2% Land Update

Aloha all 2% Land Fund supporters!
On November 7th- Vote FOR the 2% Land Fund! Only 5 weeks to go…Here's several things you can do to help make sure Hawai'i lands are protected:1. Understand the Issue! You may have heard that after gathering almost 10,000 signatures that the BALLOT QUESTION the County has decided to place on the ballot is different than what Save Our Lands Citizen's Committee had submitted. This is true, but READ MORE AFTER #9TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THIS ISSUE. 2. We are 100% behind the 2% solution, and want everyone on the Island—including YOU—to vote FOR the 2% Land Fund. PLEASE encourage your friends and family to vote FOR the 2% Land Fund!!3. Register to Vote! Hundreds of people who signed our petition are not recognized as registered voters by the County. Are you one of them? October 9th is the deadline for voters to register in order to vote in the election. Call the County Elections office at 961-8277 to confirm that you are registered correctly, and if not go to http://www.hawaii.gov/elections/voters/registration fill out the form and register immediately!4. Use a Mail In Voting Form to make sure you are able to vote. Go to http://www.hawaii.gov/elections/voters/voteabsentee.htm to download the form to send in by October 25 to receive a mail in ballot to vote in the comfort of your home. No lines or traffic.5. Donate! We have an anonymous donor who will match any donation over $50. to the Save Our Land Citizen's Committee so that we can make signs, put ads on the radio, and make sure that all Big Island voters know to vote FOR the 2% Land Fund. Please make your checks out to Save Our Land and send to PO Box 4148, Kailua-Kona, HI 96745 6. Put Up a Sign! If you live on a highly-travelled road, in a visible spot, volunteer to put up a sign. Signs should be dark green with white writing that say: "Vote FOR the 2% Land Fund." If you can't make your own and would like one for your yard, call Sammie at 960-0645. 7. Sign Wave on Election Day! If you'd like to get outdoors and let your fellow voters know how important it is to protect the 'äina, we need you on election day! Please call Rosemary at 775-9002 or email alles@cfht.hawaii.edu to get directions on how you can spend election day at your local polling place helping others decide to vote for the 2% Land Fund.8. Print and Hand out the attached information sheet to give to friends family and co-workers.9. Print out the attached WINDOWsticker to paste in your window to get people talking. MAHALO!!FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO ASK QUESTIONS PLEASE CALL DEBBIE HECHT 989-3222______________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Look for ballot question #1: it may be near the end of your ballot on November 7th. The following is an explanation of the Ballot Language and is meant to dispel any confusion. Please read carefully. The County has ordered that the 2% Land Fund ballot language will appear on the November 7th ballot as follows:ACTUAL BALLOT LANGUAGE: "The proposal would amend Section 2-214(b) of Hawaii County Code by adding the requirement that two percent (2%) of all real property tax revenues collected annually (including penalties) be earmarked for the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund. The proposal would also amend Section 2-214 (c) to remove the existing $5,000,000 limit on the fund's balance. Finally, the proposed change would remove section 2-214 (d) that explains how the fund shall be used." IF YOU AGREE, VOTE FOR FOR ___IF YOU DISAGREE, VOTE AGAINST AGAINST ___ The Save Our Land Committee strongly urges you to vote "FOR" this ballot measure. But why is the language so confusing and why is section 2-214(d) being removed? EXPLANATION:
The County translated our petition into their own ballot language, and stated that since the Save Our Lands Committee left 2-214 (d) off of our petitions, that it would be removed from the Land Fund ordinance.
