HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 408 Draft 01 2022-2024A 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 (see “Exhibit A”, attached hereto); and
WHEREAS, the Pūʻā 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 kīpuka 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.
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 _____________, 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.