HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm No 0035.24 - Testimony - CA-18 - PONC Maintenance fundFrom: Debbie H <hecht.deb@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 16, 2019 6:51 AM
To: Charter Commission
Subject: CA -18 PONC Maintenance Fund and proposed changes
Please forward to all Charter Commissioners
Aloha Commissioners -
Re: CA -18 Employment to be allowed by Stewardship Groups
At First Reading, the Commission returned CA -18, the Maintenance Fund to what now exists in the
charter for this clause:
Here is the current language:
[(5)](6) No officer, board member, or employee the 501(c)3 nonprofit organization or the
organization that operates under the umbrella of a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization shall receive a
salary or payment for labor, or receive any reimbursement for the stewardship work on the project.
The 501(c)3 nonprofit shall sign an agreement so stating these conditions and submit it with the
application.
The original intent of this legislation as written by Council member Brenda Ford and me was to assist
the stewardship non -profits to care for the land. 63% of voters approved this measure in 2012. Only
9% of all the monies deposited in the Maintenance Fund has been granted to the stewardship non-
profits since 2013.
We are trying to strengthen the 2% Land Fund Program. What we have learned from
research
and feedback from the non -profits who have applied for grant funding is that the volunteer
workforce is inconsistent and shows up to help when it is convenient for them. As a result:
1. All of the stewardship groups requested that they be able to pay people to work on the land.
2. Every 2% Land Fund property needs the help of people who are committed to care for the
land. Volunteers are very important, but they burn out and leave because of their
responsibilities to work or family.
3. As these programs grow, volunteer coordinators could be paid to maximize the land
stewardship programs and create school education programs to educate keiki about the land,
its history and culture.
4. The ability to pay dedicated staff would help create jobs in rural, economically depressed areas
of the island & minimize volunteer burnout. Right now the non -profits have to hire outside
contractors to do some of the work.
To accommodate these requests and to further the good works of the non -profits, we propose
this compromise language to the current language in ir°
[(5)]No officer, board member, or employee of the 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization or
the organization that operates under the umbrella of a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization shall receive
a salary or payment for labor, or receive any reimbursement for the stewardship work on the
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Comm. No. 35.24
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501(c)3 nonprofit shall sign an agreement so stating these conditions and submit it with the
application.
We appreciate all of the changes you have made to date to strengthen the fund. We respectfully
request that you include this language as part of CA -18. I would be ha to discuss this with
you please email me at hecht.deb(a�gmail.com or call me at
Mahalo for your service to represent the people of Hawaii County,
Debbie Hecht
Campaign Coordinator for the Save Our Lands Citizens' Committee and the
2% Land Fund Program since 2006
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