HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP FC 025 2015/05/15 (2014-2016) REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
DATE: September 16, 2015 Re: Comm.No. 455/Bill No. 90
PLACE: Council Chambers
Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i
TIME: 2:30 p.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawai`i County Council
Hilo, Hawai`i 96720
Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Bill No. 90, reports as follows:
Bill No. 90,transmitted by Council Member Karen Eoff, via Communication No. 455 dated
August 26, 2015, amends Chapter 2, Article 42 of the Hawai`i County Code 1983 (2005 edition,
as amended), relating to Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation.
This measure adds language to facilitate the administration of the Public Access, Open Space, and
Natural Resources Preservation Maintenance Fund and to enable the Public Access, Open Space,
and Natural Resources Commission to review and evaluate stewardship grant applications
associated with this fund.
Chair Karen Eoff explained that the main purpose of this bill is to add language into the code to
facilitate the administration of the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation
Maintenance Fund so that it conforms to the Charter, which established the fund. She also stated
there are no changes to the parameters of either the two percent fund or the maintenance fund, and
that this bill was vetted with the Departments of Parks and Recreation, and Finance, and the Public
Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Commission(PONC). Ms. Eoff further explained that
duties are given to PONC to review stewardship grant applications and grant recipient reports, as
well as perform interviews, site visits, and other duties necessary.
Ms. Eoff introduced an amendment to this bill via Communication 455.1, and explained that these
changes were suggested by commissioners during a recent PONC meeting. The motion to amend
was unanimously carried.
Council Member Maile David commented that this will now be a meaningful and complete
ordinance with the oversight of the nonprofits into the appropriate department, which the original
ordinance did not provide.
Council Member Dennis Onishi shared his concerns regarding the monitoring of reports, and
Council Member Greggor Ilagan shared his concerns as to whether staffing could be allowed from
the maintenance fund.
Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation Ken Van Bergen stated that Parks and Recreation will be
monitoring the grants, and stated that this ordinance is a positive move.
FC Report No. 35
FC-35 Page 2 September 16, 2015
Finance Director Deanna Sako clarified that the Department of Finance makes sure that all deposits
go into the fund, financial statements are posted on the PONC website, and that the expenditures are
handled by Parks and Recreation. She further stated that she will be working together with Parks
and Recreation to make sure that they have adequate staffing.
The vote to approve Bill No. 90, as amended with the contents of 455.1, was then carried.
Your Committee on Finance is in accord with the purpose and intent of Bill No. 90, as amended to
Draft 2, and recommends its passage on first reading.
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AYES NOES ABS EX Respectfully submitted,
CHUNG X
DAVID x COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
EOFF X
ILAGAN X
KANUHA X
ONISHI X C G''-`` /Li C J+�,f'
PALEKA x KAREN EOFF, CH
A`'IR
POINDEXTER X FC REPORT NO.: 35
WILLS X
ADOPTED: OC I 0 7 Z015