HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 309 Draft 01 1996-1998
OFFICE INFORMATION ONLY
Meeting: Finance Committee
Action: Withdrawn by introducer (Dominic Yagong)
October 23, 2002; see Comm. 788 (2000-2002)
Re: Res. 309-98 (Comm. 604.10) (]996-1948)
COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII
RESOLUTION N0. 3~9 98
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE LEASING OF COUN7 Y LANDS (FORMERLY
OWNED BY HAMAKUA SUGAK COMPANY, INC.) FOR. DIVERSIFIED
AGRICULTURE, ECO-TOURISM, AND PASTORAL USES BY NEGOTIATIONS.
WHEREAS, Chapter 2, Article 19, Section 2-111 e:nd Section 2-114, of the
Hawaii County Code provides that the County Council may, by resolution approved by
the majority if its members, dispose of real property by negotiations upon a finding that
the public interest demands it; and
WHEREAS, in 1994, the Council of the County ct Hawaii agreed to accept
approximately 4,400 acres of land by Commissioner's Quitclaim Deed as settlement for
retroactive real property taxes among Western Farm Credit Bank, the County of Hawaii
and Hamakua Sugar Company, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, on January I5, 1997, Mayor Stephen K Yamashiro approved the
submittal of Resolution No. 29-97, requesting this Council to authorize the Director of
Finance to lease the same 4,400 acres by sealed bids or negotiations for leases up to five
years for agricultural uses other than timber; and
WHEREAS, although the Council filed Resolution Nc. 29-97, this administrative
request illustrates the County's ability to manage the leasing of public lands; and
WHEREAS, in October 1997, the State's Board of I.:~nd and Natural Resources
denied the leasing of state land in Hamakua to Oji Paper Company by a unanimous vote
of 6-0 due, in part, to strong community opposition which consequently voided the
County's plan to lease the 4,400 acres to Oji Paper Company; end
WHEREAS, this administration has further exhibited as ability to lease County
lands by directly negotiating with Oji Paper Company and Fletcher Challenge for
utilizing the same 4,400 acres; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor's plan ofdisposition, now set ic~rth in Resolution No. 267-
98, states that annual tax revenues lost as a result of the private ownership conversion
have shif4ed the tax burden to other lands during this period of public ownership when, in
effect, the approximate total tax revenue generated by the x,400 acres has been only
$10,000.00 annually; and
WHEREAS, in Reso]ution No. 267-98, the Mayor's pi:~n ofdisposition states that
acquisition of private lands will allow the County of Hawaii .o address the need for the
improvement and expansion of various County facilities arr,und the island when, in
effect, we are fiscally incapable of keeping up with the repair, maintenance and
expansion of existing Parks and Recreation facilities; and
WHEREAS, Parks and Recreation's Five Year Plan fbr Repair, Maintenance &
Equipment-Fiscal Years 1997 - 2002 estimates that $4.5 million is needed just for repair,
maintenance and equipment for fiscal years 1999-2002 and millions more will be needed
to comply with ADA requirements at our existing facilities; and
WHEREAS, in Communication No. 604.08, Mayor Yamashiro seeks to assist the
fledgling timber industry in the North Hilo and Hamakua districts when, in fact,
representatives of Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate have stztted that their 24,000 acres
leased to Pru-Timber is sufficient to ensure a successful operation in Hamakua and the
addition of 4,400 acres is non-essential to the progress of its timber operation; and
WHEREAS, Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate purchased approximately
30,000 acres of former Hamakua Sugar land in 1994, and now owns approximately
39,000 acres of land throughout the Hamakua Coast; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor's plan of disposition would simply add to their land
inventory and further Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate's land monopoly in the
Hamakua region; and
WHEREAS, the majority of this Council has expressed strong testimony in
support of the agricultural community as evidenced by the 7-2 vote on the $2 million
appropriation supporting the building of an irradiation facility on the Big Island; and
WHEREAS, agricultural organizations as well as individuals throughout the
island have expressed a sincere desire to have land opportunities on these public lands for
economic purposes and the leasing of these lands would provide amuck-needed
economic stimulus for the Hamakua District; and
WHEREAS, the leasing of said lands to farmers will create revenues for the
County of Hawaii in the form of real property taxes and lease payments; and
WHEREAS, the 4,400 acres of County public lands i:1 1-Iamakua represents the
hope towards recovering from the economic disaster brought upon by the closure of the
Hamakua Sugar Plantation.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY TfIF, COUNCIL OF THE
COUNTY OF HAWAII that, based upon all of the above considerations, the public
interest demands the leasing of 4,400 acres of County land in Hamakua for diversified
agriculture, eco-tourism and pastoral uses to fanners and ranchers.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that it authorizes tha leasing of those County
lands delineated in Exhibit A for diversified agricultural, eco-tourism and pastoral uses
by negotiations, and that a report of disposition be forwarded to the Council upon
completion of the negotiations.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be transmitted to the
Honorable Stephen K. Yamashiro, Mayor of the County of Hawaii and the Director of
Finance.
