HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 333 Draft 02 1996-1998
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RESOLUTION NO.
333u98
(Draft 2)
RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE MAYOR TO SUBMIT. A REVISED PLAN OF
DISPOSITION FOR THE FORMER HAMAKUASUGAR COMPANY, INC. LANDS NOW
UNDER COUNTY OWNERSHIP.
WHEREAS, in 1994, the Council of the County of Hawaii agreed to accept
approximately 4,400 acres ofland by Commissioner's Quitclaim Deed as a settlement for
retroactive real property taxes among Western Farm Credit Bank, the County of Hawaii and
Hamakua Sugar Company, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, the settlement amount and the annual tax revenues lost as a result of the .
private to public ownership conversion have shifted the tax burden to other limds during this
period of public ownership; and
WHEREAS, the Council of the County of Hawaii, pursuant to Resolution No. 196-97,
requested the Mayor develop a disposition plan for the former Hamakua Sugar Company,' Inc.
lands now under County ownership; and
WHEREAS, on May 1, 1998, the Mayor forwarded to the Council Resolution
No. 267-98, which approves a disposition plan that proposes land exchange with private
landowners on a value- for-value basis in order to expand or improve the Hoolulu Park Complex,
Kahaluu Beach Park parking, Honolii Beach Park, Ahalanui Park and other lands as they may
become available or may be necessary; and
WHEREAS, on August 17, 1998, Council Member Dominic Yagong forwarded to the
Council Resolution No. 309-98, which authorizes the leasing of County lands for diversified
agricultural, eco-tourism and pastoral uses by negotiations; and
WHEREAS, on August 27 and 28, 1998, the Council's Finance Committee held public
hearings on Resolution Nos. 267-98 and 309-98 in Captain Cook, Kona and Honokaa,
respectively; and
WHEREAS, written and oral public testimony received by the Finance Committee
supported an array of disposition methods, including sale of the County parcels, lease of County
lands for a variety of purposes, exchange of County parcels for purposes proposed in Resolution
No..267-98, and sub-lease to the State of Hawaii for agricultural purposes; and
WHEREAS, the County Council finds that the 4,400+ acres oflandidentified in
Exhibit A should be invested in ways that would most benefit the overall public good utilizing a
combination of disposition methods; and
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WHEREAS, the County Council acknowledges that there exists a lack of both financial
and personnel resources for implementing and enforcing lease agreements on all 4,400+ acres of
land as proposed by Resolution No. 309-98; .
WHEREAS, the goal of preserving and protecting important agricultural lands is being
accomplished, in part, through the State of Hawaii's agricultural leased lands in the Hamakua
District; and
WHEREAS, the County Council, nevertheless, recognizes that a portion of these lands,
including, but not limited to the lands located at Kukaiau, Paauilo, and Pohakea, should be -
retained under govermi1entownership and control to ensure that certain important agricultural
lands are used primarily for commercial agricultural purposes; and
WHEREAS, the County Council believes that a portion of these lands should be sold [to
the highest bidders] to bring short- and long-term revenues to the County treasury at a time when
the County is anticipating a $10-$14 million shortfall to the next fiscal year's budget; and
WHEREAS, although the Mayor's disposition plan set forth in Resolution 267-98
outlined several worthwhile proposals to expand the County's infrastructure in the area of parks,
water systems and roads, the County Council feels that these projects should be prioritized and
only those of overriding demand and need should be implemented as part of a disposition plan;
and .
WHEREAS, the County Council does not wish for the lands to remain idle, become
overgrown and more susceptible to fire hazards; and
WHEREAS, the County Council encourages diversity in land tenure and, as such,
disposition of the County's 4,400+ acres should reflect such diversity; and
WHEREAS, the County Council realizes that a long-range disposition plan of the entire
4,400+ acres may not be prudent or possible at this time because of external forces beyond the
County's control, thus, acknowledging that a partial disposition plan may be more feasible and
practical.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE ITRESOL VED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF
HAWAII that the Council requests the Mayor to reformulate a partial or total disposition plan of
the former Hamakua Sugar Company lands delineated in Exhibit A in accordance with
Chapter 2, Article 19, Hawaii County Code [, which includes,] . . Said plan to include, but is not
limited to, the following elements:
1. To lease or sub-lease a portion of [these] the important agricultural lands [through
a 'Request for Proposals for Commercial Agricultural Development'] for
diversified agriculture, eco-tourism, and pastoral use.
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2. To exchange a portion of these lands on a value-for-value basis for purposes of
expanding existing County-priority parks, roads, water projects or other
infrastructural systems or facilities.
3. To sell a portion of these lands [to the highest bidder] by using one or more of the
methods contained in Chapter 2, Article .19 of the Hawaii County Code.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the
Honorable Mayor Stephen K. Yamashiro.
Dated at Hilo, Hawaii this
day of
,1998.
INTRODUCED BY:
COUNCIL MEMBER,. COUNTY OF HAWAII
COUNTY COUNCil..
County of Hawaii
Hilo, Hawaii
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by the
vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the
County of Hawaii on
AYES NOES ABS EX
ARAKAKI
CHUNG .
LEITHEAD-TODD
RAY
REYNOLDS
SANTANGELO
SMITH
TYLER
YAGONG
ROLL CALLVOTE
ArrEST:
COUNTY CLERK
Reference C-604. 55/P-Cot1nC'; 1
CHAIRMAN & PRESIDING OFFICER 3 RESOLUTION NO.. 3 33;, 98
(DRAFT 2)