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<br />THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND’S TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF COMM. <br />NO. 24.38 TRANSMITTING CA-9, DRAFT 2, FOR FIRST READING; <br />PROPPOSAL TO AMEND SECTION 10-15 TO PROVIDE THAT FUNDS FROM <br />THE PUBLIC ACCCESS, OPEN SPACE, AND NATURAL RESOURCES <br />PRESERVATION FUND BE USED TO FUND A STAFF PSOTION DEDICATED <br />TO ADMINISTERING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 10-15 AND SECTION <br />10-16 (PUBLIC ACCESS, OPEN SPACE, AND NATURAL RESOURCES <br />PRESERVATION FUND); AS SUBMITTED BY COMMISSIONER GALIMBA <br />1003 Bishop St. <br />HAWAII COUNTY CHARTER COMMISSION <br />Pauahi Tower, Ste. 740 <br />11:00 A.M., FEBRUARY 8, 2019 <br />Honolulu, HI 96813 <br />25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Hawaii <br />T: 808.524.8694 <br />Hawaii County Building, Room 1401, Council Chambers <br />F: 808.524.8565 <br />Aloha Chair Adams and Commission Members: <br />The Trust for Public Land strongly supports advancing CA-9 through first reading. The <br />Trust for Public Land was originally involved in and supported the creation of the PONC <br />fund through its 501(c)(4) organization, the Conservation Campaign. The Trust for <br />Public Land thanks the staff of the PONC 2% fund and the volunteers who serve on the <br />PONC Commission for their hard work in advancing the wishes of the voters of Hawaii <br />County who voted for the 2% Fund. <br />We support the use of PONC funds to support a full-time staff person under the <br />Department of Finance who will administer the program. That staff person’s duties <br />would include acquiring property, obtaining matching funds, helping the public fill out <br />suggestion forms and stewardship applications, and administering the maintenance fund. <br />Other programs, such as the State Legacy Land Conservation Program, are allowed to use <br />program funds to fund positions supporting the program. A full time program <br />coordinator ensures that the public’s and Council’s conservation priorities are timely and <br />efficiently met. <br />Mahalo for this opportunity to testify. Unfortunately, we will not be able to testify in <br />person due to scheduling conflicts. <br />Lea Hong <br />State Director <br />Edmund C. Olson Trust Fellow <br />