HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 408 Draft 01 2022-2024 ..,•,,,.!..?"-TL,i *, .
COUNTY OF HAWAI`I -•E ‘ ..'' /l•`- STATE OF HAWAI`I
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RESOLUTION NO. 408 24
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE 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) 2-5-001:011, SITUATED IN THE AHUPUA'A OF PUNAHOA, DISTRICT
OF SOUTH HILO, UTILIZING THE PUBLIC ACCESS, OPEN SPACE, AND
NATURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION FUND.
WHEREAS, in 2005,the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources
Preservation Fund was established by Ordinance No. 05-85, as codified in Chapter 2, Article 42,
of the Hawai`i Couty Code 1983 (2016 Edition, as amended) (hereinafter"the Code"); and
WHEREAS, Section 2-214.1(c) of the Code provides that the Public Access, Open
Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund shall be used for acquiring lands or property
entitlements in the County of Hawai`i for the following purposes:
"(1) Public outdoor recreation and education, including access to beaches and
mountains;
(2) Preservation of historic or culturally important land areas and sites;
(3) Protection of natural resources including buffer zones;
(4) Preservation of forests, beaches, coastal areas, natural beauty and agricultural
lands; and
(5) Protection of watershed lands to preserve water quality and water supply";
and
WHEREAS, Section 2-217 of the Code provides, in part, that a duty and responsibility
of the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission(hereinafter
"the Commission") is to develop and submit to the Mayor an initial list of qualifying lands
worthy of preservation and to update the list at any time, but at least annually by December 31 of
each year; and
WHEREAS, Section 2-218(a) of the Code provides, in pertinent part,that: "The council
shall, by resolution, select the land or lands to be preserved"; and
WHEREAS,the Punahoa Heritage Forest Property, consisting of approximately 1,052
acres, is ranked the second highest priority for acquisition in the Commission's 2023 Annual
Report to the Mayor dated November 13, 2023; and
WHEREAS, the Pa'a Foundation owns the property identified as tax map key (3) 2-5-
001:011 and is willing to negotiate in good faith for the County's acquisition of lands and/or
conservation easements; and
WHEREAS, the acquisition of the Punahoa Heritage Forest Property would be
significantly beneficial to the County of Hawai`i and our island community as a method of
preserving history specific to the ahupua`a of Punahoa as follows: (1)protecting cultural and
natural resources; (2)preserving native forests and native plants including a kipuka that is home
to endemic birds such as the `amakihi and `io; (3) providing educational opportunities;
(4) facilitating responsible managed public access; (5)providing opportunities for protection of
the Hilo Watershed, along with groundwater recharge and coastal ecosystem health; (6) enabling
community-based management and stewardship; and(7)perpetuating Hawaiian cultural
practices; 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) 2-5-001:011, situated in the
ahupua'a of Punahoa, District of South 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 lands or conservation easements for all or a
portion of the Punahoa Heritage Forest Property, in accordance with the terms of this resolution.
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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; the State of Hawai`i Office of
Hawaiian Affairs; and the County of Hawai`i Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources
Preservation Commission.
Dated at Hilo , Hawai`i, this 7th day of February , 2024 .
INTRODUCED BY:
CO CIL i ER, COUNTY OF HAWAI`I
COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE
County of Hawai`i AYES NOES ABS EX
Hilo, Hawai`i EVANS X
GALIMBA X
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by INABA X
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL2 of the KAGIWADA X
County of Hawai`i on February 7' 2024
KANEALII-KLEINFELDER X
KIERKIEWICZ X
ATTEST: KIMBALL X
LEE LOY X
VILLEGAS X
8 0 1 0
`\ �' :6`, ' Reference: C-682/LAAC-48
Y CL l
ERSON&PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO. 408 24
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