Dated at Hilo, Hawaii, this day of_ 1998.
INTRODUCED BY:
COUNCIL MEMB U v OF HAWAII
COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE
County of Hawaii AYES NOES ABS EX
Hilo, H3wa11 ARAKAKI _
CHUNG
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by the LEITHEAD-TODD
vote indicated [o the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the RAY
County of Hawaii on REYNOLDS
SANTANGELO
ATTEST: SMITH
TYLER
YAGONG
Reference C-604.10/FC
COUNTY CLERK CHAIRMAN & PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO.
EXHIBIT "A"
Taz Mao revs Deacriation: Acreage:
4-2-05:001 Xoholalsla, Hemakua, Hawaii 1040.000
4-3-07:001 Paauilo to Manienie, Hamakua, Hawaii 57.000
4-3-07t004(POr) Paauilo to Maniania, Hemakus, Hawaii 148.090
4-3-09:002 Paauilo Homesteads, 1st Ssriaa, Hamakua, Hawaii 51.100
4-3-09:019 Paauilo Homesteads, 1st Series, Hamakua, Hawaii 110.900
4-3-09:024 Paauilo Homesteads, let Series, Hamakua, Hawaii 169.500
4-3-11:001 Pohakea 6 Por. tad Series Paauilo Homesteads, Hamakua, Hawail 56.730
4-3-13e002 Pohakea 6 Por. 2nd Series Paauilo Homesteads, Hamakua, Hawaii 306.275
4-3-12:006 Por. Paauilo (3d Series) Homesteads, Hamakus, Hawaii 77.400
4-7-05:001 Por. of Xapuleaa to Hannpei, Hamakua, Hawaii 777.940
4-7-05:002 Por, of Xapulsna to Hanapai, Hamakua, Hawaii 38.570
4-7-05:003 Por, of xapulena to Hanapai, Hamakua, Hawaii 1.430
4-7-06:001 Por, of Hamakua Forest Reserve, Hamakua, Hawaii 214.000
4-7-06:005 Por. of Hamakua Foreat Reaerve, Hamakua, Hawaii 81.400
4-7-06:006 Por. of Hamakua Forest Reserve, Hamakua, Hawaii 167.700
4-7-06:07 Por, of Hamakus Porest Reaerve, Hamakua, Hawaii 61.250
4-7-06:010 Por. of Hamakua Forest Reaerve, Hamakua, Hawaii 164.850
6-7-06:018 Por. of Hamakus Forest Reaerve, Hamakua, Hawaii 227.284
4-7-06:020 Por. of Raauhuhu, Hamakua, Hawaii 5.383
4-8-03:005 Por. of Hamakua Forest Reserve, Hamakua, Hawaii 660.800
TOTAL 4417.596 acres