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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 677 Draft 01 2018-2020 '.�JMSY Os Mt " STATE OF HAWAII COUNTY OF I�AWAI`I ;is `�,'�,,- :# , RESOLUTION NO. 677 7 20 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE ACQUISITION OF LAND AND CONSERVATION EASEMENT FOR THE PROPERTY IDENTIFIED AS TAX MAP KEYS (3) 7-9-001; 013; 014; AND 015 IN THE AHUPUA'A OF KAUMOO, DISTRICT OF SOUTH KONA KEAUHOU 1 AND 2, PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE 42, HAWAII COUNTY CODE 1983 (2016. EDITION, AS AMENDED). WHEREAS, Jawmin LLC is the owner of property identified as tax map key: (3) 7-9- 001; 013; 014; and 015. Keauhou 2nd, South Kona, which comprises approximately 2,780 acres, which is located in the Keauhou 1 and Keauhou 2 ahupua.`a in the District of South Kona; and WHEREAS, Chapter 2, Article 42, Hawai'i County Code 1983. (2016 Edition, as amended) provides for a Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund; and WHEREAS, Section 2-215, Hawaii County Code 1983 (2016 Edition, as amended), established the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission; and WHEREAS, Section 2-217, Hawaii County Code 1983 (2016 Edition, as amended), provides, in pertinent part, that the Commission's first duty and responsibility is to develop and submit to the Mayor an initial island-wide prioritized list of qualifying lands worthy of preservation: and for the priorities to be listed on an island-wide rather than district basis; and WIIEREAS, the 2019 Annual Report of the Commission listed the Haloa `Aina Royal Sandalwood Forest and assigned it the second highest priority for acquisition of property listed in the 2019. Annual Report; and WHEREAS, the anticipated use of the Haloa `Aina Royal Sandalwood Forest is to purchase the conservation easement, protect the parcel from being developed from non-forest purposes, to restore the Native Hawaiian dryland forest after 150 years of ranching, and manage a restored Hawaiian sandalwood forest as a sustainable economic opportunity; and. WHEREAS, the property contains rock walls, lava tube shelters, historic ranching shelters, and significant cultural and historical sites, the parcels has native dry forest, which is a priority conservation target for the Department of Land and Natural Resource; and WHEREAS, Hawaiian div forests ate the rarest eco .,-stem type in. Hawaii, with more than 90% of the original area already lost to development, fire, grazing, agriculture and invasive species, these parcels are precious for their rarity, and provides essential habitat for native dry forest birds, the Hawaiian Hawk, Pueo. the Hawaiian Hoary Bat. and insects; and WHEREAS, the project protects watersheds including replenishment of the aquifer used by residents and for agriculture and reducing soil erosion in the waters of Kealakekua Bay; and WHEREAS, this is a special opportunity for acquisition and management as federal funding is secured, and other state, federal. and private requests are pending, the property is available for a conservation easement acquisitiont ith a willing seller; and WHEREAS, in the interest of preserving cultural and natural resources, watersheds, facilitating public access and preserving rare Hawaiian dry forests, and preserving the historical character of the area, the County desires to acquire these parcels including the conservation easement; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that the Director of Finance is authorized to enter into negotiations for the acquisition of land and conservation easements of the Haloa `Aina Royal Sandalwood Forest, described above, pursuant to the terms of this resolution. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director of Finance is authorized to initiate any funding mechanisms required for the acquisition of land and conservation easement relating to Public Access, Open Space, and.Natural Resources Preservation Fund and Commission, and may utilize any other funds from any other sources, private or governmental, as said funding is available. BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this resolution to the Honorable Harry Kim, Mayor, the Director. of Finance, the Director of Parks and Recreation, the Hawaii State Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Hawai`i State Office of Hawaiian Affairs. and the Hawai`i. County Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission. Dated at_ Kona , Hawai`i, this 22nd day of _ July , 20 20 • INTRODUCED BY: C� TCIL EM f�R, COUNTY OF HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL --- �- ---- -___ ROLL CALL VOTE - -_ AYES NOES ABS County of Flawa ` EXi Hilo, Hawai`i [–CHUNG u-�------- I X.-- --- DAVID X I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION wNa��y { lJt)r T the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by thL°C;LN I I_ i;f'the r -- — –---- �-- — :1;vE��'�LI`I-K[.k�,I?�1E,EI_f�FR X County of Hawaii on Jud 22 2020 ____-.-__. __- --- --- –- -- – - KIF.RKIEWICZ X i ATTEST: l~OISDEXTL_, X RICt!AR TiSX ! I ,ECO X ± 9 0 �—0 , 0 C-984/FC-125 rn"114S COUNTY CLERK Reference:'HA ERSOI_ti`&P ESIDING Of AGER RE.SOLITI ION NO. _-_ 677 20