HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm No 0024.109 - Testimony - CA-9 - staff for PONC fund and Maintenance fund
THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND’S TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF COMM.
NO. 24.104 TRANSMITTING CA-9, DRAFT 3, FOR SECOND AND FINAL
READING; PROPOSAL TO AMEND SECTION 10-15 TO PROVIDE THAT
FUNDS FROM THE PUBLIC ACCCESS, OPEN SPACE, AND NATURAL
RESOURCES PRESERVATION FUND BE USED TO FUND A STAFF PSOTION
DEDICATED TO ADMINISTERING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 10-15
AND SECTION 10-16 (PUBLIC ACCESS, OPEN SPACE, AND NATURAL
RESOURCES PRESERVATION FUND); AS SUBMITTED BY COMMISSIONER
1003 Bishop St.
GALIMBA AND AMENDED BY COMISSIONER HOPKINS
Pauahi Tower, Ste. 740
HAWAII COUNTY CHARTER COMMISSION
Honolulu, HI 96813
9:30 A.M., JUNE 7, 2019
T: 808.524.8694
25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Hawaii
F: 808.524.8565
Hawaii County Building, Room 1401, Council Chambers
Aloha Chair Adams and Commission Members:
The Trust for Public Land strongly supports advancing CA-9, Draft 3 through second and
final reading. The Trust for Public Land was originally involved in and supported the
creation of the PONC fund through its 501(c)(4) organization, the Conservation
Campaign. The Trust for Public Land thanks the staff of the PONC 2% fund and the
volunteers who serve on the PONC Commission for their hard work in advancing the
wishes of the residents of Hawaii County who voted for the 2% Fund.
We support the use of PONC funds to support a full-time staff person under the
Department of Finance who will administer the program. That staff person’s duties
would include acquiring property, obtaining matching funds, helping the public fill out
suggestion forms and stewardship applications, and administering the maintenance fund.
Other programs, such as the State Legacy Land Conservation Program, are allowed to use
program funds to fund positions supporting the program. A full time program
coordinator ensures that the public’s and Council’s conservation priorities are timely and
efficiently met.
Mahalo for this opportunity to testify. Unfortunately, we will not be able to testify in
person due to scheduling conflicts.
Lea Hong
State Director
Edmund C. Olson Trust Fellow