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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0105.001 2016-2018COUNTY CLERK COUNTY OF HAWAII RECEIVED Time T11 a-' BY Date�� Z r— Opposition to Res. 76-17 re. legislation to "revitalize" for Hawai'i County Council, 9 AM Wednesday, February 22, 2417, Kona chambers from Cory Harden, Hilo Please revise this resolution to reflect serious concerns about three of the State bills to supposedly revitalize East Hawai'i. I understand the problem with properties falling into disrepair because land leases may not be renewed, and the Legislature heard lots of support from the business community. But other testimony revealed major concerns: SB 1185/ HB 1469 HD 1: Life of the Land: "The proposed law sounds like a quasi-PLDC [Public Land Development Corporation] land grab." Sierra Club: "...strongly opposes HB1469, which creates a new redevelopment district exempt from all basic land use laws." Common Cause: "...it should be specified that all planning committees are subject to our Sunshine Laws to ensure that the public has every opportunity to participate and voice their opinions on plans and activities which will affect their neighborhoods." HawaiTs Thousand Friends: ° [HB 1469] is not necessary, has limited public involvement and will allow redevelopment plans to supersede existing land use, planning, development and construction laws on public land." League of Women Voters: "...strongly opposes HB 1469 which establishes procedures for designation of public land redevelopment districts and unaccountable "committees" with authority to negotiate non -bid long-term leases to existing lessees, override unspecified public land use "ordinances and rules", earmark use of public lease revenues, and waive public collection of lease revenues within redevelopment districts. We support public planning for redevelopment of public lands and transparent, competitive procedures for award of long-term commercial leases on public lands. We oppose HB 1469 because this bill contains provisions which would encourage existing commercial lessees of public lands to "play politics" to gain special unfair treatment." Kona Kai Surfrider Foundation: "This bill is against the tenets of Smart Growth, would potentially limit the success of community development plans, and further instates top-down, developer -driven land use policy which the residents of West Hawaii have been fighting for decades. The stated goal of having only development and real estate experts on the committee shows how out of touch this legislation is from the public interest including the protection of Public Trust Resources and forward -thinking, sustainable management of public lands." Suzanne Case, chair, DLNR: "The bill creates an additional layer of bureaucracy in government... The bill proposes an unnecessary, bureaucratic addition to the Department's operations... a redevelopment district designated by the Legislature would likely not include important infrastructure components [e.g., roads]... The Department relies on the revenues from leases of public lands to fulfill its fiduciary duties... The authority to construct, improve, renovate and revitalize areas within the counties is already authorized under Section 46-80.5, HRS" Office of Hawaiian Affairs: "By authorizing options for renewal of lease terms for any and all public lands, as well as allowing indefinite extensions of lease terms for certain lands, this bill may invite century -long leases that substantially inhibit the BLNR from exploring future uses of trust lands, that may provide much greater benefits to both Native Hawaiians and the public.... this measure would open up all leases of public lands to lease renewal options, without qualification; it is unclear why such a provision would be helpful, particularly given that HRS § 171-36(b) already authorizes the BLNR to include lease renewal options in limited circumstances" MS IM No. Ref. T®• W V_ RAf. Bate FEB 2 2 M-__. bi ictor, Department Of Budget And Finance: "...it is difficult to determine the number of re revolving funds that will be created and whether the proposed source of revenues will be self-sustaining for each revolving fund. The department has concerns on the general fund revenue impact of the bill since half of the revenue, income, and receipts from public lands in each designated redevelopment district will be diverted away from the Special Land and Development Fund." SB 1184/ HB 1310 HD1 Suzanne Case, chair, DLNR: "The Department is unclear as to the effect of this bill on existing ongoing state and county collaboration on redevelopment for Waiakea Peninsula... The Department relies on the revenues from leases of public lands to fulfill its fiduciary duties... The authority to construct, improve, renovate and revitalize areas within the counties is already authorized under Section 46-80.5, HRS" I Wesley Machida, Director, Department of Budget and Finance: "...It Is difficult to determine if there is a clear nexus between the benefits sought and the users and whether the proposed source of revenues will be self-sustaining... The department has concerns on the general fund revenue impact of the bill since half ofithe revenue, income, and receipts from public lands in the Waiakea Peninsula gill be diverted away from the Special Land and Development Fund. Pursuant to Section 171-19, HIRS, excess moneys,in the Special Land and Development Fund lapse to the credit of the State general fund." SB 1292/ HB 1479 Wesley Machida, Director, Department of Budget and Finance: "it is difficult to determine whether the proposed revolving fund would be self-sustaining" Suzanne Case; chair, DUNK: "respectfully suggests that extensions of existing leases in exchange for: lessees making substantial improvements may be the better way to deal with end of lease issues in Hilo" Fuvd: