HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm No 0003.01.19 - Testimony - Ad Hoc - PONC fund and Maintenance fundNovember 9, 2018
0OUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF HAWAII
1018 NOV -9 PI1 1 08
Aloha kakou,
My name is Deborah Ward. I am chair of Sierra Club Moku Loa Group, and 1 have
worked with the 2% Land Fund and collected signatures in 2006 and helped to pass it at the
polls.
When Mayor Billy Kenol suspended deposits to the fund in December when he took office we
realized we needed a charter amendment that could only be undone by a vote of the people.
In 2010 we lobbied the Charter commission to put it on the ballot at 2% but they only put it on
at 1 %. We got that approved with 63% of voters. We lobbied the County Council to return it to
the ballot in 2012 and once again 63% of voters approved the ballot measure. 1 ask you to
honor all of the hard work that we have all put in for the last 13 years and more.
During the last six years Sierra Club worked with the Ka'u community and fishermen to acquire
the Kahuku property commonly known as Road to the Sea. We have motivated community
members eager to utilize the Maintenance Fund to protect, educate and preserve these
important lands. It is a slow process, and without the funds from the county we could never
have aligned with USFWS and Legacy Lands to make the purchase possible.
• Why am 1 here today?
• WE ASK you to strengthen the 2% Land fund.
• Don't reduce the amount and don't put a cap!
• Strengthen it by adding Hawaii County Senior staff that would concentrate on the
administration of the 2% Land fund and the 14% Administration found and actually get
the money spent. The salary could be paid out of the 2% Land Fund,
• This is would create an alt win situation: Only 14 of the 180 proposed lands have been
acquired. With dedicated staff, more of these lands could be acquired.
• Pay Finance staff with the Fund! This would actually reduce the County salaried
employees in the Department of Finance
Already the National Park Service Ala Kahakai Historic Trail is helping to manage these
lands. A 175 long Ala Kahakai Trail would attract eco -tourists which are Tight on the land
for multiple trips to hike this coastal island trail,
Communities are built around these acquisitions, Open Space and parklands preserves the
beauty of our island and supports tourism. Communities come together around our treasured
lands. If we had paid staff concentrating on the 2% Land Fund and the 1/2% Maintenance
Fund: More of the Maintenance funds could be placed in the hands of non-profit organizations
who are the proposers of these properties and the stewards in their communities.
Please we ask you, listen to what 63% of voters have said 3 times -- support the Land Fund,
preserve our treasured lands that make Hawaii County one of the most beautiful places in the
world.
Comm. No. 3.1.19