HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0490.005 2004-2006 Scott Susman
74-5070 K;ealapua Street
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740-1526
808-326-7126, 808-937-3503
Susman.kt~na@verizon. net
November 8, 2005
To: Ilawaii County Council Committee on Environmental Management
From: Scott Sus~~~an, Kaloko Coqui Coalition
Subject: Public St~<tement on Communication 49~'> Re: Resolution 190-OS
Support of Coqui Frog Working Group
I was unable to stay to comment on this agenda item tonight after waiting for 3 `/2 hours
beyond the sch;;duled time. I know this is not intentional or unusual. Actually, I
enjoyed observing the co~:~ncil in action during the wait;j~ia the monitor in Kona, a first
for m~e, :end appreciated '~e sincerity anal care each of you exhibited in the various
arguments. There is so much t~; be worked out, and it': pretty tedious. Thanks for what
you do.
My background and interest:
I have been one of the forks "in the trenches" of Coqui frog control efforts for two years
in the native forest of K~':oko ivlauka, on the West side <:<f Hualalai. We have a small
groups of willi~~g particifj<~~xts ~~-ho krLow ,Ye are in for along-term endeavor. Until one
$2500 county grant we r~viceivc;d about two weeks ago, °ve have been fully self-supported.
We apply closed to $1000 svortl~ of eradication products per month these days from
pumping hard:vare that 1>:<~.s be:~n dor~at~d, fabricated, ha~~rowed, or purchased by
comrriu~aity zrcrnbers. s~'e arc aligned ~~~itl-? the Coqui Frog Working Group and have
attended the various mec~ings from its inception.
My comments:
We appreciate Councilrr:::n Pilago involving support for the frog counter-insurgency in
this resolution (urging co~xncil members to encourage volunteerism in their districts).
This is good, It will take comrfunzties, and volunteers to achieve any success. My
personal conce~-~~ is that :`pis very noble, but with negligible real effect, gesture might
relieve some of the "ten:~ion" on the co'ancil to consider some real support in the form of
enabling legisla?:ion to bzz;ak tl~rougl~ tl~:u ambivalence c~~• outright refusal to cooperate by
infested lando«~iaers, nun ~vries, and landscapers who arl the continuous vehicle for new
frog infLstations and re-z~~festations. It's a gaping hole .that should have been the first acid
most obvious element to address in any strategy.
fibs `f
8 I~~~ ffi. ~ V l ~
Our mayor declared a frog emergency, which kind of suggests the county government has
a solid resolve to respond. From my perspective, we now sit in a partial vacuum of
leadership and we're hearing more and more background noise over time from people
spreading disinformation or wanting to protect the frogs. We hear of some intentional
implanting the frogs into wilderness areas. We have this frogs-optional situation on lands
within our subdivisions spreading to neighbors, local stores selling frogs in plants, and
landscapers and nurserymen delivering frogs to unwitting clients. We have no authority
to do anything, and no number to call to get help. This atmosphere isn't conducive to
continued volunteerism and community action. It's going to kill our fight. In my
meetings with scientists and government agencies, there doesn't seem to be any hand-
wringing or hesitation about it. It's something we should be dealing with. There's no
science magic or silver bullet on the horizon, unless we want to import and introduce
snakes and tarantulas. Waiting won't help. I'd like to see or hear a show of more resolve
from the council. Give us a real morale booster or cut us loose.
If you're set on forwarding a resolution, it would be way more useful in this environment
to declare: "We don't want the proliferation of coqui flogs on our island, they're a bad
thing for us, and it's wrong for landowners and plant handlers to continue enabling the
infestation. Get rid of them, or let someone else do it for you. Protect your neighbors
and customers by implementing strict control measures in your areas of responsibility."
Clear the air, break the ambivalence.
l personally think we need one, or some, ordinances to deal with the holdouts. There are
some folks who just arena going to play ball until we provide some real stimulus. It takes
some effort and an investment from them. 1'he Fire Department has successfully used a
section of our County Code over the years, under Article 2, Section 20-21 through 20-24.
to remove the threat of hazards to neighbors of negligent nearby lot owners. It simply
provides a vehicle for neighbors to petition the county to deal with a problem that
threatens their properties. The county (executive), after investigation and confirmation,
mandates the owner to clean up his act, or proceeds to clean it up Cor him and then sends
him the bill! Maui has been considering an ordinance that would work similarly Cor the
coqui frogs. Makes sense to me. Just having the threat of that type of action out there
would change the whole picture dramatically.
Thanks, and best wishes to all of you in your efforts to help us have a good life. I'm
happy to talk more about it any time if it's needed.
Scott Susman
Page 1 of 1
Murashige, Laura
From: David, Maile _
Sent: Wednesday, November 09, 2005 4:01 PM
To: Murashige, Laura
Cc: susman.kona@verizon.net
Subject: FW: Testimony for Comm. 490: (Res. 190-05)
Aloha Laura,
Here's Mr. Busman's testimony I spoke to you about. Mahalo.
Maile
-----Original Message-----
From: SCOTT BUSMAN [mailto:susman.kona@verizon,net]
Sent: Wednesday, November 09, 2005 12:22 PM
To: Mdavid@co.hawaii.hi.us
Cc: Pilago, Angel
Subject: Testimony for Comm. 490: (Res. 190-05)
Maile, thanks for the opportunity. Nice meeting you. Aloha, Scott
1 1 /9/2005