We believe this is an incorrect interpretation; 2-214(d) was simply left off the petition because there was no room on the small petition pages and because there was NO intended change to this part of the Ordinance. 2-214 (d) simply states the Purpose of the current Land Fund Ordinance (see entire Ordinace Text below) and what specific types of lands can be preserved. They include: • Watersheds to protect drinking water• Beaches and coastal areas • Floodplains and properties prone to erosion, landslides and volcanic activity.• Native Hawaiian historical and cultural areas• Native forest areas• Coastal lands that buffer waters and reefs from runoff and pollution • Important Agricultural landsDESPITE THIS "INTERPRETATION," WE ARE ASKING EVERYONE TO VOTE FOR THE 2% LAND FUND! If passed, 2% of our existing property taxes will finally be placed in the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund –the name of the fund clearly dictates how the monies will be spent. In addition, the Save Our Lands Committee has secured the written endorsements from the Councilmembers and Council Candidates that state unequivocally that they support: 1-setting aside 2% of the property tax2- removing the limit on monies that can be held in the fund3- re-instating section 214-2 (d) after the Ballot Intitative passes to re-clarify the Fund purposes.The following COUNCIL Members & Candidates have signed our endorsements: Brenda Ford, Pete Hoffmann, Bob Jacobson, K. Angel Pilago, Gary Safarik, Dominic YagongIn summation, over the last 8 months we have been through hurdle after hurdle. The County's recent interpretation that 214-2(d) should be removed by the petition does not change the importance of the Land Fund and the critical importance of dedicating 2% of our current real property tax revenue to the Fund. It is time for Big Island voters to have a voice in how our tax dollars are spent. Please vote FOR the 2% Land Fund! Aloha! Please call if you have any questions:Debbie Hecht, Coordinactor 989-3222 or any of the Save Our Lands Committee Members: Wendy Vance from Ka'u, Steve Hirakami from Pahoa, MikeVarney from Waimea, Karen Clarkson from Honoka'a and Debbie Hecht from Kona HERE IS THE ACTUAL TEXT FROM THE COUNTY CODE:Article 42. Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund Section 2-214. Public access, open space, and natural resources preservation fund. (a) A public access, open space, and natural resources preservation fund is hereby established. This special fund shall be administered and managed by the finance department. (b) The fund shall consist of monies from: (1) The proceeds from the sale of any general obligation bonds, authorized and issued for the purposes of this article; (2) Council appropriations for the purposes of this article; (3) Any source of revenue dedicated by the Hawai`i County Charter or the Hawai`i County Code for the purposes of this article; and (4) Grants and private contributions intended for the purposes of this article. OUR COMMENT: TO BE ADDED: 2% OF PROPERTY TAXES AND PENALTIES WOULD BE DEPOSITED IN THE FUND EACH YEAR(c) In adopting each fiscal year's operating budget, the council shall appropriate a minimum of $250,000 to the public access, open space, and natural resources preservation fund. (1) When the unencumbered balance in the fund (exclusive of bond proceeds) equals or exceeds $5,000,000, no further county appropriations shall be made until the balance falls below $5,000,000. (OUR COMMENT: THIS IS TO BE DELETED IF THE 2% PASSES) (2) Nothing in this section shall prevent the council from appropriating amounts in excess of the above minimum amounts to this fund.( Our comment: BECAUSE THE FOLLOWING SECTION (d) WAS INADVERTANTLY LEFT OFF OF THE PETITION, THE COUNTY DECLARED THAT THE PETITION WOULD DELETE IT:)(d) The fund shall be used for acquiring lands or property entitlements in the County of Hawai'i for the following purposes: (1) Public outdoor recreation and education, including access to beaches and mountains; (2) Preservation of historic or culturally important land areas and sites; (3) Protection of natural resources, including buffer zones; (4) Preservation of forests, beaches, coastal areas, natural beauty and agricultural lands; and (5) Protection of watershed lands to preserve water quality and water supply. (2005, Ord. No. 05-85, sec. 2; Am. 2005, Ord. No. 05-166, sec. 1.)2-214 Section 2-215. Public access, open space, and natural resources preservation commission. (a) There is established a public access, open space, and natural resources preservation commission. There shall be nine members on this commission, appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the council. The members may be removed upon recommendation by the mayor and the approval of the council. One member shall reside in each County council district. The members shall serve staggered terms of five years. Upon initial appointment of the commission, one member shall be appointed to a term of one year, two for a term of two years, two for a term of three years, two for a term of four years, and two for a term of five years. Staff support shall be provided by the finance department. (b) No member shall be eligible for a second appointment to the commission prior to the expiration of two years, provided that members initially appointed for a term of one year and two years shall be eligible to succeed themselves for an additional term. (c) No member whose term has expired shall continue to serve on the commission, except that if no successor has been appointed and confirmed, the member shall continue to serve for ninety days or until a successor is appointed and confirmed, whichever comes first. (d) Any vacancy occurring in the commission shall be filled for the unexpired term. (e) Not more than a bare majority of the members shall belong to the same political party. (f) Members shall receive no compensation but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Necessary expenses may be paid in advance as per diem allowance pursuant to article 16. (g) A chairperson shall be elected from its membership annually. (h) The affirmative vote of a majority of those members present shall be necessary to make any action valid. (i) The commission shall have the power to establish its rules of procedure necessary for the conduct of its business, which rules shall contain the time and place of all regular meetings, and which shall specify that a quorum shall be a majority of the members to which the commission is entitled. (j) No person shall, by reason of occupation alone, be barred from serving as a member of this commission. (k) The council shall act to confirm or reject any appointment made to the commission by the mayor within forty-five days after receiving notice of the appointment from the mayor. If the council does not confirm or reject any such appointment within forty-five days, the appointee shall be deemed to have beenconfirmed. (l) The redrawing of the council district boundaries during a member's term shall not affect a member's eligibility to represent the district to which the member was appointed. (2005, Ord. No. 05-166, sec. 2.)2-215 Debbie Hecht, Coordinator Save Our Lands Citizen's CommitteeP.O. Box 4148 Kailua-Kona, HI 96745 (808) 989-3222