HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-03-27 Letter to Keith-Agaran re HB 606 HD 2 SD 1 - Invasives
Wil Okabe
Managing Director
Harry Kim
Mayor
Barbara J. Kossow
Deputy Managing Director
County of Hawai‘i
Office of the Mayor
25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 (808) 961-8211 Fax (808) 961-6553
KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg C Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740
(808) 323-4444 Fax (808) 323-4440
Dear Chair Keith-Agaran and members:
Re: HB 606, HD2, SD1 Access to deal with invasives
Thank you for this opportunity to testify in support of HB 606, HD2, SD1.
The Council of Mayors has identified invasive species as a top-priority issue that
deserves your attention. Even our best efforts are often inadequate to protect our
islands from harmful pests, and limited resources make it imperative that we work
together in pursuing solutions to what often seem intractable problems.
HB 606, HD2, SD1 would put the counties in a better position to fight against invasives.
As the Mayor of Maui said in a prior hearing, it would give us a much-needed tool to
supplement the ongoing efforts of State agencies and private organizations.
Staff has raised one question—if there is an emergency that warrants access in less
than five days, is there a mechanism to address that? If not, could that issue also be
addressed in HB 606?
Other than possibly also dealing with such an emergency (if the Committee thinks that
is appropriate), we ask that HB 606, HD2, SD1 be approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Harry Kim
Mayor
County of Hawaii
County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.