedicated staff member. In addition we must retain the following clause to obtain matching <br />funds and protects these lands in perpetuity that says: "This property (or easement) was acquired with money from the <br />Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund. It shall be held in perpetuity for the use and <br />enjoyment of the people of Hawai'i County and may not be sold, mortgaged, traded or transferred in any way." <br />We voted for the Land Fund THREE TIMES. It is so important we save our treasured lands and not let developers take <br />over as on Oahu and Maui. <br />Mahalo for your kokua to save Hawaii Island's treasured places. <br />Hawaii homeowners since 1999, residents since 2002, Gail Jackson William Simonsma <br />68-1907 Lina Poepoe St <br />Waikoloa, HI 96738 <br />1 <br />Comm. No. 21.37 <br />