HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 060 Draft 01 2006-2008 ~^a
COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII
RESOLUTION NO. 60 '
RESOLUTION TO POSTPONE PENDING PUBLIC AUCTION OF HAMAKUA LANDS IN
PA`AUILO, TAX MAP KEYS (TMKS) (3) 4-3-07:01; 4-3-09:19; 4-3-09:24; 4-3-11:01 AND
4-3-11:02, TO ENABLE THE HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL TO FORMULATE A PLAN
OF LAND DISPOSITION TO HELP ALLEVIATE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS
ON HAWAII ISLAND.
WHEREAS, in 1994, the Council of the County of Hawaii, agreed to accept approximately
4,400 acres of land by Commissioner's Quitclaim Deed as a settlement for retroactive real property
taxes among Western Farm Credit Bank, the County of Hawaii and Hamakua Sugaz Company, Inc.;
and
WHEREAS, on June 19, 2002, the Hawaii County Council approved Resolution No. 209-02
authorizing the sale by negotiation of the former Hamakua Sugaz Company, Inc. lands now under
County ownership in addition to the authorization provided in Resolution No. 161-02 (sale by auction,
land exchange by negotiation, and short-term lease by auction, seal bids or negotiation), which was
approved on January 24, 2002; and
WHEREAS, the Hawaii County Department of Finance contracted PBR Hawaii to prepare
an environmental assessment on the TMKs: (3) 4-3-07:01, 4-3-09:19, 4-3-09:24, 4-3-11:01 and 4-3-
11:02, Pa`auilo, Hamakua, Hawaii encompassing approximately 700 acres for the purpose of selling
said properties; and
WHEREAS, the Final Environmental Assessment states that the Hawaii County Department
of Finance proposes to sell the subject properties at public auction; and
WHEREAS, section 2-112, of the Hawaii County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended)
states, in part, "Unless the council finds substantial reasons to dispose of real property in some other
manner, all disposition of real property shall be made at public auction, after public notice as provided
in section 2-111...:'; and
WHEREAS, the Hawaii County Council finds the current affordable housing crisis to be a
substantial reason to halt the disposition of said properties through public auction as it would eliminate
the opportunity for most Hawaii Island residents, especially first-time buyers, to compete for purchase
of these properties; and
WHEREAS, the escalation of property values has turned the American dream of home
ownership for many Hawaii Island residents into a virtual impossibility; and
WHEREAS, subsection 2-114(a) of the Hawaii County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as
amended) states, "Real property may be sold or leased through negotiation upon finding by the council
that the public interest demands it and upon approval of the minimum conditions and selection criteria
of the council."; and
WHEREAS, Rule 9 of the Rules of Procedure and Organization of the Council of the County
of Hawaii allows the establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee which would then help to formulate a
plan of land disposition that would hopefully meet the affordable housing needs of our community,
said committee would be named the Hamakua Lands Ad Hoc Committee; and
WHEREAS, the Hawaii County Council recognizes that the original intent of a previous
council to sell these lands was to address a $10,000,000 to $14,000,000 budget shortfall, and that the
current administration moved forwazd with the sale to satisfy that directive; and
WHEREAS, today the County of Hawaii enjoys a budget surplus of over $11,000,000, and it
is projected that real property tax revenues will exceed that of the previous fiscal yeaz. This financial
position gives the County a golden opportunity to utilize these public lands not for profit, but to give
hope to people in achieving the American dream of affordable home ownership; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII, that the
pending sale by public auction by the Hawaii County Finance Department on TMK's: (3) 4-3-07:01,
4-3-09:19, 4-3-09:24, 4-3-11:01 and 4-3-11:02, Pa`auilo, Hamakua, Hawaii be postponed until such
time that the Hamakua Lands Ad Hce Committee formulates a plan of land disposition that would help
to meet the affordable housing needs of our Hawaii Island community; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hamakua Lands Ad Hoc Committee shall report its
findings to the Hawaii County Council Finance Committee and submit said report to the Honorable
Mayor Harry Kim and Finance DIrector William Takaba no later than April 17, 2007; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Honorable
Mayor Harry Kim and William Takaba, Director of Finance.
Dated at Hilo , Hawaii, this 9th day of March , 2007.
INTRODUCED BY:
~~G'wk-
COUNCIL MEMBE O 1 OF HAWAII
COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE
<_.'OUTIty Of H3Wa1`1 AYES NOES ABS EX
Hilo, Hawaii FORD X
HIGH X
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by HOFFMANN X
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the IKEDA
County ofHawai`ion March 9. 2007 X
JACOBSON g
NAEOLE X
ATTEST: PILAGO X
YAGONG X
YOSHIMOTO
8 0 1 0
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Reference: ('rnm_ 148 /FC-52
CO~ CLERK CHA N PRESTO OFFI R RESOLUTION NO. 6(1 ~ `