HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm No 0024.089 - Testimony - CA-9 - staff for PONC fund and Maintenance fund - Copy
THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND’S TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF COMM.
NO. 24.38 TRANSMITTING CA-9, DRAFT 2, FOR FIRST READING;
PROPPOSAL 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 GALIMBA
1003 Bishop St.
HAWAII COUNTY CHARTER COMMISSION
Pauahi Tower, Ste. 740
11:00 A.M., FEBRUARY 8, 2019
Honolulu, HI 96813
25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Hawaii
T: 808.524.8694
Hawaii County Building, Room 1401, Council Chambers
F: 808.524.8565
Aloha Chair Adams and Commission Members:
The Trust for Public Land strongly supports advancing CA-9 through first 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 voters 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