STAND. COM. REP. NO.  933

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

 

RE:   H.B. No. 980

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 980, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RECREATIONAL RENAISSANCE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure that the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) has the necessary tools and funding to repair and maintain the State's recreational facilities for the enjoyment of residents and visitors by:

 

(1)  Creating a Recreational Renaissance Special Fund (Fund) to be used to implement DLNR's Recreational Renaissance Plan;

 

(2)  Authorizing small boat harbor moorage fees and tariffs to be set by appraisal, and fees to be increased to better support ongoing operations and maintenance at boat harbors and parks;

 

(3)  Authorizing the development of Keehi Lagoon as a long-term source of revenue to support DLNR park and conservation activities;

 

(4)  Authorizing a limited number of commercial vessels to be moored at the Ala Wai and Keehi Boat Harbors and allowing the assessment of utility and common area maintenance fees in small boat harbors;

 

(5)  Providing that if projects paid for under the appropriations made under Act 118, Session Laws of Hawaii 2006, to cover the costs of recovery and remediation efforts due to the storms in February and March 2006, become eligible for federal reimbursement, those reimbursements are to be paid into the Fund;

 

(6)  Authorizing improvements to specific water- and land-based recreational facilities; and

 

(7)  Appropriating funds to implement the purposes of the Fund.

 

     DLNR, Department of Health, Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, Department of Budget and Finance, Historic Hawaii Foundation, Hawaii Rifle Association, Society for Hawaiian Archaeology, The Trust for Public Land, PAHIO Development, Inc., Outfitters Kauai, Ltd., Laborers' International Union of North America Local 368, and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  The Waikiki Neighborhood Board, Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board, Kuliouou/Kalani Iki Neighborhood Board #2, Waikiki Area Residents Association, Hawaii's Thousand Friends, Hawaii Boaters Political Action Association, Ala Wai Harbor Ad Hoc Committee, Dr. Leisure's Friends of Makena State Park, Save Our Surf, Common Ground Hawaii, and many concerned individual opposed this measure.  The Aloha Tower Development Corporation, Department of Transportation, Ocean Tourism Coalition, The Pacific Resource Partnership, Sierra Club-Hawaii Chapter, Hui Aloha Kiholo, and several concerned individuals provided comments. 

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

(1)  Including in the formula to determine the amount of fees for commercial vessels moored at small boat harbors, utility and common area maintenance fees that are already being paid by the permittee;

 

(2)  Clarifying that the Keehi Small Boat Harbor and Triangle Island development is authorized, and not required;

 

(3)  Further clarifying that the listed improvements to certain water- and land-based recreational facilities are permissible, not mandatory;

 

(4)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

 

(5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for style, clarity, and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 980, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 980, H.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair