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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0752.000 2008-2010William P. Kenoi mayor March 4, 2010 J Yoshimoto, Council Chair and Members of the Hawai'i County Council Hawaii County Council 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 County of Hawaii PLANNING DEPARTMENT Aupuni Center • 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 • Hilo, Hamill 96720 Phone (808) 961-8288 • Fax (808)961 -8742 Dear Chairman Yoshimoto and Members of the County Council: Hrnra!', r01/120t Is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer BJ Leithead Todd Director Margaret K. Masunaga Depary SUBJECT: Letters from the Puna CDP Action Committee Regarding Funding Support of CDP Action and Steering Committees Retention of Properties in Foreclosure Due to Delinquent Taxes By this letter I am transmitting two letters from the Puna CDP Action Committee (PCDP AC) and my comments on each. The first letter, dated February 12, 2010, is a request to the County Council for drafting of enabling legislation to amend Hawaii Revised Statutes and the County Code as may be needed to allow the county to secure ownership of real estate being auctioned due to non - payment of delinquent property taxes. The PCDP AC further requests that the Council adopt a Resolution urging support by the State Legislature in passing such legislation. I believe that a number of the purposes cited in the Puna CDP are in the public interest and the ability of the county to secure title to tax foreclosure properties could be a valuable tool in implementing fundamental strategies designed to meet the goals and objectives of the PCDP. Therefore, it is my opinion that this request is worthy of serious consideration and discussion by the Council. The second letter, dated February 22, 2010, is requesting that the FY 2010 -11 budget include funding in the amount of $213,000 to support the activities of the currently funded CDP Steering Committees and the Action Committees for the previously adopted CDPs. Due to the current budgetary constraints, I do not recommend approval of this request. Comet No. 1 S Z Ref. To: PC Ref. Dote MAR 10 2010 J Yoshimoto, Council Chair and Members of the Hawai'i County Council Hawai`i County Council Page 2 March 4, 2010 Should you have questions, please feel welcome to contact me or Puna CDP Project Manager, Larry Brown at (808) 961 -8135. Sincerely, BJ LEITHEAD TODD Planning Director LMB:cs P. \wpwin60 \CDP\PUNA CDP\Action Committee \Lettcrs\PD letter xmtng AC letters 3MarlOdoc.doc Enclosures: 2/12/10 letter to Council 2/22/10 Letter to Council 2/22/10 letter to Mayor cc w /encl: Mayor William P. Kenoi Ms. Nancy Crawford, Director of Finance Ms. Amy Self, Deputy Corporation Counsel Kona CDP Action Committee North Kohala CDP Action Committee South Kohala CDP Action Committee Ka'u CDP Steering Committee Hamakua CDP Steering Committee William P. Kenoi Mavor February 12, 2010 County of Hawaii PLANNING DEPARTMENT PUNA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE Aupuni Center • 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Phone (808) 961 -8288 • Fax (808) 961 -8742 J Yoshimoto, Council Chair and Members of the Hawai'i County Council Hawai'i County Council 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 Dear Chairman Yoshimoto and Members of the Hawai'i County Council: Subject: Legislation enabling counties to secure ownership of tax foreclosure real estate BJ Leithead Todd Director Margaret Masunaga Deputy Director The Puna Community Development Plan (PCDP) was adopted by Ordinance No. 08 -116 on September 10, 2008 and included a number of Actions requiring legislation amending either Hawai'i Revised Statutes (HRS) and/or the Hawai'i County Code. One such action is specified in Section 3.2.3.e. of the PCDP relating to the disposition of properties subject to foreclosure due to property tax arrears, to wit: "Seek State legislation to allow the County to hold onto properties that are in foreclosure due to property taxes in arrears rather than immediately auctioning them to the highest bidder in order to: - Discourage speculative re -sale and /or building; - Allow the use of these properties in land pooling projects in nonconforming (a) subdivision that would create larger lots committed to agricultural use; - Protect unknown natural and cultural sites or features; - For educational programs for agriculture, forestry and natural resources management; and - For use in community land trusts and land exchanges." By this letter the PCDP Action Committee, as approved by unanimous vote at its January 21, 2010 meeting, respectfully requests that the Hawai'i County Council draft appropriate legislation to amend Hawai'i Revised Statutes and the Hawai'i County Code as necessary to make it possible for the County of Hawai'i to retain lots that are in foreclosure for delinquent real property tax payments rather than having them auctioned for sale to the highest bidder. These