STAND. COM. REP. NO.  152

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1566

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources, to which was referred H.B. No. 1566 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SMALL BOAT HARBORS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to assist the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) in addressing needed repair and maintenance at ocean recreation facilities under their jurisdiction through innovative means, given the current economic conditions facing the State.  Specifically, this measure:

 

     (1)  Exempts the Ala Wai Boat Harbor from assessment and special improvement district requirements regarding redevelopment;

 

     (2)  Clarifies the permissible uses of leased state boating facility properties to include ocean recreation activities;

 

     (3)  Extends the maximum term for the disposition of public lands of state boating facilities to 65 years;

 

     (4)  Requires any fees collected within small boat harbors to be expended only for costs relating to the operation, upkeep, maintenance, and improvement of small boat harbors;

 

     (5)  Allows the limited issuance of commercial use permits for vessels with assigned moorings in Ala Wai and Keehi boat harbors;

 

     (6)  Provides for future mooring fees to be established by appraisal by a state-licensed appraiser and assigned a schedule B rate, while existing mooring holders remain in a schedule A class that shall equal schedule B rates for a five-year period;

 

     (7)  Authorizes DLNR to assess and collect utility fees, including electrical and water charges, and common area maintenance fees, in small boat harbors; and

 

     (8)  Directs DLNR to use the request for proposals process to enter into a public-private partnership for the development of portions of Ala Wai boat harbor facilities that are presently underused to maximize the revenue potential from its facilities.

 

     The Waikiki Improvement Association testified in support of the intent of this bill.  Several concerned individuals testified in opposition to this measure.  DLNR and the Ocean Tourism Coalition provided comments.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1566 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JERRY L. CHANG, Chair