HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0115.037 2008-2010 William P. Kenoi Cp• LL. f William T � Taka a ba
Mawr
• :
_ - -: Walter K.M. Lau
•j':'� - ' +e• : • Deputy Managing Director
County of Hawaii
Office of the Mayor
25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 • Hilo. Hawaii 96720 • (808) 961 -8211 • Fax (808) 961 -6553
KONA 75 -5722 Hanama Place, Suite 102 • Kadua -Kona, Hawah 96740
(808)327 -3602 • Fax(808)326 -5663
January 29, 2010
The Honorable J. Yoshimoto, Chairperson, and ZU �' a DJ
Members of the Hawai`i County Council
25 Aupuni Street, Suite 1402
Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 -4252 yam
i . m
i
Re: 2009 Annual Report to the Mayor n ( f
Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission
Dear Chairperson Yoshimoto and Council Members:
Pursuant to Section 2 -217 of the Hawai`i County Code, the 2009 Annual Report from the
Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission was previously
transmitted to the County Council as required by December 31, 2009. Pursuant to Section 2 -218
of the Hawai'i County Code, I am transmitting herewith my comments and recommendations on
the Commission's 2009 report and updated Prioritized List.
As discussed on page 2 of their report, the Commission decided to refocus their
consideration of properties for the 2009 Prioritized List to those properties that were on the 2009
suggestion forms, previous Prioritized Lists and properties that were subject to County Council
resolutions. The Commission based their ranking upon reported urgency, anticipated use,
significance and benefit to the public and special opportunities available for acquisition and
management.
Summary of Authorized Land Acquisitions
By way of prior resolutions, the County Council has authorized the Finance Director to
enter into negotiations to acquire a number of parcels since the establishment of the Commission.
A list of the prior resolutions approved by the County Council is summarized below:
Reso. No. Property Description
404 -06 Puapua`a, North Kona
451 -06 Kawa and Kawa'a Bay, Ka`u (4 parcels)
427 -06 Waipi'o Lookout Point, Harnakua
169 -07 Punalu'u Beach Park/Adjacent Lands, Ka`u Comm. No. (s- 37
286 -07 Wai'ele, Puna
Ref. To: Ni r- C--
FEB 0 2 Z
Count) f Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer ' dsf. a? ,, . 2(13 ty
Honorable J Yoshimoto, Chair and
Members of the Hawai`i County Council
January 29, 2010
Page 2
Reso. No. Property Description
287 -07 Honolulu Landing, Puna
288 -07 Cape Kumukahi, Puna
615 -08 Pa`o`o, North Kohala
644 -08 Kaiholena, North Kohala
As you are aware, the County has successfully completed two acquisitions listed above
with funds from the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund.
• The first purchase was completed in October 2007 and involved a parcel containing
approximately 1.8 acres at the gateway into Waipi`o Valley also referred to as the
"Rice Property" at a purchase price of $900,000.00.
• The second purchase was completed in January 2008 and involved one of four parcels
authorized by the County Council containing 234 acres at Kawa, Ka`u, Hawai`i for a
purchase price of $1,920,000.00. The County was able to supplement the sale with a
$1,215,750.00 grant from the State of Hawaii, Legacy Land Program.
The Department of Finance has been working on the acquisition of the remaining 3
parcels of land identified by Resolution No. 451 -06 at Kawa, Ka`u, Hawaii. To supplement the
County's purchase, the County was able to obtain commitments from the State of Hawaii,
Legacy Land Program for another $1,500.000.00 grant and the US Fish and Wildlife's Recovery
Land Acquisition Grant Program for another $1,000,000.00.
Although there was an accepted offer, the deadline for the offer has since expired. An
independent appraisal done to meet federal guidelines has resulted in a value lower than that of
the previous offer and the hope is that further negotiations will be able to result in a new
agreement. The County will have probably until the end of the year to finalize a sale without
losing the State and Federal Grants.
Status of Funds — Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund
For the benefit of the County Council, I have attached a summary of the Public Access,
Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund and all monies deposited and disbursed
since its establishment.
Management and Stewardship Concerns
The funding of management and stewardship efforts in connection with acquired
properties remain a significant concern. In its current form, the County Code does not allow any
funds from the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund to be used
for management or stewardship costs. I feel that the Council should consider a change in the
County Code allowing at least a percentage of the fund or purchase price of a property for
management or stewardship costs. Continued acquisition of properties worthy of preservation
without a funding for management and stewardship is irresponsible and will eventually lead to a
degradation of the resources that the program was intended to preserve.
County of Hawai 1 is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
Honorable J Yoshimoto, Chair and
Members of the Hawai`i County Council
January 29, 2010
Page 3
To illustrate the need to address management and stewardship funding. 1 would like to
provide a summary of what has been done in connection with the two properties that have
already been acquired. -
• The County's first acquisition at the gateway to Waipi'o Valley contains an old
residential structure and a number of large trees. Since its acquisition,
Councilmember Dominic Yagong has taken the lead in the formation of a
community group tasked with the development of recommendations on the future
use of the property. Although the community group has not completed their
discussions, they did develop two immediate recommendations on the trimming of
a large tree near the road that posed a danger to the public and the demolition of the
old residential structure due to its deteriorated condition. Although the Department
of Finance was able to address the trimming of the tree, it is uncertain as to whether
there will be available funds for the demolition of the old residential structure.
