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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0150.025 2012-2014 testimony for public hearing on County budget 5 PM Tuesday. April 16, West Hawai'i Civic Center by Cory Harden. PO Box 10265, Hilo, Occupied Hawai'i 96721 808-968-8965 mhinterpac.net Please support public access to Papa'ikou Mill Beach by funding an appraisal as a first step towards County purchase of a pedestrian easement. The appraisal should not be costly. Higher costs may come later,to settle the access issue in court. But the landowners recently said a local management group is forming and arrangements are being made for fishers to go to the beach after dark, so perhaps access is becoming less contentious. In any case, I hope we will carry through on the County's precedent-setting decision to use eminent domain to ensure public access to the shoreline. Counties should provide for public routes to the shoreline, per State law. Over 5.000 residents signed a petition supporting access at Papa'ikou. Hundreds of attendees and scores of testifiers, from diverse cultural groups and diverse walks of life, supported access at meeting after meeting. In a stretch of shoreline three and a half miles long. this trail would be the only officially recognized public access. In fifty miles of Hamakua coast, this beach is one of only four major sand/pebble beaches. As you know, there have been years of conflict over the trail. Some days the landowners lock the gate, then have people arrested if they hop over. The gate is locked at the best times for subsistence fishing and some traditional practices. Strollers, bicycles, skateboards. and coolers are prohibited. The landowners do deserve credit for replacing a hazardous trail to the beach with a safe one and opening it to the public most days. They try to keep the beach safe and clean, and try to keep the road passable for emergency vehicles. They offered to demolish the dangerous old mill and clean up hazards. Several years ago, they offered to do mediation, and considered letting the County take over Mill Road. But the beach is an enormous kuleana. So access is best managed, not by one or two individuals, but by representatives who answer to all the people. Please support the appraisal, and support this historic precedent for shoreline access. • • Comm:To: f�'1 iP7c�council— Ref.lief. Dote APR 16 2013 TRANSMISSION VERIFICATION REPORT TIME : 04/16/2013 16:55 NAME : COUNTY CLERK /� 11(• SC��'7T FAX : 808-961-8912 TEL : 808-961-8255 Adtr1 SERA : BROE3J414915 DATE,TIME 04/16 16: 54 FAX NO./NAME 93294786 DURATION 00:00:52 PAGE(S) 01 RESULT OK MODE STANDARD ECM testimony for public hearing on County budget 5 PM Tuesday, April 16,West Hawaii Civic Center by Cory Harden, PO Box 10265, Hilo, Occupied Hawaii 96721 808-968-8965 mh @interpac,ne'l. Please support public access to Papa'ikou Mill Beach by funding an appraisal as a first step towards County purchase of a pedestrian easement. The appraisal should not be costly. Higher costs may come later,to settle the access issue in court. But the landowners recently said a local management group is forming and arrangements are being made for fishers to go to the beach after dark, so perhaps access is becoming less contentious. In any case, 1 hope we will carry through on the County's precedent-setting decision to use eminent domain to ensure public access to the shoreline. Counties should provide for public routes lo the shoreline, per State law. Over 5,000 residents signed a petition supporting access at Papa'ikou. Hundreds of attendees and scores of testifiers, from diverse cultural groups and diverse walks of life, supported access at meeting after meeting. In a stretch of shoreline three and a half miles long,this trail would be the only officially recognized public access. In fifty miles of Hamakua coast, this beach is one of only four major sandlpebble beaches. As you know,there have been years of conflict over the trail. Some days the landowners lock the gate, then have people arrested if they hop over.The gate is locked at the best times for subsistence fishing and some traditional practices_ Strollers, bicycles, skateboards, and coolers are prohibited. The landowners do deserve credit for replacing a hazardous trail to the beach with a safe one and opening it to the public most days. They try to keep the beach safe and clean, and try to keep the road passable for emergency vehicles. They offered to demolish the dangerous old mill and clean up hazards. Several years ago, they offered to do mediation, and considered letting the County take over.Mill Road. But the beach is an enormous kuleana. So access is best managed, not by one or two individuals, but by representatives who answer to all the people_ Please support the appraisal. and support this historic precedent for shoreline access.