HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP LAAC 012 2025-04-15 2024-2026 REPORT OF THE
LEGISLATIVE APPROVALS AND ACQUISITIONS COMMITTEE
DATE: April 15, 2025 Re: Comm. No. 204/Res.No. 120-25
PLACE: Council Chambers
Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i
TIME: 3:16 p.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawai`i County Council
Hilo, Hawai`i 96720
Your Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions, to which was referred Resolution
No. 120-25, reports as follows:
Resolution No. 120-25,transmitted by Council Chair Dr. Holeka Goro Inaba,via
Communication No. 204, dated March 25, 2025, authorizes the Director of Finance to enter into
negotiations for the acquisition of lands and/or conservation easements for all or a portion of any
property identified in the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation
Commission's 2024 Prioritized List, utilizing the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural
Resources Preservation Funds.
The resolution provides authorization for the Director of Finance and Administration to initiate the
acquisition of any or all of the ten properties identified in the 2024 Annual Report of the Public
Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission(PONC).
Finance Deputy Director Malia Kekai and Corporation Counsel Renee Schoen were in attendance.
Ms. Kekai stated that Finance supports the resolution and that she is available to answer any
process questions.
Committee Member Holeka Inaba gave an overview of the resolution's intent to streamline the
formal process with a one-time Council approval of all properties recommended by PONC's
2024 Prioritized List, instead of the previous style of piece-meal submissions per Council
Member's prerogative. This resolution allows the Finance Director the immediate power to
negotiate the purchases of any and all of the recommendations fromPONC and further approved
by Mayor C. Kimo Alameda. Mr. Inaba apologized to the Council Members who are working on
submissions within their district recommendations and understands that each district takes pride in
introducing said PONC resolutions; however, such an introduction of any PONC resolution does
not guarantee the acquisition of the properties.
Committee members commented with directed inquiries to Deputy Director Kekai, and
Corporation Counsel Schoen.
Extensive discussions took place regarding the urgency for the properties on the list, whether the
blanket process was allowable per the Hawai`i County Code as Council is allowed to select which
properties are to be preserved, Council's learning opportunity by public and land steward weigh-in
for each property, PONC's detailed vetting process with site visits and scoring of each property,
the opportunity for Council to attend the PONC meetings,the redundancy of information with
individual property resolutions, if the prioritized list would remain in the recommended order, if
outside or matching funds could change the priority order for the Department of Finance as a best
LAAC Report No. 12
LAAC-12 Page 2 April 15,2025
use of funds, if coastal lands will continue to be a higher priority than equally critical mauka
watershed properties, whether the property next to Costco in Kona is truly one to be preserved as
its recommendation score by PONC is 51%, the current total of properties in negotiations,the
status of each property recommended, Council's budget knowledge for stewardship funds,whether
a collective map through geographic information system mapping of all PONC purchases and
priorities can be provided for Council review, and the opportunity to amend the resolution to add
certain considerations.
At the vote, Committee Member Matt Kanealii-Kleinfelder voted"kanalua"then"aye."
Your Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions is in accord with the purpose and
intent of Resolution No. 120-25, and recommends its adoption.
dbk
AYES NOES ABS EX Respectfully submitted,
GALIMBA X
HUSTACE X COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE
INABA X APPROVALS AND ACQUISITIONS
KAGIWADA X
KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER X
KIERKIEWICZ X EATHER L. KID)1BALL, CHAIR
KIMBALL X
ONISHI X LAAC REPORT NO.: 12
VILLEGAS X ADOPTED: MAY 0 7 205