• The County's second acquisition was a 234 acre shoreline parcel adjacent to
Kawa'a Bay, Kawa, Ka`u, Hawaii. Prior to this purchase, the County acquired
management jurisdiction of approximately 219 acres in the area of the County's
existing Whittington Beach Park at Honu'apo, Ka'u, Hawaii. In the interest of
meeting our stewardship responsibilities to manage, preserve and protect the
resources along this pristine coastline, the Department of Finance was able to use
existing funds to initiate the development of a Management Plan for the area
between Honu'apo and Kawa.
The project area is anchored on one end by the County's acquired Kawa parcel and
the other end by its Honu'apo/Whittington Beach Park. The County has been
fortunate that a very dedicated community group has been actively pursuing
management efforts in the Honu`apo area through the use of volunteers but still
struggle with a lack of resources for major stewardship endeavors.
The cost of the contract for the development of this Management Plan is
$300,000.00 and mandates significant community participation in the process. The
consultant is in the initial stages of collecting available natural and cultural resource
data and should begin community meetings shortly. The hope is that the
community participation will result in another core group of community members
that would be willing to pursue stewardship efforts at Kawa. The availability of a
Management Plan will assist both the Honu`apo and Kawa groups with vital
information for their stewardship.
The foregoing are good examples of the type of initial management and stewardship costs
that could be funded out of the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation
Fund. At the very least, these types of vital front end costs should be allowed from the fund.
These are very different from other types of day to day operational costs that the County will still
have to consider as it acquires additional properties.
County of 1 lawai i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
Honorable J Yoshimoto. Chair and
Members of the Hawai`i County Council
January 29, 2010
Page 4
Recommendations
Finally, as my formal recommendation in connection with what has been submitted by
the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission, I would
recommend that the County Council endorse the list as presented by the Commission. The 2009
Prioritized List is as follows:
Priority
Number Property Tax Map Keys
1. Kawa (3) 9 -5 -16:06 & 25; 9 -5 -17:05
2. Pa'o`o (3) 5 -7 -01:05
3. Lapakahi (3) 5 -7 -01:11
4. Kingman Trust (3) 7 -7- 08:20, 31, 100
5. Kahuku Coastal Property (3) 9 -2 -01:75
6. Kaiholena (3) 5 -8- 01:11, 19 -23
7. Kukuipahu- Ha'ena Corridor (3) 5 -6- 01:13, 18, 65, 89 -103,
105 -112
8. Mahukona (3) 5 -7- 02:11; 5 -7- 03:01 -03, 07, 08,
10 & 18
Since properties on the list have already been authorized by resolution from the County
Council, I would further recommend that the County Council endorse the prioritization as
presented on this 2009 report as superseding the prioritization set by Resolution No. 544 -06
passed in 2006.
Conclusion
This is the fifth annual report from the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources
Preservation Commission. The commissioners have invested much time and effort into
reviewing and considering the various parcels of land recommended by the public and
developing their Priority List. I would like to thank the hard - working members of the Public
Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission for their dedicated work.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Aloha,
4.111.
William P. Kenoi
MAYOR
Attachments
Attachment 1: Summary of the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources
Preservation Fund
Attachment 2: 2009 Annual Report
County of Hawai 1 is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources
Preservation Fund
Accounting Report
(as of January 29, 2010)
Date Description Deposit Expenditure Balance
Jan '06 Transfer from General Fund 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00
Aug '06 Transfer from General Fund 1,000,000.00 2,000,000.00
Sep '06 Interest 23,671.22 2,023,671.22
Apr '07 Interest 54, 334.19 2, 078, 005.41
Apr '07 Real Property Tax Transfer 1,462,051.38 3,540,056.79
Jun '07 Real Property Tax Transfer 57,271.51 3,597,328.30
Jul '07 Interest 34,835.80 3,632,164.10
Oct '07 Waipio Purchase 902,255.43 2,729,908.67
Oct'07 Real Property Tax Transfer 156.23 2,730,064.90
Oct '07 Interest 45,503.99 2,775,568.89
Nov '07 Waipio Escrow Refund 110.00 2,775,678.89
Dec '07 Real Property Tax Transfer 2,378,195.36 5,153,874.25
Jan '08 Kawaa Purchase 1,923,388.26 3,230,485.99
Jan '08 Interest 41,260.42 3,271,746.41
Feb '08 Interest 15,884.30 3,287,630.71
Feb '08 Kawaa Escrow Refund 80.97 3,287,711.68
Jun '08 Real Property Tax Transfer 1,780,905.82 5,068,617.50
Aug '08 Interest 67,373.11 5,135,990.61
Sep '08 Contribution From State for Kawaa 1,214,750.00 6,350,740.61
Dec '08 Interest 42,867.51 6,393,608.12
Dec '08 Real Property Tax Transfer 2,494,896.33 8,888,504.45
Feb '09 Real Property Tax Transfer 6,107.29 8,894,611.74
Mar'09 Interest 2,917.45 8,897,529.19
May '09 Interest 2,601.13 8,900,130.32
Jun '09 Interest 68,217.05 8,968,347.37
Jun '09 Real Property Tax Transfer 2,000,599.35 10,968,946.72
Jul '09 Interest 1,082.72 10,970,029.44
Jul '09 Real Property Tax Transfer 21,677.30 10,991,706.74
Aug '09 Interest 453.84 10,992,160.58
Sept '09 Interest 485.65 10,992,646.23
Oct '09 Interest 1,107.65 10,993,753.88
Nov '09 Interest 280.51 10,994,034.39
Dec '09 Interest 3,306.85 10,997,341.24
Jan '10 Kaiholena North Purchase 6,550,100.82 4,447,240.42