LIHU’E — The Kaua’i County Council’s Planning Committee voted last week to move along a bill to administer a county fund to protect public access, open space and natural resources on Kaua’i. Conservation groups and supporters have eagerly waited for
LIHU’E — The Kaua’i County Council’s Planning Committee voted last week to move along a bill to administer a county fund to protect public access, open space and natural resources on Kaua’i.
Conservation groups and supporters have eagerly waited for this bill to move forward to protect public access as more new landowners have closed off access to beaches and mountains, citing the need for privacy and to guard against liability issues.
The bill, if approved, could allow future generations of Kauaians to reach areas their parents and grandparents visited in year’s past when large parcels were owned by sugar plantation companies.
During a meeting at the historic County Building, Planning Committee members approved a bill amendment that states the makeup of a nine-member advisory commission.
The amendment calls for Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste to select four appointees, with at least one each from Waimea; Kekaka; Lihu’e and Hanama’ulu; and Kapa’a and Wailua.
The council, meanwhile, would also select four appointees, with at least one each from Hanapepe and ‘Ele’ele; Koloa and Po’ipu; Kalaheo; and the North Shore from Anahola to Ha’ena.
The ninth member, an at-large appointee, would be selected by the eight members of the commission.
In addition, the amendment set the length of terms for the commission members: all at-large appointees shall serve one year; two mayoral appointees shall serve three years; one mayoral appointee shall serve one year; two council appointees shall serve two years; and one council appointee shall serve three years.
All subsequent appointments will allow commission members to serve staggered terms of three years, until successors are appointed. No holdover terms shall extend beyond 90 days.
The commission will be tasked with working with the Kaua’i County Planning Department to develop an annual list of priority projects, those that will very likely involve acquisition of land or easements over private property.
The commission will also be required to solicit input on the development of the yearly priority list.
Councilmembers JoAnn Yukimura and Jay Furfaro offered the amendment that was approved by the council’s Planning Committee. The bill to administer the fund is slated to go to the entire council for vote in the future.
To augment the implementation of the bill, Yukimura and Furfaro also have asked the council to consider a bill to establish an open space/public access specialist position within the county Planning Department.
The contract-hired individual would work for one year on county open-space and public-access issues, according to a communication Yukimura and Furfaro sent to the council.
Within the past two weeks, Yukimura unveiled detailed plans to implement the bill. Her proposal included recommendations for a list of properties and easements for acquisition; use of public hearings; a nomination process; and the advisory commission.
The county fund that would allow for initiation of selected projects was established through a charter amendment that was approved by voters in 2002.
The approved measure annually earmarks 1/2 of 1 percent of the certified property-tax revenues to establish public access, open space and a “natural resources” preservation fund. So far, $237,650 has been collected in the fund.
Staff Writer Lester Chang may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) or mailto:lchang@pulitzer.net.
