HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0208.110 2004-2006 `tlaWaii Inva~i~~, Sp¢~iQ~ >~l~n~~szm~nfi c~
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DATE: May 18, 2005
TO: Hawaii County Council Members
FROM: Kim Tavares
RE: In FULL SUPPORT of BILL 78, Land Conservation Funding
Is there an urgency associated with passing this bill today?
YES Every delay equals lost opportunities and lands. These lands are not
replenish-able resources, and the development blitz clock is ticking. Once lands get
bought by developers and leveled for private interest, the public loses a great resource,
and the island (County) loses a little more of its ability to sustain its people, while
inheriting more people to provide for.
Is there a need for at ]east a 2% set aside to make it work?
YES Setting aside 2% of the annual bud eg t demonstrates Council
commitment to the people and the land that make up Hawaii County.
I need to hear from this council, today, that it is behind every effort to preserve open
space and undeveloped high elevation forests for the future, and that it believes fully
that the remaining, most valuable natural resources on this island should be set aside for
watershed conservation, sustainable living, and recreation as appropriate to their current
or most destructive past use.
A commitment like this from the Council demonstrates the seriousness of this issue to
the Mayor, who must be convinced by you and me that this can be done. I still have
heard no reason it can't be afforded, and that's great, because there is no good reason to
hesitate on preserving open space and watershed land right now. We should consider
2% inexpensive, do-able and necessary because later 2% will not be enough, and much
of the land that had value will already be gone.
Comm. No. Z~ g• I I 0
Ref. To;~ aL1.ML~
Raf. ltipte M
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I sincerely hope that every decision the Council makes is considered for its effect on the
youth of this County, whether it be Bi1178, the number of police or fire fighters we have
or need, or highway improvements and beautification projects. If the kids don't need it,
then nobody needs it, really. For the elderly? Yes of course. Our youth need their
elders now more than ever. Why not make programs that merge all of these into a
system that works for everyone. Here's an idea, in conservation projects! These little
folks could be the police and the fire fighters that save your home in the next fifteen or
twenty yeazs, or they could be the firebugs that burn it down, burglarizing it first.
Preserving open space for seniors and youth will give them reason to have respect and
good moral values, and people will caze for and benefit by their environment and these
conserved lands, well into the future. There is no doubt in my mind that making the
right choice today is extremely important to the future. It is the right thing to do.
Is this proposed bill 78 affordable?
YES I have full confidence in this Council and the County Finance Dept. to
develop a budget that is complimented by this 2% set aside, and to make sure it works.
I am also willin tg o help make it work. Pass bill 78 today and I will be
happy to meet with you some time soon regarding the budgetary needs of people in
upper Puna. I can assure you, at least for Fern Forest, that the County figures little into
the long range plans there, simply because it has so far shown no interest in any major
improvement projects to date. Most residents will tell you that paved roads and
infrastructure are good, but a throughway to Kea au is not what they had in mind.
Fern Forest has been fortunate to have good Council representation over the years. It
has also been the recipient of funding from council member budgets for a few small
projects. We sincerely appreciate those contributions. We also appreciate when
firefighters and police officers respond in emergencies. Beyond that, the people who
have occupied these forested ag parcels for ever do not depend on the county for much.
It would be great to see more recycling programs, especially for lazge items such as
dead appliances and vehicles.
So YES, I think a $3M (current budget), or 2°/u (annually) from County funds is
an affordable price to pay to insure that the most important resources of this
island are preserved in perpetuity. I hope you wholeheartedly agree.
Sincerely
. _
Kim Tavares
Hawaii Invasive Species Management & Education Corporation
PO Box 338 -Volcano, Hawaii 96785
Ph./Fax: 808-985-8596
kim@hismeaorg