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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1013.006 2004-2006 e.rn^`.. 4` 0I ry. F^e 4~ ,ase i LINDA LINGLE SANDRA LEE KUNIMOTO Governor 1 Chairperson, Board of Agriculture p+ DUANE K. OKAMOTO Deputy to the Chairperson State of Hawaii DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 1428,,,South King Street Honolulu, Hawaii 96814-2512 7 r- c- TESTIMONY OF SANDRA LEE KUNIMOTO G-' CHAIRPERSON, BOARD OF AGRICULTURE BEFORE THE HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AUGUST 22, 2006 RESOLUTION NO. 425-06 ' RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE RECEIPT AND EXPENDITURE OF STATE FUNDING APPROPRIATED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE PURSUANT TO ACT 160, SESSION LAWS OF HAWAII 2006, FOR THE COQUI FROG ERADICATION AND CONTROL EFFORTS BY THE COUNTY OF HAWAII Chairperson Isbell and Members of the Committee: Thank you for the opportunity to testify on County of Hawaii Resolution No. 425-06. This resolution authorizes the receipt and expenditure of funds for coqui frog control and eradication efforts by the County of Hawaii, pursuant to Act 160, Session Laws of Hawaii 2006. The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) supports this resolution. HDOA has been a member of the Coqui Frog Working Group since its inception in June 2002 and has been working closely and in partnership with other State, County, and Federal agencies, private businesses, and the general public to address the problem of the coqui frog. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the County of Hawaii for their past support and funding of the Coqui Frog Working Group to establish eradication and control efforts, short and long term research, and community awareness and educational programs through out the island. HDOA participated in the District Meetings held by Big Island State Legislators in 2005. Concerns brought up at these meetings by the various communities addressed the coqui frog's impact on the environment, the island economy, and basic quality of life. State Legislators recognized the need for continued support and dedicated funding to assist multi agency and community collaborative efforts in dealing with the coqui frog problem on the Big Island. These funds were appropriated by the legislature this past session for the County of Hawaii to address this issue. We support the use of these funds by the County for control and eradication efforts against the coqui frog. Thank you for considering our support of Resolution No. 425-06. Comm. No. 1613. Ref. To: Ref. Date AUG 2 2 2M