HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0461.010 2020-2022 bf
COUNTY
COUNTYAW
Testimony on Communication 461 re. t 1 .01 es nd
for Hawaii County Council Finance Committee, AM Wednesday, November 3, 2021
from Cory Harden,Sierra Club, Hawai'i Island Group
Thank you to Councilmember Richards for introducing this measure.
Mayor Roth has expressed strong support for the 2%fund.We applaud that, and hope it will translate
into timely action.
Supporters put a tremendous amount of work into researching and delivering testimony,as well as
working behind the scenes,to get two Charter amendments for the 2%fund on the ballot and passed by
voters last year. Voters said "yes", people celebrated, and then....nothing much changed.
The first amendment,for the Maintenance Fund,was proposed because between 2013 and 2018, only
9%of the money in the maintenance fund went out to nonprofits doing maintenance on 2% lands.And
grant awards are running two years behind.That means the groups caring for our special lands are
having to pay expenses out of their own pockets,on top of putting in many volunteer hours.The
amendment calls for the Maintenance Fund to be moved from Parks and Recreation to Finance,since
Finance has more experience with grants. But the word is that this will take two years.
Mayor Roth said they are working on moving the fund into Finance.We hope you will ask for a progress
report.
Mayor Roth also mentioned a "log-jam of past grants". Please find out why there's a log-jam and what
can be done to prevent another one.
The second amendment is for a 2%fund administrator to acquire properties, seek matching funds,and
obtain more stewardship grants.The old system is multiple staff people doing various tasks. But this
new single position dedicated to the 2%fund will mean more expertise,continuity,and effectiveness.
There is no added expense to the County--the administrator is paid out of the 2%fund. (As you know,
the administrator will not staff the Public Access, Open Space,and Natural Resources Preservation
Commission;that's already handled by a different staff position.)
These two amendments bring changes that will tremendously increase our ability to protect our special
places. So why are they not being implemented? Please find out what didn't work.And for proposed
fixes, please ask for action timelines and progress reports. Mahalo.
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