HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0103.042 2020-2022 p/mUc
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From: Diane Ware
Sent: Monday, May 17, 2021 5:50 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Addition of arborist and Office of Ecology to County budget
COUNTY CLERKI
COUNTY OF HAWAII
RECEIVED
Time
Dear Council Members, D Y 12021,.
My name is Diane Ware and I am a 30 year resident of Hawi'i Island, and have been involved with numerous
environmental issues and groups. I am writing to encourage you to add an Arborist position and an Ecologist position to
our County Government. I worked on the Puna Community Development Plan Native Forest Protection section with Kim
Tavares for 2 112 years.
The Ecologist position was requested in The Puna Community Development Plan. The plan was adopted by ordinance
on September 10, 2008. 1 was part of the multitude of citizens that developed this plan. It proposed an Office of County
Ecologist within the Planning Department. But the Ecologist position has never been created. With ROD devastating our
`ohia forests and invasive species like albizia replacing native forests, an office of ecology is essential to protect and
restore our native ecosystems.
In the 2020 election the Charter Amendment Ballot question #15 passed.It states that the "County of Hawai'i shall require
that capital improvement priorities be based on criteria aligned with the County General Plan, County Community
Development Plans, emergency expenditures, and other pertinent functional plans". I urge you to honor voter's desires.
The Ecologist position could be similar to Maui County's Environmental Coordinator office. Their coordinator serves as
executive assistant for coordinating a broad array of environmental initiatives and issues— Research, advocacy, lobbying,
and professional writing on various topics, including food security, biofuels, renewable energy, fresh water resources,
aquaculture, conservation and restoration projects, sustainability, and smart growth planning.)
Given our many environmental challenges, especially with the heating up of the planet, we need to have an Ecologist
to evaluate our proposed actions and look for possible unintended and unanticipated consequences.
Also the other counties have Certified Arborists in their employee. Hawai'i County also should. In fact the County
Council has already voted to have an Arborist. May 30, 2016, Councilman Ilagan had Bill 144, D2 in the Operating Budget
that added $80,00 for an Arborist and $40,000 for Arborist equipment. It passed with a vote of aye by all, as Ordinance
16-72 (page 28.)
Please make room in our budget or do whatever necessary to advance these requested actions, long over due, from the
past. They are so very much needed now.
Mahalo for your support of the Puna Community Plan ordinance.
Diane Ware
Volcano HI 96785
Comm. Nlo. ��' t�
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