retained properties can then be used for relocation purposes when other properties are acquired for future rights -of -way, public facilities or land assembly related to village center development as well as the purposes cited above. The PCDP Hawaii County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Action Committee further requests that the Hawai'i County Council adopt a resolution urging support by the State Legislature in passing such or similar legislation. Please feel free to contact me by phone or email at 937 -2573 or bbellster(agmail.com, or Puna CDP Project Manager, Larry Brown at 961 -8135 or lbrown(aco.hawaii.hi.us with any questions or any assistance that the Action Committee might provide Council staff in drafting appropriate legislation. Sincerely, A thi004. 4 , 4 0a_ Barbara Bell, Chair Puna CDP Action Committee Cc: William P. Kenoi, Mayor Bobby Jean Leithead Todd, Planning Director Amy Self, Deputy Corporation Counsel William P. Kenoi Mayor February 22, 2010 County of Hawaii PLANNING DEPARTMENT PUNA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE Aupuni Center • 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Phone (808) 961 -8288 • Fax (808) 961 -8742 J Yoshimoto, Council Chair and District 3 Member Emily Naeole- Beason, Council Vice -Chair & District 5 Member Guy Enriques, District 6 Member Hawai'i County Council 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 Dear Chairman Yoshimoto, Vice -Chair Naeole- Beason and Member Enriques: Subject: Funding in support of CDP Action Committees Hawai `i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer BJ Leithead Todd Director Margaret Masunaga Deputy Director Pursuant to Chapter 15.1 of the General Plan, each community development plan shall have a steering committee and Chapter 16 -4(a), HCC, a community development plan action committee shall succeed each CDP steering committee upon adoption of a community development plan. These provisions of the General Plan and County Code clearly recognize that without meaningful community participation in both the plan development and implementation phases it is much less likely planning documents representative of community values and vision followed by effective implementation activities will be realized. Given the limited staffing resources available in the Planning Department to support Steering and Action Committee activities, minimal part time staff support has been provided by contracting with qualified community members as Community Planning Assistants (CPA) and Recorders. These contracted positions have operated under the direct supervision of Planning Department CDP Project Managers providing the minimal additional support necessary for these volunteer community based committees to function effectively as proactive stewards of their respective plans. Therefore, by this letter the PCDP Action Committee, as approved by unanimous vote at its January 21, 2010 meeting, respectfully requests that the Hawai'i County Council ensure that the FY 2010 -2011 Budget for the County of Hawai'i include funding in the Planning Department budget in support of all CDP Steering Committees and Action Committees. The Puna CDP Action Committee recommends total funding in the amount of $213,000 as shown in the attached Community Development Plan Proposed Budget for FY 2010 -11, which is based on amounts provided for current or past CPA and Recorder contracts and minimal funds for supplies and miscellaneous expenses. Please feel free to contact me by phone or email at 937 -2573 or bbellster@u,gmail.com, or Puna CDP Project Manager, Larry Brown at 961 -8135 or lbrownAco.hawaii.hi.us with any questions you may have. Sincerely, Barbara Bell, Chair Puna CDP Action Committee Cc: William P. Kenoi, Mayor Bobby Jean Leithead Todd, Planning Director Amy Self, Deputy Corporation Counsel Kona CDP Action Committee North Kohala CDP Action Committee South Kohala CDP Action Committee Ka'u CDP Steering Committee Hamakua CDP Steering Committee PUNA CDP (IMPLEMENTATION) Recorder 9,000.00 Community Planning Assistant 25,000.00 Supplies & misc. expenses 1,500.00 SUBTOTAL $35,500.00 KONA CDP (IMPLEMENTATION) Recorder 9,000.00 Community Planning Assistant 25,000.00 Supplies & misc. expenses 1,500.00 SUBTOTAL $35,500.00 NORTH KOHALA CDP (IMPLEMENTATION) Recorder 9,000.00 Community Planning Assistant 25,000.00 Supplies & misc. expenses 1,500.00 SUBTOTAL $35,500.00 1 SOUTH KOHALA CDP (IMPLEMENTATION) Recorder 9,000.00 Community Planning Assistant 25,000.00 Supplies & misc. expenses 1,500.00 SUBTOTAL $35,500.00 1 KA'U CDP PLANNING (PLANNING & IMPLEMENTATION) Recorder 9,000.00 25,000.00 Community Planning Assistant Supplies & misc. expenses 1,500.00 SUBTOTAL $35,500.00 HAMAKUA CDP PLANNING (PLANNING & IMPLEMENTATION) Recorder 9,000.00 Community Planning Assistant 25,000.00 Supplies & misc. expenses 1,500.00 SUBTOTAL $35,500.00 TOTAL PROPOSED BUDGET $213,000.00 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN PROPOSED BUDGET FY 2010 -11