HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0193.037 2008-2010
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Murashige, Laura T
From: Amy Cody-Quinn [amy.quinn@seismic-search.com] 2009 FIRR 25 P(! 2 04
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 12:30 PM
To: dikeda@co.hawaii.hi.us; donishi@co.hawaii.hi.us; enaeole@co.hawaiitp us; h
jyoshimoto@co.hawaii.hi.us; cohmayor@co.hawaii.hi.us; counciltestimo yg'lcd.hawau.hi:iJs; r
genriques@co.hawaii.hi.us; bford@co.hawaii.hi.us; kgreenwell@co.hawaii.hi.us;
phoffmann@co.hawaii.hi.us; dyagong@co.hawaii.hi.us; ncrawford@co.hawaii.hi.us
Aloha Council members and Mayor Kenoi-
The lack of progress in open space acquisition and faux-transparency in the county's negotiations has
been a constant source of frustration to the 57% of voters who voted to save the Big Island's
treasured places before they are lost forever.
There should be no confusion about why there is $8.8 million in the 2% fund: The County has not
been actively negotiating on parcels that are for sale and has been stockpiling the funds.
Only two parcels have been purchased in the last 2.5 years: Waipio Look out in Yagong's district
and part of Kawa Bay in Ka'u, which is in Enriques' district. An additional parcel of land at Kawa
Bay in Ka'u, owned by Olsen, was under contract but the county let the appraisal expire-
previously, that purchase would have cost the county approximately $5 million.
One of the advantages of having a sure funding source like the 2% fund is that matching funds are
often obtainable. One "shame" of the county dragging their feet on the Olsen purchase is the $1.5
million in matching funds were available from the US Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the
Hawksbill turtle and an additional $1.5 million from the State Legacy lands Fund -this fund is now
being proposed for suspension for 4 years- so by bureaucracy and dragging of feet, the counsel has
lost 1.5 million dollars in funding for Hawai'i and done a disservice to your constituents
There are at least 4 parcels for sale right now, 3 of which were approved by the Council (by
resolution which directs the Director of Finance to begin negotiations for acquisition) and were in
the top 5 picks of the Mayor for several years. ALL 4 properties have significant cultural sites.
I do not have a background in real estate, or in county government but I would gladly volunteer to assist
the county in identifying and negotiating for lands and acquiring properties for Open Space and to
increase our parks systems. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that this economic downturn
represents a golden opportunity for the County to acquire land NOW and stop playing the idea of
stealing the money that was earmarked for those purchases.
The budget can be cut in multiple ways without touching the 2% fund. A few suggestions:
Stop buying and spraying herbicide along the roadways and switch to saltwater, which is free,
non-polluting and just as deadly to
plants.
Utilize Skype (or any other free software) for meetings and conference calls rather than paying
telecom conference charges or
driving around the island
Switch from Microsoft based software to OpenSource.org, which is a free software that supports
all Microsoft applications but
has no licensing charges, is not as easily `hackable' and unlike Microsoft Office products, is
relatively virus free
Go to paperless billing for real property, vehicle and other taxes wherever possible.
Please, honor the wishes of the majority of the residents of our island, (that would be the same folks who
Comm No. 1
Ref. To: FC.
3/25/2009 Ref. Dote R 2 5 2909
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elected you) and uphold the 2 percent land use fund to preserve the sacred and profound beauty of
Hawai'i.
Thank you
Amy Cody-Quinn
Registered Voter
PO Box 261
Pa'auilo, HI 96776
3/25/2009