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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 263 Draft 01 2022-2024A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE ACQUISITION OF ALL OR A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY IDENTIFIED AS TAX MAP KEY (3) 2-8-008:100, SITUATED IN THE ‘ILI OF PEPE‘EKEO, AHUPUA‘A OF MAKAHANALOA, DISTRICT OF HILO, UTILIZING THE PUBLIC ACCESS, OPEN SPACE, AND NATURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION FUND. WHEREAS, Section 10-15 of the Hawaiʻi County Charter establishes a Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund; and WHEREAS, Section 10-15(c) of the Hawai‘i County Charter establishes that monies in this fund may be used to purchase or otherwise acquire lands and easements for public outdoor recreation and education; and WHEREAS, Section 2-215 of the Hawai‘i County Code (hereinafter “the Code”) establishes the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission (hereinafter “the Commission”), a duty and responsibility of which includes developing and submitting to the Mayor a prioritized list of qualifying lands worthy of preservation; and WHEREAS, the property, identified by Tax Map Key (3) 2-8-008:100, which includes shoreline of the ‘Ili of Pepeʻekeo, and consists of approximately 38.25 acres, is ranked the eighth highest priority for acquisition in the Commission’s 2021 Annual Report to the Mayor dated December 10, 2021 (see “Exhibit A” attached hereto); and WHEREAS, Section 2-218(a) of the Code provides that: “The council shall, by resolution, select the land or lands to be preserved”, and “Where there are multiple lands under consideration at any one time, priority shall be given to coastal lands”; and WHEREAS, the shoreline of the ‘Ili of Pepeʻekeo property is currently for sale and the landowner is willing to negotiate with the County of Hawaiʻi in good faith; and WHEREAS, the acquisition of title and conservation of the shoreline of the ‘Ili of Pepeʻekeo property would be significantly beneficial to the County of Hawai‘i and our island community in the following ways: protecting cultural and natural resources at the shoreline of Kukuilaumania, including a former kūʻula (fishing shrine); (2) preserving and planting native coastal plants to help control coastal erosion; (3) protecting fresh water springs, and streams, such as Waimāʻauʻau and Lonokaʻeho, which are important freshwater resources; (4) reviving important agricultural lands as agroforest to feed the community; (5) facilitating responsible managed public access for critical fishing and gathering sites; (6) enabling community-based management and stewardship; and (7) maintaining the rural lifestyle and historical character of Pepeʻekeo; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I that pursuant to Chapter 2, Article 42 of the Hawai‘i County Code, the Director of Finance is hereby authorized to enter into negotiations for the acquisition of lands and/or conservation easements for all or a portion of the property identified as Tax Map Key (3) 2-8-008:100, situated in the ‘Ili of Pepeʻekeo, Ahupuaʻa of Makahanaloa, District of Hilo, utilizing the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director of Finance is authorized to initiate any funding mechanisms required for the acquisition of this land, in accordance with the terms of this resolution. BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this resolution to the Honorable Mayor Mitchell D. Roth; the Director of the Department of Finance; the State of Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources; and the County of Hawai‘i Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission. Dated at _____________, Hawai‘i, this ______ day of ___________________, 20___. INTRODUCED BY: _______________________________________ COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I COUNTY COUNCIL County of Hawai‘i Hilo, Hawai‘i ROLL CALL VOTE    AYES NOES ABS EX   EVANS       GALIMBA       I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the County of Hawai‘i on _____________________________________. INABA       KAGIWADA       KĀNEALI‘I-KLEINFELDER       KIERKIEWICZ      ATTEST: KIMBALL       LEE LOY       VILLEGAS              Reference:  COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON & PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO.