HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm No 0024.101 - Testimony - CA-9 - staff for PONC fund and Maintenance fundFrom: Debbie H <hecht.deb@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 16, 2019 7:11 AM
To: Charter Commission
Subject: Please place CA -9 on the agenda for the April 25th meeting
Aloha Chair Adams and Vice Chair Jennifer Zelko-Schlueter,
Our core group is made up of people from the County Council, League of Women Voters, Sierra Club, Conservation
Groups, the non-profit stewardship groups, the Trust for Public Lands, land use attorneys and our original Save Our
Lands Citizens Committee members from 2006.
We have discussed at length the existing CA -9 and we cannot support it at this time. The language is ambiguous and
could open the door to the 2% Land Fund paying multiple salaries for staff. Our concern is that this amendment as
presently written, could diminish the purchasing power of the 2% Land Fund which was what was originally
intended. We proposed this compromise, because we believe that the money is not being spent to obtain lands because
of lack of dedicated full time staff to accomplish the tasks necessary to acquire the lands proposed by the public.
We have proposed the following compromise language to strengthen the Land Fund. I believe this was submitted by
Commissioner Hopkins.
"Pay for the salary, wages and benefits of one full-time staff member, employed by the
Department of Finance dedicated only to advancing administering the activities
contained within this section and Section 10-16 of this charter. This is in addition to a staff
person provided in Section 2-215 of the Hawaii County Code."
We view our work with the Charter Commission as an opportunity to strengthen the 2% Land Fund program. We hope
that working together, we can create solid legislation that we can support when these measures are on the ballot.
We respectfully request that you place this on the agenda for the upcoming meeting on April 25th to be discussed fully
by the Commission.
Mahalo!
Debbie
Debbie Hecht
Website: Ramblings, Thoughts and Theories: www.debbiehecht.com
1 Comm. No. 24.101