HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-03-13 Letter to Chair Creagan re SB 2168, SD 1 Relating to Important Agriculture LandsHarry Kim
Aia.vor
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Offirr
Wil Okabe
Alanaging Director
Barbara J. Kossow
Deputy Alanaging Director
25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • (808) 961-8211 • Fax (808) 961-6553
KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg C • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
(808) 323-4444 • Fax (808) 323-4440
March 13, 2018
Representative Richard P. Creaga Chair
Committee on Agriculture
Hawaii State Capitol, Room 312
Honolulu, HI 96813
Dear Chair Creagan a d Committee Members:
Re: SB 2168, SD 1 Relating to Important Agriculture Lands
Hearing Date 03-21-18 — 8:30 am; House Conference Room 312
Thank you for this opportunity to cornment on SB 2168, SD 1, dealing with
Important Agricultural Lands.
The County of Hawaii's General Plan and various Community Development
Plans have goals, objectives, and policies consistent with preserving viable and
productive agricultural land for farming and ranching. This County supports the intent of
IAL, and any funding assistance from the state is welcomed, but offer some concerns
and suggested amendments to SB 2168, SD 1.
Simply put, there are a number of issues that will not be resolved by this bill
unless the fu ding level is adequate:
• The County of Hawaii has more than 1.2 million acres designated as state
land use (SLU) agricultural, far more than any other county (followed by Maui
having just over 400,000 acres on its three islands).
• With other critical priorities in play, this County does not foresee having the
staff, funds, or capacity in the co ing years to initiate the IAL study and
extensive landowner and public outreach required by Act 183 (2005), especially
given the size of our island.
• Pursuant to HRS 205-45, landowners can, at any time in the process, file a
petition and lock out the county proceedings, thereby rendering moot any
analysis, time, and expense already incurred by the counties.
• During Hawaii County's last General Plan review in 2005, we took
information from a study being done by USGS, which was an initial effort in the
County of Elawai`i, i an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer,
March 13, 2018
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direction of identifying IAL, but it did not include the level of research required for
true IAL based on Act 183 and was not i tended to substantiate going public with
a petition to the LUC.
In consideration of the above, we request amendments to SB 2168, SD 1:
1. The preamble of SB 2168, SD 1 talks about identifying IAL "within sixty
months of receipt of state funds." The sixty month timeframe was called
for in Act 183 but we would ask that it be deleted. If it must remain, the
dock should be triggered by petition of a county to the state to accept the
funds, which must be approved by the appropriate County Council.
2. While any state contribution to the IAL effort is always welcomed, the
amount of money proposed in the original SB 2168, and companion bill
HB 1785, would be only a fraction of what is needed statewide. In
consideration of what the other counties have spent on their IAL efforts,
we respectfully request that the total sum in this bill be at least $2 million.
3. The cost of a study is tied most closely to the amount of land studied
and the number of parcels/landowners that will require review,
consultation and coordination. We therefore request that you consider
dividing whatever funds are appropriated based on a percentage of state
land use agricultural lands in each county, rather than dividing the money
equally.
We would add that we support the Senate's decision to expand the use of
appropriated funds to reimburse the other counties for IAL efforts they have concluded
or currently have in process.
Res.ectfully sub
1-1'arry Kim
Mayor, County of Hawaii
1
ed,
County of Fiawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer