HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0327.016 2010-2012Murashige, Laura
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Wcon4 pi. 327 PICamen
Deborah Ward [dward @hawaii.edu]
Tuesday, September 20, 2011 7:35 AM
bsmart@co.hawaii.hi.us; dikeda @co.hawaii.hi.us; donishi @co.hawaii.hi.us;
fblas @co.hawaii.hi.us; jyoshimoto @co.hawaii.hi.us; wkenoi @co.hawaii.hi.us;
bford @co.hawaii.hi.us; dyagong @co.hawaii.hi.us; phoffmann @co.hawaii.hi.us;
apilago @co.hawaii.hi.us; counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: SUPPORT 2% Land Fund Charter Amendment
Attachments: 2% fund.docx
Aloha,
Please support the 2% Land Fund Charter amendment. Your constituents and your children will thank
you!
Mahalo,
Deborah Ward
Moku Loa Group, Sierra Club
9/20/2011
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September 20, 2011
County Council Chair and Members
Re: SUPPORT Bill 87
Charter Amendment on the 2012 ballot for 2% of real property taxes for open space
Aloha, Chair and Council members,
I strongly support Bill 87,to put a County Charter amendment before voters in 2012. The voters spoke
loud and clear in the last election, and we come to you to ask that you respect the will of the people.
Additionally I request that the council increase funding from 1% (2 million) to 2% (4 million) of our
property taxes, to the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund to obtain
dollar for dollar matching funds.
I agree with Pete Hoffman that funds are needed for maintenance. However, I would request that
maintenance funds be set aside in a separate fund, perhaps by a similar charter amendment.
Last month I attended the celebration of the acquisition of Kaiholena North (Kohala), an expenditure of
$6.55 million with no matching funds, and Pao'o (Kohala) $945,000.00 with $945,000 from NOAA.
These precious pieces of South Kohala coast line, full of archaeogical sites and cultural resources, will
allow public access in perpetuity. A broad spectrum of the community was represented, including
Senator Inouye, Mayor Kenoi, Councilman Hoffman, and many more. This acquisition would not have
been possible without the fund, and the opportunity might have been lost forever. County purchase of
Waipio Lookout has made this important visitor destination a safer and more pleasant experience.
The funding set aside by the 2% provision was able to attract matching funds "acquire lands access to
beaches and mountain, preservation of historic or culturally important land areas and sites, protection
of natural resources, significant habitat or eco- systems, protection of watershed lands."
In 2010, voters supported putting the land fund into the County Charter - -which can only be changed by
citizens, not the mayor or council. But funding was only 1 % -- not enough to save significant amounts of
land and attract sufficient matching funds. So we're going for 2 %.
Council members Fred Blas, Brenda Ford, Pete Hoffmann, Brittany Smart, and Dominic Yagong signed a
pledge to honor citizens who voted for the 2% fund. Angel Pilago also expressed support. I call on all of
you to support the Bill in recognition of the will of 57% of the voters who supported the 2% initiative.
Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely,
Deborah Ward,
P.O.Box 918, Kurtistown HI 96760 dward @hawaii.edu 808 - 966 -7361