HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0489.663 2018-2020 r-
Murashige, Laura
From: Sundance Vargas <sundance@greenpointnursery.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2019 3:53 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Testimony for Council bill 101
Attachments: HFNA Hawaii County 1O1.pdf
Please see attached
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„ GROWN WITH ALOHA
Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association
COUNTY COUNCIL
West Hawaii Civic Center
74- 5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Building A
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
November 20, 2019
9: 00 a. m.
Bill 101,"Draft 2: Prohibits the use of certain herbicides on County owned or maintained
parks and alongside County roads, bikeways, sidewalks,trails, drainageways, and
waterways; and creates a transition committee to research and develop alternative
methods of vegetation management.
My name is Eric S. T_anouye and I am the President for the Hawaii Floriculture and
Nursery Association. HFNA is a statewide umbrella organization with approximately
300 members. Our membership is made up with breeders, hybridizers, propagators,
growers, shippers, wholesalers, retailers, educators, and the allied industry, which
supports our efforts in agriculture.
The Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association (HFNA) Opposes County Bill 101.
Why We Oppose:
1. The Floriculture community feels this bill, as written, is extreme and our concern
is that it has to much over reach. This is a ban for Herbicide and if this continues
will be a ban of all chemicals on County Lands,then all chemicals on the Big
Island and then the State of Hawaii. The bills may be pushed by people who are
against all pesticides and chemicals.
2. The question is Why pass bill#101 at this time?Why not wait for a study of the
cost, involved in not using herbicide? Why go forward before a study has been
done and agree to removing a tool that can help keep down the cost to maintain all
county properties and real estate. Doing a study first would be a more prudent
action now and could mitigate an over run budget cost in the near future. It could
cost up to $10 to 14 million dollars annually to use products less expensive.
These costs could force the county to have to cut other possible human services
due to this ban.
3. Industry believes that proper use of herbicides and pesticides, if you follow the
label,will result in safe use and mitigate risks. If you don't follow this rationale,
al-lawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association P.O. Box 5640 0 tub ,'HI 96720 o
141
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GROWN WITH ALOHA a;
Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association
is to say the labels on all pesticides are meaningless and that there is no safe way
to use any chemical.
If you have any questions at this time, I would be happy to discuss them and can be
reached by phone at 808-959-3535 ext 22, cell 960-1433 and email
eric(a_?,greenpointnurserv.com.
Sup orting'Agridulture and Hawaii,
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President
Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association
llawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association o P.O. Box 5640 I-lilo, 111 96720